Japanese Pop Culture

Japan is a country that's deeply rooted in their traditions, but they've developed an influential pop culture that has reached to many different countries. Whether you are familiar with the pop culture or new to the scene, there's always something to learn.

Fashion

Fashion is the biggest part of the Japanese pop culture. It's very important to the lifestyle they live by. In Japan it is important to look presentable and clean when going out. Not only that, but there are guidelines to their fashion. For men, properly fitted clothes are desirable. For women, you can show as much legs as you'd like but you should cover the chest area. To make the look complete women should wear heels. There are obvious circumstances that will allow these guidelines to bend such as weather and preferences. These are just the typically rule of thumb to Japanese fashion. One of the best stores to shop at is UNIQLO. This a well known store in Japan that has fashionable and cheap clothing.

College students.

Music

Just as America has various genres of music, so does Japan. The most common and talked about genres are J-pop (Japanese pop music), J-rock (Japanese rock music), and Visual Kei (a music and fashion associated with rock style but adds an elaborate sound and look). Japanese music lyrics are very poetic. The lyrics usually talk about nature or emotions. For those of you who may not be familiar with Japanese music here are examples of bands and artists I recommend you to check out:

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu- a popular and well known pop singer famous for her song "PonPonPon."

*Babymetal- a 3 member girl rock band that combines cuteness and the sound of rock into their music.

Stereopony- a girl rock band that has had songs featured in anime. 

Perfume- a pop/techno girl group who is recognized for their unique sound.

*AAA- a pop group of both genders who have been featured in anime and have came out with multiple cds over the years.

*Da-ice- a new boy pop group with great vocals and eye catching choreography. 

*Abingdon Boys School- an alternative boys rock group who is recognized for their iconic songs that are featured in various anime.

                                                                                           *These are my favorites to listen to.

Babymetal (got from an article on Rocketnews24)

Anime

Anime is Japanese animation. It is in fact for all ages, so make sure to check the show's maturity rating. Some of you may have seen anime before without even noticing such as Pokemon, Dragonball, Speed Racer, Astro Boy, Sailor Moon, and Cardcaptor Sakura. These examples are a part of many people's childhood. Anime has evolved since then and has become an art form, always trying to out do themselves. Anime comes in many genres. It is probably the most popular thing about Japanese pop culture. It has migrated to all parts of the world with voice acting in English, German, Spanish, Italian, French, Korean, Brazilian, and of course Japanese. Anime has a subculture called cosplay which will be for another post entirely. Here are examples of anime to watch:

Ages 4-12: Pokemon, Yokai Watch, Digimon, Kaleido Star, Tokyo Mew Mew, Glass Mask, Shugo Chara!

Ages 13-17: .hack//, Naruto, Fruits Basket, Full Moon, Inuyasha, D.Grayman, Ouran High School Host Club, Kimi Ni Todoke, Slayers, Trigun.

Ages 18 and older: Hellsing Ultimate, Ghost in the Shell, Elfen Lied, Death Note, Berserk, Ceres Celestial Legend, Attack on Titan, Paradise Kiss.

These anime are recommendations based off of age groups and do not reflect my taste of anime. I will be happy to post about my favorite anime at a later time.

Characters of the series .hack//Legend of the Twilight.

I hope you enjoyed this quick overview of Japanese pop culture. All of these topics can be discussed in more detail which will reappear in later posts.

Sorry for not posting lately! I've been super busy with my cosplay since anime convention season is approaching for me. I will probably be doing a blog post on that relatively soon. I will continue to post as much as I can. Until next time!

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How to Beat the Heat in Japan

Summer time in New Orleans is excruciating. It's so hot, sometimes it's even hot enough to make breathing difficult. Well, Japan can be just as hot during the summer. I think Japan is more tolerable than New Orleans but it's pretty close. Here's how you can stay cool in Japan during the summer.

1. Going indoors

Yep, you got it. It's that simple. If you're walking out on the street, touring the city, go indoors for a bit. Maybe stop to have a bite to eat. If you're not hungry you can check out the arcades in Japan. You'll use up some of your time in there. These places and many more will have air conditioning. Just cool off and get back to sightseeing when you feel you've had enough time in the air condition.

Enjoying a meal and playing at the arcade in Kyoto, Japan.

2. Vending machines

Cool yourself down with a refreshing beverage. You won't have to stop into a convenience store or go into a fast food chain. Just walk down streets and you'll practically find a vending machine at every corner. These vending machines have a wide range of options so you'll definitely find something you like. You don't even have to get a drink. Some of these vending machines contain ice cream. But back to the drinks. I recommend C.C. Lemon (a carbonated lemonade) and Mitsuya Cider (a cousin to Sprite). These are my go to vending machine drinks.

A drink and ice cream vending machine.

3. Shaved ice

In New Orleans the summer time means snowballs. Japan has their version, and it's called shaved ice. It's very close to a snowball. They both have shredded ice in a cup and flavored syrup on top. This is a refreshing way to beat the heat in Japan. Shaved ice in Japan is a bit different, in that the syrup is not as sweet as the syrup in snowballs. You should definitely give this a try if you ever go to Japan.

Cooling off with some strawberry flavored shaved ice.

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Speak English?!? You Try Speaking a Difficult Language!

Hi everyone!

This post is going to be very controversial. I'm sorry if this makes some of you uncomfortable but it needs to be addressed. Now this is obviously my opinion on the situation and you have every right to think differently, but here it goes.

Let's start off with a story.

I work at a car dealership. Nothing I say has any reflection on the business itself or the professionalism of the workers, it's all their personal feelings I'll be telling. Anyway, we get a lot of different customers coming through our doors. Some are young, some are old, some are White, and some are Hispanic. They can be coming into the dealership to buy a car or to service their car. Well, a lot of my coworkers who deal with customers are older than me and are not as cultured as me. I'm not saying older people can't be cultured, but these coworkers of mine are into their own lives and definitely not interested in other cultures. They even find it weird and surprising when I talk about Japan. They just never had the desire to learn more than what they need to know. To get to the story, one day a customer came into the dealership. He supposedly had a really thick accent. My coworker claimed he was Chinese due to his name and passed the customer onto someone else because she couldn't understand him. Then I heard a comment from the spectators in the office that people should speak English if they come to America. What?!?!?! This guy was clearly speaking English, he just had a Chinese accent still which is normal.

Now let's get down to my opinion and morals of this story.

Why should anyone coming to America have to speak English? I thought America was a free country, and welcoming to all types of people. We even have Americans who speak different kinds of English like slang, or just not proper English at all. These foreigners coming to America are here for the opportunities and some even learned English so they could fit in. I rather these people living in America than the lazy people who just sit at home all day wondering why their life is so miserable and not doing anything to fix it themselves.

My Japanese notebook, plus some doodles.

It really bothers me when someone says something stupid like "they should speak English." Obviously the people who say this have never truly learned a language so they can't possibly understand. It's hard to learn a language! People always ask me if I can speak Japanese and it's the hardest thing to answer. I can't say no because I do know some Japanese. Yet if I say yes everyone thinks I know it fluently which is not true. I end up saying yes to their question but add that I know enough to get around. They are still impressed with me but then they turn around and say stupid stuff like speak English! Well then, since you are so adamant about people speaking English you should try speaking another language. See how that works out for you. You'll never be able to compare your speaking skills with others who are learning English because English is the hardest language to learn and you've grown up with it since birth. 

I'm studying Japanese.

So I dare those of you who've ever said that foreigners should speak English to actually learn a different language first before saying something that stupid. You just sound ignorant when you say it.

That's my life lesson I'm sharing with all of you. I hope it didn't get too intense for you but this is a serious subject that happens more often than you may think.

Check out my other blog posts for more Japan related topics!

Also, I'm on Instagram! Come follow me here: https://instagram.com/japantherapy/

I like to post Japan pictures from past trips and Japanese related things that I like.

Thank you for you're support! See you next time!

Japan Crate Review

I've recently obtained a Japan Crate. I got it as a birthday present from a friend. For those of you who don't know what a Japan Crate is, it's a subscription box of Japanese candy and snacks that's delivered to your house every month. It's candy that comes straight from Japan. There are three sizes to the Japan Crate. I got the premium box which is the biggest and comes with the most items. At first I was super excited about it because I'd get to relive Japan from the comfort of my home. That statement is half true and half false. Let me explain within the review.

When I opened the box I was blown away by all the colors and cute packaging. I felt the nostalgia when I saw Japanese writing on the wrappers. My friend and I made a video review, so we opened each individual candy. We took turns choosing a candy to open. The first few were great, but then it got worse. Not worse as in it all tasted bad but worse in the sense that I got bored with it towards the end.

There are several reasons why I got bored with it. My first problem was there seemed to be way more gum products than actual candy. If you're a big candy flavored gum person then you're good to go in getting a Japan Crate. The second problem I had was that there was only three things that I genuinely liked in the Japan Crate: the Banana Cream Chocolate flavored Pocky, the Ramune drink, and the chocolate bar that had a card of a dog in it. Everything else I could've done without. The third and final problem was the snacks that were bizarre. I understand the purpose of them being there as a wow factor and as a fun to try thing, but it ends up being a waste of space in the long run. There were two candies that I considered gag candy: the Big Bar Z that tasted like a popcorn churro and the soy sauce mochi bar. The sadder part about those two candies is that they're both part of the mini box which only contained five items total! I was lucky that my friends got me the premium box, but what about those people that subscribed to the mini box? I just didn't find the snacks to be well rounded.

Overall:
My overall recommendation is to definitely buy a box first before subscribing to the Japan Crate service. I feel the once a month subscription service is not worth it due to the fact that it's a lot of candy at once if you don't space it out and you simple don't get what you want. My friends told me he spent about $30 for the premium box. I feel that was way over priced. I rather go to my local Asian Market and buy exactly what I want when I want it.

That's my review of the Japan Crate. I'll be doing more crate/box reviews occasionally since I'm doing video reviews for an organization I'm involved in called Awesome Geeks. I run the Japan and anime section of the organization, along with the business aspect of it. I'll put the video link in later when I have the YouTube link up. Hope this was interesting and helpful for you.

See you next time!

So You Think You Like Sushi

Put down those elaborate rolls you call sushi. There are no Chocolate City Rolls or Firefighter Rolls in Japan. And don't you dare think about asking for a side of spicy mayonnaise or eel sauce.

Let me teach you about real sushi you'll be seeing in Japan.

For starters, what you see at Japanese restaurants in America are called rolls. Those rolls are elaborate, with fillings ranging from cream cheese to cooked fish and can be topped off with sliced mango or sliced pineapple. These are not considered sushi by definition. Sorry to crush your fantasy about eating this kind of stuff in Japan, but better to hear it sooner than later. The closest thing to a roll in Japan is raw fish in the middle rolled up in rice and wrapped on the outside with seaweed.

Sushi by definition is a slice of raw fish over rice.

Ta-da! Not impressed? It wouldn't surprise me. It doesn't sound like much, does it? But in Japan that's all that's really needed to appreciate the food. The slice of fish that's on the rice will be the freshest fish you've ever tasted in your life. The reason for the fish being so fresh is because in Japan they only keep fish out in stores for about two days. To add to the dedication of the freshness, there's a fish market in Tokyo, Japan called Tsukiji Fish Market. The market opens at 3am and the auctions for the fish begin at about 5:30 am and end at 7am. These sushi chefs wake up at these incredible hours every day to obtain fresh fish for their customers. If you have to have some kind of sauce on your sushi in Japan there will be soy sauce at the table to use.

Is raw fish not your thing? Me neither. Not to worry though. They have "sushi" for us too. There's one called tamago sushi where there's cooked egg over rice wrapped in a seaweed strip. Another one that's my absolute favorite is tempera shrimp sushi where there's a piece of tempera shrimp over rice wrapped in a seaweed strip.

The cheapest and most convenient place to eat sushi at in Japan is at conveyor belt sushi. It's exactly how is sounds. Sushi goes around on a conveyor belt and you choose whatever looks good to you. At the end of your meal a waitress will come to your table to count your plates to tally up how much you owe for your meal.

I hope you got to learn something from this. Please don't be scared to try any of these things. It's always worth trying just to say you've tried it. That applies to all foods in Japan.

Until next time! See ya!

Oh yeah! I got an Instagram! If you'd like, follow me for some more Japan pictures and for my daily life stuff.
https://instagram.com/japantherapy/

What Could Give You Culture Shock

Culture shock doesn't happen to everyone, but when it happens it can be very hard to overcome. I never experienced culture shock myself or have had friends who experienced it, but I know it can really ruin a good trip and what was supposed to be a good time.

Culture shock is when someone goes into another culture they are not familiar with and is shocked about the differences from their own culture. You'll start to panic. This can be mentally painful and very stressful to someone.

Now, if I could've gotten culture shock I can think of four things that would cause it.

1. The People and Language

I live in America. More specifically, I live in New Orleans, Louisiana. We have a little nickname for the city of New Orleans called the gumbo bowl. Now the contents in a gumbo dish is a bunch of different seafood. That's what it's like in the city. It's a bunch a different people living in one city. So to go from this kind of life to Japan, where there's mostly going to be Japanese people speaking mostly Japanese, can be very intimidating and will cause reason for panic. Japan is not a diverse country and to Americans it can be stressful not seeing what's familiar to you.

2. Transportation

In America, we run on cars. Almost everyone owns a car. A car is essential for the way we live life. It takes us to work, let's us go on vacations, and overall, gets us where we want to go at any time. This may not apply to northern states who have subway systems, but down south it's a part of our daily lives. In Japan it's different. They run on public transportation. Yes, there are cars around but there are way more people using subways, trains, and buses than people using cars. And why not use good resources if it's given to you? So seeing Japan function through public transportation can cause culture shock. Go to a train station in Tokyo in the morning work hours. That alone could give you culture shock. It's pretty much a bunch of people crowding onto the train and train attendants pushing people in. It can be seen as chaotic and bizarre, but it works for them. Another thing you'll see are people walking and biking, the cheaper of all transportation. If you stay in one city at a time while in Japan you'll probably be walking or biking to places yourself.

3. Restaurants

What can go wrong with going to a restaurant in Japan? If you're familiar with Japanese culture you already know that the people working are polite and strive for the best strive they can give. There's even a no tipping policy! But what you may not know is that there's no such thing as leftovers. In America, New Orleans specifically, your meals are huge! The food is practically falling off the plate. You go out to eat already knowing you're not going to finish your meal unless you are super hungry that day. There's nothing to worry about though because you know the server will ask if you need a to-go box. In Japan there's no such thing as a to-go box. It is expected that you eat all your food. This is not a hard task because the meals you buy are perfectly portioned. The only way it can go wrong is if you purchase too much thinking you need more food. A way to avoid this is to order as you eat. If you're done your first dish and still hungry you can order more food. Another thing about restaurants that can be surprising is if you visit a more traditional restaurant. At these restaurants you are most likely going to be taking off your shoes and possibly sitting on the ground. This can be very uncomfortable for some people but it's not that bad if you just give it a try.

4. Going Up

What I mean by going up is that Japan works by floors. Japan is a tiny country with a big population, especially in the cities. It is not common for people to have their own house. Most people live in apartments that have many floors. The same can be said for business establishments. Say you went on your phone looking up nail salons in Tokyo, Japan. You found the address of one and decided to go check it out. You come to a tall building that houses many establishments. It can get pretty frustrating and difficult trying to find this place. There are even restaurants that are in these multi level buildings. Try not to get impatient, you'll be able to find where you want to go if you pay close attention to signs and advertisements.

Those are the ways I feel most people would get culture shock. I hope this helps some people. I would like to advice that the best way to overcome culture shock is to study up on the culture before traveling and to accept their way of life. That is the reason why I have never experienced culture shock. 

If you have experienced culture shock please share. I'd love to hear your stories. If you have any further questions on this subject please don't hesitate to ask. Until next time!

If You Like New Orleans, You'll Like Japan

New Orleans and Japan have a lot more in common than you may think. I know it's hard to believe since the biggest difference is language, but trust me.

Anyway, let's get to it! Here are the similarities of New Orleans and Japan.

Drinking Life

When I say drinking, I mean alcohol. In New Orleans we have a street dedicated to drinking called Bourbon Street, located in the French Quarter. We have a lot of people who like to go out and get really drunk, like drunk enough to where they can't walk straight and can't think about what they're saying, and then you have the ones who like to go drink socially. New Orleans is definitely a culture of drinking, not that it's always a bad thing down here because I like the social aspect of it, I'm just not a fan of the kind of drinking that's done on an extreme level.

Japan is kind of like New Orleans in that aspect. Drinking in Japan is very social. In Japan friends are always going out to bars to catch up and have a good time. If you're not drinking with your friends you're drinking with your co-workers after work. It's actually looked down upon if you don't go drink with your co-workers. This is the time for all the workers to be at the same rank. There's no such thing as a boss when you go out drinking in Japan. Everyone is equal. It can be very relaxing but plan to stay out late on a weekday if you go drink with your co-workers. Don't forget to "Kanpai!" (Kanpai means cheers).

A friend of mine drinking at Mardi Gras.

Haunted Attractions and Folklore

New Orleans is big on haunted places and the supernatural. We use these as tourists attraction when visitors come down. One of our biggest attraction for tourists and locals is the Myrtle's Plantation, outside of the New Orleans area. You can make a reservation and stay the night to experience a real haunting. Then there's voodoo which is like a supernatural connection to spirits. Watch Princess and the Frog for more details on voodoo. It's nothing you want to mess with.

Japan has it's own horrors just like New Orleans. Have you ever seen the movie The Ring? It's a scary movie about a dead spirit girl rising from a well shown on a video tape and pops out of the TV. Scary stuff. Well, this is a real thing in Japan. It's called Okiku's Well and it's said that a maid was killed by being thrown into the well because she didn't accept a samurai's offer to be his lover. Now the place is haunted and they say you can hear her scream. You can find this well at the Himeji Castle. The Japanese even have a ton of folklore. My favorite is Kuchisake-onna. I'll stop there because I can do a whole other post on Japanese folklore later.

Festivals

An excuse to party is something New Orleans and Japan shares. Festivals are mostly organized to appreciate or celebrate something. In the New Orleans area we have a Strawberry Festival, Oyster Festival, French Quarter Festival, and of course Mardi Gras. These festivals are huge and bring in a lot of people. Japan can relate to this. They have festivals all over the country for all kinds of things. There's a snow festival in Sapporo, Sanja Matsuri in Tokyo to celebrate a shrine, Gion Festival in Kyoto to celebrate a shrine, and Awa Odori, a dance festival. These matsuri or festivals bring in many people and have a tin of attraction for the public. If you ever go to Japan you should go to at least one festival just for the experience.

At Meiji Shrine in Tokyo.

Unique Food

This goes for both New Orleans and Japan. You WILL NOT taste anything similar to their foods. Yes, they both have foods that everyone has access to but they also have their own unique foods that can be really hard to replicate. When it comes to New Orleans it's all about the boiled BBQ shrimp, charbroiled oysters, red beans, jambalaya, and gumbo. All of these are a must if you come down to New Orleans. The uniqueness of these dishes really add up to the way we season our food down here.

Japan has a unique taste of their own. If you want to experience the food life of Japan the foods you need to try are okonomiyaki (cabbage pancakes), takoyaki (octopus ball), sushi (simply raw fish over rice), teriyaki burger, yakiniku (Japanese BBQ), shabu shabu (cooked meat) and ramen. All these Japanese foods are uniquely Japanese and are very hard to replicate yourself and even from restaurants. To taste the real thing, you have to go to Japan.

Cooking Okonomiyaki in Osaka.

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