RICKY DLS 英会話 blog

Tired of being cute (left). Is this what Japan will look like in the future? (feminist demo, right) What do YOU think?
The new Miss Universe was crowned in Las Vegas yesterday, and while in the Americas this was a huge event, in Japan it went unnoticed. There are even voices and organizations in Japan that call for a general abolishment of the Miss Japan contest. Their argument is that women should be judged by their brains, not by their looks.

True, that’s a strong point, but American Hollywood culture and beauty obsessed Latin America would not be what they are without beauty pageants. Girls train from pre-school age to become beauty queens and once they take home the crown they move up in society to the highest celebrity ranks.

Having lived in Japan for eight years, I feel this country is increasingly becoming like a Northern European nation. The recent feminist movement demanding a ban on swimsuit competitions is just a tiny indicator. What already exists is a health and welfare system that rivals those of Scandinavia in progressiveness. Unemployed citizens receive monthly paychecks that allow them a more or less comfortable lifestyle. Anybody living in Japan is entitled to public health insurance at a reasonable cost. People over 65 enjoy decent lifestyles due to relatively high retirement pay, low healthcare fees and free public transportation. Parents receive a child support allowance of 13.000 yen per month per child - this was enacted by disgraced PM Hatoyama.

Signaling a shift in the structure of society at large, Japanese women are becoming increasingly independent from men. The current generation of female twentysomethings is active and highly productive in the workplace, a sharp contrast to the generation of their mothers who were dependent stay-home moms. The term “housewife” is so unpopular with young Japanese women these days that it seems to have vanished from their vocabulary completely.

This tendency of active, hard-working women striving to be equal is very similar to what happened in Northern Europe decades ago and what has now manifested as one of the most advanced civilizations on the planet. In Scandinavia, beauty pageants are viewed as exploitation of women and feminist groups regularly protest against them.

On another note, now that Japanese women are becoming increasingly self sufficient they just need to take it one step further and get real equality by gaining access to executive positions in the workplace because the percentage of decision-making women is still very, very low. Japan is changing, and this is a very exciting time to be here. Let me know what YOU think OK!

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

These are two recently opened American-style sidewalk cafes in downtown Sapporo. In the US they’d be crowded at any given time on any given day, young and old alike sipping coffee and doing people-watching. In Japan, people prefer to drink coffee indoors. Outdoor eating or drinking is exclusively done in the beer gardens.

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

We’re at twenty-eight degrees centigrades today and consequently an acquaintance complained “I can’t stand this natsubate” (summer fatigue). I’m OK with the temperature but I detest the humidity, that much is true. Anyway, I went to a yukata store this morning and tried to find geta sandals in my size - no luck. I guess I may have to consider buying men’s geta … hmmm. At the yukata store plenty of pretty yukatas were still on sale - proof that demand for this type of colorful cotton kimono is declining. Ten years ago some creative young designers came up with new, more colorful designs and yukatas experienced a revival. During that era, twentysomethings did not only possess one yukata but two or possibly more - and I’m no exception: I had four yukatas, all in different colors and designs. I gave one to my niece and now I still have three. I really enjoy wearing cotton kimono and I will never forget the day when my Japanese friends showed me how to wear it. We were on our way to the Toyohira fireworks festival and had a ball!

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

This is the reigning Miss Japan and that’s her outfit for the Miss Universe costume competition. Beautiful.

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

Check out this week’s TIME coverstory.

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

Mr. Donut has just launched shaved ice in the flavors melon/pineapple and mandarin/orange. At Misdo it’s called “gokishari” (not kakigori, which is the general term for this iced drink) and it’s really cheap (190 yen till the end of this month). I had the melon/pineapple version (melon/”pine” in Japanese English) and it was the perfect drink for a hot midsummer day.

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

Former North Korean spy Kim Hyon-hui wearing an anti-suicide mask while being escorted by South Korean officials (1987). When I first came to Hokkaido a Japanese friend told me that there were rumors about Japanese people having been abducted by North Korean submarines on the coasts of Niigata, Akita and here in Hokkaido. The stories seemed very far-fetched and I didn’t give them much thought. I was stunned, however, as shortly thereafter North Korea admitted to kidnapping 13 Japanese citizens for the purpose of training its spies. A few weeks later then prime minister Koizumi traveled to Pyongyang and brought back five of the abducted Japanese. It was a historical moment and all TV channels broadcasted the news almost non-stop. The news had double impact on me because I was doing homestay in East Hokkaido at that time and one of the activities for improving my Japanese was watching TV. The expression “rachi mondai” (abduction issue) to this day remains etched in my memory: A non-fiction story that reads like one of Ian Fleming’s best spy novels. Kim originally studied acting and appeared on national television. But the North Korean leaders had other plans for her. She was sent to a spy training camp outside Pyongyang where she learned the craft for seven years. In 1987 she was on a mission to South Korea where she successfully blew up Korean Air flight 858: 115 people died including her spy partner who bit a cyanide capsule. Kim tried to do the same but was caught in the attempt and arrested. She escaped capital punishment by supplying detailed information about life in North Korea. Kim is currently visiting Japan where she is meeting with family members of some of the abducted Japanese. Quirky detail: The house she is staying at is ex-prime minister Yukio Hatoyama’s second home.

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

I had the biggest & tastiest scallop ever at the Susukino Yoichi Festival. I spent about a year traveling around Japan and eventually settled here in Hokkaido. Why? Because Hokkaido is almost exactly what I imagined Japan to be: The freshest fish and seafood in the cleanest city populated by the nicest people. Sounds like paradise? Close to! Last night I headed to the entertainment district to experience a typical Hokkaido summer atmsophere. The yoichi (=yoru ichiba) night market was held and all of Susukino was closed for traffic. Instead there were food stalls everywhere, and hundreds of chairs and tables. There was even a jazz concert going on (jazz is becoming increasingly popular in Hokkaido). I ordered a Sapporo Classic beer (only available in Hokkaido) and a scallop. I immediately got my beer but since I had to wait a few minutes for my seafood a server brought me a decent portion of complimentary edamame soy beans so that I’d have something to snack on … Hokkaidoites are the best!! I got my scallop only a few minutes later and wow, it was HUGE! Served in its shell and with soy sauce as expected. In the US we eat seafood with fresh lime juice but it tastes good with soy sauce too. Oh and I saw the strangest thing: A young guy had a grey baby rabbit on a leash. The bunny didn’t seem to mind the crowds, hopping along curiously but it was weird anyway.

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

Sunshine no thank you: Young women in Hokkaido value white skin more than a fun day out in the sun. Today is the perfect summer day, temperatures in the high 20’s and blue skies. Time to don sleeveless tops and shorts, that’s what one would think, right. You wouldn’t believe how many young women I saw today wearing leggings, long sleeves or ray sleeves and big hats! I know Japanese women like to preserve their white skin, but isn’t that a bit exaggerated?

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。

This is my last post about the Soccer World Cup. From tomorrow, all entries will be dedicated to food, new hangouts and products, and the fabulous Sapporo summer of course! Keisuke Honda is the most impressive Japanese player right now, but four and eight years ago, respectively, it was Nakata who made Japan shine. During this past world cup he often appeared on TV as a commentator and he mentioned “When I think about the World Cup games, I reconnect with the fact that I’m Japanese”. Japanese people are not known to be patriots but I guess for one month almost everybody in this country was proud to be Japanese when they witnessed their team’s performance in South Africa. I often switched on NHK during that period and the one commentator that caught MY attention is Miyamoto - he’s bright AND he’s hot, and he has the most amazing smile. Since he traded his soccer uniform for a designer suit he looks even better, lol. My #1 in Japan used to be kickboxer Masato but no longer, lol.

私は英語とスペイン語の先生です。