The Grinch Who is Hostile to Hanami

Watching petals fall from blooming cherry trees
is what in Japan they call Ha-na-mi
In practice this means drink lots, feast, and appear to think deep thoughts
perched under a tree on a blue plastic sheet
…to fill spring’s start with glee.

‘Tis that season once again—

spring’s blossoms that signify a fresh start and hope
But out there are contrarians; do they covet tumbling cherry blossoms…nope!

Yet many in ‘ol Nippon they like hanami a lot

and it takes more than liquid courage to say you do not.

But who really gives a hoot about a bunch of pink blossoms on trees?

That fall to ground, that’s it, what does it all mean?

A metaphor for the fleeting nature of life…not so much
thought the Grinch hostile to hanami
(but said with a gentle, contrite, soft spoken touch.)
“Cherry and plum trees, their blossoms do scatter,
but come on, in the end, what does it all really matter?”


Courtesy of the WSJ

The Grinch who is hostile to hanami

could there be a person who does not like this season!
Please don't ask why he is so hostile to it
I do not know the reason.

Some think the most likely reason of all

may have been that his heart was broken under hanami’s thrall.

Some think that the hanami feasts that occur under the trees

--these parties with friends, co-workers and families--
are not to his liking, no, not to his taste.
And perhaps he thinks this time spent is a waste.

Still others feel that his mind is too shallow

to embrace the depth of ephemeral beauty found in falling petals
Mayhap that’s it! He is simply too callow!

But, whatever the reason, his head or his heart,

that Grinch, he is steadfast, in the disdain he feels for hanami
when the fun and the frolicking force him to depart.

Yet the time is upon us, so please nobody sneer

for hanami time is practically here.
I know the answer: someone hand the Grinch a beer.

March: Sandstorms and Sad Anniversaries

This month has had its share of happenings. For those of us living in the Land of the Endless Tremors, March 11 will forever be an important date. Like November 22 for my parents’ generation and September 11 (for everyone in North America), March 11 carries special meaning. At the office, we marked the second anniversary of The Great East Japan Earthquake and resulting tsunami with a minute of silence for the victims—a tasteful touch. This day, after all, marks a catastrophe that devastated the northeast seaboard of Japan, killed 18,000 people, and generated the world’s foulest nuclear crisis since Chernobyl. I have traveled north several times since “3-11” as it is called here: even the nonchalant way locals describe their experience is humbling, and the effects are still being felt. Thus, the one-minute remembrance had special import for me.

On a less solemn note, the sandstorms that originate in Mongolia and China hit this year in early March, coating our car and windows with a fine silt that was, more than anything else, annoying.


Tokyo Skytree Tower amid the sandy skies

An annual seasonal weather phenomenon, this year the China sands hit in mid-May and brought the highest temperatures in recorded history with them (at one point, almost 26 Celsius)—global warming ahoy! Plus, really crap visibility and a gritty sensation on any exposed skin. Just a few more things for locals to bitch about when they talk about China as they don the ubiquitous Hannibal Lecter masks. (I won’t even touch the island territorial disputes—this is not a political blog, after all.)

In closing, an update on Marina’s ongoing vocabulary development. Her favorite words this month are (translations by the author):
1. “Unchi” (poo-poo, shit).
Example: “Hey Daddy, unchi-unchi-unchi.” Then she laughs at her own “joke.”

2. “Chin-chin” (penis, dink, junk…and hundreds of other synonyms).

Example: “Hi. Daddy has a chin-chin (points to my groin), Marina does not have a chin-chin.” Then she laughs at her own “joke” again.

3. "Oshiri" (ass, bum, derriere).

Example: [After bath time, as she runs out of my reach] “Hey, look at my oshiri, Daddy.” She turns around and wiggles her bum. I squirm and think: just don’t consider it a future vocational option.

Year In, Year Out

Already, 15 percent of 2013 is over and I still have yet to provide a visual recap of 2012.
So here it is....

January: another shot of the New Year celebrations held in Yokohama's Chinatown. We try and visit at least once a year.

 

February: it's not that cold in February, but the combination of a warm winter jacket and the thrum of the stroller wheels against the pavement tends to lead to...zzz..zzzz

March: getting warmer, we walk about. We Are The Classiest Family In This City.

April: a new school year for Lady E., below, resplendent in her school uniform. Now that she is a senior, not taking any s**t from the younger kids in the lesser classes.

May: Elena preps for the summer beach season with some mini-commando training at a local obstacle course.

June:  not yet rainy season nor squelching hot, so we went camping in the shadow of Mt. Fuji (in the background). Surprisingly, the girls enjoyed it. It was Marina's camping debut.

July: Marina's first haircut beyond Naomi's lovingly-offered "bowl-ish style cut(s)." Marina took the whole thing in stride, which was quite different from Elena's reaction the first time she went to the hair salon.

August: so busy going to the beach, camping and also visiting Canada, Marina completely lost it upon her return to normal life. The proof:

September: is still very warm in Yokohama, and we are still finding new places to play. This one features a 50-foot Godzilla which guards the kid's playground. Only in Japan...

October: cool enough at this time to have the oldest Rising Daughter's school Sports Day. These highly-choreographed, highly entertaining and voraciously videotaped spectacles would, at times, make Leni Riefenstahl blush.

November: I got nuttin' for November. So here's one I simply enjoy.

December: on December 16, voters in Japan gave the Liberal Democratic Party a landslide victory and a return to power. But once again I was shunned as a candidate for office. (Look carefully below.) Why don't voters here respond to my campaign plank, which, with one magic swig, would cure all that ails them? My plank ain't plonk, I'm tellin' ya.



Now, let's get down to the business of 2013!

Wild Yokohama Weather & Los Illuminati

On Sunday the 13th it was over 12 degrees outside with aqua skies, which is weather that compels you to drop prior plans and go outdoors to revel in the relative warmth. Taking the bait, we ventured forth to a flea market and then basked in the sun. The Rising Family ate sweet rice cakes on the beach! I had sand running through my fingers and in my shoes...in the middle of January! Warm-ish weather of this sort doesn't occur all that often, and when it does, winter becomes bearable.

The next day brought back stark reality. It was below zero, with a dark and sinister-looking gray hue to the sky. Soon, the snowflakes came: thick, wet and relentless. After several hours of floating waves of the white stuff, about eight centimeters of snow had fallen, rendering the streets a carousel of near-collisions because drivers here are not prepared for slippery roads. It snows like this but once a year. Nonetheless, summer tires in the city begat dogged, but very considerate, driving. Case in point: it took me two-and-a-half hours to drive 17 kilometers from work back to home. I had to surrender the car upon reaching a steep hill near our home; even first gear could not conquer the accumulating snow.

Next morning I saw frozen dog piss on the ice…something I do not recall ever seeing in Hiroshima and almost made me cry, so much was I longing for a few hours in my frozen hometown in Canada.

My point? Two days, two different lives. Tasty as peanut butter and jam, baby!

Los Illuminati: “Keeping up with the Tanakas”
The next day, as I navigated slippery spots and boarded the crammed bus to the train station, I pondered the visual cues that link the period from Christmas to the New Year. Then it suddenly came to me—the Christmas lights. Sometime in mid-November Japanese department stores light up the night with spectacular Christmas light decorations, soon followed by local governments that create very intricate, and quite beautiful, displays of festive lights the Japanese like to call "illumination." Japanese are eager consumers of all the trappings of Christmas and many cities outdo their North American and European counterparts in their enthusiasm for the festivities.

My neighborhood is apparently known for the Christmas light decorations that many neighbors adorn their homes with to highlight the holidays. Last year was an exception due to the power–saving conservation measures in the wake of the March 2011 earthquake/tsunami, which shut down the nation's nuclear reactors. This year, no self-restraint was urged, and so many locals decorated their houses with their stockpile o' lights. More cars than usual prowled the streets at night, so I guess the rumor is true.

Kinda takes your breath away, doesn't it?

I tried to get with the program but simply felt outclassed and out-Watted by the friendly folks next door.

Maybe next year…game on!

Also visited the Hiroshima Illumination Festival when back visiting the in-laws. Never fails to excite the eyes.

Merry Christmas

From Our Family To Yours:

 

 

Wishing you the old-fashioned pleasures of home and happy memories, and all the joys of Christmas.

Plain, Helicopters and Automobiles (Part II)

“Apocalypse Averted”
We are still here! Lots of mirth out there given that on December 21 the world was supposed to face a cataclysm or a dramatic shift in consciousness when the Mayan calendar ended. For me, the only shift I felt was the glee inherent to the transition to Christmas holidays.


Courtesy of Fox 12 TV in Portland, Oregon


“Origami Gone Wild”
One reason I am lucky to be working in the automotive sector is that I get many opportunities to drive different types of vehicles and witness how their marketing is developed and executed. Mobility is my mantra. The words become reality when the rubber meets the road. However, as a regular driver I am well aware that part of the ownership experience is the tune-ups or repairs that go with having a car.

To wit: we had our car serviced recently. I was quite satisfied with the way we are usually treated by our local dealer. One element of the generally excellent customer service you receive in Japan is the amount of small gifts they give you to show appreciation for your patronage. Tissues, coffee/tea while you wait, and doting on you while diagnosing the car’s problem or as you wait for the keys to be handed back to you after they fix it.

This time around, they gave the girls some cardboard you-fold-it promo gifts featuring their newest model being rolled out….in the form of a tissue holder!

I was intrigued. The Japanese have perfected the art of paper folding over centuries and the "origami" tradition remains strong to this day. The girls clutched the bright red puzzle given to them at the dealer showroom. Yet even as we got home, it retained their attention, which is unusual. Then we constructed the tissue box, and you can see for yourself that it is nicely thought-out and eye catching. Happy kids, happy parents, and cheap and effective marketing.

Plain, Helicopters and Automobiles (Part I)

“The Happiness Dashboard”

The Rising Family™ is a happy family. We lead a plain but satisfying life in Yokohama. For example, Lady E. will soon reach six years old; she is blossoming and is high-octane curious about life. Talkative, like her dad. M. is also speaking at length without need of an audience and laughing at her own jokes. She has staked her claim in the family unit and is a lovable little nutter.

The danger of a joyful family that is blessedly free of major problems is that it lacks the drama or fodder for stories that you, dear Reader, might find interesting. In that sense, “plain” is a pain. I soldier on nevertheless, and offer the following two tidbits from our Yippie Yokohama existence.

"Orange Hawk Down"

Background to this anecdote: The V-22 Osprey is a multi-mission, tilt-rotor aircraft with a vertical take off and landing (VTOL) capability. It has been in use in branches of the US armed forces since 2007. The V-22’s development was long and controversial, and it has been plagued by a reputation for glitches and accidents. Once the Department of Defense announced the V-22 would be deployed to Japan there has been a long and pronounced public outcry about potential safety hazards and potential for crashes in Japan’s densely populated urban areas.

Courtesy of the US Dept. of Defense

Flash forward to the present: I am a childish man. That said, I occasionally indulge in “man toys.” One such purchase was a cheap, remote-controlled mini helicopter. I brought this with me when I recently took the girls to a local park that has a wide open green space, perfect for takeoff and landings. Or so I thought.

Amid a lull in the usual jumping, screaming and climbing that goes with such trips to the park, I snuck away and pulled out my toy for a test. The trial showed the mini-heli had two directions: up (very, very quickly) and straight down. Immediately after this test I was surrounded by a gaggle of kids, mostly young boys, who materialized out of nowhere. Feeling very much the middle-aged pied piper, their enthusiasm was infectious—more tests...go go go.

 

Test flight #2 was memorable. The helicopter went straight into the heavens, remote control was severed at about 50 ft high, and it plummeted straight down into the sidewalk where the crash impact split the nose off the fuselage. Carnage!
 

My helicopter was mostly destroyed, but I was laughing my ass off. Why? Immediately after witnessing the crash of the mini heli, the group of kids surrounded the downed helicopter and, almost in unison, cried out: “It’s the Osprey!”

Who says kids these days don’t follow current events?