When it comes to nature and its’ many beautiful landscapes, I am a complete sucker for it. I have seen absolutely breath taking views of oceans, sunsets, and mountain tops. It is rare to come across a destination with such an empowering presence that it demands a personal visit. Well, one of those rarities exists in Japan. If you haven’t guessed what I am in awe of yet, I am speaking of Japan’s glorious Mount Fuji. It is definately a must see for anyone visiting the country. Some of the Most amazing views can be captured in and through surronding cities such as Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya, and of course the outter Tokyo.
Mount Fuji is in fact a dormant volcano which hasn’t been active since the early 1700’s. Now don’t let the volcano aspect of it scare you. As a matter of fact I can think of another dormant volcano that may sound scary at first, but once it’s climbed it is a stunning beauty and gives an incredibe view of mother nature’s scenery. This inactive volcano is called Diamond Head and is located directly In Oahu, Hawaii. In several instances Hawaii reminds me of Japan. Rather than settling for the similar dormant volcano, why not go for the one and only famous Mount Fuji.
Now the best time to go enjoy this goliath is usually around autumn and winter seasons. I suggest this because visibility of the mountain is at it’s clearest around those times. Also, to maximize your experience with nature I recommend staying at the Hakone resort which is located in the center of the Fujigoku region. It is also known as the Fuji Five Lakes region at the base of the mountain. I like this area because while enjoying the mountain scenery, I also enjoyed Hakone Resorts’ hot springs. An unbeatable combination to most people.
Viewing Mount Fuji from a distance is one thing. If you choose to climb the mountain, peak climbing season normally goes from July through August. There are quite a few climbing routes to choose from as well. I suggest partnering up with someone who has been on more than one route. Becoming apart of a group can prove to be useful too. I am somewhat of a exercise fanatic so I would encourge any individual interested in climbing to properly stretch first. After that, let the good times role. Enjoy Japan’s Mount Fuji and soak in all it has to offer from the views, to the culture, even the fresh air. It is a trip definately worth taking. Ja Mata!!
Perhaps it is destiny that anyone reporting on the Japanese culture and /or comparing it to the American culture, continue to do so. There must be some universal bond between the two cultures. I say this because in my comparisons with the two cultures, I have always found one thing to be very similar. That one thing is the mutual love for game shows. Japan tends to focus more on the comical side of it all and America focuses more on the reality side of things. With that being the case, what would you get if you were to combine the two?
Well if you’ve ever pondered on that, I have your answer. You would get “I Survived A Japanese Game Show”. This is the new phenomenon to hit the television waves. Best described would be “Takeshi’s Castle” mixed with “Big Brother”. Let me just add that “Takeshi’s Castle” is now a cult classic globally reaching many countries worldwide. Not bad at all for a show that was freshly on the air waves from 1986 to 1989.
It is very much a beautiful sight seeing that anyone in America who knows nothing about the Japanese culture will now get at least a small taste of Japans’ entertainment side. So, expect to see lots of kanji, hiragana, and katakana all over the place. Well…..at least on Tuesday nights. That was a heads up for all you students studying the language. Not only will you be entertained, but you’ll find lots of opportunity to learn at the same time. “I Survived a Japanese Game Show” could be the start of a new television revolution. You can only ask yourself what’s next? Stay tuned in and keep learning.
I am a big fan of manga and enjoy them as much as american comics. So if you are not familiar with manga, it’s simply Japan’s version of comic books and are normally illustrated in black and white. Comics……lol…..another similarity between the american and japanese cultures. Gotta Love it.
What I particularly like is when a comic book becomes so popular that the next level for it to go, is movie form. Take the famous japanese manga comics Akira and Death Note. And of course on the American side we have films like Spiderman and most recent “The Watchmen”…………which is scheduled to come out some time in 2009.
I can hardly wait. No matter if you are a fan of American comics or Japan’s manga, I believe everyone will absolutely love this movie. I almost did a triple flip when I saw the preview. if you haven’t seen the trailer yet, check it out here. Well, until next time keep learning and engaging yourselves in the japanese culture. Enjoy the trailer. WATCHMEN Manga
Japanese Prank Show
Ok. I’m back at it again….I just couldn’t get enough of the cheesy yet funny humor from before. So I’m back at it again with this funny japanese television video. Don’t get me wrong…..I watch these things for the cheesy lamey humor, but more so for the japanese characters that appear on screen.
I can’t stress that enough. If you don’t understand what it says, go look it up. Doing so will steadily increase your word capacity and reading & writing proficiency…..because you should also practice the character stroke order whether it be katakana, hiragana, or kanji. So, if don’t do these things already, start today. Enjoy the japanese comedy and locate, define, and memorize the japanese writing in the video. Arigatoo!! Sayonara!!
Hello everyone. it has been a little while since I’ve last posted. I thought I’d open things up with something a little light hearted. I’m sure most of you have probably seen prank shows such as ‘Punked’ or ‘Candid Camera’.
I often find myself tuning in to the most halarious shows on the japanese channels. I forgot what this particular show is called, but pretty soon you will find out why I have a change of heart when labeling New York taxi drivers the worst. I suggest you buckle your safety belt and try to hold down your food……lol. This truly is a crazy taxi. See if you can spot where it says “crazy taxi” in the video. I’ll give you a hint……….it is written in katakana. (enjoy!) Crazy Japanese Taxi Ride
Ok folks….this particular post today I found to be sort of odd yet interesting (you’ll see in a few moments). If you didn’t get a hint from the title, I am talking about the annual Japanese Kanamara Fertility Festival held in Tokyo, Japan. The part about celebrating fertility wasn’t at all a shock to me. I was amazed my the many phalluses in the celebration ceremonies.
If you dont know what I mean when I mention a phallus, I am talking about a Penis…..LOL. My apologies. I just found it to be funny, fascinating, and cool at the same time. Rock on Japan! Yeah! What an excellent way to celebrate life. Check it out in this vid.
It is an honor and a privilege to be able to make this first post. In upcoming posts I will do my best to bring you guys some cool literature, news, and learning experiences from the Japanese culture. I know you’ll enjoy……so……..Yookoso!!
