Earthquakes

One thing about Japan is that there are many earthquakes that can be very dangerous and many lives are killed from them.

The worst earthquake in Japanese history hit around Tokyo and the Kanto plain in 1923 and 100,000 people died from this tragedy called the Great Kanto Earthquake. Sometimes when an earthquake happens under an ocean or lake a tsunami takes place. A tsunami is a giant wave.

At my father's office he works on the fourth floor and if an earthquake happens they have to be prepared. Some company made a device for them to help during an earthquake if there is not enough time to go down the stairs or through the escalator. It is a long medal bar that shoots a harness to the bottom of the building through the window and there is also a harness at the top by the window. Someone gets into the harness at the top and then goes down and then the harness at the bottom comes up and its a push pull reaction so that more people can get down during this emergency.

Seijin No Hi

Two days ago was a national holiday called Seijin No Hi, or Coming of the Age Day. On this day all 20-year olds come to these civic centers and shrine to celebrate becoming of an adult. Now they have the legal rights to do things like vote, smoke, drink, and do things without parental control.

This is a day of tradition, fun, and advice in which the elder give to them about entering adulthood.

Even though this is a day of fun this day is also very expensive for the 20-year olds. Although the women in their beautiful kimonos and the men in their new suits or traditional kimonos are stunning they are also very expensive. To rent them they cost anywhere between $550 to $1,000, to buy them cost $4,000 to $10,000! On top of that they have to pay for assistance getting dress and hair appointments. You have to have an appointment scheduled 6 months in advanced to go to the beauty parlor!

Traveling differences

This year for Christmas through New Years we went on a three week vacation. Our flight back to America the carts for luggage were free but the security was really rough. We had to take off our shoes and jackets and empty our pockets. Since we had laptops we had to take them out of our bags so they could scan the batteries. Everything in our bags that are checked has to be scanned along with our carry-ons. It was a 17 hour flight back to America. After staying in America for three weeks we went to the airport and went through security again. This time it was a lot different. First off we had to pay three dollars for the carts at the American airport. The security was the same, but once we arrived in Japan it was totally different. We didn't have to take off our shoes or jackets or anything like that. it was entirely different and less strict. I asked my mom why it was like this. She said that after 9-11 America couldn't take any chances. Too many people have tried too many things to hurt Americans. There have been incidents where people have tried to bring a bomb on the air plane in a water bottle to people putting grenades in stuffed animals.
In Japan it's not like this at all because people don't do things like this. There are barely any crimes there for two reasons: one because their jails are actual jails. It's a little room with a hard cot for a bed and it's cold and there isn't a TV. The only entertainment they have is once a week a little cart comes by with books on it and you get to choose one. Number two because people their care about their families and for them to cause a crime or something would bring shame to their family. Imagine you being the first one in hundreds of years to bring shame to your family. How would that make you feel? That's the other reason why there aren't many crimes there.
Since there are very little crimes there the security and things at airports aren't near as high. It's also a lot more safe in Japan and you don't have to worry about being kidnapped or anything.

That's one of the many differences between Japan and America.

Minami-Sunamchi Temple

The other day my mom and brother and I went to Minami-Sunamachi. My mom was so excited to show us this temple that she had seen. After getting out at Minami-Sunamachi station we had a little walk. We saw many cool things. The flowers and trees are becoming such beautiful colors at this time of year.
Once we reached the place where the temples where we looked at all of these statues of people who had died. I was thinking that maybe they had protected Tokyo and that is why there gravestones and the area around it was so beautiful. One thing that our mom wanted us to see was what the people did once they came up to the temple. We just stayed quiet and watched their actions for a while. What they would do is they would go up to this pretty fountain where the water comes out of the dragons mouth and get theses cups and wash there hands from the fountain. Then they would buy incense. Next they would walk up to this covered fire and burn there incense. I saw many people after they burn it they would cover themselves with smoke. Then they would enter the shrine usually bowing before they walk up the stairs. Once they got in they would pray.
Later my mom and I were looking at these wood pieces with Japanese writing on them. There were many of them hanging up. After that we walked over to this big sign and stared at it like we knew what we were reading. Then this older Japanese man walks up and ask my mom "Do you know what that sign says?" She turned around and looked at him and said "Have no clue.... do you know what that sign says?" Then the man started laughing and said "Yes! But it is very hard to uh translate! into English." Then he looked at t and started reading to us what it said. It turns out that there are many different types of Buddha and this temple worships one of them. He said that this temple garuded and protected Tokyo when a horrible disaster hit. We had no idea what he meant by a horrible disaster though. Then we had a little conversation about ourselfs. Next then man turned to look at us and said, "I must go pray now" making his hands in the prayer simbol. Then we said our goodbyes. It was a very interesting experience for us and for him. I'm sure that it was fun for him to meet some Americans and to be able to practice his English on us.

Pictures

Chopsticks

I'm sure all of you have heard of the Japanese eating utensil, chopsticks. Now that I live in Japan pretty much whenever you eat use chopsticks, even corn and peas! Chopsticks are made of Japanese yew wood and are given to guest at most Japanese restaurants.
There are many manners with chopsticks; You are not suppose to wave them in front of food dishes deciding what you want to eat, to bring a bowl closer to you by grabbing it with your chopsticks, grabbing a bowl in the same hand your chopsticks are in, and it is very rude to stab your food with your chopsticks or leave with your chopsticks straight up in your food, this is how the Japanese honor the dead.

Kimonos and Yukatas

The kimono and Yukata are Japanese traditional style dresses. A Yukata is a kimono but is built for the summer and is more casual. It is also worn after bathing in traditional Japanese inns. The Kimono is the national costume of Japan. Kimonos are T-shaped robes that rap around your body and are tied with a belt. There are many different types of these clothing for women, men, and children. There are special ones for weddings too. These elegant Japanese style dresses can be seen all over Japan.