Bradcat's Japanese Word of the Week...Setsu

Bradcat's Japanese phrase/word of the week (今週の言葉) is "setsu" (せつ) (節) which means "Save" or "Economise". This links with my previous blog post about the word mottainai (もったいない)

It can be combined with the word "yaku" (やく) which means approximate, or roughly.

Therefore "setsuyaku" (せつやく) (節約) is a way of describing cutting corners, or to economise. 

Bradcat's Personal Focus... Getting Around Japan - Places

I think it's safe to say, that any topic I post about visiting Japan will be heavily biased, because I'd like you to see it all. However, with such a big place, and the average holiday only lasting two weeks, I'm here to share some of the best places I visited during my time in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. This way, if you ever have the opportunity to visit Japan, you know these places are the best of the bunch (That I visited at least)

Places

Khaosan Tokyo Ninja - Tokyo

Myself and Bob with the crazy staff of Tokyo Ninja

Khaosan Tokyo Ninja was by far, the best hostel we stayed in during our three weeks. They were incredibly helpful when our plans changed last minute when we needed to change a date of check out. While most hostels (and even some hotels) would find this a pain to arrange, these guys made sure we were looked after.

As you walk into the hostel you have to remove your shoes (as with all homes in Japan) and announce "TADAIMA!" (ただいま) (Not if it's after 10pm though, as some people may be sleeping!) to which at least one member of staff will shout back "OKAERI!" (おかえり) The main desk is almost always manned except for early hours of the morning, so if you encounter any problems or need to request to borrow something (e.g. a towel, or washing powder) there is always someone there to help. There is also a suite of PCs that can be used at any time.

A spotless shared bathroom, four sinks and three showers

The entire hostel is exceptionally clean, as they offer an exchange of accommodation for cleaning. So they always have a team of five to six people on hand, to help tidy the place, which is great with the volume of travellers they have staying with them on a daily basis.

You can rent a number of items from reception, from the basics such as a towel, to the more advanced personal Wi-Fi hotspot, which is handy if you're trying to navigate around Tokyo. The hostel is located just three minutes away from the JR Sobu line, so you'll find yourself being able to access most of the big areas of Tokyo with ease.

The main team of Mi-ne, Erina, Hiroko, Rico, and Yutaka are genuinely interested in hearing about your exploits while in Japan. Each morning we were asked what we were doing that day, and on our return we'd bring them a small omiyage to which they were incredibly grateful. They showed us fantastic hospitality (Omotenashi) (おもてなし) for which we were insistent on returning the favour if any of them ever visit England (Which Yutaka will be in August, so let's make him feel welcome!)

KHAOSAN TOKYO NINJA

2-5-1 Nihombashi Bakurocho,

Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Website: Khaosan Tokyo Ninja

Fuji Ramen - ラーメン藤 - Kyoto

Fuji Ramen is located in Kyoto on Gojo Dori. It's a fairly small shop so it's easily missed, however that doesn't mean it's not popular. Depending on the time of day, it'll be either very quiet, or at capacity. It's fantastic value for money because the chef is very generous with the portions. Speaking of which, the owners were very friendly and welcoming to gaijin (we were complimented on our Japanese speaking a few times)

I foolishly had eyes bigger than my stomach and ordered a large pork ramen and chicken karaage, which I couldn't finish. It was easily one of the biggest meals I ate while in Japan! If you're in Kyoto, be sure to visit this place.

ラーメン藤 (Fuji Ramen)
15-1 Gojobashihigashi 2-chome
Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 605-0846
Website: Fuji Ramen

Chitose - ちとせ - Osaka

The award for the tastiest meal I ate in Japan, goes to Chitose restaurant in Osaka. The chef here serves some world class Okonomiyaki, as many Japanese celebrities have visited here over the years and signed his wall leaving messages of praise.

For those who are unfamiliar with Okonomiyaki, try to imagine all your favourite meat, and noodles, sandwiched between two giant omelettes, and topped with delicious sauces and seasoning. Also, leave those chopsticks at home, true Okonomiyaki is eaten straight from the hotplate using a small spatular and shovelled straight into your mouth.

Adding the seasoning...

Myself with the number one Osaka Okonomiyaki chef (spatular in hand of course)

I'm unsure if it's just my Western expectation of portion sizes, but the chefs in Japan seem to be very generous for what you pay. This incredible meal set me back ¥750 which is roughly £4, and I'm not even exaggerating when I say it was one of the best meals I ate. Bob will back me up on this one, as he isn't a fan of food with eggs, but he adored this meal.

The chef was very welcoming and spoke English very well, which is a sign he is accustomed to gaijins visiting him on a regular basis. The restaurant also has it's regulars who will happily sit next to you and drink a beer. We encountered an elderly lady during our visit who announced herself as "Grandma" or "Obaasan" (お婆さん) and gave us some sweets, explaining that Grandmothers in Japan ALWAYS carry sweets.

The atmosphere was fantastic, using my broken Japanese I was able to ask if April was a busy time of year for him, with Sakura in full blossom and many people coming to see it. He laughed and said "Every time is busy for me!"

You may have a hard time finding this restaurant as it's tucked down a few side alleys, however if you're in Osaka, please take the time to find it!

ちとせ (Chitose)
Osaka City Nishinari Taishi 1-11-10
Website: Chitose

Rock Bar Cherry Bomb - Osaka

We had an awesome time in Osaka during the evening, many bars are open quite late including this gem which our friend Hana took us to; "Cherry Bomb". It's an American themed bar located on the fifth floor of a building just off of Europa Dori. It's fairly small, it's cozy, and most importantly, it's awesome. Jesse and Monica, who are from California, set up this bar a few years ago, and it's been going from strength to strength since with events like "Taco Tuesday" and "Fryday Fry Up" attracting lots of customers from around the world.

Because of it's warm and friendly atmosphere, you'll likely find yourself talking to a total stranger as though they're your best friend. It's like something ripped straight from the sitcom "Cheers". You'll find a mash of cultures in this bar, with Japanese people who want a taste of the American style bar, while at the same time, some Americans go here to feel at home. It's a culture swap paradise, so there's always someone to talk to.

Jesse and Monica

It might seem odd to some people to visit an American style bar when visiting Japan, however sometimes you just need a few hours break from the chaos of Osaka. The guys behind the bar are always asking if you'd like more drinks, so your glass is never empty. Because this bar is cash only, they will let you set up a tab and just pay at the end of your evening... providing you can still stand after all those White Russians...

Rock Bar Cherry Bomb
Chuo Ku Higashishinsaibashi 2-4-8 5f
Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 542-0083
Facebook: Rock Bar Cherry Bomb

King Emon - きんぐえもん (金久右衛門 阿倍野ルシアス店)

We visited this ramen shop twice during our stay in Osaka, both times we received a friendly welcome and excellent service. This is actually a part of a small chain of restaurants dotted around Osaka. Like most ramen restaurants you order your type of noodle, broth, and meat, however from there, you can pay a little extra for your extras. I opted for more pork, and the serving was quite substantial, not to mention delicious. The pork was very soft, so you could easily separate the larger pieces with your chopsticks with ease.

The member of staff on "pot wash" was sporting a Steins;Gate t-shirt!

The staff speak a little bit of English, and also understand my terrible Japanese, so you shouldn't have a problem communicating. We caught the attention of the one member of staff when we mentioned popular anime Steins;Gate (click for my blog post on this anime) and I flashed my personalised business card featuring the logo from the opening credits.

The restaurant is fairly small, but not cramped, though during busy times, don't be surprised if you can't sit next to your friend. Due to where we sat (right in the middle of the bench) a small group of high school boys played a game of janken (じゃん拳) to determine who would sit next to their friends and who would sit next to the gaijins due to the lack of seats, quite amusing.

Look at that bowl of golden deliciousness

The food is really good value for money too, with two big bowls of ramen with extra pork setting us back only ¥1,800 which is roughly £10. As I already mentioned, the pork is delicious, and the broth is nice enough to drink at the end without being too sickly. 

1-5-1 Abenosuji, Abeno Ward, 

Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 545-0052

Website: King Emon

So there you have it, just a small selection of my favourite places I visited during my three week stay in Japan. If you've visited Japan and would like to share your favourite place, please leave a comment below. Have you visited one of these places? If so, please share your experience!

Bradcat's Japanese Word of the Week... Yōkoso

Bradcat's Japanese phrase/word of the week is "yōkoso" (ようこそ) which means "Welcome!"

This is obviously used as a greeting. Let's say for example you're in the middle of a Japanese zombie apocalypse and you've taken a handful of survivors into your safe house. You could simply say "Yokoso!" as you let them in.

A safe house from Left 4 Dead

You've no doubt seen a similar phrase used in countless anime shows featuring maids, or even in real life maid cafés in Japan. This phrase is "okaerinasai goshujin sama" (お帰りなさいませ、ご主人様) and literally translates as "Welcome home master!"

totemo kawaii deshou?

Thanks to Bob Jones for today's Japanese word. If you have a favourite word you'd like to see featured, please let me know in the comments!

Bradcat's Japanese Word of the Week... Arigatou

Bradcat's Japanese phrase/word of the week is "Arigatou" (ありがとう) which means "Thank you"

You've probably heard this phrase a million times in TV shows, movies, and songs. 
However most people pronounce it incorrectly. Similar to "Konnichiwa" where the emphasis is on the "N" being held which a lot of people miss, with "Arigatou" the focus is on the "R" which is more of a soft "L" sound. Try touching the roof of your mouth ever so slightly as you pronounce the "R" to make it sound a lot more natural.

There are also words you can add to change the meaning of the "thank you":

Domo arigato (どうもありがとう) Thanks a lot.

Arigatou gozaimashita (ありがとうございました) To say thanks for something that's been done for you.

Arigatou gozaimasu (ありがとうございます。) A very formal way of saying thank you.

So let's say for example you're in the middle of a zombie apocalypse in Japan, and someone smashes a zombie's head, just as it was about to take a bite out of your arm. You could turn round and say...

"Sore o koroshite kurete arigatou gozaimashita" which means "Thank you for killing it!"

Photo credit

Bradcat's Japanese Word of the Week... Tanoshī

Bradcat's Japanese phrase/word of the week is "Tanoshī" (楽しい) "Tan-oh-shii" which means "Fun"

So let's imagine if you were trapped in a zombie apocalypse and a Japanese person asked what it was like to slay a horde of zombies using an electric guitar, you could say:

"Tanoshikatta!" which means "It was fun!"

Bradcat's Japanese Word of the Week... Tomodachi

Bradcat's Japanese phrase/word of the week is "Tomodachi" (ともだち) "Toh-mo-dah-chi" which means "Friend"

So let's say you're in the middle of a zombie appocalypse in Japan, and someone asks: "dōshite son'nani ōku no buki o motte imasu ka?" (What's with all the weapons?)

You can reply with; "korera wa tomodachi desu!" (They are my friends!)

Picture source

Bradcat's Guest Feature - Graphic Designer - Thom Baker

As a new feature on Bradcat's Baka Blog, I'll be taking the time to hunt people down who have experienced Japan first hand, from people who have visited, to people that live there. Hopefully this will give me an insight into how people view culture. My first guest is Thom Baker...

Tell us about yourself, who are you, and what do you do?

Hi, my name is Thom Baker, I am an independent graphic designer specialising in branding and typography.

Why did you visit Japan?

I was offered the opportunity to go to Tokyo with Staffordshire University on a cultural visit, which was great! I've always had an interest in the visual culture of the Far East, Japan especially - from the calligraphy and landscape paintings and Hokusai woodcuts to the manga, anime and modern graphic design. There’s this aesthetic prowess from Japan that I don’t think you find anywhere else.

How long did you spend there?

Just under a week with traveling. Actual time travel going on there, got in the plane Friday, got out on Sunday after traveling for 12 hours and then got back a couple of hours after we left (I may have exaggerated this slightly).

During your time, what was one thing which stood out the most to you?

The contrasts, between the very old and traditional and the very modern and mad. Near Harajuku one side of the street was crazy, neon lights, big screens cute characters and loads of people and colour. The other side was a massive park with a Shinto shrine and a tea house of the Empress. Both stunning in completely different ways and a two minute walk from each other.

What cultural differences surprised you the most?

The simple respect there seems to be there. There's no litter anywhere and bikes left unlocked on really busy streets in the middle of the city. It felt extremely safe and relaxed despite how busy everywhere was.

What was your favourite place to visit?

Many places for different reasons. The cat cafe was just bizarre, none of the cats are actually interested in being pet, so to get their attention you buy a little tub of chicken - they're all you're friend then! Shibuya junction just blows your mind, there's just so many people, the Shinto Shrine, the themed restaurants. They were all great but some of my favourite places were just being there, on a normal street, with people going about their daily lives. I've always wanted to see a tea ceremony too, just the thought and care taken in every act is beautiful, to see and take part in that was wonderful. I haven't really answered your question! Tokyo was my favourite place when I visited Tokyo – does that count?

What was the best thing you ate or drank during your time there?

All the food was great. Two things really stood out.

We went to one of the older parts of Tokyo where it was more residential, really had a Bladerunner look about it with narrow streets and filled with neon signs and stuff. We went into a proper noodle bar which was full of locals - had some absolutely brilliant noodles, everyone was really helpful, with the staff and locals helping us order and explaining what things were.

Another one was a Bento box in this massive market, it had sushimi and miso and tempura. Really good stuff!

Would you go back, and why?

I would definitely go back! It would be great to live and work there for a bit, properly experience life there. It’s such a vibrant and colourful culture - but as I said, theres a quiet respectfulness that runs through everything. It truly is a beautiful place! I love Tokyo!

You can see Thom's work on his website which can be found here. While he was in Tokyo, Thom was kind enough to bring some gifts back for me, including the last SCANDAL album, some green tea, and a few Yen coins! Thanks for the gifts Thom, and thank you for your time for this interview.

More guests on Bradcat's Baka Blog soon...

Bradcat's Personal Focus... Cultural Care Package

When I started learning Japanese in November last year, I signed up for a lot of language exchange websites. This was mainly to help my own learning, but found myself inundated with messages from Japanese people wanting to learn English on a causal basis. I only really stayed in contact with those who were willing to help me if I helped them. I needed someone who had a decent grasp on the English language, but also wouldn't mind taking the time to explain the things I was learning.

This is how I met Mami! She was incredibly helpful in explaining phrases and defining key words for me. We'd also chat about cultural differences between England and Japan, such as education, food, and music. Whilst chatting one day, I suggested that I'd like to send her a "British care package" as a thank you for taking the time to help me out. This is what I sent to her...

Included in my package:

- Bone china tea cup and saucer
- Lots of Earl Grey tea
- Cadbury's Dairy Milk and Buttons
- Robinson's jam
- Selection of sweets (Yes, I know Maoam aren't British, but they're very popular)
- A two pence coin from the 1930's
- A CD of British musicians spanning 1970's - present

Luckily the package made it to Mami chan in one piece. I was particularly worried about the tea cup! A week later I received a message from Mami on LINE to say she'd received her goodies and would like to send me a care package too. Incredibly flattered by her generosity I obliged, and she designed a package based around things I love. Sure enough, a week later, this arrived...

Inside the box I found a small note letting me know which songs Mami enjoyed the most from the CD I'd put together, along with an contents list:

- Instant ramen noodles
- Chocolate koala snacks
- Crisps
- A Steins;Gate plastic art sheet (You can read about Steins;Gate here)
- A bottle of Ramune (Because I'd mentioned I'd seen them in a YouTube video)
- Scandal's latest single "Kagen no Tsuki" (Which I featured on my blog a few weeks ago) which came with a Haruna (my favourite member) art card

Hopefully there will be more of these packages in the future! Mami chan, hontou ni arigatou gozaimasu! (本当にありがとうございます)

Bradcat's Japanese Word of the Week... Omiyage

Bradcat's Japanese phrase/word of the week is: "Omiyage" (お土産) "Oh-me-ah-geh" which means "Gift" or "Souvenir." It's usually used when someone gives a gift to another.

For example if you're in the middle of a Japanese zombie apocalypse and you wanted to share your supplies with other survivors, you could offer the gift and say "Omiyage desu" which means "This is a gift"

When the survivor thanks you with "Arigato gozaimasu" you can reply with Dōitashimashite (どういたしまして) "Doh-ee-tash-ee-mash-e-te" which means "You're welcome!"

Picture Source

Bradcat's Japanese Word of the Week... Atsui

Bradcat's Japanese phrase/word of the week is "Atsui" (暑い) "Au-tsoo-ey" which means "Hot"

You can use this in a number of ways, for example if you were out hunting zombies in Japan around the Okinawa prefecture, you could say "Kyou wa atsui desu ne" which means "It's hot today, isn't it?"

Or if you wanted to talk about the humidity, you could use the prefix of "mushi" so it becomes "Mushi-atsui" (蒸し暑い) "moo-she au-tsoo-ey" which means "humid"

The word of the week comes courtesy of Bob Jones.

Photo credit here

Bradcat's Personal Focus... "Sean, what is it with you and Japan?"

It may be hard to believe if I told you that my love for Japan started from the day I was born. Obviously, I had no idea what Japan was at this point, the notion that I had a full understanding of countries and their governing boundaries from birth, would be ridiculous. However I was given a cuddly toy, which I loved more than anything. I’m a little embarrassed to admit it now, but I held onto this toy until the age of nine. It was only recently though that I discovered this toy’s origins, it is a “sekiguchi monchichi” toy from the 1970’s which was hugely popular in Japan.

Growing up, I moved around the country a lot, and didn’t have much time to make friends with other children my age. I spent a lot of time indoors, watching cartoons and playing computer games.  One cartoon which I loved more than any was “Samurai Pizza Cats” which, again at a young age (around five years-old), I had no idea had Japanese origins. As I grew older, I discovered more and more TV shows and animations which were either influenced, or were made in Japan. These included shows such as "Super Human Samurai Syber Squad" and "Power Rangers" and the incredible anime "Akira". These TV shows would shape my taste in movies, animation and computer games for the future to come.

"Samurai Pizza Cats"

"Super Human Samurai Syber Squad"

Back in 2007 a friend from university (Charlie) and myself visited Thailand on a whim. We’d been set an assignment title of “Travel” by our lecturer, so we went the whole nine yards (or the whole 5,280,000 yards to be exact) and flew to Bangkok. While there, we ventured deep into Thailand’s less populated areas and experienced how the “other side of the world” live. While on an excursion to the heart of one of these rain-forests, I met my first Japanese person! Her name was Sayako and she was from Tokyo. She taught me some of my first Japanese phrases and helped with my pronunciation. I didn't want to feel like I was pestering her, so I didn't bombard her with questions, even though they were numerous. 

Sayako on an elephant ride.

Myself, on quite possibly the most unsafe bridge over the river Kwai.

The whole experience really changed my perception of other cultures, and took many of my assumptions and expectations to task. I encountered a lot of challenges during my stay: even the simple things such as asking for directions. However, overcoming these challenges only enhanced my experience further. Indeed, one of the wonderful things about being abroad is that even the most mundane of everyday tasks have an air of mystery about them.

I have always known Japanese culture was something I would love to experience. One of the only countries in the world which offers the height of modern technology yet at the same time, years of rich history, from tea ceremonies to the ancient Samurai. For the past few years I have looked into the various ways of experiencing all of this for myself. My original plan was to spend time with a host family in 2011, however the country was devastated by the tsunami and was in no state to be catering to tourists. I helped the only way I could, by donating money to the relief aid. However I would’ve happily jumped on the next flight over to donate my labour. I tried again in 2012 by applying to the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) program. In this program, the Japanese embassy selects roughly 300-400 people from the UK to fly to Japan and become an assistant language teacher. The application process was painstaking, including medical wellness forms, letters of reference from university lecturers, on top of the standard paper work required when requesting to live in a foreign country. 

In the past year I have begun learning spoken Japanese on a casual basis and reading more into Japan's rich history and culture. I have learnt a lot about the key moments in the country's development, from when the feudal era ended, to the Meji period. Reading books such as "Culture Shock: Japan, by Rex Shelley" have helped me to understand where Japan's famous work ethic may have originated from, and also helped to expand my knowledge of what to expect when I eventually visit.

I have always been interested in the Japanese language, not least since it appears in a lot of the media I enjoy: music, and movies especially. I have only learnt basic phrases so far, but I have a keen interest in learning much more. I have completed level one unit one of Japanese using Rosetta Stone, and plan on continuing my learning by using a lot of books and podcasts, which are all very helpful. However I can’t think of anything more beneficial for my linguistic and cultural development than living in the country whose language and culture I want to learn and experience. I am well aware that learning a language is about much more than memorising grammar and vocabulary; a language is a way of life, and by being there in Japan I can immerse myself fully.

So yeah, that's what's with me, and Japan...

Bradcat's Japanese Word of the Week... Sumimasen

Bradcat's Japanese phrase/word of the week is: "Sumimasen" (すみません) "Suu-mee-ma-sen" which means "Sorry" or in other contexts "Excuse me"

So if you were a part of a Japanese zombie apocalypse and you have to shoot your best friend in the face because they've become a part of the infected hordes, you could say...

"Honto ni sumimasen" which means "I'm REALLY sorry"

Bradcat's Japanese Word of the Week... Sekai

Bradcat's Japanese phrase/word of the week is: "Sekai" (世界) "Sek-ay-ee" which means "World"

So if you were a part of a Japanese zombie apocalypse and someone asked you "How many people are infected?!"

You could reply with "Sekai zentai!" Which means "The entire world!"

Bradcat's Japanese Word of the Week... Damare

Bradcat's Japanese phrase/word of the week is: 


"Damare!" (黙れ!) (Dah-Mah-Rey) 
You can shout this at anyone who is being too loud, or annoying as it means "SHUT UP!"


For example, if you're a part of a Japanese group of zombie apocalypse survivors, and two people are having an argument over the last can of beans, while the zombies approach your safe-house? You can shout "DAMARE!"