| Raising
a Blonde Samurai:Moving to Japan with Kids ~ Page 2 |
| SHOPPING
Vendors shout
“Irashi-mase” (ee-rash-i mas-ay: “I’m at your service”) along shopping
streets everywhere in Japan. In the early morning uniformed employees practice
their customer greetings in unison. Customer service here is perhaps number
one in the world. Elevator girls, doormen, customer service and information
centers, cashiers; all wear clean, starched uniforms, and everyone is exceptionally
polite and helpful.
Our blender
broke after only a few months of use. |
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We took it
back, and it was replaced immediately without question or receipt. When
a company is expected to repair something in the house or make a delivery,
an appointment is made and they actually show up, precisely on time.Once,
when a repairman was expected, he arrived early. Instead of ringing our
bell, he waited on the road in the rain for the pre-arranged appointment.
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Some large
department stores offer areas for kids to play. Iwataya in Fukuoka has
a popular babysitting service where you can enjoy shopping in their high-end
department store free of distraction while the kids are entertained. Parents
are given digital pagers. |
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As one of the
wealthiest countries in the world, I am sure Japan has the largest, most
discriminating shopper population on the planet. Things can be expensive
but quality is high and plenty of bargains can be found during sale season
at large department stores.
By shopping
around we’ve found international and health foods, discount groceries,
membership stores, dollar (100 yen) stores, American toys, English books,
antiques, recycled appliances and furniture, factory outlets, and amazing
electronics.
FESTIVALS
and SPECIAL DAYS
Festivals and
special days are frequent, on average more than once a month. |
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Offshore
Resources Gallery
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| Children are
invited to enjoy the festivities, and our son happily joining in is one
of our finest memories of Japan. Note: please reconfirm dates, some change
with the year to coincide with weekends.
Families picnicking
under spring blossoms, strolling along canals lined with flowering trees,
children playing badminton, seniors dabbling in watercolors; sounds like
a scene from the 1800’s, but this is Japan in the 21st century. “Hanami”
(han-a-mee: cherry blossom festival) is the end of March or early April
depending on winter’s effect on the delicate pink and white buds. Companies
hold annual picnics, and family and friends flock to the parks to sit under
the “sakura” (sak-oo-ra: cherry blossoms), which last about a week. Adults
hang out drinking sake or beer; parties begin early in the day and last
until the wee hours. Kids play and run throughout the parks (partiers’
picnic sheets hold their spot for the day). Along paths under the blossoms
“Yakitori” (yak-ee-toe-ree: Japanese barbeque) is served up. The largest
viewing area in Fukuoka has 3,390 trees; Hanami is deservedly world famous
and a must while living in Japan. |
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Little children
dress from head to toe in traditional garb for their special days: March
3 is “Hina-matsuri” (hee-na-mat-soo-ri: girl’s day) when elaborately dressed
“Hina” dolls (dolls dressed in historic costume depicting the royal family)
are on display countrywide.
May 5 is
“Kodomo-no-hi” (ko-do-mo-no-hi: children’s day but especially focused
on boys), during the weeks before colorful carp wind socks fly throughout
the cities and countryside, and reproductions of samurai armor are displayed.
November 15 is “Hitchi-go-san no-hi” (hitch-i-go-san no-hee: seven, five,
three day), girls 3 and 7 years old, and boys 3 and 5 receive a blessing
and candy from the priest, thanking the gods for allowing them to survive-
years ago many children died young. |
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Every area in
Japan has special regional festivals. Dontaku (don-tak-oo) is Fukuoka’s
citizens’ festival which is held on May 3 and 4th during Golden Week. A
celebration near Hakata Port many events are held including a large parade
when old and young alike dress up in costume and parade through the streets-the
festival attracts more than two million people.
Yamakasa (yam-a-kas-a:
men’s festival for the spirit of Hakata people) dates back 750 years. Young
boys begin by helping with the event and after a number of years can finally
join the race signifying their passage from boyhood to manhood. Held midsummer,
July 15, men in diaper-like thongs race with seven enormous, elaborate
floats decorated with life size dolls. Floats weigh over one ton. Many
more floats are on display throughout the city.
Hojoya (ho-jo-ya)
began in 919 and now attracts 1.6 million people. Beginning with a Shinto
ritual, birds and fish are set free to symbolize respect for all animals.
Held Sept. 12-18 at Hakozaki Shrine in Fukuoka, some 700 stalls are set
up with traditional games and food for sale. Freshly harvested foods at
the shrine signify the changing of season from summer to autumn.
“Hanabi”
(han-a-bee: fireworks) displays in Fukuoka are stunning. One hanabi event
held at Fukuoka Momochihama beach in July lasts well over an hour, and
is presented simultaneously at two ends of the beach. It is choreographed
to music played out of enormous speakers. Hundreds of thousands of people
attend and the calm comings and goings of such a crowd is impressive. Everyone
relaxes on their picnic mats for the elaborate show- best of all, it is
free. “Yukata” (yu-ka-ta: summer kimono) clad teenage girls are a beautiful
and common site during the summer events.
Golden Week (28
Apr.-May 5), New Year (Dec. 31-Jan. 3) and Obon (around August 15,
3-7days) are times to avoid travel in Japan. They are national holiday
periods, many people take vacation and prices can double or triple.
THE
ARTS
Concerts of
traditional taiko drums (tai-ko: traditional drums) are held frequently
and sometimes free in the parks during festivals. The famous taiko group
“Kodo” is highly recommended. We’ve attended classical music, rock, pop
and jazz concerts here by international and Japanese artists, always well
organized and enjoyable. Kids are seen and welcome almost everywhere. Museums
and galleries show world class exhibitions- Monet, Van Gogh, Egyptian exhibitions
from the British Museum and priceless Chinese national treasures are just
a few.
It is tradition
in Japan to learn the art of appreciating beauty in all of our surroundings.
From hand woven silk obis (kimono belts) to ceramics to origami (o-ree-ga-me:
paper folding). In Japan, art is part of life.
SOME
CUSTOMS
Often we see Japanese
bowing while talking on the phone. Bowing is respectful in Japan. Everyone
does it. Different levels of bows will be observed; I have seen children
bowing to a grownup to say “I’m sorry”, a maitre’d nearly touch his nose
to his knees to thank us for dining at his restaurant, I execute a formal
"get out of my way!" bow to drivers blocking my car. We bow for hello,
thank you, goodbye, excuse me, and just about every other expression imaginable.
Gas station
attendants bow in thanks and to show respect. Immaculate service station
attendants usher us into the gas station bowing, start pumping the gas,
clean all the windows, ask if there’s any garbage in the car and when finished,
they’ll stand on the road bowing to stop traffic and to make it safe to
leave. Getting a tank of gas makes me feel like royalty.
Going to someone’s
home, we always bring a small gift. Stock up. These gifts are given frequently
with food items most appreciated. Japanese always bring gifts back from
trips, even if it was just to the next city 3 hours away. It is an important
custom.
In many places-
homes, some schools and even offices, we’ll be expected to take off our
shoes. Telltale signs such as slippers ready to slip on and other people’s
shoes at the door are clues. The habit keeps the street dirt off the indoor
floors. Once indoors, we must be prepared to go one step further going
into a tatami room or onto a special carpet- there it is recommended to
remove the slippers as well. Young kids adapt to the habit quickly and
parents learn to keep up or risk their toddler running down the street
alone while they are still trying to get out the door. Many Japanese wear
shoes with laces but leave them tied very loosely in order to slip them
on for a quick exit.
*We live
in Fukuoka City, on Kyushu, southernmost island of the main island chain
of Japan. Some things in this article will be different from other areas
of Japan; everyone’s experience will vary.
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