Author: MyLittle Dejima

北欧女子オーサが見つけた日本の不思議 by Åsa Ekström – Re-discovering Japan with a Nordic Girl!

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Book Review
‘Nordic Girl Åsa discovers the Mysteries of Japan’ by Åsa Ekström

English Title: Nordic Girl Åsa discovers the Mysteries of Japan Vol. 1

Publisher: 株式会社Kadokawa

ISBN-10: 4040674235
ISBN-13: 978-4040674230

Language: 日本語・Japanese
Pages: 140
Price Tag: 1080 JPY

This is my first book introduction ever, or perhaps I shall say Manga introduction 🤗 It is an independent one, I just read the book, thinking to myself, this is something I want to share with other readers interested in Japan and learners of the Japanese language.

The book goes under the genre comic essays and comes in the FOUR PANEL COMIC-STRIP format (also 四コマ; Yon koma). It was published in March 2015 and somehow picked it up from the shelves some months back to keep my Japanese going, while no longer in the country. While there are no kanji readings (furigana or ruby characters) provided, the stories are not too hard to follow. I suppose that everyone with a JLPT 2 level will read through fairly smoothly.

I had to pull out the dictionary a couple times, but it didn’t hinder me from reading it all the way … やる気さえあれば (if only one has the motivation to do so). Even though there is no version other than Japanese (not yet), I think it is probably the most fun to read it in the one language because certain references and nuances of contents just come across best.
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Aiming for Gods – Dragon Ball Super・ドラゴンボール超

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Let the show begin! - Last sequence of the opening song before the curtains open to the new story arc. DRAGON BALL SUPER is being broadcasted since July 5th, 2015.
Let the show begin! – Last sequence of the opening song before the curtains open to the new story arc. Dragon Ball Super is being broadcast since July 5th, 2015.

After the movie Dragon Ball Z Resurrection (F「rieza」) earlier this year, the first new Dragon Ball episode aired in over almost 2 decades on Japanese TV since the beginning of this month. The story sets in sometime after Majin Boo‘s defeat. The earth seems to be once again freed from evil, but somewhere out in the universe a new, a mightier enemy is lurking to threaten this newly gained state of peace.
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Burn, my Cosmo! – Saint Seiya – Soul of Gold –

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Saint Seiya
「君はコスモを感じたことがあるか。」・ ‘Have you ever felt your Cosmo?’

Since April I follow this anime show, which is in fact one in many years for me. It officially airs fortnightly on DAISUKI.net online streaming service, the Japanese counterpart of CRUNCHYROLL. Contents are available for free during the two weeks, until the next show is up and running.
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桜坂 – Sakura Hill by 福山雅治・Fukuyama Masaharu

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Sakura Zaka

As the title gives away, this beautiful song plays also on the theme of Sakura (cherry blossoms). The time when Japan is plunged into a sea of white and pink flowers, is maybe one of the most romantic, on the other hand it may also be a time of longing and heartbreaks. Fukuyama Masaharu’s (福山雅治) Sakura Zaka or Sakura Hill tells such a story.

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On the move

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On the move March 19, 2015 chris.b A picture taken in the vicinity of Nagoya Castle, Aichi Prefecture. The bike abandoned in the front, a photographer taking aim in the shade of the cherry trees in the background. All this on a sunny day. One of my personal favorites.
A picture taken in the vicinity of Nagoya Castle, Aichi Prefecture. The bike abandoned in the front, a photographer taking aim in the shade of the cherry trees in the background. All this on a sunny day. One of my personal favorites.

As the warm winds blow in to lift the veil of dullness that winter imposed on everything, the newly inhaled life invigorates humans and nature alike. A feeling of encouragement and zest holds sway, things are on the move. In Japan this sentiment is emphasized by the fact that spring often marks the end and the beginning of terms. Students graduate or change schools (卒業; そつぎょう and 転校; てんこう respectively), businesses welcome new employees or rotate roles (incl. 転勤 tenkin, job relocation within the firm to other prefectures or even countries), others search for new housing (引っ越し; ひっこし). Thus, the period may be considered as a time of transitions to the unfamiliar, but also goodbyes to established habits.

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The Beauty of Words

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Just a simple post for today…

…a very nice phrase to express one’s feeling of gratitude. Translating to ‘Thanks very much for your concern / care’ or ‘I am much obliged for your concern / consideration’

「お心遣い、痛み入ります」(おこころづかい、いたみいります)

感謝の気持ちをあらわすため、とてもきれいな言葉である。このような表現が大好きで、習うとなんとか幸せに思う。

Expressing Thanks

©MyLittle Dejima

The astounding Art of Oroshi – Veggi Sculpting

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卸し (おろし; Oroshi) comes in many types, the most common one is however the 大根卸し　(だいこんおろし; daikonoroshi), which is the beloved radish that often finds its way into Japanese style dishes. Other forms of grated vegetable used as condiment (薬味;やくみ) or garnish (付け合せ;つけあわせ) are for instance carrot, ginger or potato. Radish Oroshi does not only serve as a decorative addition, but with its distinct spiciness, it also has the property of neutralizing smells (i.e. from fish). What is more, containing various enzymes, radish oroshi is also said to facilitate digestion. Thus, often accompanies fried foods, like Tempura, or meat dishes (i.e. 唐揚げ; Karaage chicken) for the purpose. Hailing from the various health benefits of radish oroshi, we can hence find the saying 「大根おろしに医者いらず; だいこんおろしにいしゃいらず」. This expression is similar in meaning to ‘An apple a day, keeps the doctor away’ in English, lit. you won’t need a doctor as long as you eat it.

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