Top Japanese Movies I Recommend Seeing

Spirited Away 


Spirited Away is about a ten year old girl who wonders away from her parent along a path that leads to world ruled by strange and unusual monster-like animals. Her parents have been changed into pigs along with others inside a bathhouse full of creatures. In the movie she struggles to find a way out of the spirit world and a way to get her parent turned back to normal.




Howl's Moving Castle 


When  Sophie, a shy young woman, is cursed with an old body by the spiteful witch of the west, her chances of breaking the spell lies with a self-indulgent yet insecure young wizard and his companions in his legged, walking home. I found this movie food hilarious and quite moving. It a great movie to watch which is why I put in the top list of Japanese movies to watch.

My Neighbor Totoro 

When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby. This movie was actually aired after Grave of the fireflies this was suppose to cheer up the crowd after watching such a sad movie. Lets just say it didn't work.

Kiki's Delivery Service

Is about a young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into anew community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service. My Japanese teacher from high school had actually showed this movie in class along with Totoro.

All these movie are a must see I can not recommend them highly enough.

Grave of the Fireflies

The Grave of the Fireflies occurs during World War II. Specifically in the times of the air raids that occurred at the time. It is about a boy name Seita and Setsuko who lose their mother to the fire bombings and air raids.  The orphaned children are then sent to a long distant aunts house who take them under her care. What had been a warm welcoming by their aunt soon turned into a regretful and unwelcome guest to her household.Seita then makes a choice to live on their own in an abandoned shack. O n their own these children face hard realities of starvation, prejudice and total warfare. 

The story starts off with the death of Seita and during the film you see him when he was alive with his younger sister. The film shows the conditions of the war and how it had affected Japan. I had expected to see a united country to help other in the time of war; however I was wrong. 

During the American bomb raids many Japanese were left homeless and other who were killed. Another factor of the war was Japan's rations were low. In this story you hear of orphan's dying of starvation and hunger. Sieta and Setsok's mother had died on the bomb aid fires and their father who was in the navy had also perished. In this time in Japan Japanese did not care for the welfare of others all they though about was the household needs. They aunt had preached about doing work for the nation for sacrificing oneself for the nation. 

The mentality of Japan at the time was to endure fore the nation but what I really though was that nation should have been taking care of its people. Children were dying of starvation, people were dying right and left and during this time the government had not aided their citizens. What little resources that were left for families of soldiers who were affected by the war had been put on the black market. So families who relied on the help of the government and been put in a even more devastating position. 

When I contrast how Japan treated each other to America at the time of the Great Depression I realized Americans had fared off better. At the time of the great depression when work and food was scarce soup kitchens and bread lines had been created. Eventually relief had been granted by the government. In the time of need American's were able to rise and help the lest unfortunate unlike Japan you though in a more selfish manner. 

This movie had been made for a Japanese audience. What made this imagery powerful was the total lack of blame on the American's bomb raids during the war. It made me realize the film was directed to a Japanese audience as a reflection. To realize they way they treated each other in the was past not the right thing to do. Just because this movie was made for a Japanese audience we can still learn the moral of the movie an to make sure and realize that helping one another even during hard times is the righteous thing to do. 

Top 5 Review on Grave of the Fireflies

I have seen the movie Grave of the Fireflies and out of all the reviews I had read I chose five review

Top five review of Grave of the Fireflies

1.      http://www.nihonreview.com/anime/grave-of-the-fireflies/   

2.          http://astromeso.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/movie-review-graves-of-the-fireflies/#comment-17

3.      http://lights-camera-critic.blogspot.com/2011/02/grave-of-fireflies.html

4.      Shttp://my.spill.com/group/planettyro/forum/topics/grave-of-the-fireflies-review?xg_source=activity

5.      http://imouto.my/2008/08/10/review-grave-of-the-fireflies-%E7%81%AB%E5%9E%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%AE%E5%A2%93/

Hachiko

If you ever had a dog you would know the joy they would feel the minute you came home. As soon as they hear you enter the the door;  you see your dogs wagging his, getting on their hind legs to greet you home with licks to the face. This is how I am greeted the second I get home. But instead of one dog I have three dogs begging for my attention.  Bieng greeted by my dogs gives me a sense of home. If you had not guessed it yet, I am a dog person through and through. My love for dogs stems from their ever love, affection and loyalty. One of the best know dogs know to be loyal was Hachiko.

Hachiko was born in a farm near the city of Odate, Akita Prefecture and was the eighth of his litter. The word ‘hachi" means eight and “ko” means for “prince or duke”. Thus the name Hachiko. However in Japanese Hachiko is known” Chuiken Hachiko” which means “faithful dog Hachiko.” He has been known for his amazing loyalty to his owner even after many years  after his owner death. 

Man’s Best friend

Hachiko was adopted by Hidesaburo Ueno who was a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo. Everyday Hachiko would greet his owner at the Shibuya Station. They had this amazing bond between pet and master. This was truly an example of man’s best friend. On May of 1925 Professor Ueno did not arrive to the station that day, nor the next.  Hachikos master had died from a cerebral hemorrhage.  He never returned to the station and everyday for the past nine years Hachiko kept on waiting for the day his  master will return at the Shibuya station.

People who had seen the two together every day would bring him snack and treats while he kept waiting on his master that would never come. But everyday precisely when the train would arrive he would be there waiting.  He did this for 11 years until finally on March 8,1935  Hachiko had passed away.

Hachiko a National Symbol

The Hachiko’s faithfulness was a national sensation this had impresses the people of Japan as the spirit of family loyalty that people should strive for. In Japan Hachiko has become a symbol of loyalty. On April 1934 they build a bronze statue in the Shibuya station symbolizing Hachiko’s loyalty. Now these days its serves as a remembrance and its used today as a famous place for people to meet up in Tokyo symbolizing commitment and love of the people who meet there. Each year on April 8 people gather around the Shibuya Station for a solemn ceremony in remembrance of Hachiko

In an America the national symbol is the Bald Eagle. Maude M. Grants said “Thus the Eagle full of the boundless spirit of freedom, living above the valleys, strong and powerful in his might, as become the national emblem of a country that offers freedom in word and though and an opportunity for a full and free expansion in the boundless space of the future.” But he himself had said that in the beginning battle of the Revolution which has begun in the morning the bald eagles would fly from the nest and circled around the heads of the fighting men and screeching at them. The patriots took this at “They are shrieking for freedom.” Nevertheless I believe the eagle was not “shrieking for freedom”  but fir  he being woken up in the early morning which would be enough reason to want to scratch anyone’s eyes out.

Although the Bald Eagle became the national symbol of America is has been met with controversy. According to Benjamin he wrote, “I wish that the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country, he is a bird of bad moral character, he does not get his living honestly, you may have seen him perched on the some dead tree, where , too lazy to fish himself, he watches the labor of the fishing-hawk and when the diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it to its nest for the support of his mate and young ones, the bald eagle purses him and take it from him...” He goes on to write about how the bald eagle is a rank coward and how even a bird the size of a sparrow attack him boldly and drives the eagle out He is therefore by no means a proper emblem for the brave and honest. He even goes as far to write about how a Turkey would be more of a respectable bird compare to the bald eagle.

Although some readers may object that the bald eagle is not unsuitatble symbol I believe I would rather put trust on a dog than an eagle. I would have to agree with Benjamin Franking about the bald eagle not being the best symbol for America. 

Kawasaki Ninja Zx-6R : Its complicated

I have had this prejudice towards motorcycles for a while now. They are loud. They are reckless in traffic. They hog parking space. But it had not always been so.  As a child I thought they looked amazing and so liberating, I had one time thought of riding one when I grew up. I could picture myself riding it and experience the freedom. Then reality started settling in as I grew up. I am too much of a chicken to ride one. I am afraid of falling off or getting side swapped by a semi truck. But the real reason I don't like motorcycles can been summed up three strikes: noisy, reckless and park hog.


Strike one
 Motorcycles in traffic are annoying in two ways. First, they make me nervous. They drive up too close to me especially during traffic. I feel like I am going to hit them. What if I have to change lanes and don't see them? I feel like I can't see motorcycles until they are right next me and their little lights don't help. Second, they make me jealous As I wait in the slow stream of traffic, inching forward at a snail's pace, I see them passing though traffic without a care in the world.. I would get pissed when they would gracefully glide through traffic. My resentment got to such a point were I have fantasied about opening the door and having a motorist crash right through it but then I thought about my car so the idea was scratched off.
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Strike Two 
They are asshole loud, in two asshole loud ways. First, they rev their engines at the crack of dawn. I can hear them in the morning. I sometimes wake up so cranky and when I walk out I see the motorist revving up their bikes like that was suppose to me them look cool. But its morning and I really want to do is sleep and knock that motorist of his bike. Secondly, they set off car alarms as they speed by. Between that and the sound of their engines and the backfire, they create a serious noise pollution.

Strike Three
They take up huge chunks of parking space for cars. I have driven to parking lots of Wal-mart and if you ever been to Wal mart you just know how parking spaces can be so rare and when I "found" a good parking space there is this bike taking all that room which really only needed half. The same deal in San Francisco which finding parking is like finding gold. There will be times where chunk of parking on the right and left are unoccupied and the only car that would be able to park is a smart car.

Complication 
It was not until I walked out for my mid morning class that I saw her. She was so beautiful. Her color was beautiful,  her exterior body was beautiful even her tires were beautiful . Later I found out her name was Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R.It was so beautiful and perfect and as I saw the guy drive off with her, the scene was just as beautiful even if the sun was just rising. Now I am not a stalker or anything I just know he parks there as I walk out for class.


Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R 
What I had liked about the Japanese bike was it sporty nice and clean look. I figure if it is going to be a motorcycle it should't remind me of a bicycle. I feel like some motorcycles handles look like a bicycle and the tassels at the end do not help their case. The nice angular look and sleek body can glide through traffic without having to worry if its too bulky to pass by. Another plus for this bike is it is not asshole loud. I am able to admire it without getting a head ache. This Japanese bike gives me hope in being able to share the road with motorist in peace- as a car driver of course.

Japanese Pizza Random or Ingenious?

As I read Greg Scott's article What the Japanese Put on Pizza I thought of how I have become very conservative with the toppings on my pizza. I thought I was such a rebel when I decided to have pineapple with pepperoni on my pizza instead of ham. But Greg questioned our American way of Pizza  as to where has our creativity gone?

Seafood 
In his is article he talks about how a variety of seafood is put in pizza. We as Americans have limited our seafood to sardines and maybe shrimp. Japanese dare to put squid, octopus, scallops, salmon and clam  on their pizza.

Egging your Pizza 
What I found interesting in Gregs article is Japanese also put fried egg on their pizza. Although my first though of an egg being anywhere my pizza was ridiculous. The more I thought about it, the more the idea started appealing to me. It made me think of a breakfast sandwich I made myself one morning and having the combination of yolk and bread was so amazing. Having the thought of an egg in my pizza had started to appeal to me.

Vegetable You didn't think of Putting in Your Pizza
Putting vegetable in your pizza would have been a great way to eat pizza guilty free. Also wold helped wing an argument against your mother about eating your vegetables. Vegetable that are found in Japanese pizza would be corn, ginger, nori (seaweed), eggplant, however traditional toppings such as onion, mushroom, and peppers do make an appearance.

The sky is the limit. Food can be so creative and we should not limit ourselves in exploration of new foods. It may not always come out good but there are times where you will find a great combination that works for you.

Gaki no Tsukai

Gaki No Tsukai Hospital 

Also know as the no laughing game. It is a Japanese popular show where five comedians are put together for 24 hours. There is the Dowtown duo Hitoshi Matsumoto and Masatoshi Hamada. Then there is the Cocorico duo who are Naoki Tanaka and Shozo Endo. Last but not least is Hosei Yamasaki. He is often singled and out and made fun for not being a duo.

The objective of the game is not to laugh, the only reward you get is avoiding getting hit or punished by one of the guys holding a stick. Punishment may vary depending on which series you are watching. In the Onsen theme, darts were blown to their butts.

The sample video that I show is from the Gaki no Tsuakai hospital. This is one of the first episodes that I saw and it had me cracking up. The No Laughing game involves a group of comedians dressing up either as nurses, spied, high school students all really depend on the years theme. This show has been haring on Nippon Televison since October 3, 1989 and is till on to this day. The newest one came out just this year and it called the Airport.

Mini Games
In the Gaki no Tskai game they have a variety of mini game and every year create new ones. It gives the show a  new element and anticipation as to what will they come up for this year. Some of the common game they have each year are:

Mui Tai Kick- Professional Mui Tai fighter kicks the guys on thier asses. ( Really hurts try having a boxer punch you in the face)

Tag Game- In this game the comedians are chased by men in black suits and depending on the sign they are wearing on their chest depends on the punishment they will receive if they are caught. Some of the demons (refers to the people in black suits chasing the comedians) are:slipper, Biting,  Harisen (large fan) and random ones such as the cigarette break man (when catch you take a cigarette break with him).

Shivering in Terror - where they go through corridors at night and get frightened. This is mainly just to see the comedians get scared.

Here is a link that can show you all the episodes of Gaki no Tsukai so if you have time and you love comedy feel free to watch. Gaki no Files

Endo and Tanaka 

Matsumoto and Hamada

Yamasaki