Karaoke AND musical shadowing (aka singing)

Karaoke is actually a word borrowed Japanese and according to dictionary.com, karaoke is formed from Kara 空, and Oke オーケストラ (Empty and Orchestra). For those who don’t know of this fun activity, amateurs sing along with songs without the vocals.

For more history on karaoke, please read Wiki’s article on it.

According to Asian room, Karaoke has been around for over 20 years in Japan alone, but has since then always been apart of their society’s entertainment. カラオケボックス or Karaoke boxes, are rooms where fans can sing to their hearts content and sometimes drinks and food with friends.

Want to sing along but can’t afford a trip to Japan? That’s ok, there’s a ton of online videos and sites for karaoke. A great way to find songs is to youtube it! You may get lucky and find an instrumental version of your favorite song.

I personally love to shadow music, AKA singing along. You want to make sure that you have the correct sounds. I do this by getting the lyrics in Kana and Romaji (as my kana skills are VERY limited). However, after I get a feel for the romaji, I stop using it and focus on listening and the kana. This helps me put sounds to Kana and improve my listening skills.

Here is an example of how I set up my lyrics for my favorite songs:

Ah, there’s a mysterious y, no idea there!

So, the important thing when shadowing is to have fun and to listen! If you know the words, try to get better and better at them. Eventually look up the lyrics to make sure you’re singing them properly and just belt out the words at the top of your lungs!

 

Amigurumi (編みぐるみ) tips, tricks, How-to’s!

Hello all! Today is a quick, cute little post. I asked my friends what I should write about and then it dawned on me, WHY NOT WRITE ABOUT WHAT I’M CURRENTLY DOING (and not studying!). By the title, it’s a little obvious that I’ve been either crocheting or knitting small, adorable little objects and so have my friends. So, Here’s some insight that I’ve gained while working on my projects! This will focus on crocheting although I am a knitter at heart.

Tools:

1) Crochet hoks. Be sure to choose a hook that allows you to maintain the proper gauge. Don’t know what gauge is? Read on!

2) Yarn needle. It’s a plastic needle that tends to be larger and thicker than a regular embroidery needle. It has a large eye to allow you to thread yarn. Yarn needles are used to sew arms, legs, and whatever else together to the body.

3) Polyfill- (or other stuffing) gotta keep that Amigurumi nice and fluffy!.

4)Yarn markers: Used to keep track of where your rounds begin.

5) Light source!

6) Yarn of course.

7) eyes (safety eyes or buttons)

Tips:

1) Start off with a middle color yarn, such as pastels, light colors, and tans. If you want to start off with black, be sure to crochet or knit with plenty of light. Light will help you see the stitches easier.

2) Practice your basic stitches (Single crochet SC, double crochet DC, chain, CH, increase ( 2 stitch in 1), decrease (2tog)) on basic amigurumi or other basic projects. You could go the scarf route but I know from experience that you get a little burnt out on it. Here’s some easy, fun projects!

Triple and Chain crochet project:

Single Crochet in the round, increase, decrease:

You may say, Wow panda, thanks for the lack of arms! Well, the ears on the bunny is to practice how to sew on some attachments. Arms and legs mean more crocheting! So, would start off with head and body shape only.

3) rest when your arms ache, and boy will they ache in the beginning!

4) Gauge is not always important as long as you have a consistent tension and use the same size hook for all parts.

5) I write or print out the pattern and mark off where I am.

Getting Patterns:

1) Make sure you’re getting it for your craft, Crochet or knit. It’s harder to find amigurumi in knit, but they are out there! Ways to find it is to use pinterest, google, etsy, lion heart brand. I tend to search Amigurumi, Crochet, (object that I want).

2) See if it’s been tested or not. This is when someone has crocheted it already and provided feedback. Some people crochet and then create a pattern and don’t always test the pattern out again. If you want to be the first, go ahead and try any and every project you come across. However, if you’re like me and have limited patience, be sure to use ones that have been tested. It helps if there’s a lot of comments and questions already answered if it’s a complicated project.

3) Be sure your project gives clear instructions of where parts go/contains a lot of pictures. I personally prefer a ton of pictures!

4)If you’re creating a character that is popular (say My little pony) be sure to look at real images of them to make comparisons.

Do you sew? If so, share some projects!

pinterest

My little pony

Ravelry

lions brand

Knit me

Etsy

 

Lolita Subculture in Japan and beyond

Lolita, and all of its substyles, is a fashion subculture in Japan. Lolita is more than wearing cute clothes that young women would wear, it’s about modesty and reviving innocence in women. This is not meant to excite pedophiles or men, but to renounce modern ideals of beauty and fashion. There are some do’s and don’ts of this fashion movement and several substyles. Please read on if you’d like to learn more about this movement of Victorian-era modest clothing.

http://www.lolitafashion.org/anatomy.html

The  basic silhouette of all types:

The basic shape is a blouse or coat top and a knee length skirt with a petticoat to shape the skirt into a bell. A headpiece and a sock/shoe combo is also important.  This basic pieces follow through to the other sub styles.

Types of Lolita:

• Aristocratic: (EGA elegant Gothic aristocrat) A subset of Gothic, Renaissance flair.
• Casual: Prefect for new Lolita or those who want a more simple version of Lolita.Casual tends to reflect which sub style it’s reflecting. For cute: colors include pastel and neutrals. Simple frills and bows should be included. The silhouette should be maintained, but not as exaggerated Simple cute tee-shirts instead of extravagant blouses can be used.

http://www.lolitafashion.org

• Classic: Mature form of Gothic Lolita. Solid and plain prints are common and replace the frills of the basic Lolita. This style wants to emphasize the Victorian and Rococo trends and style.

http://www.enjoy-your-style.com

• Gothic: Black, and other dark colors, make up the bulk of this style. Though classic goth tends to have white faces, that is discouraged in Lolita. However, other common western Gothic icons, such as crosses, skulls and bats, are used in this fashion.

http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au

• Punk:For the rebels out there, Punk also takes from the western ideals of Punk. This includes fishnets, deconstructed

http://bassia.files.wordpress.com

• Qi: Chinese inspired Lolita. Very similar to Wa (Japanese). Normally the top is a quipoa and a cupcake skirt to match. Chinese head pieces tend to replace the alice bows.

http://fanchaos.com/

• Sweet:Sweet Lolita also focuses on Victorian basics but uses lighter colors, such as pastels and creams, with frills and childlike motifs.

http://selfishseamstress.files.wordpress.com

• Wa: Much like Qi lolita, Wa is fashioned after Japanese inspirations. A styled yukata or kimono top with a obi with a cupcake bottom is very popular.

http://cn1.kaboodle.com

My Lolita (panda): if I could be any Lolita it would be a mix of cute and wa. I personally own a Wa Lolita outfit and I adore it. I feel that I’m too large and too old for Lolita but it’s important to remember that age and size is not an issue. This style is not meant for skinny, young people! This is meant for women (and men) who want to return to modest, yet adorable, style of clothing. I plan to learn how to make some of the basics (already in the process of making a skirt) and tailoring them to my body. I hope to eventually having a fully Lolita closet for home and business profession (obviously) for my work.

My Lolita (Mikoto):If I could be any Lolita it would be all of them! hahaha! I personally like the aristocratic and Wa Lolita best, but the others are also really cute and adorable. Probably the most unlikely for me to dress up as is the cute/sweet Lolita, mostly because I don’t look good in pastels. Darker colors are better for my skin tone, and compliments my personality more so.

A Quick search on Google will give you several more examples and knowledge! Be sure to post what Lolita you’d like. Even the guys! There’s a male version for all styles!

 

Kimonoland: Culture and Where to get one

History of Kimono

Although most people, when asked about Kimonos, think they are a unique thing to Japan–however, Japanese embassies brought them back from China around the 5th century AC. Over the centuries, the kimono evolved and changed to different styles. However, western style clothing and the yukata (Which I purchased) eventually took the place of a formal kimono. A kimono is often worn with geta (wooden shoes) and tabi (special white socks).  ~Kimono literally means something to wear~

Kimono yukata market sakura

Yukata

A yukata is a  single layered cotton version of the kimono. It is said that Yukatas are often worn after bathing at a Japanese hot bath but can also be worn during festivals and other spring/summer events. Because it is unlined and normally worn without an under robe, it is not advised  to wear in the fall/winter months. Yukatas are normally worn with geta without tabi socks. As with kimono, there is a version for males and one for females.For Females, married and umarried women can wear long sleeves. ~Yukata literally means bath clothes~

Buying a Yukata/Kimono

There are some important measurements that you should know of your body before seeking out to purchase one (especially if you live in a country where kimonos and yukatas are not normally sold). You want your measurement at your hips and waist. You’ll also, depending on the tailor, want your shoulder and/or arm length.

Here is a good guide on where to measure and how to do so.

Going about purchasing:

As a plus sized girl, I had to do some extra digging for my yukata. However, I was able to find a site that makes beautiful formal kimonos and yukata: Sakura Market. Sakura Market is actually located in Tokyo, Japan. As you can see, they have everything you could possibly need for a proper attire. They have the under garments, the formal kimono, obi, geta, tabi, and yukata and more! They have average sizes for children, men, and women and also plus sizes. Your package is shipped by EMS and will be given a tracking number. Shipping took about a week but you can do a faster shipping option. The prices for the yukata (non-clearance) ranges from $40USD-$70USD. The Kimonos are much more, around 80-140USD. You can purchase a obi and geta set for around 40-80USD. Geta come in two sizes, regular (7-9 US size) and small (5-6 US size).

Wearing your Yukata:

If you’re like me, you had no idea how to properly wear one! Thankfully, Sakura Market has a wonderful video library on how to wear a robe properly and how to tie an obi. Although they do not speak, mostly because they are an international store, they do the process slowly and clearly!

My Yukata:

Because I just recently purchased a house and am moving, my yukata, geta, obi, and senshu are still in their packages and will be taken out once the move is complete. I will be making a small post then with me in my yukata and a short review of it! This is what it looks like on a wonderful model!

Yukata Kimono Market Sakura

Care for Yukata:

amazon washing bag

According to their site, you can machine wash the cotton yukata! However, it is advised you use a machine washing bag, like the one shown above. However, Please, PLEASE do not machine dry it. Allow it to air dry in a safe place!

 

Religion in Japan

Hello all! Today we’ll be summing up an overview of religion in Japan, nothing to crazy here, just give you a small serving that will lead to lots more in depth contemplations. Of course, I am going off of internet sources and not any personal experiences!

According to several sources, Buddhism and Shintoism are the two most popular religions in Japan. Most Japanese who report on their religion say they are either Buddhist, Shinto, or both.

Shinto

• Shinto is said to be as old as Japan itself and is so entwined with Japanese culture that there is no real preaching or propaganda for the religion.
• It’s translation means “The way of the Gods” and Kami are the gods.
• humans are inherently good and evil is only from evil spirits.
• Modernly marriages and weddings follow Shinto traditions. (Death and funerals are left to Buddhism).
• Amaterasu is the most important of the Kami (The Sun Goddess)
• Shrines and Festivals are dedicated to showing of the Kami and are apart of traditional holidays.

Buddhism

• there are many kinds of sects of Buddhism in Japan.
• Jodo, Zen, Nichiren, Tendai, Shingon are the sects.
• Most families have Buddhist altars in their homes to respect their ancestors and funerals are done in the Buddhist way.
• Almost every town has a temple in some sort.
• There are currently 6 different structures that are associated with Buddhist templates in Japan–The main hall, lecture hall, pagoda, gates, bells, and graves.
• Sensoji (Tokyo) Temple

Although religion has a strong influence on tradition, most, when surveyed, say they are nonreligious, and only follow traditions during special times of the year.

Other religions :

Christianity:

• Less than 1% follow Christian belief.
• includes Catholicism, Protestant, Orthodox.

Islam:

• introduced in 1850, around 120,000 followers.

Judaism

• Around 2,000 users.

Although it is reported that Shintoism and Buddhism is the main religions, Japan operates as a non-religious state. Do not confuse this with their customs and their actual laws. Most also report to not practice any religion.

 

Christmas in Japan – メリークリスマス

Ho Ho Ho メリークリスマス！

Estimated less than 1% of Japanese people are practicing Christians. This doesn’t seem to in anyway stop the party hardy in Japan. Because it’s not a Japanese National Holiday, people will work and go to school on Christmas Day. Bummer eh? Rather this holiday is all about the Gs. Yeah, that’s $ Gs and not G strings. Okay okay, I take it back. hehe It may also be fun to know that Japanese people celebrate Christmas normally on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day.

Common occurrences in Japan are Christmas trees and now more popularly lights on houses. Often parents will give presents to their kids as Santa. Generally though when the kids understand there is no such thing as Santa, the gift giving like that stops sometimes. I’ve only read a few things concerning a Buddhist monk called Hotei-osho who acts like Santa Claus. I’m not sure how accurate that is, so feel free to correct me. I guess Hotei-osho is just not as popular since I have only found a few sources about him.

A lot of Japanese people view Christmas as a magical time.  A magical time for Romance! So if you’re into the present giving, you’re covered, and if you’re into the “Romance” you’re covered too. It’s common for hotels and restaurants to be booked out with reservations on days like this because everyone wants their special Christmas dream of love to be reciprocated.

Of course, just like in America, Christmas lights are very popular. You can go to all the major cities to see the beautiful lights. The picture above is from The Shinjuku Southern Terrace in 2008, JR Shinjuku Station, Tokyo. This is just one of many places in Tokyo alone that you can go and view the lights. About.com has a lot of information for holiday lights if you search for “christmas in japan” in their search engine and click on the links for pictures of holiday lights. It’ll also tell you what time to go view them, in case you’re in Japan.

It wouldn’t be a Christmas Eve in Japan if you were chowing on some Chicken. It seems that KFC decided to promote Christmas Chicken dinners to Japanese people, making a few of them believe that Americans eat chicken rather than the traditional turkey or ham. That’s okay Japan, we love ya!

Another thing that Japan has done to make Christmas more their own is the wonderful and great Christmas Cakes. Average Japanese Christmas cakes are round sponge cakes with whipped cream and fruit toppings. A lot of times more fancy cakes can have little plaques and sparklers, like the picture.

If you’re a big anime fan, you’ve no doubt seen a lot of these points covered in them. Often those big breasted lovely women are dressed scantily in Santa’s clothing and are sporting lovely cakes in their hands or perhaps sake even. Everyone loves an excuse to party it seems regardless of where they’re from.

But before you go thinking that’s all there is to a Christmas in Japan, there is yet another specific tradition out there now in Japan that just happens to coincide with Christmas in timing and shouldn’t be confused with Christmas gift giving itself. Its called oseibo. They’re end of the year gifts that express gratitude to your co-workers, bosses, relatives, teachers, friends, and so forth and so on.

People can give Popular items such as ham, cooking oil, gift certificates, beer, canned food, coffee, seasonings, seaweed, seafood, and fruits ranging from roughly 3,000 yen to about 20,000 yen. The more you want to express your gratitude, the more expensive your gift should be; at least that’s the impression I get from reading about this sort of thing.

So when did it begin? Well back in the day when the first European missionaries visited Japan before the Meiji Restoration in 1552, things like Christianity and such were introduced. It didn’t catch on until recent years when lots of foreigners started immigrating into Japan. The reason is because the Baukufu, during the Edo period, didn’t want anything Christian around. So during the 1900′s, Meiji period, it was reintroduced and started to catch on. In the Taisho period, more children orientated films and books began to show Christmas themes. It was in 1928 during the Showa period that the newspapers reported Christmas as becoming an annual event.

Wiki states:

The first recorded Christmas in Japan was celebrated with a Mass held by Jesuit missionaries in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1552, although some believe that unrecorded celebrations were held prior to this date, starting in 1549 when Saint Francis Xavier arrived in Japan to begin missionary work. Starting with the expulsion of missionaries in 1587, Christianity was banned throughout Japan beginning in 1612, a few years into the Edo Period, and the public practice of Christmas subsequently ceased. However, a small enclave of Japanese Christians, known as Kakure Kirishitan (“hidden Christians”), continued to practice underground over the next 250 years, and Christianity along with Christmas practices reemerged at the beginning of the Meiji period. Influenced by American customs, Christmas parties were held and presents were exchanged. The practice slowly spread in major cities, but its proximity to the New Year‘s celebrations makes it a smaller focus of attention. During World War II, all celebrations and customs, especially those from America, were suppressed. From the 1960s, with the aid of a rapidly expanding economy, and influenced by American TV dramas, Christmas became popular, but mostly not as a religious occasion. For many Japanese, celebrating Christmas is similar to participating in a matsuri, where participants often do not consider which kami is being celebrated, but believe that the celebration is a tribute nevertheless. From the 1970s onwards, many songs and TV drama series presented Christmas from a lover’s point of view, for example ‘Last Christmas‘ by Exile.

For those who’re practicing the true religious event, they like to perform songs, dances, and plays. For them, there is a lot more to the holiday, just like in America. Hey, I know not everyone celebrating here believes in Christianity, so it doesn’t shock me that Japan is similar, or more so less religious about it.

Well I hope that everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and all that good stuff. My family and I have had a lot of fun this year, and we’re very grateful. I also got a few JP study tools from Santa myself, which makes this kitty purrfectly happy.