Several weeks ago when a friend came to visit, we decided to go to the convenience store to pick up a few beers. Being a bit of a beer fan, she was familiar with names like Asahi, and Sapporo and was anxious to try new things, but she was not ready for the giant wall of beers that faced her when she opened that refrigerated door. We’ve probably all been there. Faced with so … [Read more...] about Beer, Happoshu and “The Third Beer”
Culture
How to refer to your spouse in Japanese
What you call your spouse in private is your own business, but how you refer to them in public can be a more complicated issue, especially when speaking in Japanese. In English one might casually refer to their wife as the missus, the old lady, the ball n’ chain, my better half, or wifey, but all of these are euphemisms. In plain discourse, English keeps it simple with only two … [Read more...] about How to refer to your spouse in Japanese
Jesus: The Japanese Rice Farmer
Imagine yourself taking a scenic drive through rural Aomori prefecture. Up ahead you see some road signs for a rest stop, some gas stations, the grave of Christ…wait! Stop the car! Wipe your glasses and give yourself a quick drug test. Nope, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. You have just discovered the number one tourist attraction in the little town of Shingo, Aomori – … [Read more...] about Jesus: The Japanese Rice Farmer
The Fox’s Wedding
Depending on where you are from, there are various expressions for rainfall on a sunny day. The proper term is “sunshower,” however in the Southern United States you might hear the phenomenon referred to as “the devil beating his wife.” In Japan the phrase kitsune no yomeiri or “The Fox takes a wife”, (or in other regions kitsune no yometori 狐の嫁取りor kitsune no shugen 狐の祝言) is a … [Read more...] about The Fox’s Wedding
What’s so “nama” about Nama Beer?
After work one sweltering summer day, you and your coworkers slip into an izakaya to tip back a few pints before heading home. The server comes to take your order and the first words out of your coworker’s mouth is “toriaezu nama” or “draught beer to start.” Except the word he uses, nama, does not mean draught, or anything resembling draught. Nama means “raw.” But what is raw … [Read more...] about What’s so “nama” about Nama Beer?