Kodo: The Way Of The Fragrance

Kodo is one of the major arts in Japanese culture. Though it may not be as widely known around the world as the tea ceremony or flower arrangement, it is just as important in their culture. In fact, according to tradition, any woman of good birth should learn kodo. In simple English, kodo is all about fragrant wood or incense. Though this art may not be as popular as the other two mentioned above, we can see similarities in the popular art called aromatherapy today.

So what is kodo all about? It is also called The Way of Incense and focuses on the use and appreciation of incense. For the uninformed, all incense might seem the same but there are, in fact, different kinds of incense. The important thing about this art is that it involves more than the art of smell. In fact, the Japanese place more importance in “listening” to the incense – that is, opening up your other senses as you inhale the scents of the incense.

According to tradition, the art of kodo has 10 physical and psychological benefits. These are:

Haha no hi

On May 11 of this year, many countries around the world celebrated Mother’s Day. This celebration is something that spans cultures and races all over the world. In Japan, it is known as haha no hi. Though Mother’s Day originates from the ancient Roman and Greek civilizations, it was not till after World War II that it was introduced to Japan.

We all have our own ways of celebrating Mother’s Day and giving honor to the woman who gave us our lives. How do they do it in Japan? Ever since the practice was introduced in the country, the custom was for people to give carnations to mothers. Though some people prefer to give white carnations, as they are thought to symbolize the virtues of motherhood, the color red is preferred in Japan. Of course, many people give other kinds of flowers during this day as well. One thing that is not too common during Mother’s Day is to give cards to mothers, though this is quite an acceptable practice as well.

Another practice for Mother’s Day is for children between the ages of 6 and 14 to enter art contests with their mothers as the subjects of their works of art. This is another way of honoring their mothers. More often than not, an exhibit of these drawings is displayed from one country to another in order to showcase the talent of the children and to give more honor to their mothers.

Kodomo no hi Or Children’s Day

In the last post, I talked about Hinamatsuri, or the festival for girls. Though this is quite an important part of Japanese culture, it cannot be denied that there is another similar festival that puts the nation at a standstill - Kodomo no hi. Kodomo no hi is actually Children’s Day and takes place on the 5th of May – yes, yesterday. It is considered a National Holiday and is meant to celebrate children (of course) and their varying personalities and to wish them happiness.

It was not always known as Children’s Day, however. Prior to 1948, when it was changed to Children’s Day and proclaimed a National Holiday, this day was called Tango no Sekku, or Boys’ Day. This was also known as the Feast of Banners.

The reason behind the Feast of Banners tag is that tradition dictates that families fly fish banners or fish kites on this day. These fish are actually koi and the banners have come to represent the hopes of the parents for their children – in particular, their sons. Koi fish are known to be full of energy and courage and they can swim against strong currents.

Today, Children’s Day is celebrated all over the country for both boys and girls. Many Japanese communities outside of Japan also celebrate with festivities of their own. Indeed, those fish kites flying are a sight to behold.

For Doll Lovers Only: Hinamatsuri

Japan is well known for its exotic festivals that attract people from all over the world. For the Japanese, though, these festivals hold much deeper meanings than merely showcasing what their culture has to offer. One of the longest running traditions in the Japanese culture is called the Hinamatsuri, or Japanese Doll Festival.

Hinamatsuri started way back in the Heian Period and has its origin in an old Japanese belief that dolls contained evil spirits. In the old days, dolls made of straw were sent floating down the river out to the sea. The goal was to send away the evil spirits.

Today, the festival takes on a different light and is celebrated on the 3rd of March. The festival is actually aimed at little girls, wherein the family prays for their happiness, safety, and prosperity. Those who take part in the celebrations display special dolls if they have girls in the family.

Another name for Hinamatsuri is Momo no Sekku, which translates to Peach Festival. The dolls which are displayed are called Hina dolls and they are placed on tiered platforms with following configuration:

• Sitting at the top center are Emperor and Empress. They are wearing the twelve-layered ceremonial robe called juhni-hitoe).
• On the next step stand three Court Ladies.
• On the 3rd step play five Musicians.
• On the lowest two steps are miniatures of tableware used to serve these people.
• Small set with Court house: two Warriors guard the Court people.
• On the right are peach blossoms.

This configuration actually follows the hierarchy of the Heian Period Imperial Court.

Miuro: Music Robot

Are you tired of having to crank up the volume of your stereo or computer just so you can hear your music from wherever you are in the house? Then the Miuro is the gadget for you. Miuro is fondly called the music robot and it promises to add a new dimension to your listening pleasure.

Shaped like an egg, it is 14 inches long and comes in white, black, yellow, and red. Miuro is made by ZMP Inc. in cooperation with Kenwood – giving you the assurance of high quality sound.

So what makes Miuro better than other music players? Aside from the fact that it can roll around and groove on its own, it can stream music wirelessly from the PC. It can also be connected to your iPod. What I really like about this gadget is that it is equipped with a camera, a sensor, and a remote. These things allow the user to “beckon” to the Miuro wherever he is (within range of course) and it will come to him – cleverly avoiding obstacles in its way.

It doesn’t stop at that though - once it locates the user, the Miuro positions itself so that it will be at the optimal distance for the best sound quality. THEN, it moves around to the beat of the music! Now, all that is hard to beat!

So how much does this thing cost? Prepare about $1000 (maybe a little under it).

Miso And Its Health Benefits

While we are on the subject of miso, let me share with you the health benefits of this wonderful soup. Though, of course, its primary purpose (at least for me) is to satisfy my tummy and make me feel better, miso does have potential health benefits. I ran across this article from Associate Content written by Scott Kessman. In it, he details the benefits that miso soup can give to our health.

For women, consuming a bowl of miso a day can help keep breast cancer at bay. The reason for this lies in the inherent nature of the main ingredient, which is fermented soy bean. Another thing about miso is that it is supposed to regulate the production of estrogen in women. This, in turn, helps keep tumors from developing.

Miso also contains a whole lot of other nutrients such as Vitamin E and Vitamin B12. These vitamins help in increasing our immune system. In addition to these, miso contains antioxidants. We all know how antioxidants have come to the forefront because of their anti-aging and anti-cancer properties. Of course, miso contains protein, making it a good alternative to other protein-rich food such as beef and pork.

How about the other ingredients in the soup? The seaweed that is normally included in the dish is purported to have the effect of lowering cholesterol levels. Combine the seaweed with miso paste and what you get is something to help combat problems related to nicotine.

Indeed, miso soup is not only food for the soul but for the body as well!

Miso Soup: Comfort Food

The past few weeks have been quite harrying for me and more than once, I found myself hankering for a big bowl of miso soup. What can I say? This, for me, is one of the best things to have when I need comfort food.

Japanese miso is perhaps the most popular soup that is included in their meals. It goes with anything, really. Miso is basically soy bean paste and is used as a base for the soup. Other ingredients are added to the soup, which is light and at the same time hearty, especially if fish is added to it.

There are different variants to miso, but here is one that I normally use. It is very basic and the ingredients can be found at most Japanese grocery stores.

Ingredients:

Miso paste (red)
Leeks
Japanese silken tofu
Salt
White fish cubes

Here’s how to make it:

Boil about 4 cups of water. Once it reaches a boil, put 3 heaping tablespoons of the red miso paste and stir vigorously. You can use less or more of the paste, depending on your preferences. Let the soup simmer for a minute and then add the fish cubes. Let it simmer for another 3 minutes and then put the leeks and the tofu in. Stir the soup again and let it simmer for another minute. Add salt to taste.

It would be better with some seaweed and some dashi stock – this adds more taste – but sometimes dashi is hard to find in my area. Sometimes I also add a bit of onion for added taste.

Japanese Tonkatsu Recipe

Japanese food is one of the best cuisines in the world. Who has not experienced that craving for Japanese food at least once in their lives? For me, it is more like once a week – at least!

One of my favorite dishes is pork tonkatsu. It is one of the most basic dishes in Japanese cuisine. I am sure that most people have tasted tonkatsu or at least know about it. It is basically lean pork slices cut to about 2 centimeters thick. This thickness could vary, of course. The meat is dredged in a breading of some sort and then fried. The result is a crisp outside covering steamy and tender meat. Tonkatsu is usally served with bowls of steaming rice, dipping sauce, and shredded cabbage (or bean sprouts in some cases).

How to make tonkatsu? Here’s a simple recipe that I found over at Tokyo Cube.

Ingredients - Serves 4 people
• Pork loin steak - 4 slices
• Plain flour - 3 tablespoons
• Bread crumbs - 50g *
• Egg - 1
• Salt and pepper - a little
• Vegetable & Fruit sauce - suitable amount *

Step 1 - Prepare
In preparation, cut small incisions into the surface of the Pork just to tenderise the meat, particularly in the muscle and fat areas, to help make the meat a little softer. Once the meat is tenderised, sprinkle salt and pepper onto both sides.

Step 2 - Add Ingredients
Add the plain flour to both sides of the meat and place directly into the bowl containing mixed raw egg. After thoroughly soaking the meat with the raw egg, put the bread crumbs all over the meat.

Tip: After adding flour, shake off meat to avoid the breadcrumb coating coming off after cooking.

Step 3 - Heat and serve
Carefully submerge the meat in a saucepan of oil, first heating each side for 2 minutes at 150 degrees. Then, increase the heat to 180 degrees and continue heating for a further 1 minute. Once the meat is cooked through, slice into suitably sized pieces and serve with vegetables. Finally, drizzle vegetable & fruit sauce over meat and enjoy

Try it this weekend!

Cherry Seeds To Go To Space

Japan has long been known for their cherry blossoms. In fact, it is a matter of honor for the Japanese. For hundreds of thousands of years, cherry blossom season has been observed as an important ritual for the Japanese as well as people from all parts of the world. Indeed, many travelers choose this season to visit the country. And why not? The beauty of the cherry trees blossoming is something to behold – an experience not to missed.

This time, the Japanese government is carrying their pride and honor to another level. Cherry seeds are set to be sent out into outer space. The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, has just approved a proposal for cherry seeds to be sent to the International Space Station which is orbiting the earth. There is currently a Japanese laboratory at the Space Station.

The people behind the proposal belong to the Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation, which is a private group of companies. Their idea is to send the cherry seeds to the Space Station in order to find out the effects of being in outer space on them. They will be staying in outer space for six months.

Of course, there is more to it than that. The cherry seeds will be traveling to space together with other seeds such as lilies and violets. According to Yuko Otake, a spokeswoman for the consortium, “Scientific observation is one reason. But we also want the seeds to travel in space on our behalf as few ordinary people can go now.”

Cigarette Vending Machines That Can Check Age

Trust the Japanese to make use of technology for very practical reasons. This is, in fact, one of their strongest points, in my mind. They have been gifted with the aptitude for innovations when it comes to technology and they have not hesitated to make use of it. As simple as things may be, the Japanese are known to be able to create applications that are quite useful.

One of the latest things that the government is working on is to enable their cigarette vending machines to be able to check the age of the buyer using his or her driver’s license. An AP article gives more information:

The Finance Ministry plans to allow a new type of cigarette vending machine that accepts driving licenses for age verification, in addition to those that read “taspo” smart cards, sources close to the matter said Sunday.

The move is planned because vending machines with the taspo card function have proved unpopular, probably due to the extra procedures required to obtain the integrated circuit card, they said.

In order to prevent underage smoking, Japan plans to restrict access to cigarette vending machines to adults carrying taspo cards by July.

Vending machines that check a buyer’s age by reading a taspo card have already been introduced in some areas, including Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures.

But according to the Tobacco Institute of Japan, only 8 percent of the around 26 million smokers had applied for the cards as of April 13.

To obtain the taspo IC cards, consumers need to fill out applications distributed by tobacco shops and to mail them to a designated address together with copies of personal identification papers such as a driving license.

The new type of vending machine, to be approved by the ministry, can verify a cigarette buyer’s birth date when a driving license is inserted in it, they said.