WIT Life #160: 電気予報
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
The title of this post is not a misprint; I purposely typed 電気予報 (denki yohou or electricity report), not 天気予報 (tenki yohou, or weather report). According to this morning’s news, in order to deal with the expected uptick in electricity usage during the summer months, there is a proposal being floated around of providing electricity news via TV and radio periodically throughout the day. The purpose is twofold: to try and decrease mandatory blackouts and increase awareness of energy conservation. These reports would include forecasts of supply and demand in specific areas, as well as directions regarding usage. This is an interesting concept, and certainly not foreign for a country whose news regularly provides Read More
WIT Life #159: UN Messages of Solidarity with Japan
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Last week I had an interpreting assignment at the United Nations Department of Public Information, and while there I had the chance to learn about a new webcast series featuring UN Messengers of Peace showing their support of Japan during this time of crisis. Currently there are 8 of these public service announcements with the bilingual tagline “Japan we are standing by your side (みなさんを応援しています).” They are offered by prominent figures such as Ban Ki-moon and Michael Douglas, and I particularly like the one of Stevie Wonder which closes with him saying, “Japan, I love you!” to the tune of his famous song. All of the spots have Japanese translations at the bottom, and they are scheduled to be shown in Japan by NHK and other providers. They began at the end of March and are scheduled to continue throughout the year, so make sure to check them out as new messages are added!
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Japan’s recovery efforts continue to take place, and while it is easy to feel helpless in the face of the disaster’s aftermath we can each help out in our own small way. I would like to highlight some upcoming events that will enable you to contribute to the cause 
while enjoying good food and music.
First up is Dine Out for Japan Relief, a week-long event in which the 70+ participating restaurants are donating 5% of their proceeds to Japan’s tsunami recovery and relief efforts. There are many familiar Manhattan Japanese favorites like Read More
WIT Life #157: Bye Bye Kitty!!!
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the opening for the Japan Society’s newest exhibit, Bye Bye Kitty!!! The title refers to opposition towards the domination of Japan’s kawaii-ness, the idea of cuteness that has become Japan’s major export as represented by Hello Kitty. It features 16 artists, many of them quite young and not household names, and their interpretation of this concept. I was particularly drawn in by the intricacy of the works of 38-year old Manabu Ikeda, whose pen and ink masterpieces were incredibly detailed and required several minutes of close examination to take in all of their elements.
Equally interesting was the large-scale Read More
WIT Life #156: 4th Annual Peace Festival
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Like most of you, I have spent the last couple of days glued to the coverage of the earthquake/tsunami/radioactive fallout news from Japan. I left Tokyo the day before the quake and was shocked to come home to the awful news. The feelings of helplessness and immense sadness can be overwhelming at times, so I was happy to be able to help out as a volunteer interpreter at the 4th Annual Peace Festival this weekend. It just felt like the right place to be in the midst of all that is happening.
On Saturday night I attended the world premiere of Twice Bombed: The Legacy of Tsutomu Yamaguchi, which told the amazing tale of
this first officially recognized double atomic bomb survivor (二重被爆者 or nijuu hibakusha) who passed away last year at the age of 93. Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th and 9th respectively and was a truly inspiring figure, beginning his speaking out about his experience just five years before he died. Up until that point, his wife and daughter had encouraged him to stay silent as they were scared that Read More
WIT Life #155: 日本へ行ってきます！
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Just a quick message to let all readers know that I will be heading to Japan tomorrow after a hiatus of two years to participate in next Sunday’s Tokyo Marathon (“The Day That Tokyo Becomes One”)! I am very much looking forward to my 4th running of the event as well as seeing old friends, eating amazing food on a daily basis and of course most of all onsen. I will do my best to report from the ground, but chances are I might get caught up in the moment and not be blogging as much as I had hoped. In that case, please look forward to a full update when I return in March. De wa, ittekimasu~!
WIT Life #154: Congratulations to Japanese Grammy Winners!
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
A bit of bright news in light of the Japanese government’s confirmation that its country’s economy has indeed dropped to #2 in the world. Omedetou to the following Grammy winners!
Pop Instrumental Album
“Take Your Pick,” Larry Carlton and Tak Matsumoto (guitarist in the popular Japanese rock duo B’z, pictured here on right)
Opera Recording
“Saariaho: L’Amour De Loin,” (Japanese American) Kent Nagano, conductor; Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and Rundfunkchor Berlin
Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra)
Mitsuko Uchida (“Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 24,” Cleveland Orchestra)
Other winners include Japanese classical pianist Mitsuko Uchida who received Best Instrumental Soloist Performance with Orchestra, while the Best Contemporary Jazz Album award went to the Stanley Clarke Band, which includes Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara.
WIT Life #153: Sapporo Snow Festival
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
The snow here in NYC that we have received in abundance this year is pretty as it’s coming down, but it soon turns into dirty mush or slush beneath our feet. For those looking to enjoy more pristine snow-covered landscapes, look no further than Sapporo’s 雪祭り (yuki matsuri) or Snow Festival. Held every February in Hokkaido’s capital, this hugely popular week-long event brings in 2.5 million visitors and features perennial favorites as well as new sculptures each year. It began in 1950 when local high school students built six snow statues in Odori Park, and five years later the 自衛隊 (jieitai) or Self-Defense Forces joined in and made the first of the colossal sculptures for which the festival is now known. For those of us not lucky enough to be able to see the works in person, please enjoy them virtually with the following video of this year’s festival which began yesterday.
WIT Life #152: Kaga Maki-e
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Recently I had the opportunity to interpret for a delegation from Kanazawa that was here to promote the city in general and especially its ancient craft of 蒔絵 (maki-e), a lacquerware technique that uses silver and gold powder. This art form actually originated in Kyoto which has its own style known as Kyo Maki-e, but the Kanazawa version is called Kaga Maki-e, Kaga referring to the area of Kanazawa where it originated. This picture, courtesy of fashion blogger Alice Chin, shows two delegation members at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Kaga Maki-e display.
On the left is native New Yorker and long-term Kanazawa resident Evelyn Teploff-Mugii, a designer who has modernized the thousand year old maki-e process to make breathtakingly beautiful accessories. Her Evelyn Claude line will be offered in the US for the first time. To her right is Read More
WIT Life #151: Fireworks from the Heart
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Yesterday I had the chance to attend the ANA-sponsored screening of Fireworks from the Heart (おにいちゃんのハナビ), a sentimental film based on the true story of recent high school graduate Taro whose sister Hana suffers from leukemia. The family moves from Tokyo to Niigata for her treatment, a change that Taro resents as has has to leave junior high in the middle of his final year. Hana ends up being Read More
WIT Life #150: Tiger Mask, Toshiba’s Strides and a Moncchichi Milestone
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Recent articles from the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times brings bright tidings from Japan in the midst of a new year which has started with PM Kan’s low popularity ratings and a still lagging economy. One WSJ article describes the recent phenomenon of the Tiger Mask movement. On Christmas Day last year, a gift of 10 school bags was left at a child welfare facility with a note signed by “Naoto Date.” This was a reference to a character from a popular 1960s manga and TV anime called Tiger Mask. Naoto Date was a wrestling hero who went by the name Tiger Mask and who had grown up in an orphanage.
This act of generosity made by someone adopting this name has inspired numerous copycat donations, and in total there have been Read More
WIT Life #149: 成人の日
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Yesterday Japan celebrated 成人の日 (seijin no hi) or Coming of Age Day, and 1.24 million youngsters took part in this celebration (成人式 or seijinshiki). This was the lowest number of participants ever, and the fourth straight year in which the number of 20-year olds has declined. This morning’s news interviewed the 1500 or so Chiba youths who were lucky enough to have their ceremony at Disneyland. They were asked how they felt about becoming adults, and the majority expressed uncertainty regarding their future and being able to find jobs. This year’s group was born in 1990 when the economic bubble burst, and they have Read More
WIT Life #148: Mikarimba
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
On Friday night I had the opportunity to see the performance of marimbist Mika Yoshida at Carnegie Hall. The program was entitled “Mikarimba Madness” and also featured drummer Steve Gadd and bassist Eddie Gomez, as well as the participation of special father/son guests clarinetist Richard Stoltzman and pianist Peter John Stoltzman. During the night Yoshida wore a wide range of expressions on her face from fierce to completely content, as she both Read More
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Last night I attended the shinnenkai for New York’s very own Battenkai, or group for Kyushu people (Batten comes from Kyushu-ben and means but, and kai means gathering). There are several kenjinkai or prefectural groups here in the city, but Kyushu has this joint group instead of individual ones for each prefecture. I have been attending their events since two summers ago, and it is always a diverse mix of people. You can find accountants, jazz singers, lawyers, graphic designers and karate instructors, all of whom have interesting stories to share.
Battenkai gatherings always include some form of entertainment, and last night’s was no exception. It featured several different acts to welcome the new year. First we were regaled by a beautiful shamisen performance by Read More
WIT Life #146: 明けましておめでとうございます！
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
A big akemashite omedetou gozaimasu to everyone! 今年もよろしくお願いいたします。 I hope everyone had a good end to the year and that you are feeling ready for the Year of the Rabbit that we have now entered. I spent the night of 元旦 (gantan) or New Year’s Day with co-workers from the Japanese restaurant that I used to waitress at, and we enjoyed osechi ryouri in lacquer boxes and bowls of ozouni as we watched 紅白歌合戦 (kouhaku uta gassen) or the Red and White Singing Contest. The white or men’s team won for the 6th consecutive year with a healthy margin of over 50,000 votes.
Aside from the usual vapid J-Pop and classic enka, I was really struck by singer Kana Uemura’s トイレの神様 (toire no kamisama), or The Toilet Goddess. This acoustic ballad is a whopping almost ten minutes long, and it tells the story of Read More
