Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Halloween in Tokyo!!

Happy Halloween amigos !!!
Do you know that Halloween is a big crazy event in Japan nowadays? Halloween events are held and an insane number of people join them.
 This year, I went to Shibuya, people are dressing up,  getting together, things are getting bonkers, and mass of people singing PPAP !!

It was so unreal, magic, amazing, crazy and unique experience that you should not miss out !
¡Hasta pronto!(アスタ プロント-またねー!)





Monday, October 3, 2016

Japan's 6 original dog breeds

Japan's six original dog breeds 
All were developed mainly as hunting dogs that could withstand cold weather. 
In Japan, many of the native dog breeds are named after the area in which they came from. 
You'll often see the word 犬→"Inu" or "Ken" after a particular dog's name. Both of thes words mean "dog."

1. 秋田犬-Akita ken 
The Akita Ken is the largest of the six, originated in the northernmost part of the island of Honshu
from the hunting dogs of the Matagi (subsistence hunters).  

2. 北海道犬-Hokkaido ken 
A medium sized breed that originated on the northernmost island of Japan, Hokkaido, they are often referred to as Ainu Ken after the original indigenous people of Japan. The Ainu called their dogs ‘seta’ or ‘shita’ and used them to hunt bear and deer. 

3. 甲斐犬-Kai Ken
It is also known as the Tora Inu (Tiger Dog). The Kai is larger than the Shiba, but marginally smaller than the Shikoku, Kishu and Hokkaido.
he Kai originated in the mountainous region of Kai (modern day Yamanashi) 

4. 紀州犬-Kishu Ken  
The breed originated in the area known as Kishu (modern day Wakayama and Mie prefectures). Primarily a big game hunting dog, they have traditionally specialized in hunting wild boar and deer. While the Kishu originally included coat colors similar to the other Nihon Ken, due to genetics and breeder preference the majority of Kishu today are white.

5. 柴犬- Shiba Ken 
Is the smallest and most popular of the six and it is the only that was not named after a geographical area. The reason for this is that in contrast to the others the Shiba is from a very large geographical area in central Japan. Like all the the Shiba was a hunting dog first and foremost, used to hunt small game and birds.

四国犬-Shikoku Ken 
Native to the mountainous region of Kochi prefecture on the island of Shikoku, these athletic and agile dogs are accomplished big game hunters and are sometimes referred to as the Kochi Ken. The Shikoku Ken is prized for it’s tenacity in face of large game and their relative calm around the family.

 I dedicate this article to my guardian angel... 

Pochi (May 2001-29 Sept. 2016)
Loving and loyal,

A friend through and through,

I can't believe you are not waiting for me to back home anymore. 
More than 12 years, sleeping, eating, laughing, crying, playing, walking together..
Thank you for loving us.
Thank you for being 15 years in our life.
We'll always remember you

As the very best dog of all.

*correction in the video-2017→2016
(Sorry, I was thinking the year I'll graduate )

Pochi, bebé, amor, chiquito, mi vida
Tantos años de ser tú, el primero y último que veía en el día. 
Hasta la fecha, hay días que entre dormida y despierta, pienso que fuiste al baño, ya que eran las únicas veces que amanecía y no estabas en mi cara, 
hasta que me despierto bien y me doy cuenta que estoy en Japón, lejos de tí.
Y ahora que te fuiste......
Es difícil creer que ya no me vas a recibir cuando regrese a casa. 
Descansa en paz bebé. 

Friday, September 9, 2016

10 places to see Autumn leaves in Japan.

¡Hola amigos!
Summer is leaving us and autumn is on our doorstep.
In autumn, the leaves on most deciduous Japanese trees change their color to red, yellow or orange. “Kouyou” (紅葉, literally “red leaves”) means “fall colors”.
The season lasts from September through to early November, depending on the weather and location.
Autumn is my favorite season in Japan, not so hot, not so cold, and the beautiful kouyou. 

1.  厭離庵-Enrian (Kyoto) 
You may have never seen so much red in your life until you’ve visited This place. During the peak of autumn, so many leaves fall into the ground that it becomes almost impossible for anyone to see another color other than red. 

2. 紅葉回廊-Momiji Kairou (Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi) 

This is a corridor created by the trees with a gentle blend of orange and red. 

3. 国営ひたち 海浜公園-Hitachi Seaside Park (Hitachinaka, Ibaraki)

It is known for its hill on the seaside, covered with Kochia balls.
Nearly 32000 of Kochia balls and 2 million flowers of cosmea attract visitors. 

4. 金精峠-Konseitouge (Nikko, Tochigi)

Mountain climbing among the autumn foliage is an exceptional experience. 

5. 醍醐寺-Daigoji (Kyoto)

One of the spots where you can completely enjoy the Japanese culture and autumn together in this temple.

Tokyo
6. 神宮外苑いちょう並木-Jingu Gaien Icho Namiki (Minato-ku)

This is the most famous row of Gingko trees in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The road in the photo is an avenue of Gingko trees in “Jingu Gaien” where more that 140 Gingko trees are planted. From mid-November to early early December.

7. 高尾山-Mount Takao (Hachiouji City)

Mount Takao is the most popular hiking spot in the metropolitan area and is even popular with tourists from overseas. 

8. 豪徳寺-Goutokuji (Setagaya-ku)

9. 代々木公園-Yoyogi Park (Shibuya-ku)

“Yoyogi Park” is always good for any season. It has 1300 “Gingko” trees planted and during the autumn season, when the leaves fall to the ground, it creates a yellow carpet.

10. 六義園-Rikugien Garden (Bunkyo-ku)

It's a historical Japanese-style garden established in 1695. In this garden, at night there is an illumination. 

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

メキシカンジョークは日本人にウケるか?part2

¡Hola a todos!(オラー ア トドス!=皆さん、こんにちは!)

最近、メキシコの友達と良く連絡をとっていますが、本当に何があってもジョークにして楽しく生きていますね😊✨ その気質を取り戻さなきゃと思う日々♩
1)
2)

3)
4) You are leaving office and suddenly saw your boss coming!
5) Bipolar people are everywhere 
          
6) Fake hair, fake body....
7)
8)
9) ヨガやらなくてもお酒飲んだら、、
10) before and after marriage 

Oh yes, this is the true reality..



Thursday, August 4, 2016

Making a Piñata-メキシコのくす玉みたいなスイカ割り!?

¡Buenas tardes, amigos! (ブエナスタルデス アミーゴス=こんにちは、友達) 

Piñata(ピニャータ)って聞いたことありますか?Have you ever heard about piñata?
メキシコのお祝い事によく使われる日本のくす玉のようなもので、紙で作られた型枠の中にキャンディなどのお菓子を入れ、それを上から吊して棒で叩いて割るゲームです。
 目隠しをし、交替で棒でそれを打ち割れるまでが、スイカ割りにも似ていて大勢の人がその輪の中で一体となり、中に入れているキャンディが地面の上に飛び散ったらみんなで拾います。

A piñata is a container, full of candy, that blindfolded party guests take turns hitting with a stick. When a piñata finally breaks open, everyone rushes to grab as many treats as they can.




最初のピニャータは、7ポイントで星のように形づくらていました。7つの点は「七つの大罪」を表し、ピニャータの明るい色は「誘惑」を象徴。目隠しは「信頼」を意味で、「美徳または意志」である棒で、それらの罪を解決し悪魔を追い払う宗教的な意味があります。ピニャータの内側のお菓子は、元々「実」を表す果物を入れており、簡単に言えば、天国の王国の富で信頼と美徳によって、罪を解決することができて、ピニャータが割れると天国の神から褒美を受けることができるとされています。

The original piñata was shaped like a star with seven points. The points represented the seven deadly sins, and the bright colors of the piñata symbolize temptation. The blindfold represents faith and the stick is virtue or the will to overcome sin. The candies and other goodies inside the piñata are the riches of the kingdom of heaven. Thus teaching that with faith and virtue one could overcome sin and receive all the rewards of heaven.
ピニャータを作ってみました!
I will tell you how to make a piñata. 


様々な形の中でメキシコ人の陽気な性格を表すピニャータもあります。There are many shapes of piñatas.

メキシコ人を嫌うDonald Trump
ニュースでも話題に出るぐらい売り上げ人気でした。
オランダ対メキシコで、ペナルティではないと思った時。
Do you want to try to make one??

Hasta luego! 





Sunday, July 10, 2016

The japanese piñata!? Summer game

Hola Holaa amigos! 
The summer is here!! ☀️
In Japan after rainy season, July and August are the hottest months with daily high topping 30C, sometimes 35C or higher and  high high high humility, it's a sweaty experience.....
In this article, I will present you a refreshing game for these days! 
スイカ割り (suika-wari =watermelon Splitting) is a traditional Japanese game that involves splitting a watermelon with a stick while blindfolded. 

Suikawari is most often seen at beaches, but also occurs at festivals, picnics, and other summer events.
The rules are similar to piñata. (Next article's topic)

A watermelon is laid out, and participants one by one attempt to smash it open. Each is blindfolded, spun around three times, and handed a wooden stick, or bokken, to strike with. The first to crack the watermelon open wins. 

Afterwards the chunks of watermelon produced are shared among participants.

By the way, what is the origin of this game? 
It seems there are several stories behind it, but nobody is sure which one is correct one. For example:
1) It seems to be originated from a kind of training of sword fighting.


2) The samurai general, Hideyoshi Toyotomi started this for an entertainment of his castle-warming party.


3) To simulate the rocks, at the Jishu Shrine in Kyoto. There are two stones about 10 metres apart, you touch one stone, then walk to the other one with your eyes closed. If you reach it successfully, you will achieve true love."

So, let's have fun with this game and enjoy the summer!!! :)

¡Hasta pronto! (See you) 

De nuevo le agradezco a mi querida amiga Emi por estar al tanto de mi blog y sugerirme temas. Te adoro! 

Monday, June 20, 2016

Rainy season in Japan and how to prevent the rain!?

¡Holaaaa amigos!
In early summer (roughly the beginning of June until mid-July), most parts of Japan get visited by a rainy season,  梅雨(tsuyu). Written with the kanji 梅 (ume) and 雨 (ame), respectively plum and rain, literally means the “plum rain” as this season coincides with the plum ripening period. 

This season remains me ............
"Teru teru bōzu"(照る照る坊主).
It is a traditional Japanese doll made of tissue paper or cloth hung in front of the window to prevent rain. Teru (照る) means “shine” as in sunshine, while bōzu (坊主) refers to a Buddhist priest or bonze. 

Therefore, teru teru bōzu means as much as “shine, shine, monk” and alludes to a priest’s magical powers to prevent a rainy day.

¡Vamos hacer uno y veamos si sirve!(let's try to make one and see if it works!)
Hang it in the window overnight to ward off rain for the next day.


And sing the teru teru bōzu song!


¡Hasta pronto!

Next day..........

Mi querida amiga Emi, gracias por la sugerencia del tema. Con todo cariño te dedico esta publicación y espero que te guste. ¡Te adoro y te extraño!