Japanese School Girl Enchants Powerful Talk Show Host: Part 2

by cybersensei | January 1, 2020 | Blog, Culture, Inspiration

Japanese School Girl Enchants Powerful Talk Show Host: Part 2

Last week we talked about the 9-year old drumming prodigy Yoyoka Kaneai and her original appearance on ellentube.

She was invited on the show for a second time (first for Japanese citizen) to find out what happened in that most amusing original encounter.

Please recall that Yoyoka-Prodigy gave Ellen a beautiful name composed of two ideograms 絵蓮 which is read “Eren (Ellen in Japanese) and translates to Lotus-Flower-Picture.

Let’s look at the next meaningful interaction between Lotus-Flower and Yoyoka-Prodigy

Lotus-Flower asks Yoyoka-Prodigy, “Did you have fun last time you were here?“

This is when then Lotus-Flower asks Yoyoka-Prodigy, “What I didn’t ask you last time when did you ‘learn’ to play the drums, how old were you and why did you start?”.

Using the word ‘learn’ again is the particular point where they got stuck last time. This is because Yoyoka has no concept of what it means to ‘learn’, as she is a prodigy. Indeed the drums came to her naturally, and she doesn’t understand what ‘learning’ a musical instrument actually means.

Yoyoka-Prodigy then replies, “I started play the drums when I was two, but I’ve never ‘learned’ them, however, that is when I started to feel the drums.

She continues, “I can also read music but it’s a pain, so I have never actually ‘learned’ the drums.

Lotus-Flower continues to ask Yoyoka-Prodigy, “so who do you like as drummers, who’s your favorite?”

Yoyoka-Prodigy says, “there’s tons of drummers that I like but my favourites, if we’re talking rock music, is Dave Grohl.

Absolutely relieved, Lotus-Flower then says, “I heard it, Dave Grohl”.

They continue to discuss the merits of why Yoyoka-Prodigy loves Dave Grohl as one of her favourite drummers.

“He quite handsome and has a particularly awesome heavy rock groove!”, is what Yokoka says.

The next delightful part is when Yoyoka-Prodigy brings a Kendama to Ellen and ‘teaches’ how to do it.

Thanks to the gracious nature of this most powerful talkshow host, Lotus-Flower gives it the old college try.

You can see how difficult it is to do this particular child’s game, if you haven’t practiced. And the Japanese are truly delighted when one take the Kendama challenge, as is evidence in the joyful faces of the Japanese in the audience.

Lotus-Flower then goes into explained what happened last time, and the so very interesting interaction that occurred on her show the first time Yoyoka-Prodigy appeared.

Lotus-Flower says to Yoyoka-Prodigy “The last time you were here, see what happens is, we interview ahead of time and ask questions of what things you like, and then I pretend like I don’t know and I ask you questions out here.

Yoyka with blank look.

Lotus-Flower continues, “We’ll explain all this later. This is what happened the last time she was here.”

This is the dialog from the amusing clip in Part 1:

Lotus-Flower: What kind of instrument do you want “learn” how to play next?

Interpreter: She wants to know how to play the guitar and the bass.

Lotus-Flower: That’s not what I was hoping she would say.

Interpreter: Not that…

Lotus-Flower: Ask her some other instruments…

Interpreter: Any thing else???

Yoyoka-Prodigy: (stroking chin pensively) Nope!

Lotus-Flower: That’s it? Would she like a xylophone?

Yoyoka-Prodigy: Do I have to learn it?

Interpreter: She doesn’t want to learn it.

Lotus-Flower: Did she want to look at one?

Lotus-Flower: Bring it out!

Yoyoka-Prodigy: Expresses a shakojirei (polite and diplomatic), by going “Yeahhh” and waving her arms.

Back to part 2:

Lotus-Flower continues, “so we thought you wanted to learn the xylophone.”

There’s that word ‘learn’ again, which continues to be the amusing language gap between Lotus-Flower and Yoyoka-Prodigy.

The translator explains in Japanese to Yoyoka-Prodigy that Lotus-Flower thought that she wanted a xylophone.

The puzzlement on Yoyoka-Prodigy face is exceptionally amusing.

Upon seeing this non-reaction Lotus-Flower says “No?”

The translator asks Yoyoka-Prodigy, “Didn’t you want to have a xylophone?”

You can see that she is still confused about why we are still talking about the xylophone. And as she hesitates when the translator asked her “didn’t you want to have a xylophone?“ She hesitantly answers and stumbles a little bit saying “yeah, I guess I wanted it.”

The relieved Lotus-Flower say, “Oh good, so have you used it, have you ‘learned’?”

There’s that word ‘learn’ again…

The translator asks, “So are you using it?”.

To where Yoyoka-Prodigy replies, “Yes, I use it every day.”

The always humorous Lotus-Flower replies, “Oh that’s wonderful because I was going to take it back”

We then go to the stage where Yoyoka rocks it out!

After the performance of “The Pretender“, Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters fame greets Yoyoka-Prodigy with a video message, which must have been a big thrill for this young prodigy.

At the end, the most very powerful host, gives Yoyoka-Prodigy and her family VIP passes to go to Universal Studios. Thank you very much Ellen!

Personally, I have very deep respect for Ellen DeGeneres, who came out as a lesbian in 1997, probably knowing full well this would have a negative effect on her career, which it did. Nevertheless, Ellen overcame all obstacles to become one of most influential forces for the good of humanity, without a doubt.

See Yoyoka-Prodogy return to the Ellen show.

Father’s Hat Back To Japan!

by cybersensei | December 28, 2019 | Blog, Culture, Inspiration

Father’s Hat Back To Japan!

Father’s Hat Came Back To Japan!

One’s father came to Japan in 1968, at the invitation of Nissan Motor Co Ltd., and wore this hat.

For those who do not know, Datsun was the export brand of Nissan Motors cars.

One’s first car happened to be a Datsun 510.

Really, thanks Dad for paying for 1/2 of my first car.

Things are much more valuable if you have skin in the game, a very valuable lesson one learnt from father.

Invited by Nissan as one of the very first Datsun dealers in Canada, he came back from Japan with an ear to ear grin and some amazing stories about Japan.

As a souvenir, he brought back chopsticks and a chopstick rest and showed the family how to use them properly.

One always smiles when the ever complimentary Japanese exclaim, “you use chopsticks so very well” and I always kindly reply, “thank you so much for your kind compliment, and your spoon technique is also impeccable”.

Be aware when one visits the Japan, the Japanese will compliment you on how good your Japanese is, even if you only say ohayogozaimasu (good morning).

This is part of Japanese tatemae, which smooths this esoteric society along.

Anyway, there were stories of raw fish and tempura, and the wagyu steaks for breakfast at the PALACE HOTEL, what’s not to like?

When the cars arrived, my father would drive to the port of Vancouver and then drive back some of these car on an eight-hour journey through the beautiful Fraser canyon.

Now imagine a five-year-old boy excitement when his Dad drives up in a 240Z and parks it in front of the house on 1st Ave.

Extremely awesome is all one has to say!

There where also 200SX and Datsun Pick Up trucks showing up as well.

Dad ran the Datsun dealership for a few years, and then ultimately choose to reject the long hours of servitude to business and made the decision to take his family camping, hiking, and fishing all over the pristine province of British Columbia instead.

He sold the dealership.

Really, thanks Dad for making that choice; a boy couldn’t have asked for a better childhood.

My father’s hat has now come back to Japan, handed down to me as a family heirloom.

I am honoured to wear this hat, in what is a much materially different Japan from the one my Father visited in 1968, although the way of Japan remains the same, the same it as it has for millenniums.

Japanese School Girl Enchants Powerful Talk Show Host: Part 1

by cybersensei | December 25, 2019 | Blog, Culture, Inspiration, Perseverance

Japanese School Girl Enchants Powerful Talk Show Host: Part 1

What does a 9-year old Japanese child have to teach what is arguable one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful person in American show business?

A little of the Japanese Way from Yokoka, the 9-year old drumming sensation to her very powerful and most gracious host.

The meeting of these two minds really starts when Yoyoka-Prodigy gave the most very powerful host a gift of a two-character calligraphy picture.

When asked “What does this say?”, Yoyoka-Prodigy points out to the most very powerful host, “this is your name”;

“E 絵
REN 蓮”

You can see the delighted surprise in the most very powerful host’s face, and then remarks “Oh, that’s my name”.

If you look at the picture below carefully, you can see what someone who is startled looks like.

I believe the most very powerful host had actually had no previous knowledge of what this elegant two-character ideographic calligraphy piece would mean.

Now, the wonderful name Yoyoka-Prodigy gave the most very powerful host was, 絵蓮 (E REN), which happens to mean “Lotus-Picture”.

I think you will have to agree, this was a very tender, well thought-out, and indeed meaningful gesture to honour this most very powerful host, who is now known to Yoyoka-Prodigy as Eren(sama).

Of course, Yoyoka-Prodigy was undoubtedly appending an honorific suffix to Eren’s name in her head, because you would never “throw away” {yobisute} anyone’s name without some kind of title, and thus an indication of the hierarchical tree, to which the Japanese are beholden.

LF = Lotus Flower (most very powerful host)
YP = Yoyoka Prodigy

LF continues, “Thank you very much, that beautiful, did you, did you do this on your own?”, stammering just a tich.

YP cheerful chimes “hai!”, while giving the whole scene a big thumbs up.

LF continues, “That beautiful, thank you.”

You can then see LF has been truly moved by this simple gesture from a 9-year old child.

Continuing “And we think it’s hard to teach our kids….., I mean that’s really intricate!”

Always the professional, LF brilliantly continues; “You know, we are taking her word for it, we don’t know what this says, this could really say anything….!”

This extraordinary exchange continues:

LF: I want to give you a gift, what kind of instrument do you want “learn” how to play next?
YP: In Japanese: I don’t want to “learn”, however, I am into playing the bass and guitar now, you know, guitar, bass.
LF: She is naming a lot of instruments, I just want to give her one. What, what is she saying?
Interpreter: She does really want to “learn” it, but she working on the the guitar and the bass right now.
LF: No Oh!!!
YP: In Japanese: Pardon? (looking perplexed as she tilts her head slightly)

LF: That’s not what I was hoping she would say.
Interpreter: Not that…
LF: Ask her some other instruments…
Interpreter: Any thing else???
YP: (stroking chin pensively) Nope!
LF: That’s it?

You can see the puzzled wonderment in the eyes of LF, shaking the head in semi-disbelief.

LF: Does she like a xylophone?
Interpreter: In Japanese; How about xylophone?
YP: “Learn” it??? (while giggling)

Interpreter: She doesn’t want to “learn” it.
LF: Does she want to look at one?
Interpreter: In Japanese; Would you like to see one?
YP: Nods her head in puzzlement
LF: Bring it out! (with a wave of the hand)
YP: Expresses a shakojirei (polite and diplomatic), by going “Yeahhh” and waving her arms.

I really had to smile at the title of this clip on EllenTube entitled; “Kid Drummer Yoyoka Soma Gets a Present She’ll Never Forget”.

I suggest the title read; “Most Powerful Person in American Show Business Has Most Meaningful Meeting of Minds With 9-Year Old Japanese Schools Girl.

Keep in mind, your TV program tends to take some unexpected and indeed delightful twists and turns, when talking to a 9-year-old Japanese schools girls who simply has no idea what; “What instrument do you want to learn next” means, and in her mind also thinking “why exactly are you talking about a xylophone?”.

Here is this incredible segment on Ellen Tube.

You can see the viral-video of Yoyoka covering one of rock music most difficult drum parts in; “Good Times Bad Times” by Led Zeppelin here.

Here is Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin fame reacting to Yoyoka playing “Good Times Bad Times”.

Stay tuned for part 2 next week where we explore more of this most intriguing meeting of the Japanese and the Western mind, when Yoyoka returns to the Ellen Show.

Ichigo Ichie ~ Once In A Life Time

by cybersensei | October 19, 2019 | Blog, Culture, Inspiration

Ichigo Ichie ~ Once In A Life Time

The beauty of the Japanese language never fails to take the breath away.

Ichigo Ichie: just only one chance in a life-time;

An interpretation of this exquisite four-character compound is:

One meeting, one opportunity―this concept from the Way of Tea regards every encounter as a unique opportunity of a lifetime, or in general, of treasuring each passing moment in order to live meaningfully.

One treats each moment as a unique event in ones own space and time.

Each meeting is unique and each moment special, and becomes a part of who we are.

Every day is full of Ichigo Ichie events; for example, while walking in solitude and see a heron taking flight from the rice paddies.

When one recognizes the beauty of this once-in-a-lifetime event, then one will have started to understand the true and deeper meaning of Ichigo Ichie.

Indeed, you and I dear reader, are now having an Ichigo Ichie event as you read this.

One wrote this post for the purpose of having a once in a life time unique encounter with you the dear reader and this will only last one fleeting moment, the time that it takes for you to read this post.

Wake each day and live with the intent of Ichigo Ichie, and you will find yourself closer to understanding the Japanese mind and the Japanese way.

Basketball: Invented in Canada Refined in Japan

by cybersensei | September 7, 2019 | Blog, Inspiration

Basketball: Invented in Canada Refined in Japan

There was quite a stir in Japan recently as a Japanese citizen became the first Japanese basketball player to be taken in the first round of the NBA draft by the Washington Wizards.

This is a very important milestone for Japan as Rui Hachimura was raised in Japan, by a Japanese mother and a Benin father. Keep in mind Japan is 98{66e69f603db3b3c8dee03025d9684be02e41af2ac338e620601769d56a6872dc} homogeneous, and was until relatively recently for all intent and purpose closed to general immigration.

This young man went through the Japanese school system in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, about 300 km from Tokyo.

I can only imagine, some of the challenges this young man faced being raised in Japan in what the Japanese refer to as “half” but I refer to as “mixed compound hybrid”. Calling people “half” reminds me of racists referring to mixed race people as “half breeds” Unpleasant, yes, but the Japanese are know for using loan words without understanding the implications of such words.

I remember my son having making lots of friends when he was in kindergarten, and as we all know children are not born with prejudice, but this is a learn behavior. He was doing fine with all his friends, none of whom thought anything about this regular kid, but then when he change schools in elementary grade 3 and this nasty side of Japan reared its ugly head.

Original I suggested to my ex-wife he should stay at his first elementary school, as I had foreseen the trouble this move would make for him to leave all of his old friends behind, and trying to integrate as a “half” in a rural area of Japan.

Indeed the original school was not all that far away, and I drove that way every day for work anyway, what would it hurt for him to stay where he had his friends. She didn’t see it that way for sone reason that only she knows.

Needless to say the bullying started very quickly and this left my 9 year old son distressed and confused as to why he would be looked upon as anything other than a normal fun-loving 9 year old. Unfortunately, these prejudice run deep in the country side and do to this very day.

Fortunately my son has a purple belt in Kyokushin Karate, and although he used restraint for several months, he finally used these skills to cease the bullying once and for all.

We moved him back to his original school after that one very hard year.

Junior high school brought more bullying problems. I came home to see the vice principal and one of the teachers at my house with Japanese father and his son.

They were there to apologize for burning my son with a cigarette on his forearm. I accepted the apology while making it very very clear that we will not tolerate this kind of disgusting behavior ever again whatsoever.

We gave my son the option of going to high school in Canada while living with my parents and needless to say he chose this option.

With full respect to my son, he looks up on this experience as one that was able to formulate his character and he is now an international renowned music producer and DJ with fans from around the world.

Congratulation to Rui Hachimura and his family on this monumental achievement, and best wished for a long and illustrious career.

The Power Of Curiosity

by cybersensei | July 27, 2019 | Blog, Inspiration

The Power Of Curiosity

I read an interesting quote in my Japanese study application by Einstein in the “Wise Saying” section.

He said, “I don’t have any particular talents, but have an extraordinarily curious mind.

Now I would never put myself in the same category as Albert Einstein; however, I feel a deep affinity for this statement.

I’ve never really looked upon myself as anything other than just an ordinary citizen of Mother Earth. However, the same as dear Albert, I have an extraordinarily curious mind.

So, let’s start with some things I was never curious about whatsoever:

Boring school subjects.
Droning teachers disseminating pointless information for rote memorization.
Redneck school yard bullies (also know as hosers).

What was far more enlightening and something worthier of my curiosity were classical music concerts my mother took me to when I was a child. Instilling me with a deep love for music all my life.

I also found the encyclopedia Britannica to be of particular interest, I loved to read about different countries, and see them on a map, and read about these fascinating and far away places.

I appreciated having these excellent books in my house Thanks Mom and Dad!

Moreover, I’ve always held a deep respect and love for Japan from early childhood, as my best friend was a third-generation Japanese boy. We were best buddies until they moved away. And, I’ll always remember the wonderful ski trips I had with this wonderful family; me, and five Japanese in a Datsun 510.

Thank you so much to the Ogino family for taking me skiing.

My father also sold Datsun in the early 70s. He had the opportunity to visit Japan as a guest of Datsun (now Nissan). Boy did he ever come back grinning from ear to ear. This was in 1970 and Japanese was still relatively closed to foreigner. Knowing the hospitality of the Japanese company as I do, I am certain my father had the experience of his life the first time he was here in Japan. He came to Japan again and again, and was always so impressed by the kindness and and good will toward him from the Japanese.

Imagine my father driving up from Vancouver to my home town in central British Columbia in a Datsun 240Z.

Now, if you’re not curious about a Datsun 240Z when you’re 8 years old, perhaps you would never be curious about anything at all.

He brought home chop sticks and chopsticks rests as a souvenir from Japan, and taught us how to use them properly. He said that one of the general managers from Datsun taught him the proper way to use chopsticks. Thanks for the chopstick lesson Dad.

I have to chuckle when Japanese people compliment me on my impeccable chopstick technique. I return their compliment and let them know just how impressed I am with their fork, knife, and spoon technique as well. Always good for a laugh; try it next time.

Having this formative background made me all the more curious about Japan, and when I was 23 years old, jumped at the chance to come to the Land Of The Rising Son and experience this incredible country firsthand for all of my adult life.

I guess if I would have never been curious, I wouldn’t have bothered to come to Japan, and live this unique life, as a stranger living amongst the Japanese.

I remain very curious about many things even to this day, and as I walks through life in the Land Of The Rising Son, I’m going to continue to sate my insatiable curiosity, again and again.

You might want to ask yourself; what am I curious about today?