A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Must Start With The First Step

by cybersensei | May 6, 2020 | Blog, Inspiration, Language Study, Perseverance

A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Must Start With The First Step

At one of my favourite restaurants, the young man next to me confessed; “I just quit smoking on April 1”.

I mentioned to him that “I thought it was awesome” he quit smoking, and that “a journey of a thousand miles must start with the first step”.

He looked at me with a blank stare, and through my experience told me he didn’t understand “senri no michi mo ippo kara”, or “a journey of a thousand miles must start with the first step”. For your information “senri is about 4000km”.

Neither did his colleague, who was probably in his 50s, nor did the lady that runs this delicious shop with her relatives for that matter.

Never one to pass up an opportunity to do a quick Japanese lesson and edify the Japanese as to the origins of this meaningful, and indeed useful phrase which happens to come from Confucius.

Over the fading years I find more and more many of these older and culturally rich phrase and idioms are becoming less and less known among the Japanese, and feel that some of these beautiful elements of the ancient Japanese culture are truly fading away. Alas.

Indeed this phrase embodies the Stoic way as how to approach the long and arduous road in which we all face.

And surley, as one instinctively knows, without that first step into one’s own road, and then the next, and the next one after that, one is doomed to look upon one’s live as a life in which one never took that very first step at all.

Each day is the day to take the step leading into the heart desire and into the future of what one will become.

A Journey Of A Thousand Miles Must Start With The First Step

The beauty of kizuna (絆)

by cybersensei | April 29, 2020 | Blog, Culture, Inspiration, Language Study, Shinto

The beauty of kizuna (絆)

I believe this to be one of the most important concepts the Japanese continue to subconsciously practice throughout their lives; it’s in their DNA.

No way to express this in English, as, likely many other things Japanese, it remains unexplainable to the Western mindset, as it is not a concept which can manifested itself in the aural world.

One could say that kizuna is a feeling of connectedness and bonding.

This is something the Japanese understand without verbalizing. This is something in their own psychology, where the Japanese may not be able to put their finger on it, but is something that is there, somewhere in the Japanese “air”.

Interestingly enough, the term “air” or “kuuki” is used in a part of a not-so-endearing phrase about someone who is absolutely clueless.

“Kuki ga yomenai”, or one who can not read the “air”.

We can see this reflected in the fundamental difference between Western Society and the Japanese Way.

The Western-mind being more along the lines of “individualism” as opposed to the Japanese mindset of being “group” oriented.

The direct translation of kizuna into English and give one a reference point would be:

Bond (between people)

Emotional

Relationship

Connection

Ask one’s Japanese friend “What is kizuna?”, and you are in for an interesting conversation as this simply can not be explained in words but must be understood from within.

PS: This concept is so important it ideogram appears in the Land Of The Rising Son logo.

Can you see 絆?

Three Cold Four Warm (san kan shi on)

by cybersensei | April 4, 2020 | Blog, Culture, Language Study, Shinto

Three Cold Four Warm (san kan shi on)

A new concept of those of the western mindset.

The Japanese have an interesting 4-character compound used to describe the weather just around Cherry Blossom season, “san kan shi on”.

What happens is you get 4 nice warm days in a row, and are mislead by Mother Nature into thinking “spring has sprung”.

Not so dear reader, the cold comes back, yes it does, and one would think one had gone all the way back to February! Burrrrrr!!!!!

It is during this time as well, the spring winds really pick up.

There is a bamboo forest behind our house, and I love it when I can hear the bamboo forest rustling, creaking, and groaning under the divine breath of “Fuujin” the god of the winds.

One thing I find more and more, is these marvelous old phrases are now not so well known.

I mentioned “san kan shi on” to my friendly neighborhood farmer, and she said “what’s that?”

Sometimes I find myself explaining the Japanese language, well, to the Japanese themselves.

Nonetheless, I am always extra cheerful when the “san kan shi on” season is upon us here in Japan.

It allows us to understand that spring is near, and we knows in our hearts, as sure as shines her life giving ray on us, we will soon be planting rice, the sustenance of the Japanese, and Land Of The Rising Son will continue on day be day as it has for millennia.

Shoten: Laugh Point

by cybersensei | February 22, 2020 | Blog, Inspiration, Language Study

Shoten: Laugh Point

There is a very interesting and long running TV program that has been running since May 15, 1966, called laugh point (shoten).

Old Shoten Picture 笑点

In fact, the show has been going so long that I am on my 3rd host since coming to Japan. They don’t quit the job, they quit when they die. Now if that isn’t dedication to ones craft then nothing is.

My wife and I always, have this time together to have a good laugh to end up of the week every Sunday evening at 17:30.

This show is very amusing, but difficult to understand as they often use old Japanese. Sharp wit, a tart tongue, and insulting other members is all part of the fun and entertainment. Great for those studying Japanese and at level where they can dig into some finer nuances of the Japanese language. Try it you might get hooked.

The MC offers up scenarios and the 6 rakugo story tellers, all dressed in different colour kimono come up with jokes, puns, and insults to tickle the funny bone of the Japanese. There are lots of running gags and they like to pick on the zabuton (cushion) boy.

Okay, so what is the cushion boy? If the story teller makes a particular funny joke, the MC direct the zabuton (cushion) boy to bring a cushion to add to their pile. On the other hand, if the jokes is a groaner, then the MC will order one of the zabuton away. The first rakugo story teller to accumulate 10 zabuton is the winner but no one ever makes it to 10, thus a long, very long running TV series.

I am so glad have a great sense of humour having it rubbed off onto me from my very funny, if not somewhat prickly grandad, and finding no matter what, one has to have several laughs every day as essential food for your heart and soul, and that is my laugh point today,

What Are Loan Words?

by cybersensei | September 14, 2019 | Blog, Language Study

What Are Loan Words?

Did you know that Japanese has an extensive amount of “loan words” most of them are English?

I often tell the Japanese, that they already have a rich English vocabulary, if they only pay attention to the “loan words” and pronounce them properly, they could easily increase their vocabulary extensively.

We of the English speaking world are now also being exposed to Japanese “loan words” more and more.

For example, sushi is only know as sushi, there is no English translation for this delicious food.

Come to think of it you probably know several already like: sashimi, tempura, tsunami etc.

You will be seeing more and more Japanese loan words coming to the world’s lexicon as Japanese culture becomes of further interest to the outside world.

Great Talent Matures Late

by cybersensei | August 10, 2019 | Blog, Language Study

Great Talent Matures Late

Great Talent Matures Late-大器晩成

The literal meaning of the kanji in this four-character-compound idiom is:

A large vessel can not be created quickly; To become great, it takes much time.

Therefore, it’s not too late, for one.

The key is to start.

You’re next.

Here are some well known examples of taikibansei:

Taikichiro Mori
()

Mr. Taikichiro Mori was an academic where he served as Dean of the Faculty of Commerce from 1954 to 1959 at the Yokohama City University, and who became a real-estate investor at age 51, when he founded Mori Building Company. His brilliant investments made him the richest man in the world in 1992, when he had a net worth of $13 billion. Mr. Mori Legacy lives on with his incredible vision for beautiful building. Here is one example ().

Harland Sanders
()

Harland Sanders was better known as Colonel Sanders, and was 62 when he franchised Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1952, which he sold for $2 million 12 years later.
Before serving up his renowned original recipe, Sanders held a number of jobs in his early life, such as steam engine stoker, insurance salesman and filling station operator. He began selling fried chicken from his roadside restaurant in North Corbin, Kentucky, during the Great Depression.

Ray Kroc
()

During the Great Depression, Kroc worked a variety of jobs selling paper cups, as a real estate agent in Florida, and sometimes playing the piano in bands. He then spent his career as a milkshake-device salesman before buying McDonald’s at age 52 in 1954. He grew it into the world’s biggest fast-food franchise.

Susan Boyle
()

“There are enough people in the world who are going to write you off. You don’t need to do that to yourself.”

Susan’s mother encouraged her to audition for Britain’s Got Talent.

She was hesitant because she believed people were being chosen for their looks.

Through the constant persuasion of her former coach, she took the courage to try as a tribute to her mother. She was 47 years old.

When she stepped on stage and asked about her dream, she responded: “I’m trying to be a professional singer”.

Some parts of the audience started rolling their eyes in disbelief of the kind of ambition she has. Some felt disgusted on her level of confidence.

Despite the crowd’s doubt, Boyle chose to ignore them and went on singing her winning piece “I Dreamed a Dream”.

As soon as she hits the first note, all of their doubts turned into awe.

She managed to finish the song receiving a standing ovation from the audience and three YES from judges.

In fact, her first album I Dreamed a Dream at one point became UK’s best-selling debut album of all time.

Yes, dear reader, in light of the events in our shared world in 2020, no matter what, when, or why, one’s great talent is ready to be seen and heard.

One owns it to oneself to believe in the vision of oneself and to consider it as a gift to the other and as an example for them to follow.