Heavier Rice – Deeper Bow

by cybersensei | February 16, 2022 | Blog, Inspiration, Language Study

Heavier Rice – Deeper Bow

minoru hodo kōbe wo tareru inaho kana

One has only actually heard this phrase spoken twice over a span of 35 years.

The first exposure to this elegant phrase was sitting in an izakaya which is renowned for their decliciuos sashimi with my cherished doctor friend, who is originally from Kyoto.

Sitting at the counter thoroughly enjoying the three pillars of Japanese culinary life, (raw fish – assorted pickles – rice wine) were three other men, two in their late 30s and an older gentlemen.

刺身船 - Land Of The Rising Son

The sake flowed and the party at the counter got underway in earnest, and during this party, each individual character was laid bare for all to see.

While the two younger Japanese men became rambunctious and boisterous, often in praise of themselves, the older gentleman remained composed and dignified.

It turned out these people were prefectural bureaucrats, with the two rowdy boys being low-level underlings, and the composed gentleman being a senior Chiba Prefectural government official.

Chiba Ken Fun Map - Land Of The Rising Son

It was in this setting, rural Japan circa 1990, this important lesson in humility was instilled by my beloved doctor friend after observing these bureaucrats.

This divine phrase embodies true strength and value which accompany those who exhibits a sense of dignity and humility.

minoru hodo kōbe wo tareru inaho kana
↓
The more fruitful the ears of rice, the more humble the posture.

As the rice grows, the ears droop and one can compare the rice to a growing person.

“The way to be a person” is represented as ears of rice.

The young green rice plants grow straight up to the sky, and eventually grow into ears of rice that bear fruit.

As the fruit (rice kernel) inside the ears grows, the ears of rice naturally droop under the weight of the heavy fruit and turn a beautiful golden hue.

豊作天照大御神ありがとう - Land Of The Rising Son

Over the life-cycle of rice, it is exposed to strong winds and rain, and must overcome cold and hot days in order to grow into a magnificent rice plant while bearing abundant fruit.

The metaphor of this exquisite phrase is what it means to become a well rounded human being possesing dignity, humility, and honour.

A person grows up magnificently by looking only straight up when young, and to overcome various rough seas and hardships to form a splendid personality over the growing season.

It is here where one becomes more humble and bows more deeply with a rich robust bounty of rice as a treasure to be cherished on one’s own journey to greatness.

On the other hand, if the rice has not grown into plump rice kernels, the fruit is scant, and the rice will be without substance.

Such rice may look like fine, but it does not have any weight for the ear to bow low, thus, its head will not bow low.

Japanese Bowing To Each Other - Land Of The Rising Son

This elegant analogy to the ecology of rice shows that a person who has a splendid appearance and title, but no substance, is just a small person with a lot of bravado, and is far from a person of character.

The second time minoru hodo kōbe wo tareru inaho kana was encountered was during an online lecture just recently, and the speaker was from…that’s right, Kyoto.

ようこそ京都へ - Land Of The Rising Son

Onomatopoeia

by cybersensei | February 9, 2022 | Blog, Inspiration, Language Study

Onomatopoeia

A delightful arrow in the linguistic quiver is to sprinkle one’s Japanese with onomatopoeia.

These most flavourful sounds and phrases always add special sauce to the esoteric Japanese language.

Perhaps it is the ancient Japanese way of animism that has lead to a plethora of these interesting sounds as the Japanese language developed over the millennia, based upon life in all things (ban butsu 万物).

Spirits and Animism in Japan - Land Of The Rising Son

One can draw upon a wealth of onomatopoeia to express subtle feelings and images, sounds and actions, and allows one to express ideas in an animated and stimulating way.

For certain one must have a solid grasp of the fundamentals when on the quest to master any language, and this is where the traditional systems of language acquisition can not be replaced.

For many foreigners, the start of the Japanese language journey starts with the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test).

Japanese Language Proficiency Test - Land Of The Rising Son This language proficiency standard is an important tools for anyone coming to Japan with the intent of intergrating into the community.

Reflecting back to the start of one’s own reading journey, after mastering hiragana and katakana, the next step should have been to immediately start to study the Ministry of Education Primary Education Grade 1 Japanese language curriculum.

Studying at the level of 6 and 7 year-old Japanese elementary school children also has a tendency to instill one with some humility and perspective as well.

小1年国語教材書ワーク - Land Of The Rising Son

Here one not only builds critical reading skills, but gains exposure to the Japanese cultural motif, which is fundamental to understand the ancient culture of the Japanese, and is a second order effect of studying Japanese primary school kokugo.

While on one’s own Way to Japanese language proficiency and life-mastery, it is always beneficial, and personally edifying to explore the plethora of nooks and crannies lurking within the esoteric Japanese language.

Another great place to find linguistic gems along with onomatopoeia phrases is inside four-character-compounds (yon moji juku go 四文字熟語).

All those seeking Japanese language proficiency will also benefit considerably from this particular app, which will probably keep one occupied for a very long time, courtesy of the generous people at NOWPRODUCTION.

NOWPRODUCTIONS - 書き取り漢字練習 - Land Of The Rising Sun.png

So, what exactly is an onomatopoeia?

An onomatopoeia can be described as the formation of a name or word by an imitation of the sound associated with a thing.

Onomatopoeia can also be a word imitating the sound of the thing or action that it signifies.

One could say onomatopoeia words bring a kind of poetry and life to the basic and monotonic speech pattern of the abstruse Japanese language.

Ever lived in Japan?

Here one has undoubtedly come across the phrase pera pera.

Onomatopoeia- Nihongo pera pera- Land Of The Rising Son

This common onomatopoeia can be heard in praise and encouragement of any attempt foreigners make to communicate in Japanese.

In fact, pera pera means language-fluency, and the Japanese will use this onomatopoeia liberally as it is in their nature to be especially complimentary to those attempting to speak Japanese.

Alas, with this particular compliment, one may also be experiencing what is known as shakojirei, or “saying something for politeness sake,” which is also an unwritten social convention and protocol, and these compliment on one’s language ability must always be taken with a grain of salt.

However, skillfully inserting one or two onomatopoeia into one’s spoken Japanese will have Japanese friends and colleagues in awe of your incredible language skills, and how quickly you have become pera pera, and this time, they will really mean it.

In general, the Japanese language is rich in words expressing feelings.

Thus, there are many onomatopoeia phrases to describe the touch and feel of something, even how food feels in the mouth.

assari – light delicate flavour: Use when saying something nice about food that has no taste

kote kote or kotteri– smother, rich food, paint makeup on thick

shaki shaki – crisp like fruits or vegetables

hoka hoka – nicely steaming, hot food, feeling warm and pleasant

neba neba – sticky (not necessarily unpleasant), natto is neba neba

Natto- Land Of The Rising Son

There are many words and phrases to describe what is important to the speaker, or what sticks out in their perception of their environment.

Anyone who spend any amount of time in Japan will not be surprised to know that there are numerous ways to talk about Japanese seasons.

kan kan – blazing heat or sun, clanging sound, very angry

karatto – weather clears up, crisp

don yori – overcast, gloomy, dull

soyo soyo – light breeze

jittori – moist with sweat

Beads of Sweat - Land Of The Rising Son

The Japanese workers are diligent and loyal company employees, and famous for long hours and deep dedication to their company and work.

So, of course there is a bouquet of onomatopoeia to related to feelings, attitudes, and approaches to work.

dogimagi – flustered, loose composur

kiri kiri – so busy you seem to be spinning, sharp continuous pain

zuba zuba – straight talking, directly

chakkari – shrewd, planning, having sound business sense

unzari – fed up, sick and tired

うんざり - Land Of The Rising Son

Onomatopoeia expressions are the musical notes of Japanese, and bring charm and creativity to everyday encounters and transactions among the Japanese, and to those who have taken the time to explore the nooks and crannies of the Japanese.

There it is!

No matter what one’s own Japanese language ability, today is always the best day to improve, and the almighty onomatopoeia is certain to be an important ally in the quest for mastery of Japanese.

目標達成

Meta-Cognition Master Timmothy

by cybersensei | February 2, 2022 | Blog, Inspiration, Perseverance

Meta-Cognition Master Timmothy

Arguably Master Timmothy is the most important American to set foot in Japan since Commodore Perry in 1852.

Why is this so?

First and foremost, consider Master Timmothy as the Ultra-Master of Meta-Cognition, similar to Master Seth Godin, who is the Ultra-Master of Permission.

One could say Master Timmothy first steps to Meta-Mastery is when he encountered his first major Meta-Cognition Event when memorizing the Japanese Education Ministry’s Jōyō Kanji Hyō during his stay in Japan.

常用漢字表 - Land Of The Rising Son In mandatory Japanese language education curriculum, there are 2,136 ideograms that must be studied by all students attending compulsory education in Japan.

In fact, a little know fact about this visionary samurai, is his international exchange experience as a high school student at Seikei Gakuen in Tokyo at the tender age of 15.

One could say this experience formulated a boy into a man who was destine to change the world in a profound way.

Not knowing what to expect when arriving in the Land Of The Rising Son, most certainly he was enchanted by the extraordinary contrast between his hometown Long Island and a city that changed his life forever, Tokyo.

Tokyo at Dusk - Land Of The Rising Son Here he memorized the Jōyō Kanji Hyō, and was infused with Ancient Wisdom, Samurai Spirit, and enlightened as to the magnitude of his destiny as the Master of Meta-Cognition.

Master Ferriss returned to his homeland, the United States, taking with him the Japanese spirit, and creating some of the most extraordinary concepts along with guidebooks.

These seminal works will undoubtably have an influence deep into the future, while leaving an indelible footprint upon history.

Why is this so?

Master Ferriss is most well know for groundbreaking life hack manuals such as The 4-Hour Work Week (2007), and his high resolution works, The 4-Hour Body (2010), and The 4-Hour Chef (2012).

The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss - Land Of The Rising Son

Moreover, on his own quest to Mastery, he uses his extraordinary capacity to bring life-changing guides to the masses with such important works as Tools of Titans, where one can find amazing tools for personal edification and self improvement, or Tribe of Mentors, a gift from Master Ferriss so the common can pick the brains of the uncommon via this seminal work.

Now he is extending his powerful reach via his wildly popular podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, which has been downloaded over 1 billion times.

The Tim Ferriss Show Podcast Cover - Land Of The Rising Son In his award-winning podcast, he interviews a diverse range of guests such as the global icon of action movies, Arnold Schwarzenegger, deep-thinking neo-philosopher Nava Ravikant, and truth-teller Michael Pollen, author of such important books as This Is Your Mind On Plants, and the groundbreaking work, How To Change Your Mind.

Master Ferriss also uses this important platform to speak to literally millions of people about his own personal struggles with depression, thoughts of suicide, and other dark matters which accompany the entire spectrum of the human condition.

This is where he summons his Yamato-Damashi, offering guidance to his audience by describing personal accounts of his own human suffering.

Yamato Damashii - Land Of The Rising Sun

He has facilitates uncountable amounts of mental and physical healing via his work, which are reliable guides and offer clear and decisive directions when searching for, and then finding one’s own Way.

Along his healing journey, he happened to discovered the power of natural plant medicine.

True to his samurai spirit, and using his considerable financial resources, he has spearheaded research into the medicinal properties of psilocybin and MDMA.

Psilocybin Mushrooms Medicinal Research John Hopkins - Land Of The Rising Son

Master Timmothy organized half the $17 million in commitments and contributed more than $2 million of his own money for a new Johns Hopkins center.

This is where clinical research is being undertaken to gain a clear understanding and revealing the truth about these critical therapeutics.

Master Ferriss embodies the spirit of a modern fearless samurai warrior, using his incredible fortitude, brilliant mind, and talent and resources for the betterment of humanity.

So, why is Master Timmothy Ferris the most important American to set foot in Japan since Commodore Perry in 1852?

Throughout his life work he has imbued millions of his tribe with a subtle sprinkling of the Japanese Way by virtue of memorizing the Japanese Education Ministry’s Jōyō Kanji Hyō, and learning Japanese during his formative year in Japan.

Perhaps one day soon again he will hear the Spirit of the Japanese calling him home, where he is destine to facilitate an awakening among the Japanese to the possibilities of Meta-Cognition, and the promise of healing the Japanese nation by applying the secrets contained within ancient medicine.

Tim Ferriss Come Back To Japan - Land Of The Rising Son Tim Ferriss Japanese Archery - Land Of The Rising Son

Each Other

by cybersensei | January 26, 2022 | Blog, Culture

Each Other

A wonderful Japanese sentiment expressed in a simple, yet powerful ideogram.

Notice there are two of the same forms inverted upon each other.

互 - Land Of The Rising Son Without each other, meaning ceases to exist, thus, each other is dependent upon the other to be whole.

The importance of trust in each other, and trust in one’s own community is embodied in the spirit of this magnificent ideogram.

互

Indeed, when wet rice farming was introduced to Japan at the beginning of the Yayoi period the necessity to cooperate with each other for the survival of the community took president over the fickle needs of selfishness.

日本水田歴史 - Land Of The Rising Son

The profound nature of tagai is embedded in the psyche of the Japanese, and the emotion and feeling attached to tagai can not be explained to, nor understood by those indoctrinated into the tenets of the Occidental.

Indeed, the Occidental tenets cleave the individual away from one’s own roots and ancestry, leaving a primitive jungle winner take all mentality.

Survival of the fittest - Land Of The Rising Son

Here soulless wolves in sheep cloth feed off, and draining away the charming world of traditions, national treasures, and ways of life.

A deeper insight into the meaning of tagai came after running across a very informative book in Japanese entitled “Kabushikigaisha Amerika No Nihon Kaitai Kikaku” (America, Inc’s plan to dismantle Japan).

株式会社アメリカの日本解体計画 - Land Of The Rising Son

The take-away from this enlightning book by Mika Tsutsumi is the necessity for the Japanese to recognize a true enemy and marshal the Yamato spirit of tagai, to unite, and defeat this sinister and grave menace to the integrity of the Japanese and our way of life.

株式会社アメリカの日本解体計画-堤未果 - Land Of The Rising Son

All the more interesting, the roots of this consequential peril was astutely described by Patrick Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo), in the chapter entitled “Industrial Danger” of his deeply insightful book; An Attempt At Interpretation, published in 1904.

Lafcadio Hearn - Land Of The Rising Son

As the Japanese take time for reflection in these turbulent times, we see the way to the future is based upon our past, and our modern reflection is that of the ancient Japanese civilization connecting each other by ancestor worship.

神棚- Land Of The Rising Son

The ancient past still rules Japan today and the unspoken social conventions of the Japanese are held within a plethora of concepts, which can not be described nor explained, and can only be understood if one reads Japanese and has lived in Japan for any length of time.

It is here in the “Land of the Gods” the Japanese now manifest the power of tagai, and the potency of social trust, community dignity, and honour between, and among, each other.

Global Unity - Land Of The Rising Son

This Is Japan

by cybersensei | January 19, 2022 | Blog, Culture

This Is Japan

The mantra to repeat when facing obstacles, navigating the nooks and crannies of the ancient system of Japan.

Use the philosophy of ichi go ichi e.

It is always best, to take each encounter as an extraordinary moment in time, regardless of the tone, timbre, or hue, contained within the encounter.

When the inevitable frustration wells up when confronted with unfamiliarity, and uncomfortableness and one needs to “change things” is where this mantra comes in very handy.

This Is Japan

As one figured out along the way, encountering breathtaking bureaucracy and red tape, stress is a choice.

The endless requests of faceless bureaucrats, to present pointless papers to be approved by surly and vacuous bureaucrats, who have to yet conjure up an original thought, or a novel idea.

This is a Universal Truth, valid through the multiverse, wherever bureaucrats are encountered.

The protocol of “This Is Japan” needs to kick in.

Put on a mile-wide smile while bowing deeply, and know inside the nooks and crannies of your own soul:

The only available explanation of abject institutionalized piffle in which the only, yet bad explanation could be:

This Is Japan

Why are things done a certain way, and why is it necessary for several salaried clerks stamp their personal seals onto mundane documents before being allowed to proceed to the next corporate step.

One will never be able to know for sure, so repeat:

This Is Japan

Over the years one has observed Occidentals Anglophones coming to Japan with an attitude that they can, change Japan.

These naive children do not last very long, and this immature and objectionable attitude toward the Japanese and our society soon wear extremely thin, with the ordinary citizens of Japan and the residents.

Sure, make one own important voice heard at the local PTA meeting, or perhaps making a suggestion for improvement in the community garbage disposal protocols, is surely in order.

For certain, these are examples of valuable contribution to one’s own community, facilitating necessary and positive changes for the future of Japan, and these constructive suggestions should always be encouraged to maintain chitsujo in our society.

One also must always seek to make progress in one’s own sphere of influence, and accept all things beyoned one’s own control.

For example, equality is a noble concept, but one that does not exist inside the psyche of the Japanese for we live in a tate shakai (vertical society), and (mostly) everyone, knows their role and place in society.

This Is Japan

Moreover, in the Japanese mind, there is nothing equal about men and women.

Each has their respective roles in Japanese society, and this is a fact, the Japanese would never find a reason to think about. nor to entertain such a a nonsensical notion such as thing to even be considered.

Why do the Japanese think like this?

This Is Japan

We live in a harmonious society, distinctly because the Japanese are formulated from the very beginning of their lives to live in the real world of the mask, face, and role, all dependent upon the place in society from where one came.

For even the Japanese are somewhat mystified, by some of the ancient protocols guiding the Japanese society, into the future for no other reason other than:

This Is Japan

Sword – Jewel – Mirror

by cybersensei | January 12, 2022 | Blog, Culture, Shinto

Sword – Jewel – Mirror

All cultures have meaningful symbolism strewn throughout the spectrum of their respective religions and cultures.

Buddha Great Buddha of Japan - Land Of The Rising Son

Shiva
Christ

As well as countless other symbols represented in the mythology of ancient times.

religious symbols in peace - Land Of The Rising Son

Many of these old stories remain very much alive, continuing to influence countless masses of adherents, immersing generational obedience to deep dogma of long gone but not forgotten distant times.

A major industrial nation and world power, the roots of Japan, and what the Japanese believe as the moral tenets and foundations of Japanese society can be accurately described based upon the three foundational symbols of Japan.

These three sacred symbols of the Japanese accurately reflect the three fundamental necessities connected to the human condition, and can be looked upon as the three pillars of a meaningful life.

Sword – Jewel – Mirror

Three Sacred Symbols Of Japan - Land Of The Rising Son Sword
As harsh life lesson are taught to all, the importance of being a good judge of character can not be underestimated.

This is where the sword comes in and ruthlessly cuts away everything that does not serve the purpose of one’s own family and greater community.

Indeed, the sword can be used in many ways.

To slice away one’s slavery to a chosen addiction (the mirror is for discovery).

Can be used to vanquish the fear of the unknown as you leave your house for the very last time after getting divorced.

One can not choose their relatives, but one can slice them away into distant unpleasant memories now long forgotten.

Here one can also use this new and precious empty space to recommit to one’s own life, family, and community.

日本刀 - Land Of The Rising Son

Jewel
Building a stable family and community takes a mature understanding of wealth and how it can be prescribed to build a rock solid foundation upon the shifting sand and turning tides in the Age Of Corona.

Here and now, we have the opportunity to connect our common lives while globally building likeminded communities, wherever those communities may be under our shared sun.

Sharing Prosperity - Land Of The Rising Son

Mirror
Is this the same person today as yesterday.

Or was one timeless day lost forever and wasted away, by somebody else?

Inside this mirror one can view the souls of all creation.

Indeed the world surrounding us is the mirror.

Here it will reflect back the truth, regardless of the mask each wear every day.

mirror into the soul - Land Of The Rising Son

The Japanese, for all intent and purpose, live life pragmatically, according to the rules of the dead, who still sway Japan up until this very day.

One could almost say the Japanese are religious by nature just without the “religion.”

Why not make sure and check on the status of one’s own family’s Sword – Jewel – Mirror, for this is the compass to guide one along the way.

Clarity Over Time - Land Of The Rising Son

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