Valentine’s Day, February 14th, is one of the most romantic days of the year – so it’s natural that we want to celebrate this day in a unique and special way! Japan celebrates Valentine’s Day a little differently than most other countries. How?  You will need to watch my show where I explain the difference… ２月１４日はバレンタイン・デー。一年の中でもロマンティックな日の１つ。・・・だから何かトクベツな方法でお祝いしたくなっちゃいますよね！日本では他の国とはちょっと違った習慣がありますね。さて、どんなものだと思いますか？　番組の中で違いについてお話していますので是非ご覧くださいね・・・。

This month’s program will show you fun ways to spread happiness and joy to all of your favorite people!  It is not about how much you spend on a gift, but the thoughtfulness and creativity that went into your gift giving.   Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner, looking for simple and fun ideas for your family, or planning a Valentine’s Day party for all of your friends, I have some wonderful ideas to spread the love to all of those you care about – plus have fun doing it!  My mom always said; when you give love – so much more comes back! I hope the same for you! 今月の番組は、あなたの大好きな人たちに「ハッピー」と「うれしい」を届けるいろんな方法をご紹介していますよ！バレンタイン・デーを恋人たちだけの日にするなんてもったいない！　今年はちょっとアメリカン・スタイルに家族で、そしてお友達同士で楽しんじゃいましょう。 お金をかけたプレゼントより、ローコストでもハートを込めたクリエイティビティーなプレゼントのほうがきっとステキでしょ！ 今月の放送ではロマンティックなディナーを計画したり、家族のためのシンプルで楽しいアイデアや、お友達とのバレンタイン・デーのパーティーなどにぴったりなアイデア満載です。周りの人に、あなたがどんなにその人の事を思っているかを伝えて、プ・ラ・ス　２月１４日を思いっきりみんなで楽しんじゃいましょう！私の母曰く「愛すれば、自分が愛した以上に愛される」　あなたも同じことがおきますように！

Culture – Learning about Valentine’s Day in Japan and America
カルチャー・・・日本とアメリカのバレンタイン・デーってどんな違いがあるの？

Life -  Two Cute crafts,  Thoughtful Notes &  Creative Coupons
ライフ・・・２種類のカワイイ手作りプレゼント　「ソートフル・ノート」＆クリエーティブ・クーポン「ポケットフル・オブ・ラブ」

Food – Heartfelt Sweet Treats
フード・・・バレンタイン・デーのプレゼントにぴったり！なチョコのお菓子

Closing　エンディング  

January 1st is New Year or ‘Shogatsu’ and is one of the most important holidays celebrated in Japan.   It’s a time for people to stop working and return to their hometowns to spend time with family – very much like our Thanksgiving and Christmas combined.

The home is given a big clean out, kind of like the spring cleaning of some western countries, in preparation for up coming holiday. On the night of December 31st some people visit a temple to watch a Buddhist priest ring the huge temple bell 108 times.  The 108 bongs on the bell represent the 108 torments (negative sinful traits) that people are said to have in their mind and serve to repent for those sins allowing us to start the New Year as innocent (clean) people again.  Kind of like a ‘do over’ – pretty neat idea and a nice way to bring in the new  year mentally.

On January 1st many Japanese get up early to watch the first sunrise and then during the next three days they will visit three Shinto Shrines to pray and wish for good health and prosperity in the coming year.   Some of the popular shrines have literally thousands of people visiting them, truly unbelievable!  

Also you may notice the Japanese people decorate their houses with ‘good luck’ ornaments around New Year’s Day, which is to welcome the God of the Year.  After using those ornaments and amulets, you can’t just throw them away as trash. People take all used ornaments to the shrines or temples on the “Donto-yaki” to burn them in a great big bon fire!   This event usually is held in the middle of January 15th-16th.

Check out some wonderful photos from this blogger-

http://www.kenleewrites.com/2010/01/dondo-yaki-どんど焼き.html

Finally on January 9th a very important day for all new coming 20 year olds!  The celebration is called “Coming of Age Day” or  Seijin no Hi ceremony takes place in the morning and all the “new adults” in area are invited to a large auditorium or theater.  They gather together along with their families and friends. During these ceremonies, government officials tend to give speeches to inspire and honor them. Throughout most of Japan, twenty is the age where people are subjected to adult laws, gain the right to vote, and to drink, thus making the age of twenty is the age of adulthood in Japan.  These young ladies look stunning and fashionably beautiful with their expensive kimonos. 

Best wishes to all my friends and fans, thank you all for your support!

 A very happy & healthy 2012!  - Jackie

New Updates Coming – January 2012

This portion of the website is dedicated to providing helpful information to new and inbound families coming to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan.

** Be sure to SCROLL down to read all the necessary information once you clicked on a category **

The original www.iwakunimcas.com website was created by Ms Lisa Stewart, a military spouse who dedicated extensive time and effort into building every detail of the site during her tour in Iwakuni. When Lisa PCS’d, my company sponsored the site to keep it alive as a service to the community, because the information was so helpful to so many people.

This information is UNOFFICIAL and is simply for the purpose of military spouses helping others.  If you find something that is possibly outdated or incorrect, please send a message on the contact form at the upper right corner of the page.  The air station is going through many new changes and we would appreciate your proactive help with keeping the information current for everyone to use.

日本料理には、味をセンセーショナルにするいくつかの素材があります！日本厨房士協会（AJCA）に所属する何人かのシェフと何年か一緒にお仕事をさせていただいて、彼らから独特なフレーバーと技術を学んできました。シェフたちが口を揃えて言うのは「基本に忠実であること」　　日本料理を楽しむために、キッチンに揃えておきたいものを紹介しますね。

Here’s the list: 日本料理を楽しむためのリスト

Dashi is a broth that is often referred to as the main ingredient of many Japanese dishes. It is a golden color stock made from a combination of konbu (dried giant kelp) and dried bonito fish (katsuobushi). It’s also conveniently sold in ready-made liquid form as well as dried instant powder.
出汁（だし）・・・だしは英語で言うBroth、日本料理を作る上でほぼ欠かせないものです。だしは昆布（こんぶ・こぶ）と鰹節（かつおぶし）の組み合わせでつくる黄金色のストック。便利なインスタント・パウダーになったものも市販されています。

Shoyu (Soy Sauce) – Japanese soy sauces have a relatively fresh taste and aroma and are generally sweeter and less salty than Chinese-style soy sauces. Most commonly available are the light (usukuchi) and dark (koikuchi) varieties. Light shoyu contains a higher salt content and is more pale in color; often used with vegetables or clear soups; while dark shoyu is used as a marinade or in simmered dishes.
しょう油（しょうゆ）・・・日本のしょう油は中国のものに比べ、香りと甘みがあり、塩味は控えめなフレッシュなテイスト。一般に色の薄い「薄口しょう油（うすくちしょうゆ）」と色の濃い「濃い口しょう油（こいくちしょうゆ）」が使われます。「薄口しょう油」は塩分は高めで色が薄く、野菜料理や、スープをクリアな色に仕上げたいときに使います。「濃い口しょう油」は漬け込みが必要な料理や煮込み料理に使うことが多いです。

Mirin is a sweet fortified sake or cooking wine used for a hint of sweetness; and is also used as a glaze for grilled dishes.
味醂（みりん）・・・甘い混成酒。　甘さを加えたいときや、焼き魚などにてりをつけたいときに使用します。

Rice Vinegar is a clear, mild vinegar with a slightly sweeter taste than regular vinegar. It’s a great alternative for salad dressings.
米酢（こめず）・・・クリアで一般の酢より少し甘みがあるまろやかな酢です。サラダドレッシングにも使えます。

Cooking Sake is a brewed cooking wine. Sake is loved for its intense flavor in marinades and sauces. Cooking sake is usually cheaper than the sake you would normally drink.
調理用酒・・・調理用に醸造されたもの。酒はその強い香りをいかすためにマリネやソースを作る際に使用されます。（※魚などの臭みを取り去ることができます。）調理用酒は一般に飲用として販売されているものよりも安価です。

Konnyaku comes from the root of the konjac plant, also known as “devil’s tongue” and is an essential ingredient in sukiyaki dishes. It is a great absorber of surrounding flavors and is also said to be especially good for intestinal function. This popular item is usually found in health food stores.
蒟蒻（こんにゃく）・・・コンニャクイモの根から作られるもので、”devil’s tongue”としても知られています。すき焼きには欠かせない食材です。味を染込ませると美味しく、整腸作用もあるといわれています。ヘルス・フードの専門店で販売されています。（※日本では大抵どこの食料品店でも購入できます。）

Nori (seaweed) is most commonly believed to be made from seaweed, however I’ve learned that it is actually made from dried algae. Nori is primarily used to wrap sushi, to garnish and to add great flavor to noodle soups. The darker the color and greater the aroma, the higher the quality.
海苔（のり）・・・海草から作られる言われていましたが、実際は藻類から作られるものです。海苔は巻き寿司をつつんだり、麺料理に加えると香りが増します。色の濃いもののほうが香りが強く高品質です。

Wakame (seaweed) is an integral component of miso soup. It comes fresh or dried and ready to reconstitute in water.
若布（わかめ）・・・味噌汁には欠かせない食材です。新鮮な海草を使用したり、乾かしたものをもどして使います。

Miso is a fermented paste made predominantly from soy beans. This is a versatile ingredient that can, of course, be used to make miso soup, as well as to add flavor to pickles or grilled dishes; or it can be thinned and used for a dressing. As a general rule, the darker the color, the stronger the taste.
味噌（みそ）・・・大豆を発酵させたペーストです。いろいろな料理に使用することができます。味噌汁に使うことは言うまでもありませんが、漬物や焼き物に香りを加えたり、ドレッシングに加えることで刻のある味に仕上げる事ができます。一般的なルールとして色の濃いものが、味が濃くなります。

Wasabi is a root that is sometimes referred to as “Japanese horseradish” by Americans. It is most readily available as a powder or a green paste. Be careful, it’s hot!
山葵（わさび）・・・アメリカ人が”Japanese horseradish”植物の根から作られるものです。粉状の物やペーストになったものが市販されています。とてもツンとした辛さがあるのでお気を付け下さいね。

Katsuokezuribushi or Hanakatsuo is steam-processed bonito (fish) fillets, dried then shaved into flakes. It is a key ingredient of many basic soup stocks and is used as a condiment for tofu. The bonito fish is a member of the mackerel family and has been an important part of the Japanese diet from very early times.
鰹削り節（かつおけずりぶし）花鰹（はなかつお）・・・かつおを加工したものを削ってフレーク状にしたもの。基本の出汁に使われる基本食材で、豆腐の薬味としても使います。鰹はサバ科の魚で早くから日本式ダイエットにおいて重要な役割を果たしています。

Japanese Rice is usually short grained and slightly sticky.
米（こめ）・・・日本産の米は短いタイプの穀物でやや粘り気があります。

Japanese Noodles (my favorite!). There are three main types of noodles used for Japanese cooking:
1. Soba – made from buckwheat flour and served either chilled with a dipping sauce, or in hot broth as a noodle soup.
2. Udon – very thick wheat-based noodles.
3. Soumen -  very thin wheat-based noodles.
(other) Chukamen(chinese style noodle) - made from wheat flour and lye water. This noodles use for Ramen orYakisoba.
日本の麺類（にっぽんのめんるい）・・・（私の好物！）日本料理には主に３種類の麺が使われます。
１．蕎麦（そば）　そば粉から作られ、冷たくしてつけだれにつけて食べたり、温かい出汁に入れて食べたりします。
２．饂飩（うどん）　小麦粉から作られる太い麺
３．素麺（そうめん）　小麦粉から作られる細い麺
（その他）中華麺（ちゅうかめん）　小麦粉とかん水から作られる麺。ラーメンややきそばに使います。

Tofu is made from soybeans. Japanese use both firm and silken varieties in a number of dishes. I also used it for smoothies!
豆腐（とうふ）・・・大豆から作られた食材。木綿豆腐や絹ごし豆腐などがあり、いろいろな料理に使われます。私はスムージーに使うことがありますよ！

Shitake Mushrooms are usually found in dried form (more intense than fresh) and are reconstituted in warm water to use in salads, soups, sushi and more. The water after reconstitue the mushrooms can be use broth.
椎茸（しいたけ）・・・乾燥させたものをよく見かけます。（生より味や香りが増します）水や湯などでもどしサラダ類、スープ類、寿司や多くの料理に使用します。戻し汁は出汁としても使います。

Ground curry powder is a very popular flavoring in Japan and they enjoy infusing it into many traditional dishes for added flavor.
カレー粉（かれーこ）・・・日本人がよく使う調味料で、伝統料理に足すことで新たなフレーバーを変化させて楽しんでいます。

Happy Sugoi Cooking and good luck!
ハッピー・すごい・クッキング　そしてグッドラック！

Executive Chef  Fujimura and Executive Chef & WACS International Judge Urabe
We are all members of the All Japan Cooks Association (ACJA)

日本厨房士協会国際審判部長の占部調理長と同協会藤村調理長

]]> http://www.jackieallen.jp/2011/12/japanese-key-ingredients-for-recipes%e3%80%80%e6%97%a5%e6%9c%ac%e6%96%99%e7%90%86%e3%81%ae%e3%81%9f%e3%82%81%e3%81%ae%e4%b8%bb%e3%81%aa%e9%a3%9f%e6%9d%90%e3%81%a8%e8%aa%bf%e5%91%b3%e6%96%99/feed/ 3 http://www.jackieallen.jp/2011/12/onsens-in-japan-%e6%b8%a9%e6%b3%89-a-relaxing-treat/ http://www.jackieallen.jp/2011/12/onsens-in-japan-%e6%b8%a9%e6%b3%89-a-relaxing-treat/#comments Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:44:11 +0000 JackieYuri http://www.jackieallen.jp/?p=9547

A local favorite on Oshima Island

Here’s something to look forward to during those cold winter days…

Onsen’s (hot springs) are natural thermal hot springs, rising from deep within the ground.  The thermal baths provide for relaxation and rejuvenation after a hard day’s of work, sports activities, or just to getaway from a busy life.   They are famous for having therapeutic qualities too!   Japanese people believe that soaking in mineral waters will alleviate aches and illnesses, and other major symptoms such as skin diseases, diabetes, constipation, menstrual disorders and a whole lot more.

Onsens can range from those found at large public bath houses to smaller, more private facilities offered through hotels and ryokans, Japanese Inns.   Typically all onsens are separated into men’s and women’s bathing areas (children are allowed - see note for more info), and everyone is expected to be nude while bathing.   The men’s room are usually on the left, a blue curtain with “otoko” 男 written on it.   The w omen’s room is usually on the right, with a red curtain reading “onna” 女.   If you are not sure, ask !  Say and point ”kore?” (which one/this one?)

You will be provided with a small washcloth to cover up a “little” of yourself,  but generally no one does that.  

I usually place my washcloth over my face that way no one can recognize me (ha ha ha)…. okay it took me a couple of times to get use to.

Truthfully, I just needed to get over the naked thing and “love” my Latina body- it’s about “inner peace” not comparison.

Attention Foreigners

Bathing suits are allowed “if “ there’s a lap pool, otherwise when it comes to hot springs it’s perceived by the Japanese as dirty and inappropriate, so bring your birthday suit only.

Ahhh, take me away fro reality….

Visiting an onsen is not like going to the local pool, they have very strict rules (etiquette) and you will need to learn them before you step into the hot bubbling water.

1) “Tattoos are a No-No“   Today tattoos are extremely fashionable and bursting with designs and colors however many onsens ban customers with tattoos.   In Japan they are traditionally perceived “negative,” the image is gang related (Yakuza) and still socially unacceptable. I’ve heard that they feel it will affect their sales and customers who are “uncomfortable” will simply go somewhere else.

The rule is often enforced strictly to ALL,  including gaijins/foreigners and military personnel.   A sign will say this:  入れ墨禁止 (irezumi kinshi or tattoos forbidden). It doesn’t matter how small or tasteful the tattoo might be you may be asked to leave the establishment if caught.   If it’s possible to cover your tattoo that will help a lot or take a chance and ask the facility.  Show your design, maybe they will clearly see that you’re not “gang” related…times are changing and maybe their policies will change to.

Note: Kintaikyo Kanko Hotel allows tattoos (gaijins/foreigners) in their onsen.

2) “Do as the Japanese do“   Get naked...yes, naked.  Place all of your personal things in a locker or basket.  Next,  it’s time to shower.   Showering and bathing in the nude in front of strangers may seem very, very awkward at first, however the Japanese are famously polite and would not be caught dead staring.  You may find that the hardest part of being nude is having the discipline not to stare at them back.

Shower/Bathing Room

3) “Scrub, Scrub, Scrub“  Prior to entering the hot-spring area, you will encounter a washroom with showers and soap.  Scrub your entire body thoroughly, including your hair.  Walk over to the water area,  carefully step in and try to get comfortable.  Be careful the water is hot, adjust slowly and breath deeply.

4) “Shhh – quiet mind, calm body“  Keep your voice down and conversations limited.  I know, that’s my biggest challenge.  I love to talk to everyone!   The onsen is a place where the Japanese go to relax, very similar to a spa. If you are visiting with a friend, speak quietly to one another and do not disturb other visitors.

5) “Say Cheese?“  No photos/cellphones – period.   For obvious reason of course, unless you are in your own personal private onsen.    Let’s not go there, and keep this page PG.

Your own personal onsen – pricey but totally worth it!

Always be courteous and remember that people at the onsen are also following the same guidelines to ensure the healthiest and happiest experience for all to enjoy!   .

* Note: Children & onsens-    There is no problem with taking a children into an onsen.  Families do it all the time.  Just be aware of  good manners, “hot” water temp, and do your best to control your child.  Make sure you wash them well first, try to get them to go to the toilet before getting in to eliminate any possible accidents.  While in the water keep them from splashing, running around – the key is to relax, it’s not baby pool.

Saturday, November 26th Fee: Y 500

http://maps.google.co.jp/maps?hl=ja&ie=UTF-8&tab=wl&q=Iwakuni%20Kawanishi%202-9-35 

(Close to Campagne restaurant & Marukyu grocery store, Hwy 15)

Last Fall I was invited to attend a beautiful tea ceremony in the fall when the leaves were turning. It was at the museum/home of a famous Japanese woman named Uno Chiyo.  

I once read somewhere...”Uno Chiyo has spent most of her life in notoriety.  As a young woman she shocked the world with her bobbed hair, her Western fashions and her insatiable appetite for romance…she was a waitress, a magazine editor, a businesswoman and a kimono designer.  But it is as a writer that she will be remembered….”

Yes, I was captivated by her real life story.  Born November 28, 1897, she was one of the first Japanese women to openly live a more “free-spirited” lifestyle, which was a very big thing back in the early 1900′s.   She was a successful author and became very famous (or maybe I should say “notorious”) for her risque lifestyle.  I often wondered what she thought about the women of today?   What advice would she share with the modern woman?  Uno Chiyo died June 10th, 1996.

Her home in Iwakuni has been preserved as a museum and is open on special occasions to view her beautiful garden and home.   It was a wonderful time with dear friends and I look forward to attending again – hopefully you will too. 

If you live in Japan you’ve might have seen this sight once or twice a year, neighborhood clean-up projects.

Most places in Japan have a neighborhood associations/clubs— where residents join in and work together to make their community a better place while getting to know each other.  The team leader or assistant will visit your home, welcome you to the neighborhood, and maybe provides some information for up coming events such as a community clean-up or a hanami party (Cherry Blossom picnic).  It’s a terrific idea and I’m so glad we are part of such a system.

Autumn is arriving and it’s that time of year where our neighborhood gathers together in hopes to create a clean living space for everyone in the Fuju & Kuroiso area .

Last Saturday morning – we meet and start precisely at 7:00 am!

Here they are waiting for everyone to arrive with great big smiles.  It’s so nice to see my Japanese neighbors, I don’t get a chance to see many of them throughout the year.

Okay!    Let’s tackle this “jungle” mess!

As a foreigner people ask me if I participate – well of course I do!  What better way to bridge our cultures and do my part in the community!   I must admit sometimes the language barrier is a problem, but you know how the saying goes “Do as the Japanese do.” I try my very best to do a good job and show them I care about our home environment also.

Here are some of the tools you’ll see… It looks like something out of a Friday 13th movie, doesn’t it?

…plus a strong pair of gloves, a hat, wet cool towel, rake, shovel, and wheel barrel.

Check me out - I am totally styling in farmer fashion! My assignment was to cut, chop, and dump old leaves.  A super great workout, my butt and thighs totally paid the price the next morning.

Eeeee haw!

For those who are not aware of this Japanese lifestyle custom, let me explain. Each area is different – city, suburban, countryside may have different guideline and rules.

At least one person from each household must attend in the clean-up event.  Everyone arrives on time and ready to go work.  I’ve seen teenagers, mothers, business men, retirees (70+) get involved and may I say these older folks are efficient, fast, and incredibly strong.

Cutting away vines, pulling weeds, collecting trash, dumping leaves….  It’s a lot of hard work!

As the clean up continues, I tried to keep “smiling” and moving (you know…so I don’t look like a pathetic whimp). I had to dig way deep for more energy just to keep up with the others! Oh where that double shot of espresso!  I need it NOW!

I’m convinced she was laughing at me.  I couldn’t hold the camera still, my arms were so tired!

Finally our morning break came.  Yippee!

The community leader asks us all to rest and drink plenty of fluids.   A few of the volunteers passes out a variety of drinks for entire clean up crew.

My choice, “Real Gold” is a very popular energy drink in Japan – refreshing, bubbly and mouth-watering delicious!  Plus it has some vitamins too…

Community cleaning efforts are very common throughout Japan and it really makes a difference around the area you live in.   I honestly can sense the harmony and pride of quality living among my friends.  Maybe that is why I love living here so much.

I believe this system is a great way to get in touch with one another, plus respond quickly to emergencies such as an earthquake, typhoons, or other natural disaster.

Finishing and gathering our things…

We head home after a 3 1/2  hours of hard work.  The entire cleaning crew is looking forward to a small lunch gathering and more friendly conversations about “whatever.”   I wish I could converse with them some more, they are all so interesting!

We all met at our local community room hangout once all our tools were put away.  We ate snacks, drank plenty of ice cold beers, and rested our bodies for another one or two.

Yes…for those keeping track of time we were drinking heavily around 10:30 am – Kampaii! Cheers!

Overall the experience was a good time, our work was finish until next Spring.  My street looks wonderful and clean – totally well worth it!

Now off to serve my kids breakfast….. hiccup.

Japan has the highest elderly population rate in the world.  Here in Japan respecting old people is a cultural matter and it even has its own holiday- just last week, the 3rd Monday of September, Japan celebrated “Respect for the Aged Day.”   Japanese citizens are interested in helping senior citizens to remain independent and productive.  However many times, young people’s relationship with the elderly narrows…down to giving them their seats on the train or bus.

Local JR train seating area

“Silver Seats” was introduced somewhere in the late 1970′s by the Japanese National Railways, their focus was to provide a special seating area for those who were older or was physically challenged. At the end of the 1990′s the privileges were expanded to include pregnant women and those with infants, however gradually over the years these seats were being referred to ”Priority Seats” verses “Silver Seats.”

You can find this special seating area near the sliding glass doors, a quick access for those needing to get in and out easily and most important safely.  The area is spacious and the seat cover is designed with a multicolor fabric, different from the rest of the seats.

Now of course some elderly people deny to use these special seats, they’re extremely proud and wish not to be treated as “weak” old people.

I can totally understand that…

However recently the young people of Japan seem to feel overly-exhausted or maybe even mentally disabled with the overload of stress from family living, school, exams, and part time work.   Many times I have seen them rushed in, grab any vacant seats they can find -  including priority seats.   They immediately pull out their cell phones start texting or listen to music, however the majority of times I usually watch them fall asleep…..drift into a deep coma.

Now I am not trying to justify their youthful behavior, but I have a feeling the last thing on their mind is who’s sitting where and if they inconveniently bothering anyone.

The “Priority Seat” sign is truly self explanatory.  Please be kind and considerate to those who need a just a little more assistance – it maybe the “rest” they are looking for maybe after a very long day.

Interesting fact:   Did you know that using your cell phones may adversely affect an individual who has an artificial peacemaker?

I remember the first time I arrived to Japan and a young Japanese lady introduce herself, asked where I was from, how old I was (need to get use to that)  and oh yeah…she asked, “What’s your blood type?”

Huh??? What a weird thing to ask.  What is she a vampire or something?

Okay maybe I am over reacting – I need to lay off the vampires stories.

Actually this is a common question that many Japanese will ask, especially if they wish to know more about you or to be more specific know your personality type.  They wish to know how you ‘fit in’ their world.  

So do you know your blood type? Most people know, but if you don’t – don’t answer like my mother and say, “It’s red.” Continue reading maybe you’ll figure it out.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet I found in the Internet.

Type O

Leaders, trend setter, sociable, loyal,  passionate, self-confident, vision, independent; careless on details, vain, jealous

Type A ( Japanese companies loves the “A” worker)

Humble, shy, patient, creative, gentle, sensitive, responsible, needs details, overcautious, stubborn, unable to relax, worries.

Type B

Individualist, wild, cheerful, takes action, dislike custom, strong,  flexible, unpredictable, selfish

Type AB (The rarest of blood type, a little bit different- in a good way.)

This type can tapped into extremes.  Smart, calm yet wild, controlled at times but unstable, popular but shy, critical,  indecisive, – they are considered like “loose cannons” in Japan

So, is it close? Maybe…then again maybe not.

Serious Business

There’s no science behind the research just blood types, data and general assumptions.  However this topic is taken seriously, especially for those who are making money from it,  books deals, to dating or match-making services, a designed clothing line, even getting hired for a job in a company.

Last year the BEST selling books was about blood types.  Imagine that.    The four book series sold a total of over 5 million copies!”   I guess it is like buying a horoscope or zodiac guide for everyday living, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Some people swear by it, others consider it ridiculous, while the majority of people look at it as a passing interest. Something to talk about.

Hey maybe it can be your next pick up line (if you’re single) instead the old fashion, “Hey Baby, what’s your sign?” it can be “What’s your blood type, Baby?”

I can picture it now…. “Eeeeww get away weirdo and lay off the ‘Twilight’ series.”

This somehow allows other drivers to exercise with some caution because of the different driving habits older people may have.  The Japanese system recognizes and acts on a reality and on common sense – as one gets older, one loses some capabilities which may cause a problem for other drivers on the road.  Sounds fair and respectful right?

Here are some of the stickers you will see while driving in Japan.

1 .   The blue shamrock symbol to designate handicapped drivers, even though the international symbol of a wheelchair is recognized everywhere else in the world.

2.   The butterfly mark is for  “hard of hearing” symbol.   After an evaluation of a hearing test the “hard of hearing” drivers must display these sticker which forbids other drivers from cutting off or aggressively passing such cars.   This butterfly-mark is an obscure, only-in-Japan symbol, and other parts of the world use this easy-to-understand ear mark.

I think the Japanese see the wings of a butterfly as ears and wish the sticker to be pretty and coloful, how considerate .

3.   The Koreisha mark (kōrei untensha hyōshiki), the fallen leaf mark must be displayed by drivers over 75 (and strongly recommended for those over 70) to warn other drivers of the impending danger. (below: sticker on the left)

4.   The Shoshinsha mark (shoshin untensha hyōshiki), “new drivers” must display the green leaf mark for one year after getting their license to warn other drivers that the driver is not very skilled.  (Sticker on the right)

Update! A newly designed four-leaf clover sticker has become the new symbol for identifying elderly drivers in Japan.  Drivers age 70 or older re required to display the special identification stickers on the front and rear of their cars, in cases where age affects driving.

There were more than 6.26 million elderly drivers through the end of 2009.    Wow!

What are your thoughts about designating driving stickers?    Great idea or “labeling” peoples’ abilities?