微妙

Let's take a look at another very useful Japanese word, 微妙［びみょう］. Literally it means, subtle, or delicate (usually of a situation). This word is used in daily conversation where a clear yes or no cannot be clearly distinguished.

Let's take a look at a few examples to get a feel for this word.

1. 微妙な違い or subtle difference. As in, there is a subtle difference between half full or half empty.

2. 微妙な感じ as in a strange feeling that is difficult to describe.

Once, a friend who was in the same Japanese class described a delicate hand in Japanese as 微妙な手. Here, it means, "somewhat like a hand." So instead of her intended meaning, it sounded like a description from an autopsy report. We all laughed, but learned a great lesson from this episode.

So, learn to use this word well and you will be surprised how natural your Japanese will sound.

To be, or not to be (assimilated)...

If you are a Star Trek fan, you may be familiar with the Borg expression, "You will be assimilated" or "Resistance is futile". The Borgs are a fictional race of cyborgs who goes about adding other species in the known universe into their own, in order to achieve perfection. And they achieve this through forced assimilation, a process which transforms individuals and technology into Borg, enhancing individuals by adding synthetic components.

Science fiction aside, I cannot help but draw on this analogy to the real world. Let's take a look at two very different situations.

1. Recently in Malaysia, there are increasing efforts in converting non-believers into Muslims (be they alive or dead). Overzealous parties are eager to "assimilate" people as one of them. Or do they? I shall not speculate, save to say that this situation is akin to hearing someone say, "If you're not with us, you're against us."

2. In Japan, quite the opposite is happening. The authorities and general public are grappling with two very grave problems; aging society and immigration. On the one hand, a country faced with an aging society needs population growth in order to power her economy and counter other instabilities. On the other hand, a country that has pride herself with deep traditions and customs is finding it exceedingly difficult to accept gaijins (外人) with open arms. Foreigners who have been working in Japan for years are totally bewildered by this fact, and finding out a sense of non-belonging living amongst the society here. Forward thinking immigration-based nations might find this hard to accept too. But, don't feel too bad, I am sure you will be consoled by these wise words, "if you asked me, I think them Japs are a lot of things, they just ain't no Borgs".

This reminds me of a recent conversation I had with a naturalized Japanese. This nice chap whose father is Korean and mother Japanese holds a permanent residency in Japan. He has a foreigner registration card just like every foreigner who is on extended stay in Japan. However, in all respect this guy IS practically as Japanese as any other "pure" Japanese friend that I know. The funny thing is he has two surnames, one Japanese and one Korean. So officially his name reads something like Yoshida a.k.a. Lee (吉田　コト　李). Because Japanese still cannot accept a foreigner with a Japanese name or a Japanese with a foreign name, he has to hide this fact from the world. I guess this is true anywhere else in the world. Being of Chinese-heritage myself, people might think I am a wierdo if I adopt a Bred Pid- or Mohamed Gundhi- sounding name. Not the mention the whole lot of confusion it will create amongst HR and immigration folks.

Anyway back to the topic of assimilation, I mean immigration. Recently, the Japanese government is beginning to relax their hard-line approach towards foreigners hoping to gain permanent residency here [1]. Let's hope that in the future, man can be united as one nation without borders. Perhaps not as unfriendly and unforgiving as the Borgs, but united in a sense that binds us as brothers and sisters with respect for each others individualisms.

[1] Eric Johnston (2008, Jan 26). Shaping the future as an immigrant nation. [Online]. Available: www.japantimes.co.jp

仕方がない

I would like to talk a little bit about a very useful Japanese expression today. Apart from the constant おはいよございます、こんいちは、ありがとうございます frequently used Japanese greetings, you might have heard of this all too common expression 仕方がない［しかたがない］ or 仕様がない［しようがない］.

I didn't fully understand this expression when I first heard it. However, by looking up a dictionary and having heard it in so many different situations, I think I have a good grasp of its meaning. Literally translated it means, nothing can be done, usually used by the speaker to imply futility in pursuing the matter further, and acceptance of the current situation as is. Let's take a look at a few examples to get a feel for this expression.

Let's say a 3 year old kid accidentally spilled milk all over the floor while pouring himself a glass. You might get a little angry at first, but what can you do over spilled milk right. Especially if the 1.5l milk carton is a little heavy for the 3-year old. So you say it's OK. In Japanese, you'd say something in the line of 「ま～、しかたがないな、片付けようか」. Literally means, "Well, let's not cry over spilled milk, so let's clean it up."

Let me relate a personal incident which happened last year at a local coffee shop in Ueno. It was raining since morning that day. Without an umbrella, it would be almost impossible to travel by foot. So, I went to a local convenient store and got myself a pretty good looking, and sturdy transparent umbrella. I then proceed to meet a friend for yakiniku in Ueno. After that we went to a coffee shop. I placed my new umbrella outside the shop, together with half a dozen of other wet umbrellas. I think my brand new umbrella stood out compared to the old looking ones there. One hour later, when we were ready to leave, I realized that my pretty umbrella was gone. The manager came out sensing something amiss. I told him some jerk just took off with my umbrella. Can you guess what he said. 「ま～、仕方がないね、適当に取ってください」 which translates to something like, "Well, there's nothing we can do, just take one that pleases you," mumbled the manager in a hush-hush tone. I left the shop with a beat-up umbrella, reminding myself to be extra careful next time.

Did you understand this phrase. Good, go and show everybody how immersed you are in Japanese culture by using it liberally in your daily conversation.

も～まんたい

In Cantonese this slang word means "no problem".

First temple visit of the New Year （初詣）

My 2008 Nara hatsumode pilgrimage

I performed my very first hatsumode （初詣） on the Jan 1, 2008. It was a very spiritually experience for me. Hatsumode literally means the first temple visit of the year. And every year, on New Year's eve, Japanese would flock in great numbers to their favorite temples to count down to the new year. However, recently, even sacred places like temples have to fight for attention as many younger generations are following western culture by celebrating the New Year at popular watering holes.

If you are in Japan, don't miss the great opportunity to open your eyes and heart by celebrating new year in a temple. Let me briefly describe how I spent my New Year's eve and the first day of the year. The map that you see shows Nara park （奈良公園） which is located towards the East of Nara city. There are many temples and shrines here, amongst them, the famous Todaiji temple （東大寺） which is said to be the largest wooden structure in the world.

① I alighted from the Kintetsu Nara （近鉄奈良） train station and worked-up an appetite for dinner by walking aimlessly around the station. There wasn't many places open that day, so I settled for an udon and curry rice set meal. Having had a very satisfying dinner, I walked East casually towards Nara park. It was 9 pm, and only a few people were scattered along the way. But the yatai were already lining the streets, ready for their customers.

② I reached Nigatsu-do （二月堂）, literally February hall, some 1 hour later. From its balcony you can have a bird's eye view of Nara city. There, I rested for a good half an hour before making my way down.

③ Midway between Nigatsu-do and Todaiji is a huge shoro （鐘楼） or bell tower. About 400 people were already lining up to strike the bell at the stroke of midnight. This was the highlight of New Year's eve. Waiting patiently for 1 hour out in the cold winter night was not something everyone would like to do, but the wait was worth it. If I remembered correctly our group was number #48, so about 376 people had already struck the bell. When it was our turn, 8 of us would pull big thick ropes that is connected to a huge tree trunk, not unlike a battering ram, and let go. The bell gave a resounding gong and we were all very pleased with ourselves. From there, I moved over to the Kasuga grand shrine.

④ Along the way, I had amazake （甘酒）. It's an alcoholic beverage made from rice and a little sweet. It tasted a bit like bubur charchar without the sweet potato. By now, the streets are already swelled with a crowd. It was begining to looks more like a summer matsuri （祭り）. There was a long line for Todaiji, so I decided to give that a miss. On the first day of New Year, I heard that the window pane that blocks the giant Buddha statue's head will be open to the public.

⑤ The line for Kasuga shrine （春日大社） was not short either. After a short detour to the surrounding smaller shrines, I made it into the grand shrine. But not before I got some more sake. It felt good to have hot sake in the cold winter. I finally understood why Russians likes vodka.

⑥ The grand shrine was pretty crowded. That's because instead of a box where you usually toss coins in before you pray, there's a big stage where. Also, people were lining up to get their fortune told. While you can also get your fortune told in temples in Malaysia, the amount that you offer is usually up to your own digression. Here in Japan, you pay a fixed amount. On that day, I had the option to pay 200 yen for a basic fortune, or 500 yen for what I think was a higher grade (better luck perhaps?). Anyway, I was quite lucky to get a good fortune, my very first omikuji （おみくじ）.

It was already 3:30 am when I reached home. I was spent but otherwise quite happy on the first day of the year 2008. So how did you spend your New Year's eve/day?

My fortune for 2008 looks pretty good (beginner's luck, perhaps)