Mukonoso 273 Posted July 13, 2012 Besides Sumo of course. What else about Japan (if anything) do you like? For myself I have to say it started with the women, especially since I married a super cute one. Besides that as a young man (20+ years ago) I also used to be into anime, manga and video games in a big way. I still am to a much smaller degree these days. In the in-between years after living there (June 91 ~ Oct 93) and visiting my wife's family every year or two I've also naturally come to love the food and culture. The holidays are interesting and I've gained a great respect for Shinto. I especially like the architecture, items used and outfits worn during Shinto and Buddhist ceremonies. Hiking in the mountains is always interesting since I come across unexpected things such as tiny shrines, some abandoned and some not. My old body has also come to love visiting onsen (natural hot springs). When I hit the Powerball I plan to retire to Japan and have my own private onsen in the back yard. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Orion 431 Posted July 13, 2012 Besides Sumo of course. What else about Japan (if anything) do you like? For myself I have to say it started with the women, especially since I married a super cute one. Besides that as a young man (20+ years ago) I also used to be into anime, manga and video games in a big way. I still am to a much smaller degree these days. In the in-between years after living there (June 91 ~ Oct 93) and visiting my wife's family every year or two I've also naturally come to love the food and culture. The holidays are interesting and I've gained a great respect for Shinto. I especially like the architecture, items used and outfits worn during Shinto and Buddhist ceremonies. Hiking in the mountains is always interesting since I come across unexpected things such as tiny shrines, some abandoned and some not. My old body has also come to love visiting onsen (natural hot springs). When I hit the Powerball I plan to retire to Japan and have my own private onsen in the back yard. Ever tried the yamabushi thing, standing under a waterfall, or willingly jumping up to the neck into a river at around dawn? To me it's no big deal-- but just connect with me here -- have you done it? Orion the twice-certificated yamabushi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jejima 1,427 Posted July 13, 2012 I like Japanese mah-jong - I used to play every Friday for several hours. I now play mah-jong with the Hong Kong rules at weddings and other special events (so maybe only 2 or 3 times a year - including tonight! I won :-)) - but it is not the same. It is much less intricate than the Japanese version - and there is no 'riichi' - my favourite bit of the Japanese version ;-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Akinomaki 40,822 Posted July 13, 2012 (edited) About Japan I like sumo especially, then the language, the food, the history, anime and manga (only in Japanese). In particular, learning and reading Japanese with computer and internet, eating not cooking, historic dramas, Miyazaki Hayao, Shonen Ashibe, Heisei Tensai Bakabon and many more, but not so much recent ones, I'm no longer up to date. I lived in Japan for 7 years in between August 1988 and September 1996, a bit more of that in connection with sumo in my "About Me". Edited November 1, 2019 by Akinomaki Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bugman 384 Posted July 13, 2012 There's quite a few things i admire about Japan although i find it difficult to put those things together as a single concept, i'l list separate things that i find impressive about Japan and it's people, i'm afraid these single statements may look a little odd when taken separately, but when put together they make up my overall impression. . I like Japanese art, outwardly simple yet somehow detailed. . I like the respect shown to older people and i find it refreshing that they seem to have much more of a role in society. . I like the effort and attention to detail shown to even mundane daily tasks. . I like the pride shown in the work they do, and the quality of it. . I like the civility of Japanese social interaction. . I respect the sense of duty shown to family and country alike. . Sumo! it seems to have two sides to it, it is in reality a hard, tough contact-sport that makes tremendous physical demands on the participants, yet it has gentleness and dignity, for me at least it has something that no other contact sport has, as it is the only martial-art i've ever been interested in. . As a life-long gamer Japanese games have had a great impact on me, admittedly not so much in the last few years where i feel their games have deteriorated in ambition somewhat, but for many years Japan was the leading light of gaming and they still make unique games of the highest quality, just less than they used to. . Japanese folk-music is very interesting to me as is all world folk-music, again there are great contrasts from deeply peaceful songs to highly energetic and catchy tunes. . Anime, although i do not have many anime films a few of them like "wings of Honneamise" are among my favourite films of all time and it's not really possible to turn around without bumping into some example of that style of art-work. . Robots! many countries are into robotics but for some reason the funniest/cutest ones are always from Japan. . Japans modernity impresses me, i'm not so sure that i like or dislike this, i certainly find it interesting. . The tea-ceremony sums up a lot of what is great about Japan, taking up so much time and precise effort over something that could be so mundane, making something small into something great. It's not all a love-story with me, there are a fair amount of things about Japan that i find alien or concerning, which is to be expected as it would be for any other country i guess, but these are the main things i like about Japan, bundle them all up and my overall disposition toward Japan is one of admiration and even wonder. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mukonoso 273 Posted July 13, 2012 Besides Sumo of course. What else about Japan (if anything) do you like? For myself I have to say it started with the women, especially since I married a super cute one. Besides that as a young man (20+ years ago) I also used to be into anime, manga and video games in a big way. I still am to a much smaller degree these days. In the in-between years after living there (June 91 ~ Oct 93) and visiting my wife's family every year or two I've also naturally come to love the food and culture. The holidays are interesting and I've gained a great respect for Shinto. I especially like the architecture, items used and outfits worn during Shinto and Buddhist ceremonies. Hiking in the mountains is always interesting since I come across unexpected things such as tiny shrines, some abandoned and some not. My old body has also come to love visiting onsen (natural hot springs). When I hit the Powerball I plan to retire to Japan and have my own private onsen in the back yard. Ever tried the yamabushi thing, standing under a waterfall, or willingly jumping up to the neck into a river at around dawn? To me it's no big deal-- but just connect with me here -- have you done it? Orion the twice-certificated yamabushi No I haven't tried that yet though it is on my bucket list (along with seeing a tornado with my own eyes). I did climb Mt Fuji back in July of 2006. That was an absolutely amazing experience. I started in the late afternoon and slowly climbed throughout the night to see the sunrise the next morning. It started with the first hour or so in thick clouds and then I broke through the top and looked down upon them. After that I had an awesome view of the night sky with three horizons, no light pollution, the Milky Way and a few shooting stars. I definitely want to do that again even though the Japanese have an old saying like "a wise man climbs Fuji once, a fool climbs it twice". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Orion 431 Posted July 14, 2012 Besides Sumo of course. What else about Japan (if anything) do you like? For myself I have to say it started with the women, especially since I married a super cute one. Besides that as a young man (20+ years ago) I also used to be into anime, manga and video games in a big way. I still am to a much smaller degree these days. In the in-between years after living there (June 91 ~ Oct 93) and visiting my wife's family every year or two I've also naturally come to love the food and culture. The holidays are interesting and I've gained a great respect for Shinto. I especially like the architecture, items used and outfits worn during Shinto and Buddhist ceremonies. Hiking in the mountains is always interesting since I come across unexpected things such as tiny shrines, some abandoned and some not. My old body has also come to love visiting onsen (natural hot springs). When I hit the Powerball I plan to retire to Japan and have my own private onsen in the back yard. Ever tried the yamabushi thing, standing under a waterfall, or willingly jumping up to the neck into a river at around dawn? To me it's no big deal-- but just connect with me here -- have you done it? Orion the twice-certificated yamabushi No I haven't tried that yet though it is on my bucket list (along with seeing a tornado with my own eyes). I did climb Mt Fuji back in July of 2006. That was an absolutely amazing experience. I started in the late afternoon and slowly climbed throughout the night to see the sunrise the next morning. It started with the first hour or so in thick clouds and then I broke through the top and looked down upon them. After that I had an awesome view of the night sky with three horizons, no light pollution, the Milky Way and a few shooting stars. I definitely want to do that again even though the Japanese have an old saying like "a wise man climbs Fuji once, a fool climbs it twice". I had to climb it twice. The first time the top was covered in dense cloud (and some drizzle), so to get the view I tried again a year or two later. This time the weather was perfect, so I've never felt the need to do it again. Back in the 1970s, however, I met a Roman Catholic priest who made the climb as often as he could; by the last time I saw him, just before he moved to Hokkaido, he had made the climb over 100 times. Orion Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mukonoso 273 Posted July 16, 2012 I don't think I've ever felt more at peace as during the moments whenever I would lay down on the side of Mt Fuji to catch my breath and just stare at the stars. One guy I met at the shinkansen station was fresh out of the Israeli military. We started the climb together. Being much more fit than myself I felt that I was slowing him down and told him to go on ahead after the first hour. I saw him again at the eating hall at the top. He claimed to have made it to the top in a little over two hours and was allowed to sleep on the floor of the tiny post office next to the shrine (and did I mention that he was wearing shorts and flip flops?) It took me about eleven hours but I think I might have enjoyed myself more by taking my time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manekineko 200 Posted July 16, 2012 My liking of Japan started with samurai drama (Shingen Takeda TV series, then Lone Wolf and Cub manga, then Kurosawa's films), carried on to sumo, manga in general, Japanese ski jumpers and origami and finally resulted in starting to learn Japanese. When I finally went to Japan I was impressed by conscientious hospitality of the Japanese, the food, the temple grounds (islands of green), punctuality of trains and lack of trash bins. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mukonoso 273 Posted July 20, 2012 (edited) Plans are getting firmer now for our next trip to Japan (last one was May 2011). As of now my wife and I hope to go in March 2013 to spend time with her family who live in Itami, just outside Osaka. Of course this means that I'll have a chance to see the Osaka Basho. I'm still kicking myself for not going during the years that I lived there in the early 90s. Right during the Taka/Waka boom and when Konishiki was big (literally and figuratively). Edited July 20, 2012 by Mukonoso Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vikanohara 171 Posted July 21, 2012 The girls of course. :-P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morty 1,505 Posted July 24, 2012 Have been fascinated with Japan since I was about ten but have only been once. Hoping to go again early next year. It started with Samurai and ninjas, but it is just the whole thing now. Some of the things I love about Japan: - Yakitori stalls under railway bridges - The Shinkasen, the safest form of high speed mass transport on earth - The Respect and the helpfulness - Sake in vending machine's either warm or cold - Cosplay - Miso Ramen in Hakodate - The beautifully decorated manhole covers - The Ghibli museum in Mitaka - The graveyard in Koyasan - Beautifully laid out gardens - Automated toilet seats I could go on here for some time but I'll leave it at that for now Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manekineko 200 Posted July 25, 2012 - The beautifully decorated manhole covers Oh, yeah. How could have I forgotten that one... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mukonoso 273 Posted July 25, 2012 - The beautifully decorated manhole covers Oh, yeah. How could have I forgotten that one... Heh, I enjoy those too and sometimes take pics. I think I've got images of manholes from Itami, Amagasaki, Takarazuka and probably the Kitano area of Kobe to name a few. But they've been spread out among 4 different computers over the years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Morty 1,505 Posted July 26, 2012 - The beautifully decorated manhole covers Oh, yeah. How could have I forgotten that one... Heh, I enjoy those too and sometimes take pics. I think I've got images of manholes from Itami, Amagasaki, Takarazuka and probably the Kitano area of Kobe to name a few. But they've been spread out among 4 different computers over the years. I've been photographing manhole covers all over the world for years, and to get to Japan and see the collection they have there is amazing. The one from Hakodate with the squid on it, and the Fire Brigade hydrant covers were stand-outs but they were all fabulous. Why not have a bit of beauty in public utilities? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naganoyama 5,949 Posted July 26, 2012 Have you put your pictures online anywhere? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manekineko 200 Posted July 26, 2012 I have (comments are in Croatian, but pictures speak for themselves): http://manekineko.blog.hr/2009/06/1626383082/specijal-sahtovi-ludi.html 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mukonoso 273 Posted July 26, 2012 Sweet pics. I'll try to dig up a couple of mine. Hopefully I didn't do something stupid like delete them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bugman 384 Posted July 26, 2012 I have (comments are in Croatian, but pictures speak for themselves): http://manekineko.bl...htovi-ludi.html I was thinking having such artistic covers might even prevent wear and tear of the man-holes as no-one would want to step on them. a good idea hehe. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jakusotsu 6,052 Posted July 27, 2012 Well, I for one like my manhole covers plain and simple, no matter how worn they get. (Being thrown tomatoes at...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yorikiried by fate 2,029 Posted July 27, 2012 I had to look up "manhole cover" and boy am I glad that it is what I now found out it is... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Otokonoyama 2,735 Posted July 27, 2012 Japan's streets infested with manholes. Really, it's true. Streets like this one are not unusual in any neighborhood across the country. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Naganoyama 5,949 Posted July 27, 2012 I have (comments are in Croatian, but pictures speak for themselves): http://manekineko.blog.hr/2009/06/1626383082/specijal-sahtovi-ludi.html Love it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Manekineko 200 Posted July 27, 2012 BTW, the rest of the blog are all photos from my 6 months in Japan, so if you're curious, please take a look. If someone's really interested, I can give a digest of the comments in English... ;-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asojima 2,874 Posted July 27, 2012 (edited) More manhole covers. To go in depth on this, you might want to subscribe to the Journal of Sewage, Monthly . Edited July 27, 2012 by Asojima 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
