Finding Treasures

Season 3 is here! Starting fresh, this zen word, Beginner’s Mind, inspired me.  Thank you for your support!! Looking forward to the new season!! Key Words: Shoshin 初心 Beginner’s Mind ————- I would love to hear what treasures you find. Please let me know.  If you have questions or topics you’d like me to cover, please reach out using this form:  https://forms.gle/Y34vT9MT8gQ6WvGBA Or DM me throug...

As we pass the autumn equinox, manjyushage starts to bloom in Japan. In this episode, I talk about the exciting topic of the equinox, the season of o-higan, and blooming red spider lilies. Check out Instagram and Facebook for my painting of red spider lilies!  Key Words: Shūbun no hi 秋分の日 Autumn Equinox O-higan お彼岸 Buddhist holiday Higan baba 彼岸花 Manjyushage 曼珠沙華 Red spider lilies  —...

In autumn, we hear the sound of insects. Here is a children song with pleasant insect onomatopoeia, first published in 1910. 秋になると虫の声が聞こえてきますよね。明治43年初出され、虫のオノマトペが心地よい童謡「虫のこえ」をご紹介します。 Song practice: 15:32 Whole song singing: 34:36 Sound video of insects in this song: https://youtu.be/VLclzP03xjM?si=gmv-PsnXffCIdo7y Key Words: Mushi no koe 虫の...

Japanese is a vowel driven language. A research published in 1978 revels that the Japanese hear the sound of nature in an unusual way because of the characteristics of the Japanese language. 日本語は母音が強い言語です。昭和53年に発表された研究によると日本人は自然界の音を少し変わった方法で処理しているそうです。  Key Words: Unō 右脳 Right hemisphere Sanō 左脳 Left hemisphere Gojyū on  五十音 a table...

Japan is the only country which has a national holiday to honor the blessings of the oceans. In this episode, I talk about the history of the Marine Day in Japan (7/20).  Key Words: Umi 海 Ocean Umi no hi 海の日 Ocean Day Meiji maru 明治丸 Ryōkai 領海 Territorial Sea Setsuzoku Suiiiki 接続水域 Contiguous Zone Haitateki KeizaiSuiiiki 排他的経済水域  Exclusive Economic Zone ーーーーーーーーーーー I...

Celebrate Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. This means the shortest night of the year. I talk about a festival to celebrate the summer solstice and related words. 1. What is Summer Solstice 2. Festival and related word 3. Mont Saint Michel  Key Words: Geshi 夏至  summer solstice Meoto iwa 夫婦岩 wedded rocks Mijikayo 短夜 summer short night ————————————— I wo...

One of the influential travel poets and priests is Saigyō,  who lived when the world was changing drastically in his lifetime in the early 12th century in Japan. I look at the most well-known poem by him, who loved cherry blossoms and the moon. Saigyō  西行  願わくば (negawakuba) 花の下にて (hana no shita nite)  春死なん (haru shinan) その如月の (sono kisaragi no) 望月の頃 (mochizuki no koro) Hoku...

Celebrate Vernal Equinox (Northern /Southern Hemisphere), happening 3/20 (in U.S.) & 3/21 (in Japan). I talk about: 1. What is Equinox? 2. Higan 3. Food Key Words: Vernal Equinox・shunbun no hi・ 春分の日 Higan ・that shore・彼岸 Shigan ・this shore・ 此岸 Atsusa samusa mo higan made・hot and cold until higan・暑さ寒さも彼岸まで Botamochi ・ ぼたもち   Tsukushi ・horsetail・ 土筆 ————————- I w...

Join me to take a look at classical literature about “timing” along with Hemingway. タイミングについて、ヘミングウェイや古典から検証してみます。 The Sun Also Rises・ 日はまた昇る・ hi wa mata noboru Ecclesiastes・ 伝道者の書・ dendōsha no sho Tao Te Ching ・老子・ rōshi  I Ching ・易経・eki kyō ———————————————— I would love to hear what treasures you find. Please let me know.  If you have question...

During the season of Chinese New Year, I share a story from the Great Learning, one of the Four Books in Chinese Literature. Every day is a new opportunity to renew ourselves. Key Words: 大学・Daigaku・the Great Learning Tang ・First king of Yin Dynasty  湯之盤銘曰 荀日新 日日新 又日新 yono ban no mei ni iwaku  makoto ni hi ni arata ni hibi ni arata ni mata hi ni arata nari to I would love to hear...

Happy New Year!! On the first day of the New Year, I share this Waka-style poem written by Ōtomo no Yakamochi in 759 from Manyōshu (Ten Thousand Leaves — collection of waka poems). Key words: 万葉集：Manyōshu 大伴家持：Ōtomo no Yakamochi 大伴旅人：Ōtomo no Tabito 令和：Reiwa 新たしき aratashiki  年の初めの toshi no hajime no 初春の hatsuharu no 今日降る雪の kyō furu yuki no いや重け吉事 iyashike y...

To begin the season 2 of this podcast and to reflect on the New Year, I talk about a Japanese idiom,  Ichigo Ichie - Once in a lifetime. シーズン2と新年を迎えるにあたり、今回は一期一会についてお話ししています。 一期一会：Ichigo Ichie Check out Sam Harris’ 5 min anecdote on “The Last Time” in The Tim Ferris Show #599. https://tim.blog/2022/06/08/sam-harris-peter-attia-ramit-sethi-elizabeth-gilbert/...

In celebration of one year anniversary of this podcast, join me as I share the meaning and origin of the word Arigatō. おかげさまでこのポッドキャストは一周年を迎えることができました。その記念に「ありがとう」の意味、語源についてお話ししています。 ・Meaning of Arigatō  ・有難う arigatō  ・盲亀浮木 mōki fuboku  ・Meaning of Thank You ・Arigatō in Samurai way (かたじけない） ・Arigatō in Osaka way （...

On this Christmas Day, I look at two expressions used around the winter solstice. May your winter be filled with hope and positive energy. ・一陽来復  ichiyō raifuku ・日脚伸ぶ  hiashi nobu クリスマスの日に、冬至に関する二つの表現についてお話しています。みなさんの冬が希望とエネルギーに満ちたものとなりますように。 ーーーーーー I would love to hear what treasures you find. Please let me know.  If yo...

The largest, most prestigious racing track in Japan is Suzuka Circuit! Join me as I talk about the brief history and the Honda’s Suzuka plant company events. 日本の名門レーストラックといえば鈴鹿サーキット。今回はその歴史と本田鈴鹿製作所の社内イベントについてお話しています。 ================== I would love to hear what treasures you find. Please let me know.  If you have questions or topics you’d l...

EP36: The Founder of Honda The founder of Honda, Honda Sōichirō, is one of the key Japanese persons in the modern era. In this episode, I share a brief history of his life, the company, and explore his philosophy of work.  Thank you for reaching out, Fujii san, my long time big brother in Tokyo.   本田宗一郎さんといえば、近代の日本を引っ張った代表的な方だと思うのです。今回はそんな本田宗一郎さんの...

9/23 in Japan is a national holiday celebrating the Autumn Equinox (9/22 in the U.S.). And the three days before and three days after totaling the 7 days is called Ohigan, where we celebrate our ancestors. In this episode, I talk about the traditions and food associated with this holiday. 9月23日は秋分の日（アメリカでは22日になります）。日本では祝日です。そしてこの三日前と三日後と合わせて七日間は...

9/9 is the Chrysanthemum Festival. I talk about the origin and tradition of this festival.  9月9日は重陽の節句です。今回は重陽の節句の歴史や伝統についてお話ししています。 ーーーーーーーーーーー I would love to hear what treasures you find. Please let me know.  If you have questions or topics you’d like me to cover, please reach out using this form.  I would like to hear from you. https://forms.gle...

What do you see on the moon?  We see a rabbit on the moon!  In this episode, I talk about the origins of the story of the rabbit pounding mochi on the moon as I sing a long-loved Japanese nursery rhyme called “Usagi.” お月様の中に何が見えますか？私たちにはうさぎが見えます！この回では、うさぎの餅つきのお話しや長く愛されている童謡「うさぎ」についてお話ししています。 ーーーーーーーーーーーーーー I wo...

Amazing beautiful moon is coming up on September 9th/10th for the Moon Viewing Festival called Otsukimi.  I talk about the meaning of the name and the two decorations for this festival in this episode.  Look up and enjoy the moon! 令和四年の中秋の名月は9月9日・10日です。お月見の行事についてお話ししています。みなさんもぜひ名月を楽しんでみてくださいね。 —————————————— I would love to hear what treas...

In this episode, I talk about the novel I’ve read recently called “The Briefcase” - “Sensei no Kaban.” by Kawakami Hiromi.  Do you have a teacher you want to get in touch with? 今回は最近読んだ小説、川上弘美さんによる「センセイの鞄」（英語名 The Briefcase)についてお話ししています。 また連絡してみたい先生はいらっしゃいますか？ ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー I would love to hear what treasures you f...

8/19 is Haiku Day!  Haiku is a shortest form of poem.  Let’s learn what makes haiku! ———————————— I would love to hear what treasures you find. Please let me know.  If you have questions or topics you’d like me to cover, please reach out using this form:  https://forms.gle/Y34vT9MT8gQ6WvGBA Or DM me through:  Website: https://www.asagaojapanese.com/ Blog: https://asagaoblog.com/ Instagram: https:/...

「わ-wa-」Day 8/8 ♾ 「わ-wa-」is a handmade lamp released on 8/8/2020 produced by Hattori Takahisa (IG: _wa_takahisa.hattori) Hattori chose this date for the release because of the six zeros the date has, wishing the concept of 「わ-wa-」continues to infinity.  「わ-wa-」とは、2020年8月8日に燈師の服部高久さんによってプロデュースされた、ハンドメイドのランプ。0が4つ重なったこの日は、「わ-wa-」が意味...

August is here and it rained today!! Join me as I discuss the expressions of rain. 8月になりました！そして今日は奇跡的に雨が降った！ ということで雨の表現についてお話ししています。 1.It’s raining cats & dogs 2. Doshaburi 3. Ame I would love to hear what treasures you find. Please let me know.  If you have questions or topics you’d like me to cover, please reach out using this form:  https://for...

A sugary confections from California is Jelly Belly Jelly Bean!  Join me as I discuss the similarities between Konpeitou & Jelly Belly Jelly Beans.  1.History of Jelly Belly 2. History of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans 3 .Jelly Belly factory tour カリフォルニアに工場を構える美味しいキャンディーはジェリービーンズ。ジェリービーンズと金平糖の似ているところにも迫ります。 1.ジェリーベリーの歴史 2.ジェリー...