Do you know 宮崎駿 (Hayao Miyazaki)?
The Japanese master animation artist who made classic アニメ (anime (cartoons)) such as 「となりのトトロ」 (My Neighbor Totoro), 「もののけ姫」 (Princess Mononoke), 「千と千尋の神隠し」 (Spirited Away), 「ハウルの動く城」 (Howl’s Moving Castle) and many others.
I’m not a anime fan…but his movies are excellent!
He just brought his new movie, 「崖の上のポニョ」 (Ponyo On The Cliff), to the Venice International Film Festival.
After the movie’s screening, he received a standing ovation and he was mobbed by international fans.
Movie critics are giving the movie four or five stars.
As I said, I’m not an anime fan. So I won’t be going to a 映画館 (movie theater) to watch this…but when it’s shown on cable TV, I’ll watch it.
++++++
I mentioned in this post that the Russian sumo wrestler, Wakanohou, was arrested for drug possession (which isn’t taken lightly in Japan).
Because of that, all of the other sumo wrestlers had to summit to drug testing…and two more Russian Sumo wrestlers failed the test.
The brothers, Roho and Hakurozan, submitted the tests that tested positive for marijuana…just like their Russian counterpart Wakanohou. They face the possibility of deportation…as well as a life ban from Sumo.
Tokyo Five 
Ganbarimasu!! 🙂
LikeLike
May…
>I visited Tokyo National Museum and Edo Tokyo Museun (in Asakusa).
Those are both good museums. (Actually the 「江戸東京博物館」 (Edo-Tokyo Museum) is in Ryogoku (not from from Asakusa). The Sumo Arena is near it.
Tokyo has many more excellent museums, too.
>On sunday 13th I saw HANABI in Tokyo 🙂
花火 (Hanabi (fireworks)) is a Japanese summer pasttime! It’s good that you got to enjoy that.
>I seldom drink expresso
I don’t really like expresso either. But I thought all Italians loved it. 😉
I do drink coffee every morning, though (and beer every evening).
Occasionally, I drink お茶 (Japanese Green Tea).
>Lessons are only once a week for two hours.
ガンバッテ！
>Well, we generally use only fork
Me, too!
>she knows that to blow one’s nose there is very unpolite ! 😀
It’s impolite to blow your nose in public in Japan. It’s fine to go to a restroom to blow your nose, though.
LikeLike
🙂 Hi!!
>Did you visit the zoo and museums?
>Did you see any of Japan’s summer festivals?
yes, I did both!
I visited Tokyo National Museum and Edo Tokyo Museun (in Asakusa).
On sunday 13th I saw HANABI in Tokyo 🙂
I was with my japanese teacher (who is from Tokyo) and her nice friends. Hanabi were beautiful andmany peope were dressed in traditional yukata… they were so nice!!
>Do you drink お茶 in Italy?
>Don’t you drink Expresso or Cappuccino in Italia?
Yes! I drink お茶 or english tea everyday for breakfast, or I have it in the afternoon or in the night…
I seldom drink expresso because it makes me unquiet and occasionally drink milk because it covers my face with horrible pimples… but I always feel good when I have tea!!! 😉 I took a lot of お茶 from Japan when I came back.
When I was in japan I could not help drinking maccha cappuccino…I loved it!
>Is it called “Italia” in Italian?
Yes, it is.
We say Repubblica Italiana(Republic of Italia) concernig state institutions.
>Are you learning Japanese at school?
It is a private foundation (http://www.italiagiappone.it/index_j.html) that organizes japanese lessons in Roma. Lessons are only once a week for two hours.
>Is it really Italian style to eat spaghetti that way…or just a Japanese misconception?
Well, we generally use only fork, but sometimes old people can eat with both fork and spoon, maybe because they have difficulties, or only because they are used to do so.
In general in Italy eating spaghetti with both fork and spoon could sound a little rough or silly. As well as doing noises while eating… 🙂
When I came in japan , a friend of mine was afraid of catching a cold, because she knows that to blow one’s nose there is very unpolite ! 😀
Have a great day 😀
May
LikeLike
May…
Thanks for writing again!
>thank you for your answer! 🙂
I’m glad you continue to visit my site.
>Everything in Japan was amazing! We stayed at Katsutaro Ryokan in Ueno
A ryokan! Good choice! And I love Ueno. Did you visit the zoo and museums?
Did you see any of Japan’s summer festivals?
>Japanese customs makes me feel very confortable
Me, too! That’s why I live here 🙂
>I like drinking green tea many times in the day
Really? Do you drink お茶 in Italy?
>I never drink coffee…
Don’t you drink Expresso or Cappuccino in Italia?
>they cooked for us the best italian dinner I have had since months!
Many people say that foreign foods served in restaurants in Japan is better than in the country of that food’s origin!
>Are you 1/4 Sicilian? Really?
Yes. My grandfather was Sicilian.
>And can you speak italian? And have you ever been in Italy?
Unfortunately, “no” to both. 😦
I only know “Ciao”, “Grazie” and “Prego”.
In Japan, your country is called “Italia” or 「イタリア共和国」 (Republic of Italia).
Is it called “Italia” in Italian?
>I, best of all, can ask for easy informations in Japanese… I can read Hiragana and katakana, this year (maybe) I will learn some kanji.
Are you learning Japanese at school?
BTW, I have a question about Italian culture. In Japan, maybe you noticed, many people think that Italians eat spaghetti with both a fork and spoon together. So, when they eat Italian food, many Japanese will use a spoon in one hand and a fork in the other (Italian style).
But my Italian grandfather never did that. Is it really Italian style to eat spaghetti that way…or just a Japanese misconception?
LikeLike
Hi!!!
thank you for your answer! 🙂
>How did you like Japan?
Everything in Japan was amazing! We stayed at Katsutaro Ryokan in Ueno, so that we could experience the traditional Japanese-style rooms… And I loved it!
Japanese customs makes me feel very confortable:
I like drinking green tea many times in the day ( I never drink coffee… ) and having dinner on short tables and fall asleep nearby… I sometimes do it at home 🙂
Everyone was kind with us, and everything was so clear that we never get lost…
We stayed in Kyoto too, a Japanese family hosted us in their house. They have an italian restaurant named “Cantina Rossi” and they cooked for us the best italian dinner I have had since months!! SUGOOOII!
>Yes I’m Italian!
I was born in Napoli, but I have been living in Roma for 6 years.
Are you 1/4 Sicilian? Really? 🙂
And can you speak italian? And have you ever been in Italy?
I, best of all, can ask for easy informations in Japanese… Not always can understand answers 😀 😀 But it has been very useful indeed…
I can read Hiragana and katakana, this year (maybe) I will learn some kanji.
🙂 May
LikeLike
May…
Thanks for visiting my site. Please feel free to comment often.
>This August I came for the first time in Tokyo
Really? Last month?
How did you like Japan?
>I visited ghibli museum in Mitaka….it was amazing! I suggest you to visit it, especially if you have children 🙂
I do have children. Three teenagers.
And, yes, the Ghibli Museum is an excellent place to visit if you like Miyazaki-先生’s movies.
It’s funny that you mention Ghibli Museum actually, because just a couple of days ago my wife told me that I should mention our adventures with that place on this blog.
So, I’ll write about it now:
Last year, we planned to visit the Ghibli Museum…but we didn’t know that you need to buy your tickets in advance. (From “Lawson Convenience” store, among other places).
So when we went there, we couldn’t go inside. So we went to the Inokashira Park near there.
So, we decided to take our kids to the Ghibli Museum last month (August. (when you went)) during our kids’ Summer holidays. But all of the tickets were sold out for everyday in August before we could buy ours!
Now, we’ve decided that we’ll go there maybe next month.
>I like your blog
Thank you. Please visit (and comment) often!
>I appreciate that you have hiragana transcription of kanji… I’m studing japanese and this is very helpful!! 🙂
You’re studying 日本語 (Japanese)? Please feel free to comment in Japanese, if you want to!
So, you use the ふりがな on the 漢字 (Kanji)? I’m glad it’s useful to some people!
>May, Italy
Are you Italian? Actually, I’m 1/4 Sicilian.
LikeLike
thecroft…
Thanks for commenting again. (You are “Mike D” from the comments above…right?)
“Spirited Away” was the first Miyazaki-先生 film you saw?
It has quite a few references to Japanese culture and Japanese superstitions. Did you find it difficult to follow?
Actually, all of his movies are “very Japanese”.
LikeLike
I love Hayao Miyazaki’s movies. This August I came for the first time in Tokyo and I visited ghibli museum in Mitaka….it was amazing! I suggest you to visit it, especially if you have children 🙂
I like your blog, I found it since I was looking for informations about Tokyo.
I appreciate that you have hiragana transcription of kanji… I’m studing japanese and this is very helpful!! 🙂
thank you,
keep on with the good work!
May, Italy
LikeLike
Spirited Away was the first I saw and saw My Neighbour soon after that. Seeing Totoro with his leaf umbrella in the pouring rain was so funny =) Brilliant films.
LikeLike
Have you seen 「千と千尋の神隠し」 (“Spirited Away”) or 「となりのトトロ」 (“My Neighbor Totoro”)? Those are his best, in my opinion.
LikeLike
Yeah April 09! Sheesh. I managed to see Howl’s Moving Castle ahead of release date at a special showing here in Glasgow so fingers crossed something like that happens again.
LikeLike
Mike D…
Thanks for commenting!
>need to wait till April ’09
It doesn’t show there until April 2009? It’s been in theaters here since mid-July.
LikeLike
Gotta love Miyazaki! And looking forward to Ponyo On The Cliff but need to wait till April 09 =(
LikeLike