Sound princess

Japanese toilet company, TOTO has released Otohime since 1980s. 
Otohime is one of the toilet accessories attached to the wall of the toilet.
Otohime meaning sound princess since makes a loud flushing sound when activated.
Because many Japanese women are embarrassed at the thought being heard by others when using the toilet. 
In order to cover the noise, they keep using a large amount of flushing water. It results water resources wasted and money inefficiency. For the reason, Otohime has been developed to prevent the bad practice.


On the other hand, you probably don’t see Otohime in a toilet for men.
Because men don’t care even if somebody stands at the right next to them during their peeing.

There is an interesting story. 
Toilet cleaners said that public toilets for women tend to be dirtier than public toilets for men. 
It is because women have a lot of works such as make-up or chat. 
However, it is interesting that they tend to care about their own situation more than something around them.

Is your gift worthless?

When Japanese people give a gift or a present, they often say "tsumaranai monodesuga" 

The literal meaning of this term is that this gift is worthless but I give it to you anyway. 

Is it really worthless? Actually it is not. 

You might wonder why they tell a lie when they give a gift. 

This is one of the indirect expressions in Japanese.  

The true meaning is likely  the following. 

"I am afraid that you won't like it, but I dare to give it to you  since I can't find any other way to express my gratitude"

This is a very useful expression. 

If you think the gift is sucks, it's okay because they say the same thing. 

On the contrary,  the gift is nice, you will be happy.  

This gesture may protect both the giver and receiver from any embarrassment, and considers everyone's feelings. 

However, Japanese people sometimes become too polite in this situation.  

Valentine's day

Valentine's day. 

As you might know, Valentine's day is the special event when girls give chocolates gifts to boys. 

Actually, there are two kinds of chocolate gifts in Japan. 

One is Giri chocolate, the other is Honmei chocolate. 

Giri chocolate is the chocolate gift to show your friendship or thanks. For example, there is a custom that a women employee  gives her boss a chocolate gift with her gratitude. 

 On the other hand, Honmei chocolate gift is totally different.  Honmei chocolate is the gift that a girl gives to the boy that she loves. 

After she gives Honmei chocolate to the boy, she will sometimes ask him to go out with her. 

For this reason, especially in school, girls often tell the boy which type of chocolate gift it is so that he doesn't misunderstand. 

However you should pay attention when you are given a chocolate gift even though that is Giri chocolate because someone might be too shy to say that it is Honmei chocolate.  

Manekineko

This cat doll is displayed on my room.

The cat doll is called Manekineko in Japan.  It is said that Manekineko can bring fortune.  This Manekineko  is gold which means it brings money. 

Although I bought  a lottery tickets for 30 dollars last month, my cat hasn't brought any money yet. 

Briefs and Adolescence

Briefs and Adolescence

It is hard to believe but there are  a school regulation that school boys are only allowed to wear a specific underwear in Japan. 

This regulation is mainly adapted to elementary school, and the underwear are  white briefs. 

Elementary students usually don't care whatever they wear. However they begin to be shamed wearing a white brief since they enter junior high school. 

It is probably because they reached adolescence. 

For the reason, you should care when your son ask you to change other underwears from white briefs. 

Swan Boat

Swan Boats

There are sometimes huge swans on a lake in Japan.  But they are not real actually. They are boats which look like swans.   

Swan boats can move by pedaling like on a bicycle. 

Also, the faster you pedal, the faster a swan boat can move. 

Lovers  often ride a swan boat in order to conduct a test. 

The test is that a boy pedals  as fast as he can, and a girl evaluates how much strong he is. 

It leads to the inevitable result  that most of boys suffer  from muscle pain as they push themselves too hard in order to show girls their ability.  

Anime Manhole

Anime Manhole

 

Who care about what design of manhole is?

But in Japan, it seem to be issue to consider what is the best design of the manhole cover. 

In my town, the character of the manhole cover is a "Kappa".  

"Kappa" is a kind of Japanese fairy. 

In my town,  there is the legend that "Kappa" used to live in its pond for a long time ago. 

  For the reason,  the local government designed the  "Kappa's manhole"  in order to introduce  their own characteristic. 

It might be fun to guess what the meaning of manhole's picture  of the town when you visit Japan.