At the Top of Your Lungs – 大声で歌う

When I woke this morning, I was not bursting with energy nor was I sluggish. I was feeling normal. I had breakfast, put on a load of washing, brewed a cup of coffee and sat behind my desk to check e-mail. One thread on a particular mailing list was about one of my favourite songs, so I played it for the first time in how long. I was humming along while reading more e-mail, and before I knew it I was singing along. The song ended, but I wanted more. Hit play again. The first verse is quiet, but I pumped up the volume on the chorus and lost myself in the song. Then, silence. I sat back down – every nerve in my body tingling. I found my productivity had doubled. Maybe I will put on a different song every morning to get me in the mood to work.

今朝起きた時、 元気ではなく、怠くもな く、普通でした。 朝食後、洗濯して、コーヒーを入れて、机 に座ってメールチェック。あるメーリング リストには大好きな曲についての解説があ って、久々に聞きたくなりました。鼻歌を 歌いながらメールを読み続きましたが、 調子に乗っていつの間に大声で歌っていま した。終わって物足りませんでした。もう 一回再生しました。出だしは静かですが、サビから思い切り声を出して夢中。終りましたら、沈黙。ハイのまま机に座って意外に仕 事がより効率的にできました。これから毎朝作業する前に大声で歌いましょう。

The Japanese version appeared in the October 2012 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter. 日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2012年10月号に掲載されました。

Holding that Flag is No Piece of Cake

You will have inevitably acted as tour guide at some time and probably found it tough. KS talked with Lonely Planet author, Chris Rowthorn, about his latest book – a guide to help guides guide.

Everyone jokes about tour groups in Japan following the guide holding the ubiquitous flag, but being the flag bearer is not as easy as it seems. If you have guided friends, relatives or business associates, you can appreciate the challenge they face with every group — keeping them interested. However, many professional guides for foreign visitors, “who have been guiding a long time for big companies, guide in an old school way,” says Chris Rowthorn, who runs a small travel consultancy in Kyoto that provides guided tours. “A lot of their guiding looks like open-air lecturing.”

Rowthorn, together with his top tour guide, Koko Ijuin, released a book in May titled, Building Guide Skills — Learn from the experts, with the goal of conveying “a philosophy of guiding, rather than specific information” for guides of visitors to Japan.

To obtain their licence, guides must sit detail-focused exams that lack sufficient emphasis on the actual act of guiding. As Rowthorn comments, “The guide education system mirrors the general English education system in Japan. In order to pass the national guide exam, guides must learn a lot of minutiae about Japanese history. Unfortunately, they never learn how to answer the ‘big picture’ questions, how to explain things in an entertaining way, nor— actually—how to guide. What they learn are endless dry facts. Most of the many books written in Japanese on how to guide repeat the mistakes of the system.”

Rowthorn has interviewed dozens of professional Japanese licensed guides, but sadly finds that only one in 20 can satisfactorily answer basic questions in an interesting way. He spent many hours discussing guiding with Ijuin, who also has extensive experience in the hotel industry, and they “developed a philosophy of guiding that puts the comfort and enjoyment of the client before anything else.”

Upon deciding to write their book, Rowthorn explains that they “wanted to focus more on the form of guiding rather than the content. There are plenty of books on the details of every temple and shrine in Japan, but there are almost no books on how to guide foreigners in an interesting way. We tried to cover a lot in addition to phrases and language.”

The book does contain information on how best to explain various aspects of Japan, but it is essentially a detailed manual in Japanese on how to prepare for the tour, interact with visitors of all ages and deal with problems that might arise. Throughout the book, readers are repeatedly encouraged to get hints from the English expressions and explanations, which are brief and succinct, and adapt them to their own style, so they are easy to remember.

The Japanese is written in a casual style using common kanji and expressions, so foreign readers are able to follow the explanations.

“Our goal was to write a very accessible, open book that would be fun to read. More than anything, we wanted to avoid a dense, text-heavy book that people would never really use. And, even if you don’t understand all the Japanese, the book contains lots of English around which lessons can be built. We choose natural, clear and polite English for the book. Most of all, we thought about everything from the perspective of the client.”

The book works as a text or reference for not only guides, but anyone in the service industry and beyond. “We think our book is useful for general students of English, hotel concierges and front desk staff, businesspeople who must entertain foreign guests, homestay hosts, people who have foreign friends, and even foreigners who are interested in explaining Japan to their friends from abroad.

“Basically, we wanted the readers to get some useful expressions for explaining Japan to foreigners. We feel that a good guide should act like an extremely gracious and savvy friend. We never want a guide to sound like a boring schoolteacher.”

プロが教える現場の英語通訳ガイドスキル
by Chris Rowthorn & Koko Ijuin
Sanshusha Publishing
192 pp, paperback
ISBN 978-4-384-05579-5
www.chrisrowthorn.com

Text: George Bourdaniotis, Photo: Courtesy Chris Rowthorn. Originally published in Kansai Scene #123, August 2010.

タイミング – Timing

お風呂に浸かれている間、携帯電話が鳴ります。出掛けた5分後に宅急便のお兄さんが荷物を運んできます。付き合っていない時持はモテなくて、付き合ったら告白されます。今週仕事があまりにも暇でしたが、大きい案件を引き受けた後、他案件の依頼がバンバン届どきます。連絡を待ってる時、なかなかかかってきませんが、電話に出られないプールで水泳中に3本もかかってきます。 難しい案件の納品後、参考にぴったりの良い資料が見付かります。タイミングには自分が影響を及ぼせませんが、いい出会いもタイミング。

You are soaking in the bath and your mobile rings. Five minutes after you have left home, the delivery guy comes with a package. You are single and have no luck, but once you are in a relationship someone declares their love for you. Work is quiet this week, but the moment you accept a big job other offers roll in. You are waiting for a few phone calls. They and two others ring while you are doing laps in the pool. No sooner have you handed in a difficult translation than you find the perfect reference material you needed online. We cannot control timing. Meeting people is also about timing.

The Japanese version first appeared in the September 2012 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter. 日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2012年9月号に掲載されました。

写真 – Photos

大昔は写真を撮るのは、晴れの日でした。皆 が正装して直立不動の姿勢で立って、フラッ シュが焚くのを待ちました。写真は遠方の親 戚や友人に形見として贈られました。カメラ の進化に伴って段々とカジュアルな写真を撮 る様になってきました。お爺さんから貴重な フォトアルバムのページを捲りながら、母が ページから浮かぶ皆について話をしてくれま した。1回切りなのに、何十年が経っても意外と名前を覚えたりします。兄弟等のためにそのアルバムをスキャンしている間、私たち の写真を見て末裔がどんな話しを語るかボーッと考えていました。

A century or so ago, having your photograph taken was a special occasion. Everyone would dress in their finest and stand rigid, waiting for the flash. These photographs would be sent to friends and family living abroad as mementos. With the advancement of photographic technology, the poses in these photographs became more and more casual. My mother sat with me one day turning the pages of her father’s photo album. She reminisced about the people captured between the covers. Despite only seeing these photos once, I can decades later remember names and some stories. I stand scanning all these photos for my siblings, cousins and future generations, and cannot help but wonder what stories our descendants will tell while looking at our own photos.

The Japanese version first appeared in the August 2012 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter. 日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2012年8月号に掲載されました。

A Local Rose Blooms

KS talks to Osaka-based Trinidadian, Alica Saldenha, about her debut album, Dance with the Sun, released in June. 

Saldenha left her native Trinidad to study in Cardiff, Wales, before coming to Japan over 10 years ago to conduct research. During her time at Osaka Gaidai, she joined the jazz circle and played clubs in Mino-o. But her studies left little time for her to concentrate on her material.

“I was doing standards everybody knew, because it takes time to form a band and arrange songs. I was frustrated for so long, because I had ideas and great songs no one was hearing. I was happy when I finished my Ph.D. in ethnomusicology and anthropology; I could focus on the songs I’d written. It took years to find musicians flexible enough to play my music. Ones who could accept who I was, because I’m not Japanese. After all that, I thought it was a shame to let that all go. Kansai is my home so I wanted to release my album from here.”

From a young age, Saldenha wrote ditties and entertained her mother and her friends, and she dreamed of a career on stage in musicals. Her influences span the genres – from opera and musical theatre to funk, calypso and jazz – so she was anxious about finding a local producer for her album, who could hear the sounds in her head as she did. Saldenha e-mailed several U.S. producers and found Andrew Felluss. “I didn’t expect him to reply, because he’d worked with Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey... Andrew had looked at my YouTube channel and was impressed with my songs, my voice and my stage presence.” Felluss found Saldenha “amazing musicians” to play on the album – Grammy-nominated pianist, Barney McAll; Mark Kelly, who worked with Meshell Ndegeocello; Chris Eddleton, who worked with Lizz Wright; Takuya Kuroda, who tours with Jose James; and Kaleta, previously of Fela Kuti's ensemble. The independently released Dance with the Sun was recorded during two visits to NYC, and all tracks, bar one, are self-penned. Saldenha describes her style as “funky soul with a twist of island sugar cane”.

Saldenha felt she received true recognition when Japanese nu-jazz instrumental combo, indigo jam unit, approached her to collaborate. “As an artist, I had many opportunities to work with people. Sometimes I wondered if I’d made the right decisions. I met a group I respected; I love their music. They respected what I was doing. Just being invited to do the album is a huge gift.” Saldenha’s resolve paid off; the collaboration album, Rose, won the Tokyo Jazz Notes Album of the Year, last year. “I wanted to do something I could be proud of. That was more important than fame or money. Though it’s not a commercial album, the way people reacted makes me feel everything I’ve sacrificed and all the time I put in was worthwhile. A dream come true.”

As part of the Rose tour, Alicia sang at Billboard Osaka. “I’ve stood on their stage as a guest, but it was overwhelming being the feature act – another of my dreams. I never wanted to get to these places doing something mediocre, because it was an easy ticket.”

“Billboard is a great place for networking; it’s the only place to meet great musicians.” Meeting R&B singer, Ledisi, at Billboard was a turning point. “I saw two shows back-to-back and was blown away. She put the same amount of energy into both shows. She sings out and doesn’t hold anything back.” Meeting her afterwards, Saldenha asked advice on performing without tiring or damaging her voice. “I was still finding my own voice. She gave me a lot of advice and recommended books. Those books helped change my approach to singing. I am really grateful, because I've met singers who are tired and just want to sign your stuff. She was definitely a major influence on my singing and the way I perform. Until then, I concentrated on singing correctly, pretty and safe. Afterwards I was a lot less reserved and started taking more risks.”

Alicia Saldenha Official Web Site
Dance with the Sun available in stores and on iTunes
Indigo Jam Unit 

Text: George Bourdaniotis Photos: Courtesy of Alicia Saldenha Originally published in Kansai Scene #146, July 2012.

Loan Words – 外来語

Japanese uses many loans words from other languages, but the opposite is rare. Words like geisha, samurai, karaoke and futon have been used for many years in English-speaking countries. With the recent sushi and anime booms outside Japan, the words otaku, umami and tatami are also being used in English. But one dialect was influenced by Japanese – the Hawai’ian dialect. The flood of Japanese immigrants to Hawai’i began in 1885, and Japanese words were absorbed into the local dialect. For example, shibai (from play or drama, in Japanese; political posturing), benjo (toilet), daikon (Japanese radish) legs and skosh (from sukoshi; a little). Hiroshima dialect had a larger influence, because the majority of immigrants were from Hiroshima Prefecture. One example is habut (habuteru; take offense, lose one’s temper).

日本語には外国語から生まれた言葉は沢山ありますが、反対のケースが少ないです。英語圏で芸者や侍、カラオケ、布団等は昔から使われています。近年の和食とアニメブームの影響で旨味や畳、オタクも英語に普及しています。しかし日本語が影響した方言、ハワイの方言があります。1885年から日本から移民した人が多かったので、現地の英語に日本語からの外来語が多いです。例えば、芝居（政治家が仮面をはめている時に使う）、便所、大根 legs、 skosh（少し）等。特に広島出身の移民が多かった為、広島弁の「はぶている」（腹が立つ）がhabutになったり、西日本の方言からの外来語が多い。

The Japanese version first appeared in the July 2012 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter.
日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2012年7月号に掲載されました。

A River Oasis in the Hanshin Area

Japan’s stifling summer is around the corner. Would you like a cool breeze, a place to soak your feet in sparkling water, or take a dip in a waterfall? Without leaving the city? Splash this way. The Sumiyoshi River, which divides the Hanshin area with the Osaka dialect traditionally spoken to the east and Kobe dialect to the west, is concreted like most rivers in Japan, but it is an excellent spot in summer to cool down and enjoy nature.

At first glance, it would seem the fast-flowing Sumiyoshi River was once a large, deep river, but at the turn of last century it was much shallower, dotted with over 80 waterwheels and prone to flooding. Major landslides in the area during the Great Hanshin Floods of July 1938 resulted in the death of over 600 people. Depending on your route to the river, you will see numerous stone memorials for flood victims. The largest — a guardian god carved into a boulder near the top waterfall — is also a great spot to enjoy the view. On a fine day, you can see as far as Wakayama and even Shikoku.

The promenades along the river were originally created in the 1960s to transport soil from Mt. Sugimori to be used as landfill for Rokko Island and were nicknamed ‘Dump Truck Road’. After construction was completed, the ‘roads’ were developed into promenades, with stepping stones laid at various points across the river, that are used by the locals for walking, jogging, walking the dog and relaxing. Exercise areas at either end of the east promenade have hanging bars and other exercise equipment.

On weekends and holidays, the northern reach of the river is a popular picnic and barbecue spot. People bring tents, tables and chairs to knock back a few in the cool river breezes. Since it is shallow and accessible here, children especially enjoy playing in the river. Adults, too, cool off in the clean and crystal clear water — some even standing under the waterfalls then sunbathing nearby. During the summer holidays, it is not unusual to see parents helping their children with their summer project — bird watching, bug catching or fishing in the upper reach of the river, which is the home to grey herons, ducks, and various species of fish and insects.

In mid-June, Sumiyoshi River is illuminated at night with the flickering lights of fireflies. Successfully reintroduced in 1996, firefly larvae from Hiroshima prefecture are released into the river in November every year by the river association, which holds clean-up campaigns twice a year in spring and autumn. The best time to view this beautiful natural light show is just after dusk, the day after rain, where the vegetation is thickest. If you do venture behind the guardian monument to view the fireflies, take a torch, but do not carry a plastic supermarket bag or you may become the target of wild boars.

In July 2008, 70 years after the 1938 floods, the water level of Toga River to the west rose 1.3m in ten minutes claiming the lives of five people. Since, Kobe City has installed flood warning lights, which flash when precipitation in the mountains is heavy, along the rivers.

Various riverside attractions offer those needing to escape the sun cool refuge. Kikumasamune Sake Museum, on the west bank south of Hanshin Uozaki, has an excellent display of the traditional sake brewing process, an English video and sake tasting. Built in 1929, Ishoan, on the west bank between the Hanshin and JR lines, was the one-time residence of Junichiro Tanizaki and the setting of his novel, The Makioka Sisters. North of the Hankyu line is the temple-like building housing the Hakutsuru Fine Art Museum (open in spring and autumn) built in the 1920s, and temples and shrines.

Text & Photos: George Bourdaniotis. Originally published in Kansai Scene #121, June 2010.

おもちゃ – Toys

先日赤ちゃん連れの海外の友人が家に泊まりました。子供が好きですが、長期間一緒にいるのが初めて。異文化等を区別できない子供の視界から見た世が新鮮で、全ては玩具感覚。網戸を押したら窓ガラスより柔らかいと何回も確認すること等、毎日発見が多いです。周りに気にせず、気に入った物に夢中になったり、すぐ気が散ったりするのも赤ちゃん。大人も赤ちゃんの様に、新しい物にもちろん好奇心を持つべきですが、技術発展で生活や仕事が便利になった「玩具」に夢中になったり、気が散ったりするのに気を付けるべきです。赤ちゃんだと可愛いですが。

The other week, we had friends from overseas staying with their toddler. I love kids, but it’s the first time I’ve spent so much time with one. It was refreshing to see the world through the eyes of a child who is yet to distinguish between different cultures; everything was a toy. Everyday brought a new discovery, like pushing the fly screen – finding it more pliable than glass and testing both, over and over. Toddlers become engrossed in something without a care about those around them. They are also easily distracted. Adults should always have a child-like curiosity, but they must not be easily engrossed in or distracted by the technologically advanced “toys” that have made our work and lives more convenient. When it’s a child, it’s cute.

The Japanese version first appeared in the June 2012 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter.
日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2012年6月号に掲載されました。

Suddenly – 突然

One day, we are suddenly born into a magical world and our fantastic journey begins. One day, we realise we are walking by ourselves, and before we know it we can run. From that day, a fascinating world opens up in front of our eyes. No matter if we look beside or behind us, people are there cheering us on and keep watch over us. We never know what path is the best to take, but we keep turning corners. No matter what we find around that corner, no matter if we suddenly become lost, those people are always with us. But, one day, we suddenly notice we are walking alone. Tears of sadness flow. Time lapses. The smallest things will remind us of them, and the tears that flow are of joy, suddenly…

ある日不思議な世に突然生まれて、幻想的な旅が始まります。ある日一人で歩けることに気付きましたら、あっという間に走れるようになります。すると、面白い世界が目の前にどんどん広がります。横を、後ろを振り向きましたら、応援してくれる人にずっと見守っています。どの道を歩んだらいいかよく分かりませんが、角を曲がります。角を曲がるほど何があっても、突然迷子になっても、その人がいます。が、ある日突然独りで歩いていることに気付きます。悲しい涙が溢れます。時間が経つと、ちょっとしたことで思い出しましたら、嬉しい涙に変わります、突然に...

The Japanese version first appeared in the May 2012 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter.
日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2012年5月号に掲載されました。

Lordly Indian

The aroma of simmering curry is inviting, and I find resistance futile, even on a blistering hot day. After ordering a lunch set at Gaylord Tarumi, I ordered a Cobra beer — brewed in the UK and exclusively distributed in Japan by Gaylord — to soothe my taste buds while eating the channa curry. Especially brewed for imbibing with spicy Indian cuisine, this beer is smooth and has little gas. The light, refreshing taste is popular in Japan with women, but it doesn’t hit the spot for some men. My lunch set came with two flavours of succulent chicken tikka — my mark of a good Indian restaurant.

“There are many Indian restaurants in every city across Japan, today, competing with each other. We differentiate ourselves by focusing on quality,” says Hiromi Sakata from Gaylord. “We use only fresh locally produced chicken, fruit and vegetables from Hyogo Prefecture to create the delicious curries and other dishes.” Therefore decreasing their ecological footprint. The Australian and New Zealand lamb and mutton is halal. The adventurous diner can create their own curry for ¥1,800, by choosing one of seven base sauces, including Masala (onion), Makhanwala (tomato and cream), Sagwala (spinach) and Khorma (nuts and cream), and one of the various main ingredients.

Premier, international Indian restaurant chain, Gaylord, opened its first Japan branch in 1973 to serve the local Kobe Indian community, when Kobe had no Indian restaurants. They now run two restaurants in Kobe: Sannomiya and Tarumi (Marine Pier). The sets offered at both branches differ to cater for different clientele; the Sannomiya branch has business clientele, and the Tarumi branch, shoppers and families. Visit the Tarumi branch, which has parking, at night and enjoy the spectacular view of the illuminated Akashi Ohashi bridge. If you are going to the Sannomiya branch with a group for dinner, Sakata-san recommends you book, because it is smaller than the Tarumi branch.

With the recent boom in Indian restaurants around the country, Gaylord decided to concentrate more on serving restaurant-quality food to customers around the country. Even though Gaylord offers takeaways from their menu, diners wanted to enjoy the curries at home without having to visit the restaurant. So, in consultation with department store and supermarket buyers, they created a range of five ready-to-eat curries made from original recipes — beef, chicken, keema, scallop and tomato. They also package two varieties of curry roux. By offering these through retail outlets and their online shop, Gaylord “wants to create a system where people around Japan can enjoy the same Gaylord quality curries at home.” Quality also means pricey. The staff realise their products are more expensive than their competitors, but they are not willing to sacrifice quality for price. “Gaylord offers premium food with the emphasis on safety, reliability and a commitment to quality.” All ingredients in their line-up are specially selected, as they are in the restaurants.

Though not included in the lunch set, I decided to have the creamy, rich saffron and pistachio ice-cream. You can taste each ingredient. The ice cream is made from 100 per cent Jersey fullcream milk, saffron, nuts, sugar — no preservatives or additives. This autumn, Gaylord will release its ice-cream in department stores, supermarkets and their online shop. The full range offers five flavours that will not be available in their restaurants — yoghurt, ginger, soy mango, saffron, chai and pistachio — are also made using their original recipe. “The ice cream is that delicious, because your mouth is still sensitive after eating a hot curry. It will taste different again when you eat it separately.”

Gaylord Indian Restaurant
Sannomiya Branch
Address: B1F, KDC Kobe Bldg, 83 Kyo-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe
Access: Sannomiya Stn
Open: 11:30am–3pm (lunch), 3pm–4:30pm (tea time), 5pm–9pm (dinner).
Closed: Monday
Reservations: 078-392-8200

Gaylord Port Bazaar Branch
Address: Marine Pia Kobe, 12-2, Kaigan-dori, Tarumi-ku, Kobe
Access: JR or Sanyo Tarumi Stn
Open: 11am–3pm (lunch), 3pm–5pm (tea time), 5pm–9pm (dinner)
Reservations: 078-708-4359

Readymade Curries online shop

Text & Photos: George Bourdaniotis. Originally published in Kansai Scene #136, September 2011.

緊張感 - Nervousness

 新年度早々新しい企画がスタート。今回はNHK国際放送局の新番組「Mapping Kyoto Streets」の台本監修を務めます。これから打ち合わせ等のために電車に乗る時間が長いですが、京都へ行ける、京都についてより深く勉強できる機会が増えて嬉しいです。友人や家族をはじめ視聴者の皆さんが楽しく視るためにナレーション等の表現について悩んだりします。そして出演者に台本を読んでもらうのを緊張します。人によって「緊張感」イコール「ストレス」ですが、私にとって緊張が面白くて良いことです。目の前にある仕事に対して感心を持っている証拠だと思います。

With the new financial year comes a new project. This project is the NHK World program, Mapping Kyoto Streets. As script advisor, I will be spending more time on the train to Kyoto for meetings and filming, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity to visit Kyoto more often and discover more about this ancient city. When I imagine my friends, colleagues and family watching this show, I start to worry if the narration is interesting enough. I also get nervous about the host and the narrator reading the translations I’ve prepared. Most people look at nervousness as stress, but nervousness, for me, is interesting. It is proof that I care about the work at hand.

The Japanese version first appeared in the April 2012 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter. 日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2012年4月号に掲載されました。 Mapping Kyoto Streets premieres on April 12 and airs once a fortnight. You can watch the show online, in real time. Check the web site for screening times. Pictured, here, is Randy Channell Soei – the host of Episode 1: Sanjo-dori – rehearsing his lines.

Food Fit for a Thai King

Chedi Luang, Umeda and Kitahorie, Osaka

When Chedi Luang opened, 10 years ago, Thai restaurants in Osaka only served Bangkok-style food. “We filled that gap,” said supervisor, Chieko Suzumoto. “Bangkok cuisine is food-stall based, whereas Chiang Mai cuisine is the royal, restaurant-style Khantoke. Neighbouring countries – Laos, Myanmar and China – have an interesting influence on the regional cuisine.” Chiang Mai, located 700 km north of Bangkok, was the capital of the Lanna Thai kingdom in the 14th century and is the cultural centre of Thailand, like Kyoto is to Japan. Elaborate, Lanna Thai-traditional Khantoke meals are served to guests at ceremonies and celebrations on khantoke pedestal trays used as tables, similar in style to Japan’s traditional kaiseki cuisine.

I was first served Nanprik Wannii, a Khantoke-style platter of cucumber, carrots, broccoli, beans and other fresh vegetables eaten with a hot, spicy, tangy sauce (taste before dipping or you will be breathing fire) and a mild, nut sauce. A friend recommended I try the Kung Nangfaoa Chae Nampla. The raw tiger prawns in nampla fish sauce, garlic, chilli and mint looked harmless until I put one in my mouth. Said friend’s head may have “exploded with delight”, but for me it was instant bliss. The remainder on the plate disappeared quickly. Your mouth will be tingling from the spices, so cleanse your palate before you eat on with a glass of Thai wine, Thai beer – Singha and Chang – or tea. I also tried another Chiang Mai specialty, Kao Soi Gai, a Laos-style chicken curry over flat noodles, topped with crispy noodles piled like the stupor for which the restaurant is named, Wat Chedi Luang. Usually yellow, the noodles are green and red for Chedi Luang’s 10th anniversary. This curry is not hot or runny like Thai curries, so season it to taste with lemon, onion, cabbage pickles and chili oil. A popular dish with women is Puu Nim Pad Pong Karii, soft-shell crab stir fried with egg and curry. Of course, Chedi Luang offers popular Thai dishes, too. Their tom yum kung is made with menam sweet river prawns, which have long legs and make a delicious broth.

“Chiang Mai cuisine is healthy, like herbal medicine. It uses ginger that warms the body in winter, peppers, garlic and lemon grass that is good for digestion,” said Suzumoto. “Our Thai chefs at both branches are particular about the spices they use, so we import chilli, coconuts, prawns, curry base and other ingredients direct from Chiang Mai to serve our guests fresh, authentic food. Last year’s floods did affect supply, but it is now back to normal.”

Opened in March 2011, the furniture and the gold interior at the Herbis ENT branch makes you feel royal. The tableware and the objects incorporate designs and patterns for which Chiang Mai is famous. The view of the Umeda Sky Building at night adds to the feeling of occasion, ideal for special occasions, dates or if you want to splurge. Both branches offer a 90-minute lunch buffet serving 15 dishes on weekdays and 20 on weekends and public holidays. They also offer a one-hour all-you-can-drink Heineken Extra Cold beer option for an extra 998 yen. The chefs can adjust the dishes spiciness and to accommodate pescatarians.

Chedi Luang
(English menu and English-speaking staff)

Herbis ENT Branch
Address: Herbis ENT 5F, 2-2-22 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka
Access: Umeda Stns (JR, Hankyu, Hanshin, Subway)
Weekdays: 11:30–15.00 (lunch, last order 14:30), 17:30–23:00 (dinner, last order 22.30)
Weekends, Public Holidays: 11:30–16.00 (lunch, last order 15:30), 17:00–23:00 (dinner, last order 22.30)
Closed: when Herbis ENT is closed.
Reservations: 06-6344-6116

Kitahorie Main Branch
Address: 1-17-11 Kitahorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka
Access: Subway Nishi-ohashi Stn 1 minute walk, Subway Yotsubashi Stn 4 minute walk
Weekdays: 12:00–15.00 (lunch, last order 14:30), 17:30–23:00 (dinner, last order 22.30)
Weekends, Public Holidays: 12:00–16.00 (lunch, last order 15:30), 17:00–23:00 (dinner, last order 22.30)
Closed: Monday lunch (open when Monday is a public holiday)
Reservations: 06-6535-1515

Text: George Bourdaniotis, Photos: Courtesy of Chedi Luang. Originally published in Kansai Scene #141, February 2012.

Counting My Blessings - 常に感謝を心に

同業者や異業種の懇親会に参加する内に、友達や仕事仲間、世間が広がります。その時は将来どんな事になるか想像できません。goodspeedとの出会いもその一つ。 楽しい仕事を一緒にしてきたからこそ、先月の旅番組、 CNNGoの現地コーディネートの急な話がきた時、きっと やり遂げられると思いました。短期間でゲスト選定やス ケジュール調整、ロケハン...皆様のお陰でいい仕事がで きました。常に周りに感謝していますが、今回は特に感 謝しています。ありがとうございました! この取材の模様は今月中旬放送される予定です。 お楽しみに!

I attend many professional and business networking events. Over time, I make new friends and business partners, and my network grows. When we meet, neither of us knows what the future holds. Meeting Daisuke at goodspeed was no different. We have worked on some interesting projects together since we met, so when I was contacted to be fixer for the CNN travel program, CNNGo, I did not hesitate to bring Daisuke on board. In the very brief time leading up to the shoot, we searched for guests to appear on the show, slapped together a filming schedule, went location scouting,... Thanks to everyone's cooperation, we got the job done. I always count my blessings, but this time I cannot express how grateful I am for everyone's support. Thank you! I hope readers catch the finished product on CNN, this month.

The Japanese version first appeared in the March 2012 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter. 日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2012年3月号に掲載されました。 CNN International will first air CNNGo Rebuilding Japan! Rediscovering the Beauty of Japan (Kyoto/Osaka) on March 14 and repeat it in the following weeks. After its premiere, it will be available for viewing on the CNNGo web site. 本番組は3月14日から放送されます。その後、CNNGoホームページでご覧ください。

Leading Kansai Development for 102 years

Newly arrived visitors to Osaka from abroad soon remember the name Hankyu. The name is seen everywhere in Umeda. Hankyu even gave Umeda its name.  Originally a swamp, Hankyu Railway’s predecessor bought the area, filled it in (umeru, in Japanese) and called it Umeda, using the characters for fill and field (埋田). The first character was later changed to the more romantic plum (梅). The area was subsequently developed by Hankyu, with hotels, department stores and shopping complexes in the area bearing the Hankyu name, today.

Established in 1907 by Kobayashi Ichizo, Mino-o Arima Electric Tramway actually began operations with two lines—the Takarazuka and Mino-o lines—on March 10, 1910. In 1918, the company was renamed Hanshin Kyuko Railway, from which the current name Hankyu was derived in 1973. The Kobe Line, which opened in 1920 and was extended to Sannomiya in 1936, was a direct rival to Hanshin Railway, which also operated between Osaka and Kobe. The rivalry continued until Hankyu acquired Hanshin in October 2006 to create Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, Inc.

Hankyu briefly merged with Keihan Electric Railway, another private railway in 1943. When Keihan spilt away in 1949, Hankyu retained what today are the Kyoto, the Senri and the Arashiyama lines. It was the first railway company in Japan to install automatic ticket machines at Kita-senri Station in 1967.

To ensure the company’s prosperity, Kobayashi developed the real estate along its lines. In particular, he established the Takarazuka Revue and the Takarazuka Family Land amusement park, which closed in 2003, to draw passengers for the Takarazuka Line. Today, the real estate along most of the Hankyu lines has a prestigious image, with the real estate north of the Kobe Line between Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi and Rokko Stations being one of the most expensive areas in the Kansai.

Text and photos by George Bourdaniotis. Originally published in Kansai Scene #120, May 2010 as "Leading Kansai development for 100 years".

Twitterの力は凄い – The Power of Twitter

先日日本翻訳連盟の関西セミナーでネットワーキングについてのパネルディセカションに参加させてもらいました。同業界者の前で初めて公演する私の意見が皆に役に立つか緊張していました。 講演後、誰かが Twitterに様子を呟いていたと聞きま したが、関心が薄かった様子。でも次の日友人の Facebookの書き込みによると、 当日私の「Facebookなのに、ネットワーキングが目的なら、動物やらのプロフィール写真がおかしい」の意見にに反応した方が多かったそう。Twitterを未だに理解していない私が Twitterの届く範囲にびっくり！

Last month, I was a panelist on the discussion about Networking in Kansai at the Japan Translation Federation (JTF) Kansai Seminar. Being my first time speaking in front of my translation peers, I was quite nervous about having anything useful to impart. After the session, I heard someone in the audience was tweeting the main points of the discussion. Not really understanding Twitter, I didn’t give it much thought. Until the next day, that is. According to a Facebook friend’s status updates, one of my comments had people in a flutter to change their profile photos. Basically, I cannot understand the logic behind people who use Facebook to network using a photo of their pet or whatever as their profile picture, instead of their actual face. Twitter’s influence is greater than I thought.

The Japanese version first appeared in the February 2012 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter.
日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2012年2月号に掲載されました。

A Different Kind of Luxury

Getting caught up in the daily rush is part of life in Japan and we wonder if it is possible to slow down. Kansai Scene talked with Andy Couturier while he rushed to prepare for a promotional tour of Japan for his new book, A Different Kind of Luxury.

 

Many books on Japan rehash the same themes of uniqueness and eccentricity, perpetuating the stereotypes, and the life of the gaijin in Japan. Essayist, poet and writing teacher, Andy Couturier’s A Different Kind of Luxury: Japanese Lessons in Simple Living and Inner Abundance looks beyond the shiny facade and deeper into the rural areas, at 11 people leading simple, but luxurious, lives on Honshu and Shikoku. Fifteen years in the writing, the book is based on Couturier's articles in The Japan Times.

Couturier first arrived in the late 80s expecting a Japan even more money orientated and status conscious than the USA, but the image slowly shattered the longer he stayed. While here, he talked to people, including the old craftspeople of Kyoto, and met the people who are featured in his book while working on environmental causes.

At first glance, what appears to be a book about people leading traditional lives is actually one about simple living. “I had an idea of ‘the traditional life’ as something that does not change,” Couturier says. “But each aspect of our heritage is not a thing but part of an integrated and connected life that shifts and moves with time.

"My grandparents and great grandparents used cash to meet their needs, but as recently as the 1960s in Japan, in the mountains, rural people were still making almost all of what they needed without much interaction with the cash economy. Many of the people in this book could learn how to meet many of their own needs by walking down the road to speak with a nearby older man or woman."

Time is a recurring theme in these chapters, not only in terms of tradition but how time controls our everyday lives.

Osamu Nakamura (Chapter 2): "Humans have a tendency to create a visual image in their minds of what they think they can accomplish in a particular period of time. I felt ill at ease and irritable all the time. I eventually learned, however, to adjust my imagination, and plans, to what was actually possible."

Couturier aimed to focus on three points lost to many Westerners. The cost of rapid development on the hearts of the Japanese, the idea that Japanese are focused on becoming more Westernized, and the idea that Japanese are hostile to environmentalism, which he saw as “far deeper than much environmentalism [he] had encountered in the US.”

The people he has written about “live the way they do based on their deeply-held value system about the way they should use their time on Earth. [They] all lived as foreigners themselves for many years, and did not participate in either artificially honoring or ignoring [foreigners]. I don't even think they consider themselves eccentric or iconoclastic, or even ‘individualistic,’ but just living from some solid core in their personality, forged out of their experience and understanding of what it means to be human.”

As Couturier writes in the Introduction, “this book is not a blueprint for achieving ‘the good life,’ nor is it a how-to book. [It is] for anybody who wants more out of their life, or who is dissatisfied with what's happening in today's society, and would like to make changes.”

I tried reading the book at my normal pace, but the sense of time captured within its pages begged for me to slow down and absorb the wisdom it held—exactly Couturier’s intention. “I did a fair amount of study of Japanese aesthetics, developing a theory of writing based on asymmetrical arrangements in Japanese flower arrangements and rock gardens. [The book] is meant to be read slowly. I tried very hard to make it both beautiful and meaningful, and accessible to a variety of people. ... as a gift, hoping to share with others the fantastic teachings I received from these modern-day wise men and women.”

A Different Kind of Luxury
by Andy Couturier
304 pp, paperback
60 color and b/w photographs
ISBN 978-1-933330-83-9

Text: George Bourdaniotis, Photos: Courtesy of Andy Couturier. Originally published in Kansai Scene #121, June 2010.

Why is New Year important?

カレンダーを変えただけで、全部リセットできたと思ったことはありませんか。

一年の始まりは元旦ですが、昔の農業サイクルでは春でした。その名残で「迎春」は正月に使用されます。世界各地の文化が独自で進化しても春を盛大祭ってきました。恐らく人間に春という区切りの気分転換が必要なのです。

あなたの今年の目標は？私には健康と幸せがあれば、それで十分。どんな出会いや可能性があるか分からないからこそ、楽しいのです。強いて言えば、今までの実績に基づき更なる一年になる様努力するのが毎年の方針です。

本年も宜しくお願いいたします。

How many of us have thought we can reset everything by changing our wall calendars on New Year's Day?

The year begins on January 1, but long ago it began in spring – start of the farming cycle. Still today, the Japanese use the expression 迎春 (welcome spring) in their New Year greetings. Cultures and civilisations through the ages developed in isolation, but their largest festivals were in spring. No doubt, spring was and still is important for humans to reset themselves.

So, what is your New Year's resolution? Mine is simple. As long as I am healthy and happy, everything will work out. Not knowing what new encounters and possibilities the New Year holds is exciting. One resolution I make every year is to build on the previous year's achievements and experiences and make the coming year an even better year.

The Japanese version first appeared in the January 2012 issue of the goodspeed monthly newsletter.
日本語バージョンはグッドスピードレター2012年1月号に掲載されました。

謹賀新年 Happy New Year 2012

Taken on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture in October 2011.

I know things have been silent here on my blog since 2010. Family commitments and increasing my client base took over. Now it's 2012 and I'm back. I hope for much longer. I will be changing the purpose of this blog to include  information about my work and events I feel people in Kobe and Kansai would find interesting. But I'm still Anchored in Kobe – the city I love.

このブログは2010年に公開してすぐ総事情で休止していました。新年だからこそ、復活しようと思っています。（三日坊主にならないように。。。orz）このブログは当初神戸の観光・生活情報を配信する目的でしたが、これからもっと幅広く私の仕事や関西圏の皆さんに興味がありそうなイベント等の情報も掲載する予定です。引き続き、よろしくお願いします。