Halloween in Hawaii and Japan

Tis’ autumn when the leaves change, the air carries a chill, and the harvest moon is larger than ever in the night sky.   But if you’re a kid the biggest night of autumn is Halloween. For kids in America it means you get to dress up and become Spiderman, Wonder Woman or a Werewolf or Vampire.  You get to stay up late, and when you say “Trick or Treat” adults must give you candy or else! Halloween means visiting the pumpkin patch and taking a pumpkin home to carve out a spooky Jack ‘O Lantern.

In America Halloween isn’t just for kids.  As a matter of fact, Halloween has become the second most celebrated holiday in America behind Christmas. There are Halloween festivities all over America geared toward adults that allow them to dress up in highly elaborate and risque costumes, attend nightclubs, drink monster themed cocktails and party the night away.

While Halloween is an established holiday in the West it has only become popular in Japan in the last 20 years or so.    The concept of Halloween took some time to take hold in Japan because the concept of scary goblins, ghouls, death and the macabre as the focus of a party celebration was hard to grasp in Japan.    It was described by many Japanese as an “extravagant nonsense.”

However, fast forward to today and Halloween has become a very popular holiday with Japanese young adults.  Halloween costumes in Japan can include all the traditional Halloween get ups (ghosts, ghouls, zombies, etc.) but also there are costumes that are so over the top that they could only happen in Japan.  Humans with Godzilla heads with blood oozing out of their nostrils, vampiresses dressed in Sailor Moon attire, zombie samurais or undead geishas. The Halloween parties are primarily focused on adult partygoers and one of the most popular Halloween street parties takes place in Shibuya.   Bars, clubs and other party venues cater to Halloween parties as well. Many of the venues will offer you a reduced admission based on how amazing your costume is. Afterall, Japan is the land of cosplay!

In Hawaii, Halloween is as big a deal as it is on the mainland.  It is very possible your Japanese girlfriend may have never celebrated Halloween before and this will all be new to her.  Even though Halloween has become popular in Japan in the last 20 years it has not become a major holiday.

Much of the traditional Halloween activities will probably be totally new to your Japanese girlfriend.   One thing my wife really enjoyed doing on her first Halloween was handing out candy to trick or treaters who came to our door.  Seeing the little kids in there costumes and their high pitched voices screaming “trick or treat!” definitely carries a high kawaii factor!  In Japan, trick or treating is not a common activity.

For a fun and simple Halloween date take her to a Halloween pumpkin patch or farm.  Many of these places will be decked out in Halloween decorations and some even have Halloween activities like a haunted house, apple bobbing or a haystack ride.   These things may seem corny to you because you grew up with them, but she will most like be fascinated by it all.

Be sure to have her choose a pumpkin to take home to carve into a Jack O’ Lantern.  She will be familiar with what a Jack O’ Lantern looks like but most likely she’s never carved a pumpkin and made one before.  She will really enjoy the experience and after you light it up and see the glowing face on your Jack O’ Lantern set it outside and the two of you can admire the candle light glow while waiting for the doorbell to ring to greet the kawaii little monsters asking for tricks or treats.     Have a wonderfully spooky and fun Halloween!

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Dating in Hawaii: Part 2

Back in June we did a piece on dating in Hawaii that gave some suggested activities and places to take your special Japanese friend on a date.   In that piece we suggested some dates that featured physical activities like hiking and surfing.

While active dates are fine, there are also other fantastic date venues in Hawaii that don’t require that you break a sweat.   If you want to take a break from hiking or beach dates and want to engage your more artistic or creative side, you will find many places in Hawaii that will appeal to your inner romantic bohemian!


Honolulu’s Kakaako District


Take her to Honolulu’s Kakaako district and walk hand in hand while taking in the breathtaking murals throughout this creative space that spans several blocks.  Each year the urban art collective Pow! Wow! Hawaii brings artists from all over the globe to the streets of Honolulu’s Kakaako district. The neighborhood lights up with artist workshops, film screenings, concerts and gallery shows, creative spaces, and the main attraction, dozens of artists working on giant, colorful murals throughout the neighborhood.

Over a week in mid-February, onlookers watch the artistic process in action. Through the rest of the year, visitors and residents tour the Kakaako district for amazing photo ops with their favorite murals. To learn more visit their website : powwowhawaii


Chinatown and Arts District Walk


Honolulu’s Chinatown is one of the oldest Chinatowns in the United States. Along with amazing herbalists, restaurants, shops, and temples there is also a vibrant Arts District that you can take her to explore with you before or after having dinner or drinks in the area.   The Arts District houses several galleries, theaters, nightclubs and restaurants. There is also the Hawaii Theater Center which is a historic vaudeville theater and cinema. You can catch a play, concert, dance performance or movie here. Browse and visit many of the art galleries here that feature authentic Hawaiian art, paintings, blown glass pieces and textiles.

If you want to take her for an exciting and fun artistic date you can’t go wrong here, stop by art galleries, browse open-air markets for exotic fruits and spices and see historic buildings in a neighborhood that's been here for more than 140 years.

Live Theater

Taking your date to a 16-cineplex is so passé. Instead, get tickets to a show at one of Oahu’s local theaters. Each one has a different vibe, specializing in different plays. Here’s the rundown:

Diamond Head Theater: This mid-size theatre is known for its Broadway musical productions. diamondheadtheatre.com

Manoa Valley Theater: This theatre focuses on Broadway, Off-Broadway and contemporary plays. manoavalleytheatre.com


Kumu Kahua Theater: This small theater prides itself on Hawaii-centric plays. kumukahua.org

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EM CLUB 2222 Kalakaua Ave Suite 700A Honolulu, HI 96815 
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4 recommended movies to learn more about Japanese culture

         

         
         Movies are a great introduction to learning about other cultures. Japanese cinema has a long history of excellent filmmaking running the gamut from Kurosawa masterpieces to Godzilla films and anime.

         Some recent films that offer a glimpse into the modern Japanese lifestyle are both heartfelt and educational. These films have become modern day classics because they offer a look at how Japanese view and deal with the normal everyday events and challenges of our human life. 

         Departures

         Yōjirō Takita’s Departures, the first Japanese winner of the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar, follows a cellist who takes a job preparing the dead for funerals. Loosely based on Shinmon Aoki’s Coffinman: The Journal of a Buddhist Mortician, the film presents the rituals surrounding death and explores the feelings induced by them. Owing to prejudices against those who handle the dead, it initially struggled to find a Japanese distributor, but eventually won international recognition.

         This dramatic film made in 2008 was groundbreaking in many ways because it dealt with the Japanese handling of death in modern times from the viewpoint of both those that prepare the bodies for encoffinment and the stigma surrounding how that profession is seen by Japanese society. The film also address multiple themes such as family, marriage, changing careers and relationships between parents and children.

         Spirited Away

         Spirited Away tells the tale of a girl fighting to survive in a spirit world after both her parents are turned into pigs. Both in terms of its visionary animation and unsettling narrative, Hayao Miyazaki’s landmark fable is unsurpassed among the surreal classics produced by Studio Ghibli. Its accolades included the Academy Award for Best Animation and the Berlin Film Festival’s Golden Bear. It is also the most successful domestic release in Japanese history.

         This amazing anime film released in 2001, is a coming of age story about a 10 year old girl named Chihiro and is based in a fantastical spirit world. It has been compared to Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland and is considered one of Miyazaki’s best works. 

         Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad 

         Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad, follows the story of a lost young man tasked with taking care of his cancer-stricken mother whom he invites to live with him in Tokyo. His mother’s wise, warm and virtuous nature inspires him to change his life and is a heartwarming drama about love, loss and family. 

         In the film, a young man inherits his father’s irresponsible lifestyle in Tokyo until he is abruptly tasked with the responsibility of looking after his cancer stricken mother. It is worthy to note that the mother in this film is played by the late great Japanese actress Kiki Kirin who passed away on September 15th, 2018. Kirin had been diagnosed with cancer only three years before the launch of this movie. Much of her role in this film was derived from her personal experience.

         Sweet Bean

         Released in 2015, Sweet Bean tells the story of a middle aged man who runs a doriyaki (sweet bean cake) shop who reluctantly hires an elderly woman to assist him at his shop who turns out to make sweet bean paste that is superior to his own. This is the setting from which the film blossoms into a beautiful drama with themes addressing ageism, joy, discrimination, life well lived, and redemption.

         There are many more great Japanese films to watch to learn more about Japanese culture, these are just a few to get you started. Happy watching!

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5 popular spots Japanese women enjoy – sweets and cafes

         It’s well known that Japanese have a passion for good food. What is less well known is that Japanese women love sweets and breakfastcafes. Fortunately, in Hawaii there are a lot of great places to satisfy a sweet tooth. If you are looking for a place to take your Japanese girlfriend that will surely make her happy, look no further than some of these delicious spots:


Leonard’s Bakery


         The malasadas here are legendary. The original malasadas are made of deep fried dough and sprinkled with sugar or cinnamon. If you are thinking to yourself, “Oh, that’s just a donut,” think again my friend. At Leonard’s the malasadas are cooked to order so they are always fresh and warm when served with an addictive light and airy texture that makes it impossible to eat only one. The original is simply sprinkled with sugar. There are also cinnamon and a variety of other flavors but locals swear that the simple sprinkled sugar malasadas is the best. There are also custard filled malasadas as well. 

         Check them out at: www.leonardshawaii.com


Banan


         So imagine this scenario. She wants to eat ice cream but wants to eat something healthier instead like fruits. Problem solved. Banan serves non dairy banana soft serve that is farm to table fresh. All the bananas used at Banan are locally sourced in Hawaii. In fact, everything at banan is local. This is no mean feat considering the wide variety of fruits you can dress up your banana soft serve with at Banan . You can have your treat served up in a cup or cone, but better yet, why not have the Banan Papaya Bowl where the bowl is a fresh papaya. There are options such as acai and they also serve floats. She is sure to like the Banan green tea matcha float. There are several locations in Oahu but the most popular one may be the Banan food truck at Diamondhead.

         Check them out at: www.bananbowls.com


Cinnamons Restaurant and Over Easy


         Believe it or not one of the most popular sweet items that Japanese love about America is our breakfast foods. Specifically, pancakes. Cinnamons Restaurant serves more than just pancakes but this blog is about satisfying her sweet tooth. With that in mind, definitely bring her here for breakfast and order their magnificent Guava and Red Velvet pancakes. She will be smiling from ear to ear guaranteed. 

         Check them out at: www.cinnamons808.com 

         Over Easy is another great breakfast spot. She will love their crispy pancakes. If she wants to change it up, have her try the Custard French
Toast. 

         Check them out at: www.overeasyhi.com 


Orchids 


         Located in the Halekulani, Orchids serves up a wonderful Sunday Brunch Buffet served up in an elegant al fresco dining setting. But keeping with the sweets theme of this blog, the brunch buffet at Orchids also has an excellent dessert buffet selection that will satisfy her sweet tooth in every way possible. Definitely try the pineapple cake and green matcha cake. 

         Check them out at: www.halekurani.com/dining/orchids-restaurant

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Staying in Hawaii or moving to the mainland?

Consider this scenario for a moment.  She is a Japanese woman who has always wanted to live in Hawaii happily married to an American.  You are an American who lives in Hawaii and wants to share the rest of your life with a Japanese woman.   You both join EM Club.

One day you receive an introduction from her through EM Club.  You both begin emailing each other and you like each other.   You both begin to communicate daily and soon are arranging to meet.   She comes to visit you at your home in Hawaii and the two of you are a perfect fit for one another!   You may have also gone to Japan to meet her family and friends as well.   You both are very much in love and decide to marry and live happily together in Hawaii for the rest of your lives. 

          

The above description pretty much sums up the experience of many happy couples who found their better half through EM Club.  EM Club is unique in that it focuses on the islands of Hawaii and Japanese women who want to meet an American living in Hawaii for a serious relationship leading to marriage and spend the rest of their lives living together in Hawaii.  

However, there is a saying that goes “life is what happens while making plans.”   What if at some point in your marriage you need to leave Hawaii and move to the mainland?  The decision to move could be forced by either a change of employment or a need to care for an elderly parent that lives on the mainland.  

Moving to a different state can be challenging for any married couple.   It can be particularly difficult when the couple had their dream to live together forever in Hawaii cut short by circumstances out of their control.

So how do you handle such a decision?  She surely never expected to live anywhere else other than Hawaii with you.  But on the other hand, you probably did not expect to live anywhere else either.  

The most important thing is to communicate with each other about the possibility of having to move to the mainland.   If the circumstances forcing the move are financial, employment related or for the care of an elderly parent--by all means explain to her your feelings about why you need to move to the mainland.  Hear her out in her responses and listen to her feelings on the subject.

           In the majority of cases, after discussing the situation with each other you may be surprised that some other options may arise that you alone may not have thought of that may actually solve the problem of moving.  The saying two heads are better than one is accurate most of the time.  

           However, if there really is no other option than to move you may find that your spouse will support you in this decision and will help you to make this transition –together—as a husband and wife.  Japanese women are very dedicated to the success of their husband and family.  If they see this as the best thing for your family than most of the time they will be supportive.  Surprisingly, you may both find the move to be an exciting change new chapter in your lives as a family.

           Being supportive of one another is an important element in marriage.  I have many friends that have had to make similar moves because of their parents becoming ill and they needed to move closer to them to care for them.  None of them were initially thrilled with having to move, but they both acted together to support each other.  Eventually, many of them moved back to Hawaii when the situation became stable, and some others fell in love unexpectedly with their life on the mainland.

           Life happens without our consent.  There will be ups and downs and unexpected events in any life.  If your relationship is strong it will survive any move that you two decide to make together.  True aloha spirit is not confined to the borders of Hawaii.   Aloha can live with you and her anywhere you go because true aloha is in the heart and not limited to geographic boundaries.  

Want to marry a Japanese woman?
Talk with our professional matchmaker.  
Try EM CLUB Today! 
EM CLUB 2222 Kalakaua Ave Suite 700A Honolulu, HI 96815 
Phone: (808) 926-0101 
Email: info@emclub.jp