New Year’s Eve in Hawaii and Japan

         

         In Japan, celebrating the New Year is the biggest holiday of the year.  Christmas, although a fun holiday in Japan, is not a national holiday.  Businesses and schools stay open during Christmas day and it is business as usual.  However, New Year’s Day in Japan is a national holiday business and schools are closed—and everyone participates in ushering in the New Year.

         Known as oshogatsu or “first month”, the New Year is the traditional winter celebration of Japan.   Unlike celebrating the New Year in the West, oshogatsu is celebrated from New Year’s Eve until January 3.   All Japanese businesses and government services are closed until January 3^rd in observance of oshogatsu.

         In the United States, the tradition of New Year’s usually focuses on elaborate New Year’s Eve parties and/or fireworks, with a boisterous celebratory champagne toast and/or fireworks at the stroke of midnight to bring in the New Year.   Watching the “ball” drop in New York’s Times Square is also a huge marker of the New Year in the United States.  In the United States the actual day of the New Year, January 1, is the only official national holiday and everyone returns to work on January 2.  In Japan, everyone is off work from December 31 until January 3.

         Western style New Year’s Eve parties and fireworks are also easy to find in Japan.  Many hotels, clubs and other venues host New Year’s Eve parties.  However, most Japanese celebrate the New Year with family and friends either at home or a restaurant.

         It is easy to know when it is New Year’s time in Japan because you will see business and homes decorated with kadomatsu and simekazari .  These are holiday decorations made from bamboo shoots, plum branches and straw.  These ornaments are for good luck in the new year, to ward off bad luck and to welcome the gods of good fortune.   Traditionally these ornaments are burned on January  15.

         There are certain foods that Japanese eat to celebrate the new year. Toshikoshi soba (“year-crossing buckwheat noodes”) are served hot on New Year’s Eve to symbolize cutting off the past year’s misfortunes and to provide for good luck and long life in the coming year.    On New Year’s Day ozoni, a flavorful soup made with mochi, and osechi ryori (other traditional New Year foods), are served side by side for all to enjoy together.

         Aside from the boom of fireworks at midnight, there is another sound that echoes throughout Japan on New Year’s Eve: the temple bell.  The sounding of the temple or shrine bell rings out 108 times just prior to midnight.   This ritual is called joya no kane and signifies the 108 earthy desires that cause human beings suffering in the Buddhism.   In Tokyo, the Zojoji temple near Tokyo tower and Asakusa’s Sensoji temple are usually packed to hear the bells.

         On New Year’s Day many Japanese participate in hatsumode which also takes place at a temple or shrine.  Hatsumode is the first temple or shrine visit of the New Year.  Japanese can be found in huge numbers on New Year’s Day at a shrine or temple to pray or wish for prosperity, good health, safety, happiness or whatever good fortune they wish to have in the New Year.

         In Hawaii, there are New Year celebrations on several islands.  Oahu celebrates New Year’s Eve with several blocks of live performance stages, DJs, street food and street entertainers along Waikiki.  At midnight, Waikiki lights up the night with a fireworks show to bring in the New Year.   Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai also have similar celebrations on their islands.    Just be sure to shout out a cheerful and hearty “Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!” or “Happy New Year” to your friends, family and neighbors.

         In Hawaii, if your Japanese lady friend wishes to celebrate Japanese traditions on New Year’s it is quite easy to make her happy.  You can take her to a restaurant serving toshikoshi soba noodles on New Year’s Eve prior to heading out on the town.  On New Year’s Day you can go with her to many of the temples in Hawaii for hatsumode pray or wish for the both of you to continue your good fortune, love and happiness into the New Year.

         We wish you a Happy New Year and the best in 2019!

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Hawaiian breakfast and Japanese breakfast

         

         They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  The name says it all, “break” and “fast”.   It is the first meal eaten of the day and does indeed “break” the “fast” after an evening’s slumber.  Breakfast revs up our metabolism and gets our body ready to meet the day. 

         When thinking of a traditional mainland breakfast in the United States the first images that come to mind are eggs, bacon, toasted bread, fruit juice and/or coffee.   Breakfast options vary.  It could be just cereal, milk and coffee, or yogurt and fruit, or a bagel, donut or Egg McMuffin to go.

         In Japan, breakfast is also a very important meal.  An old school traditional Japanese style breakfast would usually include: steamed rice, miso soup, a raw egg (to mix into the rice), natto (fermented soy bean), grilled fish, tsukemono (pickles), nori (seaweed), and fruit or salad.   Usually served on various small plates, it is a typical type of breakfast provided at a ryokan.  As you can imagine, this type of breakfast takes time to prepare and also takes time to consume.  It is best eaten leisurely so that all the dishes can be experienced and enjoyed.

         Obviously, with the busy lifestyles of most modern Japanese, the traditional Japanese breakfast is usually not a practical breakfast for working Japanese.   Many Japanese eat a much smaller and simpler breakfast.   A main breakfast staple is usually rice.  Steamed rice mixed with a raw egg, soy sauce and perhaps some furikake  is a common breakfast.  It is quick, filling and nutritious.  This breakfast is called tamago-kake-gohan.

         Another common breakfast that is natto on top of steamed rice.  Natto is fermented soybeans.  It has a distinct texture and aroma.  To be honest, when my Japanese wife first introduced me to natto I was not a fan.  However, overtime I acquired a taste for natto and it is to this day one of my favorite foods.  It’s also very quick and easy to make for breakfast thus is perfect for a convenient weekday breakfast.

         Many cafes or restaurants in Japan offer what is known as a morning set. This is a Japanese take on western style breakfast.  Usually a morning set at a  Japanese café will consist of egg, toast, ham and a green salad.  In Japan, salad commonly eaten at breakfast, as well as at lunch and dinner.  Morning set offerings also usually include a choice of hot coffee or iced coffee.

         One quick word about toast in Japan.  Japanese toast or shokupan is usually made of Japanese pan.  Pan means bread in Japan.   Japanese pan is a thick cut piece of very fluffy and soft white bread with a soft golden brown crust.   This is probably the quickest breakfast for a Japanese working person to eat at home.   Simply toast the bread and serve with butter or jam.    The only thing quicker than shokupan would probably be an onigiri or rice ball  purchased at a 7-11 or Lawson’s convenient store on the way to work with a canned iced coffee.   These are delicious by the way.

         Many of the traditional breakfasts in Hawaii also include rice as a staple.  Probably the most popular traditional local Hawaiian breakfasts is Spam, Portuguese sausage, eggs (either scrambled or over easy, and steamed white rice.   In Hawaii this is pretty easy to make at home (provided the rice was made beforehand). However, if you don’t have time to make it at home don’t worry because you can conveniently order this “local” breakfast at McDonald’s on the way to work! 

         Many Japanese style foods also find their way into local Hawaiian breakfast choices as well.  Spam musubi is both a comfort food and a quick breakfast on the go in Hawaii.   Many Hawaiians enjoy saimen for breakfast, or simple rice ball with nori.  For heartier eaters some even order loco moco for breakfast.  Loco moco is hamburger steak, topped with fried eggs and brown gravy over steamed white rice.

         Either way you look at it, breakfast in Hawaii or Japan is a delicious way to start of the day.

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Celebrating Christmas in Japan

In the United States it is impossible not to know that Christmas season has arrived. It seems that stores and shopping malls begin advertising the Christmas shopping season earlier each year. In my neighborhood Christmas items began showing up on the shelves right after Halloween this year.

For many people Christmas is their favorite holiday. For others the chaos and the commercialism of Christmas is a major downer. For most however the overall feeling of goodwill and celebrations with family and friends make the holiday season cheerful and bright.

In Japan, Christmas only became popularly celebrated in the last few decades. It is not a religious holiday because the majority of Japanese are not Christians. However, the secular Christmas holiday traditions from the United States, such as sending and receiving Christmas presents and Christmas cards have become popular.

In Japan, Christmas is seen as a time to spread happiness with family, friends, and your significant other. One of the very cool things about Japanese Christmas is that Christmas Eve is seen as a romantic holiday for couples! Christmas Eve is often celebrated more than Christmas day, and seems more like Valentine’s day in the United States! Christmas Eve is usually a time for couples to celebrate together, exchange gifts and perhaps go out to a nice dinner together. It’s common to see couples out on Christmas Eve walking at night enjoying Christmas lights and then going to a nice dinner together.

On Christmas day it is more common to spend time with friends and family for a special Christmas dinner of--wait for it-- Kentucky Fried Chicken! Yes, Colonel Sanders is the absolute king of Christmas dinner in Japan.

Christmas day is the biggest sales day of the year for Kentucky Fried Chicken in Japan. In fact, they even take orders in advance of Christmas to help people prepare for Christmas dinner. This all came about because of a marketing campaign launched during the 1970s showing families celebrating Christmas with Kentucky Fried Chicken and exclaiming joyfully, “Kurisumasu ni wa kentakkii!” which means “Kentucky for Christmas!”

Christmas in Japan would also not be complete without a Christmas Cake. This is the traditional Christmas celebration food in Japan (sorry Colonel but the cake was there first!). It is traditionally in the shape of a yuletide log and decorated quite nicely for the season, chocolate frosting textured like bark, pine needles, holly, and frosted sprinkles or whipped cream for snow.

Christmas is not observed as a national holiday in Japan, but schools are closed on Christmas day. Although popular Christmas carols can be heard throughout many of the stores during the Christmas season, there is one classical piece that all Japanese associate with Christmas, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and its final movement the “Ode to Joy” is very popular and is performed throughout Japan during the end of the year.

To wish your sweetheart a Merry Christmas in Japanese is pretty easy. Japanese say, “Meri Kurismasu!” Celebrating Christmas in Japan is happy, joyful and fun. Be sure to take your special Japanese lady out for a romantic dinner on Christmas Eve, enjoy some KFC and a slice of Christmas cake.

Meri Kurismasu!

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Living Costs : Hawaii vs. Japan

Two of the world’s most expensive cities to live in are Tokyo, Japan and Honolulu, Hawaii.   Compared to other cities in the United States (with the exception of  San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, or New York City, New York) cost of living expenses in Honolulu are almost triple of what you would spend in other cities on the mainland.

The reason for these high costs are pretty simple.  There are more people who want to live in Tokyo or Honolulu than there are places for them to live.  There is no shortage of persons wanting to move to these two exciting and beautiful cities. However, there is a major shortage of places to live in each of these cities.  It comes down to the basic principle of supply and demand. Where the supply is limited but demand is high then so is the cost.

Hawaii is probably one of the most desirable locations to live in the world.  In fact, it is more than likely it is a fantasy dream wish of most Americans to be able to live on these beautiful islands.   Honolulu is by far the most expensive of the cities in state of Hawaii. With the main attraction being tourism and the major city development on the island it is a big draw for those looking to move there for the best of both worlds, that is to say, city life and island life side by side.  

The main issue with the high cost of living in Hawaii is the cost of housing.  Whether you decide to buy a property or rent, you will be paying a pretty penny.   As of 2018 the average median price to buy a single family home in Hawaii was $795,000.   The average median price of a condominium was around $410,000. After purchasing your home don’t forget to add in additional expenses for annual property taxes and homeowners association fees if you have a condominium.

Average rent in Hawaii (Oahu) will vary based on location but expect to pay around $ 1,670 for a one bedroom apartment.  A single studio apartment in Waikiki will run you around $1,400 to $1,700. If you are in need of more space an average two bedroom apartment will cost you about $2,375.

In Japan, living expenses can also be very high.  In Tokyo, rents are actually comparable to what you pay in Waikiki.  One website that calculates cost of living comparisons between cities found that Tokyo rents were actually around 8% higher than in Honolulu.  However, after balancing out the rest of the expenses between the two cities, the final analysis found Honolulu slightly more expensive. A main factor was transportation costs in which Tokyo was found to be 31 % less costly for transportation than Honolulu.  Tokyo has excellent public transportation trains, subways and buses which accounts for the lower costs. Honolulu was found only 5% more expensive than living in Tokyo.

One reason for additional savings in Tokyo is that food is relatively cheap and costs of insurance are also much less.  In Japan everyone pays into the healthcare system so the healthcare is very affordable. There is also no need for a car so there are no expenses for car insurance or car payments.  Utilities payments are also lower in Japan than in Hawaii. On average the monthly utility payment in Hawaii is around $266.00 per month for two people. In Tokyo utilities costs for two people average around $180.00.

Is the cost of living unreasonably high? Well, you need to consider what it is you are paying for.  To live in Hawaii the quality of life is what you are paying for. Wonderful weather, beautiful islands, clean water and air and some of the best beaches, mountains and natural surroundings on the planet.   For many, in the final analysis there is no price that can be put on the quality of life to be found in the beautiful islands of Hawaii.

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Christmas gift ideas for your Japanese girlfriend

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.  Christmas music is all over the radio. The neighborhood is lit up with colorful Christmas lights and holiday displays.  Turn on the flat-screen and you see cheerful commercials with holiday themes encouraging you to not only buy the perfect holiday gift but also where to buy it.

Ahhhhh, Christmas.  It is a wonderful holiday where the holiday spirit beckons us to fulfill the promise of peace on earth and goodwill toward all.  But .... then there is the commercial side of Christmas which is all about buying the perfect gift for that special someone.

In Japan, Christmas is not a national holiday.  Christmas is not recognized as a the biggest holiday of the year as it is in most of the Western world.   This is not surprising given that Christmas is a Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Christ. Japan is a secular nation, although the primary religions are Buddhism and Shinto.

That is not to say that Christmas is not celebrated in Japan.  The Christmas season is definitely on display in Japan. Any visit to the world renown Ginza shops during the holiday season will reveal window holiday displays that would be the equal to any window display on Beverly Hills famous Rodeo Drive.

Japan has definitely adopted the popular holiday of Christmas and all that it entails.  The Christmas carols, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, reindeer, snowmen, elves, and yes, gift giving.  However, here is where the holiday in Japan takes a huge turn from that in America. While in America, the gift giving is a huge part of the holiday, in Japan gift giving is still within Japanese parameters.

In America, it is often that the gift giving is so all important that finding the perfect gift is often a source of stress.  The bigger the gift the better. The more expensive it is the more it shows that you care. In Japan, gifts are given in a much more humble spirit.  There is a feeling in Japan to give a gift that is meaningful but it need not be so extravagant or expensive as to embarrass the recipient into feeling they need to give a gift of equal or greater value.

In the west we say that during Christmas it is the thought that counts and that it is the “giving” of a gift that matters most and not the “receiving” of a gift. Sadly those sayings are often given more lip service than actually practiced heartfelt in the West, in Japan it may be taken much more seriously.

So this brings us to what to buy for your Japanese girlfriend.  Must it be super expensive? Must it be a brand name? Must it be a practical gift or can it be a luxurious item like jewelry?   The best guiding principle for buying a gift for Christmas for your special lady is to first, know what she likes, and secondly, buy something that you have put some thought into.  She will appreciate your effort of buying a thoughtful gift with some meaning rather than a simply expensive, over the top gift that does not fit her personality. However, if your girlfriend is someone who really loves brand names and expensive gifts than be sure to go that route.

Although there is no perfect science to predict what is the best gift for her you should get her something that comes from your heart and reflects your understanding of her personality and will make her happy.   So for instance, if your girlfriend is into a certain hobby or has a favorite color than get something that matches those aspects of her personality that you believe she would enjoy. If she likes a certain style of clothes, handbags, or jewelry than buy her something that she would not buy for herself along those lines.  The bottom line is to show that you care and that you put some deep thought into her gift. You can’t go wrong if it comes from your heart.

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Will your Japanese girlfriend be able to work in Hawaii?

One of the concerns many couples have is whether or not their Japanese girlfriend or fiance will be able to work in Hawaii upon their arrival.   It is a valid concern of course, unless you are independently wealthy and in no need of money. Ok, we can all stop laughing now, but if you do find yourself in that position, more power to you!

In previous blogs we discussed the immigrant fiance visa process in some detail.  In this blog however we are going to address the situation that applies to your Japanese girlfriend upon her arrival and whether she will be able to work.  

Because this is not a legal advice blog, I will defer to the experts on this topic and I highly recommend that you consult an immigration attorney or check the requirements on the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website if you want more in depth information.

With that being said, if your Japanese girlfriend or fiance is visiting on a tourist visa she will not be able to legally work during her stay.  The only way in which your fiance will be able to work in the United States is if she has obtained a work permit or if she has obtained a green card.  Even if she is here on a fiance visa she will still not be able to work until she gets a green card or is granted a work permit.

Assuming that your fiance does obtain the legal status to work in the United States (either by becoming your wife after having obtained the fiance visa and legal resident status, or by obtaining a work permit) there are many opportunities for her to work in Hawaii that would not be available on the mainland because of the large amount of Japanese tourists that visit the islands all year round.

Hawaii is still the number one vacation destination for Japanese citizens. As such, there is a demand in Hawaii for employees who are able to speak Japanese and understand Japanese customs.  Hawaii’s number one industry is tourism. The tourism industry entails all aspects of the hospitality and service industries: hotels and resorts, restaurants, tour operators, entertainment venues, and even government related tourism positions.

Many hotels and resorts employ Japanese speaking staff to provide service to Japanese customers.  This is an important position because it ensures that the clients are understood and are able to get the services they expect on vacation.   It is also an invaluable asset to a company to be able to provide information and obtain information from their Japanese clientele on what the customers like or dislike about their services in order for them to provide the best experiences possible.  Therefore, Japanese speaking employees are sought after in Hawaii.

There are also many retail outlets in Hawaii now that wish to employ a Japanese salesperson to cater to Japanese tourists.　In Waikiki, the shopping areas are not what they were 50 years ago.  All the high end shops and designer boutiques are in Waikiki. Waikiki shopping looks like Rodeo Drive with a beachfront view. It is very valuable to have Japanese staff available at these shops, and it is possible to find work here for the right person who is interested in high end fashion retail.

Restaurants in Hawaii also look for Japanese staff.   Many Japanese restaurants have many Japanese customers looking for a taste of home while away on vacation.  Having a Japanese staff at these restaurants is valuable to restaurant owners. Even some restaurants that do not specialize in Japanese food like to have a Japanese speaking staff member to assist their Japanese customers.

Therefore the answer to the question if whether or not your Japanese girlfriend may work in Hawaii, the answer is definitely, “Yes.” Just make sure she has the proper status to work, and there are going to be job opportunities available for her in Hawaii.

Want to marry a Japanese woman?
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