Few more days left to organize the once a year Japanese cuisine highlight: Osechi Ryori!

Personally I think nothing beats or comes even close to the taste of the Japanese New Years dish Osechi (御節料理, Osechi Ryori). Although it is completely different to any gorgeous meal in the West its variety of taste has caught my heart. There are so many different small samples of meat, fish, seafood, fruits and vegetables all available in one dish!
The origin of this special once a year osechi dish is back in Heian period and actually each component has a special meaning to celebrate the New Year (prosperity, good health, good harvest, happiness, prosperity, long life, going on and on). Some of the households still make their whole creation on their own, but I have given up before even trying. I have been spoiled by the sold variety and I cannot imagine how many days it would take me to create the same luxury. The picture above shows a small variety of the offered selection. The choices seem endless. Yes, considering the price for a osechi lacquer box – actually called jubako – the cost can be easily compared to a high-class French meal. You might wonder why to pay so much for just one meal, but I can tell you it is worth the money you spend.
Quite unusual from a Western perspective is the fact that all is eaten cold, because based on Japanese tradition the kitchen should not be used around the New Year’s day. The dishes are prepared in advance with lots of sugar or pickled (added vinegar) in order to preserve them.
I am already exited to get our Osechi Ryori delivered by the end of this month. If you have not ordered it yet, there is still the opportunity to get this delicacy in the next few days at a good department store. The money invested in a proper Osechi Ryori will be directly proportional to the “ahh” and “ohh” that you experience.
Some actual pictures of this year’s Osechi will be added next year.

An already hyper and exited waiting for the year-end Sibylle Ito (伊藤シビル)

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Are we moving forward to move backwards?

The election of the “new” Prime Minister in Japan has occurred and we can start to look back on the most recent election on who represents best the interests of the Japanese society in the Japanese Diet.
Based on a recent survey on gender equality by the Cabinet Office (information based on Yomiuri Shimbun) 51.6 percent of respondents supported traditional roles for married couples. Personally I am surprised that this percentage has increased by 10.3 percentage points from the previous survey in 2009. While some are arguing Japanese society has reconsidered the value of a family since the March 11 earthquake and prefer to value family time much higher, I cannot agree with this viewpoint. Common families have to survive on an increasing tighter budget combined with the continued dark economic outlook, I believe most Japanese simply yearn for the good old times: There was a time when one salary could fully support a family and the common choice was the woman could stay at home. I just wonder how many families can actually still afford to have the wife to stay at home. Or there is another option: Japanese men have become more creative on how to survive on a tighter budget. Based on the Japan Times the pocket money of salarymen is at its lowest level since 1982 with ¥39,756 per month.

Brought to you by Sibylle Ito (伊藤シビル)

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Nengajo: Ready for the year end?

Every year there is the tradition to send out a specially made New Years card in the form of a post card called Nengajo (年賀状 in Japanese). Commonly for business purpose pre-printed cards are used, but in general for private use everyone is creating their own card. It might not sound like an interesting business opportunity, but considering the large volume of books, magazines or software that is sold every year I can only assume a rather good profitability. Furthermore around December commercials from printer manufacturers are increasing, because most cards are printed at home on an inkjet printer; or then the post office is reminding everyone that in order to be thoughtful and polite person one should be sending out a Nengajo. Every year I am sending out my bundle focusing on a simple personal style. This year’s card is shown above.
Most important make sure that you are dropping off your card in time. The Japanese Post Office recommends to send out the cards by December 25th. If you have not done so, you need to rush.

Brought to you by Sibylle Ito (伊藤シビル)

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Definitely worthwhile to read!

Usually I am not a big fan of Japan Times, because the depth of the topics researched or the professionalism of their journalistic approach seems not sufficient to me, but this time I have to say I am truly impressed about a most recent article: “The eerie silence of Japan’s dying democracy“, which describes very good how over time self-interest rose over the basic aspects of a democracy. What a cosy interconnected world of politics, bureaucracy and the old-established Japanese business?
I guess as long as the pain threshold of the majority of the Japanese society is not reached, only very limited democratic actions will be taken. Consequently without any public outcry everything is fine in Japan, isn’t it? Or maybe I simply misunderstand and dramatize present day Japan…

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What a bleak outlook from Japan inside out!

Last weeks had been rather discouraging for me, because it seemed to me that in general news have become so bleak in Japan. Instead of what could be done, from my perspective the common mood is how bad the situation in regard to Japan got and that it might get worse. Where did the optimism or hope go? So far I had assumed that I must be wrong, but I stumbled today upon a recent poll done by the Pew Center’s annual Global Attitude Project (700 telephone interviews between March 20 and April 12). According to the Asahi Shimbun the poll showed widespread pessimism: Some 78 percent of the people are unhappy with the direction of the country, and 93 percent perceive the economy to be in a bad state. This figures are shocking for me and I am at loss with words.
Last year after the disaster Japan was more optimistic. Most people hoped this awful tragedy could be turned into something positive: 59 percent believed the disasters would make Japan stronger. Now a year later only 39 percent still hold that view and almost half of the population 47 percent believe the disaster has made the country weaker.
Furthermore the general public has a very low opinion of the government and the media. Only 12 percent see the central Japanese government as having a positive influence on the country, while present Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is viewed positively by only 30 percent. As for the media, only 34 percent see a positive impact, while the majority with 63 percent have a dark outlook. For me interesting is that instead of seeing increased grassroot activities, the general public is expecting others to take the way. Based on the comment of Asahi Shimbun:

“In the wake of the disaster, distrust of the government and mainstream media has grown amid the perception that authorities were not being forthright with the public – and that the media outlets weren’t doing enough to investigate or hold authorities accountable.”

Interestingly I have heard this viewpoint quite often this year in discussion with Japanese. I find a lot of people yearning for change, but when I ask directly about what they have done on a personal level I get a confused look back. It seems commonly understood that it is better to wait for a “leader”, who will tell what is best to be done next. Starting on a personal level seems out of question.
I hope a taxi driver was recently joking when he asked me to lead Japan to change. I strongly believe if Japanese society wants lasting change it has to come from within and not from an “outsider”. Time has moved on and a Black Ship will not make any changes these days.

Brought to you by Sibylle Ito (伊藤シビル)

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Interest for Japan is increasing!

Recently the interest in topics related to Japan has been increasing… or this is what I had thought. Last few weeks I had been really surprised and happy to find that overall the access from outside sources to this blog had increased a lot. Over night it had quadrupled. I was even assuming that Japan was moving up on the global popularity list and interest in regard to business with Japan was regaining its previous strength…
I had been wrong. By a lovely reader of this blog I had been informed that my articles are published one to one on a different site. I had no idea, nor had I been informed previously. Quite many of my articles of this year were copied several times at Japan Blog.
I had emailed and added comments to my articles, but no response. Should I be angry because someone just copy pastes my thoughts to their blog? Or should I be happy that I am perceived as so good, definitely worthwhile to be copied word by word? Right now I am simply considering the last one, because I must be truly amazing

If ever Japan Blog bothers to consider my side of the story: How about informing me that you are copying my articles word by word? I just consider it fair.

Brought to you by Sibylle Ito (伊藤シビル)

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Looking at Japan from a different angle

Usually I do not make any recommendation on books in regard to Japan, but it is time to make an exception. What impressed me most about both books I am going to recommend is that they have been written quite a while ago, but are still so true in 2012. Although I hear daily in the media about Japanese society changing, becoming more transparent and open, Japanese companies embracing global business styles…at the end I wonder how much has really changed. Based on my personal experience for more than 10 years living and working here, apart from the March 11 event with the Fukushima disaster, it is difficult to see noteworthy changes, which is good from my perspective. Otherwise if Japan had become globalized and easily understood from the outside, there would be no reason for me to continue this blog Japan is still a mystery for a big part of the world.
The first book I would like to focus on is “Freakonomics”, which was first published in the U.S. in 2005 and based on the Freakonomics website went on to sell more than 4 million copies around the world, in 35 languages. The authors Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner bring interesting moral and economic issues to the light. Most likely it will redefine the way you view the modern world, or at least it did for me. One of the covered topics is in regard to sumo wrestlers and yaocho (yaocho is the Japanese word for match-fixing). For those who have not read the book or not seen the movie, have a look at this link:

The Numbers in Sumo Cheating: Freakonomics Movie

The second book worth reading is “Beating Japan” from Francis McInerney, Sean White. The book was written 1993 during the time when the US feared that Japan might take over a big part of the global business. The essence of the book is that the world has not to be so worried, unless Japan starts to radically change and overcome some economic limitations. Quote from the book:

“The Japanese are in a tough spot: they need the loyalty of foreign customers, but have firm hold on them. To get closer to their customer, they must overcome significant cultural differences. At the same time, the Japanese economic engine is running out of steam: the industries that powered its postwar recovery are mature or in decline. New competition is emerging elsewhere in Asia eager to imitate the Japanese and gobble up the markets they fought so hard to win. A breakthrough source of export energy is needed to keep the engine in high gear. Japan has not found that source.”

In my daily life I come across many Japanese, who yearn for change, but at the same time are looking for someone who can create a path for them and guide them. Only in very few cases I have come across people here, who bravely dash forward into the unknown. I guess the fear of the unknown is still much higher than the pain of the present. Personally I see this behavior as positive, because for me the mystery of Japan is still ongoing. Maybe one day I understand Japan a bit better

Brought to you by Sibylle Ito (伊藤シビル)

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