29 Maret 2021

Odaiba is a manmade island located in bay of Tokyo, Japan. Odaiba comes from the word daiba wich mean fort. At first Odaiba build as a defence fort built in several small island in 1850s. Odaiba are built by Egawa Hidetatsu from Tokugawa Shogunate to give Edo defense fort from naval invasion, mainly from Commodore Matthew Parry black ships. The first version of Odaiba built as a port in 1860. In Odaiba small islands there is a lot of cannon and batteries for naval defense.

            Odaiba is redeveloped as modern island when Tokyo Port open in 1941. Tokyo Governor, Shunichi Suzuki plan big development in early 1990s to change Odaiba into Tokyo Teleport Town. Suzuki successor, Yukio Aoshima stop the plan in 1995 because there is a lot of vacant spot. This is because Japanese price asset buble has burst and causing Japanese commercial development stagnated. Odaiba back to live in late 1990s as a tourist destination. There is a lot of big hotel and also shopping center located in Odaiba.

            Currently there is a lot interesting tourist destination located at Odaiba, for example is Fuji TV Building, a building owned by one of Japanese private television company. Fuji TV building are very unique and futuristic so this building become one of the tourist destination in Odaiba. There is also Museum of Maritime Science, the building are build looks like a giant cruise docking in a port. This museum show innovation about maritime technology. For people who likes to shopping, they can visit Pallette Town, a special area for shopping centre located in Odaiba. In Pallette Town there is located Venus Fort, a venezian styled mall, Ferris Wheel, and Toyota automobile company museum Toyota Mega Web.

            To visit Odaiba, we can use Yurikamome Line. Yurikamome line will go across Rainbow Bridge so we can see Tokyo port beautiful view. Another way to go to Odaiba are using Rinkai underground train line. We can also go to Odaiba with boat from Asakusa. In Odaiba there is Tokyo Water Bus that operated between Odaiba Seaside Park and Hinode Pier.

26 Maret 2021

Toilets are necessary tool for human being to excrete. There are two types of toilet in japan. Squat toilets and sitting toilets. Squat toilets are really common in japan, but squat toilets are also common in Indonesia and other Asian countries. Therefore, asian people knows and could squat properly. Whereas, in western countries squat toilets aren’t common, only sitting toilets are available.

Some people prefer to use squat toilet because the skin won’t get contact directly with the toilet, thus it’s more hygienic. Squat toilets also have the advantage of using less water and easier to clean rather than sitting toilets. Several studies have shown that squat toilets also help to strengthen the human pelvic muscles and prevent hemorrhoids.

There are many variations in high-tech japanese toilet. Today’s squat toilet comes in bidet or spray. The bidet has a spray nozzle of water coming out from under the toilet seat to clean the intimate parts of human body. This spray nozzle when operates does not touch human’s skin at all. Therefore, this bidet technology in very hygienic.

In addition, sitting toilet is equipped with variety of functions. For example, gives out a wram breeze, a warm toilet seat when the temperature is decreasing, the sound of water splashing, a pressure regulator, an adjustable water jet for flushing, and also a system to absorb odors. These features were created to provide comfort to the people using the toilet. For example, in winter, if the toilet seat is also cold due to the weather, it would be very uncomfortable, so the function to warm the seat was created. Also, since some women are uncomfortable with the sound of urination being heard by others, a button was created to muffle the sound of urination.

Toilet technologies in Japan vary, but these technologies focus on the comfort of the user. Hopefully, Indonesia will be able to have toilets with such advanced technology.

24 Maret 2021

Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan

Kumamoto Prefecture is located in Japan. The population of Kumamoto Prefecture is about 1,500,000 people. The word kumamoto means the birthplace of a bear. The word kuma menas bear and the word moto means birthplace. For this reason, kumamoto prefecture has a popular mascor named kumamon. Kumamon is a cute black bear and his job is to promote kumamoto prefecture. Kumamon is really popular among Japanese, last year he even earned 198 billion yen.

One of the places that you have to visit is Mount Aso. Mount Aso is located in the Aso-kuju National Park with diameter of 25 cm. Also, there is Kumamoto Castle built 1600. Kumamoto castle is a large and impressive castle. Kumamoto castle is surrounded by hundred of cherry blossom trees and is very famous for the full bloom of cherry blossom flowers in spring.

In Kumamoto, there is a autumn festival held every year. The autumn festival usually started from end of October or the beginning of November. From a distance, kumamoto prefecture would look a little orange, this is because of the momiji or leaves that have turned orange. The main events that take place during this autumn festival are Japanese drum performances and dance contests.

In addition to the tourist attractions and festivals, there are also many local foods in kumamoto. Basashi (raw horse meat) is one of the most popular cuisine in kumamoto. There is also kumamoto ramen, which unlike other ramen, kumamoto ramen has a lot of garlic in it. The ramen is thin and well-cooked, but unfortunately it doesn’t come with gyoza set with it. Other than that, there is also octopus soup that brings out the deep flavor of the sea.

There are many ways to enjoy kumamoto prefecture. In particular, kumamoto local cuisine is raw horse meat. It may feel strange at first, but after you taste it, it has a new sensation that you haven’t tasted before. Let’s go to kumamoto prefecture!

19 Maret 2021

Japan’s queue culture is famous worldwide. In fact, Japanese elementary schools seem to put more effort on building student’s moral education rather than just school education. With moral education since early age, those students are expected to always be honest, disciplined and patient.

Queue is a common thing but it has a valuable lesson to learn from it in elementary Japanese schools. According to one Japanese elementary school teacher, just by standing in line, one can learn many moral lessons and positive values in our daily lives.

One of the things you can learn when standing in line is to be patient and wait until your number in line is called. Don’t interrupt the line or get in the way. If you want to be called early, someone has to come early and get in line early., because time is valuable. By being patient and waiting in line, you can see someone that respect others and appreciatiate their time.

By being patient when waiting in line, this can speed up the process of getting in line. If you interrupt the queue, you will indirectly slow down the progress of the queue and waste more time. Therefore, the Japanese, who already know the consequences, will not waste their energy to make interventions that will obviously lengthen the queue.

Furthermore, Japanese do not want to waste time, so most Japanese use their time as effectively and productively as possible. As example, some Japanese people will read some books to kill some time when waiting for their name to be called in queue. This can also be applied to queues in Indonesia. This indirectly teaches us that we have to be patient in the queue and respect others by interrupting them in the line.

17 Maret 2021

Japan has many idol groups in Japanese music world. One of the idols that became Japan’s icon at that time is AKB48. AKB48 was formed by Akimoto Yasushi with “idols you can meet” concept. This concept represents Akimoto Yasushi’s desire to create an Idol group where idols can meet and interact directly with their fans, therefore idol and the fans would have a special bond among themselves. Moreover, AKB48 would also have their own theatres to put their own shows without have to rent a place or stadium.

This Idol Group created by Akimoto Yasushi debuted in 2006 with Team A, the first team formed from AKB48. As time goes on, Team K and Team B were formed too. Each team has each own characteristics, Team A symbolizes Freedom, Team K symbolizes Strength and Power and Team B symbolizes Cuteness.

For about four years after debut, AKB48 resume it’s activities slow but steadily, then gradually there was a little hope that this idol group would succeed. At first, AKB48 started with only 5 fans at the theatre but in 2011, finally AKB48 was able to show the world that this idol group is worthy to be supported and loved by everyone.

However, Atsuko Maeda,the center of AKB48 announced her graduation from the group, which had a huge impact to the star-rising group. After Atsuko Maeda graduated from the group, a lot of popular members in AKB48 gradually disappeared as they decided to graduate. From then on, AKB48’s popularity continues to decline probably because most of the AKB48’s fans supports the old members solely or the first generation as it is commonly called.

After the first generation members disappear one after another, a new generation of AKB48 began to born, unfortunately AKB48 fans were not interested in them, therefore AKB48’s golden age only lasted from 2011 to 2013. Since then, AKB48’s popularity slowly decreasing and seems about to disappear.

Currently, AKB48 members, led by Yui Yokoyama (8^th generation) and Yuki Kashiwagi (3^rd generation) are trying to bring AKB48 once again to it’s golden age and determined to held a concert in Tokyo Dome.

The road to become an idol is not an easy one, there are a lot of hardships along the way. But AKB48 members refuse to give up. This kind of attitude should be apply on our lives as well. Life will goes on, that’s why we should keep walking and not giving up. Hopefully, AKB48 will taste it’s golden age for one more time.

12 March 2021

Street market is where the activities of sellers and buyers take place directly with a limited level of service. One of the well known markets in japan is Nanbu Ichiba Market, this market is located in Osaka and really spacious.

Nanbu Ichiba Market usually opens from 06:00 am till 11:00 pm and is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays. This market sells fish, crabs, octopus, scallops, meat and many more. In addition to fish and seafood, the market also sells accessories stored in cute containers that make a great souvenirs and green tea powders in cute containers as well.

One of the advantages of shopping in street market is most of the fish here are very large and fresh. There are several stalls in this market where you can eat and drink to replenish your energy as well.

Apart from the Nanbu Ichiba Market, Tsukiji Market is one of the most famous street markets in Tokyo. Tsukiji Market established in 1935, but as Japan will be hosting the Olympic Games in 2020, Tsukiji Market inevitably moved to another location and is now renamed Toyosu Market.

At the time, Tsukiji Market was the largest fish market in Japan, selling various kinds of fruits and vegetables and thousands tons of fish. Tsukiji Market is usually closed on Wednesdays, Sundays, and national holidays, as well as on New Year’s Day. Just like the Nanbu Ichiba Market, this market also has several stalls for those who want to eat directly at the market.

Surprisingly, street markets have their own uniqueness, and not all modern markets are superior, but street markets also have their own uniqueness that modern markets do not have, for example, the freshness of the raw materials and the fish caught right from the sea.

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5 March 2021

Since Japan is a country located quite far from the equator, Japan has four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Unlike Indonesia, which is on the equator, Japan has only two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season.

Spring in Japan usually lasts from March to May. It is indeed synonymous with cherry blossoms, but before the cherry blossoms, plum blossoms bloom, signifying the change of seasons from spring to summer. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, Japanese people have a custom of “hanami“, a picnic under the cherry trees. In addition to picnicking, this hanami involves dancing and singing to liven up the atmosphere, which is very fun, but unfortunately, it is also very crowded because many people want to do hanami. Normally, if you want to do hanami, you have to come first so as not to run out of space.

After spring comes summer. Summer in Japan lasts from June to August. During this season, there are many festivals such as fireworks displays and summer music festivals. One of the most awaited things in summer is the summer vacation that lasts for about a month. Summer in Japan and the dry season in Indonesia are a little different. In Japan, the air is dry in the summer, so there is no humidity in the air at all, but in Indonesia, there is still humidity in the air even in the dry season.

Then comes autumn. Autumn is symbolized by the maple leaves, which change into various colors such as red, brown, and yellow. In this season, the most awaited event by the public is the Autumn Festival.

The last season is winter. This season lasts from December to February. Winter must be a very interesting season for people who come from countries that have only two seasons. Everyone will be interested in playing in the snow. In this season, the most awaited event by the general public is the Sapporo Snow Festival, but there are also other sports that can only be done in winter, such as skiing.

As you can see, the four seasons in Japan are very pleasant, and each of them has its own unique charm.