Good Luck
Good luck seems to be a common topic in Japan. I don't know how many times we've been around someone, namely one of the lab members, and they have said, "That ___ means 'good luck!'" I hate to be ignorant, but how many things could mean good luck?! Here are a few examples:
When Casey and I were with the lab members doing the "marathon karaoke" and found the 10,000 Yen bill on the ground, that was good luck. (Damn right!) That's a given.. I understand.
At New Years, everyone sends out postcards to their friends, etc., wishing them happy new year, etc., each one having a number that was stamped by the post office. Shortly after the 1st (if I remember correctly), numbers are announced, and certain numbers win certain things. The Kaneda family gave us some neat 'Year of the Dog' stamps that they had won. Again, it meant... you know.
When I showed Natsuki-san a picture I had taken of one of the koala bear biscuits (cuz I'm a DORK), she said it was good luck to see one with eyebrows because apparently they don't print those very often.
I was knitting a scarf and showed it to Yanagi-san who proceeded to get really excited about it- turns out the color of yarn means good luck... I don't know if it's specifically for this year or something, or if it's a constant thing. (Guess I know what color I'll be using for her scarf!)
Tonight, Casey and I were in Senri-Chuo looking for a place to eat. A few people were selling sushi rolls near one of the shopping areas, and suddenly Casey remembered that today is one day in the year that if you eat the entire roll without talking, you are supposed to have good luck all year. I thought he was kidding and it was just an excuse to shut me up (which wouldn't be a bad excuse, now that I think about it) but it turns out he was right. I couldn't eat the whole roll so I guess I will only have good luck for part of the year. :P (By the way, the roll is huge.. I'll post a picture later).
I know there are other examples I'm forgetting but I'm honestly stumped. I really don't mean to mock the culture at all- I don't want to offend anyone. It's just such a common theme here that I really wonder what types of things are 'bad luck'. Maybe they have just been polite enough not to tell me...
In other news, it snowed again tonight (Holy Crap it was so cold I can't even explain it)- I have heard from so many people that it's rare to see snow in Osaka... (Does that mean good luck? Okay I'll stop...) Anyway, it was fun to see people's reactions when they walked outside and saw the snow. It was really pretty tonight and came down heavily for awhile. We tried taking pictures of that but I have yet to figure out the right setting on Casey's camera.
We also went to our favorite spot in Senri-Chuo... Mister Donut. :) Here's an example of good customer service that some people in America could learn from; Casey and I were sitting at the table eating our donuts and drinking our coffee (that's why I'm awake at 2 a.m.) but the little dude that walks around refilling coffee noticed that our table was wobbly and he bent down and fixed it for us without saying a word. I don't think either of us even noticed that it was unstable at all. It doesn't seem to me like many people would take the time to notice something like this back in the U.S... but it's sort of refreshing to see that people here do notice the little things. I will always remember Japan for the 'little things' people have gone out of their way to do, just because. I really respect that about the culture and the work ethic here.
So yeah, now that I have managed to probably offend both Americans and/or Japanese in some way, maybe it's time for me to shut up. :) Actually, I am less likely to care if I offend too many Americans right now... I am mad at someone in Kansas because they stole my dad's car today while he was at work. Don't know who this person is of course, but their day of judgement is coming soon enough. (Wow that sounded a little like a death threat... sorry about that, it's the caffeine talking.) Karma's a biotch!!
I'm done now. Love to Japanese and Americans alike. :)
-Ashley
When Casey and I were with the lab members doing the "marathon karaoke" and found the 10,000 Yen bill on the ground, that was good luck. (Damn right!) That's a given.. I understand.
At New Years, everyone sends out postcards to their friends, etc., wishing them happy new year, etc., each one having a number that was stamped by the post office. Shortly after the 1st (if I remember correctly), numbers are announced, and certain numbers win certain things. The Kaneda family gave us some neat 'Year of the Dog' stamps that they had won. Again, it meant... you know.
When I showed Natsuki-san a picture I had taken of one of the koala bear biscuits (cuz I'm a DORK), she said it was good luck to see one with eyebrows because apparently they don't print those very often.
I was knitting a scarf and showed it to Yanagi-san who proceeded to get really excited about it- turns out the color of yarn means good luck... I don't know if it's specifically for this year or something, or if it's a constant thing. (Guess I know what color I'll be using for her scarf!)
Tonight, Casey and I were in Senri-Chuo looking for a place to eat. A few people were selling sushi rolls near one of the shopping areas, and suddenly Casey remembered that today is one day in the year that if you eat the entire roll without talking, you are supposed to have good luck all year. I thought he was kidding and it was just an excuse to shut me up (which wouldn't be a bad excuse, now that I think about it) but it turns out he was right. I couldn't eat the whole roll so I guess I will only have good luck for part of the year. :P (By the way, the roll is huge.. I'll post a picture later).I know there are other examples I'm forgetting but I'm honestly stumped. I really don't mean to mock the culture at all- I don't want to offend anyone. It's just such a common theme here that I really wonder what types of things are 'bad luck'. Maybe they have just been polite enough not to tell me...
In other news, it snowed again tonight (Holy Crap it was so cold I can't even explain it)- I have heard from so many people that it's rare to see snow in Osaka... (Does that mean good luck? Okay I'll stop...) Anyway, it was fun to see people's reactions when they walked outside and saw the snow. It was really pretty tonight and came down heavily for awhile. We tried taking pictures of that but I have yet to figure out the right setting on Casey's camera.
We also went to our favorite spot in Senri-Chuo... Mister Donut. :) Here's an example of good customer service that some people in America could learn from; Casey and I were sitting at the table eating our donuts and drinking our coffee (that's why I'm awake at 2 a.m.) but the little dude that walks around refilling coffee noticed that our table was wobbly and he bent down and fixed it for us without saying a word. I don't think either of us even noticed that it was unstable at all. It doesn't seem to me like many people would take the time to notice something like this back in the U.S... but it's sort of refreshing to see that people here do notice the little things. I will always remember Japan for the 'little things' people have gone out of their way to do, just because. I really respect that about the culture and the work ethic here.
So yeah, now that I have managed to probably offend both Americans and/or Japanese in some way, maybe it's time for me to shut up. :) Actually, I am less likely to care if I offend too many Americans right now... I am mad at someone in Kansas because they stole my dad's car today while he was at work. Don't know who this person is of course, but their day of judgement is coming soon enough. (Wow that sounded a little like a death threat... sorry about that, it's the caffeine talking.) Karma's a biotch!!
I'm done now. Love to Japanese and Americans alike. :)
-Ashley
posted by Ashley at 2/04/2006
1 Comments:
Someone stole your Dad's car?! Geez. My friend's was stolen a couple weeks ago too. I love the good luck stuff! Seems like a really positive culture - focusing on the good luck and all... except that they have a ridiculously high suicide rate, which doesn't make sense considering all the good luck. I'm baffled. But it's cool reading - Jonathan's intent on going to Japan sometime and your reports make me excited too! Feel better. - Chelsea
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