☆OBAMA'S SPEECH☆

＜the picture from:http://d.hatena.ne.jp/cuyahoga/20080109＞


　I watched new President Barack Obama’s inaugural speech in real time on TV for the first time. I was really surprised that the inaugural ceremony was very grand, and there were so many people coming to see the speech. I was very impressed with the words of Mr. Obama, “On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.” He is the first president who is an African American. So, the history and the society of the USA have “changed” significantly, and the impact had much effect on African countries. And there were about 240 thousand people in the inaugural venue, or about 2 million audiences within and without the inaugural venue. They waved Stars and Stripes flags, and call “Obama! Obama!!” Their eyes and expressions were filled with their hopes for new President Obama and for bright future!! On the other hand, it is said that there is political apathy among young people in Japan. And also the Aso government has been burdened by low approval ratings, so I think that not only among young people but also all Japanese people have lost their hopes, interests and confidence in the politics. So I felt that there are differences of the interests, hopes, confidence and the ranking in politics between American people and Japanese people. In addition, I felt American people’s patriotic fervor and think that the existence of the president is very big for American people!!

　And, there are various people who belong to races, religions and blood. However, Mr.Rick Warren said in the inaugural ceremony, “We are American people. We unite not by races, religions and bloods but by the decisions on the justice for all people.” I was greatly touched by his words. This time, Mr.Obama became the president, the consciousness of the discrimination or the prejudice will change, and racial discrimination or various ones will disappear little by little.

　This year, it is also the year of “change” for me, because my job hunting has begun. Whatever the crunches come, I “change” them into chances like Mr.Obama, and I’ll do my best!!


http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=URKD7H0e-7A

☆MOCHITUKI☆

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Hello, everyone!!
Today, I’d like to introduce “MOCHITUKI” to you!!

Do you know “MOCHITUKI”!?
I’m sure that you know “rice cakes”!!
“MOCHI” means “rice cake” in Japanese!!
And “MOCHITUKI” is making rice cakes!!
Before coming new year, my family held "MOCHITUKI" to eat rice cakes at New Year's!!

Then, I’ll introduce about rice cakes.
In Japan, there is a custom which is eating rice cakes.
It has been believed that there are gods in rice cakes, so we eat them on special days such as New Year’s Day, seasonal festival, birthday and so on.

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Now, I’m going to introduce you how to make rice cakes!!
(1)First, we use glutinous rice, called “mochi-gome”(もち米), wash it very much, and it immerses in water for one night.
(2)Next day, we wash glutinous rice again, and steam it with steamer about 20 minutes.
(3)Well, pound rice in a mortar, and pound with a pestle!!
＊“Mortar” is called “うす”(usu), and “pestle” is called “きね”(kine) in Japanese.
(4)Then, we crush and mash the rice with a pestle.
(5)Now, we need two people!! One is pounding, the other is turning over.
We call it “合いの手”(Ainote).
It needs a uniform pace and good timing, and also each other’s confidence.
They have to pay attention to each other not to pound!!
And we must pound rice cakes evenly and quickly!!
FINISH!!

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－NOSHIMOCHI－
Now, we are making “Noshi-mochi”(のしもち)!!
It means flat rectangular rice cakes!!
First, we put rice cakes in bags.
Then, we roll rice cakes levelly and rectangular!!
FINISH!!
When we eat “NOSHIMOCHI”, we cut them!!
We usually put them in “OZONI”(お雑煮)!!

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－KAGAMIMOCHI－



Next, I’m going to introduce “KAGAMIMOCHI”!!
First, we dust “mochitoriko” like a starch on rice cakes!!
And roll rice cakes into a ball!!
We make two rice cakes, small one & big one each!!
Then, we put big one down, and put small one on the big one!!
Now, it finish!!
KAGAMIMOCHI are offerings to the gods.
It is believed that eating them has the power to make people healthy and happy in the coming year.
KAGAMIMOCHI are very hard after being displayed for more than ten days following New Year's Day.
It is extremely unlucky to cut KAGAMIMOCHI with a knife so people break it into smaller pieces by hand or with a hammer.
We eat KAGAMIMOCHI on January 11.
It's called KAGAMIBIRAKI!!
A popular way of enjoying KAGAMIMOCHI is add them to traditional soup dishes!!

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A popular way of eating rice cakes!!
－SEASONING－



＊KINAKO＊
“KINAKO” is made of soybeans and sugar!!
It’s called “soybean flour” in English.



＊ANKO＊
“ANKO” is made of adzuki beans and sugar.
It’s called “bean jam” in English.

＊KUROGOMA＊
“KUROGOMA” is black sesame!!
We grind black sesame and mix some sugar into them!!
We crumble rice cakes and put these tastes on rice cakes!!

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Have you ever eaten rice cakes!?
They are very very delicious!!
Why don’t you try “MOCHITUKI” and “MOCHI”!?

See you!!

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☆KAGAMIBIRAKI☆

On January 11, “KAGAMIBIRAKI”(鏡開き) is held in Japan.
By the way, what is “KAGAMIBIRAKI”!?
Do you know!?

Now, I’ll show you!!
“KAGAMIBIRAKI” is a Japanese event which is cutting a Kagamimochi!!
Kagamimochi is rice cake!!
The shape of it is round!!
We make two rice cakes, small one & big one each.
Then, we put big one down,
And put small one on the big one!!
Like this…

We display “Kagamimochi” on tha stand in the little alcove at New Year’s to offer it to the gods.
There was an ancient belief which the gods visit houses at New Year’s in Japan.
So we offer “Kagamimochi” to them!!




After a while…

We hold “KAGAMIBIRAKI” on January 11!!
We have displayed “Kagamimochi” since New Year’s Day,
so “Kagamimochi” has become hard, opened and broken!!
It is extremely unlucky to cut “KAGAMIMOCHI” with a knife so people break it into smaller pieces by hand or with a hammer!!
Then, we eat “KAGAMIMOCHI”.
“BIRAKI(HIRAKI)” means “OPEN” in Japanese!!
So it is called “KAGAMIBIRAKI”!!

Let’s try eating!!


See you!!

☆NANAKUSAGAYU☆

Hello, everyone!!

Do you know "七草粥"(ななくさがゆ, NANAKUSAGAYU)!?

In Japan, there is a custom to eat "七草粥" in the morning on January 7!!
"七(なな)" means "７" in Japanese!!
"草(くさ)" means "weed, herb, grass"!!
"粥(かゆ・がゆ)" means "rice porridge"!!

Then, the reason why we call it "七草粥" is that...

We eat rice porridge putting "seven" herbs into it on January "７"!!
The custom comes from China!!
We hope perfect state of health by eating "七草粥"!!

Now, I'd like to introduce seven herbs!!
They are せり(dropwort), なずな(shepherd’s purse),
ごぎょう(cudweed), ほとけのざ(hawk's-beard),
はこべら(chickweed), すずしろ(radish) and すずな(turnip)!!
We cut these 7 herbs, and put them into rice porridge!!

We eat it as I said earlier, for hoping perfect state of health,
and also settling our stomach after eating traditional New Year dishes,
making up for the loss of nutrients in winter.

I think "７" is lucky number, too!!
So if we eat "七草粥" on January 7,
there are lots of 7 and very very lucky!!haha


Have you ever eaten “七草粥”!?


See you!!

pictures come from this site!!
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http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%83%E8%8D%89

☆HAPPY NEW YEAR☆

Hello, everyone!!
How were your New Year holidays!?
My New Year holidays was good!!
I spent with my family!!

During New Year holidays, we ate "お雑煮"(おぞうに, ozoni) !!
It's Japanese custom!!
We eat お雑煮 for celebrating the New Year!!
We put rice cakes in お雑煮.
And we put various ingredients, too!!
The ingredients are different among regions,
and the shapes of rice cakes are differnt, too!!

My mom's お雑煮 is really good!!
Look at the picture on top of this blog!!
In my mom's お雑煮, there are many ingredients!!
For example, shrimp, salmon roe, ground fish,
carrot, burdock, chicken, steamed fish paste,
deep-fried tofu and so on!!
So putting lots of ingredients can make really delicious soup!!
I like お雑煮 very much!!

Why don't you try お雑煮!?

Happy New Year!!
And wishing you ALL THE BEST in 2009!!

See you!!

☆New Year's Eve☆

Hello, everyone!!
Now, New Year's Day is coming soon!!
I'm very excited!!

In Japan, people traditionally eat "年越しそば"(toshikoshi noodles) on New Year's Eve!!
We have to eat them before coming new year, because eating the noodles after the start of the new year is believed to bring bad luck.

Do you know why we eat "年越しそば"？
Because it is believed that we live a long, frugal life such as the noodles if we eat noodles!!
On the other hand, one theory is busy merchants began eating the noodles as a fast meal on the day.
The custom has begun since the middle of the Edo Era!!

Happy New Year!!

☆New Year's card☆

Hello, everyone!!

Today, I'd like to introduce traditional Japanese custom at this time!!
Do you know "年賀状"(ねんがじょう)？
It's Japanese New Year's card!!
We celebrate new year,
express our gratitude to people who are familiar with us,
and send our greetings to them on it!!

Look at this picture!!


Right hand side is face and left hand side is reverse!!
On the face, we write friend's addresses on the right side and write thier names in the middle of the card.
And also we write our addresses and names on the left hand side!!
On the reverse, we can draw pictures, write messages, post pictures of families, characters or the twelve zodiac sighns in Chinese astrology!!

This year, my family made these cards!!
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We make and post New Year's cards before coming new year,

and receive ones from friends on New Year's Day!!

I always look forward to receiving New Year's cards,

because they make me happy, and bring me up to date on what my friends are into lately!!

In addition, sometimes, New Year's cards are sent by old friends or people who we don't expected!!

Then, we are always surprised and happy!!

Do you send New year's cards to your friends??

I'm really looking forward to receiving New Year's cards!!

See you!!