My impressions of Australia

Nico : This is the best and biggest thing for me. In Japan, I couldn't imagine such a thing. Never. Ever. It makes this blog a little bit serious though...

When I went to medicare to join it, MJ helped me do it. MJ told a clerk of medicare about the type of my visa. Then this clerk said to MJ, Then you are her partner, aren't you? 

‘Partner’, this word is not popular in Japan. Some people use it but it is really rare to use it for a couple. From the begining, lots of Japanese people don't know the existence of LGBT. Though there are a lot of gay men appear on some tv programs like variety shows, all of them are treated as comedians. They are requested to be silly or doing stupid things from directors, producers, and audiences. Even though they are famous and professional beauty therapists or choreographers. Then, how about lesbians? Lots of Japanese people can't believe they exist So some parents worry if their kids `become' gay men, but there are no parents who are anxious like that for their daughters.

By the way, for me, I recognized that I was a lesbian when I was 4. I can't explain why I thought it was better not to tell to my parents and family. But I recognized it and decided not to tell about it anybody. I felt it was really terrible thing and horrible. Then my closed life started. I shut my mouth and my mind. I often wonderd if I was born as a heterosexual person, I could live without hiding. But I have no choice. I was born as a lesbian and recognized it at only 4 years old.

So, the word what this medicare clerk said was really shocking for me. I was really impressed about public employees recognize the same sex patnership naturally. 

I thought I had to live without family and making my own family since I was a high school student. I thought I had no choice. 

But I met MJ. Though we came to Australia where MJ's homeland, I just thought it is the best way for MJ's career and to gain her experiences. Of course it is also good for living together. MJ and her family love each other deeply. 

I knew being in Australia is easier being LGBT than in Japan. But the difference is bigger than I thought.

I appreciate living in Australia and the people who are around us.       

The discovery of Australia

Nico: After about 1month I came to Perth, I found some about Australia. I don't have a job and not be a student yet so my experiences are not big things I reckon.

The first thing I found about Australia is dry weather. I can't believe after taking shower, it's unbelievably easy to get dry. It's enough to wipe myself with a bath towel just one time. In Japan, it's not so easy. So how nice it is! Though I bought a big size DOVE for my dry skin.

The 2nd thing, I can have some Japanese style foods in Perth. Actually, I haven't had sushi, traditional Japanese foods lots of time in Japan. And even though they are expensive, I can buy okonomiyaki, yakisoba,gyouza stuffs or something like that at some asian food shops. Me and MJ already cooked yakisoba and gyouza in Perth. They were really yummy. For Japanese, it is almost enough having soy sauce, mirin, cooking sake, sugar, dashi. Japanese can cook lots of yummy dishes with them. As long as I can get these stuffs, I think I'll not get serious homesickness. AND!! I can buy Fuji Apples here! In Japan, apples are expensive like around 200yen per apple. Japanese Fuji apple is twice the size or more so it's easy to being full. But Australian Fuji apples are small and same taset and texture. Since I came to Perth, I have Fuji apples everyday. I'm so happy. Ah! But it would be good if there is soy milk which no added sugar,and unsalted tomato or vegetable juice.

The third thing, lots of Australians have a second fridge. I amreally envious. Japanese house is really small so there are no space for second fridge. Of couse, it is came from some cultural differences between Australia and Japan. There are no 2litre milk or 1kilo cheese, 2litre ice cream at Japanese super markets. So Japanese can keep cool their beverages in only one fridge. But when I lived in my parents house, I always wanted to have my own fridge for drinks. 

The fourth thing is Japanese medical centre. I went to the clinic yesturday. Because my throat was bleeding inside for over 1 month. So MJ searched a clinic there is staff using Japanese. It is really amazing! I can ask interpreter for $20. In Japan, there are some hospital that have some staffs who came from various countries. So you can use English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and more at the hospital. But those hospitals are really huge and rare. If you live in coutryside in Japan, you need to take trains or book accomodation.  

The fifth thing. It is the best. I' ll be a student of AMEP from 2013 Febrary. AMEP is Adult Migrant English Program. I went to the interview for being student. My english skill is not high so I can study English at AMEP in Perth. And it's free! In Japan, I taught Japanese as a volunteer about 2months at Hyogo International Assosiation after studied being Japanese teacher for foreigners at Japanese school. At that time, I was anxious about foreigners and their children. Because, thoguh increasing foreigners who are married with Japanese men or their families came to Japan for living with. But there are no substancial education institution like AMEP. I think I'm really lucky living in Australia.

yakiniku - BBQ heaven

MJ: So you might have read Nico's blog about the list of things we want to do in Japan before we pack up and leave for our new home of Perth. At the top of the list for both of us was definitely go to a yakiniku restaurant. Yakiniku is just amazing - and anyone who like meat will certainly get an overload of it and feel completely satisfied and way too full.

It is also a fairly expensive meal out as far as it goes in Japan - reasonable yakiniku is about 5 times the price of normal meals. So because Nico and I have been saving for a while, we hadn't made it to yakiniku until now.

We found a restaurant quite nearby, prepared our stomachs by not eating all day and headed off.

Japanese BBQ is quite different from Aussie BBQ - you order the meats by cut, and it comes on a plate with about 5 or 6 pieces - all bite size. Then you put them on the BBQ in the middle of the table, cook very quickly and pop it straight into your mout. TO. DIE. FOR. I tell you.

So looking at the prices, we went for the 'All you Can Eat Course' - and boy we ate!

The first of many orders...

bite sized BBQ

'one karubi' in the middle

When the 'one karubi' is cooked, you cut it with scissors to eat it!!

It was such a good night - we almost had to roll home... If you are ever in Japan - definitely do it!

Next stop on the list - the movies.

Not only ski - Sapporo Hokkaido Japan

Nico: I wanted to take MJ to Hokkaido while we live in Japan. Especially to Sapporo. Now we don't have enough time and money to go to there so I'd like to write about Sapporo where I love same as MIyako island.

Hokkaido is famous for skiing. But the place for skiing in Hokkaido is really far from city. So if you want to ski there, you should rent a car or join the tour.　But if you want to have some yummy foods and sight seeing, onsen, you should go to Sapporo.  

Before I met MJ, I went to Sapporo lots. With my friends and alone. Because there are lots of yummy foods like sushi, ramen, sea foods, sweets. Maybe you think you can have them in Tokyo. But it's not the same. You might be suprised when you have them in Sapporo.

taken from http://www.welcome.city.sapporo.jp/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/jogaishijo1.jpg

When I went to Sapporo, I always went to Sapporo wholesale market. There is my favorite fish market. There are lots of fish markets at there, but I always bought crab at the same fish market. Because the market sells crabs which still alive, and boils them after you choose the crab which you want to buy. The clarks of the market put your name tag with your crab. Because after the crab is boiled, you can see which one is yours.

I usually bought hair crab or snow crab and shrimps. I chose the crab and waited about 20 minutes for boiling it. And took it to the hotel for eating.

taken from http://www.tsukukuma.co.jp/store/images/goods-botan-cc.jpg

 

Do you know one of the beer brands in Japan? It is Sapporo. Yes, the name is same as Sapporo city. There is Sapporo beer restaurant. You can drink premium sapporo beer and have the dish with mutton and vegetables.

　
In Japan, mutton and lamb are not so popular. But in Hokkaido, they are more popular than any other place in Japan. They are soooooo good!

Early Feburaｒｙ, there is a snow festival in sapporo city. There are lots of snow statues in both sides of huge park. They are unbelievably amazing.

 If you have time, you can go to Otaru. Otaru city is beautiful. There are brick buildings and canal. Otaru is also famous tourist attraction. There are lots of yummy sweets factories and shops, sushi restaurants, grass workshops `Kitaichi grass'.

 taken from http://www.kitaichiglass.co.jp/c&r/a.gif

This is cafe of Kitaichi grass hall. This cafe is really romantic.










Aaaaah Hokkaido -next time!

Autumn in Japan

Nico: Now it is early Autumn in Japan. I love Autumn the best. There are the words like these in Japan. `Autumn of appetite', `Autumn of reading' .  Today, I'm going to write about ` Autumn of appetite' a little.


 In Autumn, I usually buy sweet potatoes and chestnuts on the internet. Of course you can buy them at super market but I love to have my favorite ones.

Sweet potatoes : ` Annou-imo' is the best. This sweet popato is Tanegashima production.

This sweet potato's sugar content is really high. If you can bake it well, the sugar content would be higher. Can you see some honey out from this sweet potato?









Chestnut : `Yume-amaguri' is the best. This chestnut is Kochi production.

 

taken from http://www.takeda-seika.co.jp/image/kuri-yumeama/img3.jpg

This chestnut is little bit small. But the sugar content is higher than other chestnuts. I usually boil them and cut in half, and eat with a scoon.

Yesterday,my mum made chestnut rice for me and MJ. I love chestnut rice. It is easy to cook but you should use chestnuts which are peeled.

I also love `Kuri-sekihan'. `Sekihan' is made with glutinous rice and red beans. `kuri' means chectnuts in Japanese.








Fruits : Kaki.

Kaki makes me feel ` Autumn is coming' and reminds me of when I was a child. I don't know why...But they do.










I'm going to have ` kuri-sekihan' for lunch tomorrow!

What I want to do in Japan before moving to Perth

Nico: First, I'd love to say `Thank you' for people who gave their help to apply my visa. I think they must helped it lots. So really really thank you.

Actually, I didn't expect to get the visa in early September. So me and MJ started to get ready for moving really suddenly. We promised each other to make happy memories until we leave Japan; not only prepare for moving. But it's really hard. One of the reasons is I worry way too much. For the first week after we knew I got the visa, I did lots of things for moving to Perth alone. MJ has to work until 17th Oct., so she couldn't do lots even though she wanted to. So I started to feel like we can't move to Perth on time. I thought there were too many things to do.

But gradually, I became to think we're OK. MJ did lots of things in weekends, and her colleague N and his girlfriend, and her other colleague K gave us their help. Though I am worried about it a little bit, I can feel safe.

So, I thought about our own promise. What will we do in Japan until moving to Perth?

1: USJ. We have annual pass of Universal Studios in Japan. So we'll definitely go to USJ.

2: Yakiniku. There is a yummy yakiniku restaurant near our apartment. We have saved our money for long time, so we haven't had yakiniku since we started to live this here.

taken from http://img2.blogs.yahoo.co.jp/ybi/1/83/fa/shissaning46/folder/239052/img_239052_29502537_0?1316704320

3:  Movie. We have reward cards of one of the Japanese movie theaters. I have the reward which I can watch a movie for free. So we should take it. Oh! I noticed just now it'll be the last time I can watch a movie with Japanese subtitles!!!

4: Eel. This is only for me. MJ doesn't need to have eel. She doesn't like it. But you know? Recently eel became more expensive than ever before. It's getting harder to get eel each year. So Japan started to import Tasmanian eel in earnest. I don't know if I can find a nice eel restaurant though, I'm going to try to find it.

taken from http://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/36/f6/7f08a22aff546cbd189744afe94762dc.jpg

5: Katsu-don. MJ's sister really loves katsu-don. When we went to Perth for wedding, MJ promised her sister to make it after we move to Perth. So MJ has to learn the way to cook katsu-don from my mother.

 taken from http://pub.ne.jp/karihomaru/image/user/1288697577.jpg

So, we have to do lots of things before we leave Japan. But we're going to get some more happy memories in Japan.

picking up and moving

MJ: So it has been a really long time since either nico or I have written on here - we have been CRAZY busy ever since our return home from the wedding in Perth. Why? WE GOT NICO'S VISA TO IMMIGRATE TO AUSTRALIA!!! And we're moving to Perth at the end of October, so within a space of 2 months we will have gotten a visa, moved out of an apartment and moved countries!

(We may have to change the name of this blog, since we won't be in Japan anymore! the incredible life of two girls in perth maybe?)

I'm really excited about moving to Perth, I really can't wait. But at the same time I am quite sad to say goodbye to the life we have built here.

One of the hardest things to leave behind will be the children I teach at my school. They are so wonderful and sweet and such kind little things that it makes me tear up just thinking about leaving them. This year, I teach two girls - one 4 years old, one turning 4 in a month. I first told them I was leaving at the beginning of last week - and I have been getting a lot of perplexed 'But why d you have to go to Australia Minni? But why? But we won't see you anymore...' One of the girls, obviously wanting to do something for me, when we started to play 'Go Fish' says 'Let's play lots of games together before you go! And, it is OK if you win you know'. 

And I like our life here - but realistically it can't go on forever. For one reason, same-sex relationships are not recognised in any way, shape or form in Japan, so we can never be recognised as a couple. Which is not such a huge deal, but it means that the only way I can live in Japan permanently is to have employment sponsored visas, meaning no real stability. But in Australia nico has a visa as my partner.

And, at the moment neither nico or I are working in fields that we want to be in forever. I love my kids, but I don't want to be a kindergarten teacher for the rest of my life.

So it is off to Perth we go.

And by god! The things you've never even thought about.

We can't take a lot to Perth - our kitchen/whitegood stuff is not worth what it would cost to send, the electricity is different (voltage and outlet points), our furniture isn't worth it. So we are basically taking clothes, books, PCs, shoes. Everything else we have to sell, give away or throw out.

Sell- nothing we own is worth a lot of money. A lot is nico's from when she lived alone, and the rest is stuff that I bought when I moved to Japan - knowing that it wouldn't be permanent nothing is top of the range. But saying that, everything is well looked after. So recycle shops have become my new favourite place! They take everything - and we have been making the rounds of the three near our apartment, each specialising in slightly different things. Nothing is worth a lot of money, and everything is then resold for about 4 or 5 times what they paid us, but anything helps.

AND! In Japan to throw out anything that doesn't fit in a garbage bag costs money!! Small coffee table - ￥900. Small plastic drawers - ￥300. Most things ￥900. So because we can't take it, can't give it away - selling for ￥100 sounds perfect to me. I would be happy if they just took it and not give us any money- as long as it doesn't cost me.

Thank god for my friend N from work. N and his girlfriend are the happy recipients of everything we can't sell - especially our kitchen stuff (nabe pots, sukiyaki pans, etc etc etc) and warm blankets!

Apart from that, we are moving in to nico's parents house about a week before we fly to Perth - so after we have done the clean up here, we have time to do things like close bank accounts.


ARGH!


But looking forward to it. The next step!

A Day Trip to Kyoto and Barcelona

MJ: This week I have a week off for Obon. Obon is a Buddhist-Confucian custom to honour relatives who have died. In modern times though, it is a time when people travel to their hometowns, and then do any maintenance/cleaning etc on their family graves. It is not officially a public holiday, but many companies get given time off, and my boss closes the school for a whole week. Because Nico and I are travelling home to Perth soon we chose to not go to Miyako-jima this week and 'save money' and 'prepare for Perth' here in Amagasaki.

But we still wanted to do something. 

So we decided to go to Kyoto for the day - close(ish), a little bit tourist-y with a few offbeat places we wanted to see.

fish heads ('tai')

Our first stop was Nishiki-Ichiba, or Nishiki Market. It is a long arcade market in central Kyoto, which can trace its roots back to the Edo Period (as in the samurai/ninja/geisha period in history). It is a quaint little market with many stalls selling different teas, fish, pickles, rice and other different foods. It almost feels like you have stepped back in time a little.

Tofu nuggets

Nico and I ate our way through the market before braving the rain and heading to a small lolly shop.

Nico: I have always wanted to go to the lolly shop in Kyoto. But the shop is not in central Kyoto and definitely not tourist area. Besides, Kyoto is always too crowded to shopping in just one place from Amagasaki. The lolly shop is the only shop that makes and sells Japanese traditional small bits of candy in Japan. The name of the sweets is `kon pei tou'.

When I was a child,`Kon pei tou' was cheap sweets and the type you always receive from old ladies or as a cheap prize at a festival. Most of the time `Kon pei tou' is still cheap sweets except for that shop in Kyoto.

This is `Kon pei tou' we bought from the shop.

Usually,`Kon pei tou' is only sweet like sugar and pretty colors. It is made from rock candy and water and poppy seed grains. So the taste is just sweet regardless of the color.

flavored:cider, lemon, strawberry, melon, grape, mandarin

But the shop `Ryokujuan　Shimizu' makes them with real fruits and fruits juice with usual ingredients. It is really hard and takes long time to make `Kon pei tou' ,so if you want to buy them, you should go the shop when the shop opens. The shop makes it with traditional method, so they can't make large amounts. Because of it, the candies are not cheap now. But unbelievably yummy. They are definitely not same `Kon pei tou' as when I was a child.

If you have time, it might be fun to read the link of Wikipedia. `Kon pei tou is originally from Portugal and they have 24 projections each candy.

MJ: Our final stop was a restaurant at JR Kyoto Train Station. Now this advice is for the people who are in Japan for a long time - Kyoto has a lot of amazing food that it NOT Japanese! My mum and sister both often ask me what I am eating for dinner - and get all disappointed when I tell them it is something 'Normal' like spaghetti. Don't get me wrong, I love Japanese food, but sometimes it is good to eat non-Japanese.

And the Spanish restaurant 'Rico' is amazing. I think I have a new favourite cuisine. It was to celebrate our four year anniversary, so a little bit more upmarket than we would normally go to, but oh so worth it!

The grilled lamb cutlets with garlic aioli and roast potatoes was perfect for this poor little Aussie - and cooked to perfection. THEN, the most amazing paella I have ever eaten. Oh my goodness, it was like being in food heaven! Topped off with a beautiful Spanish red...

A perfect trip to Kyoto, with a short side trip to Barcelona - perfect start to the week!

A trip to the doctors...

MJ: This is the first time I've written here for a long time - life seemed to catch up with us for a few months! Visa applications, then two lots of visitors, birthdays argh!

But... One thing that hasn't changed though is the fact that I seem to have a weak immune system in Japan! For the first time though, it was Nico who caught the cold and gave it to me. And it was a doozey. So bad, in fact, that I ended up with a very painful ear infection - the doctor's visits I had to make in the process.

I was at work, and ended up leaving early to go to an Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) doctor. One thing in the Japanese health system is that there are no GPs or Family Doctors. For every problem, you have to go to a specialist. It confuses me a bit - what if you don't know what the symptoms mean? But it seems to work here. Another thing that surprises me is that most clinics don't require appointments. They have hours they are open, and you just turn up and wait your turn. If it is a busy clinic then it may mean you have to wait a long time, but hey, what doctor runs on time in Australia?

So off I go to the doctor feeling sore and sorry myself and a little bit nervous because I'm not so confident in my ability to tell the doctor what's wrong.

The doctor was nice, if a little brisk. He used a picture to explain to me what was wrong, and prescribed some medicines for me. I thought it was all over in a matter of fifteen minutes. 

But no...

I get guided over to the edge of the large consult room, and am seated on a stool in front of what looks to be an ancient torture device. It is a glass bulb, with two plastic nozzles to place near your nose, and then attached to a long hose that goes into the world. I look to the left and right of me, and everyone else seems OK - the 3 year old boy and the 75 year old grandma. I press the button to start the machine and hold it close to my nose as directed. And this warm mist with apparent medicine is being sprayed up my nose - how the hell am I supposed to breathe normally like directed if water is going all up my nose. Trying not to be embarrassed by the stuff running down my nose I battle on and then I'm finished and I try to walk out the door quickly but...

I get led to another seat, which has a throat nebuliser. So as I'm opening my mouth next to the nozzle and more warm medicine steam is going down my throat I try not to cough and splutter up all this extra water in my mouth but it doesn't quite work. The whole time I'm coughing onto the bench I'm getting all these weird looks from the Japanese people around me - why can't I just use the machines and be quiet?!?!

The Japanese health system is very good - and it always seems to me that Japanese people go to the doctor far too often, and for such small things. But as I go out and pay I realise. I have to pay health insurance each month, and it is compulsory for all residents of Japan. It can be quite (!) expensive sometimes, but the price of the consultation is very cheap - the equivalent of about $15 at the ENT doctor, and the prescription medicines I received were only about $7 for one course. So why wouldn't you go all the time? And using those crazy torture devices from when you are a toddler!

And you know what? Going back three days later to get checked - I submitted myself to the torture a second time!!!

I can see you are Australian !!!

Nico: MJ's cousin is traveling in Japan now. He came to our apartment and we went Osaka castle and a big aquarium `Kaiyu-kan'. But first of all, we needed to eat something for filling our energy. MJ's cousin C would love to try Japanese sushi so we went to sushi restaurant in Osaka. 

taken from http://www.yodobashi-umeda.com/dining/dining_kait.html

This sushi restaurant is reasonable one. You can see the price from the color of plates. Besides, they have some deserts too. Actually, I had went real sushi restaurant few times. Real sushi restaurants serve unbelievably yummy sushi, but they are unbelievably expensive for me.

 Because you can't see the price of some fishes if you order them one by one which is expected, it can become very pricey very quickly. If you go to real sushi restaurant, pay attention to `時価(Jika)'. Jika means current price. 

After having sushi, we went to Osaka castle. In Japan, there are lots of castles. Hyogo prefecture where me and MJ live, has Himeji castle. Himeji castle is one of the world cultural heritages but now it is in construction of preservation.

You can go inside this castle only 600 yen. There are some explanations about histories of this castle. C seemed to enjoy them.

You can use elevator for 5 floor. Only 2 floor up, you can see Osaka city from this castle.

MJ: After Osaka Castle we headed to the Kaiyu-kan. I've been twice before, and every time I go it is fantastic. I would describe it a bit more like a water zoo, rather than an aquarium. You start at the top, and walk past different enclosures or exhibits of different ocean/river animals separated into different areas of the Oceans. As you get further down, you see deeper and deeper into the same exhibits. For example, there are dolphins in area, and you see them on 3 levels - above water, just below water level, and quite deep in the water.

These exhibits are centred around one main huge aquarium - full of sharks, rays, large fish, AND a whale shark!!!

C,　Nico and I spent just ages staring at all the fish and creatures. I could spend days watching the manta rays, seals and penguins.

One new exhibit that I loved, was the new squid aquarium! I don't think I've ever seen squid except on then end of a fishing hook, or on a plate to be honest, so it was really cool.

Nico: Oh,I almost forgot to write about today's title. It came from C. He changed his shoes to thongs when we went out. It reminded me MJ always wore them except winter. I think it is one of the ways to find Australians in the world.

What is Easter?

Nico : It is April 8th in Japan. It's my birthday. But this year, it's also Easter. So MJ gave me chocolate when we were having breakfast. She said `you can eat chocolate before having breakfast.' I didn't understand what she said...

In Japan, Easter is not popular. So it is really hard to buy Easter Eggs. You can only find them at large nation wide foreign food stores. But there's not so many types you can choose. 

You might think Japanese are weird. Because Japanese celebrate Christmas, Valentine, Halloween. And lots of people have wedding ceremony in churches or chapels. Even though they are not Christians. Then why lots of Japanese celebrate them? It's started by merchants. They needed occasions to sell things to people. For Christmas, cakes(It's not stollen), present stuffs, restaurant bookings, fancy hotels bookings. It's for children when they are young but as they get older it turns into a couples event. So on Christmas, people say if don't have a partner,it is a horrible day. For Valentine, chocolates(There are expensive ones made by famous pâtissier）, present stuffs. It is the only day girls can tell guys their feelings. Recently it's not getting so big, women who work in company give chocolates to guys who work with. It's called `Giri choco'. It means chocolates for greeting like friendship or for their works are going smoothly. And guys who are given chocolates or presents have to give back presents to girls at `White Day'. White Day is the day guys have to show their thanks to girls who gave chocolates or something. Of course, you can deny to receive them if you don't want to. But if you received them, you have to give some sweets to girls on 14th March definitely. And for Halloween, there are snacks and candies for kids. Recently, some people have parties but not so popular still. So I have never seen kids said `Trick or treat'. I think there are lots of Japanese who don't know when is Halloween...       

Well, today is April 8th. It is also the birthday of Buddha. I think there are lots of Japanese people who don't know it.　Even though Japanese people are mostly Buddhist.

You don't eat fish and you're going to Japan?!

MJ: Aaaaah, I can't tell you how many times I've heard "You don't eat fish but you're going to Japan?". As they say, if I had a dollar for every time... Admittedly, Japanese people do eat a lot of seafood (sort of). The first time I came to Japan when I was 15 I did actually eat some fish, but stopped because I couldn't handle the clams in miso soup at 5.40am on my very first morning being in Japan.

But today's blog is a look at the food misconceptions that foreigners (Aussies particularly) have about Japanese food.

1. All Japanese people eat is fish and seafood It is well documented that the reason Japanese people have such a high life-expectancy is because of their healthy diet of fish, seafood, seaweed and rice. And sure, they probably do eat more seafood than us. But you know what? The islands of Okinawa are where most of the old people are, and they aren't ethnically the same as mainland Japanese. Japanese people have an inflated life expectancy because there are many people not reported to be dead so their family can keep collecting their pension so it looks like the Japanese people are much older than they are. Modern Japanese families eat lots of foods from lots of countries, just like us. AND - I can live with a Japanese family and not really interrupt their food habits by not eating fish, as long as I can handle fish stock as a base for some soups.
2. All Japanese fish is eaten raw Enough said. Although a lot of Japanese fish can be enjoyed raw, there is a lot you wouldn't want to. And most often it is cooked. Only the good quality (read: expensive) fish can be eaten without cooking. Often used for stock, and added flavours, or grilled.
3. Teriyaki Chicken is authentic Japanese My mum loves Japanese food. And loves teriyaki chicken. She is probably very likely to buy it at the food court if she ever needs to have lunch. But guess what? You would NEVER find it at a restaurant in Japan. Teriyaki is the sauce that Japanese mum makes when she only has the basic ingredients in her house (soy sauce, mirin, sugar、cooking sake). And she probably wouldn't put it on chicken. But fish. Maybe you can find it at a Japanese pub, but not likely. Definitely at McDonald's - the teriyaki burger is a favourite here.
4. Sushi in Australia is real Some of the sushi you can buy in Australia is like Japanese sushi. Like what you get at Jaws Kaiten sushi is fairly authentic. But. Chicken in sushi is crazy. When I told Nico that most places in Australia has chicken in, she laughed. Like a lot. And that roll sushi is more common - again, laughing. Roll sushi is not so common - eaten a couple of times a year for special occasions.  
5. Japanese food is all healthy Don't make me laugh! Soooooo much of modern Japanese food is not so healthy. The most commonly eaten food is so often deep fried, and done in breadcrumbs. Katsu (crumbed, fried pork), karaage (deep fried chicken), Korokke (deep fried creamy stuff), ebi-fry (deep fried crumbed prawns) - just about everything. And most of these can often be eaten over a very large plate of rice.
6. Japanese people don't like red meat Again, oh so silly! I admit, I was guilty of this one once. But oh I have learnt! Japanese people LOVE meat. As in, LOVE meat. Two of the biggest, most famous, most popular meals in Japan are yaki-niku, and shabu-shabu. Yaki-niku is when you barbecue lots of different meats at your own little barbecue, and eat straight from the plate. Done in bite size pieces, but by god you end up consuming a lot. Usually done at a restaurant, but can be done at home with meat packs sold at most butchers/supermarkets. Shabu-shabu is anther meat only meal. Thinly cut mouthful sized beef or pork waved through boiling water or flavoured broth, and eaten straight away.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in Japan

MJ: I love the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo books - I read the first one in a matter of days, and read the other two just as quickly. My mum received the third for Christmas when we were in Rottnest one year - I read it in 2 days lying on the couch overlooking the ocean.

I'm not sure why they are so good, and why Lisbeth Salander is such an appealing character. She does some pretty horrible things, but you still find yourself cheering for her, and hope the system works in her favour. I think it might be because Stieg Larsson somehow seems to make all the characters incredibly 3D. The heroes, while still fantastic, are real enough to have their own problems and baggage.

In Japan, the books have been selling like crazy, in preparation for the Hollywood version film of the first book. I made Nico read them (because I love them so much and have read them all several times) and despite her complaining the first book was too long and detailed she was complaining about there not being any books beyond the third!

So last Friday we went to see the movie in the cinemas. I saw the Swedish version at the outdoor cinemas and loved it, so was very keen to see this movie as well. And overall it was really good. Of course, books are always better but it captured the heart of the book.

But just one thing surprised me.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is quite graphic - sexually and violently. (SPOILERS) There are two rape scenes - not that you can see it actually happening, well you sort of can. And there is violent sexual sadism kidnap, and themes about long term sexual abuse, and murders. Which are all showed in the movie.

And then there is a sex scene between the two main characters. No violence, completely consensual. But realistic looking. AND IT WAS BLURRED OUT!

I couldn't believe it. It was in the cinemas! I looked around and everyone was watching it quite normally, no-one else seemed to notice.

I spoke with Nico afterwards - and found out it is illegal to show sex in public places. If the characters are covered, OK. Or even just covered from the bottom down, OK. But simulating sex while a little naked, not OK. Boobs are OK, but no other bits. Even in a normal Hollywood movie.

I have to admit - it does surprise me. Although there is little to no sex in Japanese mainstream dramas or movies, it is the home of animated pornography.

MJ: I love Japan. I have loved Japan since the first time I came here when I was 15 on a 3 week school trip. Japan is everything weird and wonderful. It is super conservative sitting right next to ultra liberal and modern. Japan has crazy things like vending machines that talk to you, and urban legend says there are even vending machines selling used schoolgirls' underwear. Japan has bullet trains, and towns with only one train track. 

But one of the things I love most about Japan is the kindness of the Japanese people, and their thoughtfulness. Some crazy traditions and practices exist in Japan, and they all started thinking of other people.

On Friday night I got my hair cut for the second time in Japan. The first time I was incredibly nervous about a) telling someone how I wanted my haircut in another language especially as I haven't told my hairdresser at home anything more than short/shorter/long since I was eleven, b) making small talk is not my greatest skill, especially in Japanese and c) I've seen those Japanese schoolgirl haircuts! so I didn't really notice what was happening.  But my hairdresser did such a wonderful job I went back to him.

And this time, when he was washing my hair I realised!!! He put a gauze mask over my face! And when Nico was having her hair washed next to me she had one too! I was really relieved - I always find it really awkward when you can see up each others nostrils while having small conversations.

Talking about it with Nico later, she told me they were mainly for protecting a woman's makeup, so no water splashed would wash anything off. With the added bonus of not having to look up your hairdresser's nostrils.

Yesterday afternoon, while shopping for clothes Nico says 'Hey!! Look! These are like the masks at the hairdressers!' She is in the changerooms of the store, pointing at what looks to be an oversized tissue box.

No, not large tissues.

But a large thin gauze thing. Put over the head.

There is nothing quite as gross as trying on clothes in the store, and seeing the makeup grime of the previous shopper left on the collar. And the Japanese have found a way to solve this problem.

Kooky as it may be, Japan has really thought about how to make customers feel more comfortable. I love Japan!