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Japan Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Japan Times
A language built on the wind, from mountain gusts to wind chimes
July in Tokyo brought regular highs of 35 degrees Celsius coupled with sauna-level humidity. Most of us are desperate for relief in the form of some 風 (kaze, wind). I could really go for a 涼風 (ryōfū, cool, refreshing breeze) or a pleasant 海風 (umikaze, sea breeze), but I secretly dream of a 滝風 (takikaze, wind caused by a large waterfall). As long as they don't cause any damage, I'd even settle for a 突風 (toppū, sudden gust) or a 強風 (kyōfū, strong wind). It could 吹く(fuku, to blow), そよぐ (soyogu, to flutter gently) or simply ささやく (sasayaku, to whisper). In fact, the humidity is so bad that even a 弱風 (jakufū, weak wind) or 熱風 (neppū, hot, dry wind at the height of summer) would help. Anything, please! The Japanese language has a plethora of ways to describe 風. There are hundreds of types of 風, including different varieties that blow in each 季節 (kisetsu, season). In the world of poetry and haiku , there are more than 50 wind-related 季語 (kigo, seasonal words used in haiku) for summer alone. Simply explained, wind is 空気 (kūki, air/atmosphere) in motion. In the same way you can feel the air inside a 風船 (fūsen, balloon) when you squeeze or push it, all air has an 押す力 (osu chikara, pushing force). When air with a 強い押す力 (tsuyoi osu chikara, strong pushing force) bumps into an air with a 弱い押す力 (yowai osu chikara, weak pushing force), you get wind with the following result: 押す力の強い方から弱い方へ向かって空気は押されて動いていき、風になる (Osu chikara no tsuyoi hō kara yowai hō e mukatte kūki wa osarete ugoite-iki, kaze ni naru, the air is pushed from the stronger side to the weaker side and moves, becoming wind). One of the determining factors in creating the stronger and weaker air force is 気圧 (kiatsu, air pressure), which comes in two varieties: 気圧が高い (kiatsu ga takai, high air pressure) and 気圧が低い (kiatsu ga hikui, low air pressure). Sometimes, warm air rises, creating 低気圧 (teikiatsu, low pressure systems); in other places, cooler, denser air sinks, creating 高気圧 (kōkiatsu, high pressure systems). When air pressure varies between regions, 風が吹く (kaze ga fuku, the wind blows). In Japan, these natural forces result in many region-specific 風. For example, 富士颪 (fuji oroshi, Fuji wind) refers to the wind that blows down from Mount Fuji to the Kanto Plain. The kanji 颪 (oroshi), though no longer commonly used, specifically refers to wind that blows down a mountain. 伊吹颪 (ibuki oroshi) is wind blowing down from Mount Ibuki in Shiga Prefecture across the Nobi Plain in Aichi Prefecture. There's also the からっ風 (karakkaze), a cold, dry wind that blows in winter across the Kanto Plain from the mountains of Nagano and Niigata prefectures, as well as the 夏至南風 (kāchībē), a strong wind that blows from south to north at the start of the rainy season in Okinawa Prefecture. There are also particular winds that blow at different times of the year. The most famous is perhaps the 春一番 (haru ichiban, spring No. 1): 春の初めに吹く強い風 (haru no hajime ni fuku tsuyoi kaze, a strong wind that blows at the beginning of spring). The 春一番 is said to signal the end of winter to the Japanese public. In rainy season , there are the 黒南風 (kurohae) and 白南風 (shirohae) — the former is a じとっとした湿気の多い南風 (jitotto shita shikke no ōi minamikaze, a moist, humid southerly wind) that blows at the start and middle of the period, whereas the latter is からっとした快い南風 (karatto shita kokoroyoi minamikaze, a dry and pleasant southerly wind) that blows at the end of it. The 南風 (minamikaze, southerly winds) dominate the summertime and start of autumn, with wind words such as いなさ (inasa) and 盆東風 (bongochi) referring to the strong, stormy winds brought by typhoons from the south and east. 野分 (Nowaki) is the old term for typhoon. This rich vocabulary of winds has inevitably lent itself to some lovely 俳句 (haiku) in keeping with the tradition of 季語. Take the beautiful word 青嵐 (aoarashi, 'storm of verdure'), a summer kigo that refers to the fresh green of the high mountains at the start of summer rippling and undulating in a powerful wind. As notable haiku poet Teiko Inahata wrote: 森深く 抜けてゆく道 青嵐 (mori fukaku / nukete yuku michi / aoarashi, A path that escapes / the depths of the forest / storm of verdure). Other 風の夏の季語 (kaze no natsu no kigo, summer seasonal words about winds) include 山背 (yamase, the wind that blows over the mountains) and 風鈴 (fūrin, wind chimes). Speaking of which, countless Japanese customs revolve around the wind, including 風鈴, which are said to cool the mind by giving the wind a voice. Then there are かざぐるま (kazaguruma), paper pinwheels that spin when the wind hits them. The role of the wind in culture can be seen in expressions like 風の便り (kaze no tayori, a message from the wind), which means 'hearsay' or 'rumor,' while 風神 (kaze no kami, the god of wind) has been a popular figure in the culture since ancient times, often depicted as a green demon with a billowing white scarf riding the wind on black clouds. This deep cultural association with the wind has not always been for good. The 神風 (kamikaze) suicide pilots of World War II were built around the concept of a divine wind. The word originally referred to a wind blown by the gods, specifically typhoons that repelled Mongol invasions in 1274 and 1281. The Imperial Japanese Navy began to call air suicide attack units 神風特別攻撃隊 (shinpū tokubetsu kōgeki tai, divine wind special attack units), later shortened and misread by Western sources as 'kamikaze.' Finally, using wind-related 四字熟語 (yojijukugo, four-kanji idioms) can help elevate your language skills. You can admire 風光明媚 (fūkōmeibi, picturesque/scenic) landscapes, for example, be 風声鶴唳 (fūseikakurei, frightened by the slightest noise) or get paranoid over 風評被害 (fūhyōhigai, damage caused by harmful rumors). And if you really need to feel cooler this summer, 扇風機を使って自分で風を作ってみてくださいね (senpūki o tsukatte jibun no kaze o tsukutte-mite kudasai ne, try using an electric fan to make your own wind).
Japan Times
24-07-2025
- General
- Japan Times
Study first, screens later: Japanese kids have summer projects to do
A recent poll conducted by Gakken Educational reported that 81% of 937 parents and guardians of elementary school children had concerns about 夏休み中の過ごし方や学習の進め方 (natsuyasumi-chū no sugoshikata ya gakushū no susumekata, how to manage time and learning during the summer holidays). According to the report, 41% of respondents said their top concern was that 夏の間は学習習慣が乱れてしまう (natsu no aida wa gakushū shūkan ga midarete shimau, study habits are disrupted during summer). 良い習慣 (Ii shūkan, Good habits) are difficult to build, but they fade easily. Without healthy 食習慣 (shoku shūkan, eating habits) and 運動習慣 (undō shūkan, exercise habits), the risk of 生活習慣病 (seikatsu shūkan-byō, lifestyle-related diseases) increases. For Japanese parents, managing their children's 学習習慣 (gakushū shūkan, study habits) is also a worry. Known for its tutoring schools, Gakken suggests that working on the following actions will help keep study habits on track during 夏休み (natsuyasumi, summer vacation). 学習計画のサポート (Gakushū keikaku no sapōto, Supporting the management of study plan) 読書習慣を促す仕組み (Dokusho shūkan o unagasu shikumi, Building a framework that encourages reading habits) 学習環境の整備 (Gakushū kankyō no seibi, Organizing the study environment) The reason the list includes 読書 (dokusho, reading) is because most elementary schools ask their students to submit 読書感想文 (dokusho kansōbun, book reports) when 二学期 (nigakki, second semester) begins in September. The survey also reported that 読書感想文 are the most challenging summer homework assignment for parents because they're expected to nudge their little ones to pick a book, read it and then write a report about it even though their children may be distracted by summer fun. A simple question, 宿題はやったの？ (Shukudai wa yatta no?, Did you do your homework?) isn't enough in such cases. On an online forum hosted by Benesse Corporation earlier this month, one parent posted: 毎日やることを子どもに決めさせて計画表を作り、それが出来たら遊んでいい事にしました (Mainichi yaru koto o kodomo ni kimesasete keikaku-hyō o tsukuri, sore ga dekitara asonde ii koto ni shimashita, [I] let my child decide daily tasks, made a schedule and allowed playtime once the tasks were completed). With that in mind, asking your child things like, 今日はどの宿題をやるの？ (Kyō wa dono shukudai o yaru no? Which homework are you going to do today?) and following up with それが終わったら遊んでいいよ (Sore ga owattara asonde ii yo, [You] can play after finishing it) may work well. Grammar components based on the irregular verb する (suru, to do), such as ～したら (~shitara), ～してから (~shite kara) and ～した後で (~shita ato de), are all handy when you make a plan around 宿題 (shukudai, homework), as that word is typically paired with する, as in, 宿題をしたらおやつを食べていいよ (shukudai o shitara oyatsu o tabete ii yo, you can eat a snack after doing your homework). The particle ～たら (~tara) is often used in a hypothetical context, such as 雨が降ったら延期しよう (ame ga futtara enki shiyō, if it rains, let's postpone [it]). It can also be conditional, or work as a proposal: 宿題をしたら出かけよう (Shukudai o shitara dekake yō, [We'll] go out if [you] do your homework), ゲームの前に本を読んだら？ (Gēmu no mae ni hon o yondara?, How about reading a book before playing a game?) Meanwhile, ～してから and ～した後で focus more on the order of things, such as 犬の散歩をしてから出勤する (inu no sanpo o shite kara shukkin suru, [I] head to the office after walking [my] dog) or 課題をした後で友達と会う (kadai o shita ato de tomodachi to au, [I] meet my friend after doing my assignment). As for book reports, 心に残った場面をメモしてから書き始めると良いでしょう (kokoro ni nokotta bamen o memo shite kara kakihajimeru to yoi deshō, it's better to take notes on memorable scenes before writing). When it comes to 学習環境の整備, keeping digital devices out of reach can help improve focus. The term 'screen time' is commonly written in katakana スクリーンタイム (sukurīn taimu), and many parents struggle to manage it by saying, この動画が終わったら今日はおしまい (Kono dōga ga owattara kyō wa oshimai, When this video finishes, that's it for today). 一般的に子どものスクリーンタイムは一日二時間未満にすべきとされていますが、半数以上の小学生のスクリーンタイムがそれ以上で、学年が上がるごとに増加していく傾向にあります (Ippan-teki ni kodomo no sukurīn taimu wa ichinichi ni jikan miman ni subeki to sarete-imasu ga, hansū ijō no shōgakusei no sukurīn taimu ga sore ijō de, gakunen ga agaru goto ni zōka shite-iku keikō ni arimasu, Generally, screen time for children should be kept to under two hours a day, but more than half of elementary school students exceed that amount, which tends to increase as they move up in grade). Summer homework assignments such as 絵日記 (enikki, picture diaries) and 自由研究 (jiyū kenkyū, free research projects) have a lot of potential in terms of providing off-screen activities, and 自由研究 can provide an opportunity for parent-child bonding. That being said, my daughter's teacher advised me, 自由研究は子どもの興味を広げられる機会なので、工作や料理など自分で決めた課題に取り組んでください (Jiyū kenkyū wa kodomo no kyōmi o hiroge rareru kikai nanode, kōsaku ya ryōri nado jibun de kimeta kadai ni torikunde kudasai, The free research project is a chance for children to broaden their interests, so please let them choose and work on projects like crafts or cooking by themselves). Although it's called research, anything a child puts effort into making is usually considered 自由研究.
Japan Times
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
An emoji used to say it all. Now it might say too much.
Can't find the right way to express nuance in a text? Then add on an 絵文字 (emoji). Before 絵文字 and 顔文字 (kaomoji, emoticons) — the little faces we create with コロン (koron, colons), 括弧 (kakko, parentheses) and other such punctuation ;) — became ubiquitous in our communications, you always ran the risk that the person you were sending a text or email to wouldn't know if you were joking, sympathizing or celebrating the message you were trying to convey. 絵文字 and 顔文字 have been incredibly helpful in this regard. So that's why July 17 has been dubbed 世界絵文字デー (Sekai Emoji Dē, World Emoji Day) by Emojipedia, a day to honor this graphic evolution in the way we communicate. Why July 17? Well, Emojipedia founder Jeremy Burge picked the date displayed on the 絵文字 representing a カレンダー (karendā, calendar). The reason July 17 is the date on the カレンダーの絵文字 (karendā no emoji, calendar emoji) is because that's the date Apple initially announced its iCal, a predecessor to the Calendar app many of us use today. The first widely recognized set of 176 emojis was released not by Apple but by Japanese mobile phone operator NTT Docomo 26 years ago. The 12×12 pixel ドコモ絵文字 (Dokomo emoji, Docomo emoji) encouraged users to insert colorful pictograms into their emails as a way to replace entire words and add nuance at the 文末 (bunmatsu, end of a sentence). British linguistics professor Vyvyan Evans said in a 2015 interview with the BBC that 絵文字はその驚異的な普及率と進化の速度 から、歴史上最も急速に広がった言語形態だ (Emoji wa sono kyōi-tekina fukyū ritsu to shinka no sokudo kara, rekishijō mottomo kyūsoku ni hirogatta gengo keitai da, Emoji is the fastest growing form of language in history based on its incredible adoption rate and speed of evolution). Here we are 10 years later with hundreds of ways to express ourselves. However, while Japanese in their 30s and 40s still sprinkle 絵文字 into their messages, the style is now considered おばさん構文 (obasan kōbun, middle-aged women's style texting). This change in digital etiquette mimics other trends such as how 句点 (kuten, periods) can be seen as rude among young Japanese professionals and how a thumbs-up emoji can offend Gen Z texters overseas. Likewise, the custom of putting an emoji at the end of your Japanese texts is starting to fade. Last April, a woman in her 30s shared a surprising experience related to 絵文字 and スタンプ (sutanpu, digital stickers) on the messaging app Line. She texted to celebrate her niece's スマホデビュー (sumaho debyū, smartphone debut) with a smiley 顔文字 and two red heart stickers. The response from her niece? 「落ち着いて 」 (ochitsuite, calm down) — with no 句点, emojis or stickers. For digital native young people who constantly chat online, texts overloaded with 絵文字 can feel a bit over the top. That being said, 絵文字は今や文章に遊び心を足すだけにとどまらず、返信代わりの手段としても使われています (Emoji wa ima ya bunshō ni asobigokoro o tasu dake ni todomarazu, henshin-gawari no shudan to shitemo tsukawarete-imasu, Emojis are now used not only to add humor to text but also as a substitute for replies). In the above sentence, the structure ～にとどまらず (~ni todomarazu, not limited to~ but also) is used to imply the role of 絵文字 goes beyond adding personality to messages. It is derived from the negative form of the verb 留まる (tomaru/todomaru), which translates as to stop, to stay and not to exceed a boundary, as in 滞在先に留まる (taizai-saki ni todomaru, to stay at [one's] accommodation). As an elder Millennial, I grew up meticulously decorating my email texts with pictures, but 絵文字 have since evolved from cute extras to communication essentials. In May, Line unlocked options for リアクション機能 (riakushon kinō, reaction features). This raised the number of choices there from six to more than 240,000, including both official and paid クリエイターズ絵文字 (kurieitāzu emoji, creator emoji) that are made by individuals and approved by LINE. This リアクション機能 function is used 25 million times a day in Japan alone, with half of those users hitting the いいね (ii ne, like) option before the change. It's no wonder that いいね has now become a verb in Japanese: いいねする (ii ne suru, to give a like). Using an 絵文字 to react to something on most apps no longer results in a 通知 (tsūchi, notification) to the receiver, which is convenient when having a グループトーク (gurūpu tōku, group talk) with multiple members. However, if you're in a thread with only one other person, your friend may think, いいねだけでなく返信があればいいのに (Ii ne dake de naku henshin ga areba ii noni, It would be better to have a reply, not just a like). The formal compound particle ～だけでなく (~dake de naku, not only~) works similarly to ～にとどまらず in this example. Just note that it often becomes ～だけじゃなく (~dake janaku) in everyday conversation. For example, a couple of years ago, a now-deleted Reddit post drew mixed reactions by stating: 皆いいねだけじゃなくて他の絵文字も使うとか、「素晴らしい！」って返信すればいいのに (Minna ii ne dake janakute hoka no emoji mo tsukau toka, subarashii-tte henshin sureba ii noni, It'd be better if everyone didn't just hit like, but used different emojis or replied with 'Great!'). In this case, ～だけじゃなく is joined later in the sentence by the particle も (mo), too/also) to create the 'not only ... but also' structure. According to Emojipedia, last year's three most-used 絵文字 were 嬉し泣きの顔 (ureshi naki no kao, face with tears of joy) — the Oxford Word of the Year 2015, 赤いハート (akai hāto, red heart) and 目がハートの顔 (me ga hāto no kao, face with heart eyes). This ranking reflects Japanese usage, too, however it's worth noting that the ぴえん (pien, pleading face emoji with big puppy dog eyes) is also quite popular in Japan. ぴえんは悲しい気分だけでなく感激の意味でも使われます (Pien wa kanashii kibun dake de naku kangeki no imi demo tsukawaremasu, The pleading face emoji is used not only to express sadness but also a sense of being deeply touched). So make sure to give a thought to those little pictures on your phone this 世界絵文字デー, there's so much more available than just the いいねの絵文字 (ii ne no emoji, thumbs up emoji).
Japan Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Almost three quarters of Japan looks online first for news, white paper reports
Japanese people rely more on social media and websites for news than newspapers, despite considering newspapers more trustworthy, a government white paper showed Tuesday. People whose prime news sources are online platforms stood at 73%, far surpassing the 13% who chose newspapers, according to the communications ministry. In 2014, the figures were 36.8% for the internet and 48.5% for newspapers. On the other hand, newspapers earned more trust than online media. The white paper said that the internet is becoming an important means of gathering information, while "there are growing risks of false and fake information being circulated and propagated." It emphasized the need for systems and technologies to combat misinformation. By age group, over 70% from age 10 to those in their 50s viewed the internet as a "necessary information source." In contrast, less than 50% in the same age group see newspapers and television programs as indispensable sources of information, with support falling below 30% among those in their 30s or younger.
NHK
06-07-2025
- NHK
Airlines to ask fliers to keep mobile batteries out of overhead bin
Japanese airline companies will ask their passengers not to put their mobile batteries away in overhead bins for fire safety. The companies and the transport ministry decided to implement the policy Tuesday for travelers who want to bring mobile batteries into cabins. Mobile batteries are used for devices such as smartphones and tablets. They contain lithium-ion batteries that experts say could catch fire when impacted by shocks. The ministry says such fires have occurred on airplanes. South Korean investigators say a passenger jet fire in January may have been caused by a mobile battery that ignited inside an overhead bin. In April, a mobile battery caught fire in a passenger plane that departed Honolulu, prompting the aircraft to make an emergency landing at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. The airlines will make announcements to passengers before and after boarding to ask them to keep mobile batteries close to them without putting them in overhead compartments. They will also be asked to place their devices within sight while charging. The ministry's official says if mobile batteries are kept close to their owners, any fires could be spotted and quickly extinguished.
