Powerpoint Scripts – 面白い英語トリビア教室　Wacky-Young

Have you ever seen this in Japan?

Start
I’ll tell you about several characteristic features. I’ll ask you questions beginning with “Have you ever seen…?”
Slide 1
Have you ever seen a taxi door open automatically? (Slide). A taxi driver opens it in the car instead of going out and opening the door like a chauffeur to the boss. He might do so out of politeness. But I know another reason. You can’t get out until you pay the taxi fare. Automation is one of the characteristic features.
Slide 2
Next, have you ever seen a toilet lid open up automatically when you enter the stall? Another automation. (Slide). We love automation. Now, when you go to a restaurant, you might see a robot serving your food.
Slide 3
Have you ever seen a Japanese person bow again and again…and again? (Slide). Too many times, you might think so. I know one reason why. When two people face each other, of course, they bow (with the gesture of two hands lowered). Then, one raises his head but finds the other’s head still lowered (with the gesture of one hand raised), and hurriedly lowers his head again (with the gesture of the raised hand lowered). Then, the other raises his head, sees the other person’s head lowered, and hurriedly lowers his head (one hand up and down). This is repeated (both hands up and down respectively again and again). That’s why!
Slide 4
Have you ever seen people standing on one side of the escalator? (Slide). But actually, authorities such as railroad companies and department stores ask us not to do this because it can be dangerous. But it seems nobody follows this request. It is a very rare case in Japan to ignore a request from the authorities. When you are in Osaka, be careful about which side you stand on. In Osaka, they stand on the right side, while everywhere else it’s usually the left side. If you stand on the left side there, you might get punched or kicked from behind. So, be careful!
Slide 5
Have you ever seen sumo wrestling? (Slide). He is throwing something white. What do you think this is? It is salt. Salt is believed in Japan to have the power to ward off evil and impurity. Sumo originated in Shinto rituals, which highly value purification.
Slide 6
If you have a chance to go to a restaurant in Japan, you may see a small heap of salt at the entrance. (Slide). This is for the same purpose. But there is another reason why. It is based on an old Chinese story. It says that one of the palace ladies wanted the emperor to stop by her house. So, she put a heap of salt at the entrance. The ox pulling the emperor’s oxcart stopped to lick it and wouldn’t move. The emperor had no choice but to enter the house. It became a symbol of attracting people, which restaurants really want to happen.
Slide 7
Have you ever seen a girl in Japanese manga or anime? It seems almost everyone has. But here is the thing: her hair is light purple, and her eyes is golden. Thus, Girls in manga or manga have all kinds of colors for their hair and eyes. However, almost no real Japanese girls look like this. They have black hair and dark eyes. Why the difference? I guess that if there were no variations in color, those cute girls would look too much alike to tell apart.
Slide 8
I’ll show you one picture. (Slide). Do you find something strange or unusual about this? Oh… sir, yeah, you are right! She is carrying a strange backpack. Almost all elementary school kids use this same type of backpack. We call it “Randoseru.” And in most cases, these bags are given to them by their grandparents when they enter elementary school. But there is another unusual thing here. Can you guess what it is? No…? Now, I will tell you the answer. She is walking all by herself. You might see young school kids walking or getting on trains alone during your stay in Japan. Is this the case in your country? Yes, this shows you how safe Japan is. Public safety is one of our greatest sources of pride.
Slide 9
(Slide) In Japanese restaurants, a glass of water, hot green tea, and a wet towel are often served for free. In almost every restaurant here, water is served free of charge. In fact, a glass of water is served at your table the moment you sit down, without you even ordering anything. But here is the strange thing: bottles of water still sell like crazy in shops. Some self-proclaimed taste experts say that bottled water tastes much better than tap water. I say to them, “Come on! Just water!” And hot green tea is free, but oolong tea costs money, English black tea costs money, and matcha costs money. They are all made from the exact same tea plant, but many people still choose to pay for their tea. I want to say it again: “Come on! Just tea!”
Slide 10
Have you ever seen a Japanese woman covering her mouth with her hand when she laughs? (Slide) I wonder why, but I have never asked women about it, because the question might sound impolite to them. So, this is just my guess. Japanese ladies hate to show their teeth. Teeth seem to them to be an important element of beauty. Am I right?
Slide 11
I think you must have seen the pose for taking a picture. (Slide). And when we make this pose, we say, “Peace” for no apparent reason. Do you know why? I don’t care. Cheese, peace, whiskey, kimchi, whatever.
Slide 12
Of course we wait at a red light. But this is very Japanese. Even when no cars are seen in either direction as far as we can see, we wait. I think we would wait at a red light in the middle of a vast field with no cars in sight for a kilometer in any direction. When I once asked an American about this, he replied, “We never do that; if the sign says ‘Don’t Walk,’ we just run!”
Slide 13
(Slide) Have you ever seen this design at a Shinto shrine? This is the family crest of the Imperial Family. It is the design of a flower. This flower is kurisantthaatteeemamu… I hate to say this. Tough to pronounce. Chrysanthemum.
Slide 14
Have you ever experienced an earthquake? (Slide). Japan is an earthquake-prone country, so you might be afraid of earthquakes. But rest assured. Let me show you the probabilities. Provided you stay in Japan for one month, the probability of death caused by an earthquake is 0.000004%—which means one out of 25 million. Meanwhile, the probability of death in a traffic accident is 0.00018%—or one out of 550 thousand. Compare 25 million with 550 thousand. About 50 times. So, you should actually be more careful when you are crossing the street or travelling on the bus.
Slide 15
I think you might have had school kids greeting you cheerfully at the places you’ve visited. (Slide). They say “Hahlo!”—not the English “Hello,” but “Halo!” And they say it to you all at once, like a chant: “Halo! Halo! Halo!” I call this the “Halo Bombardment.”
Slide 16
Have you ever seen a woman in a kimono on the street? (Slide). Today, Japanese people rarely wear kimono except on special days like weddings and New Year’s Day. If you are interested in wearing a kimono, there are rental kimono shops in popular sightseeing spots.
Slide 17
Have you ever eaten onigiri rice balls? (Slide). Onigiri is one of my recommendations for Japanese food. Ramen, sushi, and tempura are already well known overseas. I think onigiri is going to be the next.
End
That’s all. Thank you. I hope this helps you understand the unique characteristics of Japanese people.

Japanese Gestures

Start
I’ll tell you about unique Japanese gestures. Gestures are one of the cultural aspects. They might be interesting.
Slide 1
First, bows. (Slide). You know we bow so often. The angle of the bow is very important. The deeper the bow, the more respectful it is. With an angle of 15 degrees, it is just a greeting (with the gesture). With 30 degrees, it is a respectful greeting to a superior or an elderly person (with the gesture). With this angle (45 to 90 degrees), it is a deep apology or deep gratitude. (Turn sideways and bow at 45 degrees) Everyone, thank you for the trip today.
Slide 2
(Slide). This is a pose for praying in Buddhism. However, in daily life, it is used to express mainly an apology and gratitude. (This gesture) Thank you for the trip today, again.
Slide 3
(Slide). Pointing your index finger at your face. A typically Japanese gesture. You put your hand on your chest when you mean “Me.” But in Japan (this gesture) “Me.” Me? I’m Japanese and I do this.
Slide 4
(Slide)(Gesture). This means “Go away” to you. But in Japan it means “Come, come.” It’s a gesture for beckoning. At souvenir shops, you might have seen cat figurines with this gesture. (Gesture). They are beckoning cats. This gesture (flapping my hand back and forth) might mean “Go away” in your country. But in Japan, this means “Come here, come here,” a beckoning gesture. If it raises its right paw, it says, “Come, come, money!” If it raises its left paw, it says, “Come, come, people!” And if it raises both paws, it is just greedy!
Slides 5 & 6
(Slide)(Slide) These two are gestures for “Hi!” (Gesture)(Gesture) Hello, hi, hello.
Slide 7
(Slide)(Gesture). This is “OK.”
Slide 8
(Slide)(Gesture). This is “Money.” (Changing gestures of 7 and 8). OK, money, OK, money, OK. Give me some money.
Slide 9
(Slide) Making a circle with your hands. This means “Good.”
Slide 10
(Slide)(Gesture). Crossing your index fingers or hands. This means “No good.” If you are enjoying Japan, (Gesture 9 only). If you are not, (Gesture 10 only). If you are enjoying Japan, (Gesture 9 only). If you are not, (Gesture 10 only).
Slide 11
(Slide). A raised little finger. This means “your girlfriend.” It goes like this, saying, “You are going on a date tonight with this.” (Gesture)
Slide 12
This is the last one. (Slide). I think you must have seen the pose for taking a picture. (Slide). And when we make this pose, we say, “Peace” for no apparent reason. Do you know why? I don’t care. Cheese, peace, whiskey, kimchi, whatever.
EndThese are very unique Japanese gestures. Thank you for listening to me so earnestly. (Gesture 1 with 45 degrees).

Japanese Superstitions

Start
I’ll start a slide show about Japanese superstitions. Every culture has its own superstitions. I think Japanese ones are interesting to you.
Slide 1
There are two numbers that are often disliked in Japan. The number 13 is disliked in Christian countries. Right? In Japan, likewise, 4 and 9 are disliked. (Slide). The numbers “4” (shi) and “9” (ku) are considered unlucky because they sound like the words for “death” and “suffering.” The bus number of this bus isn’t 4 or 9 or 49. Rest assured.
Slide 2
(Slide). If you cut your nails before bed, you won’t be able to see your parents before they die.
Slide 3
(Slide). If three people take a photo together, the person in the middle will die young. It’s OK with me, because I have no intimate friends to take a photo with. So mean and lonely, I am!
Slide 4
(Slide). If you put a snake’s shed skin in your wallet, you’ll save money. Please find a snake and get its skin.
Slide 5
(Slide). If you sleep right after eating, you’ll turn into a cow. It seems that there are some people here who do this.
Slide 6
(Slide). If you tell a lie, the King of Hell (Enma) will pull out your tongue. Parents used to tell this to their children. Anyway, children often tell lies. And we can guess when they are doing so.
Slide 7
(Slide). When thunder rumbles, you should hide your belly button (or the thunder god might steal it).
Slide 8
(Slide). You should never sleep with your head facing north (as it’s associated with death). If you stay at a hotel or inn in Japan, you will see this from the position of the pillows.
Slide 9
(Slide). If you whistle at night, a snake will come to you. If you are a snake lover, do so.
Slide 10
(Slide). If a tea stalk stands upright in your cup, it’s good luck.
Slide 11
(Slide). Finding a four-leaf clover brings good luck.
Slide 12
(Slide). If your first dream of the year is of “Mt. Fuji, a hawk, and an eggplant,” it’s very auspicious. The dream goes like this: You are climbing Mt. Fuji and get hungry. Then you are about to eat an eggplant, when a hawk comes down to get it. But in Japan, black kites, known as tombi in Japanese, are aiming at the food in your hand. Be careful when they are hovering above you in the air.
Slide 13
(Slide). If you sneeze, someone is talking about you. One sneeze means somebody is saying something good about you. Two sneezes mean somebody is saying something bad about you. Three sneezes mean you’ve got a cold, so please go see a doctor.
End
These are just superstitions, but we often believe in them and behave just as they suggest.

Seven-Eleven

Slide 1
(Slide). When I am asked what I recommend visiting in Japan, my answer is Seven-Eleven. You can find various kinds of good-quality food there. The choice of goods sold there is always given full consideration. I’ll show you what you can buy here.
Slide 2
First, this one. (Slide). These are rice balls called “Onigiri.” They are light and portable. They might be like sandwiches. There are many kinds of fillings. The fillings I recommend to foreign guests are tuna-mayo and salmon. If you want to try typical Japanese tastes, they should be simmered kelp and pickled plum. My favorite is simmered kelp.
Slide 3
Next, coffee. (Slide). A regular hot coffee is only 140 yen. So cheap, right? To coffee-addicted American people and others, how about trying Seven-Eleven?
Slide 4
(Slide). Now, egg sandwiches are very popular among foreigners. They created a buzz on social media because of their low price, good taste, and photogenic appearance.
Slide 5
(Slide). Fried chicken. We call it “kara-age.” It is really good. To KFC-addicted American people and others, how about trying Seven-Eleven?
Slides 6 & 7
(Slide). Custard pudding. (Slide) Cream puff. You have a sweet tooth. Explore Seven-Eleven. You will find some treasures there.
Slides 8, 9 & 10
(Slide). Also, the meals are good. Every kind of Japanese food is there. You just have it nuked in the shop. This one is a rice casserole with white sauce, called “Doria.” It looks like a Western dish, but it originated in Japan.
(Slide). This is Katsudon, a pork cutlet bowl. My favorite.
(Slide). This one can be eaten only in Japan. This is fried chicken cartilage. This snack goes well with alcohol. You can find good drinking snacks in Seven-Eleven.
Slide 11
(Slide). This is a sandwich. But it is unique in one thing. It is fruit and cream that are sandwiched. One Japanese genius invented this!
Slide 12
(Slide). This is a winter food, a steamed pork bun. They are placed near the cash desk. When you pay there, you smell something good. It is so irresistible. You might find yourself ordering one.
Slide 13
(Slide). Canned coffee is also sold there.
Slide 14
(Slide). Good ice cream is also sold. I say again. You have a sweet tooth. Explore Seven-Eleven. You will find some treasures there.
Slide 15
(Slide). And matcha products. You can enjoy the taste of matcha.
Slide 16
(Slide). There is an ATM. You can get some cash from this. By the way, the word ATM has another meaning in Japan, and it is not a good one: it refers to a husband whom his wife doesn’t love anymore, but needs as someone to earn money for the family—in short, she considers him a lifeless machine that gives her money, and oh, you seem to be thinking about whether you are an ATM or not!
Slides 17 & 18
(Slide). A copying machine. (Slide). You can pay for many things including utility bills, and taxes. You can also arrange deliveries. Seven-Eleven is not only a food center but also a helping spot for daily life.
Slide 19
(Slide). This might be the most useful function. It provides the public with a clean restroom. Of course, you can use it without buying anything. But most Japanese people cannot do this. They buy at least one item.
End
You can find top-quality food there. And many kinds of food. Also, the service goes beyond food sales. They are versatile, really. In the future, as for stores, we will have only Seven-Eleven: no supermarket, no café, no restaurant, no post office, no service counter, no public restroom.

Omamori

Slide 1
(Slide). In Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, you can buy talismans called “Omamori.” There are several kinds of special blessings of Omamori. I’ll explain some of them.
Slide 2
(Slide). First, Kin Un Jo Sho. It means Good Financial Fortune.
Slide 3
(Slide). Next, Ka Nai An Zen. It means Family Well-being.
Slide 4
(Slide). Next, Mu Byo Soku Sai. It means Good Health and Freedom from Illness.
Slide 5
(Slide). Next, Go Kaku Ki Gan. It means Prayer for Success in Exams.
Slide 6
(Slide). Next, Fu Fu En Man. It means Marital Harmony.
Slide 7
(Slide). Next, An Zan Ki Gan. It means Prayer for Safe Childbirth.
Slide 8
(Slide). Next, Ko Tsu An Zen. It means Traffic Safety.
Slide 9
(Slide). This is the last one, Syo Bai Han Jo. It means Business Prosperity.
End
At the omamori counter, they sell these kinds of talismans. But the words are written in Japanese. I’ll be there, so please feel free to ask me about the meanings.

Eto — Chinese Zodiac System

Start
We are visiting a Shinto shrine. Many Shinto shrines sell talismans suitable for your Chinese zodiac sign. It would be helpful to know your zodiac animal. There are twelve animals allotted to the years in a cycle.
Slide 1
(Slide). They are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar.
Slide 2
(Slide). Here is a table showing your birth year’s animal. (Walk and show the table to everyone). Did you get your zodiac animal?
Slide 3
(Slide). It is said that your birth year’s animal influences your personality. I’ll tell you about each of the personalities, your strengths and your weaknesses, influenced by the animals.
Slide 4
(Slide). Rat. You are adaptable and insightful, but you are sometimes overly sensitive.
Slide 5
(Slide). Ox. You are loyal and stable, but you can be stubborn.
Slide 6
(Slide). Tiger. You are energetic and a natural leader, but you are reckless and impatient.
Slide 7
(Slide). Rabbit. You are sociable and calm, but you are sometimes too timid.
Slide 8
(Slide). Dragon. You are enthusiastic and confident, but you are overly ambitious and self-centered.
Slide 9
(Slide). Snake. You are thoughtful and insightful, but you are prone to jealousy.
Slide 10
(Slide). Horse. You are active and cheerful, but you can be whimsical.
Slide 11
(Slide). Sheep. You are sensitive and considerate, but you are too reserved.
Slide 12
(Slide). Monkey. You are witty and creative, but you are restless.
Slide 13
(Slide). Rooster. You are meticulous and focused, but you are overly critical.
Slide 14
(Slide). Dog. You are trustworthy and honest, but you are sometimes too sensitive.
Slide 15
(Slide). Boar. You are energetic and decisive, but you are occasionally careless.
End
Is your or your partner’s personality analysis accurate? I’m an Ox. I am loyal, it seems. My guests, I will be loyal to you all.

Neta — Sushi Ingredients

Slide 1
(Slide). Next, we are visiting the restaurant block, and you might go to a sushi restaurant. It’s good to eat sushi in Japan, because it is authentic, different from sushi in your country. To make your order easier, I’ll tell you about good ingredients called “Neta” in Japanese. I am using the result of a survey about popular ingredients. I’ll show them in countdown style.
Slide 2
(Slide). Number 10. This one. Sea eel or conger eel. It’s simmered.
Slide 3
(Slide). Number 9. Sea urchin. Rice is wrapped with nori seaweed. This style is called “Gunkan-maki,” meaning “a roll in the shape of a warship.”
Slide 4
(Slide). Number 8. Shrimp. Boiled.
Slide 5
(Slide). Number 7. Horse mackerel.
Slide 6
(Slide). Number 6. Fin muscle of a flatfish. A very special part. I don’t think that this ingredient is shown in travel guide books.
Slide 7
(Slide). Number 5. Salmon roe. Gunkan-maki, in the shape of a warship.
Slide 8
(Slide). Number 4. Yellowtail. I’m not sure if you eat yellowtail in your country, but probably not. You might be amazed at the taste of this fish. And next, the top three most popular ingredients. What do you think they are?
Slide 9
(Slide). Number 3. Tuna. Tuna is a representative ingredient in sushi.
Slide 10
(Slide). Number 2. Salmon. Salmon is very familiar to you. If it is your first time, try this. And the number one is…
Slide 11
(Slide). Number 1. Fatty Tuna, called “toro.” You will be shocked when you feel this in your mouth. It melts on your tongue… These are the top ten. But I’ll show you an extra one. My favorite.
Slide 12
(Slide). Mackerel. I love mackerel. In Japanese, sava. To French guests here, eat sava, and you will say, “Ça va bien!”
EndThat’s all, thank you. I hope it is helpful when you order.

What Is the Next Japanese Food?

Slide 1
(Slide). This is about Japanese food. Sushi, tempura, and ramen have already become famous overseas. I once wondered what the next Japanese food to become popular internationally would be. Here are 13 candidates in my opinion.
Slide 2
(Slide). First. This one. It’s called “takoyaki,” octopus balls. Savory ball-shaped pancakes with octopus inside. I heard octopus is only eaten in limited areas like Japan, Korea and Mediterranean countries. In other countries in the West, it used to be called “devil fish.” Oh, actually, it is devilishly good.
Slide 3
(Slide). Onigiri, rice balls. I should say, they are similar to sandwiches in being light, portable, and easy to make. There are many kinds of fillings. My recommendation to you is tuna-mayo. Or salmon. And my favorite is kombu seaweed. You can get some at a convenience store.
Slide 4
(Slide). Next, this one. Tonkatsu, pork cutlet. This is the top candidate for the next Japanese food, in my opinion. If I have a chance to open a Japanese restaurant in a foreign country, I’ll choose Tonkatsu.
Slide 5
(Slide). Ramen is a well-known Japanese noodle dish, but in Japan, there is an equally popular noodle dish. This one. It’s called “udon.” The noodles are made from wheat flour. And the soup, this is “dashi” soup. Dashi is a typical kind of soup in Japan. Do you know the word “umami” taste? Dashi is umami itself.
Slide 6
(Slide). Yakitori, grilled chicken skewers. In Japan, there are three types of restaurants which try to attract people walking in the street by venting the smoke out. Yakitori is one of the three. Yakitori shops are good places for dining and drinking at the same time. We call this type of shop “izakaya.”
Slide 7
(Slide). Yakiniku, Korean BBQ. And the smoke attraction number two! In your country, steak might be the best way to appreciate good beef, but in Japan you should try Yakiniku for this purpose. When I was a kid, it was the happiest moment to be taken to a Yakiniku restaurant. My best childhood memory.
Slide 8
(Slide). Next, okonomiyaki, savory pancake. My second candidate for the next Japanese food following Tonkatsu. I think that this will get much attention. It is an Osaka specialty, although you can eat it everywhere in Japan.
Slide 9
(Slide). Soft-serve ice cream. We shorten the name to soft cream. If I am asked by foreign guests what I recommend for Japanese food, the answer is this. There is at least one soft cream shop at a sightseeing spot. Several foreign guests of mine tried to get one at every spot they visited. And they serve one in the flavor of local products, like strawberry, orange, matcha, chestnut… My favorite flavor is mango.
Slide 10
(Slide). Curry rice. My favorite food. I’ve decided to make this the last food before I die. It is said that ramen and curry rice are two major national foods, and I couldn’t agree more. Interestingly, these two originated in foreign countries, ramen from China and curry rice from India.
Slide 11
(Slide). Eel. This is the smoke attraction number three. It is one of the three special feasts, that is, expensive food for special occasions, for Japanese people along with sushi and tempura. Usually broiled.
Slide 12
(Slide). Gyoza dumplings. Chinese food, but in Japan they are grilled in an iron pan, not boiled. I love this food. When I eat at an izakaya, I always order this. Eat gyoza and drink beer, a super good combination!
Slide 13
(Slide). Karaage. Fried chicken. It’s cheap, easy to find, and finger lickin’ good. And the next is the last.
Slide 14
(Slide). This is a lunch box, bento, but it is especially for train trips. We call it Eki-ben, and eki means station, and ben is a shortened form of bento. It is one of our pleasures on trips to eat an Eki-ben on the train.
EndThese are the candidates for the next Japanese food. If you have a chance, try one or two of these.

Godzilla came here.

Opening
Godzilla and other kaiju have appeared in various parts of Japan. Interestingly, they often show up at famous tourist attractions. Perhaps they come not to destroy Japan, but to enjoy some sightseeing. Let’s take a look at some of the places they have visited.
Slide 1
Godzilla came to Tokyo and destroyed the National Diet Building. Apparently, he shares our frustration with Japanese politics.
Slide 2
This is an open area with a magnificent view of Mount Fuji. Even for kaiju, Mount Fuji is a must-see destination in Japan.
Slide 3
Here, Godzilla has arrived in Fukuoka and is approaching Fukuoka Tower.
Slide 4
And here he is at Osaka Castle, one of the most popular castles among international visitors.
Slide 5
This is Sakurajima and Kinko Bay in Kagoshima. Godzilla seems to be enjoying the spectacular scenery.
Slide 6This is Nagoya. Godzilla never misses a major city.
Slide 7
King Ghidorah also seems to like big cities. Here he is in Tokyo.
Slide 8Rodan attacked Kyushu. Here it is at Saikai Bridge in Nagasaki, another popular tourist attraction.
Slide 9
This is Mount Aso. Rodan emerged from the volcano and later disappeared back into it. It visited Saikai Bridge and Mount Aso, almost like a tourist traveling around Kyushu.
Slide 10
This is Gamera, a kaiju almost as popular as Godzilla. Gamera also visited Fukuoka, although it ended up destroying the baseball stadium.
Conclusion
As you can see, kaiju love visiting famous tourist attractions. In that respect, they are just like you.

Typical Japanese Things

Start: I have some pictures that you will probably think are very Japanese. I’ll make some comments about them, and I hope you will become more familiar with Japan.
Slide 1: It might be disappointing, but there are no ninjas anymore. It might also be disappointing, but real ninjas had no superhuman powers such as using karate, jumping very high, or suddenly disappearing. They were just highly trained spies and warriors. The first time I watched an American ninja movie, I was shocked. The ninja easily flew over a two-meter fence and disappeared. If we had known the secret of becoming such superhuman ninjas, we would have won World War II.
Slide 2: Next, geisha. We still have geisha in Japan today. If you consider them prostitutes, you are totally wrong. They are real entertainers who sing and dance at parties in Japanese restaurants, and it costs a huge amount of money to invite one to a party. I have been with them only once, but someone else paid.
Slide 3: At souvenir shops selling Japanese goods, you will see this cat figurine, called a beckoning cat. This gesture might mean “Go away” in your country. But in Japan, it means “Come here, come here.” If it raises its right paw, it says, “Come, come, money!” If it raises its left paw, it says, “Come, come, people!” And if it raises both paws, it is just greedy!
Slide 4: You will also see this figurine. This is a Daruma doll. It is a traditional Japanese lucky charm modeled after the meditating Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism. Its self-righting design represents the spirit of “falling seven times and rising eight times,” an indomitable spirit. If you value this spirit, why not buy one?
Slide 5: Japanese characters are very popular internationally. This is one of them: Pikachu from Pokémon. I’m still playing Pokémon GO. (Show my phone.)
Slide 6: And Mario. I don’t play Mario now, but I did more than forty years ago. At that time, I didn’t think he would become this popular as a symbol of Japanese culture.
Slide 7: This is one kind of Japanese food, a noodle dish that I think is not so popular among foreigners. I have never heard any of you talk about it. It is called soba, and its noodles are made from buckwheat flour. If you have already had soba, you are a real connoisseur of Japanese cuisine.
Slide 8: There are many unique Japanese patterns. It would take a long time to talk about all of them, so today I’m showing you just one. This pattern is called seigaiha, or “blue ocean waves.” While you are staying in Japan, you might come across this pattern somewhere.
Slide 9: Next, origami, the art of paper folding. It is a children’s activity, especially for girls. Many Japanese products are famous for their high quality, and I think this is because Japanese people are very dexterous. We are trained to be dexterous from childhood.
Slide 10: Our national sport, sumo. Sumo is half sport and half Shinto ritual. You will see many ceremonial procedures. Culturally, it is interesting. But as a sport, it is also very exciting. Please watch a sumo tournament at a sumo venue.
Slide 11: Katana swords. Of course, katana swords are weapons, but more than that, they are works of art with glittering blades. Many of them have beautiful blade patterns called hamon, which only master swordsmiths can create using delicate techniques involving fire and clay. They were often given as gifts to shoguns and feudal lords or as offerings to shrines and temples. I would like you to appreciate their beauty.
Slide 12: Shinkansen trains are examples of our advanced technology. We are very punctual, and we expect all trains to be punctual too. Shinkansen trains run almost exactly according to schedule. If they are even one minute late, most of us will be angry. Japanese punctuality can be called Shinkansen punctuality.
Slide 13: A big Buddha statue. What interests me about Buddhism is its astronomical figures. For example, Miroku Bosatsu, or Maitreya Bodhisattva, is said to appear in this world 5.67 billion years after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha in order to save people in the future. Buddhism also speaks of the “three-thousand great-thousand worlds.” This means that the world taught by one Buddha consists of one billion worlds, calculated as 1,000 × 1,000 × 1,000.
Slide 15: Please look out the window. You will see yellow license plates. About 40% of cars in Japan have yellow license plates. These are small cars called “kei cars.” In Japanese, “kei” means “light.” Their engine displacement is limited by law to 660 cc or less. Kei cars are easy to drive in Japan, where roads are rather narrow. They are very popular. Naturally, they are also less expensive. Besides, they have other advantages. Car-related taxes are lower, and fuel efficiency is better.
End: You might come across all these things during your stay in Japan. When that happens, please remember what I said. Thank you.

Pachinko

Slide 1: This is a picture of a pachinko machine. It is a kind of pinball game.
Slide 2: Please watch this video.
Slide 3: There are 6,839 pachinko parlors in Japan. There are about 7 million pachinko fans, and it is estimated that 0.7 million people are addicted. Few people win. They lose 18,000 yen per visit on average.
Slide 4: Here is the strange thing about pachinko: officially, it is not considered gambling, as it only awards prizes. However, right next to the parlor, there is always a small window where you can exchange those prizes for money. So, actually, it is gambling!Slide 5: Please watch another video. It is about how to play pachinko.

Hanafuda

Slide 1: This is a set of traditional Japanese playing cards called “hanafuda,” meaning “flower cards.” They express the seasonal beauty of Japan, depicting seasonal scenes with plants and animals. The cards are divided into twelve monthly groups. Each month has its own combination of a plant and another subject, usually a living thing. I’ll show you one representative card for each month.
Slide 2: January. Pine trees and a crane.
Slide 3: February. Plum blossoms and a bush warbler.
Slide 4: March. Cherry blossoms and a curtain.
Slide 5: April. Wisteria and a cuckoo.
Slide 6: May. Water irises and a plank bridge.
Slide 7: June. A peony and butterflies.
Slide 8: July. Bush clover and a wild boar.
Slide 9: August. Pampas grass and the full moon.
Slide 10: September. Chrysanthemums and a sake cup.
Slide 11: October. Maple leaves and a deer.
Slide 12: November. A willow tree, Ono no Tofu, and a frog.
Slide 13: December. A paulownia and a Chinese phoenix.
End: Please appreciate the beauty of these cards. I love hanafuda cards, which express the essence of Japanese beauty.

Origami Crane

Slide 1: Fold the top and bottom corners together to form a triangle.
Slide 2: Fold it in half horizontally once more.
Slide 3: Open the pocket section and fold it flat to form a square.
Slide 4: Flip it over and fold the top layer to the left along the dotted line.
Slide 5: Open and fold it flat, just like in step 3.
Slide 6: Fold along the dotted line to create a crease aligned with the center fold, then unfold.
Slide 7: Also fold the top triangular section along the dotted line to create a crease. then unfold. Open and fold it flat as shown in the diagram.
Slide 8: Repeat the same process on the opposite side, opening and folding it flat.
Slide 9: Fold along the dotted line toward the center.
Slide 10: Repeat on the opposite side, folding along the dotted line toward the center.
Slide 11: Lift the pointed bottom section on both sides, tucking it between the upper wing sections. While doing this, invert the mountain fold into a valley fold.
Slide 12: On the right pointed section, invert the mountain fold into a valley fold along the dotted line and pull the outward to the right.
Slide 13: Spread the wings and shape the crane to give it a three-dimensional form. Slide 14: Your original crane is complete!