Updated: Apr 10, 2024
Seemingly, Japanese people generally prefer mascot dolls. What do you call these kinds of dolls in your country? In Japan, there are hundreds of mascot characters in the region, and that's called “Yuru-Kyara”.
Such mascot dolls are made by companies, city halls, and individuals. Even in the company which I’m working at, actually, we have an original Yuru-Kyara doll.
In this country, the most famous Yuru-Kyara dolls are “Kuma-mon” and “Funassyi”, I can say. Kuma-mon has been created by the Kumamoto prefecture government. Funassyi has been created by the Funabashi city hall and he is very funny.
You may think that they have a lot of spare time on their business, because they can make such characters, in regional governments. Rather, they try to advertise their own local governments earnestly. They hope that many tourists will come to their region. Therefore, many local governments make their own mascot dolls very hard.
Japan is a mysterious country, you may think. That’s right. If they have such free time to make dolls, they have better to get holidays. Because they definitely work without getting holidays.
Updated: Mar 5, 2024
Hina-Masturi 雛祭りis a festival for Japanese girls, which has thousands of years of history. It’s called the Peach festival too because that week is the season of peach flowers. Around when I was a kid, many houses decorated Hina-dolls in each house.
Now there are many types of Hina-dolls which are made and sold. Because traditional dolls are very expensive and it’s a heavy work to decorate those dolls. So my wife has some kinds of Hina-dolls which are very small.
This festival originated in China in the 6th century, it's said. But it’s not clear when this ritual was transferred from China. I think that the oldest novel “Genji Monogatari 源氏物語” would be written back then.
When it comes to the 5th of May, the Japanese boys festival is held. This is called Tango-no-Sekku 端午の節句. So, when I was a kid we often joked. “If so, what festival is the 4th of April?” “It’s a festival for gay boys” Although, it was a bad taste joke.
At the beginning of March, plum blossoms are still in bloom. Cherry blossoms are not yet.
Updated: Mar 5, 2024
Regarding Japan, I have to say it’s impossible to answer this question. Japanese business guys still work for a long time everyday.
Most miserable guys usually work from 9:00 to 24:00, and incredibly they are elites in central ministries. They are working for not themselves and their family but a nation.
You may be surprised to know that workers in Tokyo spend 4 hours commuting every day. Living costs in Tokyo are very high, so they need to commute from around to the center of Tokyo. It's common sense.
As for me, I had commuted 4 hours around my 40s. And I drove more than 100 kilometers every day to commute. Working 8 hours, commuting 4 hours, sleeping 8 hours. I had to eat, bathe, wash my face and teeths, and chat with my wife, in only 4 hours.
I will turn 60 years old this year. So I’m considering how to keep work-life-balance. What will you need to do to keep your health? According to Confucianism, it’s important to save the virtue of moderation. What’s the virtue of moderation? In this thought, you shouldn't be angry too much, you shouldn’t grieve too much. And you shouldn’t work too much, rest too much, eat too much, and so on. Everything needs to be in moderation.
I want to say that Japanese people shouldn't overwork. But convenience stores are working 24 hours, railway workers never strike, and Amazon delivery workers are delivering every day here in Japan.
And there isn’t night in Tokyo.