Japanese Language Lesson for Today

'Marriage-hunting' is latest buzzword

Sunday 01st March, 05:36 AM JST

TOKYO —

Selected as one of the trendiest words of 2008 by the Jiyukoku Minsha publishing company, “konkatsu” is an abbreviation of “kekkon-katsudo” — literally, “marriage hunting.” The term has spread like mad thanks to the recent trend of Japanese people marrying later in life. According to one estimate, 47% of women in their 30s are still single.

The 2008 book “Konkatsu Jidai” (The Era of Marriage Hunting), co-written by Chuo University Professor Masahiro Yamada and journalist Momoko Shiraga, is credited with coining the phrase and igniting a flurry of interest in the topic. The past year has seen the emergence of “marriage bars” and agencies that treat the search for matrimony like a job hunt.

A recent issue of mega-popular women’s magazine Anan offers tips on self-marketing for singles, like “Using Worksheets,” “Branding Yourself” and “Creating Your Own Catchphrase.” Next up is an NHK TV series, “Konkatsu, Rikatsu” (Marriage Hunting, Divorce Hunting), debuting April 10.

ROCKET MAN

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Japanese Prisons Are Overflowing With Foreign Criminals!

Oh It Thrills Me-The Florida Boys

July 15, 2008

The Florida Boys performing Oh It Thrills Me on The Gospel Singing Jubilee. Group members include Jerry Trammell, Les Beasley, Glen Allred, Buddy Liles and Derrell Stewart

This video is courtesy of Bryce Norton, brother of KK our classmate

Japan's Finance Minister Drunk on TV - LOL

Postcard from Tokyo

By Michiko Toyama Tuesday, Feb. 03, 2009

Hime-kei appears to have been inspired by American filmmaker Sofia Coppola's movie Marie Antoinette, with its lush rendering of the decadence of the court of Louis XVI. The rush of young Japanese women to emulate the look of 18th-century French aristocrats has grown from a fad into something of a movement, whose leader is the popular singer Ayumi Hamasaki. It even has its own magazine, Koakuma Ageha, with a circulation of 350,000.

Ridley's Believe It or Not!

We love having visitors from Australia here in our home. It helps us to stay connected and to work on our accent!!

It was wonderful to have Dudley Tann from Adelaide stay with us overnight back at the end of November. We had 24 hours of good chatting!! Dudley brought with him a signed copy of "The Shack" by W Paul Young which we have both enjoyed reading. Dudley was en route to visiting his new grandson in Nice.

Royal Albert Hall

Jonathan Rodgers, Angela (wife of JR) and my sister Jerri

at Royal Albert Hall in late 2006

7 more volcanoes to be put under 24-hour surveillance

Sunday 15th February, 06:29 AM JST

TOKYO —

The Coordinating Committee for Prediction of Volcanic Eruptions will put seven volcanoes in Japan under round-the-clock surveillance as they are likely to affect public life by erupting or becoming active in the coming 100 years, its sources said Saturday. The seven volcanoes include Mt Shirane between Gunma and Tochigi prefectures and Mt Norikura between Nagano and Gifu prefectures, according to the sources.

The committee monitors the volcanic activity of 108 volcanoes across Japan and has already put 34 of them, such as Mt Asama straddling Gunma and Nagano prefectures that experienced a minor eruption earlier this month, under 24-hour surveillance through seismographs and a global positioning system.

Giant Strawberries

Bigger is better - especially in strawberries, Japanese farmer says
Tokyo - A Japanese farmer has succeeded in breeding giant strawberries with a price tag of up to 50,000 yen (560 dollars) apiece, media reports said Thursday. The newly harvested fruit measure about 8.5 centimetres in length and weigh more than 80 grams, compared to the standard strawberry what weighs about 28 grams.

Mikio Okuda, 55, tried to exceed the top size of the berry, which can reach 75 grams, and succeeded in breeding strawberries that weigh up to 91 grams, the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper said. Okuda has been growing strawberries for more than 31 years. Read the whole story here......

Hyundai Genesis - Angry Bosses -

Top Secret V12 Supra