First, I think we all have bleeding hearts for Japan right now. Here's a link to the Red Cross to donate if you feel inclined to do so. I just got done donating. What else is there to do? Positive thoughts and giving money is all I got in my bag of tricks right now.So this Japan disaster has inspired me to learn a bit more about this country and culture. I'll forward interesting tidbits onto you as I find them but I'll start with some fascinating facts about this country:
- Raw horse meat is a popular food in Japan.
- Sometimes the trains are so crowded railway staff are employed to cram passengers inside.
- Japanese celebrate Christmas, but it is more like Valentine's Day in the western world.
- Poorly written English can be found everywhere, including T-shirts and other fashion items.
- More than 70% of Japan consists of mountains, including more than 200 volcanoes.
- Mt. Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan, is an active volcano.
- Many Japanese do not know the difference between Shintoism and Buddhism.
- A nice musk melon, similar to a cantaloupe, may sell for over $300US.
- There are four different writing systems in Japan, romaji, katakana, hiragana, and kanji.
- Coffee is very popular and Japan imports approximately 85% of Jamaica's annual coffee production.
- Japan's literacy rate is almost 100%.
- Sumo is Japan's national sport, although baseball is also very popular.
- Sumo wrestlers eat a stew called Chankonabe to fatten up. Many restaurants in the Ryogoku district of Tokyo serve this nabe (Japanese word for stew).
- Many toilets in Japan have a built-in bidet system for spraying your backside.- When you use the restroom in some one's home, you should put on special bathroom slippers so as not to contaminate the rest of the home.
- Noodles, especially soba (buckwheat), are slurped very loudly when eaten. It is often said slurping symbolizes the food is delicious, but the slurping also serves to cool down the hot noodles for eating.- Japan is the world’s largest consumer of Amazon rain forest timber.
- Vending machines in Japan sell beer, hot and cold canned coffee, cigarettes, and other items.
- When moving into an apartment it is often required to give the landlord a "gift" of money equal to two months' rent.
- There are around 1,500 earthquakes every year in Japan.- Sometimes the trains are so crowded railway staff are employed to cram passengers inside.
- Japanese celebrate Christmas, but it is more like Valentine's Day in the western world.
- Poorly written English can be found everywhere, including T-shirts and other fashion items.
- More than 70% of Japan consists of mountains, including more than 200 volcanoes.
- Mt. Fuji, the tallest mountain in Japan, is an active volcano.
- Many Japanese do not know the difference between Shintoism and Buddhism.
- A nice musk melon, similar to a cantaloupe, may sell for over $300US.
- There are four different writing systems in Japan, romaji, katakana, hiragana, and kanji.
- Coffee is very popular and Japan imports approximately 85% of Jamaica's annual coffee production.
- Japan's literacy rate is almost 100%.
- Sumo is Japan's national sport, although baseball is also very popular.
- Sumo wrestlers eat a stew called Chankonabe to fatten up. Many restaurants in the Ryogoku district of Tokyo serve this nabe (Japanese word for stew).
- Many toilets in Japan have a built-in bidet system for spraying your backside.- When you use the restroom in some one's home, you should put on special bathroom slippers so as not to contaminate the rest of the home.
- Noodles, especially soba (buckwheat), are slurped very loudly when eaten. It is often said slurping symbolizes the food is delicious, but the slurping also serves to cool down the hot noodles for eating.- Japan is the world’s largest consumer of Amazon rain forest timber.
- Vending machines in Japan sell beer, hot and cold canned coffee, cigarettes, and other items.
- When moving into an apartment it is often required to give the landlord a "gift" of money equal to two months' rent.
- It is not uncommon to eat rice at every meal, including breakfast.
- Average life expectancy in Japan is one of the highest in the world. Japanese people live an average of 4 years longer than Americans.
- Japan is the largest automobile producer in the world.
- Some men in Japan shave their heads to apologize.
- Some women in Japan cut their hair after breaking up with a boyfriend.
So also, here's Part Two:
Posting about home decor seems so trivial today, but life does carry on, and no matter what, we all need some inspiration right now.
So I'm out of the baby stage, but I saved these inspiring photos awhile back because I just loved how put together and sweet these rooms are. If these don't apply to you, maybe forward Modish onto someone you know who could use an idea or two!
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