Sunday, October 30, 2005

   Yay! It's almost Halloween!
Thank goodness! It's almost Halloween! Tommorow, Ghost Xi and her brother are coming over to my house to give out candy! Bonzai! I'm finally done the lab report (it's not due until Tuesday. But I'm not doing any homework tomorrow.) I cleaned the house (sort of ) and watched scary movies all day. The best was The Fly. The main girl character gives birth to a maggot. (Can't remember her name.)

Japa-ween Day 3: Make Up Your Own Ghost Story Day.

Today's the day to make up your own ghost story, but to keep in spirit here's some Japanese ghosts:

(From About.com)
It's Halloween time! Like many other western customs (Christmas, Valentine's Day etc.), the Japanese easily adopt it, especially for commercial purposes. There are pumpkins displayed at the stores, and some people wear costumes and go to parties. However, there is no real custom for Halloween in Japan. I never experienced "Trick or Treating" with a cute costume when I was little...

I will tell you about Japanese ghosts, though the Japanese ghost is usually a thing of summer. The Japanese have their own ghosts, and there are a few terms to describe them.

Obake, Bakemono

Literally means, "transforming thing." "O" is an honorific prefix and "bake" is a noun form for the verb "bakeru (to change, to transform)." It can also be used more generally to refer to anything that is weird or grotesque.

Yuurei

According to Shinto beliefs, all people have a soul called "reikon." When a person dies, the reikon leaves the body and joins the souls of its ancestors. However, when a person dies suddenly by murder, is slain in battle, commits suicide, or when he or she hasn't been given an appropriate funeral, the reikon may become a yuurei to seek revenge. Many yuurei are female ghosts who suffered badly in life from love, jealousy, sorrow, or regret. Male yuurei are less common.

Yuurei usually appear in a white kimono (katabira), which people were buried in the old days, and have no legs. They also wear a white triangular piece of paper or cloth (hitaikakushi) on their forehead. They usually appear between 2 and 3 a.m. Click here to learn the kanji characters for "yuurei."

Here is one of the famous yuurei stories "Bancho sara-yashiki (The Story of Okiku)" in Japanese and English.

Okiku wa Aoyama Tessan no ie ni, jochuu to shite hataraite imashita. Aruhi kahou de aru juu-mai no kouka na touki no sara o katazuketeiru toki, Okiku wa ukkari sono sara no ichi-mai o watte shimaimashita. Okotta Aoyama wa Okiku o koroshi, sono shitai o furuido ni nagesutemashita. Sonogo maiban Okiku no yuurei ga ido kara araware, sara o yukkuri kyuu-mai made kazoeruto, totsuzen hitsuuna susurinaki o hajimeru no deshita. Sore wa nandomo nandomo kurikaesare, Aoyama o kurushimemashita. Tsuini Aoyama wa ki ga kurui, Okiku no fukushuu wa hatasareta no deshita.

Okiku works as a maid at the home of the samurai Tessan Aoyama. One day while cleaning a collection of ten precious ceramic plates, which is a family treasure, she accidentally breaks one of them. The outraged Aoyama kills her and throws the corpse into an old well. Every night afterwards, Okiku's ghost rises from the well, slowly counts out nine plates and then breaks into heartrending sobs, over and over and over again, tormenting the samurai. Finally, vengeance is wrought when Aoyama goes insane.

Oni

Oni, demons or ogres, are one of the most famous youkai. They are huge and have horns. The color of their body is red, blue, or black. They usually carry a big iron club (kanabou). They are best known for guarding the gate of Buddhist hell. They also often appear in folktales. (Momotaro, Issun-boshi etc.) They are dumb, cruel, and malicious.

On Setsubun (Feb. 3rd), there is a custom to drive away evil sprits. People scatter soybeans outside of doorways, shouting "Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi! (Demon out, Good luck in!)."

Kappa

Kappa are supernatural creatures which live both on land and in water. They are as tall as a four or five year old child. They have a beak-like snout, and fins on their hands and feet. They also have a shell on their back, and a water-filled dish on their head. As long as the dish is full of water, kappa keep their supernatural powers. Kappa are known for dragging people into the water and pulling out their livers through their anuses.

Although kappa harm people sometimes, there are also many tales where they have helped people. They are very curious. They often appear in cartoons because of their lovable images.

Kappa love sumo wrestling and cucumbers. That is why cucumber sushi rolls are called "kappa maki". "Okappa" are bobbed hairstyles because they look like the kappa's hairstyles. Kappa are excellent swimmers. There is a saying "Kappa no kawa nagare (a drowning kappa)" which means, even an expert can make mistakes sometimes.

Rokurokubi

Female monsters with long, flexible necks. They look just like ordinary humans during the day, but at night, they extend their necks to frighten or spy on people. They sometimes turn their human faces into those of demons.

Yuki-Onna

A snow woman, appears in a white kimono on a stormy night. She causes travelers to become lost and freeze to death. Click here to read the story of "Yuki-Onna" by Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo).

Hitotsume-Kozou

A one-eyed goblin, literally has a large eye in the center of its face. It looks like the shaved head of a priest. It does not play tricks, but just scares people.

Happy Halloween and Dewa mata!

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Saturday, October 29, 2005

   Lab report..ugghh...
Japa-ween week is going awesome..although Adams-sensei (my chemistry teacher. His real name's Mr. Adams, but I call him secretly Adams-sensei just because I'm weird and I want to remember that Japanese call their teachers sensei)has impeccable timing. Oh well, maybe it will bring my grade up to a B instead of a C.

2nd day of Japaween: Momiji-gari

Today is the day perfect for Momiji-gari. It makes a great idea for a drawing. Since I'm pressed on time, here's what Kids Web Japan has to say what momiji-gari is:
Japan is located in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, and it's home to many deciduous plant species whose leaves turn color in the fall, including the maple, ivy, yamaurushi (a type of sumac), and mountain ash.

When autumn deepens, these leaves change from green to red and gold. This is called momiji, or autumn foliage. Since ancient times, the Japanese have been fond of the beautiful colors of autumn and have written many poems about them.

Momiji begins when temperatures start falling to as low as 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit), and the colors grow more brilliant with each frost. Studies have shown that the autumn colors are more breathtaking when the trees are growing in the mountains, rather than on flat land; when they get a lot of sunshine; and where the air is crisp and dry. The most beautiful reds are found on the maple, while gingko leaves turn the deepest yellow.

The tapestry of crimson and gold lures people out to the mountains for autumn-foliage viewing, or momiji-gari. The people enjoy being close to the beautiful colors, and they usually bring along box lunches and drinks.



The Japanese regard the autumn leaves as objects to be admired for their beauty, much like flowers. There are many famous sites for foliage viewing around the country. Some of the most popular places are Nikko (Tochigi Prefecture), Hakone, (Kanagawa Prefecture), Takao, and Arashiyama (both Kyoto Prefecture).

October and November in Japan are neither too hot nor too cold. The skies are a deep blue, and a lot of families take advantage of the lovely weather to visit scenic places. Besides viewing the autumn colors, people enjoy going to the countryside to gather matsutake (a particularly aromatic type of mushroom that grows only in the wild); pick fruits like grapes, tangerines, and pears; dig for potatoes; and gather chestnuts.

By late November, when the trees shed their coat of red and yellow leaves, the chilly winds of winter begin to blow.

So, off to the lab report. Dewa mata!

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Friday, October 28, 2005

   Happy Japa-ween!
Konnichiwa, everybody! Sorry I havent' been online for a while. I've been doing all kinds of stuff. But mostly, I really haven't had anything to get online about. Plus, I'm in love with Indiana Jones. (Indiana Jones is a nickname for somebody.) I finally finished my artwork to go to a college show for High Schoolers. I've also started a journal for Japaneses Language and Culture to help me for my college class. Hopefully, I'll get to go to Japan one day.

Today is the first day of Japa-ween, a one week holiday that I made up in my sophmore year because I was reading a scary Japanese book. I've resurrected it this year as a project for my Japanese journal. (I know. I have no life. Each day is something different that deals with Japanese culture with a tie-in to Halloween. So without further adieu, here is the first day of Japa-ween!

Japa-ween Day 1: Kimono Costume Day.

This day you make your own costume, preferrably Japanese Dress. There are two types of Japanese Dress: Modern and Traditional. Modern is what the Japanese wear today, based on what western cultures wear. Traditional is what we picture when we think of Japan: Kimonos. There are many types of kimonos. Men used to wear hakama (Inuyasha pants). There are many different types of kimonos for women to wear. Some are for specific age groups, some are for all. (My favorite is the uchikake, the wedding kimono.) Black kimonos with the family crest are worn for funerals. Today, kimonos are usually worn for holidays or festivals.

Have a great Kimono Costume Day! Dewa Mata! ;^-^:V
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Wednesday, August 24, 2005

   Argghhh!! I'm a pirate!
I now declare today to be the offical Pirates Day. Whoo! Now go celebrate and watch One Piece!

In other news, I got my senior pictures taken today...it took me a whole hour!! What took so long is that we had to (the girls. Guys wear tuxes) put on these drape things that makes you look like you wearing an off the shoulder dress. I thought it made me look like a hair stylist. In class, nothing really happened. I'm trying to move along with my "fear" work in art. It's the biggest thing I've done so far. The next I have to do is draw a pinapple. I really wish I could fix myOtaku account the way I want it...oh well..it's fine as it is..

Here's the pic I've been wanting to put on:



Happy Pirate's Day! Dewa mata!
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Tuesday, August 23, 2005

   Under Construction
Sorry guys for the mess yesterday. Jiex really wasn't my post. I was trying out some new html. I couldn't get it to work. Anywho, tomorrow we have senior pictures. Yayz! It feels so good to be a senior.
I going for my permit(finally) next Monday. I can't wait! Tomorrow my niece and nephew go home, and it's not another week until they come back. It feels so funny to only get to see them like once in a while. I used to see them everyday.
Right now, in my AP art class we're doing an artwork on fear. In my concentration study ( a series of artwork with subject matter our choice) I think I'm going to do 17th century Japan. It's so cool. That's when the bakufu ruled the land and samurai's were about.
Hopefully I can get my post styles fixed. I picked out a background: Julia from Cowboy Bebop. (She used to be my character's biggest foil.)
Well, anyway, dewa mata!
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Thursday, August 18, 2005

   *sings* Take my breath away!
Konbanwa everybody! I'm finally done visiting everyone's sites. Whew..took me a while. Had fun though...

Nothing much has happened since I last posted. I'm done with my Inuyasha poster. It looks so awesome! I'm in a total Yu-Gi-Oh! mood right now.(Don't know why.) I think it's got to do with my friend Richie. All he talks about is Digimon. One day, he was talking about how obsessed he was about it, and I topped with my obsession with YGO. I know your asking, What's the point? But this is a guy who gets obsessed with something and talks about it all the time for a long time. (He's still obsessed with Freddy vs. Jason.)

Met a new friend today. (I don't know her name though.) She's really weird, and likes anime and she likes to draw it. Sounds like a perfect addition to the "anime table" as she calls it.

My niece and nephew are back (I don't think I mentioned them. Ever.) They live one week with their mother, and one week with their dad (my brother).

Other than thatn nothing else is going on. There's a fire drill tomorrow. Big thrill.

I sent off for a manga preview (Takuhai. It's so awesome) and it hasn't come in yet. Arggghh! I hope I get the one with Princess Ai on it. ^<>^

I'm learning Japanese with a new software I got on my computer. It's so cool! I can even type in Japanese! (If I learn how to access it..)

Well, it's getting late and I want to watch Sayonara. It's about an officer in the U.S. Army and he falls in love with a Japanese dancer. It looks so good.. Well, dewa mata everybody!

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Monday, August 15, 2005

   Back to School
If feels so weird being a senior in High School. I feel like a kid when I'm still a teenager. I'm old enough to vote, smoke and get a credit card. I'm old enough to stand on my own and do what I think is right.

My last year is going great. I love all of my classes. This year my classes are:

1st-Chemistry
2nd-English 12
3rd-AP Art
4th-Spanish 4
5th-Accounting
6th-Desktop Publishing
7th-Art Independent Study

My school went to 7 periods a day. It's a little confusing, but I guess it's alright. I love having Art twice a day, it's so fun!! Right now, I'm drawing Sesshomaru and Inuyasha on a poster for the art room.

It's nice to have Ghost back after her visit to Japan. She's even learned a little Japanese. Desu ka! (Desu ka is like my own little saying like "Right On")
For all of her friends ( I'm included) she brough us back a crescent shaped necklace with a crystal hanging on top of it. (Mine's yellow.) She also brought us back a figure from Naruto. (I got Sakura. My favorite girl character. My favorite male character is Kakashi. He's a stealthy ninja god!)

Since I'm in such an Inuyasha mood, here's a funny picture for you.


Here's a sexy Kaiba pic too.

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Tuesday, August 2, 2005

   Summer's Over?!? NOOOOO!!!!
My last summer in High School, and it seems like it's flown by. I have done nothing this summer at all. Not even work on AP Art Stuff. (I'm doing the drawing portfolio, for those who's wondering). I've come up with some really good ideas. School starts back on August 9th, and I have two computer classes. That means, I get to update more on my site.
Speaking of updates, I know I was kind of vague on my last post. I've been meaning to do a Cowboy Bebop theme for quite some time (Spike rules. End of story) but I didn't have the heart to trash my Kaiba theme. So, I put them together. Voila! The perfect theme for me since their both my favorite anime characters. I wish I could do a fanfic where Team Bebop meets Team Yugi. That would be so cool. Faye versus Yugi at Poker. That's a scary, yet funny, thought. Mmmm...something to think about.
Ghost Xi comes back the fourth. Yay! I hope she had a great summer. (I know she did ^.^)

And now I leave you with some closing thoughts:

Lisa: My favorite character in Duel Monsters GX has to Asuka. Seto likes Ryou, but says he acts like a jerk. He never helps anybody on the show, and he's cold to other duelists.
Joey: Ha Ha! That's funny. That's like a pizza callin' another pizza 'pizza face'...
Lisa: What?
Joey: It's like a bird callin' another bird 'bird brain'...
Lisa: Allergies? Because you have to be on some new medication...

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Friday, July 1, 2005

coming soon
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Thursday, June 2, 2005

   Summer Vacation


Summer Vacation is finally here! I got out of school last Thursday and haven't done anything since then. This summer I'm going to turn 18 and I'm a senior. Can't wait for the school year to begin because I'm going to be in AP Art! I even have homework this summer. Ugh. But, I only have to draw 3 drawings that are alike. Any ideas?

Hope everyone got to see the new Star Wars movie. It's so awesome! Even though one of my fave characters die: Padme, but my other lives: Obi-Wan. (Which I knew.)

Ghost Xi is having a b-day party for me, Sakura 89, and Craftuser 9 on June 12th. I can't wait to see all my friends again. I already miss them!

Lisa posted her first entry in her blog, and about to post the second one. Be sure to check it out!

Dewa mata!



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