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WHEN EAST MEETS WEST…………Gaijin Hell

Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr. 

 

Gaijin Hell is where foreigners who brazenly violate the codes of Japanese society go. 

 In Christian-predominant Western society, even if you don't grow up in a religious household, you have likely grown up hearing the common threat "You're going to hell if you do that!" 

For example, if you try a trick on your neighbor, your mother might say, "You'll go to hell for that!"  

When I was growing up in Gloucester City, N.J. You could go to hell for almost anything, including using swear words or reading a dirty magazine. This comes from the belief that after you die; you either go to heaven or hell. Sinning will send you straight to hell. 

When Westerners come to Japan, we find things are different, perhaps even liberating.  

We no longer have to worry about the threat of going to hell because in Japan, it is not considered a sin to drink too much, read a porno magazine or take someone to a love hotel. But Westerners be warned! In Japan, there is still a large threat of going to hell: 

"Gaijin hell."  

Gaijin Hell is where foreigners who brazenly violate the codes of Japanese society go.  

You know who I'm talking about. Yes, I may even be talking about you, if you were here! 

How do you know if you're headed straight for Gaijin Hell or not? 

Take this quiz.   

1. You're getting ready to leave the house for the office in the morning. You've just laced your shoes and you're headed out the door when suddenly you realize you forgot your keys. 

You:

A. Take off your shoes and walk inside to retrieve the keys from the table. 

B. Leave your shoes on figuring that just this once it won't matter if you enter the house with your shoes on. After all, you can see the keys sitting on the table just two steps away, 

Not only that, but you're in a hurry and have to catch the train. 

 

C. You leave your shoes on and craw over to the table on your hands and knees, careful to not let your shoes touch the floor. 

If you choose B, you're going to Gaijin Hell. Absolutely never ever, under any circumstances, better or worse, for richer or poorer, wear your shoes inside the house. 

 

2. You're in the bank becoming increasingly frustrated with the antiquated banking system in Japan. First, you've had to come to the bank in person to verify an incoming foreign bank transfer into your account, Second, you've been told you can't have your salary automatically deposited into an account where you can withdraw those funds from abroad. And to top it all off, you forgot to bring your inkan or name chop with you for verification of who you say you are. 

You: 

A. Maintain decorum at all times no matter how frustrated you get. 

 

B. Storm out of the bank, grumbling, wallowing in self-pity and licking your wounds as you leave. 

 

C. Give the teller a piece of your mind and tell her how ridiculous the bank is being, how much easier and more efficient it is in your country, and finish it off with a lecture on how Japan is never going to make it in the international banking world unless it changes its antiquated ways. 

 

3. A Japanese friend stops by your house. As per Japanese custom, you put on some coffee and serve something to eat. Luckily, you have two pieces of chocolate cake in the refrigerator. 

Standing there looking into the refrigerator, you realize one of the pieces is larger than the other.  

You:

A. Give the bigger piece to the guest. 

 

B. Ask the guest to choose which piece he wants, with the hope that he will be polite and take the smaller piece, leaving the bigger piece for you. 

 

C. Cut the larger piece down to the same size as the smaller piece and stuff the cut off bit into your mouth while he is not looking. 

 

D. Serve the smaller piece to the guest and leave the bigger piece in the refrigerator for later, so he'll never know you took the larger piece. 

If you choose A, you're hell-bent on going to Gaijin Hell. But don't worry. Once you get to Gaijin Hell you'll find most of your gaijin friends there because there's a little bit of the devil in all of us. 

 

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan 

 

Hank F. Miller Jr. 

 

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST May 5th Children’s Day

Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr.

 

In contrast to Mono-no sekku, or the Peach Festival for girls on March 3, this day is to be called Tango- no-sekku, or the Boys Festival. After World War II, May 5 was designated as Children's Day and made a national holiday.

Families with sons display warrior dolls and miniature helmets inside the house and fly carp streamers outdoors. The carp has the power to fight its way up fast flowing streams and even waterfalls and therefore, represents the courage and strength expected of boys.

Many Japanese eat chimaki, steamed rice cakes, and kashiwamochi, rice cakes stuffed with sweet bean paste and wrapped in oak leaves, on and around Children's Day.

There is also a custom of taking a hot bath with iris leaves in the water on May 5. This special bath is said to be good for the health.

 

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan

 

Hank F. Miller Jr.

 

 

 

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST: Al-Qaida No. 2 Man Hints Japan a target

Commentary Report by Hank F. Miller Jr.

 

I happen to pick this commentary up on one of the many news sources that I have access to here in Japan. I also thought that you may want to read what you may not have the opportunity to read in the local newspapers back in the States.

Ayman al-Zawahri, second in command of al-Qaida, vowed Tuesday to punish Western countries that participated in the Iraq war, hinting that Japan could be a target and advising it to end its alliance with "America who had occupied, looted, humiliated and bombed them with nukes."

The comment by Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant, a response to a question submitted by Kyodo News, here in Japan was heard on a 2 hour, 36-minute audiotape of al Zawahri that surfaced early Tuesday on militant Web sites.

Bin Laden's right-hand man was answering questions submitted by hundreds of al-Qaida followers, critics and journalists on major Islamic Web sites used by Islamic militants.

The al-Qaida media arm, Al-Sahib media in December that al-Zawahri would receive questions from the public and would answer them "as soon as possible."Today's message is one of two lengthy audiotapes by al-Zawahri answering questions posted last year.

Asked by Kuodo, using a different name, if al-Qaida intends to "punish the Western countries that have contributed troops to Iraq." al-Zawahri said:" My answer is: Yes! We believe that any country that participated in the aggression on Muslims must be deterred."Asked by Kyodo if Japan remains a target because it sent troops to Iraq, al-Zawahri said:"Japan provided the so-called assistance under the flag of the crusader coalition as part of the propaganda for the crusader forces invading the homelands of Islam. It did not provide this assistance through charitable organizations and thus it is participating in the crusader campaign against the lands of Islam."Why did the Japanese start the aggression on us within the alliance of the Americans?...Our Islamic faith incites us to resist the despots and tyrants, even if they were the most powerful force on Earth...so will Japan learn a lesson from this?" he said. Japan sent a 600-member noncombat Self-Defense Force group to Samawah in southern Iraq to carry out reconstruction work such as repairing buildings and providing medical assistance. The action, unpopular with Japanese public, was thought by many to violate the pacifist Constitution.

Although the ground troops were withdrawn in 2006, the Air Self-Defense Force airlift activities still continue to and from Iraq.

"If Japan has given up its arms, why did it send troops to our lands under the flag of the crusader campaign?" asked al-Zawahri.

In 2004, al-Zawahri reportedly called for attacks on the interests of the United States and Britain as well as their allies such as Japan. Al-Qaida has constantly tried to get the Japanese people riled up against sending any help to any troubled area of the world and it has been working, there are many issues that are troubling to the Japanese people about taking any part militarily to help the Americans. Every day I hear on the radio, read in newspapers and see on television complaints and protests from many Japanese citizens about our troops being stationed here in Japan especially on Okinawa, many people want our troops out of Japan completely. They do not realize that our troops here are to protect them the Japanese people and to deter the North Koreans and Chinese so they will not become aggressive.

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan

Hank F. Miller Jr.

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST:CNN sorry for brouhaha over China 'goons' quip

Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr.

While watching the CNN Cafferty File broadcasts last Wednesday some comments were made by commentator Jack Cafferty.

Jack Cafferty was referring to China's leaders when he described them as a "bunch of goons and thugs,"

"We continue to import their junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food and export, you know, jobs to places where you can pay the workers a dollar a month to turn out stuff that we're buying form Wal-Mart, Cafferty said, according to the Broadcasts transcript.

He later apologized to everyone who thought otherwise.”He said that he was referring to China's leaders in government, and not to the people of China or to Chinese Americans, “He said of his "goons and thugs" comment."I was quite surprised and shocked I almost fell off my chair."When I heard his comment on the air, did he think that he could get away with such a comment on the air? On Tuesday, China demanded an apology for Jack Cafferty's remarks broadcast on CNN, in which he also described Chinese products as “junk."

Beijing had already singled out U.S. based CNN as among Western news outlets that produced allegedly biased coverage of violent antigovernment protest in Tibet and across Western China last month.

I heard on different TV news broadcasts and I read also in the newspaper here in Japan that "CNN would like to clarify that it was not Mr. Cafferty nor CNN's, intent to cause offense to the Chinese people, and would apologize to anyone who in this way, CNN went on to say that an e-mail was sent to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

"The e-mail read that Cafferty comments reflected his ignorance and hostility “toward China.

"We are shocked and strongly condemn the vicious remarks made by Jack Cafferty."

"I think the relationship with China and the United States as well as many other countries has certainly changed," After the many comments that I have heard through the various newspapers and broadcasts about the unrest in Tibet and China's handling of the situation, “Not to mention the friction with spoiled and tainted foods, children’s toy many problems seem to continue and a multitude of other problems causing friction which has risen lately.

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan

Hank F. Miller Jr.   

Related: When East Meets West

 

When East Meets West: Japanese made funny by 'gaijin' gaffes !

 

Commentary By Hank F. Miller Jr. 

 

Some people collect rocks. Others stamps . 

Still others beer cans.My own collection, however, is a you see, I collect bloopers-more specifically, language bloopers. 

Not those of flick chicks flubbing their lines, nor those of the print media gumming up spellings. Nor even those of Japanese English learners bungling their "L's" and "R's"to announce they at"clam school, insread of"cram school"and so on. 

 

Nope. My collection is much more personal then those mentioned. For I Package together the boo-boos we foreigners make in Japanese. 

As shch, I am intimately involved.I am both collector and collectee, observer and observed, cameraman and model, hunter and not -so-elusive quarry. 

 

Let me shamelessly say my collection,-"Japanese made funny"- has really become interesting and even some of my friends here are starting to collect and trade their findings when we get together occasionally and it certainly is a real panic !  

 

The girl in the countryside who entered an outdoor"onesn= hot spring spa",only to find a fat cow in the water with her. This, understandably , vexed her to no end. So she shooed it out and then clubbed it to death with a wooden stool. 

Or so she explained to a Japanese friend,not knowing she had goofed the key word.  

For rather than "ushi,"which means "cow," she had meant to say " mushi,"which means "Bug." "Wow," her friend thought."This is one tough women,I gotta watch her." 

Then there is the story of a girl who could not get her closet door to close. With guests due at any minute, she phoned her landlord to see if he might run up stairs to help her wiggle the darned thing shut.Except she mistook the word for closet, "oshi-ire," with the word "oshiri." 

That's right. She told her landlord that she couldn't get her butt closed. And that she needed his help because she didn't want her guests to peek inside. 

 

Women aren't the only ones who trip up badely in the Japanese language. Take the case of a guy who showed up at his boss's house one night with some papers to be signed. 

He rang the bell and momentarily the door was opened by a petite young girl in a T-shirt and tight jeans, his boss's teenage daughter. 

The man eyed her up and down and then asked, "Sumimasen. Ochichi wa?"He had assumed he was using the polite form for "father"and that his question was thus,"Excuse me.Where is your honorable dad?"But""ochichi" means something very different. And what the trimfigured girl heard was:"Excuse me. Where are your breasts?" 

 

Next we have the tale of a good friend who drove off in search of a well-known temple. 

When he got lost, he asked a women along the road if she could tell him the way.When the women replied that  she had no idea, my friend shot back that she must know because the temple was very famous and quite popular with tourists.Yet the women stuck to her words and there was no such place nearby. However, she did have a "regular" temple at her house at which my friend was very welcome. He sped away,thinking the women to be somewhat odd nut.  

Only later did he realize that instead of the word for temple,"otera," he had mistakenly said "otearai."Which means toilet.  

Another friend, on a holiday at the seashore, shouted frantically to prevent a group of school girls from entering the waves. 

"Don't go in, girls ! The water's full of jellyfish!" Only he mixed the words"kurage" and "karaage." Which resulted in the girls hearing: Don't go in, girls! The water's full of fried chicken!" 

 

The same good-hearted friend also tried to protect a pair of female hikers in the mountains near here."Don't go down that path, girls ! I saw a huge snake there. "He stretched his arms wide. "It was this long ! Maybe longer!"Except in place of "hebi," which means "snake," he instead used "ebi"which means "shrimp."The girls avoided the path. They also avoided my friend,probably thinking he's some kind on nut case. 

 

Of course, more than just a few of the bloopers in "Japanese Made Funny"are pearls from my very own lips.  

Isn't that amazing just when you thought that you have excelled in the Japanese language. Wow ! What next.    

 

Of these,the one that is usually told first in our Miller family folklore, is the day that my wife caughed up a small amount of blood-"chi" in Japanese. I immediately phoned a doctor friend and explained what happened. 

The doctor kept calm,but my wife and children did not.They began to hoot like loons. 

For I had told the doctor my wife had vomited "hi"... which means "fire."  

The doctor began to laugh, and I then realized I had made another a boo-boo. 

But my wife survived.And so did my pride just barely. 

 

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan 

 

Hank F. Miller Jr. 

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST: April 1 proves readers no fools

Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr.

 

Barack Obama's half brother, Barracuda Obama, is doing well in Japan and wishes the Illinois senator luck in his quest for the U.S. presidency, the Tokyo Shimbum newspaper reported last Tuesday.

In its annual April Fool's Day hoax feature, the Tokyo based newspaper published a story about a 39-year old Asian-African businessman who recently learned he was a child born to Obama's Kenyan father and an Asian woman.

Barack Obama Sr. divorced the senator's mother, Ann Dunham, in mid-1960s.The spoof says Barracuda was born as the first of four children after Obama Sr. remarried his second wife in Nairobi.

The story says Barracuda speaks fluent Japanese and studied business administration in Japan after graduating top in his class in Kenya He works for a Japanese trading company and specializes in dealing in rare metals.

"The tradition of publishing hoax stories on April Fools' Day began in 2001.The article went on to mention they thought the article about Mr. Obama would entertain their readers, "said the editor Kenji Zaitoku.

Barracuda acknowledges in the fake interview that he was suspicious with Barack Obama, especially because of the similarity in their names. But the full details were not disclosed to him until late last year.

"I'd like to meet (Barack) soon and have a conversation with him," Barracuda is quoted as saying to Tokyo Shimbum newspaper.

The paper accompanied the article with a highlight explaining it was a joke, as well as an image of a suntanned Japanese salertman with the caption saying it was Barracuda Obama.

Although Tokyo Shimbum's annual April Fools' Day features were met with complaints when they first appeared in 2001, none of its readers was taken in Tuesday or called the editorial office fuming over Barracuda's lack of authenticity.

The Japan Times on Tuesday published a spoof about the return of an extinct bird at the Alien Wildlife Quarantine Shelter, but in keeping with its April 1 tradition, which predates the Tokyo Shimbum's by several years, did not add a disclaimer.

The Yomiuri Shimbum newspaper, the Asahi Shimbum newspaper and the Mainichi Shimbum newspaper said they chose not to join in the spirit of April Fools' Day and played it straight.

 

 

Warm Regards from Hank & Keiko Miller from Warm and Sunny Kitakyushu City, Japan

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST: Cherry Blossoms in Japan

 

Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr. 

 

The first Week in APRIL is the best time to view cherry blossoms in Kitakyushu City, Japan. 

 

The Japanese has a special affection for the cherry tree with its transient blossom. 

Nothing excites Japanese people the way cherry blossoms do. Cherry blossoms are one thing that Japanese people are very proud of. 

 

They can't help but smile when someone mentions the magic word: o-hanami=cherry blossoms. The subject of cherry blossom viewing has long occupied an important place in Japanese fine arts and literature. 

 

Even today cherry blossom viewing is very popular among the Japanese. When cherry blossoms are at their best, groups of friends or business colleagues arrange picnics under the trees in popular viewing sites such as Ueno Park in Tokyo, and there are many famous viewing places throughout Japan. 

 

Here in Kitakyushu City there are very many places to view cherry blossoms, in fact about a five minute walk there is a park with beautiful cherry trees. Cherry blossoms under a clear, blue sky are most beautiful, and when seen at night by lights shining up through the blossoms they are most beautiful, they are really very enchanting. 

 

Some people enjoy their beauty in a quieter mood; while others spread straw mats under the trees on the ground and go on drinking, eating, dancing etc. they go on a singing spree till the wee hours. For many Japanese, cherry blossom viewing is merely a pretext for having a drink at an outdoor party long into the night. 

 

I have to admit that, under their spell, it is difficult not to see the radiant beauty of these lovely trees. But, as any Japanese will tell you, the reason any flower is so beautiful is because it is so temporary, so fleeting. 

Yearly we too, Keiko and I look forward to walking to the park near our home and picnic under the trees, it's so relaxing to be among the beautiful cherry trees. 

 

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan  

Hank F. Miller Jr.   

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST Immigration Debate Bordering on Insanity

 

Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr. 

 

"Not too long ago I returned to my hometown on a long overdue visit to Gloucester City, N. J." While on one of my many walks I went to my old neighborhood area convenience store to get a sweet roll and a cup of coffee. Standing at a rack of newspapers and magazines, I noticed a weekend addition of a local New Jersey daily with a front-page headline that caught my eye:  "TOWN MAKES ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FEEL UNWELCOME."

 

Variations on this theme have been reported all across the country for years: as numbers of illegals has crept up, more towns have cracked down. There are today anywhere from 12 million to 20 million illegal's in our country really at this point in time no one really knows just how many are here. This Particular Town was mulling over a get-tough ordinance that would deny businesses a range of permits and contracts penalize them for five years if they hired illegal's, and would fine landlords who rented to "undocumented "aliens or who failed to maintain proper documentation on the aliens. 

 

Nationally, this has been going on where the towns heard from immigration activists and ACLU lawyers along with civil rights lawyers sniffing around for "racial profiling." Or perhaps they have missed the word illegal completely in the headline. We are a nation of laws, and these aliens are here illegally. My question is: Why do we need to care how they feel about being here? How about a page-one piece above the fold on how illegal aliens make taxpaying citizens feel. Yes, and just think of all the immigrants who waited and came through the front door the way they are supposed to waiting many years to migrate legally to our beautiful shores to become American citizens the through the proper channels. 

 

From what I saw and read while there, from downtown to small towns to suburbia America, unchecked illegal immigration is wreaking havoc on all kinds of communities including Gloucester City my home town. The crisis has spun out of control completely in many places and it's getting worse every day. Small wonder such influxes invariably lead to overcrowded classrooms, spikes in crime (including drug use and gangs) and generally overburdened health-care and hospital services, and generally also compromised quality of life. It seems that political issues prove to be elusive, as immigration has become a hot button wedge issue, during campaigning for the presidency. 

 

One faction demands a guest worker program but doesn't dare call it amnesty. Another says close the borders, another build higher fence, and make illegal immigration a felony. Some top democrats have sided with Bush's guest worker program plan. Some Republicans however want troops and a high-tech fence along the border, which isn't a bad idea but still nothing gets done. On many occasions here in Japan on TV, CNN, The Situation Room," illegal immigrants carrying Mexican flags, demanding their rights and complaining the United States may actually want to have some control over who comes here. Can you imagine that? 

 

"Just who do they think they are anyway to have any right to do anything at all as illegal immigrants? But unfortunately they do have rights even illegal immigrants have rights you know. I heard an ACLU lawyer state so we are a nation of laws and proud to have them laws that govern us. 

 

While spending the holidays in my home town, Gloucester City. I had the opportunity of talking with many people regarding the illegal immigration problem, as well as other problems taking place there regarding illegals.  I was surprised to see so many foreign looking people living and working in Gloucester City, I would think that these people have been checked out as well and were documented there illegally. 

 

I asked many people back there just how it has affected their lives with illegal aliens being seen and working in Gloucester City, my home town and thus written above was most of the responses I received there was a lot more but I  won't write about that if you know what I am talking about. I have heard this from talking with my brother as well many family members and very good friends and other long time Gloucester city residents and the residents of surrounding areas.  

 

Warm Regards from Sunny Kitakyushu City, Japan 

 

Hank F. Miller Jr.

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST: Me and cell phones? A really bad connection at this end

 

By Hank F. Miller Jr.

 

The whole world is going to hell in a hand basket, and Japan is leading the way.

That is if, like me, you equate hell with the use of cell phones.

Now I think I am a progressive-minded guy.

In most cases I cannot resist new gadgetry and my home is a miniature showcase of other high-tech innovations such as a battery charged nose-hair clipper, a Homer Simpson talking bottle opener and a rubber fish that can sing.

Most of this junk here my kids brought home but I claim responsibility for a few of these junky items that are too numerous to mention.

I have not popped for those quite robot dogs, but only because space in my house is at a premium and I am waiting for Sony to develop a more petite animal that will better match my living quarters. Like perhaps a robot worm or a clam that can play country music.

And neither have I purchased the leash that is a cellular phone. Nor I hereby vow on a gnawed "yakitory" Meat on sticks which we eat here-Will I ever.

 

Yet to be honest, I do not live in an entirely cell-phone free environment. My wife has one of the wicked devices snoozing by her bedside each night.

I can borrow it whenever I want which to my way of thinking would be like borrowing a live grenade. Why would I ever do that?

 

For I deem such contraptions to be an affront to my senses. And while I know the entire world is now engrossed and dependent on mobile phones, I am betting that nowhere is that addiction as rabid as in gizmo-manic Japan.

Step out any Japanese door and one will see what dots each and every street in this nation, People.

Yet now these flowing minions are highlighted by genuine walkie-talkies, fast-moving individuals who yackety-yak while they stride blindly forward."What was that crash?"Screams a squeaky cellular friend."Oh, that I walked into a bus. But no matter. I can still hear you. Keep talking!"

 

Or glance in any train car and one finds many passengers no longer absorbed in books and newspapers. Rather they sit transfixed as they flick their cell phones open and closed, as if their focus were drawn by some ghostly inner voice the hauntingly commands, "If you watch it, they will call."

 

Or stake out any university classroom. When the bell rings and the students come pouring out, each will in turn flip open, not unlike Roman foot soldiers unsheathing their blades for combat."We came, "goes the motto, "we saw, we telephoned."

 

Of course the sounds are as bad as the sights. It's jarring enough when the stranger besides you suddenly begins to blob and babble into thin air-"Hey, Taro! How's life? Me, Well, I'm walking next to some runty foreigner and we just passed some gal lying under a bus"-but at times the content too can be riveting.

 

A la": "Listen! I don't care what your brother called you; you let him out of the closet now!" From nowhere comes a loud tune.

Everyone plays tag with their eyes and then all recognize the song at the very same instant. It's the enchanting theme to "Popeye."

No less than three people tear into their bags after their phones, only one of which is piping out the music.

 

While that person answers, the other two ponder some other cool song to use as a ring program. Odds are they will again pick the very same thing, this time perhaps the classic notes of "Camp town Races."A more recent feature has been added and built into many phones.

Now when I nap on the train, I worry over how many Japanese have just taken my picture and have just e-mailed a secret shot of the snoring "gaijin"=foreigner with his mouth wide open.

 

Embarrassing, I admit but I've done the same thing with my nose hair clippers. That's one reason I prefer my rubber fish; it's far more user friendly. As for the talking bottle opener, I fear Homer Simpson may be affecting my brain worse than phone radiation."You know," my wife says, "this phone technology will not disappear. You'll just have to get used to it someday."She says I should have a cellular phone; they're very useful in an emergency.

"I said to her I don't expect any emergencies at this time and besides, you have one if needed, No thank you."   

So? I have to die someday too. And I prefer to meet that day with dignity. Which-to my way of thinking-means living my life without a cellular phone and free of all the interruptions in my daily routine?

 

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan

Hank F. Miller Jr

Related: When East meets West

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST: JAPANESE ONSEN, HOT SPRING BATHS

God Bless Our Troops, and our Sons

Friday February 29th, 2008

My son Lucas, my wife Keiko and I departed by train to a place called Yufuin Onsen. We visited Shouyano Yakata Hot Spa a famous very old hot spring located in Oita, on Kyushu Island a few hours from our home.

We have planed this trip especially for our son Lucas who was home for 22 days home leave from Iraq. We wanted to give him an enjoyable rest and some recreation thus one well deserved after what he's been through. We took a taxi from our home to Orio Station about 20 minutes from our home.

Well we left Orio station at about 08:00 a.m. on the Sonic express bound for Fukuoka arriving at 08:45 where we changed trains, boarding the Yufuin Express leaving at 09:05a.m.It was a very pleasant journey. The Yufuin Express was so comfortable with first class leather reclining seats just like business class on air planes.

It was really a great trip all the way to Yufuin Station, arriving at 11:40 a.m. The area is extremely beautiful with green mountains and hills all around. We took a taxi to the Shouyano Yakata hot spa. The ride took about 10 minutes.

The spa is situated on the side of Mt.Yufu. It is very old and has been handed down through the same family for over 350 years, the landscape is very beautiful and quiet with many beautiful colorful song birds, and it's so very scenic and picturesque.

When we entered the lobby to register we saw many old pictures of many famous people and art work also along the hallway to the dining room. In the dining room were many beautiful old wood carvings of people and animals.

We were taken down along a wide long hallway to a very traditional dining room where we sat on cushions with our legs under a katsu table with a heating lamp under and a quilt to keep us warm, it was like reverting back to over a hundred years or so, we were really relaxing and soaking in all of the traditional decor and atmosphere surrounding us.

The menu was also very traditional with raw Flounder = sashimi, a miso soup with fish and vegetables, tempura = deep fried in bread crumbs, a bowl of rice and of course we shared a beer together after the waitress brought steak and more vegetables, we had hot tea and some ice cream and fruit. All was delicious and very healthy. We finished our meal and were shown to our room.

As we entered I looked out the window and saw a beautiful pool of greenish colored steaming hot water, the bath was about 5 feet just outside the sliding window. I saw that there were huge rocks and boulders surrounding the hot spa one can sit on the part of the rocks that are under the water and relax.

"Wow it was really great like in a movie."

Remember this is winter mind you and there was still a little snow on the ground in places.

We didn't go to the same bath there was a divider screen between the female's side and the male's side of the hot spa.

Well we entered the bath the outside was freezing especially without anything on between the room and spa. The temperature was about 35 degrees but the water was warm and extremely relaxing it was great on these old bones of mine too. We didn't feel any cold at all once in the spa.

We stayed there at the spa for about 4 hours than checked out and we left and took a taxi to Lake Kinrinko for some sightseeing.

While there we visited Mark Chagall's Museum. We had the opportunity to view some of his famous works of art. There was a coffee shop so we had coffee and some cheese cake.

We spent about an hour and a half there, we left for the Yufuin Station area where we went into many souvenir shops to pick up some gifts for Luke's friends in Iraq and of course a local bottle of Japanese sake for us to take home.

We walked to the station since it was getting close to the trains boarding time at 17:45p.m. We returned home via Fukuoka and arrived back at Orio station at about 20:30 took a taxi home and we enjoyed a very relaxing day trip together. We were glad to get back home because we were so very tired. This is only one of the many great opportunities we can experience while living here in Kitakyushu City, Japan.

Yesterday evening Sunday March 2nd our son Lucas went back to Iraq. Once again we'll miss him we'll pray and worry for his safety as we did for his brother Max while he was in Iraq last year with the U.S.Marines.

His complete tour of duty will be up in late August or early September, at that time he will return to the U.S. Army Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii.

God Bless Our Troops, and our Sons.

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan

Hank, Keiko, Lucas, Max & Rachel,

The Miller Family

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST the Doll Festival

 by Hank F. Miller Jr.

   

   

The Doll Festival, which is also called The Girls' Festival or Peach Festival is observed on March 3.

This is a festival of young girls.

   

Dolls in ancient costumes are displayed on tiers of shelves covered with red cloth. These dolls represent the emperor and empress, their noble court ladies-in- waiting and ministers.

The Doll Festival dates from medieval times, but it was not until the 18th century that the custom of displaying dolls came into fashion.

The dolls are usually on display for about a week, but it is customary to put them away soon after March 3, because leaving them out for a long time is said to delay a daughter's marriage.

   

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan

   

Hank F. Miller Jr.

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST Freezing' in a winter wonderland

by Hank F. Miller Jr.

Winter lies heavy on Japan. Ski slopes, hot sake, common-pot stews, frosty smiles, rosy cheeks and-at least for those in the highlands or up north-buckets of snow. It's one cozy chapter of chipper romance that all Japanese feel for the four seasons.  But-and you can ask my wife Keiko, on this - I am not Mr. Romantic. Especially I have but one desire in this season of chilly delights, and it is not to escape to the slopes or to build a snowman or to munch "mikan =Tangerines" under the"kotatsu = a low table where one sits on cushions on the floor with a heated lamp connected to the bottom of the low table with a quilt over the top, that keeps your lower body warm.

 

It's merely this:

 

I want winter to go away-now. Some Japanese-enchanted perhaps by the slurp spell of hot "soba noodles" or bewitched by the crystal clarity of the seasonal skies-choose to query me on this.

Did I grow up spoiled on California sunshine? They ask. Or did I spend my younger days wafting around the Everglades, where the winter temperatures are ever - warm But No.

 

I hail from the East Coast, Southern New Jersey where winter not only has some bite; it can take your breath away. Furthermore, I grew up at a time when the words "global warming" was but distant glints in some industrialist's eye. As a kid, when I went outside, I had a pile on so much clothing that it was physically impossible to bend either of my elbows or knees. If knocked down in such a state, the only way to get up again was to roll south until it was warm enough to wiggle free from several layers of apparel.

 

While that may be a mild exaggeration, it is a cold fact that when, up on learning my first job in Japan would be on the "southern" island of kyushu,myjoy was so unbridled that I smiled form ear to ear for an entire week, even in my sleep. For I had escaped winter at last!

Of course, as anyone who has lived on Kyushu will attest, I was soon in for an icy surprise. For while Kyushu's winters have little snow, they also have little warmth. What's more, in those days southern Japan had to accept foreign innovations such as centralized heating, insulation or winter jaunts to Hawaii occasionally?

What was supposed to keep you warm was your samurai spirit.

 

In my case. I traded my samurai spirit for an Eskimo parka.

But even this failed to do the trick. My teeth did not merely chatter, they soliloquized. I shivered my way through to spring.

Though at that time Keiko and I lived in a new apartment in Wakamatsu City, with surrounding mountains and farmland it was a picturesque scenic sight but freezing.

 

I could feel the winters breeze through the cracks in the3/4" inch plywood walls and with no insulation at all. The windows would rattle due to no packing around them, believe me it was cold.

I do not have to shiver my way through winter any longer; I have since relocated to our new formed concrete home some 22 years ago.

Japanese indoor heating has greatly improved-after that the Japanese discovered that heating systems were marketable.

My wife says she likes winter, but it's nice to crank our heater up and stay cozy till summer comes around again.

We do love our home and it's a really beautiful mountainous area and very scenic. We really enjoy our lives here, raised three beautiful and great children here and look forward to many more wonderful years here together at the Miller home.

 

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan.

 

Hank, Keiko and Family   

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST"Setsubum"

Commentary By Hank F. Miller Jr.

   

Setsubum literly means the "division of seasons" and refers to the first day of spring according to the lunar calender. Setsubum falls on February 2rd or 4th. On the evening of this day, people throw roasted beans or nuts outside their homes shouting "Oniwa-soto, Fukuwa-uchi," which means" Out with demons! In with good luck!"

 

It is also customary for people to eat the same number of beans as their age and to offer a prayer for good fortune at home. This practice is said to have originated in the 24th or 15th century.

 

The bean- throwing ceremony also takes place in the shrine. Well-known personalities, such as politicians, sumo wrestlers and actors, are invited to the ceremony as special guests to throw good luck beans for all of those present.

 

The special guests are chosen from among those born under the Chinese and Japanese zodiac sign for that year.

   

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan.

 

Hank F. Miller Jr

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST: Church Bulletin Booo-Boos

By Hank F. Miller Jr                                                

I received this from a good friend awhile back.  

 

Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced at church services:

The Fasting & Prayer Conference: includes meals.

The sermon this morning: "Jesus walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for
Jesus."

Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth
keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

Remember in prayer the many that are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard
to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.

Don't let worry kill you off -- let the Church help.

Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the
congregation.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: "Break Forth into
Joy."

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen
to our choir practice.

Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and
to the deterioration of some older ones.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be
used to cripple children.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want
remembered.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the
basement on Friday afternoon.

This evening at 7 PM there will be hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in
the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.

The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric
girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.

Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church
basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double
door at the side entrance.

 

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan.

Hank F. Miller Jr. 

Related: When East meets West

When East meets West :The Educational System in Japan

by Hank F. Miller Jr.

 When my wife Keiko and I visited my home town of Gloucester City N.J. There were many people asked us many questions and the one popular one seemed to be about the Japanese educational system. So I'll now try to do my best to explain a portion of it.

What is education? If education is learning to conform to group standards and learning to recite as many facts as possible to pass the next exam, then Japan has a good educational system. The excellent performance of Japanese students in the classroom cannot be denied.

A few years ago it was reported that Japan had 99% literacy rate while 25% of American students did not graduate from high school. According to a test conducted by the Stockholm-based International Association for Evaluation of Educational Achievement for Japanese 10-year-olds, along with their Korean and Finnish counterparts, scored around 15.4 out of 24 possible correct answers to science questions.

American students have one advantage that many foreign students do not. It is the freedom of being uninhibited. We Americans have the most open school system in the entire world.  It encourages pupils to express their individuality and beliefs.

We Americans believe from childhood that we have the right and obligation of free expression which includes challenging their teachers.

Japan does not have the ethnic diversity of America. Japanese classes are nearly always made up of Japanese students whose forefathers were all Japanese. Critics say the nationally uniform materials dampen creativity and smother the Japanese individual and personal growth.

What factors contribute to effective debating on the international level? On the one hand, it has been noted that American students are among the first to voice their views.

The Americans excel in analyzing opinions and giving their personal evaluations.

On the other hand, the Japanese students possess an abundance of information which is necessary to base arguments on.

With a mixing of such qualities as having the readiness to speak up,factual awareness, and the power to reason, The Japanese and American educational systems be envied world wide.

My wife and I had a great and memorable stay at my brother Joe Miller's home in Gloucester City  over the Christmas  and the New Year Holidays.

We  got to see many old friends an family and got to part-take in eating many wonderful dinners.

Warm Regards From Kitakyushu City,Japan

 

Hank, Keiko Miller & Family

 

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST: Coming of Age Day

By Hank F. Miller Jr.

 

The Coming-of-Age Day, seijin-no-hi, is officially recognized social ceremony when adolescents enter the circle of adults. Under Japanese Civil Law Act, those who reach the age of 20 are considered "adults," and those who marry before the age of twenty are considered "adults" as well. The Coming-of-Age Day was established as January 15th under Law no.178  "The National Holiday Act" on July 23, 1948, the 23rd year of Showa, as a day congratulating those who reach twenty years of age and thus legally able to enter society with full civil rights and duties. But, the day was changed as the 2nd Monday of January from 2000 as the "The National Holiday Act" was amended.

 

The ceremony of "genpuku,"an old-style ceremony of assuming manhood, had been held from the era of the Emperor Tenmu

(673-686 A.D.).In such ceremonies, young people from the imperial and noble families would change their child-like hairstyles to that of wearing noble headgear around the age of 15. This ceremony was called " kakan-no-gi,"or headgear wearing ceremony. Today, each city, town and village holds a congratulatory ceremony, or ceremony of "Coming-of-age," for those who turn twenty years old. This particular day is a national holiday, and new    "adults" can be seen dressed-up at various places beginning in the morning.

 

Though western attire is gradually rising in popularity, traditional Japanese wear, such as kimonos are worn by ladies, are just like

Works of art. And hakamas are worn by men.

 

My Daughter won't be making the coming -of-age day ceremony due to being at Portland State University, in Portland, Oregon.

 

Warm Regards from Kitakyushu City, Japan

Hank F. Miller Jr.

More When East Meets West

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST: New Years in Japan

By Hank F.Miller Jr.

New Year's is the most significant holiday in Japan. On the morning of January 1, family members exchange formal greetings and have o-toso, or spiced sake, o-zoni soup containing rice cakes, and a variety of special New Year's dishes. Parents give their children o-toshidama, or New Year's money gifts. Then they enjoy reading New Year's greeting postcards which are sent by family members or friends, and are usually delivered around noon.

Quite a few people pay the New Year's first visit to a shrine or temple to pray for coming good fortune.

In years gone by, Japanese children used to often fly beautifully decorated kites and or play battledore and shuttlecock and Japanese card games, but nowadays we don't see kids doing things like that as often as we used to Children today seem to prefer playing soccer and home video games. These traditional customers are disappearing by degrees and that sad to see.

 

A MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

With Warm Regards From Kitakyushu City, Japan

Hank F. Miller Jr & Family

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST: The Japanese New Year

 

By Hank F. Miller Jr.

2008 or the 19th year of Heisei, has come, the year of the rat.

December 31^st, 2007 st the last day of the year is begun with greetings such as "Akemashite (or Shinnen or Shin shun) Omedeto gozaimasu" or "A Happy New Year!  The morning of the very first day of the year, January 1 st, is called "gantan".

At night most people stay at home and eat a traditional bowl of buckwheat noodles specially prepared to symbolize longevity. TV and radio stations broadcast special programs. Most Japanese sit up until midnight to listen to the 108 bong-bong from the temple bells at the nearby Buddhist temple. The custom is based on the Buddhist teaching that man has 108 worldly desires which lead to suffering. Consequently, the bell in each temple is struck 108 times in hope of relieving people of the suffering caused by such earthly desires.

New Year day" It is the day when people welcome the God of the New Year, express their appreciation to the God of good harvest and peacefulness from the past year, and pray for good productivity and peace during the New Year. During the period when the lunisolar calendar was used, these prayers were made on the night of the full moon in January.

New Year is the biggest and largest celebration and is recognized as a national holiday from

December 31st till January 4th. Since Christmas isn't celebrated or isn't recognized as a national holiday and thus is a regular work day for most Japanese people. Remember Japan is a Buddhist country.

But here at the Miller household we are on holiday from December 22nd till January 6th, so Christmas is celebrated on December 25th.

Warm Regards From Kitakyushu City ,Japan.

A Very Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year !

Hank, Keiko, Lucas, Max & Rachel

The Miller Family

WHEN EAST MEETS WEST : A Mite Louder Than Mice :

By Hank F Miller Jr.   OK, so it's not the greatest conflict of all time. It's not Pepsi vs. Coke, Tom vs. Jerry or even Freddy vs. Jason. Plus it's not Japan-specific. The following swords of debate can be in any nation at any time by anyone at all. Yet for foreign residence hard pressed in a land that doesn't always embrace them, perhaps the dueling blades here shine brighter than anywhere else.   This then is our question: