tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3930945379515561502024-03-28T20:46:34.618+09:00Muslim women in JapanHafidahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18438634945837609959noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-22901606406738898062010-06-09T08:19:00.003+09:002010-06-09T08:33:00.619+09:00An irresistible vanilla yogurt<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Jrlpilb-4QkYkmewW33Abs4lHWz4bQGmywrc4fna5CwyryLZyTfFmYH3U-CcJIAL8F1m1wwuqmp_CdgrnfidNWaLFLVi93kLnFoRl-lpJ3jpXfX5bFoOonxFswtmkEi-VnJHp0XppUdm/s1600/p_vani_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 109px; height: 140px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Jrlpilb-4QkYkmewW33Abs4lHWz4bQGmywrc4fna5CwyryLZyTfFmYH3U-CcJIAL8F1m1wwuqmp_CdgrnfidNWaLFLVi93kLnFoRl-lpJ3jpXfX5bFoOonxFswtmkEi-VnJHp0XppUdm/s400/p_vani_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480549537962491618" border="0" /></a><br />One of my favorite yogurts in Japan is "vanirayouguruto - バニラヨーグルト" or vanilla yogurt in english. It is creamy and really delicious. Really an irresistible yogurt. For the price, it is sold around 200 yen for 3 pots but if go shopping on a sale day, you can find it much cheaper (150 yen).<br />Its ingredients are powder milk, sugar, eggs, agar and flavors (乳製品、砂糖、卵黄、寒天、香料).<br />More information in Japanese: http://www.nipponluna.co.jp/products/yog_01/vani.htmlHafidahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18438634945837609959noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-17313602936900083542010-06-03T16:51:00.001+09:002010-06-03T16:53:17.149+09:00Gathering in front of Israel Embassy in Tokyo<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >There will be a gathering near Israel embassy in tokyo to protest against Israeli's raid on the humanitarian sea convoy aiming to reach Gaza with food, wheel chairs, medicines and building materials.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">The demonstration is organized by a collective efforts by many Muslim organization in Japan, e.g., Islamic Center japan (ICJ), Japan Islamic Trust (JTI), Muslims Students Association of Japan (MSAJ), Pakistan Peoples Party Japan (PPP-Japan), Friends of Pakistan in Japan (FOP), etc.</span> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The information is as following:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Date</span>: June <span style="border-bottom: medium none;">4</span>, 2010 at 3:00 pm.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Location</span>: In front of Israel embassy.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Access</span>: </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tokyo-Metro Yurakucho Line </span>Kojimachi Station <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"><strong> </strong>(</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;">exit 6)<br /> Gathering place at exit No. 6</span></p> <div class="ecxecxgmail_quote" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Content of silent gathering for protest:</strong> </span></div> <div class="ecxecxgmail_quote" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> - distributing some papers about what happen, </span></div> <div class="ecxecxgmail_quote" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> - rising some pictures, and play card, </span></div> <div class="ecxecxgmail_quote" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> - speech in Japanese language, </span></div> <div class="ecxecxgmail_quote" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> - condemnation letter.</span></div>Hafidahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18438634945837609959noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-56922126529340219192010-05-08T11:00:00.006+09:002010-05-08T11:23:21.568+09:00Tsumra-Ladies Cycling Tour - May 9, 2010Whether you are a novice or an avid cyclist, you are more than welcome to join us on our next cycling tour.<ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Destination</span>: Suzumeko farm. (website: <a href="http://www.suzumeko.com/ichigogari.htm">http://www.suzumeko.com/ichigogari.htm</a>)</li></ul><ul><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Address</span>: </li></ul>すずめっこ森 マルヤ観光農園<br />〒315-0067<br />茨城県かすみがうら市下佐谷978-1<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Activity</span>: Picking strawberries and enjoying time together.</li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Meeting Point</span>: Parking area (1st floor) of Tsukuba University International Student Center (筑波大学留学生センター)</li></ul><ul><li> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Date & time</span>: <u style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday 9th of May 2010</u>, at <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">09:00</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Weather</span>: <a href="http://weather.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/8/4020/8230/3150067.html">http://weather.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/8/4020/8230/3150067.html</a></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Distance</span>: 14 Km (one way)</li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Required time</span>: About 75 min (one way)</li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">What to bring</span>: Hat, water or drink, 800円(cost for picking strawberries), sweets or food (light lunch in a small park near the farm)</li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Remarks</span>: Don't forget to pump your bicycle before the tour :) - We may visit park and temple (Houunji) in our way to take a prompt rest.</li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Map</span>: See below. The blue line is the way that we are going to take. You can zoom in the map to have closer look.<br /></li></ul><br /><center><br /><iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=%E7%AD%91%E6%B3%A2%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%A6%E4%BC%9A%E9%A4%A8&daddr=Unknown+road+to:%E7%9C%8C%E9%81%93200%E5%8F%B7%E7%B7%9A+to:%E7%9C%8C%E9%81%93200%E5%8F%B7%E7%B7%9A+to:%E5%9B%BD%E9%81%93125%E5%8F%B7%E7%B7%9A+to:%E5%9B%BD%E9%81%93125%E5%8F%B7%E7%B7%9A+to:Unknown+road+to:Unknown+road+to:%E8%8C%A8%E5%9F%8E%E7%9C%8C%E3%81%8B%E3%81%99%E3%81%BF%E3%81%8C%E3%81%86%E3%82%89%E5%B8%82%E4%B8%8B%E4%BD%90%E8%B0%B7978-1&geocode=FbjsJgId0MhZCCl3axjsBwwiYDFzTKL_hJ_NYQ%3BFd4MJwIdjvtZCA%3BFUQaJwIdUOlZCA%3BFYZiJwIdI0ZaCA%3BFY5SJwId-nBaCA%3BFWJRJwIdOp9aCA%3BFcxzJwIdeKJaCA%3BFW6QJwIdqLNaCA%3BFQirJwIdXWBbCCkp5N1gIBIiYDH599Pd92RKHw&hl=en&mra=dpe&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=114838521269395449874.000485fc4b9967a7cb268&ll=36.148133,140.140915&spn=0.110893,0.154495&z=12&output=embed" frameborder="0" height="400" scrolling="no" width="450"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?f=d&source=embed&saddr=%E7%AD%91%E6%B3%A2%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%A6%E4%BC%9A%E9%A4%A8&daddr=Unknown+road+to:%E7%9C%8C%E9%81%93200%E5%8F%B7%E7%B7%9A+to:%E7%9C%8C%E9%81%93200%E5%8F%B7%E7%B7%9A+to:%E5%9B%BD%E9%81%93125%E5%8F%B7%E7%B7%9A+to:%E5%9B%BD%E9%81%93125%E5%8F%B7%E7%B7%9A+to:Unknown+road+to:Unknown+road+to:%E8%8C%A8%E5%9F%8E%E7%9C%8C%E3%81%8B%E3%81%99%E3%81%BF%E3%81%8C%E3%81%86%E3%82%89%E5%B8%82%E4%B8%8B%E4%BD%90%E8%B0%B7978-1&geocode=FbjsJgId0MhZCCl3axjsBwwiYDFzTKL_hJ_NYQ%3BFd4MJwIdjvtZCA%3BFUQaJwIdUOlZCA%3BFYZiJwIdI0ZaCA%3BFY5SJwId-nBaCA%3BFWJRJwIdOp9aCA%3BFcxzJwIdeKJaCA%3BFW6QJwIdqLNaCA%3BFQirJwIdXWBbCCkp5N1gIBIiYDH599Pd92RKHw&hl=en&mra=dpe&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=114838521269395449874.000485fc4b9967a7cb268&ll=36.148133,140.140915&spn=0.110893,0.154495&z=12" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;">Tsumra-Ladies Cycling Tour - May 9, 2010</a> in a larger map</small><br /></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-996278973848289722010-05-04T12:43:00.005+09:002010-05-04T12:49:06.081+09:00Useful words for pregnant women in Japanese-english-french<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBhAJv-q-0Gkdo075Zg_uPWBm7MsMkD5Ea_MqPpbUy_TrRJ9Yb2JwG8yGqoQ8Z8eve5mPfomqnVYFkLl0YxpGzVh1wX-FlcYXessp7iRGlEWJJtzGqDgT52xzI6wHKeyRLyC3kU_RbTgE/s1600/listWorlds_01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBhAJv-q-0Gkdo075Zg_uPWBm7MsMkD5Ea_MqPpbUy_TrRJ9Yb2JwG8yGqoQ8Z8eve5mPfomqnVYFkLl0YxpGzVh1wX-FlcYXessp7iRGlEWJJtzGqDgT52xzI6wHKeyRLyC3kU_RbTgE/s400/listWorlds_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467255752976634178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloAAfuAMjwJLqgeRXXkjlGjVVVC8K1DfSqAsB5DP8tUzZov7fu-VnCXN4alrTFScC30IaQm45MO96T68LXZt2o0wNXi2XyHF3BUP31pnxhfsRZlp2mkux8cYCYtu8vUDik9JH1Js3i3r4/s1600/listWorlds_03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloAAfuAMjwJLqgeRXXkjlGjVVVC8K1DfSqAsB5DP8tUzZov7fu-VnCXN4alrTFScC30IaQm45MO96T68LXZt2o0wNXi2XyHF3BUP31pnxhfsRZlp2mkux8cYCYtu8vUDik9JH1Js3i3r4/s400/listWorlds_03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467255776726509650" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoPhpqjEvzFsiAJhV6rNkZySDRTebuFABd6LG9sAerCejCEUmqfdRML8imjojDt14TcqYGQg-zJTRiLg0ScnFPccx74TTfRdqmV4J8pVlQJTz0sSszzaWpZvAgqfLa3SFimmIee0YXBOp/s1600/listWorlds_02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinoPhpqjEvzFsiAJhV6rNkZySDRTebuFABd6LG9sAerCejCEUmqfdRML8imjojDt14TcqYGQg-zJTRiLg0ScnFPccx74TTfRdqmV4J8pVlQJTz0sSszzaWpZvAgqfLa3SFimmIee0YXBOp/s400/listWorlds_02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467255760059771842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCUbLM3FmOAwl0X76UNfdolGqd9zyqsTpGfoaLohOpg3XbqS4loZVeGmnm1Mi9Neh-cB2TAveE7e60vl19gFoYgU-TOVMKfat9B_3NZhI49X4K6H77GcVxyRoXKLQijWEBw5fMHKoByEU/s1600/listWorlds_04.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjCUbLM3FmOAwl0X76UNfdolGqd9zyqsTpGfoaLohOpg3XbqS4loZVeGmnm1Mi9Neh-cB2TAveE7e60vl19gFoYgU-TOVMKfat9B_3NZhI49X4K6H77GcVxyRoXKLQijWEBw5fMHKoByEU/s400/listWorlds_04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467255786309157586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_qz1J-l_28oYcPqL9z5ypHEWeRX9rz4Wr-kGxo8Ts-Wunc6QOguIYVuGjt6PcgYzVjpJdSTcQ2Rhxc8iVuc9vE0JkkUUw9wnnKdIjR1QUnoSRHd0RR0Otb4RMBuJHUhOc-6GekXUBD_0/s1600/listWorlds_05.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_qz1J-l_28oYcPqL9z5ypHEWeRX9rz4Wr-kGxo8Ts-Wunc6QOguIYVuGjt6PcgYzVjpJdSTcQ2Rhxc8iVuc9vE0JkkUUw9wnnKdIjR1QUnoSRHd0RR0Otb4RMBuJHUhOc-6GekXUBD_0/s400/listWorlds_05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467255795200505970" border="0" /></a>Hafidahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18438634945837609959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-90824817574015860382009-12-09T16:17:00.003+09:002009-12-09T16:40:46.260+09:00Good reading books when you live in japan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51kn9RSCx6L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51kn9RSCx6L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I found two interesting books, one about food buying in japan, and the other one about kids in Japan.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Guide to Food Buying in Japan </span>by <span id="bxgy_x_title">Carolyn R. Krouse </span><br />I recommend this book to foreigners who care about what they eat. This book has a lot of information about the food available in Japan with the japanese names and how to read them. The books axplains also how to read the labels on food. This is really a good reference for muslims living in Japan.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BKD807E9L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BKD807E9L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Japan for Kids: The Ultimate Guide for Parents and Their Children</span> by Diane Wiltshire and Jeanne Huey.<br /><br />This is also a good reference for parents mainly if you live around Tokyo. The book contains many useful addresses.<br /><br />Description<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Every year, thousands of families visit or relocate to Japan. Fourteen years ago, Jeanne Huey and Diane Wiltshire made the crossing. Five children and six years later they wrote the first complete guide to entertaining and raising children in this fascinating but often baffling land. Now, eight years on they offer a fully updated version, with hundreds of new additions on:</span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-style: italic;">AMUSEMENTS festivals, theme parks, cultural centers, zoos, aquariums</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">OUTINGS museums, beaches, parks, playgrounds, gardens</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">TRAVEL TIPS moving, coping with jet lag, getting around town, day trips</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">SHOPPING where to buy anything, from food to fashions to futons</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">HEALTH CARE dentists and doctors, pregnancy and childbirth, medical emergencies</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">EDUCATION daycare, international schools, the Japanese system, bilingualism</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">ACTIVITIES talent agencies, sports, Japanese traditions, and extracurricular classes</span></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">MAIL ORDER listings, catalogs, and the Internet...and much, much more</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Compact yet bulging with priceless information and hundreds of tips, the new Japan for Kids is essential reading for families heading for or living in this part of the Far East. From planetariums to petting zoos, educational materials to interactive museums, this handy reference book remains indispensable-a guide that no parent can go without. </span></li></ul>Hafidahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18438634945837609959noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-67809788817175092572009-12-09T13:09:00.005+09:002010-01-26T12:44:12.661+09:00Topvalue/Bestprice shokupan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdOqcsRe1fXOEfyxSVK1pT-EwPOHa19Xj_rkuKr_sm5_JgsKfp5TnQxw9K6qXQh-iLwkC39u3aeJFOWEv-uNGvwQLRU1mQdwaVDB02ISoapO2eAeCRdxjP6zx9L6HdnkoCSBnqEzvPJi8/s1600-h/untitled.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 397px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdOqcsRe1fXOEfyxSVK1pT-EwPOHa19Xj_rkuKr_sm5_JgsKfp5TnQxw9K6qXQh-iLwkC39u3aeJFOWEv-uNGvwQLRU1mQdwaVDB02ISoapO2eAeCRdxjP6zx9L6HdnkoCSBnqEzvPJi8/s400/untitled.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413099498126015586" border="0" /></a>I have already written a post about Bestprice bread by Topvalue to say that all the ingredients of this bread are from plants except of course milk. Now, I deleted it and replaced it with this post.<br /><br />I received an email from a muslim sister living in Japan telling me that Topvalue uses margarine containing pork fat in the trays of the bread for baking.<br /><br />A sister living in Gifu asked Topvalue, they said that there are many factories of Topvalue in Japan, each one uses its own ingredients. If you want to be sure about the ingredients of the bread and the type of margarine used for the trays, you need to call the topvalue factory in your area.<br /><br /><br />At the end, the factory in the area of Gifu uses only margarine containing ingredients from plants in the tray and no animal ingredients in the bread except milk.<br /><br />One of my friends who can speak Japanese called the factory in Tsukuba and asked them about the margarine used in the trays. We live in Tsukuba. The company said that margarine containing pork fat is used in the trays of the bread for baking.<br /><br /><br />This is the list of the ingredients of Bestprice bread by Topvalue in japanese, as you can see, there is no information about the type of margarine used in the trays for baking:<br /><br /><span>小麦粉、砂糖混合ぶどう糖果糖液糖、マーガリン(大豆を含む)、イースト、食塩、砂糖、脱脂粉乳、発酵種(乳成分を含む)、乳化剤(乳成分を含む)、酢酸Na、イーストフード(小麦を含む)、香料(乳成分を含む)、ビタミンC、カロテノイド色素 </span>Hafidahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18438634945837609959noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-26287836304173811262009-08-06T21:35:00.003+09:002009-08-06T21:58:45.458+09:00Hiroshima marks 64th A-bomb anniversary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvAuqskepi49UdvClB_e2sE5KUWQUnPrDDR7-ucUGXLB2h9mJYH_KTF-jfSs8CSuio1RtV8hgcv3r1S7KK94i0xOuoJOUrZCBd4EHIaSLjH5JXQXaCVRFBKX-t2Wdt_5z7rE8CiRoIVDA/s1600-h/resizer.aspx.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 310px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvAuqskepi49UdvClB_e2sE5KUWQUnPrDDR7-ucUGXLB2h9mJYH_KTF-jfSs8CSuio1RtV8hgcv3r1S7KK94i0xOuoJOUrZCBd4EHIaSLjH5JXQXaCVRFBKX-t2Wdt_5z7rE8CiRoIVDA/s400/resizer.aspx.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366834149964486834" border="0" /></a><br />I was just watching NHK news on tv, they were talking about Hiroshima atomic bomb since today it is its 64 th anniversary. Old persons who witnessed Hiroshima atomic bomb were crying.<br />During the ceremony, a list of nearly 264,000 victims, as well as survivors who died this past year, was put into a cenotaph at the city's Peace Memorial Park. The participants observed a minute of silence at 8:15 AM, the time the bomb was dropped.<br /><br />Many persons living far (arround 15 km) from were the bombing took place have cancer or some abnormalities in their chromosomes. Within 20 to 30 minutes after the bombing, a heavy black rain began falling in areas to the northwest. This rain contained large amounts of radioactive soot and dust, thus contaminating areas far from the hypocenter. People drunk water and ate vegetables from their gardens after the bombing, they did not know that every thing is contaminated.<br /><br />I wish to see our world free from nuclear weapons and wars.<br />This is a documentary about Hiroshima atomic bomb.<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_rHrV2QhArA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_rHrV2QhArA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Hafidahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18438634945837609959noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-28811125475263259642009-07-29T09:21:00.007+09:002010-05-04T12:52:30.236+09:00Coop, a convenient way to have grocery delivered to your homeCoop (or Co-op) is a Japanese Consumer Co-operative, the largest consumer union in Japan. For more information, this is their website in english: <a href="http://jccu.coop/eng/">http://jccu.coop/eng/<br /></a><br />This is a list of all coops in japan:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://tokyo.coopnet.or.jp/" target="_blank">コープとうきょう (tokyo)<br /></a></li><li><a href="http://saitama.coopnet.or.jp/" target="_blank">さいたまコープ (saitama)<br /></a></li><li> <a href="http://chiba.coopnet.or.jp/" target="_blank">ちばコープ (chiba)<br /></a></li><li><a href="http://ibaraki.coopnet.or.jp/" target="_blank">いばらきコープ (ibaraki)<br /></a></li><li><a href="http://tochigi.coopnet.or.jp/" target="_blank">とちぎコープ (tochigi)<br /></a></li><li><a href="http://nagano.coopnet.or.jp/" target="_blank">コープながの (nagano)<br /></a></li><li><a href="http://gunma.coopnet.or.jp/" target="_blank">コープぐんま (gunma)<br /></a></li><li><a href="http://niigata.coopnet.or.jp/" target="_blank">コープにいがた (niigata)<br /></a></li><li><a href="http://www.coopnet.jp/" target="_blank">コープネット事業連合 (official website of coop)<br /></a></li></ul>After you enter the coop website of where you live, click on Co-op Deli link to go to the online shop website.<br />This is coop of niigata: <a href="http://niigata.coopnet.or.jp/index.php" target="_blank">http://niigata.coopnet.or.jp/<wbr>index.php</a><br />Ibaraki coop: <a href="http://ibaraki.coopnet.or.jp/">http://ibaraki.coopnet.or.jp/</a><br /><br />You need first to join coop by registering using their website(in japanese): <a href="https://f.coopnet.or.jp/webapp/form/11881_zor_7/index.do?ref=9" target="_blank">https://f.coopnet.or.jp/<wbr>webapp/form/11881_zor_7/index.<wbr>do?ref=9</a><br /><br />Then a person will call you to take an appointment with you (japanese only). The person will come to your house and give you some papers to fill in, you need to give them your bank account number.<br /><br />Once a week you can make an order (bread, butter roll and anything else you need), the items will be delivered to you the next week. Each week they will give you the catalog containing what they are selling and the order form. Each item in the catalog has a number, to order write the number of the desired item (for example the number of the butter rolls) on the order form with the quantity (how many do you want to take) and give it to the person of <span>Coop</span> the next week he will come to your house.<br /><br />The shipping fees are not exceeding 200 yen. If you have a child under 3years old, the shipment will be free of charge.Hafidahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18438634945837609959noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-1500615418116673892009-07-28T23:45:00.007+09:002010-01-26T12:45:56.817+09:00Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-11706726610016818402009-07-28T14:35:00.008+09:002010-01-26T12:49:23.164+09:00Oishii shokupan by Seven eleven (おいしい食パン)<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;"><span dir="ltr" style="font-size:130%;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqafuNnZr2JLkVOXrmP_jQEc6NQLUdl2wTZjX1LIRXHmnW0IHfP-GzF2F9hWXxBOH0Ehga5OFQ9a4vhQfLTReV8AYu3B1r3x8iTI2vvZzGDWu4JP81QXEdRMChJ3ua1GvnB24r-joQF7Sy/s1600-h/oishi+shokupan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218424855369110514" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqafuNnZr2JLkVOXrmP_jQEc6NQLUdl2wTZjX1LIRXHmnW0IHfP-GzF2F9hWXxBOH0Ehga5OFQ9a4vhQfLTReV8AYu3B1r3x8iTI2vvZzGDWu4JP81QXEdRMChJ3ua1GvnB24r-joQF7Sy/s400/oishi+shokupan.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;"><span dir="ltr"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;"><span dir="ltr"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;"><span dir="ltr"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;"><span dir="ltr"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;"><span dir="ltr"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;"><span dir="ltr"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;"><span dir="ltr"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21pt; text-indent: -21pt;"><span dir="ltr"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></p><span dir="ltr"><span lang="EN-US"><br /><br /></span></span><span dir="ltr"><span lang="EN-US">It is sold at Seven Eleven convenience stores. </span></span><br /><span dir="ltr"><span lang="EN-US">This bread contains margarine. Some of my friends (we live in Tsukuba) asked about the margarine, it is from plants. But each factory of bread of 7/11 uses its own ingredients. To be sure you need to call 7/11 factory bread in your area.<br /><br /> </span></span>Hafidahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18438634945837609959noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-50115870126385670692009-07-19T18:07:00.002+09:002009-07-28T14:30:47.868+09:00Homemade flanIf you miss your favorite flan because you cannot find Halal flan in Japan, you can make it at home. The recipe is very easy and the result is almost similar to the flan you can find in shops.<br /><br />The recipe:<br />400 ml warm milk (the milk has already been boiled)<br />1 egg yolk<br />3 (or as you want) table spoon of sugar<br />4 table spoon of cocoa powder (or use halal vanilla if you want )<br />1 tea spoon agar-agar<br /><br />Mix every thing together, put in a saucepan on a medium heat. Keep stiring until you see the mixture rising. Remove from heat. Pour into individual ramquins and put them in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.<br /><br />That is all!!!Hafidahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18438634945837609959noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-22219880717807156202009-07-11T15:30:00.003+09:002009-07-28T14:31:28.561+09:00Fares and time table of Japanese trains<span style="font-family: arial;" class="style1"><span style="color:#333333;">Salam, I am back again.<br /><br />It is summer, time for trips. If you are planning to take trains, there is a very useful website called </span><span style="color:#333333;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Hyperdia </span>which is </span><span style="color:#333333;"> a search engine that allows you to do specific point-to-point rail searches for travel in Japan. It covers virtually all train services in Japan. It allows you to know, </span><span style="color:#333333;">for each course proposed, </span><span style="color:#333333;">the time required, the distance (km) and the </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">total amount of money.</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;" class="style1"><span style="color:#333333;"><br />The english version : <a href="http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi">http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi</a><br /><br />The japanese version : <a href="http://www.hyperdia.com">http://www.hyperdia.com</a><br /><br />Have a nice trip!<br /></span></span>Hafidahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18438634945837609959noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-56363042707346431612008-09-15T14:07:00.009+09:002009-07-28T14:31:50.267+09:00Japanese sweet Potato<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ze5eS3qIUnk/SM3xyUSRZ8I/AAAAAAAAAS4/gMaayN8-v8Q/s1600-h/satsumaimo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ze5eS3qIUnk/SM3xyUSRZ8I/AAAAAAAAAS4/gMaayN8-v8Q/s200/satsumaimo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246114987697596354" border="0" /></a>Japanese sweet potato is called in Japanese Satsumaimo. Satsumaimo potatoes are mainly harvested in fall. Satsumaimo have dark-pink skin and are slightly sweet.Satsumaimo are sold fresh at grocery stores and are also used to make shochu (distilled liquor) in Japan.<br /><p>Satsumaimo is a common ingredients for <a href="http://japanesefood.about.com/od/tempura/a/cookingtempura.htm">tempura</a>. Also, adding diced satsumaimo when <a href="http://japanesefood.about.com/cs/rice/ht/ht_japaneserice.htm">cooking steamed rice</a> makes imo-gohan (satsuma-imo rice). Usually, satsuma-imo are used to make desserts or snacks.<br /></p><p>Easy ways to cook are grilling or steaming. Grilled satsuma-imo is called yakiimo. Grilled/steamed satsumaimo are simple but are popular snacks in autumn/winter in Japan. Candied satsuma-imo, called <a href="http://japanesefood.about.com/library/recipe/bldaigakuimo.htm">daigaku-imo</a>, are also delicious snacks. Japanese sweet potato cakes are simply called sweet potato. Sweet potato cakes are usually oval shaped and are golden yellow. </p><br /><br />Sweet potato is very cheap in this period in Japan, in addition, it is very nutritious. So I decided to try this recipe (<span style="font-size:100%;"><a title="Permanent link to Sweet Southern Potato Casserole Recipe" href="http://www.bfeedme.com/sweet-southern-potato-casserole-recipe/" rel="bookmark">Sweet Southern Potato Casserole Recipe</a></span>) with some modifications. It was very delicious.<br />I forgot to take a photo, hehe.<br /><br />Potato Casserole Recipe<br /><br />Ingredients:<br /><br />3 cups sweet potatoes, boiled & mashed<br />2 eggs, beaten<br />1/4 cup whole milk<br />1 cup white sugar<br />1 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />1/2 cup butter<br />1/2 cup shredded coconut<br /><br /><br />preheat your oven to 350 F, or 175 C.<br /><br />In a large bowl- mix together the sweet potatoes, eggs, milk, white<br />sugar, vanilla extract, coconut & butter. Scoop into your favorite baking dish.<br /><br />Spread some sugar on top of sweet potato mash and you're ready to bake your<br />casserole for 30 minutes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-35548107976877367892008-09-02T10:16:00.003+09:002008-09-02T10:20:36.457+09:00"Morning Selection" bread<span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:100%;">I received this information</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;" >"We bought by accident the bread called Morning Selection.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;" >We asked the company and unfortunately it contains animal fat"</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;" >This is the photo of the bread</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7B_xEjl_nvlUB3zJq-0qm4_xGeuiX6hHS3AIo9K8C6M8G6bu1AFtn4P8tvMKGuB7u3YVSC3mldgz-QJnyv-UTX0a1vY9UnUtWB2q1MhYZwSPyJgrW4pynRKiiCHeVjFufnXA_BetDnLx7/s1600-h/bread2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 170px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7B_xEjl_nvlUB3zJq-0qm4_xGeuiX6hHS3AIo9K8C6M8G6bu1AFtn4P8tvMKGuB7u3YVSC3mldgz-QJnyv-UTX0a1vY9UnUtWB2q1MhYZwSPyJgrW4pynRKiiCHeVjFufnXA_BetDnLx7/s400/bread2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241227158786344738" border="0" /></a><br /><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></span></p>Hafidahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18438634945837609959noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-4089617892504407002008-07-03T11:57:00.000+09:002008-07-03T11:58:23.932+09:00Tanabata, the star festival<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc_UDJST5yzJ62JVAt_XMnR7cXo_heuve2HfwaNTmFlYQuq_0jU_n7w8uBMLFvAedSVATkZ_FvnShuOqJVwvrElSa3kNEXCwCYKRC6uX8xvMLNChGZ8PV8mtVb1VzBM6WWD4ZSP97cPr5/s1600-h/tanabata.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkc_UDJST5yzJ62JVAt_XMnR7cXo_heuve2HfwaNTmFlYQuq_0jU_n7w8uBMLFvAedSVATkZ_FvnShuOqJVwvrElSa3kNEXCwCYKRC6uX8xvMLNChGZ8PV8mtVb1VzBM6WWD4ZSP97cPr5/s400/tanabata.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218587712679541394" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Tanabata, also known as the "star festival", takes place on the 7th day of the 7th month of the year, when, according to a Chinese legend, the two stars Altair and Vega, which are usually separated from each other by the milky way, are able to meet.<br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >During Tanabata, Japaneses write two wishes on two colorful</span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" > pieces of paper (called </span>tanzaku)<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >, and hang these pieces of paper on a specially erected bamboo tree. They believe that the wishes will become true.<br /><br />I remember that my sensei during the extensive Japanese course explained to me why they put their wishes on the bamboo tree, she said that the tree will take these wishes to god. She asked me then to write two wishes and put them on the tree. So, I said that I cannot because my religion forbids me to do that, if I want to ask something from god, I should ask him directly. Elhamdulileh, she respected my opinion ^_^ without any problems.<br /><br />The problem with Tanabata is that Japaneses celebrate it in schools, teachers asks children to hang their wishes on bamboo trees and tell them different stories on Tanabata. For a muslim child, believing that the tree will make their wishes true is not good. It is very difficult to raise a child islamically in Japan, since Japaneses still believe in such matters. The good thing with Japaneses is that they respect other religions, when a muslim asks teachers that his child will not participate in such celebrations, they accept without any problem.<br /><br />History of Tanabata:<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Tanabata originated more than 2,000 years ago with an old Chinese tale called Kikkoden. Once there was a weaver princess named Orihime and a cow herder prince named Hikoboshi living in space. After they got together, they were playing all the time and forgot their jobs. The king was angry at them and separated them on opposite sides of the Amanogawa River (Milky Way). The king allowed them to meet only once a year on July 7th. This is why tanabata is also called the Star Festival. People say that Orihime and Hikoboshi can't meet each other if July 7th is rainy, so they pray for good weather and also make wishes for themselves. From (http://gojapan.about.com/cs/japanesefestivals/a/tanabata.htm)</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-9228294346240778682008-07-02T23:55:00.008+09:002010-01-26T12:52:05.612+09:00Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-31561507804915868232008-06-28T18:59:00.003+09:002008-06-28T19:05:17.243+09:00How to clean toddler teeth?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ze5eS3qIUnk/SGYMcgkJyoI/AAAAAAAAASA/3EcIGGs9QNY/s1600-h/img10631634191.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ze5eS3qIUnk/SGYMcgkJyoI/AAAAAAAAASA/3EcIGGs9QNY/s200/img10631634191.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216870902272739970" border="0" /></a><br />I think it is not safe to use a toothpaste for a toddler even if the manufacturer says it is safe. I never used a toothpaste for my son who is a toddler, as the dentist has recommended to wait until he can spit the toothpaste out.<br /><br />In Akachan honpu and Kawachi, it is possible to find wet tissues for cleaning toddler teeth, I think it is the safest one. The tissues are called in japanese: HAMIGAKI NAPPU (歯磨きナップ).<br /><span style="color:#888888;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-33642717576801592132008-06-27T16:16:00.008+09:002008-06-27T16:36:45.240+09:00Mugi-cha<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ze5eS3qIUnk/SGSXu1_kndI/AAAAAAAAAR4/AP6uhOPswT4/s1600-h/mugicha.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ze5eS3qIUnk/SGSXu1_kndI/AAAAAAAAAR4/AP6uhOPswT4/s320/mugicha.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216461099425373650" border="0" /></a><br />Roasted barley tea is the best drink for summer, called also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mugicha">mugi-cha</a> in japan (麦茶), it is a popular tisane made from roasted <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barley" title="Barley">barley</a>. In Japan, it is regarded as a summer beverage. Many people in Japan believe that mugicha helps to cleanse the body.<br /><br />You can buy prepared mugi-cha from shops, but I prefer to prepare it at home. I bought a bag of roasted barley (198yen, topvalue brand), the bag contains 52 small bags. I put one small bag in 1.5l of water and put it in the fridge for about 1 or 2 hours and the mugi-cha is ready.<br /><br />You can give mugi-cha to children, it has no side effects. In the nursery school where my son is, they start to give mugi-cha from age 6 months. In shops specialized with baby food, it is possible to find mugi-cha for babies.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-37962445898759976152008-06-21T11:04:00.005+09:002008-06-21T11:24:03.952+09:00How can you travel cheap in Japan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Dt4pNdUsdP0/SFxlUAVKqRI/AAAAAAAAAFk/TmnqbDcIG8g/s1600-h/suitcase.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 81px; height: 104px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Dt4pNdUsdP0/SFxlUAVKqRI/AAAAAAAAAFk/TmnqbDcIG8g/s320/suitcase.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214153862948759826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US">You might be interested in discovering the beauty of Japan. Have you heard that traveling in Japan is very expensive? Well, traveling in Japan is not necessarily expensive. Fortunately, there are cheap ways to enjoy traveling in Japan.<br /><br /></span> <ul><li><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Transportation</span>: Japan Railway (JR) provides very cheap tickets that you can use to take JR trains anywhere in Japan. These tickets are called 18 kippu. They are usually sold during vacation (<a href="http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/pass/seishun18.html">see here</a>). 18 kippu are sold as a set of 5 tickets. You are allowed to share with other people. One 18 kippu costs 2.525 </span><span style="">円</span> (about 24 $)<span lang="EN-US"> and you can use it for 24 hours with different JR trains! So convenient. You can plan your trip in advance by using this <a href="http://www.hyperdia.com/">database of transportation in Japan</a>.<br /></span></li></ul> <ul><li><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style=""><span style=""></span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span dir="ltr"></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hotel</span>: There are youth hostels (<a href="http://www.jyh.or.jp/index2fr.html">Japanese website</a>, <a href="http://www.jyh.or.jp/english/index.html">English website</a>) everywhere in Japan. Usually, one night costs around 3000</span><span style="">円 (about 29$)</span><span lang="EN-US">. Youth hostel is a dormitory, where you share your room with other people. An excellent opportunity to make friends. Women dorms and men dorms are separated in Japan. In some youth hostel you can stay in family rooms, but usually they are more expensive. I personally like staying in youth hostels because they are clean, cheap and offer a friendly environment, like a home!<br /></span></li></ul> <ul><li><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style=""><span style=""></span></span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food</span>: Generally, the managers of youth hotel provide you with sanitary hot water if you ask. Now, you may ask what you can do with hot water. What about having Nescafe with sweets that you brought from home as breakfast? What about having sea food <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cup_noodles">cup noodle</a> as dinner? Moreover, some youth hostel have shared kitchen. So nice, you can cook your dinner and prepare sandwiches or obento for lunch.</span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p>Finally, is it safe to travel in Japan? Yes it is! Actually, Japanese are glad to meet foreigners that are interested in their local customs and sightseeing. If you behave politely and respectfully then you receive warm welcome and generous help.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Enjoy your trips :) !<br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-91529792104076410482008-06-13T10:31:00.005+09:002008-06-13T11:09:14.427+09:00A website to share Crime Announcement in japanese forumsI read that Japanese launched a website to share Crime Announcement on internet. The website is Yokoku.in where anyone can share crime announcements that can be found on any Japanese online forums.<br />I tried to see the website but it looks that it is not working for the moment<br /><br />This is inspired by the stubbing in Akihabara on june 8, to prevent another crime at an earlier stage. The 25-year-old man went on a killing rampage in central Tokyo on Sunday, he posted a series of messages on an online bulletin board from his cellphone. He wrote that he intended to use his vehicle and knife to kill people in the central Tokyo district of Akihabara. Seven people died and 11 were injured. Kato was splattered with blood when he was arrested during the attack.<br />I started to feel that Tokyo is no more safe for families, may be it is exaggerated but when I think about the victims who died on that day, they did know that their lives will end like that. May be they were just walking or shopping. May Allah protect us inshallah.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-1660182648558294492008-04-04T18:44:00.005+09:002008-04-04T19:05:41.467+09:00日本語で読みましょう!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Dt4pNdUsdP0/R_X88iSbuvI/AAAAAAAAAE8/FCu-pNvpaZg/s1600-h/book.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 468px; height: 122px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Dt4pNdUsdP0/R_X88iSbuvI/AAAAAAAAAE8/FCu-pNvpaZg/s320/book.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5185328662913465074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You might be interested to improve your Japanese by reading. Fortunately, there are novels dedicated to foreigners who are learning Japanese language. <a href="http://www.nihongo-yomu.jp/yomimono.html">日本語読む</a> series are created by <a href="http://www.nihongo-yomu.jp/index.html">日本語多読研究会</a>. The topics of these novels are mainly legends of Japan. There are four levels: level 1 and 2 are for beginners, level 3 is for lower-intermediate and level 4 is for intermediate. I used to read these novels. I found them quite helpful to enrich my vocabulary.<br /><br />If you live in Tsukuba, you can find these novels at Tsukuba University Central Library. Or, you can buy them from Maruzen.<br /><br />Have a sweet reading.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-6233967196416430102008-03-28T18:34:00.006+09:002008-03-28T18:40:35.868+09:00My Japanese home stay family and my burqa?!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Dt4pNdUsdP0/R-y71ySbusI/AAAAAAAAAEk/WIHYHjao5Hw/s1600-h/burqa.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 126px; height: 126px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Dt4pNdUsdP0/R-y71ySbusI/AAAAAAAAAEk/WIHYHjao5Hw/s200/burqa.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182723803903146690" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="border-style: none none solid; padding: 0mm 0mm 1pt;"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none ; padding: 0mm;"><span lang="EN-US">The day of my meeting with the home stay family came.</span><span style=""> </span><span lang="EN-US">We decided to meet at the station. Then the mother would take me by car to her home. In order to be recognized, she told me that she would be wearing a red hat. I told her that I would be wearing a black coat. I thought that being a foreigner with my every day black coat can’t be missed in a small town! However, given I am Muslim, my Japanese mother imagined that “black coat” means “black burqa”, like she saw them on TV! </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none ; padding: 0mm;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p><br />I was few minutes earlier. I saw her coming with her red hat. I waved to her with my hand but she seems to be so absorbed in her thought (or perhaps worries </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">J</span></span><span lang="EN-US">) that she didn’t notice me!</span><span lang="EN-US"> When I was close enough to her, I called her </span><span style="">“いさん</span><span lang="EN-US">,</span><span style=""> いさん</span> <span style="">ファドワですよ!!</span><span lang="EN-US">”. Finally she noticed my existence!!<br /><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none ; padding: 0mm;"><span lang="EN-US">We had a nice chat on our way. She is communicative woman. I immediately felt easiness to speak to her. Upon arriving, she introduced me to her husband and daughters. We talked a lot! Only after deeper acquaintance, my Japanese mother told me that I look normal. “Look normal”? I asked her surprised how she was expecting me to look like. That moment, I knew that my Japanese family had not been well informed that there are different Islamic branches, conservative ones as well as liberal ones. She laughed when I told her that I am sorry to disappoint her since she was expecting a more "exotic" visitor. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none ; padding: 0mm;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Dt4pNdUsdP0/R-y7-ySbutI/AAAAAAAAAEs/YfEsjLY0low/s1600-h/bourguiba.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Dt4pNdUsdP0/R-y7-ySbutI/AAAAAAAAAEs/YfEsjLY0low/s200/bourguiba.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182723958521969362" border="0" /></a><br /><span lang="EN-US">I discovered that my Japanese family had borrowed books about Tunisia. They seemed to be studying them. My Japanese mother showed me <a href="http://www.bourguiba.com/">Bourguiba</a>’s picture and told me: “The book says that he is your hero!” <span style=""> </span>Surprise, surprise, this is exactly the person who is responsible of making me look "normal" to her! To be continued…</span></p> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-69633665544154399392008-03-20T19:53:00.007+09:002008-07-03T14:37:26.990+09:00Things you need to bring when travelling to Japan<div style="text-align: justify;">I thought may be it will be interesting for muslims who are coming to japan to know what things they should bring with them:<br /></div><ol style="text-align: justify;"><li>Medicines: bring with you all the medicines you need or may need (in case of flu, headache, ...). It is may be impossible here in Japan to find the same medicines that you use in your country. Medicines here are sold under doctor prescription. There are drug stores where you can buy drugs without doctor's prescription but when you are new and do not speak/read Japanese it is difficult to find what you are looking for. If you have a baby, it is better also to bring medicines against fever because doctors here refused to give drugs against fever for my baby .</li><li>Clothes: it is difficult for a Muslim woman to find suitable clothes for her (I mean long skirts, long jackets, scarves...). It is more difficult if you wear large sizes, most of clothes here are size S, M or L and sometimes LL. LL is considered a very large size here. The same thing goes for shoes.</li><li>Bring lace-less shoes or shoes you can easily slip on. You’ll be surprised to find how often you'll be taking them off. </li><li>If you have problem to speak English, bring with you a dictionary to translate from your language to English. But do not worry because Japaneses do not speak English well so you will need to talk in English occasionally.</li><li>It is difficult to find Halal vanilla and gelatin, so if you need them, bring them with you. Tahini and Nigella sativa (black seeds) are also difficult to find. I recommend also to bring dried herbs like Oregano, verbana, mint.<br /></li><li>Bring some food with you if you do not know any muslim where you are going to live, it is difficult in the beginning to know which food is halal .</li><li>Bring with you your official papers (translated in English) like the driving license, original transcripts and degree, vaccination record for children....</li><li>Many institutes pay salaries at the end of the month, it’s important to bring quite a bit of cash.<br /></li><li>Gifts: it is appreciated to give a gift for your professor.<br /></li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;">Things you do not need to bring with you:<br /></div><ol style="text-align: justify;"><li>Electrical appliances like a hair dryer because you will face electrical compatibility problems. Japan operates on 100 volts. In addition, used appliances are very cheap here and can be found easily.</li></ol><div style="text-align: justify;">Once you are in Japan and realize that you need things for your new home like plates and spoons, batteries, pens..., you can buy them from 100yen shops, these shops sells things at 100 yen, very cheap when you are in Japan.</div>Hafidahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18438634945837609959noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-92100780702140339642008-03-12T16:22:00.009+09:002008-03-12T17:06:14.750+09:00The suicide forest at Aokigahara on Mt Fuji<div style="text-align: justify;">This is really a place to avoid, the forest of Aokigahara <span style="font-weight: normal;">(<span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">青木ヶ原</span>) </span>, also known as the Sea of Trees <span style="font-weight: normal;">(<span class="t_nihongo_kanji" lang="ja">樹海</span><span class="t_nihongo_comma" style="display: none;">,</span> <i><span class="t_nihongo_romaji">Jukai</span></i>)</span>, is an old, <span class="mediumtxt"> dense and dark forest bordering </span> Mount Fuji, <span class="mediumtxt">so dense and thick that from just a few kilometers inside it no sounds can be heard other than those produced by the forest itself.</span><br /><br />In 2002, 78 bodies were found within the forest, replacing the previous record of 73 in 1998. It is a popular place for suicides, due in some part to the novel Kuroi Jukai (<i>Black Forest</i>), which ends with the lovers of the novel committing suicide in the forest. The high rate of suicide has led officials to place signs within the forest, urging those who have gone there specifically with the purpose of suicide in mind to seek help and not kill themselves.<br /><br /><span class="mediumtxt"> "The perfect place to die." That's how Aokigahara was described in Wataru Tsurumui's bestselling book The Complete Manual of Suicide. Aokigahara is famous throughout Japan as a popular spot for those taking their final journey. </span><span class="mediumtxt">By May of 2006, at least 16 new suicides had already been found. More than a few of them were even carrying copies of Tsurumui's book. No one knows how many bodies go undiscovered.</span><br /><br />Behind this, there is evidence to suggest that growing numbers of Japanese people are clinically depressed. Statistics from the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry suggest that one in <span style="" lang="EN-US">fifteen suffer from depression at some point in their lives.</span></div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="" lang="EN-US">Japanese society puts more pressure on individuals to show outward happiness and this may explain why depression is more likely to result in suicide in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="" lang="EN-US">Japan</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="" lang="EN-US">; if depression is less acceptable, suicide might seem to be an easier option than seeking help.</span><br /><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US">There is also another factor helping the suicides, Internet. The Internet in </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="" lang="EN-US">Japan</span></st1:place></st1:country-region> is a space where depression sufferers can find <span style="" lang="EN-US">similar individuals and make arrangements to meet up and commit suicide as a group. The Aokigahara forest is one of the suicide hot spots.</span><br /><br /><span style="" lang="EN-US">I was really surprised to know this side of the japanese society, I was always thinking that they are the happiest people on earth, since they have almost everything to make them happy, peace, wealth and prosperity and not many crimes! Ok, it seems that I was wrong.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ze5eS3qIUnk/R9eNzfZhg2I/AAAAAAAAARA/Rjl1FhJI6LU/s1600-h/aokigahara.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ze5eS3qIUnk/R9eNzfZhg2I/AAAAAAAAARA/Rjl1FhJI6LU/s200/aokigahara.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176762212427072354" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-393094537951556150.post-71224779147203026402008-02-28T21:53:00.005+09:002008-02-28T22:00:52.998+09:00My Japanese home stay family and my food<div style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:arial;">My first home stay experience in Japan was two years ago with a warm family. Although they hosted several foreigners in the past, they have never been in contact with a Muslim person. As many Japanese, their only experience with Islam was through TV or newspapers. Media is not always trustful source of information. Although, it is easy and practical way for widening our knowledge, it can be responsible of negative stereotypes and </span><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Dt4pNdUsdP0/R8avZgJbINI/AAAAAAAAADs/nAJINh_Kk60/s1600-h/halal_large.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 129px; height: 129px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Dt4pNdUsdP0/R8avZgJbINI/AAAAAAAAADs/nAJINh_Kk60/s200/halal_large.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172014074742644946" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family:arial;">prejudices.</span><img style="font-family: arial;" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Fadoua/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /></div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span lang="EN-US">First, when I applied, I had to specify in the form my religion. Furthermore, in the same form they asked whether I have restrictions in food. At the beginning, I was not going to mention my preferences in food. I said to myself that I will try to avoid eating food that are suspicious to me and have sweets and cracks in my bag in case I find nothing to eat. Eating sweets and cracks for two days will not kill me, I can bear that. Furthermore, I am going for the cultural and social purposes. Food is not my priority along this home stay experience. But, I changed my mind; I want to enjoy Japanese homemade food!! Therefore, I mentioned that I would greatly appreciate if alcoholic drinks and meat are withdrawn from my meals.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span lang="EN-US">Few days later, I received feedback from the host family. They accepted my application. Moreover, they included a questionnaire: “Do you drink milk?”, “Do you eat cheese?”, “Do you eat raw fish?”, “If we cook a soup with meat than we remove meat, can you eat the soup?”…</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span lang="EN-US">Oh!! So many details!! They could compete Ghada and Hafidha in their accurate selections of Halal Japanese products, just joking </span>:) <span lang="EN-US">! I really didn’t want to cause so much disturb! I am kind of person who does not feel comfortable in giving requests to unknown people. Having no choice, I replied to their questionnaire and politely thanked them for their care. To be continued…</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8