Amy Chavez - The Japan Times

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jul 27, 2002

Australian researchers have discerned that we use three different voices: one when talking with other adults, one with elongated vowels for talking to babies, and a high-pitched voice for talking to pets.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jul 20, 2002

Comparing how American and Asian kids sponge

Americans are known for being "kechi" or frugal. We don't like to spend money and often fuss over small change. We seek out the cheapest product before buying it and then return it if we are not completely satisfied.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jul 13, 2002

Giving our insects a permanent vacation

On July 7th, all bad insects left our island. How do I know? I threw them out myself, along with 40 other islanders.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jul 6, 2002

Goldirocks' Japan home stay experience

Have you ever wondered what would happen if Goldilocks came to Japan?

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jun 29, 2002

'Mochi nage' -- organized food fights

Now that the World Cup is nearly over, those of us in Japan turn our attention to other matters, such as food fights. Japan must be the only country where throwing food is not only acceptable but encouraged. Whole neighborhoods gather to throw food at each other in a tradition called "mochi nage," or...

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jun 22, 2002

Islanders ward off cholera the rite way

Out the window, I caught a glimpse of the yellow silk tails of a Shinto priest's robes. He was walking up the stone staircase behind my house, followed by men in black suits. I grabbed my camera and ran after them.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jun 15, 2002

The coming imperial hooligan regime

A couple of weeks before the beginning of the World Cup soccer tournament, I went into the local grocery store on my island. Yes, this tiny island has a grocery store -- with four aisles! (sorry, no salad bar). We don't need more than one store, because only 800 people live here on Shiraishi Island....

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Jun 8, 2002

To World Cup soccer fans: Uerukamu!

In Japan, we have only two languages: Japanese and a dialect of English called Japanese English. JE is Japan's second language. I call it Zen English because you can't translate it directly. A lot of the meaning is left up to the listener. Entire sentences are often expressed in just two words. For example,...

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

May 25, 2002

Petunia diet: key to a long, slender body

Are you a city dweller living in a high-rise apartment block? Do you miss having trees as neighbors? Have the few plants you tried to grow on the veranda died of asthma? I offer all you smog dwellers my garden: a virtual garden where you too can grow tomatoes and even pick off the worms. Or just be glad...

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

May 20, 2002

Kobe beef's secret: nice alcoholic cows

As we enter the barbecue season, that tiny lovely sliver of a season stuck between "o-hanami" and the rainy season, the question on everyone's mind is: What is Kobe beef? And what could make Kobe beef so special that people willingly pay over 10,000 yen for a steak?

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

May 11, 2002

Japan's life cycle of death ceremonies

I recently attended a "kankin" ceremony to mark the 100th day since the death of my neighbor Ueda-san. The usual funeral-goers were there as well as a couple of Sweat Suit Boys. Many of the attendees were people I only see at funerals. I'm beginning to wonder if this isn't a sort of hobby. It's hard...

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

May 4, 2002

'Nagashibina': a tradition just for girls

Tomorrow is Children's Day, the politically correct way to say "Boys' Day." This is not to say that girls don't have a special day. The Doll Festival was March 3, but is not a national holiday like Boys' Day is.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Apr 27, 2002

Let's celebrate nature at Disneyland

Monday is Greenery Day, a national holiday. Let's hear it for plants! But the question on everyone's mind is: Do plants really need a day off? Let's find out with some roving in-the-pot interviews.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Apr 20, 2002

Japan traffic, one of life's little screams

I have always wondered why people insist on driving in Japan. This country just wasn't set up for moving vehicles. First of all, it is too small to have a portion of the population rallying around, flirting with momentum and dodging buildings. Imagine cramming 125 million people into land the size of...

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Apr 13, 2002

Ignored by your pet? Try my ESL course

Trying to communicate with your cat or dog and not getting through? Maybe you are just not speaking their language. What language is that? Of course, that universal language: English! After all, Lassie understood English. Garfield thinks in English. And Mr. Ed, the horse, spoke it.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Apr 6, 2002

Sweat suit boys and psychedelic kids

On my planet, the United States, we have all kinds of people, even centaurs and mermaids. But there are a few types of people I have seen in Japan that we don't have in the U.S.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Mar 30, 2002

Ugly Americans? Just loud but lovable

If you're an American living abroad, it doesn't take long to realize that American's don't have a very good reputation. For those of us living in Japan, it's not the Japanese who speak badly about us, it's the other foreigners. Americans are the most disliked people, yet there is no one group of people...

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Mar 23, 2002

Gods and sea monsters: culture quiz

It's time for another Japanese culture quiz!

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Mar 16, 2002

Conspiracy behind itty-bitty kitty tails

There is one question about Japan that even the Japanese cannot answer: What has happened to all the cats' tails? I have never seen a kitten without a tail, but adult stray cats in Japan seldom have tails. Although many Japanese have offered theories, no one seems to really know the answer.

COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE

Mar 9, 2002

Burial, cremation and getting flushed

I have always thought the worst way to die is to get flushed down the toilet. My father used to flush everything: large roaches that might revive themselves even after you had stepped on them, flies buzzing their last break dances on the sink, and goldfish. The first sight of a goldfish listing to one...

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