Japanese Culture

A recommended cartoon portraying Japanese tradition

Japanese animation or cartoon leads people to be interested in Japanese culture. There is a popular cartoon called . There are two versions of , the animation and the movie. They are originally based on the cartoon ‘Chihayafuru’.
In Japan, they have two types of cartoons. The one is shonen manga (cartoons targeting for boys), the other is shojo manga (cartoons targeting for girls). is shojo manga but also attracts many boys.
Are you familiar with ‘Hyakunin issu’? Hyakunin isshu is a Japanese traditional card game, Karuta. This is the subject matter for the cartoon . The main character, Ayase Chihaya is a member of club Hyakunin isshu in high school. .If you are Japanese, you might have tried Hyakunin isshu once or more in elementary school or high school. Hykunin means 100 people while isshu means a unit to count waka, a traditional Japanese poem. We call the poem anthology as Hykunin isshu, because 100 people composed the poems. There are two kinds of cards for the game. One consist of whole waka (poem) and a small painting of the poet, whilst the other consist of the latter part of waka only. The latter part of waka, which is called simonoku, is written in hiragana. The rules are simple. You need to choose yomite, a reader.

Recommendation for Japanese cartoon portraying Japanese tradition

When the reader reads a card (yomihuda), challengers should find a card in hiragana (torihuda). Winner is the one who collects as many cards as he/she can. If you memorize each waka, you can match it as you hear it faster than anyone, as you can get it while the reader is reading the first part (kaminoku). In , they play Hykunin isshu with the most difficult and intensive game rule, “competitive karuta”. At the real karuta game, challengers match the card as hearing the first syllable of the card. It takes only 0.5 second! It is also called ‘a fighting on dadami’ due to the speed and the intensiveness. The challengers are called senshu (players). Reading , you can indirectly experience the real life of Japanese high school students.

Chihayafuru

Also, you may wish you were a one of them, becoming their friends and playing Hyakunin isshu together with them. Since the characters are so charming! The 27th of May is the day celebrating Hyakunin isshu. (Hyakunin isshu were brought to completion on the 27th of May in 1235) We recommend you to try to enjoy all the package of the Japanese traditional culture and the new culture-cartoon-!

Lessons and Classes

Special Seminar for Career in Japan

Special Seminar for Career in Japan, Tokyo Galaxy Japanese Language School

The Business Japanese Class of Tokyo Galaxy Japanese Language School: A Guest Seminar for Career in Japan
The Business Japanese Class of Tokyo Galaxy Japanese Language School is for students who want to work in Japan. Total of six months class allows the students to master the usage of Japanese in the business world and holds many useful seminars for job preparation.
Today’s post is about the guest seminar on career in Japan.

A speaker who is an expert in current job market, job hunting techniques and more shared useful information for international students. It was a valuable seminar for students who have a goal to find a job in Japan. From this seminar, students must have learned to see the big picture and make long-term plan to be employed in Japan.
For people who wish to prepare for career in Japan and master true proficiency in Business Japanese at the same time, check out the Business Japanese Class of Tokyo Galaxy Japanese Language School.

A Guest Seminar for Career in Japan

Only students who have obtained a competency level in Japanese comparable to or above JLPT N2 can take this program. It is because the class is focused on oral practice so rigorous conversation drills in the classroom. Students constantly receive feedback on their conversational skills. The Business Japanese class is effective for students who reached certain level of Japanese, and have no fear of speaking.

The Business Japanese Class of Tokyo Galaxy Japanese Language School holds various seminars that are useful for business situation in Japan. Teachers draw each student’s potential ability as much as possible for their successful employment. Bear in mind that the Business Japanese Class begins in April or October each year, students must obtain JLPT N2 level or above, and enrolled students must have class attendance record of 80%. Study in Tokyo Galaxy Japanese Language School for your career in Japan.

College

Study design in Japan: Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry

Course Introduction of Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry such as jewelry, shoes, bag, watch, etc
For people who wish to study design in Japan, we introduce Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry, the top design school in Japan. Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry, first established in 1966, is the first technical college in Japan approved as educational corporation in the field of Jewelry. It is not easy to find school in Japan or other countries where specializes in the field of jewelry, shoes, bags and watches, so Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry is gaining recognition globally for its specialty.
90% of international students who graduated Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry get employed in Japan. This fact makes Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry more attractive. Technics learned through studying in Japan and experience built in Japanese company will become the foundation when launching your own brand in future. Let’s look at the department, course and topics of study.

Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry

Jewelry Department

Select Topics

Order Design
Students acquire marketing know-how and development skills for proposing designs based on their accurate understandings of customer needs.

Store Planning
Students learn about product concepts and sales, brand logos, packaging and display

Material Study
Students will learn how to expand the possibilities of creating jewelry from accessories spelling their unique concepts and stories contained in the material.

Products Production
Students will have opportunities to present their work by establishing an original brand, organizing a presentation inviting professional buyers, shop owners, making brochure, displaying products and greeting guests.

Various Setting Techniques
Students will learn specialized techniques required for expressing the jewelry that they want to create.

Craftwork
Students will make items other than jewelry using wide range of techniques such as metal or glass processing techniques. Students will have confrontation ability in all form of material and concept.

Colour glazing
Students will draw a miniature (enamel miniature) on glaze material that’s used in high-end jewelry

Carving
Students will select material to use from shale, coral and jet (dendrolite), and learn carving technique. Students will make cameo or small sculpture.

Course

Jewelry Production Course (2 Years Course)
This program helps students to cultivate business sense such as technique, product quality, volume production, marketing know-how and more.

Jewelry Creator Course (3 Years Course)
Students will learn specialized techniques required for expressing the jewelry that they want to create such as metal working and stone setting that cannot be learnt in 2 years course. Students will also have chance to collaborate with companies.

Advanced Jewelry Course(4 years Course)
Students will learn the ultimate techniques possible to learn as a student over a period of four years, such as filigree and granulation, which are also known as rare techniques, carving techniques such as cameo and engraving, advanced cloisonné and inlaying techniques for displaying the jewelry in a flamboyant manner. Those who have completed the course will be awarded the title of “Advanced Diploma” that is equivalent to Bachelor Degree.

Shoemaker Department

Select Topics
Students will focus on design and production of various shoes such as traditional shoes, man shoes and more while deepening historic and background knowledge about shoes.

Fashion Shoes
Students will learn about trend research, building brand image and coordination, and study shoe design.

Sneaker Technology
Students will aim to become a shoemaker with wide horizons without restricting themselves to these frontiers by trying different shoe design based on structure and system of various products

Lasting
By learning the know-how of last creation based on footprint measurement, students will take up a challenge of creating full order made shoes using the last that exactly matches own feet.

Course

Shoemaker Course(2 years course)
Students will acquire the fundamental knowledge required for shoe creation such as materials (material science), foot (foot anatomy), last (wood pattern) and marketing.

Shoemaker Master Course(3 years course)
In addition to Shoemaker Course (2years), students will learn more advanced shoemaking technologies in the third year, and you will present your own view of the world on-campus and off-campus through an expression medium called “Shoes”. It is full of practical classes where student will pursue individual creation, such as operating CAD that will widen chances of playing important role in the field, company collaborations and branding programs.

Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry

Bagmaker Department

Select Topics

Design
Student will learn the technique to beautifully and accurately draw the bag from its shape or structure of detailed sub parts.

Design Diagram
Students will create an accurate design diagram while correcting the drawing for problems when creating a paper pattern or stitching.

Hand-made Bag Making
Features of hand-made are durability and beauty of stitching. Students will learn to uniform front and back sewing without flaying around edges even if bobbin thread runs out.

Course

Bagmaker Course(2 years course)
Students will focus on design and production techniques of various bags. Second year students will undertake the assignment of collaborating with popular brands for product development.

Watchmaker Department

Select Topics

Alignment of tools
Students will learn basic of watch repair from adjusting the tools to sharpening the edge of driver or tweezers. This is also applicable when making original tools or components.

Overhaul skill for various types of watches
Students will learn general technique and knowledge of watchmaker, such as overhaul skill of movement

Global Internship Program
Selected students with good grades will have 2 weeks training in Swiss Training Center of two companies Patek Phllpe, Richmonte where possess the world’s most prestigious watch brands.

Training opportunity in Japan’s major watch companies
Students will have chance to do a field trip and internship in Japan’s major watch companies ‘Seiko’ and ‘Citizen’

Course

Watchmaker Course(2 years course)
Watchmaker Course is to study general technique and knowledge of watchmaker, such as overhaul skill of movement watch, watch theory, metalwork, quartz watch, antique watch repairing, and business manner, product knowledge.

Watchmaker Master Course(3 years course)
In addition to Watchmaker Course(2 years course), this course will cover the curriculum of studying overhaul skills for complicated chronograph watches.

Since Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry teaches high-level technique and gives job placement guidance, the school prefers international students who are fluent in Japanese.
There is no problem learning technique after getting into Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry, but students must have high level of Japanese language before an admission.
Students of Tokyo Galaxy Japanese Language School can get an admission to Hiko Mizuno Jewelry College through special recommendation system. Students must meet the requirements such as fulfilling 1 year of attendance at school, recording more than 90% of attendance rate and more. Improve your Japanese skill from Tokyo Galaxy Japanese Language School and participate in one-day class of Hiko Mizuno College of Jewelry to plan your future.
Refer to the fact that Tokyo Galaxy’s Business Japanese Class is very helpful for job search activity in future.
Consider studying in Tokyo Mizuno College of Jewelry if you want to be a jewelry, Shoes, bag, or watch designer.

Japanese Culture

Ubukeya store for knives in Tokyo Ningyocho

A long-established store ‘Ubukeya’ with a 200-year history of craftsmanship in Tokyo Ningyocho Ningyocho, a sophisticated district where embraces the history of edo, has many long-established stores. We will introduce Ubukeya that opened in 1783.
Ubuke(うぶ毛) refers to the soft hair of an infant.

Ubukeya store for knives in Tokyo Ningyocho

Ubukeya store for knives in Tokyo Ningyocho

The name of the store came from Kinosuke, the founder of the store, having reputation for making knives that are sharp enough to shave the soft hair of an infant.
Ubukeya began operation in Shinmachibashi Osaka in 1783, and opened an Edo store in Nihonbashi Horidomecho in 1800s.
Due to land adjustment, the store got settled in Tokyo Ningyocho in the mid-19th century, the Meiji Period.
Ubukeya stocks a range of knives, scissors, nail clippers and more. The store with more than 200 years of history offers high-quality products. Ubukeya operates with a spirit of shokuakindo(職商人). The word shokuakindo(職商人) means a craftsman that produces and sells high-quality products that consumers can be satisfied with.

Ubukeya store for knives in Tokyo Ningyocho

Ubukeya store for knives in Tokyo Ningyocho

Well-cared Knives, scissors and nail clippers can last a lifetime. It could be great to use good quality products like Ubukeya’s that are made for customers’ benefit.
Especially, cooking is necessary for our healthy life. If you are looking for a good sharp knife, stop by Ubukeya. Explain the use of the knife, and then the staff will show the products that best suit your purpose and explain sincerely. You will be impressed once by the service of Ubukeya, and you’ll be impressed again when you use the knife at home. Because the products are of high quality and expensive, the store repairs the products that were used.

Ubukeya store for knives in Tokyo Ningyocho

Tokyo Galaxy Japanese Language School students who bought knife from Ubukeya may reminisce about the great time studying abroad in Japan when using the product.
Ubukeya is located around Ningyocho Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and the Toei Asakusa Line. It takes 15 to 20 minute by walk from Tokyo Galaxy Japanese Language School.
If you walk straight and pass Suitengumae Station, you’ll see Ningyocho Station. Ubukeya is located on the roadside between Suitengumae Station and Ningyocho Station.

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