Here I am living in the land of Karaoke so why not have a little sing-a-along about all my favourite things in Japan! Those who know me well know I can’t hold a tune to save myself let alone hum one! However I am not adverse to blatting out the odd version of a song emphasis on odd and definitely out of tune and never the right words!
I am also not adverse to slipping Sound of Music reference or jibes to my dear friend Michael so this wee post was also written with him in mind because next to Christmas we all know that the Sound of Music is his favourite thing!
So people if you have a nifty little outfit made from curtains some where in that wardrobe of yours, slip in on and sing along with me! Heck go the whole hog and find yourself a mountain and go skip around and sing along at the top of your voice with me!
Here are some of My Favourite Things about being in Japan.
Shrines and Temples and trains running on time
Haiku poems that don’t have to rhyme
Relaxing soak in the gorgeous hot springs
These are a few of my favorite things
Puppies in raincoats and smart manga doodles
Sushi and ocha with long soba noodles
Proud skyscrapers stretching and standing like kings
These are a few of my favorite things.
Girls in kimono tied with elaborate sashes
Blossoms that float past my nose and eyelashes
Crisp blue winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things
When the crowds suck, when it gets tough
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite stuff
And then I don’t feel so bad
Karaoke in boxes and blogs getting written
Hot toilet seats and feeling Japan smitten
Bright paper cranes spreading their wings
These are a few of my favorite things
Cooking with cronies and making great food
Spring and Autumn and bathing in the nude
Majestic Mount Fuji standing tall and inspiring.
These are a few of my favourite things
Museums and Gardens, so many fine arts
Traditions that last in our culture and hearts
Cheeky monkeys in the hot springs
These are a few of my favorite things
When the crowds suck, when it gets tough
When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite stuff
And then I don’t feel so bad
MMMN maybe I sound submit a movie pitch to the powers that be, a sort of
modern day Sound of Music meets the King and I, Asian themed musical about a tone deaf English Teacher working and living in Tokyo…………. Possibly in Anime form ………..
Could be Oscar winning!
Yoroshiku Onegai shimasu
Leanne
NihongoJapango 
So Haiku poems don’t have to rhyme. I must try them out. The inability to rhyme is what keeps me from becoming a great poet, I think.
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Just think of them as a very descriptive 3 lines that are like a snapshot of a brief moment in time, a picture in words. Your only constraint is the number of syllables. 5,7,5 I think? and there is another called Tanka.
“A haiku is a compact poem of three lines. It shares with the reader the experience or observations of a poet. It talks about a mood or a moment, by juxtaposing images. The poem is composed by using simple words. The haiku focuses on a single moment, usually giving a very brief description of some event or object belonging to nature. In a haiku there is a word related to a particular season. It is called a kigo in the Japanese language.”
“Tanka are 31-syllable poems that have been a popular form of poetry in Japan for at least 1300 years. As a form of poetry, tanka is older than haiku, and tanka poems evoke a moment or mark an occasion with concision and musicality. In Japanese, tanka is often written in one straight line, but in English and other languages, they are usually divided into the five syllabic units: 5-7-5-7-7. Usually, each line consists of one image or idea. A tanka is lyrical in nature, and it provides room to the poet to share his feelings.” got this off a poetry workshop site.
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Wow. You know something about Japanese poetry – don’t you? I’m copying your comment to my notepad. I’ll check out both Haiku and Tanka, and try experimenting with them. Thanks a ton for taking out time and explaining it to me.
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Can’t take credit for pulling that off the top of my head, the detailed explanations are from a google search !
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I noticed the quotes – but researching is hard work. One of the reasons I avoid serious writing.
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I am so excited to tell you that my first trip to Japan is happening this June! I cannot wait!!!!
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Fabulous! Happy to answer any questions if I can!
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Hope you get to experience some of my favourite things!
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Looking forward to your posts on your trip. It’s always fun to hear my friends take on Japan. Like seeing the place with fresh eyes again. Looking forward to your insights!
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My husband has traveled there before on business so I have his impressions. Asia won’t be a total shock to me – I’ve been to China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, so I’m really curious what I perceive as differences. Japan and Taiwan have such a history, as i’m sure know.
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Very good 🙂 We like The Sound of Music!
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