Inspired by a short story of his life in the book Folk Tales of Japan by Kyota Ko.
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Would you freak out if you saw a raccoon calmly sauntering its way through the ticket gate to the subway? Almost like it does this every day.
Just an average day for a busy tanuki.
On September 2nd, a little furry commuter was seen at Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, Japan, walking in amongst thousands of other people on a busy Friday evening.
In the photo above and video below, you can see it even had its own personal usher on hand, a station employee clearing a path for it and ensuring passersby gave it personal space. Even though it was treated like a celebrity — it was only a wild tanuki.
JR新宿駅構内にタヌキがいた。 pic.twitter.com/2veMxdtvz1
— CORE Kaopy (@core_kaopy) September 2, 2022
A reader of my Little Fried Chicken and Sushi strip shared this story with me in the comments on the GoComics site, and it got my imagination racing. A tanuki is thought of as a magical creature in Japan that can shapeshift and play tricks on people. Was there a spell involved in this encounter?
I love having Tanuki as a character in my strip, and this event brings the idea of an animal doing human things to life in a new way. Some might have wondered if this raccoon forgot to turn itself into a salaryman to blend in. Maybe it uses the train regularly to get around Tokyo?
The Shinjuku train station it was spotted in has a mascot of a Tanuki with a white swirl on its belly. The mascot’s name is TanuTanu. Was this the real thing?
An advertisement for TanuTanu the subway mascot.
No one was sure about where the Tanuki came from, but it was spotted at the station around 9:30 p.m. The staff guided it from the platform, and the animal went up the stairs and towards the New South Exit, where the video was taken. Then, it walked through the ticket gates and disappeared into the night.
We’ll never know what the Tanuki was up to, but it sure seemed comfortable in its surroundings. Not scurrying away, frightened of people, makes you think it does this often without much fanfare.
The city must be a tough place for a raccoon. I’m glad the station attendants helped him get where he needed to go.
It’s similar to the time Tanuki started working an office job. It didn’t last too long, though.
P.S. If this was indeed “the” TanuTanu mascot, spirit of, or a real magical tanuki on his way home from a long day of work pretending to be human, it stood out. Still, it was ultimately accepted by the people all around.
The video and news reports didn’t talk about people running away from it in fear or getting scared because a wild animal was walking next to them.
As a human being, a black male, who gets stared at, surprises others by being a tall foreigner on the train and sticks out just about everywhere when I’m visiting Japan. I’m not sure how to feel about this. A wild tanuki in the subway station is unique enough to make the news, but it doesn’t shock or get people’s attention the way a person who looks different can.
Sometimes, I wish I could shapeshift into a tanuki, ride the train with help from attendants, and everyone thinks it’s so cute.
Am I jealous of TanuTanu, the raccoon? Not really. Maybe a little envious, though.
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A couple admiring all the gachapon choices. Photo- Rittis/Shutterstock.com
Gachapon or gacha gacha capsule toy machines have exploded in Japan.
They’ve been popular for years, but I kept seeing them everywhere in Osaka during my latest trip—entire store sections of them in malls and even at revolving sushi restaurants.
I was only away for three years, and now almost any kind of toy is in a gachapon.
They’re like gumball machines where you put your coins in and turn the knob, it makes a gacha gacha sound, and a plastic ball falls out with a toy inside. You pop it open and see which character or object you’re lucky enough to collect this time.
Each machine has a different toy theme based on anime characters or just about anything imaginable. Yup, there are plenty of gacha toy collectors hoping to find that missing character from their collection. It’s not just for kids. Adults love discovering their favorite gachapon wherever they go.
Most gachapon toys cost around three hundred yen each or roughly three dollars, which might sound expensive, but it doesn’t feel like it because you’re using coins.
There’s a one hundred yen coin, and dropping three of them in a gachapon feels easy and fun. I couldn’t resist taking photos of some of the more interesting toys available for your gacha gacha purchase.
Here’s a Naruto gachapon toy in my hand for size reference.
Who wouldn’t want birds hugging bread?
Cute animals are everywhere doing strange things. Maybe some of these are associated with manga or anime, or they’re mainly there to make you smile and wonder about their meaning.
Cute bears wrapped in food? Should you hug them or eat them?
Panda bread looks delicious!
Cute kitty cat pancakes. They don’t look very happy to me.
Aaaaah! Scary cats!!
Sometimes, the animals are busy doing one of their hobbies. Or waiting for you to squeeze them.
This one looks like a cat’s dream.
Nothing’s more relaxing than squeezing the life out of a cute squishy bird.
If you’re a foodie, I guess these gachapon toys might be something you could collect.
Oooh! The sashimi looks so fresh!!
Stackable burgers are so hot right now.
Wait. Is this even food?
I didn’t know furniture was an option for gachapon toys. If you’re into miniature models, these are for you.
Airplane seats that recline. Buckle your seatbelts.
I love the sophistication of this Karimoku collection. So rich!
I purposely avoided the standard cartoon character toys based on anime and manga you see everywhere. It was fun looking for ones that were creative and different.
I couldn’t resist these, though.
Mini Squid Game murderers for your keys.
You can get the whole bloody family!
If you visit Japan someday, make sure to get a few gachapon toys. They make great souvenirs and are fun to shop for while you’re sightseeing.
What creative capsule toys have you seen or bought?
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In America, you dream of dating that perfect someone with hopes of hearing them say, “I love you.” Not only once but every day after. Gazing into your eyes and speaking those three magical words confirms the connection you both have for each other and also puts you at ease.
You know they want to be with you just as much as you want to be with them. All because of saying one little phrase.
It’s not the same in every country. I learned from living in Japan for two years, dating my wife, and now visiting with her for the past twenty—actions speak louder than words.
Saying “I love you” every day if you’re Japanese dilutes the feeling behind the words. I was surprised to learn couples there feel like you should show and not tell.
Or, you could look like a liar—someone who’s hiding something.
Why say the words when your deeds and actions make it very clear how you feel? Even in a Japanese family, you don’t have to show affection and use words to let loved ones know they mean a lot to you. Hugging and kissing all over your spouse? Nope. Telling your children, you love them? No way.
The fact that your delicious dinner was prepared with care and noticing the perfect way your clothes were folded neatly says it all. Picking up something your wife dropped right away and holding the door for her as you walk into a store are impressive gestures of love.
Even the tone of your voice to your partner speaks volumes. Small things, for sure, but vital to making your feeling for the other person clear.
I’m an affectionate person, and of course, growing up in America, I learned not only to show but to most definitely tell how I feel to express love. Learning to understand what my wife expected and needed in our relationship took time and a bit of trial and error.
The idea of having different “Love Languages” popularized by author Gary Chapman in his book series, ‘The Five Love Languages’ has become well-known in the states. Some of us feel more loved when our partner tells us or gives us compliments, and others enjoy physical touch or having someone give them gifts or help them around the house.
To be clear, all of these are fantastic ways to show love, and you should add them to your relationship. Normally, though, one of them makes your partner feel loved deeply. So much so, if you don’t give love in the language they need, they could feel like you’re not meeting their needs and become unhappy or leave.
In Japan, I’m not sure it works the same. Showing your love is all about actions, and what you do and how you show your love to your partner is what matters—part of showing that love means avoiding conflict as much as possible.
Love means keeping the home a peaceful place while keeping your strong opinions quiet for the good of the family and your marriage.
Perhaps ‘The Five Love Languages’ book is translated into Japanese, but I bet the meanings are different. Can you even have a chapter on verbal compliments as a love language? Maybe it becomes the opposite — your partner loves you more, the less they actually say it.
Or, the book is just one long chapter: The Language of Action
When we were dating, I would meet my wife at a train station in Osaka to walk around together and find a place to eat. If I arrived there early, even if she weren’t late, she would be running over to me, looking rushed. Showing me how important it was for her to get there and be with me.
At first, I didn’t understand the importance of this and told her she didn’t have to run over to meet me. Especially if she’s not late, but she didn’t stop doing it. After several dates, I realized how much she cared and wanted to show me how eager she was to meet for our date. It was a sweet gesture.
My love language is more about getting affection, but over time, I grew to appreciate the power of someone I love doing and showing how much they care by treating me each day.
Anyone can say they love you, but can they show it with how they treat you day in and day out for many, many years? I have experience, but I know I’m no expert, but it seems in Japan, you get more respect if you prove love lasts without only saying words.
Life in Japan is tough. People work long hours, commute far to work, and there are pages of cultural rules you must follow to fit in and be considered a good citizen. When you can make life a little easier for your partner by reducing their stress at home or showing them someone cares about their happiness, that’s huge.
I don’t believe, though, this means every Japanese wife is quiet and docile, bowing and obeying their husbands every want and need. Every husband is silent and ignores his family. Maybe some are, but most couples learn how to express their opinions and be honest with each other in a non-threatening way to keep a loving relationship alive.
There are times when so much can be said and understood with just a look or a subtle change in tone of voice.
The ones that don’t figure it out, who yell at each other back and forth, aren’t going to last long. It’s like that in America too, you say? Yes, but in the states, it’s easier to accept the passionate release of honesty as a way of learning more about your partner down the line. It’s a part of our culture of freedom of expression.
Making it a point to not only show love but garner respect over time is paramount. Going through all the inevitable tough times, life throws at you will prove much easier when you have someone who respects you as a person by your side.
My wife and I have learned how to have a nice balance between quiet yet open honesty and showing love through actions. I bet we’re not as loud as other couples when we’re angry with each other, a lot of using the silent treatment, but we know how important we are to one another and work things out.
In terms of long-term relationships, especially in Japan, respect is even more important than a passionate love affair.
You can add some Japanese forms of showing love by doing more little things for your partner. Helping them put on their coat, helping them set the table for dinner, holding your opinion when they’re complaining about work.
If you’re dating someone Japanese, be open to figuring out what works for you both. Discovering how many American and Japanese style relationship pieces to add takes time and is up to you.
Holding hands with your spouse is an accepted way to show love in public in Japan physically. I remember the big deal it was to walk with my wife holding hands in the street. Even bigger because I’m a tall African American, there was no hiding in public.
We hold hands together today when in Japan while walking together and, even though it’s a small gesture, it still feels special.
My wife and I say “I love you” to each other each day, but that’s because I shared what it means to me early on in our relationship. I’m sure because I’m not Japanese makes it easier for her to accept and enjoy hearing it from her husband.
You might not fully understand how another culture handles relationships, but it doesn’t mean they’re doing it wrong. It’s just different.
Opening up to new ways of expressing love can help you and your relationships grow.
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Image courtesy of dax-sports.com
Have you ever wondered why tabi, a.k.a. ninja shoes, have that separated toe? When you see them, I bet they make you think of ninja climbing walls and spying on important people to gain information.
Or, maybe you think about the Foot Clan in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Either way, these shoes are, and were, real.
And still used today.
Were Tabi shoes made for ninja, though? We’ll answer that later.
The rubber-soled Jika-Tabi is a real work shoe designed for construction, farmers, rickshaw drivers, and other manual laborers.
Gardening in Japan is perfect for Jika-Tabi shoes. Photo courtesy of niwaki.com.
When I lived in Osaka, I remember watching construction workers and being surprised by their split-toe Tabi boots. “Whoa.” I thought, “Even construction workers are ninja in Japan.”
I’ve enjoyed wearing Jika-Tabi before, and I’ll admit, something is soothing about having a toe separate from the others. The history behind the design was something I had to look into, though.
Why are tabi shoes designed in this way?
Back in the 15th century, Japan began importing cotton from their nearby neighbor, China. The new fabric gave birth to innovative products, like socks.
The Geta, a shoe that looks like a flat wooden platform sandal with a leather thong strap, was the footwear of choice, and new socks had to fit their structure. The result was creating an ankle-height cotton sock with a separation between the big toe and the rest of the foot.
Essentially, the original Tabi.
Photo courtesy of jpninfo.com.
Many years later, in the 20th-century, mass-produced rubber led to the birth of Jika-Tabi: Tabi that made contact with the ground like shoes. First introduced by Tokujirō Ishibashi, whose family owned a rubber business — his brother, Shōjirō founded Bridgestone tires — Ishibashi’s Jika-Tabi is closer to the version of the shoe we’re accustomed to seeing.
Different from its fashionable sock counterpart, the Jika-Tabi was a work shoe. In fact, the split toe was thought to aid in mobility during labor work and considered more agile than the solid closed shoe design.
Image found on Pinterest.com.
Wait a minute. What about Ninja? Well, there’s a common misconception that the tabi shoes were originally made for martial arts practitioners and that ninjas currently wear tabi shoes.
This image is false and was created when people watched kabuki theater. The actors backstage in kabuki would all be covered in black to blend with the stage and not be seen.
As you probably guessed, the actors all wore tabi shoes, and the black clothes implied them to be ninjas sneaking around in the shadows. Therefore, creating a false image and conception.
Of course, that expanded overseas, and Hollywood chose to add the famous split-toe footwear into ninja movies.
And, as they say, “the rest is history.”
If you’re working up high and need to stay steady while moving across scaffolding, I can see Jika-Tabi being a good shoe choice.
From my experience wearing them in Japan, you can easily feel the surface you’re standing on and better control your body.
This split-toe style has inspired the fashion world in the west with wild boots and shoe designs for men and women. Even Nike had a tabi running shoe a few years ago called Air Rift.
Nike Air Rift shoe image courtesy of ebay.com.uk.
If you’re interested in trying the Tabi shoe, I bet you can find plenty of different styles online. They’re pretty comfortable and will definitely make people give your feet a second look.
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How this Hayao Miyazaki movie can help you pare down your expectations and have a more fulfilling life.
Moving to a new town, as a mere 13-year-old, to set up life as the local witch is Kiki’s goal in the charming animated film Kiki’s Delivery Service, directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
The only problem, she has very little money and only one magical power—flying on her broomstick.
How can she expect to make a successful life for herself, starting with so little? It’s easy at first. Do you know why?
She was open to meeting people and having new experiences. Not to mention living simply and using her unique gift to start a business.
I love animated movies by Studio Ghibli, but even after two years living in Japan, watching most of their animated films, I never viewed this one. It looked cute but didn’t pull me in like Princess Mononoke or Spirited Away.
My wife and daughter wanted to watch it for our “Family Movie Night,” and I tried not to groan. I slumped into my recliner, ready for the injection of sweetness into my veins.
To my surprise, it wasn’t as sweet as, say, Ponyo, but quite pleasant and full of adventure. In fact, the climactic final act was thrilling and expertly directed. I won’t give it away here, but if you’ve seen it, I bet you were on the edge of your seat.
Kiki’s life was one I admired. Not only because she had magical powers, believe it or not—but because she had confidence, freedom and wasn’t afraid to live a simple life while working towards her goals.
These four takeaways from Kiki’s Delivery Service could help you enjoy a more fulfilling life.
Kiki befriends the owner of a bakery and is offered a room out behind the store. It’s old, dusty and only has a rickety bed and one table. She takes it with gratitude, cleans it up, and recognizes all she needs is a place to sleep and eat.
When Kiki goes shopping with her black cat Jiji, she prepares him because they have very little money and will have to live on eating pancakes until she can earn more.
Pancakes, y’all.
I would have at least chosen salad. Either way, let’s appreciate that she has the confidence to know her situation will change in the future. There’s nothing wrong with living on very little when you start.
Is it just me, or is this idea losing favor in modern times? Are we turning away from meager beginnings with young people leaving college and just moving home with their parents?
Look, I know everyone expects to be poor when they’re in college, but what’s wrong with getting any job you can afterward and moving in with roommates? You learn a ton about life and what truly makes you happy.
We can take that into any season of life and look to remove the unnecessary.
From what I’ve seen from living over forty years of life, people keep acquiring more and building up taller mountains of stress.
Taking on the idea of living only with what you need applies to material possessions as well as your mental baggage. What beliefs about people and life can you discard from your thinking?
Do you need therapy to lighten your mental load? Have the courage to find a professional to talk with and let some of that go.
When I moved to Osaka, Japan, to teach English in Junior High Schools in my late twenties, I could only bring two suitcases with me even though I had a whole one-bedroom apartment full of stuff.
It was a pain to give away and sell all of that, but boy, did it help me feel lighter physically and emotionally. When I arrived in Osaka, in an old empty apartment, I felt like Kiki. Excited to be in a new place but scared of the unknown.
Fortunately, I had a job, but that was about it. Life was fresh, new, and very foreign.
I chose not to fill my apartment with furniture and kept it pretty bare-bones. It helped me think clearly and feel less stress from the culture shock of adjusting to a new country.
One thing you’ll notice is with all that space, you can think about the positives and negatives in your life. It might lead you down the road to depression.
If you end up down in the dumps emotionally, my next tip might help.
Doing work that helps others is incredibly rewarding. What you do doesn't have to be complicated either. Take an honest look at yourself and find what makes you special or unique. You could also ask your friends or family members to tell you what they think you do well.
Pursue work that utilizes your talents and can add value to someone's life.
Kiki did this in the film. When she first moves to the little European town inspired by Visby, Sweden, she had no idea how to make money.
She was a witch but hadn’t learned spells or any other magic besides flying on her broom. Kind of like when you’re young and have only a small amount of life experience. She discovered that people could use help delivering packages around town.
So, she did just that. Of course, not without her challenges, or it wouldn’t be much of a story, but she found work.
Work that helped make life easier for others.
We all want to make money doing what we love but remember to make a difference. When you help others, it helps you feel better about yourself and lead to amazing life experiences.
If you stay open to them.
Being an art teacher for almost twenty years has been hugely rewarding. Is teaching a tough job at times? Heck, yeah! Being a part of helping young people grow and appreciate art is exciting. When I was in college studying art, I thought becoming a teacher would mean I failed as an artist.
I see now how it adds to my life with more than a paycheck and summers off. Making a difference with something I love.
I’m not saying working towards big dreams is wrong. Just stop putting so much into outcomes and results. The less you expect, the more you appreciate.
I’ve learned that a simple life is one to admire.
It’s true what Notorious B.I.G. said, “Mo’ money mo’ problems.”
Mainly because you have more responsibilities. Which is fine as long as you accept that fact. Living with more is a huge responsibility filled with difficult decisions and daily stress.
I noticed in the movie that Kiki continued living in her little room behind the bakery. She continued her delivery business and helped people in the city. Perhaps she could have afforded to move out and get her own apartment. Surely, it would have cost more and possibly pulled her away from close friends.
No need to move on to get more if you’re happy where you are.
Opening up to needing less can make space for more peace to pour into your life as long as you make a conscious decision not to expect too much. Finding your dream job will not solve all of your problems and suddenly make life perfect.
Even when you do all of this, you’re loving life and growing in your career; you may feel out of sorts and lose motivation all of a sudden.
I guess you could call this a **SPOILERS** ahead moment, so skip this paragraph if you haven’t seen the film. Kiki’s magic vanishes, and she’s not able to fly on her broom to make deliveries. This sets her back and wrecks her confidence. It’s not until a friend shares with her that most people lose interest in their work or go through creative slumps.
If this is you, take a break. Rest. Give yourself space from whatever it is you’ve lost that fire for so you can breathe a bit and recharge. If it’s something important, you’ll find the spark to ignite the flame again.
Kiki certainly gets her magical mojo back, but I won’t tell you what gets her there.
Some ways to re-ignite your fire:
Sleep more. I’m serious. Go to bed early for a few days in a row or sleep later on the weekends. Take naps. Sleep has been known to cure so many health issues.
Put a pause on whatever you’re working on that’s draining you, and learn something new. Watch something you wouldn’t normally. Read a new book in a genre you hate. This will force you to think differently and stay open to new ideas.
Meditate. You knew I would mention this one. Giving yourself quiet alone time to be mindful of your body and thoughts will help your mental wellness.
Talk with family and friends about what you’re going through. They might have experienced something similar and could give you advice. Even if they haven’t, taking time to express how you’re feeling with someone you care about is a great release of any negativity you’ve been holding onto.
One of the hardest things for me to accept in life was that good things take time. Patience has always been a challenge for me. Not that I want everything now, but I wish it all would get here quicker.
It seemed to me that Kiki was fine with slowly building her life in one place. I love that. Yes, she’s just an animated cartoon character, but I envied her spirit. Maybe it’s because I’m a middle-aged man dreaming about the early days out in the world. Or, I needed the reminders the film brought forth.
There’s no shame in starting small, using your talents to work towards a successful career, and having patience with the process. Life can be less stressful and pretty darn magical when you know your needs and limit your wants.
Image from CNN.com
Is a giant squid statue worth all the controversy it’s getting?
If you haven’t heard, in the coastal town of Noto, in Ishikawa, Japan, they spent $230,000 of the $6.2 million received from the government for Covid relief on a 43-foot sculpture of a flying squid. Could they have used their money on something more important — probably?
But I’m not mad.
In fact, I like that they spent some of their relief money on art. Mainly to promote tourism for their small fishing town. Apparently, the area is the center of squid fishing in Japan.
I never visited Noto while living in Japan. Still, now I’m interested in seeing the statue next time I can travel back to one of my favorite countries. Squid is a delicacy in Japan. Even though Americans might not be interested in eating it, it doesn’t mean the statue is a waste of money.
When it was unveiled, Japanese people were surprised by the timing, and so were people on Twitter. Guys, a ton of readers, most likely people who have never been to Japan, were upset about this giant flying squid.
According to this article by CNN news, someone commented, “No matter how you look at it, this is wrong. They have to return that money.”
Really? Is it that serious? Indeed, there are more important matters to get this upset about.
Here’s my take on why this isn’t such a huge deal.
In a town of around 16,000 residents, there have been fewer than 30 cases of Covid-19. Not that this is okay. It’s still a concern, but why can’t they take this opportunity to do something to put their area on the map?
I’m pretty sure that at the time this statue was approved and sculpted by the artist — most likely a year ago or so — Japan was doing pretty well controlling the virus. They probably thought it would be a positive way to celebrate victory over covid.
Unfortunately, cases have spiked in larger cities like Tokyo and Osaka, and hospitals have trouble keeping up with all the new patients. Scary times right now, for sure, and I’m hoping for the best. The Osaka area is my second home, and I want its citizens to stay healthy and the cases to drop.
Even though the statue’s unveiling timing is abysmal, I think they did what they thought was right when it was being created. Should we punish the town of Noto for that?
Even if Japan was doing well-handling covid, the virus was still causing huge dips in tourism. This town found an opportunity to provide funds to local artists and construction workers in this time of economic turmoil.
I bet this statue helped provide much-needed work while also investing in a new piece of fun, publicly accessible art — the perfect socially distanced tourist attraction.
Even I want to go and take a picture in front of it.
Art is essential and beautiful. Squid is delicious and well-loved by the people of Japan. If a family visits the town of Noto, you know the kids will laugh and smile while taking pictures. Parents and couples will share their squid photos all over social media.
This statue will bring not only tourists to the area but excitement and joy.
It’s easy for people outside of Japan to hear about this and think it’s ridiculous. Why? Is this an easy way to take a cheap shot at Japan? With all the controversy over the summer Olympics, should we cancel them or not, here’s another reason to be angry at Japan. I say, calm down and let a town beautify itself.
There are plenty of frustrating things about living in Japan and the experiences I went through. I didn’t fully understand why it’s that way. Still, I smiled, and whatever it was, let it go. As a Black man, having middle school students rub my skin to see if the brown would come off, for example, was one of those.
If I compare that to a small town deciding to use the money for a wild, eye-catching work of art to put their area on the map, I say go for it.
I’m confident Noto, Japan is not a corrupt town. If they needed the money to help save lives in their area, they would have used it for that purpose. Japanese people are pretty in tune with the needs of the many. Especially compared to other parts of the world where the culture revolves around thinking more about ourselves.
If I had any issue, it would be with the government giving so much money to an area with so few covid cases. They could have passed some of that on to bigger cities. Or, saved it for emergencies like the spike in cases happening right now.
With all the negativity, fear, and death in the world, let’s try and see the good in a tiny town trying to make the best of it all with the help of art.
Sometimes you need to sleep. I’m talking about amongst the people, on a train or bus, or even in the park. Life can be exhausting. Why can’t we do some of our recharging in public?
Well, now you can, with this simple three-step method inspired by my years living in Japan. The word “inemuri” means being present while you sleep. It’s synonymous with sleeping on the job or in public places. The Japanese are so overworked that it’s become commonplace to see a large number of people sleeping just about anywhere.
Taking naps is said to be a good thing. Even though accepted in Japan, it’s not allowed at work—even though that rule is mostly ignored all the time. If you’re in a location where you can set an alarm to wake you, it’s relatively easy, but what if you’re on a train or the subway? Not waking up in time for your stop can be frightening.
Listen in as our Japanese raccoon, Tanuki, from Fried Chicken and Sushi comics explores how to nap on the subway in three steps.
Decide to give it a try with the intent to master inemuri with help from others.
2. Pick a friend or family member who you know would never let their guard down.
3. Ride on a train with a loudspeaker that penetrates your soul.
Great job! If you follow these Tanuki steps, you too will be sleeping on the train in no time. Just imagine the freedom you’ll have to get the rest you need anywhere you have to wait.
Take these tips to the cafe, while waiting for your coffee, or to the DMV, waiting for your number to be called. There are so many uses, and you’ll feel well-rested and ready to tackle whatever life throws at you daily.
Now, get out there and nap.
Drawing Little Fried Chicken and Sushi comics on paper, during these crazy times, has been good for my soul. There’s so much magic in feeling the paper’s pull and having to be fully present with every line drawn in ink. Not to mention, I can take cool photos of my originals and share them with you.
Don’t worry. I’ll still make strips digitally as well. From here on out, I think the story will dictate whether or not I use Clip Studio Paint software or bristol board and Pigma Micron pens.
The Black Samurai is back! This time, he’s mixed with the true story of the real African Samurai, Yasuke.
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Imagine watching nine massive steamships for the very first time in your life, something you never knew existed, approaching Edo bay near modern-day Tokyo in February of 1854. Commodore Matthew C. Perry landed his ships in Japan, uninvited mind you, in an effort to force diplomatic relations with the Shogun and open trade.
After over two hundred years of isolating itself from the rest of the world, Japan and the average Japanese citizen knew nothing of other countries or races. Witnessing white soldiers march off their metal ships and make the demand “Take me to your leader.” must have felt close to aliens from outer space landing on our planet.
The scare tactic worked. There was no way Japanese forces could have stood a chance against the might of the U.S. military at that time. On March 31, The Treaty of Kanagawa was signed between America and Japan. The country was open to the world. Even though it would take many years to establish international trade, Japanese people were thrust into accepting a new truth. They were not alone in the universe.
What limiting beliefs are you holding on to with little knowledge or experience to back them? The world is forcing us all to open our minds. Experiencing the pandemic and watching racial injustice and protests are making us realize we’re all human. Making us see that caring about the health and well being of people is what really matters.
The truths of our modern world have landed. Open your heart.
While going through a pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests worldwide like Hachiro in the above FC&S comic strip, we’re all waiting for the next big event that will turn the world upside down. Could it be an alien invasion? Or, perhaps, off-world beings deciding we’ve gone too far and then making themselves known to us somehow to calm us the heck down?
We should all be prepared for more fantastic events that bring us together as a human race.
Read MoreHow the words of Viktor Frankl can help you find meaning.
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Photo by Galen Crout on Unsplash
Moving back home to the U.S. after living in Japan for two years was a shock to my system in more ways than one.
You always hear about how harmonious and helpful everyone is in Japan. I love the country, but it’s not an easy place to live as an ex-pat, especially if you speak very little Japanese.
Photo by Alexander Smagin on Unsplash
Life in the ‘land of the rising sun’ does have its perks, though. You can have a level of peace and solitude that I find difficult to come by in the United States. Crime is low and everyone is accustomed to living politely (and quietly) with their neighbors.
That tranquility among the noise is a massive part of what I miss about being in Japan.
I felt like a human being instead of a threat.
Living in Japan for two years as an African-American male was a challenge, but also liberating.
I was an English teacher with the JET Programme and truly loved the cultural exchange with the students and teachers in the Junior High Schools where I worked.
For me, in particular, I was not just a “black man” there, with all the fear and stereotypes that come along with it. I found I was lumped into one general category—foreigner.
Students saw me as a person from another country, fascinated with my hair and curious about what America was really like.
As I walked the streets of Osaka, I felt like a person and not someone the public would see as a threat. It was miraculous!
Sometimes people stared because I looked different.
Only because I wasn’t Japanese and not because I was black. Being six feet three, I found people were also mesmerized by my height.
It was astounding, no women clutched their purses as they passed or crossed the street when they saw me walking towards them on the sidewalk.
The biggest load-off my mind? Not worrying about getting shot by the police. I’m dead serious. That was a game-changer.
You should always be aware of your surroundings anywhere you go. Still, I’ll admit, I became pretty relaxed within the safety of the cities in Japan. Watching my back became a distant memory.
I felt like a person.
I love my country but after years of feeling like the “negative other” in America, I can forget I have value. Believe it or not, when I’m in the U.S., there are plenty of instances when I feel like saying the phrase popularized by Jesse Jackson, “I am somebody” to myself. Just to remember, I matter.
I have to consciously think about this when moving through life in the U.S. Tell myself I have value. Most of the negative stereotypes for black people perpetuated in the media and entertainment, tell a different story.
When I daydream about moving to a quiet rural area, where I can have solitude, reality always seeps in. It’s not the answer for all people. Jobs may be scarce, and if you’re not independently wealthy, you’ll need to pursue a career in a major city to make money to live the life you want.
Even as a black male, I’m afraid people living outside of big cities may have fewer interactions with people of color and be more closed-minded.
Living in Japan, experiencing each day as a different kind of “other”— compared to in America— was a special time in my life. I will say though, I do know through that experience, what it feels like to be seen as scary, only because I look different.
Photo by Laura Thonne on Unsplash
You experience prejudice as a foreigner in Japan. It’s just different.
Each day wasn’t perfect. There were times I would sit down on a subway train, and the person next to me would stand up and walk to a different area. Renting an apartment can be a challenge because some buildings do not rent to non-Japanese.
Getting together with other ex-pats helped relieve some of the microaggressions. You quickly understand that it doesn’t matter where you’re from or the color of your skin. If you do not look Japanese, you have situations where you are treated as a guest and not a citizen. Everyone could relate, come together, and vent their frustrations and also share what they love about living in Japan.
I often thought about how sad it was I had to leave my country of birth and move all the way to Asia to feel safe and at peace.
You don’t need to live in Japan to find yourself. Although, for an experience of a lifetime, visiting is most certainly recommended. The country is beautiful, rich in history and culture, and Japanese people are very kind to visitors. Things get more complicated when you live there for a long period of time.
Don’t let this scare you.
Have the courage to move to a new place if you feel the urge to experience something exciting and different.
I’m still searching for my next tranquil place to call home. Something close to what I had in Japan. The reality of moving to any new country will always stick with me, though.
Living abroad helps you understand that no country, city, or neighborhood, is perfect.
When I find my next tranquil home, I expect to enjoy the positives and take the negatives with a grain of firm salt.
There’s more to fear than getting sick.
The Coronavirus is undoubtedly something to fear, and I send my condolences to the families of those with loved ones who have passed away.
With the virus spreading like crazy, travel bans spreading even faster, and the news media blowing it up to epic proportions, I'm concerned about another sickness that may develop. One that could affect us mentally.
The fear of Asians. Not just people of Chinese descent, but all Asians.
This virus is not an excuse to be racist or xenophobic.
But you know people will be anyway.
With famous thinkers like Bill Gates sharing his belief that pandemics are one of the biggest threats to humanity, we're all left shaking in our boots and could possibly be afraid of any Asian person we think might have the virus.
As an African-American with a Japanese wife, I ask you to please keep an open mind. Don't use this as an excuse to show prejudice or hate towards Asian people.
I hate to lump everyone together, but I know a large portion of Americans, especially, will. I'll admit, before my two years living in Japan, it was difficult telling the difference between people from various countries in Asia.
What will someone with very little exposure to Asian people believe?
I’m afraid most Americans will think a Korean person is Chinese. Or, see a Japanese person—wearing a mask only because they have a common cold and do not want to spread it to others—and assume they have the virus.
When you're all wound up in reacting to the "CORONAVIRUS: The End Is Nigh!" news coverage, it might make you say and do cruel things.
Considering the symptoms that originated in the city of Wuhan, China is similar to the common cold or flu—coughing, fever, runny nose—makes it easy to judge others out of fear.
Yes, a fear of contracting something that could make you drop dead within a few weeks. But if this spreads throughout America, you might feel suspicious of your next-door neighbors and people on the street. You could refuse to see them or walk around or away from an Asian person because you want to "stay safe.
Is this fear mainly because the virus originated in China?
What would happen if there were a Switzerland Coronavirus outbreak taking the world by storm? Imagine you're watching videos on TV of blonde-haired Caucasians walking around with masks and hearing about hundreds of people dying in Europe. Would you feel as scared of all the white folks you see on the street?
If you're white, how would you feel if an Asian person saw you on the street and immediately crossed to the other side, scared of possibly breathing in a virus?
Imagine if an outbreak occurred in Mexico, and in turn, we all think it's ok to be afraid of getting a virus from any Hispanic person we see? You get where I'm going.
We should all be informed and safe but also remember our connection to each other as human beings. Be compassionate enough to understand that real people are passing away, the virus is spreading. Still, it doesn't make one race better or worse than another.
It doesn't give any of us a good reason to treat others with disrespect.
We are all one. Don't let fear spread a virus of hate.
Sumimasen -the word that works for everything. I'm sure there are uses I left out, and will most likely put in future strips. Sumimasen is one of my favorite Japanese words, and I marvel at how effortlessly people use it in various situations.
I forgot that creating a comic about living in another country gives plenty of opportunities to teach language and how it relates to the culture. As I grow as a cartoonist, I hope these examples of "international cartooning" improve over time.
The Urban Dictionary defines sumimasen as:
Japanese word meaning, "I am sorry".
Sometimes used together with doumo. "Doumo sumimasen" also means I'm sorry.
Often in conversation "doumo sumimasen" or "sumimasen" are used in place of "Thank you". Perhaps Japanese feeling is, I'm sorry bothering you, but thank you very much to be so considerate.
1. Sumimasen I broke your dish.
2. When a gentle person gives away a seat on a crowded train to an aged person, the person who received the favor may say, "sumimasen" or "doumo sumimasen".
Thanks for your support and don't forget to like and share the comic with the world!
Khalid
Goodness knows, Disney does not need my endorsement or free advertising, but I had to let you know how enjoyable it was at Tokyo DisneySea theme park in Japan.
Even in a typhoon. That’s right. A typhoon was ripping its way up the western side of Japan at the time, and we were so afraid of getting weather bashed-out of all the fun.
Fortunately, the weather cooperated, somewhat. We did get hit with strong winds and some rain, but generally, it was bearable. You want to know the best part?
Bad weather means fewer people at the park! So, there were shorter lines and less wait time for rides.
I have a feeling that DisneySea is not as famous as Tokyo Disneyland, so there are fewer visitors. It’s one park where as soon as I entered, I felt transported to another world!
The gorgeous architecture in the harbor grabs you as you first walk in and is influenced by the Mediterranean, with a bit of fantasy flair! Every area feels like another adventure and even when it’s busy, feels relaxed and comfortable.
I will admit that the rides are not as fantastic compared to Disneyland, but they are enjoyable and imagination filled. The more intense ones are in the Lost River Delta area where you can explore with Indiana Jones or take a roller coaster ride through Raging Spirits.
Raging Spirits ride!
One of my favorites was the FINDING NEMO ride at Port Discovery. It made you feel like you were in a small submarine going on adventures with Nemo and Dory through the ocean. If you get seasick though, this is NOT the ride for you. Plenty of rocking and gliding up and down!
In the American Waterfront area that looks like New York City in the 1920’s, you have the famous Tower of Terror ride, which we didn’t get on because we’ve been on it in America and the Turtle Talk experience where you can talk with an animated version of Crush the green sea turtle from Finding Nemo. This one was surprisingly fun, and even though it was in Japanese, relatively easy to understand.
I love the Toy Story movies but the ride, Toy Story Mania!, even in bad weather, was the one ride that was packed all day long with insane wait times, so we had to skip it. If you had a chance to make it in, let me know what you thought!
The Mysterious Island area looked the coolest, and we had fun riding 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. We will need to go back to the Arabian Coast and ride Jasmine’s flying carpets -even though it’s basically the Dumbo ride.
Because the weather was rough due to the typhoon, it was an excellent relief to head over to Mermaid Lagoon where they have an entire indoor play area with rides, food and a playground.
In front of the Mermaid Lagoon
Our absolute favorite show was in the Mermaid Lagoon Theater where a performer, dressed as Ariel, is suspended from the ceiling on wires and swings around over the audience below like she's swimming and sings well-known songs from the Little Mermaid film.
My eight-year-old daughter loves mermaids and almost didn’t see it. We waited forty-five minutes to get in and as soon as we sat down, with amazing seats, by the way, she says, “I need to go to the bathroom!” Really? We were just standing all that time, and you didn’t think about going then?
She couldn’t hold it so my wife, who watched this show here before, was kind enough to take her out to the restroom but of course, the theater needed to close the show so they couldn’t get back in.
They thought it would be best for me to at least stay and watch it since we waited all that time and I’ve never seen it. I must admit, it was pretty fantastic and felt like a small Cirque Du Soleil show!
When it was over, I was so ecstatic about the experience, my daughter was more than ready to stand in line again. She loved the performance, and I was glad to see it a second time! Make sure to look for the Mermaid Lagoon Theater, it’s pretty hidden in that indoor play area, and see the show when you go.
All in all, it was a fantastic trip to Tokyo DisneySea even in such a massive storm. We never got extreme rain, but some pretty strong winds hit us a few times. In the evening, we stayed to watch the Fantasmic Mickey Mouse light show that was pretty fun. They had to modify it a bit due to the weather but still worth watching.
For a new Disney parks experience, I strongly recommend taking your family there next time you’re in the Tokyo area. Ta-ta for now. See ya' real soon!
Khalid
Let’s just say you want your art, writing or comics to feel more genuine and appealing to your audience.
For this Little Fried Chicken and Sushi comic, I needed to show Tanuki using his magic and the theme for the week’s strips was Origami paper folding. That in and of itself pertains to Japanese culture, but I wanted to see if I could add more.
I jumped over to Google and looked up the most popular things to make with Origami. Cranes, shuriken, boats and paper cranes came up. A boat! They could be riding on a large origami boat that Tanuki made. But where?
It could be going down the river in their town of Shimamoto but the background is rural so would not look like any recognizable place in Japan.
Choosing the Yodo river that runs through Osaka city would give more choices of buildings and bridges to draw that readers who have been to the city would know.
Drawing the Umeda Sky Building behind them was a fun addition. The curving white bridge to the left of them- I have no idea what it’s named- is a well-known sight in Osaka as well.
That was an easy answer for this strip. The boat is made out of paper!
Perhaps, Tanuki’s magic is surrounding the paper boat and allowing them to stay afloat but the fact is the situation is odd. Come to think of it, so is a ‘paper’ boat!
You know, if this were real life, someone would have pointed that out. J is usually the character who thinks about important issues or solves problems creatively. So, it felt natural that he should be the one delivering the punchline.
When you’re writing or drawing, keep asking yourself how you can make it specific and general at the same time.
Fried Chicken and Sushi is a Blog and humorous comic strip about living in Japan and Japanese pop-culture.
© copyright 2010 - Khalid Birdsong All Rights Reserved.
