Japan’s Road to Recovery

It has now been 6 months since the March 11th earthquake and tsunami disaster that devastated Japan, but unfortunately Japan is now suffering a second devastation with tourism to the country dropping dramatically since the disaster.

The earthquake and tsunami, followed by the radiation leak in Fukushima caused an instant drop in tourist arrivals in Japan. Arrivals in March were about half those of the same month last year. The number of Australian visitors to Japan had been booming in January and February due to the snow season but also plummeted in March by about 47 per cent.

Song of the Week Call by AAA

This week’s Song of the Week is Call by AAA which has debuted at number 5 on the Japanese Jpop Oricon chart.

AAA known as Triple A or Attack All Around, is a Japanese Pop band signed to the famous Avex Trax label. The group which comprises of both male and female members made their debut in September 2005. Call is the group's 29th single.

Picture of the Week Kamikochi, Nagano, Japan

Kamikochi is a beautiful area that lies in the center of the Northern Japan Alps and has some of the most spectacular scenery in Japan. It has become famous as a base in the Japan Alps for strollers, hikers and climbers with magnificent mountain scenery and lakes. Kamikochi can be visited as either a day trip from Matsumoto or Takayama, but I highly recommend enjoying the pleasures of staying in the mountains in Kamikochi and taking an early morning or late evening walk before the crowds appear.

Easy to Cook Japanese Recipe Omuraisu (Rice in Omelette)

Photo by JanneM

This month's easy to cook Japanese Recipe is Omuraisu. Omuraisu is a popular Japanese dish that can be called a fusion dish (yoshoku) as it combines a classic omelette with chicken rice. It is usually topped with ketchup and is a popular dish at home or in a restaurant.

Song of the Week Flying Get (フライングゲット) by AKB48

This week’s number one single on the Japanese Jpop Oricon charts is Flying Get (フライングゲット) by AKB48.

AKB48 is a Japanese idol girl group created and produced by Yasushi Akimoto. AKB48 are one of the most popular groups in Japan and have achieved the feat of having their last 8 singles top the Jpop Oricon chart.

AKB48 was formed in 2005 and is named after Akihabara, the famous electronic area in Tokyo, where the groups own theatre is located on the 8th floor of a Don Quijote Store. The idea behind the group was to create a theatre based idol group, whose fans could see the girls perform live on a daily basis. AKB48 still performs at the theatre every day, but tickets to the event are hard to come by due to the great demand of fans.

Picture of Week Festival Floats in Takayama

This is one of the four famous yatai or festival floats, displayed at the Takayama Yatai Kaikan (Festival Floats Exhibition Hall).

The yatai, some of which date from the 17th century, are spectacular creations with flamboyant carvings, metalwork and lacquerwork.

The hall is 800 yen to enter and is open from 8am to 5pm.

Events in Japan - Obon

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Obon (お盆) or just Bon (盆) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.