Japanese Car Accident

April's Fool's Day is supposed to be funny. You're supposed to play a prank on someone, maybe even more than one person. I had a couple of ideas in mind but didn't get the chance to follow through. My April Fool's Day was anything but funny!

Have you ever been in a car accident? How about a car accident in a foreign country? How about a foreign country that doesn't speak English? On Wednesday I was driving the kids home from school and we were less than five minutes from the house when I saw a car pulling out of a parking lot. I swerved right (don't forget, we drive on the other side of the road) to avoid her, but it didn't work. She hit the passenger door (on the left side of the car), the back quarter panel and side of the bumper. She pulled out onto the road and turned right, only I was right there and she didn't see me. For you local readers, it happened on Route 24 almost across the street from Maruetsu. She pulled out of the parking lot that's behind the police officer.

The Japanese police were there in about three minutes! I pulled over and called the base police. We live in Ikego, not on the main base (Yokosuka), so I called the Ikego emergency number to have the MPs (military police) come out. After that I called my friend since I had her child in the car with me, and then I called Bob at work. I've never called him at work [here] before because we've never had an emergency. He was in a meeting and called me back about 10 minutes later. About 15 minutes after that he showed up. The MPs arrived a few minutes before Bob, and with them came the liaison. The liaison is bilingual and communicates/translates for everyone. The person driving behind me happened to be an American and she pulled off in front of me and stayed until the MPs arrived. So Kristen in Ikego, thank you very much! You helped calm my nerves and I truly appreciate you taking the time to stay with me. The woman that hit us came over to see if we were all right. She was very kind, didn't speak a word of English and was obviously shaken. She apologized saying "Gomenasai" a few times and I smiled and nodded my head. I wasn't sure exactly what to say or do because Japanese law is different than in the U.S.

I didn't need Bob to come out there. Everything was being handled, we were all fine and only a couple of minutes from home. The MPs were going to follow me back anyway, so him coming wouldn't be necessary. But he showed up anyway which ended up being a relief, and his command was very gracious. He didn't have to go back in to work and they even called a couple of times to check on us and make sure we were all right.

I always carry my little camera with me. It's a tiny thing that takes video and doesn't even have a view finder. It's not much bigger than a cell phone, and naturally I took pictures while we were waiting. My car and her car, then the Japanese police van and police officer. After we got home Bob asked me if I was going to blog about it. It hadn't occurred to me right away, my nerves were a bit rattled and my hands had just stopped shaking. When he saw me sorting through pictures and starting a rough draft he chuckled.

The ball is rolling with the insurance and all that jazz and now it's a waiting game to see if the car will be repaired or if we'll get another one. It's a 1997 Honda Odyssey and not worth a whole lot...just about all the Americans here drive junkers and they're passed down as people PCS. The passenger door in front (the driver door for you in the U.S.) won't open, the rear passenger door opens but feels like it'll fall off (and makes a creepy sounding noise) and the bumper on one side is kind of hanging off...but won't fall off. The bumper was also pushed up so it blocks the hatchback from opening.

We're all fine and that's what counts! The liaison from Security called this morning. She told me the woman that hit us called to ask about the kids and is worried about them. Oh, I forgot to mention that the woman's insurance company called Security the night of the accident to check up on the kids. Anyway, the woman wanted to bring something by Security for us and Security called and asked if that was all right. I reassured the liaison we're all fine and said it wasn't necessary, but the woman had already planned on coming. I asked if I should bring a thank you card down for her and she said it'd be nice. I asked what time she was coming because I wanted to go with the kids so she could see for herself that we're all fine and that the kids are running around and act as if nothing happened!

Shortly before we left I told the girls where we were going, what we were doing and who'd we be seeing. I told them the woman would be speaking Japanese and that we wouldn't understand her, but that someone would be there to translate for us. I also told them she would probably bow and apologize, and that they could bow back and give her a hug if they liked. We walked in and she immediately started bowing, Keanna bowed back, Sydney went to give her a hug and then Keanna joined in. It was a big group hug and the woman was clearly touched. We spent maybe five or six minutes there and had a nice translated chat. She has a two year old grandchild and felt terrible when she saw the kids in the car. She also brought us cookies, and cookies (the size of my hand!) help make everything better! I wrote a card which she opened and the liaison translated for her. I gave her an American card and she opened it backwards - we all chuckled at that. Japanese books, magazines, etc have the binding on the right side. She got a little teary eyed after hearing what the card said, bowed to me and I bowed back and gave her a hug.

And as for the cookies, they're delicious...and the 13"x9" tin came with 20 of them!

Fruits Therapy, Lucky Wood & Donut Scotch Tape Dispensers

Here are some random finds over the last couple of weeks! Some Engrish, a Japanese toll booth and some funny products spotted at the grocery store, convenience store and/or vending machine. Be sure to click on the pictures to enlarge them!

Pocket Juice Stand sold in a vending machine. It's in the blue section (notice the blue under the price), so that means it's cold. There's nothing funny about the Zebras, I've just never seen anything like it before.
















This is a basket holding bread and Julie spotted the Fruits Therapy in a grocery store in Kamakura.











You hit a button and your car is lowered to you - a car elevator of some sorts. Look on the left they have the same thing for bicycles. When I stop at a toll booth I've never been to before I give them more than enough money...as you can see nothing's in English. The FFSC (Fleet & Family Support Center) has directions, but sometimes the yen amount listed on them is incorrect. It was in this case!











These are Scotch tape dispensers. Sold individually or in the Scotch Donuts mix pack!












The description reads "The best assortment for your luxurious time." The bitter caramel drink wasn't very good...not nearly as good as I was hoping anyway.
















Be sure to read the descriptions for the Magnet Bookmarker. The LUCKY WOOD box was outside a store on Blue Street in Yokosuka.

Does the Tooth Fairy Come to Japan?

The Tooth Fairy visited our house Thursday night! Keanna lost her first tooth, and lucky for her the Tooth Fairy visited, because she doesn't normally come to Japan. I didn't know that, did you? In Japan when a child looses his/her tooth they throw it up or down, not under their pillow like we do in the United States. In Japan, kids throw the tooth in the air (on the roof of their house) or at the ground, and they throw it straight up or straight down so the adult tooth will come in straight. So if an upper tooth falls out throw it straight down, and if it's a lower tooth throw it up.

Keanna was left ¥500, about $5 USD. She loves this melon drink that I've only seen in vending machines, so now she can afford to get about four cans! Actually, she said she wants to save it and Bob and I are fine with that! And as for the tooth, it was on the bottom, and she didn't throw it on the roof, the Tooth Fairy kept it for now.

I wanted something for her to put the tooth in and started thinking about what to buy as soon as it was loose at the end of January. I thought maybe something Japanese would be neat, but after learning about the Tooth Fairy not coming here I started looking online. I saw a bunch on Etsy and Ebay and thought, "That doesn't look too complicated, I think I can do it." After making her popcorn costume for Halloween I had a renewed faith in myself. Mind you, I'm much better with a glue gun, but wanted to give this a shot. One morning Sandy and I were looking at tooth patterns online. She's thousands of miles away in the D.C. area, but we were chatting on one of the instant messaging programs and exchanging links back and forth.

Here's how I made the Tooth Fairy pillow. It wasn't complicated, but I did call my friend, Shari in Virginia to help me. I had no idea how to do the mouth so she suggested a backstitch. Mahalo Shari! I did the same thing for the eyes. I cut a circle out of the dark pink then bunched it together to make the flower; held it while stitching the green thread in there to not only hold it down but make it look like petals. There's a heart on the back to hold the tooth and money too. I stuffed it with some toilet paper believe it or not, and it makes it soft enough for a little cushion. The supplies cost $1.90 at the Community Center on base and for the amount I actually used (out of the embroidery thread and felt) it actually cost less than $1.

"Twilight" Comes to Japan...and My Living Room

I was up in Tokyo last weekend with some friends and our kids and on our way back from Tokyo Tower decided to stop at a book store in Roppongi. I've seen the Twilight book split into two with the picture that lines up, but last Saturday I found New Moon along with the 11 Manga-style books with illustrations; they are not Manga though. I knew they existed, but hadn't found them. So I took about 15 minutes looking for them, and when I couldn't find them I asked at the register, "Twilight wa doko desu ka?" As you'll see, they're split into 11 smaller books, not four thick ones so they fit in bags and/or read on the trains.

Well ask and yee shall find! I bought the first book of 11 for Shari's daughter per her request. Shari sent me the first book for Christmas, and after a couple of days I finished that and within 10 days finished all four...and then Midnight Sun too. I was hooked. Before that I had never heard of the series, Kristen Stewart or Robert Pattinson. Each book has one or two illustrations....Keanna and Sydney were beyond borrowed time so I didn't take pictures of all drawings inside every book. Each book costs ¥1000, so a little more than $10 USD because of the exchange rate. I emailed my friend Mayumi to ask her to translate the covers for me. Mayumi married Dave, another submariner and Bob's roommate during Prototype. I met Dave in winter of 2000 and Mayumi in 2006 right after Sydney was born. Anyway, getting back to it, she was kind enough to take the time and email me back. Domo arigatou gozaimasu Mayumi-san, and Dave for assisting!

We get maybe eight or nine Japanese channels with our cable (not digital), and while flipping through tonight I saw what I assumed was coverage of the premiere in Tokyo from February 28th. I was wrong, it was the "Twilight" trailer! It made me wonder if the movie will be dubbed over or subtitled in Japanese when it opens here on April 4th. It arrived on base for us Americans to see it in January. We were in Singapore on February 28th, otherwise I would have taken the 1-hour train ride up to Tokyo and braved the rain to go to the Japan premiere.

The One I Loved is a Vampire & The Blood that Tastes Sorrow

The Dark Vampire Clan & The Fang that Whispers is Fascinating

The Moon of Wolf & The Fallen Angel that Laments

The Red Mark & A Cold Kiss for Myself

Twilight is the Time for an Evil Demon & A Bride of a Vampire

God of Dawn

How it Works - Liquor Shop Vending Machine

Remember my "Best Vending Machine...Ever" post last month? A few readers filled out the "Contact Katie" section on the right side of the page asking about people under age purchasing from it. I asked my Japanese sensei and she replied back with some answers. Domo arigatou gazaimasu Mizuha sensei for the answers and to my readers for your questions!

Katie-san,

Regarding the first slot of the vending machine, people are supposed to insert the driver’s license in order to identify their age.

Second one, you are supposed to insert the ‘Sake card’ You can buy the ‘Sake Card’---at convenience store. Whenever you want to get the sake card issued, you need to bring your ID in order to identify your age.

After inserting the Sake Card enter their personal identification number (PIN).

After the identification, people insert money and buy liquor.

Usually many Japanese people buy liquor at convenience store, or super market and do not buy liquor from the vending machine. It is easier for us to buy it at the supermarket.

Money Laundering...Japanese Style

Laundering...as in laundry. If you have dirty money and you want to clean and even double the quantity, stop by Zeniarai Benten Shrine in Kamakura. It's known as the "Money Washing Shrine," and as you'll see in the pictures, the money, both bills and coins, are soaked in water. The point isn't to clean the money, it's to double it. I've added pictures to a Shutterfly album and if you'd like to see them click here.

There's a sign outside the entrance that reads, "It is believed that if you spend the money that has been washed in the spring's water, it will increase many times and come back to you. The spring is one of Kamakura's five famous water." The money has to dry naturally though, and has to be spent in order for it to double...at least that's the belief.

The entrance is up a small hill and through a cave. Once you walk through the cave there's a tunnel of wood torii gates and it opens up to the shrine. There's another cave, waterfalls, shrine buildings, candles and koi. Calling it unique is an understatement! Once you get into the center area you can buy an incense stick and candle. You'll also get the basket for your money. After you wash the money you'll see a stack of baskets...add yours to it when you're done. Julie and I weren't sure what to do and in which order, so she asked (her Japanese is pretty good!) and we also watched what others were doing.

Inside the cave where you wash your money are strands of origami cranes hanging. The pictures don't do them justice. Click on the picture to see it at full size and you'll notice how many cranes there really are. There's a very pretty area off to the side with a small waterfall and bridge that was so pretty and perfect for pictures. There were a lot of orange and blue koi swimming in there too. See them?

If you've got a Japanese Shrine Book make sure to bring it with you. We both got our books stamped. We visited another shrine that day and I took video of the man writing in my book (at the second shrine). I love watching it because it seems so simple and effortless, but when it's done it looks beautiful! I've included a video of it below. Those who subscribe via email may need to go to the main website (http://www.passthechopsticks.blogspot.com/) in order to view it.

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Back Home in Japan

What an amazing trip seeing Southeast Asia! We took a cruise from Shanghai to Singapore and stopped at nearly every country in between. I've got some catching up to do before I post about the cruise and since they'll be fairly short posts my plan is to get them done first. So hopefully within the next week everything will be posted and then I can write about Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong and more....

Stay tuned!