Category Archives: 109 Hiragana School

101 Hiragana, 109 Hiragana School, Hiragana, KD 1-015 Hiragana Practice

Hiragana tablet script learner

03/04/2014 lamihome Leave a comment

109 Hiragana School

Planets 惑星　わくせい　wakusei

12/10/2013 lamihome Leave a comment

Planets 惑星　わくせい　wakusei

The sun is a star, not a planet, but it is counted as the start of the list for us here on earth. Seems a reasonable point of view.

Planets 惑星　わくせい　wakusei

(photos of planets all from Wikipedia)

(By the way: Pluto lost its place as a planet in 2006. Only on the planet list though. It’s still out there.)

Planets 惑星　わくせい　wakusei

More planetary information: Planets

Planets 惑星　わくせい　wakusei

Planets 惑星　わくせい　wakusei

Universe 宇宙　うちゅう　uchū

03 JS 007 Schools, 03 JS 015 Primary School, 03 JS 039 Junior High School, 109 Hiragana School, KD 2-080 Junior High School, Obentō 02-033

Formal group greeting 　きりつ　ちゅうもく　れい　ちゃくせき

30/06/2013 lamihome Leave a comment

Part of any culture is the formality of greeting. In Japanese culture the greeting process is seemingly formal and involves an acknowledgement of the other person by bowing. This process establishes a certain acknowledgement of the other person’s rank and standing in the community. The individual must fit within the structure of the group.

At school this formality is insisted on every period of the day when lessons begin with a formal greeting between the teaching staff and the students. A similar greeting also takes place in the staffroom at the start of the day. The teacher calls the students to stand, to pay attention, to bow and then to take their seat.

Adults in company situations do the same. A formal start to any meeting situation. During a business meeting no one calls out for attention, but the process is rather similar. Stand! Attention! Bow! Relax.

Another feature is that meetings in Japan start on time and finish on time. Somehow a few minutes before the end all guests know that a formal goodbye is following. The reason: everyone has to catch a train and the train waits for no one!

おじぎ

03 JS 031 Classroom, 109 Hiragana School, KD 1-065 Classroom, KD 2-082 Primary School

Being positive in class 花丸　はなまる hanamaru

18/06/2013 lamihome Leave a comment

The idea of hanamaru is a very Japanese idea. It is not uniquely Japanese, but it is – in theory at least – widely practised. Teachers and elders are always positive. They don’t mark mistakes, only the correct answers in a paper. If all is correct, they draw a ‘rose’ or ‘flower’ on the paper. Hanamaru means Flower Circle.

Being positive in class 花丸はなまる hanamaru

This idea has led to stamps that teachers can now use, because it is quicker and tidier and cleaner. Teachers may not have ink ready to draw a circle anyway; a stamp will do.

たいへんよくできました = very well done

Being positive in class 花丸はなまる hanamaru

Everyone in Japan knows the idea of the positive flower approach. Enter the world of commerce: this famous restaurant chain has cashed in on that idea. They specialise in udon noodles. Other places use a similar idea and use the hanamaru idea for fried eggs or for carrots.

はなまるレストラン

はなまるたまご

はなまるレストラン

Now there are other ventures that also use the hanamaru idea:

はなまるマーケット

はなまるたまご

はなまる

はなまるたまご　

photos from internet for educational purposes

109 Hiragana School, 109 Katakana Advertising, Obentō 02-152

Wheel chairs

12/05/2013 lamihome Leave a comment

Wheel-chairs are very much part of Japan’s social life. Traffic accidents, illness, older age are all contributing factors. The family as well as social organisations all make huge contributions to assist and to help recovery or adaptation if possible.

The facilities for adapting to the new circumstances are absolutely amazing in Japan, but also in many other countries around the world. Technology and a chance of mind-set have helped to make that transition.

These are fairly typical if somewhat traditional designs. Increasingly wheel-chairs are designed with a specific user in mind. Chairs are custom-made and adjusted, so that the person has the best possible outcomes.

Therefore designs are becoming more practical, better manoeuvering, better styled.

Wheel-chair people have higher demands for a more active life-style. They want to be about, to actively be engaged in society, they are often holding down full-time jobs.

Hence there is an industry around it: to facilitate better social and medical interaction.

Organisations now come to the party and offer their support; it is expected. Governments demand it as the current standard. Technology now allows and enables facilitation. At the push of a button platforms can be raised, doors can be opened, hoists can be readied, and so on.

Buses that “kneel”; entrance platforms that lower; batteries that enable moving for long periods of time. Japan has it all and is constantly working to advance that technology.

Meanwhile the community gets involved. Traffic-free days allow the community spirit to come alive.

More than any other factor sport has changed the face of the wheel-chair and the passenger. Once the design had been adjusted, the wheel-chair could become a means to a much richer end. Racing, competing, communicating, being involved and being alive!

パラリンピック

The Paralympics offered a crown of temporary glory. The wheel-chair became merely a different means to an end. Heroism and bravery became measured in a different, more personal way.