I laughed so much! Because I found out the title of my book in Thailand was not "Watashi To Tokyo." Guess what! It is "Bento Sumo Tokyo" :-D ha ha ha ...orz. I did not know that, well, but it's okay. Linda says the title make the sales better (thanks!) and I can't read Thai language.(It looks just like code for me) "Bento Sumo Tokyo" Yoroshiku!
Talking about code, I like this news : Look at this in flickr. Is it code or something? In Japanese, it is "ブルックシールズのアルファベット".
My friend sent me this Bloomberg article. Here is another resource titled "No sex please, we’re Japanese". Ha ha ha
Were Japanese such "light"? I am not sure. As long as I see erotic Ukiyoe "Shunga", sex wouldn't be so taboo. In the Edo generation, there was a registered prostitute area "Yoshiwara" (I don't think this English page is good though). As Kabuki actors were idol for people, Oiran were a kind of culture icon and fashion leaders. Here are old post cards of Yoshiwara on Harvard Univ. During golden week, I read a popular manga about Yoshiwara and Oiran: Sakuran by Moyoco Anno. This year, it was made into a film, starring Anna Tsuchiya, directed by Mika Ninagawa (daughter of Yukio Ninagawa). Here is a trailer. Since the director is a professional photographer, colors are so beautiful in the film.crazy news stories and articles, It's very difficult to accept "Japanese are so light." The article says "34 Percent of Japanese who have sex weekly, again the lowest number in the survey. The US was next lowest at 53 percent; Greece was first at 87 percent." Hmm would it be related to working time? People would be so tried and have no energy after work. Then only their imagination could grow up.
Reading many
Mari. It is possible the Greeks are exaggerating. The Bloomberg article you linked also pointed out that Greeks have one of the lowest birth rates. How does one reconcile such a high level of activity with a low birth rate?
I could not find the article you mentioned "No sex please, we're Japanese."
It is interesting that there is one stereotype of Japanese being "light." But then there is the opposite stereotype. In HIRAGANA TIMES, a Mr. Kobayashi wrote a scathing article entitled "Dear Foreigners. Stop insulting Japanese women." He said that those foreigners who regard Japanese women as "sex toys" shoud be denounced as
"sex animals."
Posted by: Guy | Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 12:54 PM
I think it is ok, to transfer your story from blog to the book.
Sometimes I have found that what you wrote on this blog in the eariler years are difficult to access. I cant access some pages. And I still feel better to read information from book rather than from computer screen. Bill Gates also feel the same thing.
Posted by: Sutanai | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 09:48 PM
Hi there
ありがとう arigato
I did not write special stuff, it's my blog style. That is my first book, but I am thinking to write new something for only book.
Posted by: Mari | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 10:44 AM
Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
よかった！
マリさんが本も書く事が知らなかったから。
I would go to the bookstore in the bangkok downtown to get your book soon.
I really like what you wrote on this blog. I consider myself as a little fan of your blog, and I wont miss your book too.
How many book have you written so far, Mari-san? I hope they all would be translated in Thai or in English.
To me I love the Watashi to Tokyo name than the another one in Thai. This is perhaps because I know its meaning. Moreove, To and Tokyo has a good phonetic consistency. Anyway, a lot of translated books have different name with the original one. Not only translated books in Thailand,but it is happens in many places around the world.
This is perhaps because language structures are different. Even movie titles, in Thailand, usually, they create a totally different name.
Posted by: Sutanai | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 02:21 AM
oh oh Moomoo you bought my book. お買い上げありがとうございます。Thank you very very much. I am very glad to know you are a one of my reader!
Posted by: Mari | Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 08:51 PM
Maybe Japanese people are just more honest when asked such personal question..? Who knows if Greek people really do it that much!
Posted by: MartinF | Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 07:33 PM
I have just seen the trailer, you are right, its very beautiful. I just wish I could understand what they say. Take care!
Posted by: Catherine June | Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 04:41 PM
oh!i'm bough the book too."Bento Sumo Tokyo" you know i don't mind about the name's book and thai people don't mind the name's book too! (i think). but i'm interesting the book because it show about japanese people think about yourself, think about japan.i & thai people wants to know because we like japan we think it nice country and i thing some thai people want to go to japan.i collect the thai's book it talk about japan, 90 of 100 books talk about how you can go to japan? i think it's too much for me very boring but when i see your book oh! wow! very interesting. thank you! thank you!
Posted by: moomoo | Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 01:43 AM
Really funny to see that japanese are as you say so "light".
I always find interesting "sex in Japan" because at the same time that it is widely accepted(ero stuff is easily findable, even in anime for children like conan, there is sometime this nose bleed thing..) it is not at all accepted (mosaic in AV for one exemple)..
BTW the dedicated life for the "kaisha" that salarymen live might be the reason. I once read that most japanese couples don't have sex anymore in their 30/40
Posted by: 41nano | Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 12:34 AM