Canberra-Nara candle festival

Today in Canberra, it is the 2010 Canberra Nara Candle Festival, celebrating the 17th anniversary of the sister-cities’ relationship. It will be held in the Canberra-Nara Peace Park.

Canberra’s sister links with Nara have been mainly forged through regular educational and sporting exchanges.

The event will consist of lighting 2000 candles and lanterns to celebrate peace. This festival consists of entertainment including Japanese Taiko drums and indigenous Australian music. The festival started eight years ago and is based on a traditional festival in Nara called Tokae.

Although the festival was cancelled, it will be expecting a crowd of at least 10,000 as shown in previous years. According to the Canberra Government’s website, this festival celebrates the similarities and differences between the two cities. Both cities are close to the natural environment with Nara famous for their deers and Canberra for kangaroos (not sure about this?).

Nara is a city dating back to more than 1300 years when it was Japan’s first permanent capital and is well known for its arts and architecture. Canberra on the other hand is the modern capital of Australia and is rated as one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in Australia. So the forging of friendship and the strengthening of cultural relationship are emphasised as major themes today.

The festival will be held from 3pm to 9pm today in Lennox Gardens, Canberra.

Maple viewing

Now is the beginning of the season of maple viewing in Japan and is one of the most colourful and brightest times of the year. Besides from cherry blossom viewing which occurs in April, autumn is the best season and there are plenty of good places to do some maple viewing.

The maple tree is so popular that the form of art associated with it is called ‘maple art’ and still continues today. The name given for centuries for this type of art in Japan is of course ‘bonsai’.

I am really ashamed to admit that I was given a maple bonsai to take care of but after a while of not watering it, it died - definitely am not a good bonsai keeper.

A website suggested the Japanese maple is a ‘symbol of grace personified… represents elegance and a sense of tastefulness’. For me, it is the colours which are attractive. The initial green colour gradually turns orange, then peaks at a bright red. Maple viewing is normally near the mountains of Japan.

Japanese maples have also been celebrated in Japanese poetry, especially in the "waka" or "tanka" style court poetry that originated from the seventh to the thirteenth century. Maple leaves were a source of inspiration and is a topic still widely used today in poetry.

AKB48

Japan has been renowned for quirky and innovative things from crazy game-shows to technology. AKB48, an all-female idol group is revolutionising pop culture by being “a mass-production, mass-marketing, mass presence affair” according to Japan Times.

Starting in 2005, producer Yasushi Akimoto formed the group with the intention of having 16 members each in teams A, K and B. The girls ranging from 14 to 24 were selected out of 7,924 contestants in an audition, according to AKB48's website.

At least one of the teams performs daily in Akihabara at the exclusive AKB48 Theatre, whilst the other members are busy at promotions or events.

This band has really emphasised on exposure as a key to success. Akimoto’s concept of ‘meeting real idols daily’ has worked as there are many opportunities for AKB48 to connect with fans. There are also strong connections to Japanese advertisers which boost the band’s image.

The size of this group is also big and raises the question of whether it is manageable. The emergence of large bands are becoming popular also in Korea and whether this trend will also be picked up in other parts of Asia – only time will tell.

Here's one of their songs:

iButterfly

Just found this awesome application Japan developed called iButterfly. Not sure when it would be available in Australia, but it enables iPhone owners to capture virtual butterflies at real locations using their phone’s camera to get store promotions.

It was developed last year in Japan by Dentsu, Japanese communications and advertising giant. This application is another great step to boost digital advertising. The application includes releasing butterflies at specific times and locations. Users would then see the butterflies by pointing their iPhone’s camera at those locations and can ‘catch’ the virtual butterflies by flicking their phones. These butterflies then become electronic coupons which can be redeemed at certain shops or receive updates.

For more details, check this video:

Gap year?

A few days ago there was an article on the Sydney University website which talked about a research that revealed how a gap year can clarify what you want to do for uni. Professor Andrew Martin concluded that “gap year can be useful for those students who are uncertain in their post-school plans or who are less academically motivated upon completing school”. Now that statement seems rather generalised since who is actually really certain about their post-school plans? There are some who are set on what they want to do, but there are also definitely people who are still uncertain even when they are studying at uni. They may change subjects each semester and still are not satisfied with their choices. There are also those who are not necessarily “academically unmotivated” who want to take a gap year.

The psychology of gap year intentions is very interesting. For me, it was the reverse of what the research concluded. What I want to highlight is how a gap year can impact on your tertiary studies instead of agreeing intentions of clarifying future choices is the reason for taking a gap year. I went on exchange with a clear intention of studying architecture at uni. Coincidentally, my second host family members were all architects and designed shrines. There were some occasions where I went to their building sites and saw their drawing plans. I realised it wasn’t really for me. Indeed the gap year did clarify my uni choices and have now chosen a combination of media and law which is completely different. But this also highlights even if there is certainty in post-school plans, a gap year can make you even more certain about what you don’t want to do and want to do. Of course, gap year intentions vary from person to person but it does shape you and gets you ready for uni.

Although I don’t agree with the “less academically motivated” part of the research, but what a gap year can do is let you take some time off. Once uni starts, it takes a while to get back into the pattern of study as well as adapting to uni life.

A gap year does not necessarily erase all uncertainties but rather opens more options. I still retain a deep interest in architecture and love taking photos of castles, shrines, temples and buildings in Japan and wonder if that “uncertainty” is still lingering inside me.

Intelligent toilets

I am always fascinated by the technical toilets in Japan with the heated seats, water jets with pressure controls, background music, hot-air bottom dryers. They are considered a ‘normal’ part of Japan, but to foreigners it is absolutely amazing to be able to see these technologically advanced toilets and marvel at its complexity.

Last month, Japan’s housing company Daiwa House launched the company’s latest model called “Intelligent Toilet”. With the elderly in mind, it provides urine analysis and takes the users’ bloods pressure and body temperature. The “Intelligent Toilet” then sends the data automatically to your personal computer.

Although it is not yet for sale, the latest model boasts in its capability of storing up to five different people’s data. This presents a great advancement in Japanese toilets and would promote a more health-conscious culture.

The development of toilets in Japan has continued to grow and most Japanese homes now have the ‘basic’ high-tech toilets. These are also extended to schools, shopping centres as well as to overseas markets including United States and China targeting mainly airports and hotels.

Food review

Gumshara - A hidden gem

Neatly tucked away in Chinatown’s Eating World Food Court, the place boasts of the aroma of pork bone soup (tonkotsu). The long queue and the chaotic shouts of the chef taking orders echoes the busy, cosy ramen stands in Japan.

The shop is simple, decorated with red curtains, with an open small kitchen where the chef serves the ramen one bowl at a time. Although the wait is long, it is worth it. Opening early last year, the shop has already attracted many customers with its famous soup base.

There is a cardboard menu explaining how their soup is made, using ‘100% Australian pork’, and guarantees the richness of the soup comes from the pork bones ‘which is essential to maintain smooth skin’.

The normal ramen flavours are there: miso, salt (shio), tonkotsu, bbq pork (chashuu), hakata as well as additional ones: tomato, garlic and other rice dishes and gyoza (dumplings). Beside some of the flavours on the menu, there are the words ‘thick soup’ attached to it. This refers to the thick soup base made daily from 120kg of pork bones which is boiled until the tendons and marrows are broken down and enriches the soup with collagen.

When you order your ramen, they try to adjust to your preferences: they ask if you would like it ‘less thick or less salty’ and if you would like to include a soft-boiled seasoned egg.

Meanwhile the chef constantly takes out boiled portions of ramen with nets in both hands and appears to be dancing when he flicks them dry on the ground. This creates a springy effect on the ramen. The soup is poured into the bowls through a net as well and is very ‘thick’.

The ramen comes within minutes after your order and is generous in portion. Although the whole shop emphasises ‘thick soup’, the thickness of the soup doesn’t hit you until you drink it. The richness of the soup is indescribable and differs from most other Sydney ramen places. Although the food court is a crowded and squishy, it is a great winter meal which gets you coming back for it again and again.

Gumshara is located in the Eating World Food Court Chinatown, Shop 209, 25-29 Dixon Street