Toyoda Corolla?!

~Yesterday, I found a postcard-sized paper sitting in my mailbox. It seemed to be a form of some kind, but as most of it was in kanji, I couldn't make heads or tails of it. I did, however, note that someone had taken the trouble to write their kanji name with a pen. Thinking it might be important (perhaps a notice about my apartment), I showed it to one of my Japanese co-workers for a translation.

The person I showed it to looked at the card for a moment, and then burst out laughing. The card, it seems, was an advertisement for fortune-telling! Specifically, it was for the services of a numerologist, someone who tells fortunes based on numbers. In Japan, belief in numerology is a widely-held cultural superstition, much like the way the number thirteen is considered unlucky in America.

For example, the number four is pronounced "shi" in Japanese, but the word shi can also mean death, so in certain situations an alternate way of saying four, "yon", is used instead. I still haven't gotten the hang of when to use yon and when to use shi; native speakers seem to do it instinctively.

One of the most famous examples of Japanese numerology is the founding of automotive giant Toyota corporation. The company was actually founded in 1937 by the Toyoda family (note the subtle difference in spelling). The Toyoda family was in the business of making machine looms (and still are), but wanted to expand into domestic automobile production due to pre-WWII import embargoes.

Before founding their car company, they consulted a numerologist, who told them that the name "Toyoda" was not optimal. The reasoning went like this: the name "Toyoda", when written in katakana as most company names are, requires ten pen strokes to write. Ten is not considered a lucky number in Japan (neither is it unlucky).

トヨダ <---TOYODA requires ten pen strokes; the small ten-ten marks (") change ta (タ) to da (ダ).

Instead, the numerologist suggested that the company be named "Toyota", which takes eight pen strokes to write. Eight, on the other hand, is considered a very lucky number.

トヨタ <--- TOYOTA requires only eight pen stokes. Lucky!

The Toyoda family decided to take this advice, and today, millions of people (including yours truly) drive Toyota cars rather than Toyodas.

So what about my name, David? Numerologically speaking, is it lucky or unlucky when written in Japanese? Let's find out:

^ Because "David" is not a Japanese name, it's written out above in katakana. "David" requires 21 pen strokes to write. So is 21 lucky or unlucky? Well, the number seven is the luckiest of all numbers in Japan, and 21 is three times seven...777! Just like on a winning slot machine! So, I hereby declare the name "David" to be one of the luckiest of all gaikokujin names in Japan.

Not that I'll be going to a pachinko parlor anytime soon, mind you. ~Oyasumi!

The Winds of Winter

~Well, it's about time:

^ Better late than never. Although in this case, we're talking two-and-a-half months late. The words of House Stark ring true, albeit with a distinct lack of punctuality.

^ I was once again privileged to enjoy the exciting and challenging sport of snow-cycling! Lance Armstrong has nothing on me. More snow is predicted for tomorrow along the Sea of Japan coastal area, where I live. ~Oyasumi!

Introducing...the Book!

~For everyone out there who's ever had a dumb computer question, fear not: there are many who are just as clueless as you are. The following video explains, in simple terms, how to use a certain high-tech device that has confounded many people. It's in Norwegian, but don't worry, there are English subtitles:


^ "Opening it? If it had been that straightforward, I wouldn't have called helpdesk, would I?" I've come to appreciate Norse humor more since reading Sophie's World a few months ago. Good luck dealing with these newfangled "books". ~Oyasumi!

Elephant Shower

~Here's some more wacky Japanglish, from the side of a plastic gift bag:

Elephant Shower

An elephant raises water to
flower arrangement every day.

Did you know that it is illegal in North Carolina to plow a cotton field with an elephant? Ah, what *useful* knowledge I gained in middle school social studies class! No word on whether or not having an elephant water your flowers is illegal. ~Oyasumi!

Girl's Day

~Yesterday (March 3rd) was the day of a Japanese festival known as Hina Matsuri, or Girls' Day. It's a celebration for girls to wish them health, longevity, and prosperity.

^During the festival, families with girls set up elaborate dolls, known as hina dolls, which wear traditional clothing. These are a few of the dolls set up at the civics center in Nagaoka. It was quite a collection.

Girls also dress up in their best kimono and go to parties where they drink amazake, a sweet, low-alcohol rice wine similar to saké. They also eat special sushi meals called chirashi-zushi.

There's an interesting superstition associated with the hina dolls: the day after March 3rd, the dolls must be carefully put away as quickly as possible. If this isn't done, the girls of the household will supposedly never be married! Horror of horrors! ~Oyasumi.