dailysoy

One down

2006-09-05T23:49:00.000-04:00

Just finished my first week of classes, kinda.

Actually, yesterday's classes are being replaced tomorrow, which I'll miss along with everything else until 9/14. So far I've had Physical Planning - Waterfront (wed. night), Intro to Housing (thurs. night), Urban Data Analysis (tues. afternoon) and Intro to GIS (tues. night). The missing link is Intro to Transportation Planning (mon. morning).

So that's what my next three and a half months looks like. Except for the next week. Maybe I'll come back at ya with some kotowaza action when we return.

Cheers!

What's brewing? 9/3/06

2006-09-03T23:55:00.000-04:00

We racked the saison to the secondary last Thursday (8/31), even though activity in the primary was still evident. Specific gravity was 1.014, and the lactic acid was contributing a pronounced, but not offensive, sourness. Color was a light amber. Should be an interesting beer.

I had attempted to reculture the Saison Dupont yeast, but it was showing no signs of cooperating. I've read that Dupont yeast not only prefers warmer climes, but will actually go dormant when temps drop below 78F or so. So maybe last week's cool spell was to blame. Anyway, I went ahead and threw it into the secondary in hopes that the existing yeast would kick-start the Dupont. Whether this succeeded or not we may never know, but several days later there is still some slow bubbling in the airlock.

Bottling will have to wait until after we return from Japan on the 13th, but perhaps that's for the best.

What's brewing? 8/27/06

2006-08-27T23:43:00.000-04:00

This summer has provided fewer opportunities for brewing than I anticipated, with house guests and little weekend trips really hampering my "marathon of Belgian styles" efforts. But there's still time before autumn, and yesterday I finally brewed my saison.

From what I've read about the style, the mash traditionally consisted of malted barley and whatever other grains were available - often unmalted wheat or spelt. Difficult as it was to come across, I decided to give spelt a try. So my partial mash consisted of:

- 1lb spelt grain
- 1/2lb Caramunich malt
- 3lb Belgian 2-row pilsener malt

I began the mash by soaking the spelt stovetop for 30 minutes at around 115F. Then added the Caramunich and brought the temp up to 140F. Poured this grist into my mashtun, topped it off with the pilsener malt and added more water to stabilize the whole thing at 140F for 30 minutes. Added some boiling water to bring the temp close to 150F, and a little decoction put it right at 150F, where I held the mash for an additional 45 minutes. Sparged with 1.5gal water around 170F, to which I added 1/2oz food-grade lactic acid. This was recommended for lowering the pH of the brew water to approximate local conditions, as well as to provide a sourness characteristic of some traditional saison beers. Of course I guessed on the amount required... 1/2oz could be way too much!

The boil for saisons also tends to be longer, so I gave 90 minutes a try. At the beginning I added:

- 3lb extra-light DME
- 1/2lb wheat DME
- 1lb Belgian clear candi sugar
- 2oz Hallertau 3.9% AA bittering hops
- 1/2oz Saaz 3.3% AA bittering hops

The water level in the brew kettle was already at 3 gallons, so I added no more. After 75 minutes, added

- 1/2oz Styrian Goldings flavor hops
- 1/2oz bitter orange peel
- 1tsp ground coriander
- 1tsp Irish moss

After another 13 minutes, added

- 1/2oz Saaz aroma hops

Boiled for 2 more minutes, and strained wort into primary fermenter.

Since the boil was longer than usual, the post-boil wort was only 2 gallons. This meant a greater addition of cold water to get 5 gallons, which dropped the temp below 80F quicker. Original gravity: 1.054. I wasn't working from a particular recipe this time, but that OG is reasonable for the style, and is actually a little higher than I expected.

I had a starter culture going from the Wyeast Belgian Ardennes yeast purchased a while back, so I pitched that right away. By this morning the primary was rowdy with yeast activity, and it's still going strong tonight. When I transfer to the secondary in a few days, my intention is to add yeast recultured from a bottle of Saison Dupont.

Kotowaza of the day: Patience... or an exercise in futility?

2006-08-23T23:13:00.001-04:00

Japanese:: 錐刀を以て泰山を堕つ
Romanized:: Suitō wo motte taizan wo kobotsu
Meaning of Japanese:: Bring a large mountain to rubble with a small sword
English equivalent:: To empty the sea with a (tea)spoon
Related kotowaza:: 千里の道も一歩から

Kotowaza of the day: Behind the smile

2006-08-16T23:13:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: えせ者の空笑い
Romanized:: Ese-mono no sora-warai
Meaning of Japanese:: Beware the person who flatters with fake smiles/laughter
English equivalent:: A smiling boy seldom proves a good servant

What's brewing? 8/14/06

2006-08-14T20:51:00.000-04:00

We bottled the Orval clone on Saturday, adding 3/4 cup clear candi sugar. Final gravity was 1.010, the low end of the predicted range, for about 6.2% alcohol by volume. A little low compared with the real mccoy, but perfect for the recipe.

Of course there's no carbonation yet, but this beer actually tasted very good pre-bottling. The dry-hop is pleasantly evident in the nose, and to a lesser degree in the flavor, without imparting too much bitterness. The color is right on, too. I'm excited to try this beer in a few weeks!

Kotowaza of the day: Techniques in PR, pt. 1

2006-08-10T20:22:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 餓鬼の断食、悪女の賢者ぶり
Romanized:: Gaki no danjiki, akujo no kenjaburi
Meaning of Japanese:: The fasting of a starved devil, the affected wisdom of a wicked woman
English equivalent:: Don't make a virtue of necessity

Kotowaza of the day: Debunking the hairy palms myth

2006-08-06T23:41:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 人通りに草生えず
Romanized:: Hitodōri ni kusa haezu
Meaning of Japanese:: No grass grows on a busy (well-traveled) road
English equivalent:: Grass grows not upon the highway
The used key is always bright

Kotowaza of the day: Dreaming in Greek

2006-08-01T23:51:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 唐人の寝言
Romanized:: Tōjin no negoto
Meaning of Japanese:: A foreigner talking in his sleep
English equivalent:: It's all Greek to me
Gibberish

Kotowaza of the day: Aging to perfection

2006-07-27T23:19:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 梅干しと友達は古いほど良い
Romanized:: Umeboshi to tomodachi wa furui hodo yoi
Meaning of Japanese:: Both friends and pickled plums - the older the better
English equivalent:: Old friends and old wine are best
Old fish, old oil, and an old friend are best

What's brewing? 7/24/06

2006-07-24T20:31:00.000-04:00

As promised on 6/19, I'm working on Belgian styles this summer, starting with an Orval clone using recultured yeast from an Orval bottle.
The partial mash and boil on 7/15 began with a grain bill of

- 2.5lb Belgian pale malt
- 1/2lb 40L crystal malt
- 8oz Cara-pils malt

The Cara-pils was an ad hoc substitute for the Belgian Cara-vienne called for in the recipe. (More accurately, it was a mistake brought on by my not knowing one Cara- from the next.) This may reduce the gravity a bit, hopefully not much.

This time I shot for a single infusion at 150F for 90 minutes. At dough in, the temperature was spot on. But about an hour in, after opening the mash tun to stir a few times, it dropped to around 145F. To raise the temp a little, and as a lead in to the mash-out, I tried a little decoction. This involves the removal of some grist and hot water, which are then brought to a boil and re-introduced to the mash. Did this twice, then sparged with 1.5gal water at 180F and began boil. At 60 minutes, added

- 3.3lb Bierkeller light malt extract syrup
- 1lb extra-light DME
- 1lb Belgian clear candi sugar
- 1/2lb amber candi sugar
- 1oz Styrian Goldings 5% AA bittering hops
- 1oz Hallertau Hersbrucker 3.5% AA bittering hops

Added water to 2.5gal in the brew kettle. After 45 minutes, added

- 1oz Styrian Goldings flavor hops
- 1/2oz bitter orange peel
- 1tsp ground coriander
- 1tsp Irish moss

After another 12 minutes, added

- 1/2oz UK First Gold aroma hops
- 1/2oz bitter orange peel
- 1/2tsp ground coriander

Boiled for 3 more minutes, and strained wort into primary fermenter. Original gravity: 1.057. Again, a little lower than the target range (1.059-1.062), possibly due to poor mash efficiency or my grain substitution.

This time I was able to pitch soon after adding cold water to the primary. I was a little nervous about the Orval yeast, since this was my first stab at reconditioning commercial yeast, but when we awoke the next morning the beer was happily bubbling away. Yeast activity was vigorous for a full two days, then slowed down considerably.

Racked to the secondary on 7/19, dry-hopping the prescribed 1/2oz Styrian Goldings. Gravity at transfer was 1.012, nestled soundly within the target final gravity range (1.010-1.013). Good sign. And it still seems to be very slowly fermenting, with some nice lacy foam in the neck of the carboy.

This beer is supposed to sit in the secondary for 3-4 weeks, so I will probably start another batch in the meantime. After all, I've got three packets of yeast in the fridge and - what timing! - a surprise copy of Farmhouse Ales just arrived in the mail.

Update:
My brewing advisor and former supplier in Omaha informs me that the substitution of carapils for caravienne will:

1) lighten the color
2) lighten some malt aromatics/flavor profile
3) slightly 'dry' out the mouth feel

Thanks, Frank!

Kotowaza of the day: Scratching the surface

2006-07-22T23:38:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 叩けば埃が出る
Romanized:: Tatakeba hokori ga deru
Meaning of Japanese:: If [a rug/anyone is] beaten, dust will come out
English equivalent:: Every man has his weak side
Every man has his faults
Many without punishment, but none without fault

Kotowaza of the day: Idling away at work edition

2006-07-14T15:24:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 悪銭身につかず
Romanized:: Akusen mi ni tsukazu
Meaning of Japanese:: Ill-gained (crooked) money does not remain long
English equivalent:: Ill got, ill spent
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing
Easy come, easy go
What is got over the devil's back is spent under his belly

What's brewing? 7/10/06

2006-07-10T23:48:00.000-04:00

Well, nothing's brewing per se. But on Saturday I started the process of reculturing the Orval yeast I mentioned back here, and today it was finally showing strong signs of life when I came home from work. Reculturing yeast from bottle-conditioned beers can take a few days, but I suspect that this one sprung into action today because New York warmed up again - Belgian yeasts love those over-80 temps!

So how does one reculture yeast from a bottle of beer, anyway? First and foremost, the bottle must contain yeast. Your standard Coors Light won't cut it. Secondly, if you plan on brewing with the yeast, you probably want to make sure the yeast resting at the bottom of the bottle is the same strain used for brewing - some brewers will filter their beer and bottle-condition with another strain to protect their proprietary yeasts from thieving homebrewers and other criminal types.

Confident you've got the correct yeast? Then - aside from drinking 80% of the beer, leaving the yeast and some beer in the bottle - it's just a scaled-down version of the brew process. Boil 8oz of water, add half a cup of wheat DME and two hop pellets, and cool this mixture to below 80F. Sanitize a stopper, airlock, and the mouth of the yeast-containing bottle, and pour in the cooled mixture. Then keep it at room temperature until the yeast awakens from dormancy. Voila! Ready to pitch, or return to fridge for later use.

Kotowaza of the day: Vengeance at a distance

2006-07-10T23:15:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 江戸の敵を長崎で討つ
Romanized:: Edo no kataki wo nagasaki de utsu
Meaning of Japanese:: To get revenge in Nagasaki for a wrong received in edo
English equivalent:: To take revenge in a roundabout fashion (or in an unlikely place)
To have the wrong sow by the ear

Kotowaza of the day: Learning by doing

2006-07-06T23:31:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 猟は鳥が教うる
Romanized:: Ryo wa tori ga oshiuru
Meaning of Japanese:: Birds teach hunters how to shoot/catch them
English equivalent:: By writing you learn to write

Kotowaza of the day: Tell this to the workers to keep them happy

2006-07-03T23:58:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 足るを知る者は富む
Romanized:: Taru wo shiru mono wa tomu
Meaning of Japanese:: He is wealthy who knows when he has enough
He who recognizes when his needs are met is rich
English equivalent:: He is rich that has few wants
The greatest wealth is contentment with a little
Content lodges oftener in cottages than palaces

What's brewing? 6/27/06

2006-06-27T23:04:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we bottled the amber ale, adding 1 1/4 cup amber DME for bottling sugar. Final gravity was 1.014 - right about where it should be. Since the original gravity was 1.055, this beer will have about 5.5% alcohol (by volume).

For me it's still difficult to have a sense of what the conditioned (carbonated, matured) beer will be like, just from tasting it at the time of bottling. This one seemed a little... blah... although the body was good and the allspice did impart a nice hint of clove. Who knows, once it's rested in the bottles for a month or so and had a chance to carbonate it may turn out very well.

Done watched 'em git hitched

2006-06-27T22:47:00.000-04:00

Last Saturday we attended a wedding in Chicago, for which I had the pleasure of being a best man. It was great fun all around, getting to see John and Karen and their friends again, running into some old Kansas State cronies, and meeting a few new cool people, like Frank. There was also some tasty food and beverage action. (thanks, parents of the bride and groom!)

We drove, which made for very long days on Thursday and Sunday, but it also meant Kona could go along. She was happy about that - a bigger apartment to romp around in, and lots of grass outside. But after 13 hours in the car Sunday, we were all glad to be back home in Nueva York.

Welcome to the married kids club, J&K!

**Oh, and I was an idiot and forgot our camera on Saturday, so I can't even post a photo to show how great everyone looked.

What's brewing? 6/19/06

2006-06-19T19:53:00.000-04:00

New feature!
By way of explanation, I've been meaning to keep a homebrewing notebook to record recipes and methods, what worked, what didn't, etc. If you're interested or even curious about homebrewing, read on! Otherwise, this'll just be for my benefit.

So I'm getting a late start on this notebook. I'm already working on my fifth batch since rejoining the ranks of homebrewers in Fall '05, and I've got paper records of several brews made back in '97-'01. Abridged info for past brews may eventually find their way online, but for now let's deal with what's in the carboy...

It's an amber ale, modified from the Wild Hogge Amber Ale recipe in Clone Brews. Their description:

Straight from the British island of Berumuda, this satisfying, thirst-quenching light amber ale has a caramel, malty, hoppy nose and flavor. The aftertaste of this full-bodied alt beer is smooth and slightly sweet.

I started this one on 6/14 as a partial mash, like all my beers lately. The grain bill was

- 2lb British 2-row pale malt
- 12oz 60L US crystal malt
- 4oz Vienna malt
- 4oz chocolate malt

mashed by step infusion, for 30 minutes at around 130F, then for 10 minutes at 140F, and another 50 minutes at about 148F. Three steps simply because the recommended amount of added boiling water did not raise the mash temp to 150 on the first shot. 148 was a compromise, but I suspect that my mash efficiency was well below the target 75%. Anyway, I sparged with 1.5gal water at 170F and began boil. At 60 minutes, added

- 4.5lb light DME
- 8oz malto-dextrin (this adds body, as the sugar is largely unfermentable)
- 3/4oz Northern Brewer 8%AA bittering hops

Added water to 2.5gal in the brew kettle. At 45 minutes, added

- 1oz Styrian Goldings flavor hops
- 1tsp Irish moss

At 13 minutes, added

1/2oz Tettnanger aroma hops

Boiled for 2 more minutes, and strained wort into primary fermenter. Original gravity: 1.055, a little lower than the target range, possibly due to poor mash.

I had a nice 8oz yeast starter going in the fridge (two strains - German ale and American ale - because both were a tad on the old side), but I couldn't pitch that night because our hot apartment just wasn't allowing the wort to cool below 80F. When I pitched the next morning, I dumped the yeast starter direct from the fridge into the wort in my rush out the door, not thinking about temperature shock. But did this kill off the yeast? Nope. I returned home to find the wort bubbling away happily.

On 6/18 I racked to the secondary, and added a small handful (15-20?) of boiled whole allspice berries in the process. I'm hoping this gives just a hint of clovey, cinnamony goodness without going overboard. Gravity at transfer was 1.015, almost down to the target final gravity. The air in our apartment is easily over 80F during the day now, so I've wrapped a wet towel around the carboy to cool the beer down a bit. Today there was still some foamy action on top, though the airlock is relatively static.

All that remains for this one is bottling. My next four brews are destined to be Belgian styles. I've got some Orval yeast waiting for me in the refrigerator, and three Wyeast pitchables on the way from Northern Brewer.

Kotowaza of the day: Finding value in the dull thud

2006-06-18T23:33:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 空樽は音が高い
Romanized:: Akidaru wa oto ga takai
Meaning of Japanese:: An empty cask/barrel makes a loud sound
English equivalent:: Empty vessels make the most noise
The worst wheel always creaks most
Related kotowaza:: 能ある鷹は爪を隠す

Kotowaza of the day: You snooze, you lose?

2006-06-15T23:18:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 早起きは三文の徳, or
早起きは三文の得
Romanized:: Hayaoki wa san mon no toku
Meaning of Japanese:: The early riser profits by three mon*
English equivalent:: The early bird catches the worm
He that will thrive must rise at five
The cow that's first up gets the first of the dew
Related:: Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise

*The mon (文) was a monetary unit in Japan during the Tokugawa shogunate. One mon was equal to 1/1000 of a kan (貫), which was in turn 1/4 of a ryō (両). With the Meiji Restoration the system of money changed, and one ryō was equivalent to one yen (円), the only unit in commercial use today. (The yen is divisible into 100 sen (銭), but these are called into action only to express fractional share prices in fiscal markets.)

Kotowaza of the day: Vox oculi

2006-06-12T23:23:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 目は口ほどに物を言う
Romanized:: Me wa kuchi hodo ni mono-wo iu
Meaning of Japanese:: The eyes say as much (are as expressive as) the mouth
English equivalent:: The heart's letter is read in the eyes
The eyes have one language everywhere

Kotowaza of the day: Dressing the part

2006-06-10T23:57:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 衣ばかりで和尚はできぬ
Romanized:: Koromo bakari de oshō wa dekinu
Meaning of Japanese:: The robe alone does not make a Buddhist monk
English equivalent:: It is not the beard that makes the philosopher
The cowl does not make the monk

Kotowaza of the day: Don't get snotty with me

2006-06-07T23:06:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 目糞鼻糞を笑う
Romanized:: Mekuso hanakuso-wo warau
Meaning of Japanese:: The eye mucus laughs/scoffs at the nasal mucus
English equivalent:: The pot calling the kettle black

Kotowaza of the day: High-context communication

2006-06-05T20:45:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 一と言うたら二と悟れ
Romanized:: Ichi to iutara, ni to satore
Meaning of Japanese:: When you are told one thing, think and anticipate what follows
literally - when you are told one (the first), intuit/sense two (the second)
English equivalent:: A word is enough to a wise man
Send a wise man on an errand, and say nothing unto him

Kotowaza of the day: On Utility, pt. 2

2006-06-04T23:38:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 無用の用
Romanized:: Muyō no yō
Meaning of Japanese:: Seemingly useless, but actually useful
English equivalent:: Keep a thing seven years and you will find a use for it
Related:: One man's trash is another man's treasure
Related Kotowaza:: 無用の長物

Kotowaza of the day: On Utility, pt. 1

2006-05-31T20:29:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 無用の長物
Romanized:: Muyō no chōbutsu
Meaning of Japanese:: An object that is too long for its intended purpose, and therefore useless
English equivalent:: Useless object, white elephant, dead wood

Kotowaza of the day: On the learning curve

2006-05-24T23:44:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 尺八は鳴りかけたら半稽古
Romanized:: Shakuhachi wa narikaketara hangeiko
Meaning of Japanese:: By the time one can finally create a note, the shakuhachi lesson is half finished
English equivalent:: Well begun is half done
Every beginning is hard
Related:: Easier said than done

Re

2006-05-24T22:27:00.000-04:00

Stre-----tch. Yawn.

Just kidding, I won't put you through that again. But we've had another considerable lapse at dailysoy, haven't we? Some questions probably ought to be addressed, such as, Was I really trapped in the emotional clutches of my Tamagotchi? Why wasn't this site named monthlysoy or bluemoonsoy? How could I be so bold - nay, presuming - as to post my long-awaited comeback opposite the gripping season finale of Lost?

Well, nevermind all that. Let's just say certain developments over the past few months have required a considerable investment of psychic energy. Then there was the indolence... the sweet, sweet indolence. And devotion to some offline pastimes.

Anyway, the usual sporadic posting will resume here. For the time being. And now (with a Jedi-like wave) you will forget the last six months.

Awakened from a long slumber... by number 4!

2006-02-04T20:03:00.000-05:00

Stre-----tch. Yawn. What year is it?

The noise of my own silence had ebbed to such a faint hum that I could have kept this up for another 19 years and 10 months, were it not for some gentle if annoying prodding from my good friend John.

Anyway, here's what I've got on all fours:

Four jobs I've had:

1. Furniture mover
2. Bookstore clerk (at the same shop as John. Good to see they're still using the same typeface!)
3. Insurance underwriter
4. In-house translator

Four films I can watch repeatedly:

1. Alice in Wonderland
2. Tonari-no Totoro (original Japanese of My Neighbor Totoro)
3. Amelie
4. The Big Lebowski (or Brazil, or...)

Four places I've lived:

1. The Big O
2. The Big Mikan (No kidding... some people, mostly foreigners I assume, call Tokyo that. Mikan is Japanese for mandarin orange.)
3. The Big Apple, and
4. The Little Apple

Four TV programs I like to watch:

1. The Simpsons
2. Lost
3. the occasional episode of House or CSI
4. Hi-def nature shows and other stuff on Discovery

Four places I've been on vacation:

1. Mainland Southeast Asia
2. Japan, head to toe
3. Chiapas, Mexico
4. Lucas, Kansas

Four of my favorite dishes:

1. Curry (Japanese, Thai, Indian, whatever)
2. Pizza in all its forms (I'm even growing to like NY style, with its emaciated crust)
3. Green salad, with dashes of color and a vinegar-based dressing
4. Anything donburi, especially oyakodon

Four websites I visit daily:

1. airline shipment tracking sites (for work)
2. some news sites
3. my friends' online digs...
4. we're already over four, aren't we?

Four places I would rather be right now:

1. A night market someplace in Thailand, with spicy food and a beer (subset of "anyplace with beer")
2. Sitting within the warmth radius of my in-laws' sunken kotatsu, watching a second meter of snow slowly accumulate outside (subset of "anyplace with family or friends")
3. On the second floor of Excelsior Coffee in Kabukicho, sipping a coffee of tolerable quality while alternately reading and watching the freak show that is the store's uniquely mixed clientele
4. Anywhere I'm not subjected to my boss' taste in radio - Smooth jazz, CD101.9 (I'm convinced this station owns about 75 singles and no albums)

Four bloggers I am annoying:

1. All the bloggers I know have already been tagged, except the Bellmen
2. and Mun Mun
3. So if anyone else happens by and wants to answer,
4. use the comments!

But not until I've made amends for my tardiness by adding a couple new categories.

Four places I've never been but would like to visit:

1. (a piazza somewhere in) Italy
2. the Taj Mahal
3. Montreal
4. the other side of the fence

Four differences in my alternate universe:

1. No pesky body hair. On humans.
2. Lots of things travel at light speed, including sound
3. Our brains contain an "ashes to ashes" lobe, which reminds us of our common origins. Everybody comprehends the potential synergistic effects of doing a favor. In Americans, this lobe also functions to make us more math-literate.
4. Dogs play poker, just like in the paintings

Kotowaza of the day: The road to heaven is paved with Advertising Dollars

2005-11-16T22:53:00.000-05:00

Japanese:: 聞いて極楽見て地獄
Romanized:: Kiite gokuraku mite jigoku
Meaning of Japanese:: Paradise (heaven) on hearsay, hell on sight
Sounds like heaven but looks like hell
English equivalent:: Fame is a liar

Kotowaza of the day: Kick 'em when they're down, revisited

2005-11-10T22:34:00.000-05:00

Japanese:: 踏んだり蹴ったり
Romanized:: Fundari kettari
Meaning of Japanese:: Stomping on, and then kicking somebody
English equivalent:: To add insult to injury
Out of the frying pan into the fire
Related Kotowaza:: 泣きっ面に蜂

Kotowaza of the day: Take the plunge

2005-11-04T23:18:00.000-05:00

Japanese:: 案ずるより産むが易い
Romanized:: Anzuru yori umu ga yasui
Meaning of Japanese:: Childbirth is easier than the anticipation
An attempt is sometimes easier than expected
English equivalent:: The anticipation is worse than (the reality)
We have nothing to fear but fear itself
Related:: Just do it
Related Kotowaza:: 千里の道も一歩から

Kotowaza of the day: Bah, Humbug!

2005-11-02T21:39:00.000-05:00

Japanese:: 金は三欠くにたまる
Romanized:: Kane wa sankaku ni tamaru
Meaning of Japanese:: Money (wealth) is accumulated by deficiencies in three character traits*
English equivalent:: Muck and money go together
Related:: (Love of) Money is the root of all evil

*Namely, humanity, sociability, and loyalty to obligations

Kotowaza of the day: Just don't forget to chew

2005-10-31T22:26:00.000-05:00

Japanese:: ひだるい（ひもじい）時にまずい物なし
Romanized:: Hidarui (himojii) toki ni mazui mono nashi
Meaning of Japanese:: Nothing tastes awful when you're starving
English equivalent:: Hunger is the best sauce
Hunger finds no fault with the cookery
Hunger makes hard beans sweet

Kotowaza of the day: Building character, again

2005-10-30T19:17:00.000-05:00

Japanese:: かわいい子には旅をさせよ
Romanized:: Kawaii ko ni wa tabi wo saseyo
Meaning of Japanese:: If you love your child, send him/her on a journey
English equivalent:: ??
Related:: Spare the rod and spoil the child*
If you love someone, set them free

*Many sources list this as the sole translation of the kotowaza. Perhaps an endorsement of corporal punishment is the closest thing English has, but I'm not willing to make it an "English equivalent." The Japanese is actually closer to the "heavy work" kotowaza on 10/21. The idea, in olden times at least, was that a journey would involve some eye-opening trials and tribulations, and that these experiences would hopefully expand the child's horizon.

Kotowaza of the day: While we're on the subject...

2005-10-26T19:07:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 金の切れ目が縁の切れ目
Romanized:: Kane no kireme ga en no kireme
Meaning of Japanese:: When the money runs out, so does the love
The end of the money is the end of the relationship
English equivalent:: When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out of the window
Out of money, out of mind
Nobody loves you when you're down and out

Kotowaza of the day: Love doesn't pay the bills

2005-10-24T22:32:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 出雲の神より恵比寿の紙*
Romanized:: Izumo-no kami yori Ebisu-no kami
Meaning of Japanese:: The paper money of Ebisu is preferable to the matchmaking deity at Izumo
English equivalent:: Money makes marriage
Money makes the world go round

*A small play on words is involved here. The kotowaza asserts that the kami of Ebisu is better than the kami of Izumo, but while Ebisu's kami means paper (or paper money), Izumo's is the character for god.

The Izumo Taisha shrine of Shimane in western Japan is known for its patron deity of wedlock. Singles and couples alike visit there in hopes that a happy marriage will somehow result. Ebisu is one of the major Shichifukujin, or seven lucky gods of Shinto Japan. He is the patron deity of business, savings and money. A shrine in Kyoto, among others, bears his name, as does a neighborhood in Tokyo and a brew now owned and marketed by Sapporo Beer.

Kotowaza of the day: Because it builds character

2005-10-21T22:54:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 若い時の辛労は買うてもせよ
Romanized:: Wakai toki-no shinrou-wa kautemo seyo
Meaning of Japanese:: Even if you have to pay for it, hard work while young will be useful in the future
English equivalent:: Heavy work in youth is quiet rest in old age

Kotowaza of the day: The great unwashed masses

2005-10-19T23:35:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 烏合の衆
Romanized:: Ugou-no shuu
Meaning of Japanese:: A mindless mob like a gathering of crows
English equivalent:: The mob has many heads, but no brains
Sheep with no shepherd

Kotowaza of the day: Full cycle

2005-10-17T23:21:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 木の実は木の本
Romanized:: Ki-no mi-wa ki-no moto
Meaning of Japanese:: The fruit that a tree bears, when fallen, will give root to another tree
English equivalent:: Dust thou art, and to dust shalt thou return
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust

Kotowaza of the day: Perils of Multitasking

2005-10-11T23:33:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 田の事すれば畠が荒れる
Romanized:: Ta-no koto sureba hatake-ga areru
Meaning of Japanese:: While you are tending to the rice paddy, the other fields will grow wild
English equivalent:: One thing at a time
You cannot eat your cake and have it, too
Related:: Time waits for no man

Kotowaza of the day: Common cold, or gateway illness?

2005-10-09T23:36:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 風邪は万病の基*
Romanized:: Kaze-wa manbyou-no moto
Meaning of Japanese:: A cold may lead to thousands of different illnesses
English equivalent:: A May cold is a 30-day cold

*Also written 風邪は万病の元, 風邪は百病の本, or other variations.

Kotowaza of the day: ... but don't tell anyone else!

2005-10-06T23:36:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 三人寄れば公界
Romanized:: San nin yoreba kugai
Meaning of Japanese:: Three people together makes a public forum
English equivalent:: A secret between more than two is no secret
A secret is too little for one, enough for two, too much for three
Related:: Two's company, three's a crowd

Kotowaza of the day: Tweedle Dum, Dee

2005-10-04T23:56:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 瓜を二つに割ったよう / 瓜二つ
Romanized:: Uri-wo futatsu-ni watta you / Urifutatsu
Meaning of Japanese:: Like a melon split in two
English equivalent:: (like) Peas in a pod
Spitting image
As like as two eggs

Any readings?

2005-10-02T23:01:00.000-04:00

Maybe this is merely a sign that I finally got adequate sleep, but for the first time in ages I awoke yesterday able to recall partial content of my most recent dream. Here's the gist: I bought a crimson two-piece suit (no extra pair of slacks) from a tailor who, in real life, is a Fedex salesman who annoys everyone in my department at work by showing up daily to beg for business.

Kotowaza of the day: But what of five-year forecasts?

2005-10-02T22:38:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 捕らぬ狸の皮算用
Romanized:: Toranu tanuki-no kawa zanyou
Meaning of Japanese:: To calculate the profit on a racoon pelt before the racoon is caught
English equivalent:: Don't count your chickens before they are hatched
Catch the bear before you sell his skin

Kotowaza of the day: In defense of dilly-dalliance

2005-09-28T22:45:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 子馬の朝駆け
Romanized:: Kouma-no asagake
Meaning of Japanese:: Like a colt that exuberantly dashes out in the morning, and is soon out of breath
English equivalent:: Haste makes waste
Too much of a good thing (is not good)
Related:: Slow and easy

Goodbye, unsightly spam?

2005-09-26T21:36:00.000-04:00

I just turned on word verification for Blogger comments because two spamlets appeared within a minute of posting the last kotowaza.

But, in the process of deleting them, I discovered that clicking the trash can icon a second time allows you to remove the comment forever. Good to know.

Kotowaza of the day: Teensy weensy

2005-09-26T20:48:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 雀の涙
Romanized:: Suzume-no namida
Meaning of Japanese:: Sparrow's tears
English equivalent:: Chicken feed
A pittance
A drop in the bucket

Kotowaza of the day: Wanna hear something low?

2005-09-22T23:11:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 伏せる牛に芥
Romanized:: Fuseru ushi-ni akuta
Meaning of Japanese:: Throw dirt on a lying cow
English equivalent:: To kick a man when he's down
Rub salt in a wound
Piss on (someone's) grave
Related:: Twist the knife

Kotowaza of the day: The Joy of Pawn Sacrifice

2005-09-20T23:14:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 負けて勝つ
Romanized:: Makete katsu
Meaning of Japanese:: Suffer a loss to win in the end
English equivalent:: Stoop to conquer
Sometimes the best gain is to lose
Related:: To lose the battle but win the war

Kotowaza of the day: Unbending faith is bliss

2005-09-19T20:47:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 非学者論に負けず
Romanized:: Higakusha ron-ni makezu
Meaning of Japanese:: An ignorant man never yields in the face of reason.
English equivalent:: A wise man changes his mind, a fool never.
Related:: God said it, (I believe it,) that settles it.

Kotowaza of the day: But can you walk the walk?

2005-09-14T23:11:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 畳の上の水練
Romanized:: Tatami-no ue-no suiren
Meaning of Japanese:: Swimming practice on the tatami mat
English equivalent:: Knowledge without practice makes but half an artist
A mere scholar, a mere ass
Related:: (verb) much, or just read about it?
Armchair quarterback, etc.

Kotowaza of the day: Should be seen and not heard?

2005-09-12T21:24:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 黙り虫壁を通す
Romanized:: Damari-mushi kabe-wo toosu
Meaning of Japanese:: Quiet bugs (worms) bore holes through the wall
English equivalent:: Still waters run deep
Beware of a silent dog and still water (and a still enemy)
Never trust a tailor that does not sing at his work (, his mind is of nothing but filching)

Kotowaza of the day: Homeland security edition

2005-09-11T23:37:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 文事ある者は必ず武備あり
Romanized:: Bunji aru mono-wa kanarazu bubi ari
Meaning of Japanese:: A learned man is always well prepared for war
English equivalent:: ??
Related:: He that makes a good war makes a good peace
~~Walk~~ Speak softly and carry a big stick

Random pics #14-17: Repetition

2005-09-07T20:20:00.000-04:00

This may bring charges of premature celebration, but in anticipation of our nomination for "Longest string of more-or-less repetitive posts to a weblog or other amateur easily-updated website of interest to few outside a small, fanatic audience," we're going to break stride today at dailysoy by bringing back a long-lost element - visuals. Pictures. Fotografias digitales. Don't worry, to avoid spraining anything we'll ease into it by building on today's theme of repetition.

Repetition as Agent of Climate Control

A farm of genetically-engineered window a/c units just a block or two from the East River in Brooklyn Heights.

Repetition as Protection from the Elements

Typical residential tile roof in mainland Japan, wet from a recent rain

Repetition as Aesthetic Choice, Complexly Layered

Detail of the double skin on a Dior boutique (this one in Ginza, Tokyo, although a new store in Osaka appears to share the overall external appearance). Viewed from a bit more distance, it takes on this pattern. And when the pattern is broken for a sidewalk-level window display, it is done so in technicolor.

Repetition as Meditation Aid

Rock garden at Daisen-in temple in Kyoto's Daitokuji complex.

There oughta be a special license class for these beasts

2005-09-06T23:44:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we made a little getaway to Albany, to take our minds off thing $ and to experience more of our new home state. Over the course of the 3-hour drive up, we witnessed the aftermaths of about half a dozen car accidents - every single one of them involving an SUV rear-ending another vehicle.

I have two theories to explain this persistent characteristic:
1. The worst drivers on our roads can't resist buying the largest "passenger vehicles"
2. SUV drivers have made a collective decision to take out their gas pump frustration on smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles and their penny-pinching owners

Any alternate theories would be appreciated, and will no doubt advance the cause of science.

Kotowaza of the day: Labor Day weekend special

2005-09-05T22:48:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 怠け者の節供働き
Romanized:: Namakemono-no sekku-bataraki
Meaning of Japanese:: Lazy men work hard only during the festival, while others are resting
English equivalents:: Idle folks have the most labour
The lazy man works twice

Kotowaza of the day: Speaking in tongues

2005-08-30T23:32:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 二枚の舌を使う
Romanized:: Nimai-no shita-wo tsukau
Meaning of Japanese:: To use two tongues
English equivalents:: Speak with a forked tongue
Have one face to god and another to the devil
Speak out of both sides of one's mouth

Kotowaza of the day: Going to extremes

2005-08-28T23:58:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 悪に強ければ善にも強し
Romanized:: Aku-ni tsuyokereba, zen-ni-mo tsuyoshi
Meaning of Japanese:: One capable of great evil is also capable of great good
English equivalents:: The greater the sinner the greater the saint
The greater the man the greater the crime
A good painter can draw a devil as well as an angel
Somewhat related:: There's a fine line between genius and insanity

Kotowaza of the day: Beauty, thy name might also be crow

2005-08-25T23:26:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 烏百度洗っても鷺にはならぬ
Romanized:: Karasu hyakudo aratte-mo sagi-ni-wa naranu
Meaning of Japanese:: No matter how much a crow washes, it will never become a (white) heron
English equivalents:: A crow is never the whiter for often washing

Kotowaza of the day: Trust at 100° C

2005-08-24T00:10:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 煮え湯を飲まされる
Romanized:: Nieyu-wo nomasareru
Meaning of Japanese:: Be forced to drink boiling water
English equivalents:: To be betrayed horribly
To be badly burned

Kotowaza of the day: Bad Bush!

2005-08-18T23:05:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 枯れ木も山の賑わい
Romanized:: Kareki-mo yama-no nigiwai
Meaning of Japanese:: Even a withered bush (tree) livens up mountain scenery somewhat
English equivalents:: A bad bush is better than the open field
Anything is better than nothing
Somewhat related:: Better late than never

In Japanese social situations, where facile deployment of humility is key, this expression is used by some to accept an invitation. Obviously, applying this expression to another person is rude, and may get you challenged to a karaoke smackdown.

Kotowaza of the day: Something to the rumor?

2005-08-16T23:50:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 火のない所に煙が立たぬ（立たない）
Romanized:: Hi-no-nai tokoro-ni kemuri-ga tatanu (tatanai)
Meaning of Japanese:: Smoke doesn't rise from a place with no fire
English equivalents:: Where there's smoke, there's fire
There is no smoke without fire

Kotowaza of the day: Take a chance

2005-08-15T23:30:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 当たって砕けよ
Romanized:: Atatte kudakeyo
Meaning of Japanese:: Strike out and break (it)*
English equivalents:: Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Go for broke

*Multiple meanings for the japanese atatte (from ataru, 当たる) make a literal translation of this kotowaza problematic. But I think the basic idea is very similar to "go for broke." You'll never know unless you try.

Kotowaza of the day: rational submission

2005-08-14T22:35:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 長い物には巻かれろ
Romanized:: Nagai mono-ni-wa makarero
Meaning of Japanese:: If the thing is long, just let yourself be enveloped/wrapped up in it
Yield to a force more powerful than you
English equivalents:: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em
You can't fight city hall
Kings have long arms

Kotowaza of the day: A forgotten virtue

2005-08-11T22:07:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 武士に二言はない
Romanized:: Bushi-ni ni gon-wa nai
Meaning of Japanese:: A samurai will never go back on his word
English equivalents:: To give one's word of honor
Promise is debt
A man's word is (as good as) his bond

Kotowaza of the day: The birth of JIT

2005-08-09T22:32:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 渡りに舟
Romanized:: Watari-ni fune
Meaning of Japanese:: A boat for the crossing
English equivalents:: (for something to come with) Great timing
How convenient!

Kotowaza of the day: Man's best friend?

2005-08-08T22:24:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 飼い犬に手を噛まれる
Romanized:: Kaiinu-ni te-wo kamareru
Meaning of Japanese:: To get bit by one's own dog
To get backstabbed/be betrayed
English equivalents:: Man may cause his own dog to bite him
Caress your dog and he'll spoil your clothes
Related:: Don't bite the hand that feeds you

Kotowaza of the day: Hypocritic Oath

2005-08-02T23:09:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 医者の不養生
Romanized:: Isha-no fuyoujou
Meaning of Japanese:: A doctor disobeying doctor's orders
English equivalents:: It is a good physician who follows his own advice
Related:: Do as I say, not as I do
Physician, heal thyself!
Few lawyers die well, few physicians live well

Kotowaza of the day: Universal remote control and the monolith in 2001

2005-07-29T19:49:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 月とすっぽん
Romanized:: Tsuki to suppon
Meaning of Japanese:: The moon and a soft-shelled turtle
English equivalents:: As different as night and day
Related:: Like comparing apples and oranges

Kotowaza of the day: Where's that 20/20 foresight?

2005-07-28T23:31:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 後の祭り
Romanized:: Ato no matsuri
Meaning of Japanese:: Revelers after the festival has ended
English equivalents:: A day after the fair
After death the doctor
Lock the barn door after the horse got out
Cry over spilt milk

While the literal meaning of the Japanese is usually taken to refer to festival-goers or parade floats arriving after the event has passed, another interpretation is based on the religious sense of the verb matsuru (祭る) - to worship or deify. In this version, holding a ceremony to deify a deceased mortal is viewed as frivolous and vain.

Kotowaza of the day: Just don't touch the mouldings

2005-07-26T22:53:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 羽目を外す
Romanized:: Hame-wo hazusu
Meaning of Japanese:: (lit.) to get carried away and remove the wall paneling*
English equivalents:: Cut loose
Let one's hair down
Lose control
Have a wild time
(... often in an excessive manner)

*羽目板 (hameita) is paneling or wainscot. How removing this came to represent reckless abandon is unclear to me, although 羽目 (hame) by itself has come to mean "a fix" or a difficult situation. Another etymological theory assumes that hame evolved from hami (馬銜), a horse's bit. A horse unrestrained by its bit provides a vivid illustration indeed of "wild time."

Kotowaza of the day: Share your innard self

2005-07-25T21:08:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 肝胆相照らす
Romanized:: Kan-tan ai terasu
Meaning of Japanese:: To have a mutually intimate understanding*
English equivalents:: (To be) bosom buddies, inseparable friends

*This kotowaza defies easy explanation. Literally it means to have shed light on one another's liver (肝臓) and gall bladder (胆嚢). At first I thought the English meaning derived from the fact that the gall bladder is nestled in all comfy with the liver. But it seems that the liver and gall bladder, as a pair, are symbolic in Japanese and Chinese - from which this saying originated - for "the bottom of one's heart." Hence, when close friends share their most intimate thoughts, they have illuminated one anothers' liver and gall bladder (肝胆).

Kotowaza of the day: The Shadow knows

2005-07-20T22:50:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 噂をすれば影がさす
Romanized:: Uwasa-wo sureba kage-ga sasu
Meaning of Japanese:: Gossip about a person, and he* is bound to appear
English equivalents:: Speak of the devil (and he is sure to appear)

*Literally, the shadow of that person will appear, as if around a corner. But the idea is the same.

Addendum to Note to myself

2005-07-19T22:56:00.000-04:00

A refresher course in "cooking for one" may be in order. I just made a delicious wokful of fried rice that will have worn out its welcome three days from now.

Note to myself

2005-07-18T20:27:00.000-04:00

Never again make a full batch of gazpacho when you know noone will be around to share. As fond as you are of the stuff, by the third consecutive night of cold vinegary tomato soup, you'll be wishing you hadn't.

Kotowaza of the day: Haystack needle's distant cousin

2005-07-17T23:57:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 糠に釘
Romanized:: Nuka ni kugi
Meaning of Japanese:: Drive a nail through a pile of rice bran
English equivalents:: Like plowing sand
Go in one ear and out the other
Bolt the door with a boiled carrot
To have no effect

Kotowaza of the day: Argument against universal health care?

2005-07-14T22:37:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 貧乏は達者の基
Romanized:: Binbou-wa tassha-no moto
Meaning of Japanese:: Poverty is the root of (foundation for) good health
English equivalent:: ???*

*Can anybody think of something equivalent? I haven't found any aphorisms or popular sayings that match this nicely... most sayings deal with poverty in a negative light. Although, to be fair, I did find two minor (to me) quotes that are pretty close:
"Poverty is the mother of health" - attrib. to George Herbert, and
"Poverty is the step-mother of invention" - attrib. to Josh Billings.

Also related is the "Early to bed and early to rise" quote attrib. to Ben Franklin. The intent of the original Japanese kotowaza above is that those without much money must sleep and rise early, and work hard to make a modest living, this lifestyle supposedly being the best for good physical health.

Kotowaza of the day: No matter what your language...

2005-07-13T22:30:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 金が物言う
Romanized:: Kane-ga mono-wo iu
Meaning of Japanese:: Money talks
English equivalent:: Money talks
Money makes the world go 'round

Kotowaza of the day: I heard it at the dollar store

2005-07-11T23:01:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 安物買いの銭失い
Romanized:: Yasumono-kai no zeni-ushinai
Meaning of Japanese:: Buying cheap goods is a waste of money
English equivalent:: Penny wise and pound foolish
Related expression:: You get what you pay for

Kotowaza of the day: Pocket change nirvana

2005-07-09T23:37:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 阿弥陀も銭で光る
Romanized:: Amida-mo zeni-de hikaru
Meaning of Japanese:: Money will make even the Buddha shine
In a material world, Buddha too must at times rely upon money
English equivalent:: No penny, no Pater Noster

Music Meme time

2005-07-07T21:37:00.000-04:00

About this time last week John slapped me with the music meme stick and then came to visit, ensuring I wouldn't get around to responding for at least a few days. Anyway, here's what I've got...

Total volume of music files on my computer:
Zero GB. I burned about 1G onto a disc for saving when I installed OSX a year ago, and I haven't downloaded or ripped anything since.

Last CD I bought:
It's been a while, thanks to generous friends who keep me supplied with fresh mix CDs. But I believe these three were in my last batch purchase:
Supper, by Smog
Vhunze Moto, by Oliver Mtukudzi
The Power Out, by Electrelane

Song playing right now:
Nothing, because our CD player is on the fritz. The last song playing in the car, however, was "Sunlight" by Herbie Hancock. From Sunlight

Five songs I listen to a lot these days:
"Liquidator" by Harry J. Allstars
From This is Reggae Music: The Golden Era 1960-1975, via a mix John handed me. A repetitious little organ bit, but groovy enough to crank up with the windows down.

"I Am That I Am" by Peter Tosh
Not as uppity as "Stepping Razor," but still an effective spirit lifter on a bad day.

"Super Cool (You're Just Super Fool) by Pat Hunt
One of many great tracks on SuperFunk vol 4, a collection of "rare and classic street funk from the vaults." If you can find a copy, balance this track with "Soul Heaven" by E Rodney Jones and Friends.

"Rocky Mountain High" by John Denver
I was never interested in JD as a child. Now I understand why. His are songs of experience, and many strike deep emotional chords for the more adult me. This track particularly so because it brings back memories of a hiking buddy who died of lung cancer in 2002.

"Watashi to Watashi" by Yuko Hara
Hara sings infectious little ditties in retro-chanson style, at least on the Tokyo Tamoure album I own. This is one is easy to sing along to even if you don't know Japanese.

Okay, I don't know how to tag, but if they're reading I'd be interested in hearing how Safety Neal and Mun Mun would respond to this meme.

Kotowaza of the day: Think disposable chopsticks

2005-07-06T23:07:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 破竹の勢い
Romanized:: Hachiku no ikioi
Meaning of Japanese:: The force required to split bamboo*
English equivalents:: Ready to leap over nine hedges
Sweep all before oneself
Unstoppable force

*This refers to the great force that must be applied to split bamboo (or any other wood) with the grain. However, once that momentum is reached and the initial split achieved, completing the job is only a matter of following through.

Kotowaza of the day: Devilish advice: live for today

2005-06-29T23:20:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 来年のことを言えば鬼が笑う
Romanized:: Rainen no koto wo ieba oni ga warau
Meaning of Japanese:: Devils* will laugh if you speak of the events of next year
English equivalents:: Fools set far trysts
Nobody knows what the future might bring

*Other less popular versions of this kotowaza substitute "mice in the attic" or "birds" for devils.

Kotowaza of the day: H2Ohayo!

2005-06-27T23:25:00.000-04:00

Japanese:: 寝耳に水
Romanized:: Nemimi ni mizu
Meaning of Japanese:: Water poured on a sleeping ear*
English equivalents:: Bolt out of the blue
To take (be taken) by complete surprise

*Alternately, being awaken with a start by the roaring of a sudden deluge.

Saved!

2005-06-26T22:49:00.000-04:00

Okay, so dailysoy's been a bit of a netcluse lately.

There was the move, and then the apartment and job search, and the cross-country train ride. And once you're hooked, not throwing posts into the bloggerhole can become a nasty cycle. I wanted to post, I really did. But I had lost the confidence to step up to the keyboard... and had grown enamored of more earthly distractions.

Until this weekend. Billy Graham (the evangelist preacher, not the pro wrestler) was hosting a crusade just miles from our new digs and, well, this seemed like the perfect occasion for a revival of sorts here at dailysoy.

So, uh, there you have it. Lost and then found. For now.

Kotowaza of the day will resume and be somewhat consistent for the time being, although my work schedule* (pronounced sheh-jewel) will ultimately determine how much action there is in these parts.

Not to burn myself out on my first day back, here's a brief summary of what's occupied our last few months:

Rie and I and our dog Kona flew back from Japan to the US on April 12. Between then and our one-way Amtrak ride from Omaha to NYC on May 17/18, we made two trips to New York - one to look for jobs and an apartment, and one to move our belongings - and one short jaunt to Dallas to attend the wedding of our friend Scott and our new friend Johnette.

We now call Queens home and live in a 3rd floor walk-up. Try to find us in this picture. Rie found a job with a Japanese telecom company, and I'm "coordinating" in the export department of a Japanese shipping company. She commutes to Jersey, I drive by LaGuardia on my way to JFK. Kona spends her days mostly in our apartment. While shes still adjusting and a bit nervous about nighttime walks, she seems to have found new joy in the greater variety of foodtrashobjects to be found on the street. All in all, we're doing fine.

As always, friends and family are welcome to come visit anytime. Now it's easier than ever before.

*I swear, I'm working more Japanese hours now than I was in Japan.
I also work with Japanese people with names like Mike and Kate, and with American adults named Frankie, Richie and Cheekie.

Kotowaza of the day: Mu

2005-04-11T00:33:00.000-04:00

A little more detail appears in the comments in the last post, but dailysoy, including Kotowaza of the Day, has gone into temporary "energy save" mode due to certain real world developments.

Regular* posting will resume ~~later this week~~ in a few months, or whenever I feel like it, after customs has been cleared and boxes opened.

*As regular as it gets in these parts

You know you're Japanese when...

2005-03-28T20:56:00.000-05:00

hugging and other intimate contact makes you uneasy, yet daily you cram yourself so tightly into a rush-hour train that you can determine, to the minute, how long it's been since the guy in front of you washed his hair. And you have the self-control not to express disgust with this state of affairs.

Kotowaza of the day: No monkey is perfect

2005-03-28T08:43:00.000-05:00

Japanese:: 猿も木から落ちる
Romanized:: Saru mo ki kara ochiru
Meaning of Japanese:: Even monkeys sometimes fall from trees
English equivalents:: Anybody can make a mistake
No horse is so well shod that it never slips
Even Homer sometimes nods

Addendum: It slipped* my mind when originally posting this kotowaza, but the crepe myrtle tree (more commonly spelled "crape," but named for the crepe-like appearance of its flowers) is called Saru-suberi in Japan. Saru-suberi (百日紅, 猿滑り, or 紫薇花 in kanji) doesn't translate cleanly into English, but it means something like "monkey slipping" or "tree so slippery a monkey would slide down the trunk." This nice image of the crepe myrtle bark shows why the name is appropriate.

*no pun intended. really.

Kotowaza of the day: Go with the flow

2005-03-27T09:38:00.000-05:00

Japanese:: 柳に風
Romanized:: Yanagi ni kaze
Meaning of Japanese:: Wind blowing through willow branches
English equivalents:: Follow the path of least resistance
Soft words pacify wrath
To take ~ in stride

Kotowaza of the day: Child's play

2005-03-24T09:13:00.000-05:00

Japanese:: 赤子の手をひねる
Romanized:: Akago no te wo hineru
Meaning of Japanese:: Twisting a baby's arm
English equivalents:: Like taking candy from a baby
Like fishing in a bucket

Kotowaza of the day: Cosmic balancing act

2005-03-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

Japanese:: 捨てる神あれば拾う神あり
Romanized:: Suteru kami areba hirou kami ari
Meaning of Japanese:: Some gods abandon people, and others pick them up
English equivalents:: When one door shuts another opens
One man's trash is another's treasure

Kotowaza of the day: When rambling pays off

2005-03-21T09:26:00.000-05:00

Japanese:: 犬も歩けば棒にあたる
Romanized:: Inu mo arukeba bou ni ataru
Meaning of Japanese:: A dog that wanders about will find a bone
English equivalents:: A flying crow always catches something
The dog that trots about finds a bone

Kotowaza of the day: Tongue-untied

2005-03-17T06:20:00.000-05:00

Japanese:: 立て板に水
Romanized:: Tateita ni mizu
Meaning of Japanese:: Swift as water running down a vertical board
English equivalents:: Speak nine words at once
Your tongue runs nineteen to the dozen
To speak very fluently

Kotowaza of the day: Kick 'em when they're down

2005-03-16T09:38:00.000-05:00

Japanese:: 泣きっ面に蜂
Romanized:: Naki-ttsura ni hachi
Meaning of Japanese:: Like a bee stinging a person who is already crying
English equivalents:: Add insult to injury
Rub salt into someone's wounds
Misfortunes never come singly

Faces of evil

2005-03-10T20:48:00.000-05:00

CSM yesterday ran a focused commentary on the revival of the word evil in our public and private discourse. The article focuses on the dehumanizing/demonizing effects when such non-nuanced language is applied too broadly, and the public responsibility for social ills this language allows us to eschew. More than once it is suggested that we engage less in judgement and more in humble and collective self-examination.

Personally, I prefer the term "wicked."

Kotowaza of the day: To DIY or not to DIY?

2005-03-10T20:06:00.000-05:00

Japanese:: 餅は餅屋
Romanized:: Mochi-wa mochiya
Meaning of Japanese:: If mochi is what you want, go to the mochi-maker
English equivalents:: There is mystery in the meanest trade
Every man to his trade
Find the right person for the job
Horses for courses