Tag Archives: Japan

Japan’s Hina Matsuri Dolls Festival

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Today is the 3rd day of the 3rd month in the lunar calendar and I can’t resist making a comment on the Japanese Dolls festival, also known as “Girls Day”.

That Japan is a modern country is taken for granted these days but there remain many traditions and customs still woven into her cultural fabric.

For example, after my daughter was born her grandparents bought this Dolls Set (Hina Ningyo) – all the pieces of which are carefully and individually wrapped and safely stored away until late February.

Whereupon the Emperor and Empress dolls awaken from their long sleep and are proudly displayed on a special “set” for all to see and admire.

hinamatsuri

(The Empress is on the right in this photo, as you look at it.)

This year we haven’t put out the gold colored screen – that’s why you can see the wall mirror! And, unfortunately, there are some pretty lamps and a fresh display of ume (plum) blossom that didn’t make the camera angle.

Still, I hope you can get a sense of the beauty and craftsmanship of even our simple one tier hina matsuri dolls set – some families have multiple tiers that can fill 2 or 3 tatami mats in a room!

Each year I see Ohina-sama (the empress) many of life’s deeper truths are gently calling me:

My daughter is growing out of childhood dependency.

Family love is a wonderful blessing.

There are ties that bind – in the purest and noblest ways.
(For me these have been building a career in Japan, starting a family and sharing with loved ones.)

Much as I also enjoy running my own career change coaching business, and the welcome cash injection from the recent IT consulting gig, Ricardo Semler’s words still ring true – “Success is not measured only in profit and growth“.

To all our daughters I have this to say:

“Girls! Be Ambitious!”

- Mark McClure

PS – Boys aren’t left out. The 5th day of the 5th month is “the Boys Festival” which I think is a Japanese national holiday called “Children’s Day.” Maybe March 3rd should be a holiday too!!

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Do What You Love

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Thinking about “following your passion” but not sure how to combine your “day job” with your “hobby”?

(Note: there is some adult content on Danny’s site and it may not be safe to access from work.)

Danny Choo’s story is worth spending some time on.

I like how he continues to use skills acquired in the corporate world (his resume is in the link above) to grow his web design business (Mirai LLC) and the portal site.

And what a fantastic “living resume” the site itself must be to potential clients checking him out.

Check out the StarTrooper YouTube video further down the page.

Do you think there might be some connection between receiving 11 Million monthly page views – and going beyond your comfort zone to do stuff like this, as well as learn Japanese and a ton of business and technical skills over the years?

- About Mark McClure

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Homemade Valentine’s Day Chocolate Cake

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Today is Valentine’s Day and in Japan that sees the fair sex leaving small chocolate presents on the desks of selected male co-workers.

Over the years I’ve received beautifully wrapped and absolutely gorgeous gourmet chocolate – all anonymously of course.

And all above board.

Since receiving chocolate is apparently a gift of friendship and not of romantic intentions. For that, some kind of marshmallow thingie’s the food of love. Don’t ask, I know nothing!

Naturally, in give-and-take Japan, payback comes on March 14 when males return the favour with gifts of, you guessed it, white chocolate! (If you’re wondering – yes, I did have to make discrete inquiries as to who sent what, but without asking directly. Maybe it’s just me…)

Oh, to buy stock in Japanese confectionery makers!

So, in the spirit of “I wish you everything I wish for myself”, and whatever your gender, please enjoy (virtually, alas) this homemade chocolate cake…

valentine chocolate cake

… made by the 2 greatest ladies in my life, with assistance from a canine floor-licking cleaner called ‘Kuri’.

- Mark McClure

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Thailand, Here I Come!

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Would you move half a world away in your early 40s and start over?

That’s what one of my mentors and now good friend, Charles Burke, did
in the 1980s when he moved from the US to Japan.

His story inspired me to seek him out and we have talked on the
phone every couple of weeks for several years now.

Because I had a very busy day job and wasn’t on first name terms
with anyone who ran a real, live online business, I found his
perspective and support very helpful while I struggled to break free
from my employee mindset.

Lesson Learned – if you are serious about taking action on your
goals, go get a qualified mentor!

Charles now runs his online business from a pretty seaside village
on the Japanese Pacific coast. From where he’s created some very inspiring personal development material.

I invite you to check out his bullseye-living blog and say hello.

PS – And I notice he’s about to move locations from Japan to Thailand on 14 February – quite a Valentine’s present for Shioe and yourself, Charles! (Yes, of course, I’d love to come visit. Hint, Hint.

- Mark McClure

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New Year Spring Cleaning

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Christmas in Japan is a strange affair indeed.

Shops, department stores and the mass media do their best (at least in the big smoke called Tokyo) to make folks spend a bit more right up to Xmas eve.

Then an interesting transformation occurs – seemingly overnight.

While Rudolph and friends were busy coming down chimneys and filling fireplace stockings elsewhere on December 24th, over here J-elves have stealthily replaced all the trees, lights, holly and false snow with…

…. traditional Japanese new year decorations :-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_New_Year

And so the real festive preparations begin – with Christmas a pleasant but distracting side show to the main event!

Naturally enough, for a non-Christian country, 25th December’s a normal working day – although this year’s calendar shows Monday 24th as a national holiday. (Funny how I’ve lost touch with which days are holidays since stepping off the employee treadmill. My better half doesn’t let me forget though!)

It always cracks me up. While my family back in Belfast are stuffed with turkey and trying to take it easy, my Japanese relatives are in a busy dash to the wire for the last day of the year.

One of the cool customs is to do a big-time clean up around the house (and also in the office, if you happen to be a dedicated ‘salaryman’, as I once was, haha!) – and I always get funny looks when I ask about “spring cleaning” in the middle of winter.

But I do my bit.

I’ll also make time to spend a few hours going through my plans and goals for 2008 – using the format mapped out in my goal creation course. And so can you – with help from the CD  or online version of the course.
(Oct 2011 Update: CD version no longer available. Online site is being upgraded.)

2008 may be the year of the mouse – but this mouse can roar!

– Mark McClure

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