A Japanese commercial promoting the show "Glee"

The show "Glee" is about to start airing in Japan...sometime in February I believe. Anyway, I don't know anything really about the show and I'm guessing that most Japanese are in the same boat. So...to promote it Fox came out with a very interesting commercial. I just don't know if it will make people actually watch the show! Btw-for those of you who don't know, the sumo wrestler in the commercial is Akebono. He was a Yokozuna which means he was a grand champion. So it is kind of interesting that he is in this type of commercial.

Japan's New Finance Minister Wants His Staff To Have More Sex

Yup...you read that right! Apparently the new minister feels that if his staff makes love...productivity will improve and will somehow help the debt crisis! But this is a country where 34 percent of Japanese respondents to a survey said they have sex once a week!

He wants people to go home at 6pm-just like they do in the West. At least there will be chance of sex happening. This is a country after all where husbands often come home at midnight and wake up at 5 so there is very little chance of sex happening when exhausted!

You might want to read the article http://www.businessinsider.com/japans-finance-minister-pushes-for-more-sex-to-shrink-the-debt-2010-1

Keeping Warm Japanese Style

Lately it has been cold here and last week it snowed. Now, as I Canadian I know that the cold in Fukuoka is nothing like we get back home but for those who don't know there is no central heat in most homes in Japan. That means when you go to the bathroom or go to take a bath you might as well be outside and that is a kind of cold I never experienced in Canada in my house.

So, I thought I would show some pictures of what people here use to keep warm.

For sleeping, people wear an unbelievable amount of clothes to bed. I mean I'm talking about pajamas and then a kind of padded/quilted bed coat socks and more. And here some other things people use to keep warm while sleeping.


While sitting in the living room and for eating the "kotatsu" (electric table) is popular. Personally I hate these as I see them as dust traps (Japan is incredibly dusty-you could dust your house everyday and still find lots of dust!) and your lower half will be warm/hot but the rest of you will be cold-at least that has been my experience. The kotatsu has a heater beneath the table and the hard table top comes off...you put a special blanket on it and then replace the table top on top of the blanket and you sit covered up by the blanket which traps the heat so it can get pretty toasty in there. Even people who like them says they make you lazy because it is so toasty under it and the room is usually very cold so you never want to leave it!



Also, cold feet are problem here so here are some pictures of feet warmers.

Wherever you are, I hope you are warm!!

It's late but Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a great holiday!

I had a very relaxing time off though I did have a bit of a cold. Hubby's family came over on the 1st and we ate the "osechi" we bought plus I made some food. We ate, drank and chatted. It was fun but they brought up the topic of kids. We don't want them...don't get me wrong...I love kids but I don't want my own. They are worried about who will take care of us when we are older. Well...my mom (who doesn't actually need to be taken care of!) has 3 kids but 2 of us live in foreign countries and the one who actually lives in Canada is still a 5 hour plane ride away. So... you never know if your kids will even be around! Sadly, I think the topic will come up again.

I don't know about you but 2010 feels different from 2009. I mean different in a positive way. I am so excited about this year. We have some business goals we are working towards and I have many personal ones as well. Of course, some goals are around money both business and personal. I have downloaded all the Suze Orman podcasts (man I love podcasts) and I joined the http://www.dailyworth.com/ blog which is great and while all the info doesn't apply to a Canadian living in Japan, there is still lots of great stuff. Anyway, it all just feels so good and so right! Hopefully I will feel the same way as the year progresses.

I went back to work on Wednesday and I have to say I just wasn't ready for it....after working only 3 days I am pooped!! But my last student had some pretty cool nails that I thought I would show you. She is 20 so on Sunday all over Japan there are "coming-of-age" ceremonies and the girls usually get all decked out. Her mom rented her a beautiful kimono and paid for eye lash extensions and the nails. The nails alone cost $150 but they are beautiful!

Anyway, I wish everyone the best for this year!!