Five Views of Mount Fuji

Actually, not all of these shots show Mount Fuji, but they were all taken when my Dad and I took a day trip there on June 16th during my recent trip to Japan. We weren't up for a trip all the way to the top, but we did hike part of the rustic Yoshidaguchi Trail. Since it's not really climbing season until July, we saw all of 2 people on the trail.

(For a more traditional and artistic view of the mountain, try this one.)



First sight, from the bus ride.



Me and the mountain behind me.



Ascent to the shrine



Guardian of the water



My dad, among the bamboo

Everywhere I Go, It's the Same

English, I mean. It's the same, I suppose, in the global sense: it's the language that people use when they can't communicate with each other in their native tongues. Or is that linguistic? Different homes and different dialects but the same lovably idiosyncratic syntax.

Actually, what I mean is that English is just as funky and fresh in Japan as in Korea. Here are a few exhibits from my recent trip. Later posts and pictures will explore deeper things - this post is cheap thrills only.



Exhibit 1: Japanese Product
Ah yes, Kirin Lemon. Nothing explicitly wrong with the English here, it's just the hype of the advertisement proudly affixed to the label. It's a long-time favorite! Maybe it's the vagueness of "many people" that I get a kick out of. Or the fact that Kirin is more famous for its beer.


Exhibit 2: Korean restaurant
The Korean on this plaque, which I found in a quite tasty restaurant next to the dock where I boarded the ship for Japan, says nothing about taxpayers. In fact, it reads "A Sincere Model Restaurant." Presumably the message (only noticeable, of course, to those familiar with both English and Korean) is that taxpayers are sincere. Or that sincere restaurants pay their taxes. Or that taxpayers eat at sincere restaurants. I'm still working on the exegesis of this one.


Your cross-cultural sleuth will return with more scintillating cultural commentary soon!