Happīharou~in!

Hi guys! Happy Harou~in! (Halloween) But that's only for the people who celebrate it, like my friends... Hope you all got lots of candy, but be careful, because there's such thing as tooth decay. See you later! Oh cool, and this is my 31st post on the 31st day of October!!!!

Here's a kawaii Harou~in-related wallpaper! http://www.san-x.co.jp/charapri/images/kabe/monoboo/05_1024_768.gif

-Aya (p.s. tomorrow's my birthday!)

Fasshon shashin to harou~īn

Recently I have been into fashion with my friend Firefly. It just so happens that I'm getting these items for my birthday on Nov 1st. And look at that, it's the 29th, so only 2 more days until my birthday.

This is the giraffe tunic sweatshirt, and it can be worn as a mini dress also! I'm wondering why Japanese so kawaii... oh yeah, it's Japanese! Haha, but you agree that it has a really cute giraffe print, right? It also has a really fuzzy and warm fur-lined hood. :)

This is the second part of my fashion spree on eBay, a purple Asian jacket for fall. Purlpe is one of my favorite colors, and I admire her cowgirl boots, guess I'll have to get some. I think the model here is pretty, but I'm guessing American models are prettier, and a lot of them are actually famous, I'd never want to be famous, that would be a last on my list, in fact it probably wouldn't even be on my list, you get hawked too much. I guess it would be fun to be a model though, you'd get to try on all these clothes from around the world+Japan!

Oh my gosh, a friend has recently told me that it's going to be Harou~īn in Amerika! I'm in Amerika for Harou~īn this year, so I guess I get to celebrate it with some of my friends, Firefly and Hotaru, I guess Chou too. i'm being the all-in-one famous Japanese character Rilakkuma! he's very kawaii, and my Otōsan keeps teeling me to finish it up, because I'm making it, but I keep telling him, I'll get there when I get there, and if I don't get finished, it will be my loss, not yours. Beatrice and Ivy tell me to say "hi" to everyone on here for them! (they're the vocal ones)

さようなら (Sayōnara)

-Aya

...Oboete iru? (remember?)

Okay,it's awesome! We have another typewriter! It's electronic though, not as much fun. We'll look on eBay for the fun kind though.

-Aya

Dekora kyōki!

Kawaii!!!!!

Kawaii!!!!!

Yeah, that's right, I've been very much into Decora.

Kawaii means "cute" or "pretty". It has become a major aspect of Japanese culture, entertainment, food, clothing, toys, personal appearance and behavior. Kawaii fashion generally relates to someone wearing clothing that appears to be made for young children or clothes that accentuates the cuteness of the individual wearing the clothing. Ruffles and pastel or bright colors may be worn, and accessories often include oversize toys or bags featuring anime characters.
Decora also known as "Decoration" is a japanese style adopted mainly by young japanese girls. Decora consists of bright colors and hair clips with bows. Lots of layering and colorful accessories are used in Decora. The accessories include plastic and furry toys and jewelry, which stick together and make noise as the wearer moves.The style is sometimes mistakenly called "Fruits style" by people that are not from Japan.

Another Opinion:

The japanese style cult of decora is so sharply childlike and cute it's like biting into bubblegum and razor-flavoured ice cream that's been kept on the icy moon of Europa for a month. If you're not afraid to wear 16 bows in your hair and three pairs of socks at once, decora may be the style for you.
Tokyo. An over-crowded city, but full of lights and wonder: a clashing, vibrant mix of old and new. In its midst lies the infamous Harajuku shopping district, a Mecca for all things Japanese and a shopaholic's utopia. And in this tempestuous sea sail the Harajuku girls on ships of pure style chaos.
Gwen Stefani sang about their 'wicked style' there lies a certain air about these girls. Why do they choose to gather there? While most might reply with a simple "all my friends are here" or a typical "it's fun", Harajuku seems to be an informal catwalk for teens to showcase their style in their free time. Out of all the different styles Harajuku has to offer, from Gothic Lolita to Punk, Cosplay to Kawaii there is one style that could do with a heads-up: Decora.
The word 'decora' is simply a shortened version of 'decoration' and is mostly worn by young Japanese teens. It can often be mistaken as FRUiTS-Fashion to those outside Japan, but it's more about creating an aura of childlike playfulness or cuteness with layers, bright colors and kilos of jewelry. Popular items in Decora include Hello Kitty and Pokemon merchandise, bright plastic jewelry, coloured hair clips and bobbles and fuzzy boots. It's not about just throwing things together: A close look at some of the girls shows the huge degree of thought that's been put into their loud attire.

How to go Japanese Decora:

1. Layer. Layering is one of the most important elements in decora. Layering is everything. Don't be afraid to layer socks over tights or 3-4 different shirts together.
2. Don't look like a walking brand name. Decora is a childlike fashion and yes, Hello Kitty and Pokemon are adored, but try to add your own personal 'thing' to the clothes. Better yet, make your own.
3. Don't just suddenly decide you want to start wearing nothing but decora. Ease into it gradually.
4. Don't go out wearing decora if you don't have enough accessories or layers to suit your taste or else it'll look messy and incomplete.
5. Hair plays a huge role in decora. The most popular hairstyle is simple, cute pigtails. Accessorize with a few headbands and a truckload of hair clips. Bows are very popular in the decora world.
6. Don't hesitate to decorate yourself with plastic toys. This adds dimension to your decora outfit.
7. Cute body jewels and glitter are also good. Stick a few stars or a smiley face sticker under your eyes.
8. Don't wear a lot of makeup. This style is all about childlike playfulness and you can hardly expect to get that look with a tonne of makeup on.
9. Socks make up a huge part of the outfit. Feel free to embellish the tops with frills, ribbons, chains, charms... basically, whatever tickles your fancy.
10. Decora isn't all about wearing sky-scraping stilettos. Far from it! In every decora girl's wardrobe lie a few pairs of bright and cute sneakers and/or flats.
11. Pink is everything. It makes up most of a decora girl's chosen colour for the outfit. That doesn't mean you can't wear black, but if you do, then wear a lot of pink to compensate.
12. Virtual Pets are golden. Any respecting decora girl isn't complete without a virtual pet (think of a Nintendog or if you're on a tight budget, a Tamagotchi.)
13. And finally, be confident. Most people outside of Japan are unaware of your cool fashion sense and may mock you or want to take pictures! So smile and chiizu (say 'cheese')!

(and yes, get ready for some mean comments.)

Or just Harajuku Style:

Harajuku style originated among teens on the streets near Harajuku Station in Shibuya, Japan. It may have been brought to many people's attention by American singer Gwen Stefani, but the evolution of the style certainly didn't begin with her and it certainly won't end with her. Like many "street fashions" it is difficult to characterize, both because it is constantly changing and because it has many manifestations. There is no cookie-cutter approach to the style, but if you want to dress in Harajuku style, here are some guidelines to get you started.

Steps

1 Shopping in an eclectic Harajuku boutiqueMix and (mis)match different fashions. What is now known as Harajuku (like Halloween in Japan every Sunday) style started as teens in the district began to integrate traditional Japanese attire, especially kimonos and geta sandals, into their dress. Before, they wore primarily clothes that were influenced by the West, but by mixing the traditional with the modern, they created a new style. Other examples of mixing and matching including the punk look with the schoolgirl uniform or a goth look with designer clothes. In Harajuku, mixing different styles and mismatching colors and patterns is encouraged--you can do anything you want, as long as your outfit is a thoughtful expression of your individuality (see Tips).

2 Become familiar with variations of fashion in the Harajuku district. It's impossible to pinpoint one "Harajuku style." Many styles have originated or developed on the streets of Harajuku, and many Harajuku girls (and boys) integrate one or more of these somewhat more defined styles into their outfits.

Gothic Lolita involves wearing gothic, feminine and elegant clothes, to the extent that you look like a living Victorian doll.
Sweet Lolita is heavily influenced by the Rococo era more so than any of the other subcultures of Lolita. It focuses much more too on the child like aspects and uses light colours and child like fantasy themes. Alice in Wonderland, fruits, sweets and classic fairytales such as Little Red Riding Hood are recurrant themes in Sweet Lolita.

Japanese punks, inspired by the punk movement that began in London in the 70s, magnify rebelliousness with over-the-top clothes, accessories, makeup, and piercings.

Cosplay entails dressing up like your favorite cartoon/anime or computer game character.

Decora style favors bright colors, flamboyance and accessories from head to toe. You decorate yourself with plastic toys and jewelry, and it's not uncommon to have so many that you can hear them click together when the person moves.

Kawaii (literally translating from Japanese to "cute") places an emphasis on childlike playfulness--anime characters, ruffles, pastel colors, toys, and so on.
Wamono refers to mixing traditional Japanese attire with Western fashion.
3 Dress in layers. One of the hallmarks of Harajuku is layering. Sweaters, vests, or jackets over blouses over t-shirts, dresses worn with leggings, and so on. Layering clothes (or giving the appearance of layering by wearing ruffled dresses, for example) allows you to mix and match a wider variety of different styles, and adds more dimension to your outfit.
4 Customize your clothes. Secondhand clothing and do-it-yourself styles are popular ingredients in a Harajuku outfit. Like that flowered skirt but think it would look cuter with a ribbon pinned on it or with a more uneven, angular hemline? Get out the scissors and glue and make your store-bought clothes uniquely yours. Or, go even further and make your own skirt. Cutting the fabric to create bold angles and lines can make even a plain black dress appear remarkable and fun.
5 Accessorize. Add any wild accessories you have, such as belts, earrings, hair clips, jewelry, and handbags. Remember, accessories can be colorful and loud, and they don't have to match your clothes. Speaking of loud, in decora, a particular Harajuku style, accessories embellish an outfit from head to toe, and objects such as bells are sometimes used to add an aural dimension to the wardrobe.
6 Go wild with your hair and makeup. The Harajuku style doesn't have to stop with your clothes. Pigtails and other "cute" hairstyles are particularly popular, as is dying your hair. Creative, even theatrical makeup can be a fun addition.
7Wear whatever looks good to you. It's been said that the Harajuku style is not really a protest against mainstream fashion and commercialism (as punk was), but rather a way of dressing in whatever looks good to you. If you think mismatched rainbow and polka-dot leggings look good with a plaid dress, go for it!
8 Smile and say chiizu! If you dress Harajuku style outside of Harajuku, you'll likely draw attention from people unfamiliar with your international fashion sense. If the attention isn't positive, just smile graciously and keep going about your business. But if people ask questions or want to take pictures, strike a pose! The people in Harajuku are proud of their style, so you should be, too.
Tips
Many people mistakenly think that dressing Harajuku style is about just "throwing anything together." While the assembly of different styles and patterns might seem haphazard, it's important to put a lot of thought into your style. If you study how people dress in the Harajuku shopping district, you'll see that the intricate outfits are carefully chosen to convey a certain image that a random and thoughtless combination never could.

Harajuku style changes very quickly. Keep up with the evolution of the style by reading publications like FRUiTS and Style-Arena.These publications and others like them offer a wealth of pictures of Harajuku outfits and are updated weekly or monthly. If you want to dress in Harajuku style, looking at pictures is a good way to get inspired.
"Harajuku style" is also known as "FRUiTS fashion" to those who follow the magazine, but neither of these terms are commonly used by the Japanese who epitomize style when describing themselves.
Contrary to popular belief, Harajuku style is not just for the girls. While some variations of the style lend themselves more to females than to males (e.g. Gothic Lolita), many of the hallmarks of the style are gender-neutral. After all, it's about dressing in what looks good to you--why should girls have all the fun?

Warnings
Don't get carried away with brand loyalty. While it's OK to favor certain designer labels (especially since brand loyalty is big in Japan), Harajuku is about creating your own look, so if you appear just like the mannequins in the mall or the pictures in the catalog, you may be stylish, but you're not unique. Don't be afraid to mix that Calvin Klein dress with a used, torn and tattered pair of jeans and some combat boots.
Also, In many places Harujuku style is very uncommon, you can't just dress the part, you have to be the part. When walking down the street people will look at you. Hold your head high, be proud of what you are wearing or else you look like a poser.
Don't be worried what other people think of you. People might think your weird, Asian people might call you gaijin, but if you're happy, don't change for other people.

-Aya

Kawaii dōbutsu no shashin

Okay, look at these funny, but adorable pictures!

This snail is "on the run."

Now I see why Mario doesn't have a dog...

A normal day at the playground... for a panda.

Kawaii, but deadly.

Dear Mr. Henshaw...

Cheese! (you might've wanted to think about brushing your teeth, before we took the picture.)

You've taken so many pictures of me, I've decided to mess this one up. (my dog)

When is Cops on?

I, have been...defeated at last.

Oh please princess, I would do anything for you, if you would just kiss me!

Forever lasting enemies, the battle of the century.

Gimme that chow! (sniff)

Thanks,

-Aya :) :D

Disability Books

My fave books about people with disabilities:




After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick

Jeffrey isn't a little boy with cancer anymore. He's a teen who's in remission, but life still feels fragile. The aftereffects of treatment have left Jeffrey with an inability to be a great student or to walk without limping. His parents still worry about him. His older brother, Steven, lost it and took off to Africa to be in a drumming circle and "find himself." Jeffrey has a little soul searching to do, too, which begins with his escalating anger at Steven, an old friend who is keeping something secret, and a girl who is way out of his league but who thinks he's cute.

Barnes and Noble:

$12.23




Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And there's no delete button. She's the smartest kid in her whole school—but no one knows it. Most people—her teachers and doctors included—don't think she's capable of learning, and up until recently her school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks and knows . . . but she can't, because Melody can't talk. She can't walk. She can't write.
Being stuck inside her head is making Melody go out of her mind—that is, until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the first time ever. At last Melody has a voice . . . but not everyone around her is ready to hear it.
From multiple Coretta Scott King Award winner Sharon M. Draper comes a story full of heartache and hope. Get ready to meet a girl whose voice you'll never, ever forget.

Barnes and Noble:

$12.23



Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine!

MOCKINGBIRD
In Caitlin’s world, everything is black or white. (highlight to see!) Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That’s the stuff Caitlin’s older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon’s dead, and her father cries a lot. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger’s, she doesn’t know how. When she reads the definition of “closure” in the dictionary, she realizes that is what she and her father need. In her search for Closure, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white--the world is full of colors--messy and beautiful, and it is through this discovery that she embarks on a road which leads her to find both healing and Closure.

I really think you should read it!!! :)

It's $15.99 USA/$20.99 Canada for Hardcover

$6.99/$10.99 for paperback (: at Anderson's Bookshop :)


-Aya

Watashi no kurasumeitoanime

I've been drawing some of my Kurasumēto in anime, and I thought I should show you guys, and they're not THAT good. But I'm not THAT old, so it's actually pretty good for someone my age.


Mama keeps asking me why they're eyes are so big, and I lean over and with the softest touch, I whisper in her ear, "Mama, that's what makes them special, just like you and me, we're all special in our own way." She takes whatever I give her. That's what it all mostly is. Not all of them are Asians, only three are.




Usually anime people have colored hair. That's what also makes them special. One is my friend Green Frog and the other is just a girl. Green Frog's is a little more Manga than anime I think, but opinions may vary.



These are two of my Asians and the one on the left is in Chinese and the one on the right is Korean. The rest I do are Japanese, and the people can pick different writing styles of the Japanese characters. (eg. ComicSans, Quirky, Traditional, Antique, Caligraphy, etc.)




Misaki is this one on the left, and it's in Chinese. The other one actually has her normal hair color, and I think she's the biggest fan of my anime.



My teacher also wanted me to draw a picture of her in anime, which I thought was sort of creepy at first...

-Aya

Na. no. shi.

R.I.P Hotaru (not the person)
died: Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Alright, for the past few weeks I've been calling firefly Hotaru, which means firefly and I gave her that Japanese name. But she's been calling herself JUST firefly so I've decided that it's kind of pointless calling her Hotaru, when she calls herself firefly. So now as the titles says, it was a "Death of a Name." It's sort of sad, but I'll get over it. But so, I guess it'll make things a lot easier, that's good! :) Misaki is still Misaki! :D Now I have to write another post, so bai!



(P.S. Firefly, do not take this as offense, it's for to remember who you were in the past)

-Aya

On the Wing-Owl City music video (with lyrics)

I have this song stuck in my head, that's probably because I keep watching this vid, its soo kawaii!

Hello Seattle-Owl City music video & lyrics

Hey, my Oba (aunt) lives in Seattle! But I don't think she's ever said "hello" to it...

The Bird and the Worm- Owl City music video w/ lyrics ♥

Hazel holds a birdhouse and worms tunnel below Clarice.

Strawberry Avalanche- Owl City music video & lyrics

Mm, i like strawberries, if they're not sour! I was eating a sour strawberry at my lunch table and making these faces, the one of these boys commented. -(

Hot Air Balloon- Owl City *new song* Music Video w/ Lyrics

I went up in a hot air ballon once, so did my neighbor, but he cried...

West Coast Friendship-Owl City Music Video

Friendship! Like what Misaki, Firefly, and I have! A friendship! Haha :)

Butterfly Wings-Owl City Music Video

Butterfly Wings! Green Day had a butterfly land on him last summer...

Captains and Cruise Ships- Owl City music video

Yes, another one...

Vanilla Twilight-Owl City Music Video

Here's another kawaii video from hsac4life, Vanilla Twilight! (no lyrics)

Fireflies-Owl City music video w/ lyrics

Wow, okay, Firefly requested more videos soooo, this is Fireflies by Owl city! :)

The Saltwater Room-Owl City music video w/ lyrics [older version]

Cool, Look at this! This is Owl City one of my fav bands, and this is hsac4life and this person draws pictures to their songs. Its kinda kawaii, they also give the lyrics, and this is the Saltwater Room(older version). This is a love duet so CAUTION if you do not like love, but I do like this song even if it DOES involve love. Look on youtube for hsac4life 's youtube channel if you liked this video!

Anime vs real Life

Alright, we can almost all agree that anime animals are soooo kawaii!! So, I decided to go out on the web and find some anime animal look-alikes. Yeah, i know, I only found two things! But I don't have as much time as you guys do to look for pictures, surfing the web forever.
Anime Pomeranian ^^^^ (up there!)

Real Life Pomeranian

Anime White Fox

Real Life White Fox

So tah-da! It's not all that great, but I feel like I accomplished something! If you like me doing these look-alike kind of things, then please comment vvvv (below) See, that was just a test, I know I'm probably not that good at this stuff! But hey, I tried, and I think that's all that matters. (at least that's what they say on tv dramas)

-Aya

Ninki

Probably You're Veiw of It All
I soo want to be popular! Not! I'm not against you guys that are popular, I'm sure you are all good people, but I'm just sick of "popular" stuff. Whatever popular really means, I think if one person can be popular, we can all be popular. But really, you don't need to be popular to live a happy life.

It's one thing to be well-known, but it's another thing to walk around with people licking the floor behind you. (no one at my school really does that, but for famous people I bet they do!) I am curious if being popular when your in school really matters when you have a job, because most likely, you won't be working alongside your fellow classmates from the 7th grade. However, if you are popular because you are a really nice person, that doesn't take effect in bad ways at all. :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) GOOD FOR YOU IF YOU ARE REALLY NICE! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)





There's a lot of bad things about being popular:

1. Some people pretend to be your friends
2. You might lose your good friends over a stupid move you make


3. You're judged by other people


4. You sometimes have to act a way you really aren't just to stay popular


5. If you do One tiny little thing that's bad, it sets off the whole school


6. Sometimes people copy you


7. You might get teased because your piers are jealous


8. etc.

I think we've all got luck headed our way, if you do become popular, stay nice, not bratty. But have fun, don't worry!

-Aya (I'm not popular, but I've got all I need! Friends, and people who love me!)

Taipuraitafonto de wa shinbun ni kakikonde imasu...

Hi people of the Internet! I have many interests and one of them is typewriting for like a newspaper or something. We HAD a typewriter until my Otōsan (dad) gave it to my Oba (aunt) for her birthday. Good for my Oba, but I really could have used it on my desk or something, at least it made one person happy though. I guess that's all that matters. :) That right their is the model from the movie Kit Kittredge, that's why it looks so shiny and is in such great condition.

Yes! Dogs can type! They may have well been posed like that, but its funny + kawaii! Pets can do anything, and some are angels, just walking around on dog feet.

Of course! It's so obvious already that cats can typewrite! that's from a calendar, yes I know, but it's a cat typewriting, best one I could find on Google Images. Although, Hotaru's cat is WAY more kawaii than that cat. But all cats are all kawaii in their own special way. :) (same with them, they're angels in disguise!)

Everyone knows the Peanuts! Not the nutty kind, (they make me throw up!) the comic strip! So, it's just comedy, but Snoopy is typing! Sorry to all those grandparents out there, but what the boy says is sort of funny. :D

Beatrice kept her promise, she really did watch my house all day! Except for right now, that's my Mama's and my duty.

-Aya

Konshū no hapuningu

Hey, it was my Mama's birthday yesterday! 17 tsuki 10-nichi Happy Birthday Mama! We made the cake late, so we didn't get to celebrate yesterday, but we will today!
This week I am also gonna be blogging lots, because the trees told me something's gonna happen, not sure if it's good, or bad, and I'm not sure what it means fully anyway.
Firefly is coming over for a sleepover on Friday, but we have to wait for what it seems like a long time. But we might blog together, and then Hotaru can meet all of my trees! You really need to go to her blog, http://thefireflynotebook.blogspot.com I have confidence that it may last longer than any of her other blogs. She calls herself firefly though, but that's what Hotaru means.
Lately, I've been going down to visit the lake. I've been hearing it call to me too. "Aya, don't forget about me! Come play!" But a lot of times, when I go somewhere sort of far away, my name is called, it's Aya to come home, and my full name, (which I can't tell you) to come home when I'm late.
Now I have to wash my hands, wash my face, wash everything just for school. It seems like eveytime I am ready to have fun I have to wash it all away. But now I really have to go to school. Bye! Beatrice says she will watch my le (house) for me. With that I trust! hehe...funny fonts
-Aya

Firefly to ki/ B wa aida o yomu

People, I convinced Firefly that talking to trees is possible. Today, she said she heard a female voice calling to her, so she thought it was her mom. Her mom said it wasn't her, so Hotaru was kinda freaked, finally she realized the trees were calling to her. :)

My trees all have names, but some don't have names yet because I'm waiting to name those when I'm older. Currently I have, Ivy, Fawn, Beatrice, Clyde, Henry, Green Day, Molly, Teddy, Clara, Tim, Willow, Mabel, Clarice, Blue, Rosemary, Pastel, Deliah, Tessie, Wilfre, and Hazel. Molly and Teddy are brother and sister, and who knew, they're both pests! Clyde is the scrawny one who has -1 leaves on him, Ivy is our tree house, Hazel holds our birdhouse, Blue is the oldest, and my Dad says he's dying, but I think he's just older than old.

Green Day was my sister's favorite band when I named him, I like Owl City, but I don't think I will ever name a tree that, maybe Midnight or something. Our neighbors have a really pretty tree that I want to name really badly, but it's on their property, so it's not mine.

I really liked the book Ida B because it reminds me of myself. I talk to trees, I daydream a lot, I basically have a really similar personality as her. I started talking to trees before i read the book, and I was really amazed on how Ida B talks to trees too! I really think they should make a movie out of that book, because i would go see it. At first I read the book just for a report, and I didn't like it very much at first, and then as I read on it got way better. (P.S. Ida B has a dog, Rufus and a cat, Lulu!!!)

READ IDA B!!!!

-Aya

Simon's Cat 'Fly Guy'

Simon's Cat! Look at this cute cat in the video!!!!! Okay, so this is definetly something to watch when you're bored. Find more video's on youtube, on the navigation bar, type in "simonscat" and then you can go to their youtube channel, and visit the official site!

Aki wa ochite iru

That's right, it's very fall-like. The leaves are turning the most beautiful colors now, as I lie in the cold green grass, the breeze gently brushing my face, only to think to myself that nature is calling to me. It whispers the softest whisper, careful not to cause my eardrum to stir, "Come Aya, come play with us here in the forest." I call out to them, "I'll be there in a minute, I'd like to watch the sky turn light blue." I get no answer.
Some people might come up and say, "Aya, no matter how long you wait, you won't get any reply." But I say, "If you've never heard trees call to you, maybe perhaps you aren't listening hard enough. I'd be happy to give you a few pointers some time if you are ever interested." Then, they will look at me as though I was a mystery. I've practiced, the voice inside my head saying, "Aya, don't pay them any mind. Your intentions are much more useful to yourself than any of their silly ideas."
Pretty soon, I find myself lying in my favorite tree, which I think now has the prettiest leaves of all this fall, but I will make sure not to tell any of the others. I rub my hand against it's willow and whisper to it quietly, "Do you believe that pets go to heaven? I do, and I think you should to if you don't already think so."
This tree answers to your heart, not to your voice. So you have to listen real hard, it doesn't come in words, through your heart, and up through your mind, and its your job to turn it into words. The answer was like this if it was in words:
Beevile os I
Which I think means, I believe so. I've talked to this tree so many times, I am an expert. Some days it will take a few minutes for it to respond, other times it takes more than a day. I better go now, the more time i spend on here, the less I know what beauty is. (nature)
-Aya

rairakkumun

my new blog title! ya well anyway i am still Aya. It means lilac moon. i like change, but i don't like too much change, so i will still be doing what i normally do. Hotaru has made a new blog (again!!!) and i encourage you to check it out in the all about me section. that is of course if it's still going to be here by the end of next week.
i think we have a total of 21 or more blogs on our blogroll and most of them are deleted, there are 4 right that are currently up and running. most of the 21 blogs we've made were made by Hotaru, and yes, i do share a blogger account with her.
its 10:44 p.m. in Tokyo right now, i am staying up very late to talk to you guys!
It's not fun being me right now, i am constantly being judged by my friends, family, and teachers!! they expect me to do something i dont want to do, or my writing to be absolutley perfect, like for example: Firefly thinks my g's look like s's I am keeping a japanese journal so i can still write in japanesse and not english, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO WRITE IN ENGLISH!! thats sort of sad...

Hōkago

Yesterday- Oct. 4, 2010
okay, so Misaki has just left my house, but my last post about the sun clock you know, this is the continuation??? or how ever you want to say it. But, we had a great time at my house.

In P.A. , our teacher offers extra credit on our mini reports we're doing. So, in order to get extra credit, we had to make a poster or something. So we made a poster!!! We put Japanese characters on it and the meanings for the other American people that don't know at all what they mean, those pictures from the last post, and we made the text all rainbow colored! we are both really crafty, we made borders too. i really hope the teacher will give us a lot of points with all our hard work we put into it.
Firefly is doing a report with one of my other friends, it is actually going to be a mini news report. and their script is like, "Hey, what are those big brown statues over there(moai)? Oh, what? Where the heck did they come from!?" you can see that they're trying to go for a comedy role, Misaki and I are going for creativity.


Yesterday- Oct. 5, 2010

WOW! Firefly and friend did an amazing report! It was hilarious! Ours, we didn't do yet. But our P.A. teacher said we'd be able to do it tommorow so yay! For our poster, we will be nice and let our teacher keep it. So, wish Misaki and I luck, and hopefully, we won't be the last ones, or the first ones to present out of all the groups tomorrow.

Yesterday- Oct. 6, 2010

Well, we didn't get to go today suprisingly because the other people took sooo long!!!!!! But I know tomorrow that we'll be able to go because they're only two other groups. Misaki said that going last would actually be a good choice, so I am listening to her because she is VERY wise.


Today- Oct. 7, 2010

We finally went today! It actually turned out good, because for one thing our techer was happy that we gave her our poster to keep, and we got to show them Kochi, Japan, AND I think they liked the japanese characters too, because they are not knowledged about Japan! But so we stuck to "the script". So it all turned out good dadada whatever.

-Aya

Watashi wa kōunda!

One of my other best friends, Misaki, and I are able to study the observatories of Japan!!!!! Right now we are working on a mini report about the "Sun Clock" of Kochi. It was made to tell time. It casts a shadow of a rope hanging across it, at noon. The shadow strikes right down the center of the slab of stone, it was said that many years ago, they would ring bells to alert the citizens that it was noon. The sun clock was made out of a wooden post, a rope, and a slab of stone.
On Monday, we get to do another observation on another observatory. You see, Hotaru, Misaki, and I are in this gifted class, so that means we get to do a lot of these cool projects. I'm really excited.

As with many buildings which are considered national treasures in Japan, entrance to the west door of the main "house" on the citadel of Kochi Castle requires removal of ones shoes. Near this entry area, in a small yard, a "sun clock" made in the Edo Era (1603-1867) can be seen. Most visitors, both local and foreign, pass the little "instrument" without notice; yet at one time, this simple string gnomon and stone arrangement had more impact on the lives of Kochi citizens than anyone could imagine.
"Sun Clock" in front of Kochi Castle; moved during a period of repairs in the late 1940's, the linear depression in the middle of the stone is aligned with magnetic north. The angle of the "gnomon" is about 40 degrees.
A sun "dial" consists of two major components: a gnomon and a set of incremental markings generally called a "dial". To be a relatively accurate measure of time throughout the year, the alignment direction and angle of the gnomon should be such that it always points at celestial north. The angle of the gnomon should thus equal the latitude of the location of the instrument. The "sun clock" at Kochi Castle, similar to ones which can be found throughout Japan, looks somewhat different from sun "dials" we usually see in the West. However, its basic function was similar. Instead of the solid gnomon we are used to seeing, the gnomon of the castle's "sun clock" is composed of a post at the northern end of the stone with a string attached to its top and stretched to the southern base. Instead of a "dial", the "sun clock" has but one indented line in the middle parallel (lengthwise) with the stone.
The angle of the gnomon (string to stone base) is about 40 degrees. The actual latitude of Kochi is a bit over 33 degrees, so the gnomon of the clock is obviously not parallel with the earth's axis. The indented north-south "line" of the stone is aligned at present with magnetic north, thus placing it out of alignment with "true" celestial north. At best, the instrument gives a somewhat inaccurate indication of the noon hour. What then, in a culture known throughout its history for precise engineering, was the function of this rather crude instrument?
As in every culture, knowledge of time was an important aspect of day-to-day life throughout the history of Japan. While records are scarce regarding means of determination prior to influences from China and Korea, there is evidence that by the latter part of the 7th century, a clepsydra (water clock) based on Chinese principles of time keeping was in use for "knowing the hours" in the Yamato (present Nara/Asuka region) of Japan. [It should be noted that from early times of Chinese influence, hours were based on a system of Chinese Geomancy. In East Asian countries influenced by China, one hour was equal to what would be considered two hours in the West. Hours were also named according to the familiar animals of the Chinese Zodiac rather than on a numerical basis. For more on this, see The Sun, the Moon, and Happy New Year in Japan.]
Despite virtual isolation from the outside world during the Edo era, mechanical time pieces (such as pendulum clocks) were in use in much of Japan at least by the 18th century. However, for many centuries (even until the late 19th when time pieces were common), arrangements for meetings, appointments, and social gatherings were sometimes based on a relatively loose interpretation of coincidence of celestial phenomena with geophysical landmarks. For example, people might decide to meet "tomorrow when the sun has reached the top of that mountain in the southeast", or lovers might decide to meet "when Subaru is at the position of the horse" [meaning the asterism Subaru's transit overhead at night]. Obviously, such means of determining times for engagement fulfilled many informal needs, but the Shogunate along with daimyos from the various feudal domains of the Edo Era saw the need to have a more standardized method for setting and coordinating functions of time pieces as they became more available to citizens in each domain.
While it is possible that the "sun clock" at Kochi Castle was an educational or amateur instrument of the daimyo or one of his children, it is more probable that it was the instrument used to determine the "official" noon hour for Kochi City in Edo times. As in the West, determination of standard time was pretty much a local matter up until latter parts of the 19th century. No standard such as that established in Greenwich with its time ball in the early 1800's was instituted by the Tokugawa Shogunate in Tokyo, and virtually every feudal domain had to develop its own standard for determining "correct" time. Most likely, given its place on the castle grounds, the "sun clock" was the instrument used to provide citizens of Kochi with a standard for adjusting their time pieces. At the moment when the string's shadow was perceived to be exactly coincident with the linear groove in the stone, on signal, temple bells were probably sounded to alert citizens that the hour of noon was "at hand". Before the present era, Kochi was known as Tosa. Thus, the stone probably functioned to establish "Tosa Standard Time"... TST.
Photo of the "sun clock" taken at noon; note the shadow of the string roughly coincides with the linear marking on the stone.
The style of "sun clock" seen at Kochi Castle was introduced to Japan by Shihei Hayashi at the end of the 18th century and was in widespread use throughout the country in latter Edo times. We really do not know what the original alignment of the stone or angle of its gnomon was. There certainly were calendar scholars in Kochi throughout the Edo Era, and it is clear that they not only had a relatively precise measure of the city's latitude, but could also easily determine alignment with celestial north. Whether or not one of them assisted in the original placement of the stone and angular "setting" is not known. Given the generally accepted attitude of the shogunate and respective daimyo of the time, it seems likely that such precision was not seen as necessary. Rather, the simple establishment of a standard that the daimyo could "rely on" was sufficient for regulating the temporal affairs of the city. The Meiji Era, of course, saw the demise of shogunate rule and a movement to follow GMT as a base for time standardization throughout Japan.

Scroll down to my picture gallery if you would like to see more pictures of the Kochi Sun Clock.

Thank you very much! Domo!

-Aya