Learn more about the lesser-known aspects of the Japan-Australia relationship.
日本とオーストラリアの関係に隠れた、あまり知られていない側面についてもっと知ってみよう
Walking along Route 246, I was surprised to look up and see the katakana script reading アースウィンド！ びっくり仰天だった！ アースis, in English, arse…or, so I thought. Arse wind, then, could only mean one thing….surely a company couldn’t have named itself after a fart? Of course it didn’t. In fact, アース is also the reading for earth. That makes Earth Wind a little easier to comprehend, even if the English is still a little awkward.
Work slowed down and it was a little easier to enjoy life, which allowed for stopping to smell the roses and capturing such opportunities as a rainbow shining above the Tokyo Mosque and beefing up Bargearse the bike. Mrs. Kangaeroo and I also got to visit an exhibition by the delightful Kyoichi Tsuzuki, who has been chronicalling Japan’s quirky side for decides. He was showing displays from hihokan, the now vanishing but once almost ubiquitous sex museums across Japan. Bargearse, meanwhile, my erstwhile fat bike, got an upgrade with tiger decorations, taking over from a predecessor pedallar that piqued my interesting in pedalling.
It was a bit of a landmark month as Aussie meet pies went on sale in central Tokyo as Pie Face opened a store in Shibuya, while down the road in Yokohama I got an unexpected chance to see Elton John live. The pies were tasty, but a bit pricey, yet my workmates humored me with a visit there to dine together as the restaurant is within short walking distance of our office. Elton, meanwhile, wasn’t someone I was overly keen on seeing, but I was pleased to get the chance. He was basically going through the motions, though, and didn’t really put on a dazzling display. Having received a…
I was delighted to discover an arty ceramic kangaroo being sold at a store near the office, but the asking price put it out of my range despite my desire to possess anything marsupial. I also got to witness the upshot of a drunk driver who rammed into a Shinjuku restaurant, incurring the wrath of another bystander when I took a photo of the carnage (with no human casualties). And a workmate and I crafted a pair of tiger striped shoes! (She did most of the work, and ALL of it that required any dexterity).
I got to taste one of the most unimaginable fusion foods when Cadbury produced a limited edition Vegemite chocolate. Mrs. Kangaeroo and I also got to ride the wild horses along the beach at Sunshine Stables. And I met some interesting folks around the workplace.
April 2015 was a month centered on traveling to fertility festivals around Japan. There were also kangaroos everywhere. It was also remarkable for a weirdly named drink, “お嬢様の聖水,” which literally translates as the princess’s holy water, but can mean her pee.
Australians have a special way of spreading Christmas cheer Ploughing snow is a big no-no, we have sun over here Christmas pud is a pav instead, while lunch is on the beach Cold ham replaces turkey, And we have three servings each Kangaroos help Santa out, ‘Cause reindeer just won’t do For they don’t know the bush so well, roos just bound on through Forget the fur lined boots this year, thongs are what we need Rudolf will have to sit it out, while Skippy takes the lead But don’t you worry, have no fear, Santa’s used to us down here! NSFW (or kids) Classic Australian Christmas Song A Little-Known,…
50代以下オーストラリア人及びイギリス人であれば、間違いなくロルフ・ハリスという芸能人の存在が分かるはずだ。1950年代後半以降同人物が子供を中心にイギリス在住でありながら出身国であるオーストラリアのことを全身全霊でPRし続けた。イギリス・オーストラリアを中心にものすごく愛され、両国のほとんどの人にとって「大好きなおじさん」のような存在だった。しかし、明るい表向きの顔の裏面は暗く虐待的な性格を隠したようだ。今週、小児虐待罪として5年9か月の実刑判決が下れた。虐待疑惑が浮上した2012年末頃からほぼ誰でも信じられなかったが、徐々にハリス受刑者の行動パターンが明確となり、約30年間に渡り自分の実娘のベスト・フレンドをはじめ数多くの未成年女性を性的に虐待した事実が明らかとなって有罪判決に至った。考えRoo自身をはじめ、ハリス受刑者を愛した何百万の英・豪人がこの事実にショックと痛みで受けた。 今では、ハリス受刑者が日本で知られていないと言っても過言ではないと思う。でも、いつもそうじゃなかった。1960年代前半、ハリス受刑者の多数中の最も大きなヒット曲「Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport」が日本でもひそかなファンを集めた。それほどヒットしなかったがザ・ピーナツ及びダニー飯田によって原版のオーストラリア動物の言葉遊びの歌詞をもてない男の話をコミカルに替えてシングルとして発表された。 いずれにせよ、子供大好きなキャラとして売れたハリス受刑者が今84歳。今からイギリスの刑務所で禁固生活が始まる。何とも言えない複雑な感情だが、日本語の替え歌のように悲しい気持ちでいっぱい。が、曲と違って、コミカルな味気がない。
An awesome young Japanese guy playing a hip tune on the didjeridu, an indigenous Australian instrument, in Tokyo’s Harajuku district. Related stories Ringo’s Ring-in, Awesome Aussie Anime Highlight the Fab Four’s Oz Oddities
The 1970 Osaka World Expo was a boon for Japan’s second-largest city, then, like the rest of the country, enjoying the postwar boom that propelled Japan from the brink of destruction to being the No. 2 economic power in the world. 1970年に行われた大阪万国博覧会は、当時高度成長期真っ最中商業地域であり日本第二都市である大阪にとって世界に披露する機会を与え、思い切ってその素晴らしさを見せた。 Australia, too, was still enjoying unprecedented prosperity in 1970, and it showed with its amazing pavilion at the Osaka showcase. 当時、オーストラリアも景気が良かったし、万博で見せたご立派な「オーストラリア館」もその証拠と言えるだろう。 The pavilion, modeled on Katsushika Hokusai‘s The Great Wave at Kanagawa, was at the end of the Expo donated to Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, which is Sydney’s sister city. It was supposed to be a symbol of the “eternal” friendship between Japan and Australia. 北斎の「神奈川沖浪裏」をモチーフにした同館は、万博終了後シドニーの姉妹都市である三重県四日市市に移動し、日豪友情の「永遠シンボル」として博物館などとして使われた。 After almost 45…
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