Gestation period

What did I learn this weekend???? 

You won't believe it!! Nearly 5 months in Japan and just now I discovered that  Asian women's gestation period is different from West women. 
Now I can understood all conversation that I had with all teacher who were pregnant. I couldn't understand why they always add one month more. I was thinking that I didn't understood well the conversation, so, I won't ask again. (My mistake!!!! Don't do like I did!!!) My Japanese is very limited. I use to ask and talk in English and everyone answer me in Japanese, sometimes a bit of English as well. :)

This weekend I met another pregnant teacher. This time I asked about the months and what was my surprise when she told me that they need around 10 months and two weeks more or less. 
I'm a woman, I had been living in different countries...but I didn't have idea that Gestation period can be different depending of the ethnic!!! :) Asian women needs around 10 months and two weeks and West Women around 40 weeks. 

In the next table that I found (throught wikipedia.com) you can see how is "Gestation Period" for Asian Women:

One curiosity more sharing with you!! また ね!!

Odori Park at night time -- So romantic place.

Very very tired after work but I decided to walk around Sapporo for a while before "cold time" arrives.

I stopped in Susukino Subway Station and I walked thought Sapporo Station.

In my way I found a beautiful environment in Odori Park. 

I could see a Japanese Show live- a kind of Traditional Japanese Music Show at the middle of Odori Park. 

I share with you a short video of the show. (Error uploading video - The video will be posted as soon as I can fix that ;)) 

The dance did not seem very complicated and anyone could join. I was about to get into the circle of dancers but with my heavy bag was a little tricky dance. So I held the will and dedicated myself to do pics and see how the spontaneous and some professionals dance. 

Around the show there was few "food stands". I could not resist and bought a chocolate covered banana. Oishi!!!!! 

Continuing my way to Sapporo Station I took few pics as well:

You could breathe love in the air. For a moment I wish to have a boyfriend! :)  

Now at home, I just want to share that with you. Every day, I like most Japan! I like more Sapporo!!

Japanese Life: Living a fairytale dream!!!!

It looks like I'm in a dream every day when I wake up.  Today was one of that days. 

This morning I took my breakfast while I watched a program on TV. I think it's a new version of  Power Rangers TV show or similar. After that I cleaned the apartment, organized the reclined garbage for tomorrow and  ready for Ninja Village!!!

An amazing Japanese couple pick me up with their car and we go to Noboribetsu. 

Edo Trip is starting!!! I upload some pictures that will be interesting for those who want to know a bit more of Edo Period in Japan. Also you will find some private pics that I'm sharing with family and friends in the same place.  I hope you enjoy it that small trip through my pics. ;)

Present for the trip: Cold Tea with clothes. ;)

In our way- Famous Demon (Akuma)

Noboribetsu Date Jadaimura

Date Jidairuma - Main Gate

Ninja Village - Main Gate

Some famous actors - samurai movies

Ninja's "Hardware"

Fire Watchtower

Matsuga Pond

NAGAYA 
It is said that 70% of the Edo townspeople  lived in apartment houses like this.
There was a kitchen right next to each door and a living space was only a 4.5 mat size room. 

HORIMONO-SHI (Engraver or Tattoo artist)
Tattoo art was in fashion among Edo ordinary people.
They thought a great deal of "Yasegaman" (fake stoicism),
and would show their spirit through putting up with pain to win an artist tattoo.
Those who worked in a half-naked stuyle-firemen and steeplejacks etc.
- even thought it was a shame to have no tattoo on their skins.
This man seems to be an engraver of Ukriyoe art,
but he was tattooing the visitor's back as a side business. 

RONIN (Masterless Samurai)

Ronin means Samurari who lost their jobs and residences

as a result of desturction or restructuring of their master's

house. So they would live in Nagaya as same as 

townspeople, doing piecework at home or teaching at 

Terakoya (temple school for children).

This ronin is making a Japanses umbreslla, pasting the 

bamboo framework with paper, which was one of the most

 popular piecework in Edo. 

SHAMISEN-SHISHO (SHAMISEN INSTRUCTOR)
With maturation of society in Edo, enjoying hobbies and
lessons were in fashion among the ordinary people. Girls in
Particular took various lessons to meet wishes of their
 parents for a happy marriage.
Learning Shamisen (one of the Japanese instruments) was
very popular and any district of Edo town had several
private schools. Most of them were the instructors' homes,
and there were quite a few male who took a lesson in order
to see their beautiful female instructor.

KANPO-URI (Pharmacist)
"Kanpo", the knowledge of herbal medicine which was
imported from China and evolved in Japan, was at its peak
in Edo period. Those days a doctor was equal to a kanpo
pharmacist, and his job was to mix herbs and make the best medicine for his patient.
This pharmacist is milling herbs with a druggist's mortar "Yagen". 

SAKANA-YA (Fishmonger)
In the Edo period, commercialization advanced rapidly
and merchant streets where big stores linked the eaves
were crowded with people. In other hand, peddlers who
carried items on a pole like this also dis their business actively.
In those days, people had to buy foods for each mealtime
because of living without refrigerator. That's why it was very helpful for them
that peddlers came to their neighborhood to sell the fresh foods and goods. 

Toilet in Edo's Period

O-nyanko Cat Temple

Walking around Date Jadaimura

Delicious Ramen - Main dish in Hokkaido. 

The Ninja Show

The Oiran Show

What is the Oiran? She is the top-ranked courtesan at Yoshiwara, the official red-light district.

It’s believed that there were several thousands of courtesans at the golden age, but only a few of them could be “oiran”, who has excellence at arts and cultures not only at their beauty. “Oiran Docyu”, a procession of an oiran and her attendants, was a good and rare opportunity for the common people to see her who was beyond their reach. 

(Oiran Definition: http://edo-trip.jp/lng_english/)

The Samurai Show

Katakura kojurou Mansion 

Samurai Museum

Continuing the visit...

So lovely ninjas :)

You can find more information in Noboribetsu Date Jadaimura Official Website: 

http://edo-trip.jp/lng_english/