Superstitions of Japan

There are famous superstitions which have been passed down from olden days in Japan. One of the superstitions that my mother told me when I was child, “If you whistle in the night, snakes appear”. It is said that Snakes stated herein are the symbol of ominous things. I like to whistle from childhood, so I’m often told this superstition by my mother. I remember this superstition even now when I whistle.

Another superstition that I know is “If you show your navel, thunder god falls from the sky and picks it.” I heard that this superstition is a certain warning that you will feel sick to your stomach from parents to children. I think that early people passed on their lore through these superstitions.

Hanno's life

Graded Reader - OUP Bookworm

From the beginning, Hanno did not want to come to the Zoo from Africa. He was disrobed of his family because of selfish human, and he was brought to the Zoo. It was safe for him when compared to African jungle. However, he was not lively to spend his life. I think he would like to go back to his home as well as he wanted to live freely outside the cage.

While he was escaping from the zoo, he enjoyed outside. He could choose something to eat, and he slept a bed made from leaves on tree just like he had lived in Africa.

Unfortunately, he was killed in the end, but I think it was better for him to die than going back to the Zoo because it would be hard for him to live rest of his life in the zoo.

Inventor of Instant noodles – Momofuku Ando

Momofuku Ando invented instant noodles and he is known as the founder of Nissin Food. He was born in Taiwan. He lost his parents at an early age, after that he was raised by grandparents who run the textile industry. That situation gave opportunity him to start up first a business. His business was on track, unfortunately, the World war II was started. After the war, he had to choose between becoming a citizen of China or Japanese nationality. He chose China nationality, however he remained in Japan. 

In 1957, the credit union chaired by Ando went bankrupt. He lost all his property, leaving only a rented house in Ikeda City, Osaka. He inspired himself, and remembered the people lined up at the ramen stalls in the black market after the war. He was convinced that Japanese people likes noodles. He decided to invent “ramen that can be eaten at home with hot water”. After a year of trial and error, he finally invented instant noodles by himself. 

In 1966, Ando naturalized through marriage and became a Japanese citizen.  

He faced hardship many times, but his undaunted sprit carried him over the problems.