I’d like to talk about the joy of giving and receiving today. 受ける （ukeru) means “receiving,” which consists of three parts. The top lines represent the fingers of one’s hand, and below it represents a boat. The bottom line is one’s arm. When the boat brings back some items, one’s hands, fingers and arm receive […]
The Heart of Kanji
THE HEART OF KANJI: Divine arrangement
January 1, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Happy New Year! Today I would like to talk about “Kami hakarai,” or divine arrangement. 神 (Kami) means “God/Divine Parent of the Universe,” and consists of two parts. The left side represents the divine altar and the right side represents lightning or thunder. Kami or God can create powerful things such as lightning and other […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: A trip to Japan, and reflections on the heart of matters
October 3, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series. Nineteen of us, including 13 Boy Scouts, four leaders, the Rev. Rodney Yano and myself, visited Japan for 16 days this summer. We arrived at Itami airport in Osaka via LAX and Narita airport on July 25. Mr. Taki and Mr. and Mrs. Furuya welcomed us […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: I have and I do not have
July 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
有る（aru) means “I have” or “to possess,” which consists of two parts. The top line represents a person’s hand and arm and the bottom represents a piece of meat. 無し (nashi) means “nothing,” or “I do not have,” which consists of three parts. The bottom represents a fire’s flame, the middle is a house and […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Cherry Blossom Festival
May 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment
桜 (Sakura) means “cherry blossom,” which consists of three parts. The left side represents a tree; the top right side represents a cherry flower necklace; and below that is a woman sitting. Together, the cherry blossom resembles a beautiful woman wearing a cherry blossom. 祭り (Matsuri) means “festival,” which consists of two parts. The top […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Thank you very much
March 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
有 (ari or yuu) means “to have or to possess,” which has two parts. The top lines represent a person’s hand, and the line below represents a slice of meat. So the person’s hand is holding or having the sliced meat. 難 (gato or nan) means “difficult or suffering,” which has three parts. The top […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: First month of the year — January
February 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment
正 (sho, tadashii) means “righteous or correct,” which consists of two character parts. The top part represents one finger, which indicates one or once. The bottom part of this character represents one’s foot, which indicates a footstep. As a whole, this character represents stopping to think deeply about where you have been in the past […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Golden light
January 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment
金 (kon or kin) means “golden or gold,” which consists of two parts. The top is the shape of a mountain and the bottom represents gold in the soil. 光 (ko or hikari) consists of two parts. The top represents fire flames, and the bottom represents a person’s legs. Looking back at 2012, many things […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Thank you very much 1,000 times a day
September 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment
一 (ichi) means “one,” which represents a form of one finger. 日(nichi) means day, which represents the form of the sun. 千 (sen) means “thousand,” which consists of two parts. The bottom lines represent the number 10 and the top line represents many numbers. 回 (kai) means “time,” which indicates the circle or swirl. A […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Life and death
August 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment
生 (sei) means “life or live,” and consists of two parts. The bottom part is soil or ground and the top line represents a new plant. Because of the soil or ground, the plant can receive life and grow big. 死 (shi) means “death,” and consists of two parts. The top and left line represents […]
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