初 (Hatsu) means “first” or “beginning.” The left side of this character represents clothes or kimono. The right side indicates a knife. To make a kimono, one must first cut the cloth. 詣 (Mode or mairu) means “to visit a shrine.” The left side of the character indicates talking. The top of the right side indicates people and the bottom of the right […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: First shrine or temple visit of the Japanese New Year
January 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment
THE HEART OF KANJI: Life and death as one
July 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment
生 (sei) means “life.” The bottom represents the soil and the top indicates a new plant, which comes out from the soil. 死 (shi) means “death.” The top and left side lines indicate a bone, and the right indicates a person upside down in the ground. 一 (ichi) means “one.” 如 (nyo) means “same.” The left side is a […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Haku to kanau: Putting out positive thoughts to fulfill wishes
June 9, 2016 by Leave a Comment
吐く (haku) means to “throw out or speak out.” The left side of the kanji character represents a mouth. The characters on the right represent a plus or minus sign. So haku means to throw out both good or bad things or to speak good or bad words. If you simply change the second character […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Truth
March 31, 2016 by 1 Comment
真 (makoto, shin, ma) means truth. This kanji character is in the form of a person who is upside down, which indicates that the person is dead. The truth is that all of us will die someday. Like the saying goes, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: (Nihon Machi Hyaku Jyu Nen) 110th year of San Francisco’s Japantown
January 1, 2016 by Leave a Comment
日 (ni, hi, nichi) means sun or day. This character is from the shape of the sun. 本 (hon, moto) means origin or book. This character is from the shape of a tree and its roots. Together, this character is Nihon or Japan. 町 (machi) means town. This character indicates two parts. The left side […]
Japanese cultural arts classes
April 3, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Editor’s Note: Don’t see your cultural group listed? Contact us at cbfguide@nichibeiweekly.org to add your group to our cultural arts class listings. Daion Taiko Location: Orange County Buddhist Church, 909 S. Dale Ave., Anaheim, Calif. Contact: (714) 827-9590, daion78@gmail.com, ocbuddhist.org Drum Revolution Location: Belmont, Calif.; Orinda, Calif. and El Cerrito, Calif. Contact: (510) 926-9780, info@drumrevolution.com, […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Beautiful heart
January 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Happy new year! I would like to talk about a “beautiful heart.” 美しい (utsukushii) means “beautiful or attractive,” which consists of two parts. The top part represents the form of a beautiful ram and the bottom part is a person who is standing. Together, utsukushii is a beautiful or attractive person. 心 (kokoro) means “heart,” […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Thank you, for both good and bad times or situations
October 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment
良し (yoshi or yoi) means “good,” and represents to put something in or to take it out of a major box and adjust it to keep a good or correct amount in the box. 悪し (ashi or aku) means “bad,” and consist of two parts. The top part represents a bad shape and the part […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Roots
June 26, 2014 by 1 Comment
根 (Ne) means “roots.” This kanji character consists of two parts. The left side represents a tree and the right side represents the roots. So “ne” is a tree’s roots. The Konko founder’s teaching says, “If you take care of the roots of a tree, then its branches will grow lush. Respect your ancestors, then […]
THE HEART OF KANJI: To hear and to listen to
April 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment
聞く (Kiku) means “to hear,” which consists of two parts. The center lines represent an ear, and outside of the lines represent an entrance gate. Together, our ears are the entrance gate for sound or words. 聴く (Kiku) means “to listen to,” which consists of four parts. The left side is an ear and the […]
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