Rajio Taiso

For my school's outing (actually an intense English immersion program called "boot camp"), we've doing "rajio taiso" every day at 6:40 AM. Way too freaking early, but it does wake your body up and stretch stiff muscles. 

"Rajio Taiso" ("radio calisthenics") is a Japanese national calisthenics program broadcast by NHK radio. It's done at many schools and companies first thing in the morning. 

It's probably good to do this kind of thing every morning and afternoon or evening, especially after sleeping on a lumpy bed or sitting all day in front of a computer.

According to Wiki:

"Rajio taisō were introduced to Japan in 1928 as a commemoration of the coronation of Emperor Hirohito.^[1] The idea for radio broadcast calisthenics came from the US, where during the 1920s the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. sponsored 15-minute radio calisthenics in major cities in the US. Visiting employees of the Japanese postal insurance division brought samples of the exercises from the US back to Japan.^[1] The exercises were widely used to improve the health of Japanese soldiers both at home and abroad during the 1930s and 1940s. The exercises were introduced to several other pacific nations, including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia during Japan's colonization period.

"After Japan's defeat in 1945, the broadcasts were banned by the occupying powers as being too militaristic in nature.

"After several rewrites to the exercise routine, it was reintroduced by NHK radio in 1951 with the support of the education ministry, health ministry, the Japan Gymnastic Association and the Japan Recreation Association."

Strange Dream

I had a dream last night, but the context was that it was a movie based on a book called "On the Centennial Anniversary of Great Aunt's Passing," which doesn't exist in real life.

And somehow, I was the main character, whose late great-aunt hadn't died 100 years before, but had just turned 98 when she died. Apparently, she had a much younger, denim vest-wearing boyfriend who was asking me (!) for her hand in marriage shortly before she died, but I refused. I think it was because I didn't want her to get her hopes up and have a happy but short-lived marriage since she was dying soon anyway. Also, I didn't trust the guy for some reason.

It's about cultural and generational gaps about a Japanese-American family.

Now I know what artists mean when they say that their work "came to them in a dream." So strange!

Whew!

My grandma is fine. Whew! My mom was just calling cuz we hadn't talked in awhile. I told her to please just leave a message next time, after the stream of Japanese and the beep. She said, "Oh! I always just hang up when I hear the Japanese!"

On the edge...

My grandmother was really sick this past May (the doctors were giving her a matter of days), and although she made a complete recovery, now, every time I get a few missed calls from an international number, I think it's my parents, calling to give me the bad news. :T

I had 3 missed calls tonight, around 9:15, 9:30, and 10:50. I have to wait another 20 or so minutes until I can get home and call back. :T So stressful.