[Bilingual post] Visual Diary 35- How to Tell Japanese, Chinese, and Korean Belly Dancers Apart Online オンラインでの日中韓ベリーダンサーの見分け方

  Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

How to Tell Japanese, Chinese, and Korean Belly Dancers Apart Online

These are my personal observations, and of course there are always exceptions. The point of this post is simply to have a giggle over a cup of tea. Not to mention, there are many cultural commonalities between these countries too. :)

Japan

1. There is always at least one studio photo taken by Mr. Nam.

   This is mine lol

2. In photos with dance friends, a “cute” pose is common—one hand resting on the cheek.

   Me posing with Ozma
   
   

3. Many posts show restaurant performances, with audience faces blurred (restaurant shows are rarely seen in China or Korea).

4. Lesson outfits tend to split between skirts and leggings, but among students, those showing a lot of leg are fewer than in China.

5. A wide age range (mainly people in their 20s to 50s).

6. Photos of meals with a partner appear, but often only hands are shown and the partner’s face is hidden—a so-called “soft launch”. If the partner is foreign, their face is sometimes shown.

7. The dancers' children occasionally appear in posts.

China

1. Very fair skin with vivid, matte lipstick—Snow White–style make-up.

2. Many dancers are extremely slim.

3. All students wear matching, dressy lesson outfits and perform group dances in the studio (everyone showing beautifully bare legs).

4. Short videos filmed in dramatic locations such as the sea or palaces.

5. Videos with large Chinese characters used prominently as titles.

6. Everyday life, such as casual meals, is rarely shown; everything posted is polished and highly professional.

7. When the hair is curled, it is tightly and finely curled rather than loose waves.

South Korea

1. Soft, bouncy skin like a peeled boiled egg; it’s uncommon to see vivid, matte lipstick worn daily.

2. Many dancers are young (including teenagers and those in their early twenties).

3. Lesson outfits are often stylish but lean more towards sporty than dressy.

4. Selfies in everyday clothes are common; hats appear frequently.

5. Some photos include partners.

6. Photos showing only competition trophies.

7. Veil work is not seen very often.

[Bilingual post] Visual Diary 34– The Japanese Veggies I Miss and My Favourite Veggies in the US /アメリカ絵日記34 恋しい日本の野菜と好きなアメリカの野菜

 Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

The Japanese Veggies I Miss and My Favourite Veggies in the US 

恋しい日本の野菜と好きなアメリカの野菜

The Japanese Veggies I Miss

恋しい日本の野菜

Daikon – It’s a mild-flavoured winter radish. It can be found in Asian/Japanese markets, but it isn’t very common in supermarkets in my town. In winter, I start missing simmered daikon; it’s juicy, warm, and has a natural sweetness – the perfect winter food!

大根 — こちらでもアジア系や日系のお店では見かけますが、普通のスーパーマーケットではなかなか手に入りません。冬になると大根の煮物が恋しくなります。おつゆがじゅわっと染みていて温かく、自然な甘さが広がる大根は、まさに冬にぴったりの食べ物です。

Edamame – These are young, immature soybeans harvested while still green and tender in their pods. There is edamame in my town too, but it’s hard to find good edamame. Good edamame have to be fresh and plump, and should pop energetically out of the pods. Soggy edamame is not nice!

枝豆 — 私の住む町でも枝豆はありますが、本当においしい枝豆はなかなか見つかりません。おいしい枝豆はぷりぷりしていて、勢いよくさやから飛び出してくるんですよね。しなっとした枝豆ほど残念なものはありません！

Satsuma-imo / Sweet potatoes – There are delicious sweet potatoes here too. However, they are often orange or maroon and very soft. Japanese sweet potatoes are distinctive for their starchy texture and intense sweetness, typically yellow on the inside and maroon on the outside. I miss the nasal singing voice from baked sweet potato trucks or stalls in winter – yes, there are sweet potato stalls in Japan, very much like ice-cream or taco trucks! They are much rarer now, though.

さつまいも — こちらのさつまいもも美味しいのですが、やはり種類が違います。たいてい中はオレンジ色や紫色で、全体的にやわらかい印象です。皮が紫で中は黄色、ホクホクした食感と強い甘さが特徴の日本のさつまいもは、やはり独特だと思います。
冬になると、石焼き芋の独特な呼び声が恋しくなりますね。最近は石焼き芋屋さんもだいぶ減ってしまいましたが。

My Favourite Veggies in the US

アメリカで好きな野菜

Sweet peppers – I am mesmerised by how sweet and fresh they can be! I love roasting them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. A friend of mine once shared her garden-grown sweet peppers – they were delicious! There are sweet peppers in Japan too, but there are fewer varieties. The pointy shape I portrayed in the drawing had long been associated with spicy ones in my mind.

スウィートペッパー — 日本ではパプリカと呼ばれることが多いと思います。お友達が庭で育てたペッパーを分けてくれたのですが、甘くて新鮮でとても感動しました！オリーブオイル、塩、こしょうで焼いて食べるのが大好きです。日本にもありますが、こちらほど種類は多くない気がします。この絵に描いたような細長い形のものは、ずっと辛いものだと思っていました。

Brussels sprouts – My absolute favourite vegetable. My go-to meal is roasted Brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar and honey, a flavour combination my husband recommended. The slightly burnt bits are irresistible! They can be found in Japan too, but they are less common. I don’t think I ever had them when I was a child.

ブラッセルスプラウツ（芽キャベツ） — 私のいちばん好きな野菜です。夫に「バルサミコ酢と蜂蜜で焼くとおいしいよ」と勧められて試してみたら、本当においしくてびっくりしました。少しだけ焦げた葉っぱの部分がたまりません。日本にも芽キャベツはありますが、あまり一般的ではないですよね。子どもの頃は食べた記憶がありません。

Parsnips – This is the only vegetable I had literally never tried until I moved here. I thought they were carrots at first, then realised they were sweeter and juicier. Roasted parsnips are now one of my favourite winter meals.

パースニップ — アメリカに引っ越すまで、一度も食べたことがなかった野菜です。せり科の根菜で、見た目は最初ニンジンだと思っていました。でも食べてみると、ニンジンよりも甘くてコクがあり、とてもおいしいことに気づきました。今ではオーブンで焼いて食べるのが冬の楽しみのひとつです。

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I am grateful for vegetables wherever they are – they give us nutrition and energy, and more than anything, they are associated with happy memories around a table with our loved ones.

どこにいても、野菜には感謝の気持ちがあります。栄養があっておいしいだけでなく、大切な人たちと食卓を囲んだ幸せな思い出と結びついているからです。

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[Bilingual post] Visual Diary 33–Why You Should Watch Gentleman Jack (BBC & HBO) /絵日記33 BBC＆HBOドラマ『Gentleman Jack』を観るべき理由

 Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

Although the number of television dramas centred on romantic relationships between women has gradually increased over the past twenty years, such works remain relatively rare on a global scale. First broadcast between 2019 and 2022, Gentleman Jack stands out even among these few examples, boasting an outstanding script by the acclaimed writer Sally Wainwright and superb performances from a highly accomplished cast. Set in 1830s Yorkshire, the series is based on the real-life figure Anne Lister, and depicts, with both poignancy and humour, the challenges that accompanied a woman’s determination to live her life openly with another woman. Below are three key reasons why this drama is so remarkable. (Spoilers are avoided.)

This is my fan art of Miss Lister (Suranne Jones) and Miss Walker (Sophie Rundle)!

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1. A balance between historical accuracy and entertainment

Living in a manner that closely resembles what we would now describe as openly lesbian, Anne Lister is arguably the most relatable character for modern viewers. No matter how harshly she is judged by those around her, she refuses to abandon her resolve to live authentically. Articulate and quick-witted, Anne is sometimes described as manipulative. While viewers may find themselves instinctively rooting for her, the series does not shy away from portraying aspects of her character that sit uncomfortably with contemporary values.

She takes immense pride in her aristocratic status and holds politically conservative views. Her rigid class consciousness is evident in small but telling moments: she cannot accept a family member marrying into a trade, and even when she recognises her own mistakes, she is unable to apologise to her servants. While the series carefully portrays the oppression of      homosexuality in nineteenth-century society, it also acknowledges Anne’s privilege. Her ability to live with dignity and confidence was, in part, enabled by her wealth and aristocratic position. Personally, I find it disappointing when historical dramas simply replace past values with modern ones—a problem I felt keenly in Anne with an E. For that reason, I was particularly drawn to Gentleman Jack for its commitment to historical realism.

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2. The emotional complexity of the characters

As noted above, despite its epic scope, the drama consistently maintains a sense of realism. While the romantic elements can be joyful and exhilarating, the characters themselves are deeply complex and far from flawless. Each possesses admirable qualities alongside traits that are difficult to condone. In particular, Anne’s wavering resolve and, at times, ethically questionable decisions in Season 2 proved divisive among viewers. Yet I would argue that it is precisely this portrayal of her vulnerability that gives the series its emotional depth. Can anyone be unmoved when the whole world is against them? At one point Anne even admits, “Don’t hurt me. I’m not as strong as you think.” This scene is impossible to watch without tears.

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3. Naturalistic dialogue

The dialogue throughout the series feels strikingly natural; at no point does it sound as though characters are      delivering lines. This is undoubtedly a testament not only to the quality of the writing, but also to the actors’ exceptional performances. The arguments between Anne and her long-time friend Mariana Lawton are particularly outstanding. These scenes feel less like scripted drama and more like genuine conversations, charged with intensity and emotional complexity. Alongside these heavier moments, the series also offers plenty of witty, light-hearted exchanges that draw spontaneous laughter. Compared with Happy Valley, another of Sally Wainwright’s acclaimed works, Gentleman Jack feels notably brighter and more humorous overall. Anne’s expressive use of her eyes is also remarkable. Even in moments of silence, emotions such as guilt, loneliness, and love are conveyed with striking clarity.

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Overall, Gentleman Jack is a richly layered and deeply engaging drama that explores love, family, women’s independence, aristocratic society, and history  from multiple perspectives.
It is highly recommended to anyone with an interest in these themes.

[Bilingual post] Visual Diary 32–I Finally Finished Stranger Things アメリカ絵日記32 Stranger Things最終回を観た

    Japanese follows English/日本語は英語の後に記載

No spoilers for the final episode./最終回のネタバレは避けています。

I finished watching the final episode of Stranger Things on new year's eve.

My favourite points throughout all the seasons:

• Character development – especially Steve’s.
• The earnest portrayal of a mother who fights for her son even when no one believes her.
• Anti–alpha male energy.
• The depiction of gay struggles and how shame can alienate someone from their friends.
• Some actors’ impeccable performances, especially Henry(Jamie Campbell Bower) and Hopper (David Harbour).
• Eleven and Mike’s innocent romance.
• References to 80s classics such as E.T. and Back to the Future.

My least favourite point:

Too long.

I feel the ending would have been ten times more moving if it had ended with season two, or maybe three. Especially in the last season, it felt as though the writing was struggling – the dialogue no longer sounded natural. The story was all over the place instead of sticking to the main storyline, which was more confusing than effective. I often see the same issue in many popular American TV shows and superhero films: they go on for too long!

Don’t get me wrong – I was entertained throughout all the seasons. I love all the characters, and there were so many great qualities in the show. I just wish it had ended at the right time. Overall, though, it was such an entertaining drama!