J-Word For The Day

hi-ro-, shunketsu (genius), jinketsu (great man), kesshi (do-or-die spirit), eiyuu, yuusha (superior individual) -- they all mean one thing: HERO

Last week's issue of Time magazine featured Asian heroes and I was amazed to see how many Japanese made it to the list.

Artists and Thinkers

Akira Kurosawa, filmmaker (I bought Rashomon last weekend but could not get past the first 20 minutes -- I'll watch it this weekend when I have more time)

Kenzo Tange, architect (he is credited for the look of modern Japan)

Hayao Miyazaki, animator (the man behind Studio Ghibli)

Seiji Ozawa, maestro (he injured his finger in a rugby game and couldn't play the piano anymore; instead, he became Japan's greatest musical director)

Business Leaders

Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka -- the men behind Sony (before iPod, there was my Sony walkman and then discman)

Momofuku Ando -- he created Nissin cup noodles (oh what will the world do without noodles?)

Hanae Mori, Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake and Rei Kawakubo -- Japanese designers and fashion legends

Shigeru Miyamoto -- videogame guru

Athletes and Explorers

Sadaharu Oh -- the half-Japanese (his father is Chinese) baseball player who led Japan's win in the 2006 World Baseball Classic