Pom-Pom Purin

Ryan and I had some friends in Japan, a married couple named Akiko and Takashi. Akiko was a quirky girl who spoke English quite well in comparison to most Japanese people, and who was obsessed with a little yellow character named "Pon Pon Purin". (Purin means "pudding" by the way, and no, we never figured out why it was named after pudding)

Now one might ask the question, "Why would an adult married woman have such an affection for a silly little character like Purin?" Well, as you may or may not know, it's rather common and perfectly acceptable in Japan for adults to love this kind of thing. Even men sometimes, though you'd see it more in the young guys than with older business men. It wasn't unusual to see a car go by in which sat, hung, and bounced a handful of stuffed animals, tissue holders, and whatnot all bearing pictures of a certain character.

And let me tell you that there are PLENTY of characters to choose from in Japan, if you were to decide to take up the obsession challenge.

Anyway, Akiko and Takashi's car was completely yellow on the inside. I remember one time we went to a movie with them and took their car, they had to literally get into the back seat and stuff all the yellow Purin paraphernalia back behind the seat. When it was cleared out enough for us to climb in, we sat tightly together (as one must in a Japanese k-car) with a bobbing, bouncing Purin figure hanging from the ceiling between our heads. It was worth a good laugh, and Akiko and Takashi also found it rather amusing.

Takashi was an endearing fellow, with quite the shocking sense of humour. He was a business man of sorts, employed at the police office in Niigata City, where they lived, a half hour drive from our town. He seemed quite timid at first, and didn't speak much with us because of his lack of confidence in English. He'd chat a little, but mostly let Akiko do the talking. After a while though, as the shyness barriers broke down, he'd suddenly do some crazy body spasm action and yell something out and then laugh his head off. He quickly earned the nickname, "Kramer".

Akiko and Takashi were a lot of fun to hang around with. They were different than other people we had met, perhaps because they lacked the "giggly syndrome" that many other Japanese would acquire upon chatting with foreigners, perhaps because they were a little wacky like us, or perhaps just because we hadn't met that many people out of the context of work. Either way, we forged a friendship and enjoyed a good handful of evenings together, doing things like sitting on the edge of the Bandai River in Niigata City at night, watching "Spirited Away" in their apartment (English subtitles of course), getting out in the rice patties and planting rice, and going out for dinner where the famous photo contest picture was taken.

The other day we got an unexpected email from Akiko. She's thinking of coming to Vancouver for a year to study English and Internet design. Not only that, but she was wondering whether she could live with us while she was here. Wow! We were so surprised, and rather excited. We asked her whether Takashi would be coming, but she said, "No, he has his work." I can't imagine how crazy it would be to leave my husband for a year, but we've heard of other people doing it (namely in Japan) in order to get some adventure under their belts, so heck, why not? So we responded with a big YES, provided our situation permits it when she plans to come in September 2008. Exciting stuff! It will be so nice to have a taste of Japan back in our household. Heck, maybe I'll even polish up my Japanese and give it a try!