This Month in Japan | May

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Patricia Thao

With the arrival of May, it signals the mass amount of holidays celebrated during this time. People can find that Japan is the most busiest time as everyone is trying to get to their destination and are going away for vacation. At the same time, it can be quite quiet in big cities like Tokyo as most people are not working and visiting other cities or relatives who lives further away. Here is what you need to know for the month of May in Japan:

“Japan Golden Week is a collection of four national holidays that take place within a week including Showa Day celebrating Emperor Showa’s birthday; Constitution Day; Greenery Day, a national holiday dedicated to nature; and finally, Children’s Day with families praying for the health and success of their sons.” – http://www.onthegotours.com/
- Golden Week is in between April 29 to May 5. Make sure if you are planning to a trip to Japan during this time be aware that tourist spots, famous attractions, and traffic will be quite busy. During this time period is when many Japanese people take vacations and have time off work.
- Children’s Day is on May 5th and it celebrates the happiness, health, and personalities of children! A distinctive feature of this holiday in Japan are the carp-like kites which are used as decorations.
The weather in May is probably one of the best time for people to enjoy nature and visit sites. It’s a period of when it is not too hot and before the arrival of the rainy season, so people are more likely to be outside from April to June.
For more info & events of Japan in May, click here!

April is Minority Health Month

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Patricia Thao

“The theme for 2016 is “Accelerating Health Equity for the Nation.” – www.cdc.gov

Picture belongs to www.hhs.gov

The goal of Minority Health Month is to bring awareness of health disparities and to promote health equity among our diverse communities. It’s important to address health concerns and problems prevalent in different groups of people because there are things that we can do to help others live a safer and healthier life. Here are some ways in which people have implemented to help others:

Encouragement of breastfeeding among low-income and minority populations
Providing info on healthier food choices to children at home and school & bringing awareness to the increasing rate of child obesity
Educating communities that are at risk of certain health problems
- “This first national study on Hispanic health risks and leading causes of death in the United States by CDC shows that Hispanics had higher death rates than Non-Hispanic whites from diabetes and chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). The report encourages the use of community health workers, also called promotores de salud, to provide resources to educate the Hispanic community about health risks and preventive services.” – www.cdc.gov

What can you do as a participant?

Spread the words! Follow @MinorityHealth for great information on #healthequity & make sure to share on your social media!
Participate in an official (or related) events near you!

Click on the official website for info on events, social media, & more!

Planning on a trip? | Health Awareness Regarding Your Travel Destination

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Patricia Thao

http://www.vacationgetawayinternational.com/

Are you planning to go on a trip soon? It’s always good to keep in mind of where are you going and the current situation of the location. So make sure to do your research of what you may need to bring along with in terms of medicines, clothes, electronics, and possibly even getting vaccinated before flying to another country. Listed down below are some places that you may need time to prepare for if you plan on visiting there:

MERS

MERS stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and is a viral respiratory illness. Cases of MERS has been reported in the Middle East and spread to, but decreased in South Korea. Click here for more in depth info.

Polio

There has been an increased in reported cases of polio among in Guinea, Madagascar, and Nigeria. It is highly recommended that travelers get the polio vaccine before entering the country and for people to get vaccinated again if already done so in the past. Be aware that polio can be spread through contaminated water and direct contact with an infected person.
Reported cases of polio has also came from Ukraine (Europe).

Zika Virus

The local transmission of the Zika virus has been reported in various parts of the world, Cape Verde (Africa), Laos, Burma (Myanmar), American Samoa, Bolivia, Cuba, and other countries in Central America, South America, Caribbean, and Pacific islands. Make sure to do your research!
“Travelers can protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites. Women who are pregnant(in any trimester) should not travel to areas with Zika. Men who have traveled to an area of active Zika virus transmission who have a pregnant partner should abstain from sexual activity or consistently and correctly use condoms during sex for the duration of the pregnancy. Women and their partners who are thinking about pregnancy after possible exposure to Zika should talk with their doctor or healthcare provider.” – “Global Travel Pinet“
Be aware and protect yourself for those who plan on attending:
- the 2016 Summer Olympics scheduled to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5 to August 21, 2016
- the Paralympic Games that is scheduled for September 7 to September 18, 2016

Being Active & Involved in April

Posted on April 13, 2016 by Patricia Thao

Do you have any ideas on what you want to do in the month of April? If you don’t know and is interested, look down below of the suggestions. You possibly find something that you would enjoy.

Want to get involved in your local park recreations? “On Monday, April 16, we kick off National Park Week: one of our nation’s largest celebrations of nature, history and culture. This year is special because it comes as we celebrate 100 years of the National Park Service — that’s 100 years of protecting America’s best idea! “National Park Week is the perfect time to get out there and #FindYourPark with free admission April 16-24 to all of our 400-plus national park sites.” – Rightful owner
Are you looking for a wesbite for new apparel and fitness gears? Try looking at the presidentschallenge website: “Use promo code SPRING2016 to get 25% off any of the materials we’re offering in our online shop.” – Rightful owner

Home

Take a hike! Now that it’s April and we are heading to a warmer season, it’s time to go outside and enjoy the warmer season. Want some tips on how to enhance your hike:
- Plan out your trip! It’s a good to get an idea and to research about the area you’re interested in hiking in. In this way, you know if it’s good for someone like you or a friend/partner if they are a beginner, experienced, or expert at hiking!
- Wear the right gear! That also means make sure to check your local forecast. The right pair of hiking shoes will help support your feet and clothing will protect you from potential danger.
- Bring extra food & water! Chances are you may get hungry so pack nutritional meals/snacks and water along. Make sure to always stay hydrated!
- Bring a map/GPS/compass! It’s probably a good idea to know where you are heading and on how you can hike back to where you’d started.
- Recommended local hiking trails: Theodore Wirth Regional Park, Minnehaha Regional Park, Fort Snelling State Park, Hyland Lake Park Reserve, and more!

This Month in Japan | April

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Patricia Thao

“Uzuki, the traditional name for April based on the lunar calendar, means “hare month.” It has been speculated that the name uzuki corresponds to the year of the rabbit in the Chinese zodiac.

For many years, the only national holiday this month was Greenery Day, on April 29. The 29th was the birthday of the late Emperor Showa so in 2007 Greenery Day was moved to May 4, and April 29 was renamed Showa no hi, or Showa Day.

https://www.gapyear.com/

Golden Week starts at the end of April in Japan (Showa Day [April 29], Constitution Day [May 3], Greenery Day [May 4], Children’s Day [May 5]). It is common for businesses to give their employees the whole week off, making it a busy time for travel among the Japanese people.” – Credits belong to rightful owner

Other fun facts:

The sakura season began in March and continue towards the end of April. Visitors still have time to enjoy the cherry blossoms at local parks and gardens across Japan.
Roppongi Art Night is a free event that allows people and tourists to view amazing art collections in the neighborhood of Roppongi. It is an event held from 10AM throughout the night. “Galleries that will stay open throughout the night: Roppongi Hills, Mori Art Museum, Tokyo Midtown, Suntory Museum of Art, 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, The National Art Center, Tokyo.” – http://www.tokyo-top-guide.com/

http://www.tokyoweekender.com/

Earth Day (April 23-24) is celebrated in Japan through a event hosted at Yoyogi Park. It’s an opportunity for organizations to present their causes to the public and allows people to become informed of other environmental issues. Other features of this event are foods, performances, and music.
The 2016 Takayama Spring Festival is held on April 14-15 and it’s located in the town of Takayama. It’s known to host antique floats that are uniquely designed and decorated with lanterns. For more detail on the event, click here!

http://incrediblephototours.com/

The Truth About E-Cigarette

Posted on April 1, 2016 by Patricia Thao

People think that using e-cigarettes in place of smoking cigarettes is a “healthier” alternative. It has become more popular among youths as it provide similar effects and it comes in various flavors. Social media and pop culture has been glamouring vaping as form of a trend and “cool” thing to do. But studies have shown that regardless of smoking cigarettes or e-cigarette, both will put your health at risk at the exposure to nicotine. Here are some facts you need to know about e-cigarettes:

Nicotine affects brain development among children and teens
Harmful chemicals can be found in various flavors and affects the body differently
The vapor created from using e-cigarettes contains leads, tin, nickel, and other metals
E-cigarettes are not an effective way to quit smoking, people trying to quit should try to quit completely
“Initial tests have found e-cigarettes contain varying levels of the addictive substance nicotine as well as cancer-causing chemicals, such as formaldehyde.” – www.lung.org

CDC E-cigarette Fact Sheet

Postcard Highlights for March | 2016

Posted on March 27, 2016 by Patricia Thao

Check out the postcards created for the Month of March by AMA Youths and staffs! We encourage healthy youth messages and want to share our knowledge with the community!

Blog link to this postcard here!

National Nutrition Month & Food Trends!

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Patricia Thao

Original artwork belongs to www.storybird.com

Wondering what to eat next? Or maybe you want to try out the current food trends? This year has kicked off with food trends that demanded healthier food options and about eating local. You’ll never know what the area around you has to offer so take a look! Listed down below are some tips for you to try out!

Eating local has always been a thing, but it’s even bigger in the recent years! It means that you go out there and explore the food scene in your local areas. You may find restaurants that serve dishes that you had not tried before. Minnesota has some of the best areas for foodies to eat such as on Nicollet street, Downtown Minneapolis, central St. Paul, and more. A wide variety of foods await from Vietnamese cuisine to well-known steakhouses to authentic Mexican food.
Going green is healthier! The emphasize on healthy food is tremendous this year with a focus on vegetable juicing, detoxing with fruit infused water, eating grass fed animal products, and such! Organic and eating more greens is something that you should try to do more often!
Reduction in processed and unhealthy food! People everywhere are trying to eat healthier and it is clear of what foods people are avoiding. Foods that are high in salt, saturated fat, and sugar are some major “NO” you should try to avoid. Foods like chips, pop, fast foods, and such. Of course, it is okay to indulge once in a while.
Bring on the vegetable side dishes! Vegetables are eaten more often when served as side dishes and not as a dish itself. It will encourage you and possible any kids around you to eat it! Serve side dishes of vegetables stir fried or mix with other veggies as a light salad.
March is also known as National Nutrition Month! It serves to promote healthy living through making better food choices. Become part of group and spread the message of positivity of healthy eating. Check out this link on you can get involved!

Get Active in March

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Patricia Thao

March is here and so is the warmer season! It is a great time to go outside for fun activities, exercises, and sports. If you’ve been working out at home or at the gym, maybe it’s time to change things up! Need some ideas on what you can do in Minnesota? Listed down are some tips:

Go biking in Minneapolis! Did you know that Minneapolis is one of the top bicycle friendly cities in the U.S.? There are more than 118 miles of on-street bicycling and a whole trail that goes around the state called the Grand Rounds Scenic. If you don’t want to invest in bike, there are rental bikes available throughout the city. Nice Ride Minnesota is another affordable and convenient option for bicyclists and there are Nice Ride stations throughout the city for whenever you want to rent/return a bike.

http://www.travisnovitsky.com/

Try out new exercises:
- “Pilates is a form of exercise that is centered on controlled body movements. Because of its focus on core strength, pilates is an excellent way to improve your balance and coordination…Common pilates exercises focus on strengthening the body’s center, which encompasses the abdomen, lower and upper back, hips, buttocks, and inner thighs.” – https://www.presidentschallenge.org/
- Dancing is a great way to burn off energy in a fun and quick way! Other fun dances to get you moving is tango, zumba, hip pop, and ballroom dancing.
- Slow exercises not only helps the body, but also the mind. It can range from Tai Chi to different forms of yoga.
March is National Nutrition Month and it’s purpose is to encourage everyone on healthy eating and with that, tips on how to live and maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. For more info on this event, go to http://www.eatright.org.

This Month in Japan | March

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Patricia Thao

“Yayoi is the lunar calendar name for March meaning “new life,” symbolizing the coming of spring.

The only national holiday this month is Shunbun no hi, or Vernal Equinox Day, on March 20th or 21st. This is the official mark of the spring season as well as the unofficial start of the sakura cherry blossom season in much of Japan.

www.japanesehouse.org

www.kawaiikakkoiisugoi.com

Girls’ Day, or Hina Matsuri, falls on March 3rd and is one of the most popular celebrations this month. In mid-February, it is customary for families with young daughters to set up doll displays of the imperial court. Families enjoy tasty delights like chirashi sushi and strawberry daifuku while offering prayers for good health, fortune, and happiness for young girls.” – Credit to original owner.

Other events going on in Japan:

March represents the beginning of spring and blooming of cherry blossoms. Cherry blossom viewing is a popular activity with tourists and the Japanese people. And because it only occurs for a short period of time, many people may gather together to view cherry blossoms at parks at once.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

lifetoreset.wordpress.com

March 14 is White Day and this holiday is when men gives a gift back to the women they received gifts from (on Valentine’s Day). It is also a popular holiday for sales events in major department stores.
“A festival to welcome Spring to Nara with a wide range of rituals that take place over 14 days (March 1 – March 14). The main events involve burning giant torches surprisingly close to a 1200 year old wooden building at Todaiji Temple to rain sacred sparks on a crowd standing below.” – http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/japan-in-march

aussieontheizu.blogspot.com

For more info on events in Japan during the month of March, link here!

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