Starbucks Japan Geography Series City Mug - Osaka

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Starbucks Japan Geography Series City Mug - Osaka

Starbucks Japan Geography Series were just released in October this year. When my husband was on his business trip in Japan in November, he purchased this Osaka mug there. Today, I'm going to share this new Starbucks Japan Geography Series Osaka mug with you.

Because my husband and I used to live in Osaka for many years, this mug is very interesting to us! New Starbucks Japan City Mugs are named Starbucks Japan Geography Series "Our daily story." As its name, typical life in Osaka are pictured on this mug. Indeed, this mug reminded me of my everyday life in Osaka.

Starbucks Japan Geography Series

There are two old men playing shogi (将棋), which is Japanese chess. When we went to Shinsekai (新世界), where Tsutenkaku (通天閣) is located in, we were surprised at so many old men playing shogi at shogi club around Jyanjyan Yokocho (ジャンジャン横町), which is a famous street in Shinsekai. "Usoyan!" is Osaka dialect. Usoyan means "No kidding!", "Really?” or "OMG!" Let's say, the man with blue shirts in this picture has just taken a chess piece, and it was unexpected for the other man, and he says, "Usoyan!".

Starbucks Japan Geography Series City Mug - Osaka

Did you notice that there is takoyaki (たこ焼き) pictured? Look closely at "Osaka". In Osaka, there are many trains. The red trains are probably running JR Osaka Kanjyosen (JR大阪環状線), JR Osaka Loop Line. I used to commute to my workplace by trains of JR Osaka Loop Line everyday for many years. :)

Starbucks Japan Geography Series City Mug - Osaka

Middle age women in Osaka are called Osaka no obachan (大阪のおばちゃん), and they are sometimes considered as local specialties of Osaka. When you go to Osaka, you might see a middle age woman wearing a leopard t-shirt riding on bicycle. The brim of hat is very long to protect her facial skin against UV ray. She also wears black long gloves for UV protection. "Amechan" is another Osaka dialect. Ame (飴) means candies. Regardless of age or sex, most people in Osaka call candies "amechan". Osaka no obachan usually has some amechan in her bag to give her candies away to her friends or someone she meets.

Starbucks Japan Geography Series City Mug - Osaka

Comedy, which is called owarai (お笑い) in Japanese, is one of the most important parts in Osaka. This picture shows there are two comedians work as TV reporters on shopping streets. Because my workplace was very close to TV station, I sometimes saw such a scene at Tenjinbashi shopping street on my way to work. "Omoroi" means funny and is a compliment word in Osaka. Let's say, when someone shares a fun story, and you really enjoy it, you can say "Omoroiwa!" or "Omoroina!" The fun story makes you happy. :)

Starbucks Japan Geography Series City Mug - Osaka

The handle of this mug is probably inspired by Osaka's famous foods such as okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) and takoyaki (たこ焼き). I can see aonori flakes and bonito flakes over okonomi sauce are pictured on this handle. :)