The Honolulu Advertiser from Honolulu, Hawaii • 48

i 1 'i" i i iniinniMiiiijirwiw'iMiiiiiii i-i ii.Mii jTiinmn-iin-i-eTf -i imuj'-m! 'rri i E2 Wednesday, June 4, 1997 The Honolulu Advertiser COFFEE BREAK Jan Ken Po: Child's game or cultural statement? HOROSCOPE Overheard WANDA A. ADAMS were somehow assigned to the same seat in a heavily loaded 747-200 bound for Tokyo. "The two girls instantly faced off in a Janken Pon match to see who got the seat. They did this naturally and without hesitation, giggling and smiling; they made it fun. The loser accepted her fate gracefully How I wish all passengers would solve that problem in such a happy way!" Here in Hawaii, we pidgin-ified and haole-fied the original Japanese, created new versions of the game and made up our own stories about its origins.

Next week, I'll delve into variations of the game, both here and in Japan, and perhaps we'll even wax a little philosophical about the wider implications of Janken Pon as a custom. Send your questions and answers about Jan Ken Po and other aspects of Hawaii life to Overheard, Island Life, Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. Fax: 525-8055. E-mail: islandlifecompuserve.com.

desho" as "same, isn't it?" Victoria Fletcher, whose daughter plays a complex version of the game at her language school, translates it as "(the next round will) probably be a tie." Reader Harriet Uwi sent excerpts from two books, "We Japanese and "Things Japanese." The two cultural histories agree that, though the game's origins may be in China, it began to be played in Japan in the late Tokugawa regime (the late 1700s, early 1800s), possibly in the Nagasaki area, according to "We Japanese." It's said to be one of the most popular games among Japanese children used in place of such Western customs as drawing straws, tossing coins, or the American-style chant "eenie meenie minie mo." The game can be used in picking team members and there are versions for groups larger than two. Larry Kwiatkowski tells of an incident that 6hows just how universal this game is in Japan: Two young women No need to Jan Ken Po to decide about it: Scissors-paper-stone is a hot topic with readers of this column. My desk is awash in playground memories, excerpts from Japanese dictionaries and books on Asian culture, a children's song written in kanji (at ya! Portagee girl no can read kanjil), and several learned treatises on topics ranging from the history of the Japanese in Hawaii to a British Zen philosopher's ideas on wisdom to be derived from the game. As anyone knows who's ever tried to remodel a house, start off with what seems like a simple job and you'll soon be tearing out walls and replacing the roof. Start out, as I did, just to share a few memories cf a popular childhood pastime and you'll soon be exploring serious historical and cultural issues.

So, listen up, class: First off, we've been saying it wrong all these years. It's not "Jan-ken-a-poai kenna sho" (or "Aye kono sho" or "Aikane show" or "I cannot show" or any of the other variations we've invented here in Hawaii. Properly, in Japanese, the phrase is "Janken pon! (After saying this, show hands.) Aiko desho. According to the "Japanese English Dictionary of Japanese Culture," (KojimaCrane, Heian), Janken is the name of the game in Japanese. Reader Jackson Morisawa says the word also refers to tossing (up), as in tossing a coin to make a decision.

Pon appears to be a nonsense syllable; no one could define it. Several readers wrote to explain the second verse, "Aiko desho." Morisawa said aiko means "a tie, even a draw." And desho means "I think, I suppose, I presume, I guess, I reckon." Rob Uyeyama, a San Jose transplant, interviewed his mom, who translated "aiko SYLVIA NICOLE HOLLANDER fefLe were eti'Gr chic fbn. JOYCE JILLSON Aries (March 21-April 19). Extend fi. nancial knowledge.

Education is in-' creasingly important to you, even if it is just reading the paper. Negotia-; tions of all kinds are especially fa- vorable work out the details of business Taurus (April 20-May 20). Writing is favored, especially business corre- spondence. Talk finances with your mate, and shop for bargains on ne- cessities and home furnishings. Learn to relax and the rest is easy.

Gemini (May 21-June 21). Be open to adventure. Romance is of the strong, protective kind subtle -moves are favored. You're about to make several important decisions. Contemplate the possibilities in light of long-term goals.

Cancer (June 22-July 22). Get it on the dotted line in all new dealings. Allow for the foibles of your mate, especially in budget matters. Gentle persuasion works with a can tanker-, ous child. Join the gang for some fufl tonight.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22). Get to work there's extra money to be made! The boss is less malleable. Love requires' compromise. A social visit can lead to a new job or client.

Share dinner with a special person. An association with a Libra brings luck. Virgo (Aug. 23- Sept. 22).

Solitary work is most satisfying until an older person interrupts you to ask a favor. Exciting romantic aspects encourage you to risk your ego. For the self-employed, it's a red-letter day. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct.

23). Conclusions are incorrect. Friends are gossipy, but you have higher standards. Start your masterpiece, whatever your art may be. Take a child to the movies or otherwise find time to hang out with him or her, Scorpio (Oct.

24-Nov. 21). An inventive streak will take you far, but keep ideas to yourself until they're fully hatched. Overtime work is lucrative, but your family will definitely object. Dinner out is most relaxing.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Tem- porary arrangements become feasible for the long term. A desperate friend comes to you for advice.

Your diplomatic skills set you apart from the crowd. Be open to a Leo's influ- ence. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19).

Negoti- ate for yourself. Only you truly ATFwtwflwprieNWWP 4hV wereHAWNfirb'Nta, Afae Strew. xtetP4 ybuctHv -the First IfHowMt WOtflQ Cro MAR, waj ho nore. i'p see NOW I've ADjvfP A flL5 asIHad owr5of I AO 111 on I Beer fi Id I A. Kb BfM.AKeo-r vr lymey but Ft, how wt.

THE WORD GAME BRIDGE KATHLEEN SAXE Tumbrils TUMBRILS: TUM-brils. Carts that tilt to discharge their loads. Average mark 19 words. Time limit 35 minutes Can you find 32 or more words in Tumbrils? The list will be published tomorrow. Yesterday's word: Remain rain ramie rani ream rein reman rime earn emir main mane mare marine mean mien mina mine miner mire airmen amen amine amir name namer near Rules of the game: 1.

Words must be (our or more letters. 2. Words which acquire four letters by the addition of such as "bats" or 'dies are not used. 3. Only one form of a verb is used.

For example, either "pose" or "posed," not both. 4. Proper nouns are not used. 5. Slang words are not used.

opponents pass. What do you say? ANSWER: Bid 3NT. After opener has bid twice, it's up to responder to place the contract or suggest a contract. Since you have a hand worth an opening bid, balanced distribution and spade strength, you know where to play. You'd bid 2NT if your king of spades were the jack.

South dealer E-W vulnerable NORTH AK4 P95 OKQ1094 J73 JUST CHECKING LOU BOYD Q. Hasn't Red Square in Moscow been renamed since the communists were ousted? A. No, that huge plaza in front of the Kremlin was called Red Square at least 100 years before the word "communism" was coined. The right tusk of the elephant is almost invariably larger than the left. "It is not lack of love but lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages," wrote that student of love and war Friedrich Nietzsche.

The great American educator Booker T. Washington is identified on an old list of "household goods" owned by a planter named Jones Burroughs. Thusly: "One Negro boy, Booker, value $400." Q. I've repeatedly read that champagne gets you high more quickly than wine without bubbles. Why? A.

Physically, carbon dioxide in champagne speeds the alcohol into the blood. Psychologically, the champagne drinker is already in the mood to celebrate. Or so say the experts. Your assignment: Name seas without shores, starting with the Sargasso. My assignment: Change the subject.

Rural householders in ancient Greece kept snakes indoors and out to control rats and mice much the way farmers keep cats today. Women normally have better hearing than men. At every age. How long does it take an oyster to make a pearl? Depends. Average-sized pearl, about five years.

Big pearl, figure 10 years. Those oysters aren't the cocktail kind. The dinner table oyster is prime at age 3. know how to serve your own best in-! FRANK STEWART "I heard somewhere that it's a partnership game," Cy the Cynic sighed, "but sometimes I feel like I have three opponents, not two." "I know what you mean," I said. Cy produced today's deal.

"I was East," he said, "and my partner led the king of clubs and then the queen. I considered overtaking with the ace, but what if he'd had another club? "When I played low, partner gave me a sour look and led a trump. Declarer won and led a diamond. Partner took the ace and led another trump; and declarer threw his last club on a high diamond and made the contract. LOW LEAD "Partner claims I should have worked it out.

He said with K-Q-x of clubs, he'd lead low at the second trick." "Maybe," I remarked, "but he put you to a needless guess. He must cash the ace of diamonds at Trick Two. When he leads the queen of clubs next, you have nothing to lose by overtaking to return a club." Always try to make things easy for your partner. Three-to-one odds are tough to overcome. DAILY QUESTION You hold: AK4V95OKQ10 9 4 7 3.

Your partner opens one club, you respond one diamond, and he then bids one heart The terests. Expensive tools are sometimes money-savers in the long run. Allow extra time for last-minute de HAWAIIAN WORD EAST J7 P1064 OJ52 A10984 WEST 4832 V8732 OA763 KQ ROBERT P0DESTA Barbecue lays, Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18).

Sacrifice now brings rewards several weeks down the pike. Others deserve a i chance to explain, no matter how dark the situation seems to be. Sin- gles: An associate or old friend intro-j duces you to a new love. Pisces (Feb. 19-March20).

Formalize! agreements. Make all the necessary changes to please your boss and teammates workplace politics are no problem for you. In-laws make life easier, believe it or not. Write Joyce Jillson, Creators Syndi- cate, 5777 West Century Suite I 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Ahula ka Pi'ipi 'i i Kakanilua SOUTH Q10965 VAKQJ 08 652 South West North East 14 Pass 2 0 Pass 27 Pass 34 Pass 4 4 All Pass Opening lead 1 997, Loi Angelas Tinwt Syndicate A slaughter of the Pi'ipi at Kakanilua Any great slaughter might be compared to the slaughter of the Pi'ipi Phrases: 'Olekj No'eau Bishop Museum Press Robert Podesta, 1997 TODAY'S CROSSWORD Woman frustrated to tears by cross-dressing husband i i ra ra 6 a ia hi it i4 1 Ti 7j 17 71 20 21 a 5 3 24 25 26 27 2 29 30" 31 55 34 35 36 37 Uv 39 401 441 42 43 Ls Lj 44 45 46 47 50 51 52 "-jM 54 55 56 57 5 59 60 .62" gj 64 Ann Landers ACROSS Moby Dick's pursuer Ice cream First person Arrives Bard's river Part in a play Make jubilant Divider Guard Worked on copy Slaughter of baseball War god Steeples Utmost Towel word Antelope Nobelist Wiesel Native metal The Greatest" Once blue moon Lots of weight Heaps Mists Pittsburgh team Exactly Hamilton bills The Love" Touched lightly Night music Fidelity Book of maps Fibber Trim Beatles' Be" Shea team Wee ones Medicine 5 9 13 15 16 17 18 20 22 23 24 25 28 32 33 35 36 37 38 39 41 43 44 46 48 49 50 53 57 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 TV'S TOP SHOWS Associated Press Prime-time ratings as compiled by Nielsen Media Research for May 26-June 1.

Top 20 listings include the week's ranking, with season-to-date rankings in parentheses, rating for the week, and total homes. An in parentheses denotes a one-time-only presentation. A rating measures the percentage of the nation's 97 million TV homes. 1. (X) "NBA Finals Game 1: Utah at Chicago," NBC, 15.8, 15.3 million homes 2.

(12) "2020," ABC, 14.3, 13.9 million homes 3. (X) "NBA Playoff Wednesday: Miami at Chicago," NBC, 13.5, 13.1 million homes 4. (X) "NBA Playoff Thursday: Utah at Houston," NBC, 13.0, 12.6 million homes 5. (9) "Home Improvement," ABC, 1 2.9, 1 2.5 million homes 6. 12.8, 12.4 million homes 7.

(X) "Seinfeld," NBC, 12.6, 12.2 million homes 8. (11) "60 Minutes," CBS, 12.0, 11.6 million homes 9. (10) "Touched by an Angel," CBS, 11.8, 11.4 million homes 10. (5) "Friends," NBC, 11.7, 11.3 million homes 1997 Tribune Mdia Services, inc. 6497 Mi nghts reserved.

Yesterday's Puzzfe solved: Dear Ann Landers: I am a frustrated woman who is married to a cross-dresser. I have read your columns saying some wives and girlfriends enjoy their cross-dressing sweethearts and husbands and promote their "hobby." This certainly is not the case in our house. For the last several years, I suspected my husband was wearing my clothes. I have had to discard many items that were stretched out of shape or torn. When I couldn't find a bra or a blouse, I knew that "Don" had acquired it.

Our home life is miserable. Don's mother still continues to manipulate him even after all these years. He has never been able to stand up for himself, which infuriates me and has caused some hot arguments. Counselors have suggested I leave him or "take him as he is" because he will never change. We've been married for 25 years, and I don't want a divorce, nor do I want to damage Don's image.

His friends and family members hold him in high regard, and the people he works with think he is wonderful. My woman friends think that we have the perfect marriage. I don't know what to do, Ann. Our family life is terrible, and I cry a lot Please help me. LONELY IN THE METROPOLE that she has "left" her children.

She has made it possible for them to remain in the home they have always known and continue to enjoy the stability of their same school and neighborhood friends. Divorce is painful enough, even under the most amicable circumstances, without uprooting the children. This is my advice for Mesa: Stay in therapy. Call your children often. Send them tapes of you reading bedtime stories.

Never miss a birthday or holiday. Have them with you during school breaks. I did all of the above, and it helped tremendously. Friends and family who know and love you will not be judgmental. Your children may not understand now, but if you remain a loving parent and make the most of your time together, they will understand when they are older.

Your decision took tremendous courage and self-sacrifice. You ARE a good mother, and I support you. ANOTHER ONE IN ELK GROVE, CALIF. Dear Elk Grove: Your letter is sure to bring comfort to other women who are walking in your shoes. Thanks on behalf of all of them.

Send questions to Ann Landers, Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Dear Metropole: There is no way I can help a woman who tells me her home life is miserable, she is frustrated, unhappy and cries a lot, but she does not want a divorce. You say counselors have suggested that you accept Don as he is or leave him, but you don't want to do either one. It appears to me that you are going to be miserable either way.

Your best bet is to develop some outside interests, stay in therapy and lock your closet and keep your underwear where he can't find it. Dear Ann Landers: "U.M. in Mesa" left her children with their father when the marriage ended. She felt it would be better for the kids. I want to offer encouragement to "Mesa and others like her.

too, made that decision 10 years ago when my sons were 11 and 8, and my daughter was only 4. 1 was an emotional wreck, incapable of taking care of myself, let alone my children. I want to tell Mesa not to say -L A JA A 9 nm a A NIT Sl I ME ic I 'E IE stj I-A SlMiESQU skjB "eA jb lju tJTr JwA RjM a 'I'm 0 oo LESS rIeIn a id aQe a SlE OIR stj A AN ERO I A I I I I LJ RAP measure 1 1 Tropical plant 12 Dam 1 4 Paris' river 19 Thought 21 Pry 24 Palmer of golf 25 Attempts 26 H.Ross 27 Dunne or Ryan 28 Annoys 29 Part of T.S.E. 30 Bum lightly 31 Pester 34 Animal hangouts 40 Irish dogs 41 Hanging 42 Night sight 43 Lost consciousness 45 Ogle 47 RyanorTatum 49 Encounters 50 Tropical tree 84797 DOWN 1 High cards 2 Predicament 3To (unanimously) 4 Superiors 5 Cloaks 6 Egg-shaped 7 And not 8 Inserted 9 Skilled performer 10 yourself 51 Adams or McClurg 52 Not this 53 Shoo! 54 Choir voice 55 Speaker's place 56 Punta del 58 Modem: pre'..