The Importance of Magic in Children’s Tales

Alakazam! Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo! Poof! These are the words that stick in a young child’s mind after hearing or reading a story, folk or fairy tale. Children’s folk and fairy tales date back thousands of years. Used for entertainment and education, these stories have been passed on from generation to generation and loved by children and adults alike. Magic has accompanied children’s tales as a crucial and integral aspect for as long as they have been around, adding a sense of mystery, wonder, possibility and over all fun. Magic and fantasy in children’s tales open up brand new possibilities such as magical creatures and people, one example being the beloved Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, who teaches the young girl to have faith no matter how hard life may get. Magic also introduces new worlds and places outside of our own, such as Never Never Land in the story Peter Pan, showing the importance of childhood and imagination. Magical powers are also shown through children’s tales, as in the transformation of a King to a beast in Beauty and the Beast, teaching one about the importance of inner beauty and personality. With these magical components combined, children learn how to have faith, to believe, use their imagination and to understand the importance of childhood and to have fun as they continue to grow. Whether it is the creation of endless possibility for imagination or to teach children important things about life such as how to believe or the importance of being kind, the use of magic and fantasy plays a crucial role in children’s stories, folk and fairy tales.

Characters in fairy tales go far beyond human beings, but play the same important role. Ogres, witches, pixies, talking animals, fairy godmothers and more have been taking the stage and shining in the spotlight for centuries. These characters have a universal appeal because of the diversity, opening up many possibilities of imagination and wonder for children world-wide. They are black, white, yellow, green, extra tiny, medium sized and large. There is a magical character for every type of person living whether old, young, happy or sad, making it possible to connect these figures to everybody. One particular magical being, the Fairy godmother, from the story Cinderella is a memorable magical character for her kind and funny personality traits. She teaches Cinderella and also children how important it is to have hope, strength and faith. During one hard time in Cinderella’s life, Cinderella wants to give up and the Fairy Godmother tells her, “Nonsense child! If you lost all of your faith, I couldn’t be here. And here I am.” Although she is a magical and fictional character, this sends a positive message to children who listen to or watch the story but in a way that will capture their attention. Another fairy who has made an impression on many children is Tinkerbell from Peter Pan. This tiny thumb-sized fairy shows that size does not always matter and even though she is small, she can accomplish anything she puts her mind to. She is determined and strong despite her tiny size. The magic to go along with what these characters are teaching makes it more appealing, fun and memorable.

The magic in Peter Pan does not stop at a determined fairy, nor does magic in children’s’ tales stop at magical beings. The magic in children’s tales also allows them to discover entire new worlds and places beyond anything they might ever experience in real life, stimulating their mind and senses with a new feeling of amazement, wonder and awe. Worlds set apart from our own are made possible through magic and Never Never Land is one example of these worlds. In this far away place where children do not grow up, food can be imaginary, a best friend can be a pixie and people can fly, children are exposed to all kinds of new color, ideas, shapes and imagery they may have not otherwise experienced. It also allows their imagination to soar, creating their own world of fun which they may have never before imagined. Never Never Land also emphasises the importance of childhood, enjoying life and the idea that there is no rush to grow up. Peter Pan gives the perfect description of Never Never Land during his invitation to the Darling children to join him on his journey back home: “So come with me where dreams are born and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land.” Other magical worlds that stimulate the mind and senses are the Wizarding world of Harry Potter, and Narnia from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. These also open up doors leading to endless possibilities of imagination, which, even though are fictional, let children know that there are things in the world beyond what they may know, waiting to be discovered and explored. It is the magic that makes this happen.

Sometimes the magic in a children’s story is not as obvious as a flying fairy or a pumpkin that turns into a carriage. It can be hidden yet hold the same amount of effect on a child’s mind. In Beauty and the Beast the young handsome prince gets transformed into a ferocious, ugly, furry beast because of his greedy temper and nasty humour. Only when he becomes a kind and caring person does he get transformed back to his human form. Although this cannot happen in real life, the magical aspect of turning the prince into a beast not only tells a child how important it is to have caring and kind qualities, but it shows them with images and things beyond our reality. It sends the message of how important inner beauty is in a way they will remember. The message would not be as strong without the magical aid to boost the imagery and concept.

Many children’s tales have non-magical humans or places, but have objects that hold some power beyond reality. The Wizard of Oz is another tale where magic plays a part in nurturing the mind and imagination, where Dorothy must tap her red sparkling shoes to take her back home, and her friends consist of a talking lion, tin man and scare crow. This is also a story which helps the imagination soar and at the same time teaches children that everybody has a heart. Another tale where magic aids a child’s learning is Chitty Chitty Bang Bang where their car can fly. This allows children to realize that sometimes thing can happen we would not normally expect. The magic in these stories also give the sense that almost anything is possible and allows one’s mind to wander to brand new places of fun and creativity.

The results from the creation of magic and fantasy are extraordinary. Many things besides the exploration of a young child’s mind have been discovered because of the use of magic in children’s tales. Movies, continuation of stories, books, games and even world-spread theme parks are all made possible because of magical ideas. These give children and families new opportunities to travel, see new places and create ever lasting memories, along with learning how to be a caring person and having the senses explode with color, art, shapes and imagery brought to life. Without the magic and fantasy bringing new opportunity to life in children’s tales many of these things would be missed, characters that have changed lives would not exist and the fun would not be as widely explored. It is the magic in these tales that make new possibilities and endless ideas for imagination for the young and old everywhere.

Guess who?

From ashes and castoffs I sprung like the phoenix,

My name became as common as every day Kleenex.

Some looked at my life and said it was wrong,

I worked through my pain with dancing and song.

My voice grew stronger; my feet gave me blisters,

I was joined with my brothers and my beautiful sister.

What the public sees is sometimes a fright,

But life is not always so black and white.

Where was my privacy, I paid my dues,

By walking on the moon with my gold lamiae shoes.

Children I loved, we would play in the park,

From morning, noon and night, we played into dark.

My name and fame rose as I grew frail,

I had so many fans.....I would not fail.

Now as I look at the man in the mirror,

My reflection looks back and my life is clearer.

I dedicated my life with energy and drive,

That started so many years ago only as five.

I only hope that my memory will live on,

With music and dancing and through all of my songs.

Omiyage shopping in Akihabara

It’s that time of the year when people pack up and head to the airport. But of course, headed back home for the summer means bringing back some good old-fashioned omiyage, or souvenirs from Japan. Not sure where to go? Fear not - Akihabara has it all.

Known as the Electronic Town, Akihabara is a great place for electronic lovers and gamers alike to spend countless hours browsing through endless aisles of gadgets. But this digital dream is not just about electronics! Behind some alley ways and on the highest floors of the tallest buildings hide some spectacular shops visitors would love.

Whether you are visiting Tokyo, want to hold on to the memory of living here, or simply want to bring home some gifts, the seventh floor of LAOX is a must see. It has more variety than three stores put together, allowing you to pick up everything you need and want. English-speaking staff are also ready on hand to help out, so you don’t have to worry about any language barriers.

There is something for every member of the family. Shelves are topped with a huge array of colorful Japanese souvenirs like traditional dish sets. Hundreds of key chains and cell phone ornaments dangle from walls and racks. Magnets cling to posts on every corner. Fluffy stuffed toys waiting to be played with line the walls, along with Hello Kitty paraphernalia.

Fans and wall hangings draw the eye to the ceiling and Japanese figurines stand full of life in their patterned kimonos. The kimonos are authentic and can be tried on. Toddlers and kids even have their selection of Japanese patterned shirts, as well as the grown ups.

But of course, Tokyo has its technology to boast. Make souvenirs of Tokyo X and bring back some nifty electronic gifts for friends and family. But of course, with the economy in its state, it’s difficult to just splurge on pricey gadgetry. And Japan being the mechanical powerhouse it is, second-hand stuff might as well be first. The SofMap Mac Can comes in handy here, offering a wide variety of used iPods (the latest models included) and other Mac-related goodies with wallet-friendlier price tags.

Then, there is the famed Japanese pop culture, appealing to foreign youth since the days of Dragonball and Pokemon yore. If you’ve got anime or manga-addicted relatives or friends you plan on seeing, then take a quick look around the town. There are odd little shops scattered around Akihabara that cater to the otaku crowd, offering all sorts of titles, with even some action figures and various related memorabilia. If you’re lucky, you can even find some manga books and anime DVDs translated to English.

So, before you make that dash to Narita, make Akihabara the town you visit.

Getting to know Zac

World-renowned celebrity Zac Efron, widely known from his performances in 2006’s High School Musical and 2007’s Hairspray, is loved by millions of children, teens and young adults alike. Though he has many fans and co-workers, Efron keeps his family high on the priority list.

“Family is everything to me,” he said at a press conference while promoting his new film, 17 Again.

Like other teenagers and young adults, this 21-year-old doesn’t hesitate to ask his parents for help in times of need.

“As far as I’m concerned, my parents are the smartest people I know.”

Efron’s new starring role had him play a family man who wakes up seventeen again with a chance to redo his life. He said the ‘what if’ aspect of the role kept it exciting especially since he always wondered what life would be like if he could change things in his past. There’s nothing major he would change, he said.

“Anything that happened to me got me to where I am today. I might go back and change the tux I wore to prom, and there might be a couple of girls I’d go back and talk to, but that’s about it. Just the essentials.”

The most challenging part of the role? Efron found it difficult to relate to his character, since he has no idea what it’s like to deal with having kids. Trying to keep up to the off-the-cuff and improvisation acting was also difficult.

For other teens looking to pursue an acting career, Efron suggests joining as many theatre productions as possible to get a foot in the door and have the extra experience. He recalls great memories from his time on stage.

“I am definitely interested in doing Broadway. It’s one of my favorite things to do, so I would love to go back.”

Being in Broadway is not just about the stage, Efron explained. Everyone works closely together to achieve a common goal, which is very important for the end results.

“It teaches you much more about the art. It’s much more about being a team. It’s a community.”

Dutch Organ Player in Tokyo

If you’re walking the streets of Tokyo and hear beautiful music coming from a tall majestic wooden box, it’s likely to be the 80-year-old Dutch street organ with its talented owner.

Dirk Rebel, president of Deshima, an import wholesale and festival company, has been performing with the street organ since he found his own at a big Holland Booth in Japan twenty years ago. He loved playing since the day he started.

“Once you have a street organ, you get addicted to it,” he said.

As president, Rebel makes contacts to people who are clients and gets business from their company. He also works for the company by performing with his organ.

The street organ is a large piece of musical instrument that plays book music and is usually equipped with pipes, horns, and even percussion instruments. The ‘organ grinder’ turns a large handle to feed the book into a machine that plays the song. They are loud enough to be heard easily on a busy street corner, which makes Rebel’s job perfect for the city.

Over 600 communities in Japan make home to Rebel and his unique entertainment for many festivals, birthdays, and any other celebration needing some fun.

Rebel loves seeing people relax to the smooth music of the organ after a long, hard day’s work. When stressed business workers come and their furrowed brow fades, he knows his work his done.

“There’s no nicer work than this,” he said. “It’s a relaxing feeling that I give to people and it comes back to me.”

Playing the street organ is a German, Belgian and Dutch tradition, which goes back about 180 years. When Rebel performs, he takes his show and audience back that far. The brightly coloured hand paintings that surround the surface of the large instrument dates the instrument, along with Rebel’s classic top hat, ruffled shirt and 1930s styled pants and shoes. He really gets into character to please the crowd.

People will often wander to the back of the organ too, to see how it works, which Rebel doesn’t mind at all. Anything to please the audience, he said.

This multi-performer doesn’t stop at working the street organ. He also likes making balloon animals for kids and doing other work on the side. He loves his work.

“It’s the gratitude; it’s the energy that you get from people.”

The Perfect Slumber Party

Summer is here and the school year is coming to an end for many foreigners in Japan, resulting in many vacations and trips home. Let the teens have one last night of fun with their pals by following this guide to a perfect slumber party.

Although spontaneity is exciting, careful prep and plan is key to an enjoyable night. Start by sending out cute home-made invitations including time of arrival, and sleeping bag and pillow requests. Have some tables set out with pretzels, juice, pop and other snacks for the guests. But you don’t have to just have junk food. Fresh fruit, veggies and smoothies make a great snack too and are a healthier alternative.

Once the guests arrive, get everyone in their pjs! A slumber party just isn’t complete without those fluffy slippers too. Arranging the sleeping bags on the floor in a star shape, with all the heads in the middle is extra fun.

Start off the night with some baking. Cookies and muffins are entertaining to make and even better to eat, especially after decorating with icing and sprinkles. Have a competition to see who can be most creative.

Movies are a great idea for a slumber party. Make sure to have some variety for all the different tastes. Some personal favourites are Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, Mean Girls, Dirty Dancing, and Legally Blonde. Don’t forget the popcorn!

And what girl doesn’t like a makeover? They’re fun, creative, and can even be done while watching a movie. Set different stations; nails, makeup, hair, toes. Pedicures and manicures are essential for these hot summer months and nothing sparks more laughter than a makeover.

If guests are getting giddy, have some games ready to play. Charades and truth or dare is always a hit as well as board games like Monopoly or Clue.

Girls also love jewellery making. Stringing some beads for necklaces, anklets and bracelets is creative and lets your guests bring something home to remember.

When morning comes, don’t forget to feed your guests’ hungry bellies with some delicious pancakes. Add variety and choice with fruit and chocolate chips.

This slumber party is sure to have long lasting memories and is a great way to start the summer.

SLEEPOVER ACCESSORIES

Check out these slumber party must-haves for the ultimate girls gathering.

Look for Urban Decay glitter eye shadow at the Sony Plaza for ¥2,415 for a glamorous way to complete those makeovers.

Another great buy to add to the look is Siyan hair bows and berets for ¥450.

The Face Shop’s small strawberry and kiwi pack of four facial masks will come in handy when getting ready to go to bed. Get them at the Sony Plaza for only ¥700/pack.

For the ultimate manicure and pedicures, check out dashingdiva.com. Choose from thousands of styles of fake and gel nails with French tips, design, jewels and more. Get nail polish in every colour of the rainbow plus skin care, treatments, kits and everything else you’ll need to perfect the look and have some fun.

Fabio's guide to looking elegant

One person at a time, Sin Den hair and make-up salon is making its beauty mark on Tokyo.

Each person gets their own, unique look. When it comes to hair, length, texture and shape all play a factor in the style each person will get.

“Whatever is suitable for the face and hair,” said Italian master beauty expert, Fabio. “Lisa (brunette) has lots of hair, dark and almost one length. We’ll make it as smooth as possible.”

This is a fancier style.

“It’s more like for a ball-evening look. Something more elegant,” he said. For Natalia’s hair, Fabio made a style that could be worn casually yet pretty.

“This idea is for a more summery and open look, something for a day time party.”

Fabio has been in the hair business for 17 years, and in Tokyo with Sin Den for three. The diversity of Tokyo keeps him anchored.

“I like that there’s a lot to share, and lots of ideas.”

The salon attracts about 90 percent Western customers, who appreciate the English-speaking staff.

Diversity is something Fabio likes and is also something the salon achieves. With the help of make-up artist Naomi Saito, Sin Den will leave you looking and feeling fabulous.