Cherry blossom, the flower that represents Japan. Its blooming is fleeting, and enjoying its scattering in the wind is the embodiment of Japanese aestheticism. [ Event ] Cherry blossom festival Late March to early April [ Ingredients ] Spring ingredients [ Wishing plate ] The goal of cherry blossom viewing is to prepare bentos and alcohol and have a party underneath the cherry blossom trees.
Originally a Chinese ceremony, taking place on "snake day" at the beginning of March, where people would purify their bodies in the river. Now known as a “ Hinamatsuri” (Girls’ day)for bring the healthy and growth for girls. [ Event ] Peach festival (Hinamaturi) March 3rd [ Ingredients ] Clam Scattered sushi Hishi-mochi [ Wishing plate ] Made with prayers for girls' health and growth and with wishes for marital harmony.
Setsubun marks the end of winter. While the following day saw the shift to spring, surviving the cold season was by no means easy in the old days. The role of Setsubun was to banish this evil cold, and to invite the gods of spring in. [ Event ] Setsubun (The Bean-Throwing Festival) Early February, the day before spring [ Ingredients ] Been, Sardine, Eho-Maki (Sushi roll) [ Wishing plate ] Beans, "mame", express the prayer for the defeat of evil, "mametsu", for the safety of the household and protection from fire.
Do you know the "Hanafuda", a traditional Japanese card game? Recently, due to the help of an anime film and its famous characters, Hanafuda has been drawn people's attention gradually. Maybe you've watch it, but don't know its specific rules. So I'd like to introduce the Hanafuda and its gameplay to such people.
January 7th marks Jinjitsu or Human Day, one of the five seasonal festivals (Jinjitsu, Jōji, Tango, Shichiseki, Chōyō). The five festivals, originating from China, happen on odd day and month numbers. In China, odd numbers are "positive", and overlapping positives are deemed unlucky. However, in Japan these days became national holidays for banishing evil.
Have you noticed? The Japanese shugibukuro (special envelope for monetary gifts), kagami-mochi / round rice cake and kadomatsu for New Year decoration are all decorated with beautiful "paper strings". Moreover, these paper strings are in all kinds of shapes... !
In Japan, there are many traditional games that are played only during the New Year. For example, the most well-known are Kite flying, Hanetsuki, and Karuta. At first glance it is a child's play, but in fact the deep meaning is hidden behind! Let we introduce 4 new year's activities and their meanings.
New Year's Day is one of the most important in Japan, and families spend it together. This is a special cuisine eaten for the first meal of the New Year, and it is the most valued of ceremonial dishes.
Today is the last day of 2019. In Japan, the last day of the year is called "Omisoka". Preparing for the New Year's Day before Omisoka and waiting for the coming new year are the basic way to celebrate the such festival.
From around the middle of the Edo period, it became customary in the city of Edo to eat soba on the last day of every month and on Setsubun. That led to the present-day custom of eating toshikoshi soba on New Year's Eve. It can be easily eaten during the busy night of New Year's Eve with wishes for a long and fulfilling life.
It will be the end of year. In order to welcome the year of 2018 cheerfully, let me tell you what to prepare for the New Year.
During summer holidays, children have to go to do the radio calisthenics with their attendance cards hanging around their necks, but they're often oversleeping. This is a scene often seen in some anime which depicted the daily life of Japanese children, such as Doraemon and Sazae-san. Doing the "radio calisthenics" is a typical summer activity in Japan. Every morning during the summer holidays, from 6:30 am, both young children and the elderly gather together and stretch themselves along with the music from the radio, and a new day begins.