JIC: Japan Infomation Communication

New Year's day

Three days from January 1 are indicated at the New Year. A new year doesn't only come around at the New Year of Japan. It is time when it newly gets the soul from everything and is reborn. Therefore, it is a translation that blesses this and exchanges "Congratulations" and the greeting. Therefore, being set up though "Toshigamisama"is faced is a New year's pine decoration. The offering that did an important working to the place or more and the life of the mind and entertained the god in staying place, household Shinto altar, alcove, prop, kitchen, well, and washroom, etc. on the soul was decorated in the house. It is not only that. I get the soul from the person. When the New Year is received in old times, everyone has increased one age at the same time though count age might be still used. It is a translation to get vitality that lives through one year in a word. The vitality was given to the family in place of the "Toshigamisama"of house. This is a new year's present.

   

  “Osechiryouri”is a special dish eats at the New Year. Externals of the special dish for the New Year holidays are gorgeous. The wish is put in contents of the special dish for the New Year holidays respectively. And , ”Ozoni” is to celebrate the New Year as well as “Osechiryouri”. ”Ozoni” is rice cakes boiled with vegetables as a dish .It differs, and the local color goes out of seasoning and the tool dark by the provinces and the home. 

 “Hatsumoude” means New Year's visit to a shrine.The patron saint who is first the god of the village shrine in the land after giving family worships offering to the household Shinto altar, and the new year is celebrated is visited. Swearing to live hard for one year in appreciation for the new year's having been safely received the god ahead this year, and wishing peaceful of the family chiefly become it.

“Otoshidama” is a goods of exchange gifts to mark the new year at New Year. It is often used by the custom of giving the child money and the mind of the money now. There are the provinces where not money but the cake, etc. are given, too. Be to differ from the year-end gift presented at the end of the year, and, now, the feature to present it by one's superior person.

bon dance

That's the point we want to know about "Obon" 

~Some stories of Obon that we didnft know for sure~

While we searched Bon Dancing, we come to have a question: "In the first place, what is Obon all about?"

Although we think we know about Obon, when it comes to the point, it is difficult to explain about it.

However, this is a site of Bon Dancing, so we have to know about Obon.

So we decided to study about Obon

(While thinking that "this could be the field of Buddhist priests and undertakers.)

Is Obon a "Buddhist event"?

If we ask the question: "What is Obon?", answers from an elderly person might be "Obon is a Buddhist event."

Well, indeed;

The old word "Urabon" which indicate Obon was originally a Buddhist word

There is "Bussetsu Urabon Kyou" among the Buddhist scriptures, and it explains about the origin of Obon.

In the Buddhist temples, a ritual called "Urabon-e" has been held from the old times.

Buddhism has been exerting strong influence to the civil Bon events

There are many grounds as mentioned above. There is no doubt that there is a strong relation between "Obon" and Buddhism.

Then, is "Obon" equal to Buddhist event, and was imported to Japan together with Buddhism? Actually, the things are not that easy. There are many events and thoughts in Obon that cannot be explained with Buddhism.

For example, the famous story that everyone might have heard of:"Our ancestors come back to earth in Obon every year." The way of thinking that a spirit which once attained Buddhahood (died) comes back in this world cannot be found in the Buddhist teachings.

How about Bon Dancing? In a Buddhist scripture, there is a passage that says, "Those who heard the teachings of Amitabha dance with joy." However, it is a little bit difficult to imagine that the wide-ranging and miscellaneous Bon Dancing was born from this passage. Moreover, there are no traces that Bon Dancing was danced in India, the birthplace of Buddhism, or China and Korea.

From the above reasons, it can be considered that there might have been the conditions that develop Obon and various Bon events in the "folk customs" of Japan from the beginning.

3" Obon

Somehow, there is an image that Obon is in the height of summer.

Today, a way of saying like "The Obon holidays of August" has become established in the news announcements, and there might be many people who believe that Obon is in August through the whole country. However, when I asked a young part time worker in my office about Obon, he answered, "Oh! Obon comes in July in my locality. Relatives gather and are holding Buddhist service for the dead."

Also, there are cases in which people who come from Okinawa go back to their home town during the end of August to September, saying that "It's time of Obon."

How many Obons are there after all? 

"3" Obons

If we look out over the present Japan, certainly there are "3" different periods of Obon.

Those are, "Shichigatu Bon (Bon in July)", "Hachigatsu Bon (Bon in August) (It is also called Tsukiokure Bon (Bon that comes one month later)). Considering the local characteristics, it can be described as the following chart.

The calendar Period Representative region

"Shichigatu Bon (Bon in July)" The solar calendar Mainly around July 15th Tokyo, Yokohama, Tohoku region, etc.

"Hachigatsu Bon (Bon in August)" The solar calendar Mainly around August 15th  It is seen in many parts of Japan, etc.

"Kyu Bon (Old Bon)" The lunar calendar Mainly around July 15th of the lunar calendar (Although it differs depending on the year, in the solar calendar, in many cases it falls on during the latter half of August to September) Northern part of Kanto region, Chugoku, Shikoku, Kyushu, Southwestern islands, etc.

(Drawn up according to "Urabon kyo" written by Masao Fujii, published by Kodansha)

(Drawn up according to "Urabon kyo" written by Masao Fujii, published by Kodansha)

Actually, there are cases that the "3" Obons are overlapping in the same region.

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background of bon dancing

The motive of studying Bon Dancing dates back to year 1997 when I was traveling Tohoku region of Japan with my friends. I miraculously succeeded in securing a room in Gujou Hachiman Hot Spring Hotel when the reservations were almost full. If I couldn't succeed in securing a room, and didn't stay in Gujou Hachiman, I might not have met the wonderful world of Bon Dancing.

So, what is Bon Dancing? The most simple definition of Bon Dancing is Oral entertainment and events that are danced in groups with BGM in the Bon Season.

Bon Season is generally from August 13th to 20nd, and in this period, people in Japan console the souls of their ancestors. The concept of "Bon" was imported, and there is a tradition of "Bon" in Asia. Though, "Bon Dancing" is an entertainment "Typical to Japan" which was completed by the combination of Japanese climate and basic belief beginning from the time when the concept of "Bon" was imported to this country. If we plot the existing "Bon Dancing" on the world atlas, it distributes on the Japanese archipelago from Hokkaido to Ishigakijima. In this meaning, we can consider this frankly as a culture typical and distinctive to Japan. Bon Dancing was born in Japan, but it is no longer the monopoly of Japan. There are already many countries in the world that enjoy the tradition of Bon Dancing by the "export" of Japan.

Then, how about the history of "Bon Dancing"? There are many cases in which several legends are left in each region concerning when and how the "Bon Dancing" started. Legends are rich oral culture that has local originality, and they are important clue when studying the origin of Bon Dancing. Although, it is better not to consider the origin legend as the real story. It is important to investigate the history by using several ways, such as reading the documentary on history and compare with other folk phenomena.

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A briefe history of Bon Dancing

Middle Ages: The birth of Bon Dancing. The peak of one of the most famous andrepresentative Nembutsu entertainment.

Modern Times: The formation of Bon Dancing. Bon Dancing takes root.Nembutsu Dancing and Furyu

Modern Period: Change, extinction, revival, born again, and to the future

Meiji Era: Being prohibited and became extinct

Taisho Era: Revival and change

Showa Era: Come up again and brought back. Tradition and Extinction

Extinction of Folklore¨wanting to go back to the pas

Future: Who will be the successor of Bon Dancing?

Now, I'd like to go into some small topics concerning Bon Dancing.

Festivals like Bon Dancing were one of the noble consuming life of the people. Our production activity was saved from being simply a work of materials, thanks to these festivals.

When is Bon Dancing danced?

"All night dancing": the real nature of Bon Dancing There are regions in which "All night dancing" is danced in August 14th to 17th, the middle of Bon. It is danced from the evening to daybreak of the next day.

It was August the day of "Akiba Festival" when I first experienced Bon Festival at Gujou Hachiman. The next day, I was telling everybody that the festival is so wonderful. Then the people of the town said that "If you come to dance, you must not miss the "All night dancing". All night dancing" is so attractive and beautiful as the people say. In Gujou, they dance for about 2 months, but it can be safely said that the highlight is "All night dancing"

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1 Shiraishi Dance

Gujo Dance

Gujou Dance is just the kind of dance that

anyone can participate on the spot and you can enjoy by dancing for yourself. There are approximately 8 types of music and

dance patterns,

but each of them are rather easy to learn. First, you observe the movements of

good dancers from

outside the circle. And then go into the circle and follow

the movements around you, one by one. Within around 20 minutes, you'll be able

to follow other people dancing around you.

2

The characteristic

of Shiraishi Odori is

that there are several types of dances for each music. Each person dances the

dance that he/she is good at, and as a whole, several types of dances are danced at once. The most simple and basic dance is "Bura Bura Odor",so you'd better learn this dance first, and then you can learn the dances that you like afterwards.

3 

Tsuwano dance

Bon Odori is usually danced by repeating the same pattern of a dance, but

the dance pattern of Tsuwano Odori is very long, and therefore rather difficult to learn. It is a delicate and beautiful dance which people dance in white

costume with an uchiwa(round paper fan) attached to their head. I think that you can enjoy just by watching at the people dancing.

.

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Fashion for bon dance

You could feel something missing if you go dancing to Bon Dancing with western clothes and shoes. You may a feel a little bit excited if you get yukata and geta ready. You could look charming just by wearing a yukata, but it is even more attracive when you dance in it. It is fun to look at people wearing yukata, and also wearing by yourself.

How to wear?

In the dance, you may look chic if you wear moderately loose. It may become difficult to move if you fasten the obi too tight, andtighten around the neck and shoulder. It could be difficult topart the skirt of yukata if you are not accustomed to wearing it,but your steps will become comfortable if you set the position of obi and skirt so that the feet widens toward the end instead of a cylindrical shape. It may be a good idea to choose a yukata using a slippery material in the skirt lining.

Footwear

   

In Gujou Hachiman, becomes a must since there is a dance that you make a sound by hitting the ground with geta Either geta or would be OK, but it might be more comfortable to wear a light one in the beginning. You could get hurt by the rub of geta strap if you are not accustomed in wearing it, so you may wear a tabi or else soften the padding of the geta strap by crumpling it beforehand and make your feet used in wearing it.a

SENSU＆UCHIWA

Niinno Bon Odori and Fushi-ogami Bon Odori, so you'd better always bring it when you go to Traditional Type Bon Dancing.

KINCHAKU

It is stylish to carry your belongings in Kinchakuwhen you dance. You may also carry them in Japanese style bags. You can also carry them in backpacks when you have many things, but itmay look a little boorish.

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written by Azusa Natsui 05132012

Types of Bon Dancing

There are many places in local Bon Dancing besides Gujou Hachiman where they maintain the tradition of "All night dancing" Although, it is changing through the history of Modern Period. Let's go to Bon Dancing:

What kind of dress do you have to wear ?

You usually wear "yukata". You can either purchase or simply borrow at kimono store.People wear "geta" as a footwear. If you are not accustomed of wearing it, you can get tired.

How do you learn the dance ?

Rather than learning from the video recordings, we'd like to learn in the real dance circle. Go after the person in front. A good dancer from the conservation association would be a nice model to follow.Types of Bon Dancing

There are two large trends in Bon Dancing:
Traditional type of Bon Dancing, and Folk Dance type, which developped after
the WW2. There are variety of patterns in traditional type, and there is a
close relation with the local folk customs. Regarding music, there are patterns
such as; songs only, drums only, flute, shamisen,
but people dance to live performance in every pattern. Folk dance type
developped after WW2, and people usually dance to the music of folk records
played in town parks and cummunity centers

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Snow Festival

●What is snow Fetival?●

The Sapporo Snow Festival, one of Japan's largest winter events, attracts a growing number of visitors from Japan and abroad every year. Every winter, about two million people come to Sapporo to see the hundreds of beautiful snow statues and ice sculptures which line Odori Park,the grounds at Satoland, and the main street in Susukino.
For seven days in February,these statues and sculptures(both large and small) turn Sapporo into a winter dreamland of crystal-like ice and white snow.

"The Snow Festival began in 1950, when local high school students built six snow statues in Odori Park. In 1955, the Self-Defense Force joined in and built the very first massive snow sculpture, for which the Snow Festival has become famous for now. The Festival has grown from these humble beginnings to become one of the biggest and most well known of Hokkaido's winter events.
The Snow Festival is considered to be a festival of international-caliber."

●How to make a giant Snow Statue●

1. Frame work / Snow stuffing First of all, you need an accurate blueprint to build a giant snow sculpture.Based on this desk plan, a wooden frame is built and filled with tightly packed snow.This frame also serves as scaffolding.

2. Remove framing Once the packed snow is hardened, the frame panels are removed and then the carving is carefully begun.

3. Carving Hatchets and shovels are used to outline the sculpture, then the details are added. A small model of the sculpture is used as a blueprint.Because warmer daytime temperatures makes the sculptures fragile, many sculptors work at night.

4. Final touch When the sculpture is completed, the scaffoldings are removed.Accumulated snowfall, and icicles that have formed on the sculpture must be taken away.

This is "Giant dinosaur snow statue" at Sapporo snow festival.

Many of the sculptures are very topical, relating to things that have been very popular in the last year such as the latest Japanese anime figure or Harry Potter (complete with glasses made of snow!).

 

                                        

This is "Japan Air Lines, Chip and Dale, and a ski jumping Mickey Mouse".

                                       

                                                

●Refference●

This information was found 1, 2, 3 and 4.

posted by Miharu Yamaguchi

Tanabata

TANABATA

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July 7th is Tanabata, or the Star Festival, in Japan.

This event is based on a Chinese legend, in which Kengyuu (the star Alter) meets Orihime (the star Vega) only once a year on this day over the Milky Way. People celebrate this day by putting up big branches of bamboo with colourful decorations at home. People also make a wish and hang a strip of paper with their wish written on it. A lot of cities, such as Sendai and Hiratsuka, also celebrate this event by putting up many beautifully decorated bamboo branches in main streets. Many of them seem to celebrate this event in August (July in the lunar calendar) as well

In present-day Japan, people generally celebrate this day by writing wishes, sometimes in the form of poetry, on tanzaku. It is a small pieces of paper, and hanging them on bamboo, sometimes with other decorations. The bamboo and decorations are often set afloat on a river or burned after the festival, around midnight or on the next day. This resembles the custom of floating paper ships and candles on rivers during Obon. Many areas in Japan have their own Tanabata customs, which are mostly related to local Obon traditions. There is also a traditional Tanabata song:

EXPLAIN→☆

Tanabata song

Let ‘s sing together！

♪　♪　♪　♪　♪

ささのは　さらさら Bamboo leaves are rustling

のきばに　ゆれる And swaying at the eaves

おほしさま　きらきら Stars are twinkling

きんぎん　すなご Like gold and silver sands

   

ごしきの　たんざく On colorful papers

わたしが　かいた I wrote my wishes

おほしさま　きらきら Stars are twinkling

そらから　みてる And gazing at me from the sky

Story behind the Tanabata

Orihime (She is Weaving Princess) the daughter of the Tenkou (He is a Sky King, or the universe itself) wove beautiful clothes by the bank of the River of Heaven (It is Amanogawa). Her father loved the cloth that she wove and so she worked very hard every day to weave it. However, she was sad that because of her hard work she could never meet and fall in love with anyone. Concerned about his daughter, Tenkou arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi (Cow Herder Star) sometimes called Kengyuu (Chinese name of Hikoboshi.) who lived and worked on the other side of the Amanogawa River. When the two met, they fell instantly in love with each other and were shortly married. However, once married, Orihime no longer would weave cloth for Tenkou and Hikoboshi allowed his cows to stray all over Heaven. In anger, Tenkou separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa River and forbade them to meet. Orihime became despondent at the loss of her husband and asked her father to let them meet again. Tenkou was moved by his daughter’s tears and allowed the two to meet on the 7th day of the 7th month if Orihime worked hard and finished her weaving. The first time they tried to meet, however, they found that they could not cross the river because there was no bridge. Orihime cried so much that a flock of magpies (It is Kasasagi) came and promised to make a bridge with their wings so that she could cross the river. If it rains, the magpies cannot come and the two lovers must wait till next year.

The following variation of the story is known in China and Japan: A young farmer named Mikeran is discovered on his farm a robe which, unbeknownst to him, belonged to a goddess named Tanabata. Soon after, Tanabata visited Mikeran and asked if he had found it. He lied and told the goddess that he hadn't but would help with her search. Eventually the pair fell in love, were wed and had many children. However, one day Tanabata noticed a piece of cloth which had once belonged to her robe on the roof of Mikeran's hut. His lie discovered, Tanabata agreed to forgive him on the condition that he weave a thousand pairs of straw shoes, but until that time, she would leave him. Mikeran was unable to weave the shoes in his lifetime and thus never met Tanabata again. However, it is said that the pair meet once a year when the stars Altair and Vega intersect.

EXPLAIN→☆

Famous place of Tanabata

The Sendai Tanabata festival began shortly after the city was founded in the early Edo Period. The Tanabata festival gradually developed and became larger over the years. Although the festival's popularity started to dwindle after the Meiji Restoration, and almost disappeared during the economic depression that occurred after World War I, volunteers in Sendai revived the festival in 1928 and established the tradition of holding the festival from August 6 to August 8.

During World War II it was impossible to hold the festival, and almost no decorations were seen in the city from 1943 to 1945, but after the war, the first major Tanabata festival in Sendai was held in 1946, and featured 52 decorations. In 1947, the Showa Emperor Hirohito visited Sendai and was greeted by 5,000 Tanabata decorations. The festival subsequently developed into one of the three major summer festivals in the Tohoku region and became a major tourist attraction. The festival now includes a fireworks show that is held on August 5.

At the Sendai Tanabata festival, people traditionally use seven different kinds of decorations, which each represent different meanings. The seven decorations and their symbolic meanings are…

Paper strips / Wishes for good handwriting and studies…

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Paper Kimono / Wishes for good sewing. Wards off accidents and bad health.

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Paper Crane/Wishes for Family safety, health, and long life

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Purse/Wishes for Good business

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Net/Wishes for Good fishing and harvests

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Trash Bag/Wishes for Cleanliness and unwastefulness

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Streamers/ The strings that Orihime uses

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The ornamental ball ( Kusudama) often decorated above streamers in present-day Tanabata decorations was originally conceived in 1946 by the owner of a shop in downtown Sendai. The ball was originally modelled after the Dahlia flower. In recent years, box-shaped ornaments have become popular alternatives to the ornamental ball.

→EXPLAIN☆

SONG→☆

Initiation

"Crown" of ceremonial occasions comes from "Kakan-no-gi"at the time of growing up. "Kakan-no-gi" is a ceremony of the boy's from 11 to 16 years old putting on a crown for the first time by manners of the samurai society, adult shape the hairstyle and clothes, and along with it being going to be treated as an independent adult in the future. The girl's dyeing  cannot "Kanetsuke-no-gi" and her teeth to the black hits this. The second Monday January is made holiday of Coming-of-Age Day now. The law was promulgated and enforced concerning the national holiday in the origin of the meaning "To build up a society and richer better life fostering beautiful manners, the Japanese people who did not stop for freedom and peace set the day that we wished to be expressed our gratitude for celebrating or commemorated, and named this 'National holiday' here" after World War II and 1948. As the national holiday, Coming-of-Age Day is enacted on January 15, and this day is assumed to be "It is conscious to have grown up, and it celebrates and encourages the young person who tries to live through voluntarily". However, the second Monday in January is being provided Coming-of-Age Day along with the law revision in 2000 now. The various place municipality holds the ceremony, and the object person is invited. It is provided, "Full is made a young person for 20 years" on the civil law, and the suffrage is given when full 20 years old is faced, and the drinking and smoking are permitted. It is a day when the responsibility and the obligation as the member of society are conscious at the same time. The young person who attains adulthood to dress up in these days, for especially a lot of women to put on a colorful kimono of long-sleeved dress, and to attend are seen though it is variously.

http://www.mgu.ac.jp/~jfmorris/Sotsuron/2001/IshikawaNanae/Ishikawa.htm#成人式の成立

http://jinja.jp/faq/answer/02-07.html

http://www.12ack89.com/Oiwai/1-3GraduEntra026.html

http://iroha-japan.net/iroha/A02_holiday/02_seijin.html

http://www.echizenya.co.jp/mini/colum/seijinsiki.html

The Coming of Age festival is celebrated on the second Monday of January (it used to be celebrated always on January 15 until the year 1999). Its Japanese name is Seijin no hi. All young people who turn twenty years old in that year are celebrated on Seijin no hi. Twenty is the age considered as the beginning of adulthood. It is also the minimum legal age for voting, drinking, and smoking. Celebrations are held nationwide in every town with most of the people turning 20 participating in formal dresses. Seijin no hi is a national holiday. Furisode, the most gorgeous form of Kimono named after its long swinging sleeves, is the most formal Kimono for unmarried women. Classified into three types by the length of its sleeves, they are called as "Oh- Furisode"(Big Furisode), "Chu-Furisode"(middle Furisode) and "Ko-Furisode"(small Furisode). The status is based on "the longer the higher" basis. Some decades ago, brides wore black-based Oh-Furisode as their wedding dresses, yet they wear colored Oh-Furisode in today's wedding ceremony. Furisode is usually made of those valued materials such as Rinzu (damasked glossy silk material) or Chirimen(crepe) material and designed in "Eba" composition which is the patterns spread over panels as if it were a big painting when displayed.

It is from chiefly a reason for the property dealings that has decided 20 years

old the adult.

In the civil law enactment in this time and 1876 it as for a standard age of taxation and the military service. According to assumption though it is thought, there seems to be an idea of having assumed, "20 years" to take the balance with the economic of Europe and America that assumed about 25 years old to be an age of adulthood from 21 years old at that time dealings order because about 15 years old was assumed to be an adult in the custom of our country at that time, too.

Valentine's Day & White Day

Valentine's Day                                                               

The start of present shape at Valentine's Day is after it enters 1955's (1950's) though there is a custom of presenting the chocolate from the woman to the man as a present of love in Japan at Valentine's Day. Thereafter, many seemed to relate, the custom "The man of the chocolate at Valentine's Day from the woman" to be established, and to have become an active event like today. The heart-shaped chocolate puts it on the market in 1959. Additionally, even if it presented "Man from the woman", it began to be advertised. (This two might have been clinchers of the success. By the way, Fujiya Ltd. seems to be registering the trademark in the name of  "Heart". )

It began to show the upsurge in around 1975 since a lot of chocolate companies such as Morinaga Confectionery Ltd. did the sales promotion "It is a chocolate in Valentine's Day" after 1960, and it became an anniversary that was able to be called a national event like today. (Sales of the Valentine chocolate in 2003 are 52 billion yen how. It corresponds to the betting-ticket sales of year's same Arima commemoration (51.6 billion yen). )

White Day

White day when man who got chocolate etc. at Valentine's Day presents woman present such as candy marshmallow white chocolates as the return. The date is March 14. In the custom of starting in Japan, it is not seen in Europe and America.The boy who got the chocolate at the Valentine's Day, February 14 that wants to translate into here sends the white one such as the white chocolates and marshmallows to this day return. However, any present seems to be good in Mino so that Valentine's Day should not necessarily limit it to the chocolate.

It is Mr. confectionery, and Modou Ishimura of the shop of old standing in Hakata to begin the white day. When the female magazine was casually seen in 1977, there was a　contribution "It was amusing that there was no return at Valentine's Day", and the picture of the marshmallow wasaffixed to nearby. Isn't if it is a marshmallow, it our commodity?Thus, the return　campaigned for the marshmallow day at the Iwata person department store in Fukuoka on March 14, the year when it might be good later just one month. The chocolate industry seems to have spread getting on this with the white chocolate on a nationwide scale.
Please input sentences.As for the marshmallow used on an initial white day, there is a chocolate in the inside, and the meaning "Your feelings are softly encompassed and return it" seems to be put.

http://www.citydo.com/love/column/

http://www.chocolate-cocoa.com/dictionary/history/valentine/v02.html

http://www.ffortune.net/calen/valen/

http://www.candy.or.jp/whiteday/okuru.html

http://www.e87.com/selection/sp_white/colum_01.html

Christmas

●What is Japanese Christmas?●

Christmas in Japan is quite different from the Chrismas celebrated in most countries in which the population has a large percentage of Christians or a Christian heritage. Only 1/2 of 1% of the Japanese population is estimated to be Christian, with the majority of Japanese being tolerant of all faiths: Buddhism, Christianity, Shinto, etc. In spite of this, the Japanese are great lovers of festivals and celebrations, including Christmas. December 25th is not a national holiday in Japan, although December 23rd, which is the birthdate of the present emperor, is. Although it is not an official holiday the Japanese tend to celebrate Christmas, especially in a commercial way. So Christmas is more commercial event. Many people don't know exactly what the origin of Christmas is. The main celebration revolves around Christmas eve and not Christmas day.

●Christmas Eve●                                                                                                

The Japanese celebrate Christmas Eve by eating a 'Christmas Cake' which the father of the family purchases on his way home from work (or his wife does in the case where he has to work on Christmas Eve). Cake shops throughout Japan always try to sell all their Christmas cakes before Christmas eve. Any cakes left after Christmas are seen to be very old or out of date. Christmas Eve has been hyped by the T.V. media as being a time for romantic miracles. It is seen as a time to be spent with one's boyfriend or girlfriend in a romantic setting, so fancy restaurants and hotels are often booked solid at this time. It is often also a time when girls get to reveal their affections to boys and vice versa. Because of this, extending a girl an invitation to be together on Christmas Eve has very deep, romantic implications.

●Christmas presents●

"In Japan it is common to give Christmas presents. Within the family parents give presents to their children, but the children do not give presents to the parents. The reasoning behind this is that only Santa bring presents, so once the children no longer believe in Santa the presents are no longer given."

Christmas presents are exchanged between people with romantic commitments as well as close friends. The presents tend to be 'cute' presents and often include Teddy Bears, flowers, scarves, rings and other jewelry. Christmas cards are also given to close friends.

Christmas presents tend to be things which are cute and sometimes slightly expensive because of the relationship to the person to which they are given to. More obligatory year-end presents are given during this season as well to people who have done you a favor during the year, however, in contrast to Christmas presents, they are given between companies, to bosses, to teachers, and family friends. These presents are known as 'Oseibo' and are generally things which are perishable or which wear out quickly for which the price can readily be checked because of the system of 'on' and 'giri' (loosely translated obligation and reciprocity). These presents are usually purchased at department stores so that the recipient can check the price and return something which relates to the scale of reciprocity.

●Christmas dinner●

In recent years, thanks to the marketing prowess of the folks at Kentucky Fried Chicken, the Christmas Chicken Dinner has become quite popular. Many Japanese even make reservations for their "Christmas Chicken" ahead of time. People line up at their outlets to pick up their orders. As a result of KFC's brilliant advertising campaign, most Japanese now believe that Westerners celebrate Christmas with a chicken dinner instead of the more common ham or turkey.The Christmas season comes during the month of the year-end parties. Company groups, hobby groups, sports groups, etc. often book a section of a restaurant to have drinking parties, known as 'bonenkai' [forget the old year parties]. This phenomena leads to streets, subways, and trains full of people in varied states of intoxication during this season.

●Christmas trees and lights●

Beautiful holiday illuminations and Christmas decorations can be seen many places in Japan from November to December. Christmas lighting and displays are often up at the end of October and this year many stores have displays featuring Teddy Bears. There is also a trend developing for make-it-yourself presents. Most Japanese families would have a Christmas tree and now it is becoming very common to have lights on the outside of houses as you would see in Australia. Christmas trees are decorated with small toys, dolls, paper ornaments, gold paper fans and lanterns and wind chimes. Miniature candles are also put among the tree branches.

●Reference●

This information was found 1, 2, 3 and 4. 

posted by Miharu Yamaguchi    

    

Shichi-Go-San

Shichi-go-san is a festival celebrated by parents on the fifteenth of November in Japan, to mark the growth of their children as they turn three, five and seven years of age. Odd numbers are considered lucky numbers in Japan. Shichi-go-san literally means “seven, five and three”. These ages are considered critical in a child’s life. Particularly, at the age of seven, a young girl celebrates wearing her first obi, while at the age of five a young boy celebrates wearing his first hakama pants in public. The age of three marks the first time whereby both boys and girls are allowed to let their hair grow.

●History●

The festival is said to have started in the Heian period (794-1185) where the nobles celebrated the growth of their children on a lucky day in November. The festival was subsequently set on the fifteenth of that month during the Kamakura period (1185-1333). Shogun Tsunayoshi Tokugawa was said to be celebrating the growth of his son, Tokumatsu, on that day. By the Edo period (1603-1868), this practice spread to commoners, who began visiting shrines to have prayers offered by priests. The shichi-go-san custom followed today evolved in the Meiji era (1868-1912). November 15 was chosen for this celebration because it was considered one of the most auspicious days of the year in the Japanese almanac. Since the day is not a national holiday, most families pay their shichi-go-san respects on the weekend just before or after the day.

                                                     ●Boy's wear●                                     

Today, parents celebrate shichi-go-san as their boys turn three and five years of age, and as their girls turn three and seven. The boys don on haori jackets and hakama trousers, while the girls would wear a special ceremonial kimono when making their shichi-go-san visit. In recent years though, an increasing number of children are wearing Western-style suits and dresses. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                           ●chitoseame●

On that day, parents take their 7, 5 and 3 years old children to the local shrine or in a famous shrine. Following the visit to the shrine, parents buy chitose-ame (“thousand years” candy) for their children. The children receive a paper lucky bag filled with red and white candies in the shape of cranes and turtles. (in Japan the red and the white are auspicious colors and the crane as the tortoise are symbols of longevity) The candy and the bag are both expressions of parents' wish that their children lead long and prosperous lives.

   

●Each ceremonies●

The first of these ceremonies indicated above is that of kamioki, celebrated for three-year-old boys and girls. In this tradition, both boys and girls have their heads shaved shortly after birth.

They remained shaved until the age of three, and in the spring following their third birthday, they hold the kamioki ceremony, upon the completion of which the children’s hair is permitted to grow longer.

The second ceremony is hakamagi-no-gi, which is the ceremony for putting on the hakama. This ceremony is held for five-year-old boys and marks the first time the children wear their hakama.

The third ceremony, obitoki-no-gi, is held for seven-year-old girls, and exhibits the first time the girls wear "obi" instead of a string.

Behind all of these ceremonies is the implication that the children have reached an age of maturity, where they are able to move towards a new step in their childhood.

●Reference●                                                                                                     

 

This information was found 1, 2 and 3. 

posted by Miharu Yamaguchi

Dools festival

The Hina Matsuri or Doll Festival or Girl's Festival is celebrated on March 3. On this day, families with girls wish their daughters a successful and happy life. Dolls are displayed in the house together with peach blossoms. The doll festival has its origin in a Chinese custom in which bad fortune is transferred to dolls and then removed by abandoning the doll on a river. On Hina Matsuri, sweet sake is drunken and chirashi sushi is eaten.

The dolls wear beautiful ancient court costumes of the Heian period (794-1185). The costume of the Empress is called the "juuni-hitoe (twelve-layered ceremonial robe)." Even today the juuni-hitoe is worn at the Royal family's wedding ceremony. Most recently, Princess Masako wore it on the wedding of the Crown Prince in 1993. When wearing the juuni-hitoe, the hairstyle is gathered at the neck to hang down the back (suberakashi) and a fan made of Japanese cypress is held in the hands.

A traditional set of dolls can be very expensive. There are various grades for the sets, and some full sets cost more than a million yen. Unless there is a set handed down from generation to generation, grandparents or parents buy them for a girl by her first Hinamatsuri (hatsu-zekku). However, since many Japanese live in small houses, royal couple version (with only the Emperor and the Empress dolls) is popular nowadays. There is a superstition that if you don't put away the hina-ningyo soon after March 3rd, the daughter will get married late.

There are some special dishes for the festival. "Hishimochi" are diamond-sh aped rice cakes. They are colored red (or pink), white, and green. The red is for chasing evil spirits away, the white is for purity, and the green is for health. "Chirashi-zushi," "sakura-mochi (bean paste-filled rice cakes with cherry leaves)," "hina-arare (rice cake cubes)" and "shirozake (sweet white sake)" are also often served.

The origin of Hinamatsuri is an ancient Chinese practice in which the sin of the body and misfortune are transferred to a doll, and then removed by abandoning the doll on a river. A custom called "hina-okuri" or "nagashi-bina," in which people float paper dolls down rivers late on the afternoon of March 3rd, still exists in various areas.

Here is a Hinamatsuri song called "Ureshii Hinamatsuri (Happy Hinamatsuri)."

Akari o tsukemashou bonbori ni

Go-nin bayashi no fue taiko

Kyo wa tanoshii Hinamatsuri

Ohana o agemashou momo no hana

Let's light the lanterns

Let's set peach flowers

Five court musicians are playing flutes and drums

Today is a joyful Dolls' Festival

This infromation was found here.

http://home2.highway.ne.jp/hinachan/hinamaturi.html

Psted by Harumi Saito.

summer festival

The festival from the beginning of July to the end of August is often indicated for Japan. Being called, "Summer festival" even if the festival before June is time of "Early summer" is few. Oppositely, the festival since September is often treated based on the summer festival when done in July of the old calendar.

There are a lot of one that is the event the origin round which the Bon festival,

the Star Festival, and Gion Matsuri, etc. twine as for many of summer festivals

of Japan.

Moreover, the event related to the tiredness of labor by the farming affair of

summer is abundant in the rural society.

There are a lot of one to assume the event that holds a funeral for the dead with

the epidemic of the summer before Edo period to be an origin in the urban society.

However, there are a lot of one of the summer festival that changed in quality

by the modernization.

Therefore, the origin is not so recognized, and the summer festival is made not the general serious occasion but a colorful event.

Especially, the summer festival in August is assumed to wait for time and the aspect, and for the one with deep deep emotion of reunion with a nostalgic person in the festival etc. to exist about the homecoming.

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These are done in the summer festival.

Bon Festival Dance

Fireworks

Stall

Bon Festival Dance

The tower is put up at the center of the plaza, the initiative initiative is sung on the tower, and the form additionally danced is general in the initiative. turn round the surroundings by the participant

It is said that prayer Od is an origin.

Historically, a functional role to strengthen the amusement and the unity of the village in the village society was played. Therefore, a lot of this place initiatives exist in nationwide each cities, towns, and villages, too.

Kind at Bon festival

In the Bon Festival Dance, there are roughly ..developing folk song Od.. separately in Bon festival Od and postwar days of the tradition system two currents. The pattern of tradition Od variously has the folk customs manners of local and implications.

Only the drum has various patterns with the whistle and the samisen, etc. only by the song about music, and the dance is done by the live performance basically.

After the war, folk song Od developed. It is general that it dances in the park and the public hall, etc. in the town while playing the folk song record.

It dances putting on clogs putting on the yukata. In the dance, it is assumed that it is good for the extent that doesn't become sloppy that arrival

Firework

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The expression "How beautiful!" says everything about the pleasures of watching fireworks.

As you know, the fireworks are made with gun powder. Nowadays, most of the powder types are made of synthetic chemicals. Fireworks are reactions of burning chemical compounds in the air. If fireworks were only blasts and flashes made by burning of chemical compounds, they might surprise people the first time, but they would not leave lasting impressions in people's minds.　

Why do fireworks move us?

Not only do they have the power of the flashes and sounds of explosion, but they have the incomparable beauty that has been produced by the devoted Japanese pyrotechnic craftsmen who pursued the art for generations. Chemical reactions grew into a fine art.

Japanese fireworks are the most elaborate and gorgeous in the world. Generation after generation, the Japanese pyrotechnicians and craftsmen passed on the traditional technology that they put their heart and soul into, literally, at the risk of their lives.

Japanese(chrysanthemum type) round shell has the following three characteristics.

　　　

1.　Bursts into circles or globe shapes, spread colorful traces(petals) all around.

2.　Changes colors of stars.

3.　Bursts(blooms) into single, double or triple layered concentric globe.

Difference between Japanese and foreign shell

←japanese firework

←American firework

Recently, Japanese usually saw foreign made shells at fireworks display in Japan. It not only depend on actively trade, but devise of sponsors and pyrotechnists who make display more enjoyable to add more variation in their direction. So we enjoy any foreign made shells that we had ever seen it.
Foreign made shells that shoot up in Japan, it seems very different from Japanese shells. Japanese think any fireworks like a a chrysanthemum or peony has round shape and blooming it in a circle. But almost foreign(Ex. America, Europe, Italy, Spain, Australia, etc.) made shells are not always bloom in a circle. There is a difference in method of shooting up or direction each other country. But there is a basically difference in shape of shells each other.

Famous for summer festival in Japan

Japan is the Land of Gods and they are the reason cities and towns pulse with festival excitement. The intense spectacle and traditions of these 3 renowned matsuri draw millions of people each summer.

1.   Nebuta Matsuri 

More than 3.5 million people attend this energetic festival. Legend suggests that nebuta comes from nemuri (sleepy). Blaming the devilish sandman for the drowsiness that plagued them on hot summer days, Aomori citizens originated this event to banish their tormentor. Spectacular Japanese-paper floats, more than 5 meters high, are stunningly illuminated from inside.
Dates: August 2 through 7
Place: Aomori-shi, Aomori

2. Chagu-Chagu Umakko

Once essential for farming, horses were treated as family members and lived under their owners' roofs. To mark the end of the planting season, 100 costumed umakko (young horses) parade 15 kilometers from Takizawa's Soozen Jinja shrine to Morioka's Hachimangu shrine. Prayers solicit a bountiful harvest and the well-being of horses and owners. "Chagu-chagu" is the sound of horses' bells.

Date: Second Saturday of June

Place: Starting from Onikoshi Soozen Jinja, Takizawa Mura, Iwate-gun, Iwate

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３．Tenjin Matsuri 

One of Japan's largest and most famous festivals, it began in 951. A parade of thousands in traditional costumes carries exquisite portable shrines from Osaka Temmangu shrine to Tenjin Bridge, then to the water where they board more than 100 ornamented boats and barges to proceed from the Dojima River to the Okawa River. Nightfall brings a fireworks spectacular.
Dates: July 24 and 25
Place: Osaka Temmangu, 2-1-8 Tenjinbashi, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka

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