Kinwashi Tour Japan Thread

• kinwashi

  28 Dec 13, 18:23

  http://ionasiatrend.com/2013/12/20/nhks-64th-kohaku-uta-gassen-red-and-white-song-battle/

   

  NHK’s 64th “Kohaku Uta Gassen” Red and White Song Battle

  

  NHK’s 64th Red and White Song Battle

   

  Its that time of the year again.  Im talking about NHK’s 64th annual “Kohaku Uta Gassen”. Strictly by invitation only, these performers are considered to be the most popular and successful singers in the Japanese Entertainment Industry.  These two teams will battle it out. The White Team or the Shirogumi is composed of all male artist (or with male vocals) and the Red Team or Akagumi is composed of all female artists (or with female vocals).  This annual music show will be on December 31, 2013 starting at 7:15 pm (Japan time).  In Hawaii, it will be shown on Kiku Station, Wednesday January 1, 2014 at 5:00 pm. So far the White team has won 34 times and the the Red Team 29 times.  What team will it be this year? This years artist and song lists are:

• kinwashi

  28 Dec 13, 18:25

  Red Team

  Aiko – Loveletter

  AKB48 – Kohaku 2013 SP AKB48 Festival

  AAA – Koi Oto to Amazora

  DREAMS COME TRUE – Saa Kane wo Narase

  E-girls – E-girls Kohaku Special Medley 2013

  Fuji Ayako – Akai Ito

  Godai Natsuko – Kinmokusei

  Hamasaki Ayumi  – INSPIRE

  Ikimonogakari – Egao

  Ishikawa Sayuri – Tsugaru Kaikyou Fuyugeshiki

  Kyary Pamyu Pamyu – Kohaku 2013 Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Medley

  Koizai Kaori – Sake no Yado

  Matsuda Seiko – New Year’s Eve Special Love Song Medley 2013

  Mizuki Nana – Kakumei 2013: Kohaku Special Collaboration

  Mizumori Kaori – Ise Meguri

  Miwa – Hikari e

  Momoiro Clover Z – Momoiro Kohaku 2013 Da Z

  NMB48 – Kamonegikkusu

  Nishino Kana – Sayonara

  Perfume – Magic of Love

  SKE48 – Sansei Kawaii

  Sakamoto Fuyumi  – Otoko no Himatsuri

  Takahashi Mariko – for you

  Tendo Yoshimi – Furusato Ginga

  Wada Akiko – Ima Demo Anata

  White Team

  Arashi – New Year’s Eve Medley 2013

  Chris Hart – New Year’s Eve Special Love Song Medley 2013 (see his “Home” video below)

  EXILE – EXILE PRIDE Konna Sekai wo Aisuru Tame

  Fukuda Kohei – Nanbu Semi Shigure

  Fukuyama Masaharu – 2013 Special Medley

  Go Hiromi – Bang Bang

  Golden Bomber – Memeshikute

  Hikawa Kiyoshi – Manten no Hitomi

  Hosokawa Takashi – Naniwa-bushi Dayo Jinsei wa

  Izumiya Shigeru – Shunkashuutou 2014

  Itsuki Hiroshi – Hakata A・la・mode

  Kanjani8 – Kohaku 2-do-me! Yobarete Tobidashite Je Je Je Je

  Kitajima Saburo – Matsuri

  Kobukuro – Ima, Saki Hokoru Hanatachi yo

  Linked Horizon – “Guren no Yumiya (Kohaku Special Ver.)

  Miwa Akihiro – Furusato no Sora no Shita ni

  Mori Shinichi – Erimomisaki

  Porno Graffitti – Seishun Hanamichi

  Sakanaction – Music

  Sandaime J Soul Brothers- Fuyumonogatari

  SMAP – Joymap

  Sexy Zone – Sexy Heiwa Zone Kumikyoku

  T.M.Revolution – Kakumei 2013 -Kohaku Special Collaboration

  TOKIO – AMBITIOUS JAPAN

  Tokunaga Hideaki – Yume wo Shinjite

  Yuzu – Ame Nochi Hallelujah

  *Chris Hart and Matsuda Seiko

  T.M.Revolution and Mizuki Nana will collaborate.

• kinwashi

  28 Dec 13, 18:31

  2013 this how Sakamoto Fuyumi.

  still going strong Power House.

   

  video.

  男��祭り / �本冬美　（２�１３）フルコーラス with Le Velvets

  http://youtu.be/Y2S2T6tzBBQ

   

  http://youtu.be/BNAi0ETm70w

• kinwashi

  28 Dec 13, 19:52

  Remember this song from Okinawa.

  we covered  before by Begin.

   

   

   

  涙����　�本冬美

  http://youtu.be/gphZJN_qVKs

  BEGIN

   

  http://youtu.be/AsNOFBkl_pA

• kinwashi

  28 Dec 13, 22:31

  source

  Japan, we call the last day of the year "Oh-misoka" and typically follow a tradition to eat soba (=Japanese noodle made from buckwheat) and listen to the striking bell at the temple to see the old year out. Each custom is called "Toshikoshi soba" and "Joya no kane", respectively. Here's a short meaning of each events:

  
  Toshikoshi-soba
  Even people who do not eat soba( = Japanese noodle) often are tempted to eat soba during the last days of the year, based on our unique customary thoughts from the ancient times that we cannot finish up the old year without eating soba. There are some reasons why we choose soba and not any other kind of food:
  (1)It is thought that soba is a bringer of good luck, family fortunes, and longevity because soba is physically long.
  (2) On the contrary, since soba is easy to bite, it is also considered to forget and sever any carryover of hardship and disaster that may have happened during the year.
  (3)The third opinion is believed that soba collects fortunes; During the Edo period , a gold and silver craftsmen used balls made of kneaded buckwheat (=soba) to collect splattered gold and silver pieces in the working area, and burned the ball over hibachi (= Japanese heating appliance using charcoal as fuel) to catch residue gold and silver pieces. 
  While soba maybe a Japanese style fast-food, it seems to have an additional value during the new year period.
  
  Joya-no-kane (= The watch-night bell)
  In the last hours of the year, people are brought to realize the end of current year and the start of New Year by listening to the beat of watch-night bell from the temples. Often called Joya-no-kane, this event strikes a bell 108 times on the last night of the year at the temples of every region all over Japan. The meaning of 108 has various views, however in Buddhism, it's basically said that we human being possesses 108 worldly desires, and we strike the bell 108 times in order to get rid of them. The figure 108 is said to be derived from 5 basic human sensory organs (=eye, ear, nose, mouth, skin) and a mind. These 6 feelings is further categorized into 3 colors of good, bad and flat, and therefore this amounts to total of 18 feelings. Then each of these 18 feelings has 2 sides of vice and purity. Furthermore they are divided into 3 tenses: past, present and future. Altogether, we see that 18 x 3 x 2 = 108. 
  It takes roughly one hour to strike the bell 108 times. A few minutes before the new year, the solemn sound of a bell can be heard from a neighboring temples in a quiet night. While cheerful countdown party may be fun and enjoyable, it may also be a unique and tasteful way to pass the year-end by listening closely to the sound of a bell as they linger over the quiet night. There are some temples that allow you to strike the bell. If you have a chance, have a try and you may see that the unique sound is both soothing and pacifying. 
  End

• kinwashi

  29 Dec 13, 21:01

  http://www.gojapango.com/culture/new_year.html

   

  JAPANESE NEW YEAR
  NEW YEAR IN JAPAN

  Oseibo
  In Japan people give some gift in a lot of occasion. Oseibo is the most common issue as a year-end gift. They give it to their superiors, customers and teachers to express appreciation for the special services they have extended to them. Picture Asakusa Temple (c) Tomoyuki.U.

  Bonenkai
  Bonenkai is a party usually held among office colleagues and bosses. Bonenkai litarelly means a "Forget-the-year party" to forget the unpleasant memories of the passing year and to welcome the New Year with a fresh and serene mind. At the party, bosses usually tell their stuff to be Breiko (to forget their position and be impolite!), because the relationship in the workplace in Japan is a bit strict. For example, Japanese language has various expression for each word. One is called a polite word and another is called a modest word. People use these words in formal situation such as in a workplace. Picture Hanazono shrine.

  Omisoka
  Omisoka is the day of New Year’s Eve. Since the New Year is the biggest event in Japan, people celebrate the Eve as well. People work so hard to prepare the New Year around one or two weeks such as cleaning (like spring cleaning in here) and shopping. The reason people do the cleaning in the middle of winter is to get rid of the dirty of the passing year and to welcome the New Year with a fresh and serene mind. And on Omisoka, with preparing the New Year’s special dishes called Osechi-ryori, people finish up all the work of the year. People eat Toshikoshi-soba at night and stay up till midnight to listen to the 108 chimes of a nearby temple bell. Toshikoshi-soba is a bowl of hot brown noodles in broth. The noodle is a homophone for a word that means “being close” and therefore signifies the approach of the New Year. The 108 chimes called Joya-no-kane, rings out the old year and rings in the New Year. It is supposed to release people from the 108 worldly sins.Pictures: Stone statue of Jizo (religious icon) and inside shrine (c) Hirotsugu Oi .

  Shogatsu
  Shogatsu is the celebration of the New Year and is the most important holiday in Japan. Entrances are decorated with a Shimekezari. A Shimekazari is a twisted straw rope with fern leaves, an orange and other items of good omen. Family gather to their hometown and spend the time together. People celebrate the New Year with sweet sake called Toso, a soup called Zoni and Osechi-ryori during the holiday. Picture Kaminarimon (shrine) (c) Tomoyuki.U.

  Otoshidama
  During the holiday, people give special allowances to their children, nephews and nieces called Otoshidama. It is the busiest season for toy shops to attract children to spend their Otoshidama. Picture lucky charms (c) Hirotsugu Oi .

  
  
  Nengajo
  People send a lot of greeting cards to their relatives, friends, business acquaintances and customers to wish them a happy New Year. Post offices in Japan collect and keep them then deliver them on the New Year day all at once. This is a good opportunity to keep in touch with old friends and acquaintances.Picture roadside to a shrine (c) Hirotsugu Oi .

  Hatsumoude
  The shrines all over Japan are packed with people from the New year’s day to January 3^rd. People go to shrine to pray for safety, happiness and long lives of the family. A lot of people are dressed up with their Kimono and buy a good luck talisman called Omamori. It is kept as a protection from illness, accidents and disasters. Picture shrine-entrance (c) Tomoyuki.U.

  How to write "Happy New Year"  in Japanese - ã�‚ã�‘ã�¾ã�—ã�¦ã�Šã‚�ã�§ã�¨ã�†ã�”ã�–ã�„ã�¾ã�™
  
  How to say "Happy New Year" in Japanese - Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu

• kinwashi

  30 Dec 13, 16:24

  News from Japan.

   

  video.

  http://youtu.be/yS4WSQkgQdo

• kinwashi

  30 Dec 13, 16:26

  News from Japan.

   

  video.

  http://youtu.be/OqnWUFwZiG4

• kinwashi

  30 Dec 13, 16:28

  Bon voyage

  Yomiuri -- Dec 29

   

  Travelers who will spend the New Year's holidays abroad crowd into Narita Airport on Saturday, the peak of the vacation exodus.

   

  According to Narita International Airport Corp., an estimated 1,275,900 people will use the airport between Dec. 20 and Jan. 5, a 6.5 percent increase from the same period in the previous year.
• kinwashi

  30 Dec 13, 16:32

  News fro Japan.

   

  Good news from those heading Hokkaido.

  very special and bonus add-on  this year,

  if you are going there, Good Luck.

   

  video.

   

   

  強�冬型�気圧�置�続��日本海�を中心�大雪(13/12/29)

  http://youtu.be/t16YCbR-5Es

• kinwashi

  30 Dec 13, 16:34

  Stormy weather, heavy snow hit northern Japan

  Japan Today -- Dec 29

   

  Heavy snow and blizzards hit many parts of the Sea of Japan coast and Hokkaido on Saturday.

   

  The Japan Meteorological Agency said a low pressure system had brought a cold air mass over northern Japan, bringing 22 cms of snow in Yamagata, Niigata, Akita and Toyama prefectures, and up to 50 cms in mountainous regions.

  The meteorological agency forecast the blizzard-like conditions to continue until Monday and cautioned that transportation could be further disrupted.

• kinwashi

  30 Dec 13, 20:04

  source.

  Origin and History of New Year in Japan

  In the year 1873, Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar. Since then the first day of January is considered as the official New Year's Day in modern Japan. Before Meiji Restoration, they followed the Chinese lunar calendar and welcomed New Year just like the contemporary Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese citizens. The day is considered as one of the most important annual festivals in the country. It is celebrated by the natives in their own unique customs. New Year Eve is celebrated from 31st of December to 3rd of January. Each day is celebrated with different names such as Oseibo, Bonenkai, Omisoka, Shogatsu, Otoshidama, Nengajo and Hatsumoude. According to the Buddhist legend, it is believed that there are 108 sins. Hence on this special occasion temple bells are rung 108 times for 108 sins defined by the Buddhist systems. Special meals are prepared for this occasion, each food has a symbolic meaning.

  Local name: Shogatsu

  Ways to celeberate Shogatsu in Japan

  New Year Eve is celebrated in a big way by the people of Japan. The day is celebrated with lots of customs and traditions. On this day, they decorate their places with pines and bamboos. They are kept both outside and inside the houses. It is believed that pines and bamboos bring good fortune throughout the year. On this traditional day, the locals enjoy rice cake and exchange cards with the close ones. Shimekazari is considered a lucky charm to prevent misfortune and is therefore decked in various areas of the house. This special occasion is celebrated by eating exclusive Japanese delicacies such as osechi, fish cakes, sweetened black soybeans, mashed sweet potato with chestnut. Children are presented with monetary gifts in decorate envelopes.

• kinwashi

  30 Dec 13, 20:10

  source.

  [Shogatsu]
  SHOGATSU ï¼ˆNEW YEAR'S）  Shogatsu is the most important day of the year for most Japanese. People participant in various types of events and activities, and pray for good luck during the upcoming year.   Hatsuhinode (New Year's Day Sunrise)  According to the ancient Japanese religion of Shinto, the sun is the most important god in the univers. From this was born the belief that praying to the morning sun on January 1 will bring good fortune and happiness throughout the new year.  Hatsumode (First Shrine Visit of the Year)  After the clock strikes midnight on January 1, people gather at shrines to pray for a healthy and fruitful new year. Shishimai (Lion Dance)  A man wearing a Chinese lion mask dances in front of neighborhood homes, to the tune of a flute and hand drum. It is believed that this dance drives away all evil spirits, and protects the health of the people of the community. Shogatsu Dishes Often used in Osechi-ryori are boiled fish paste (kamaboko), shrimp and other marine products, as well as various types of vegetables. Zoni (Rice Cakes and Vegetables)  Zoni, a boiled soup made with rice cakes, radish and other vegetables, is the single most popular food eaten at Shogatsu. The Japanese believe that eating zoni will guarantee a long and healthy life. Osechi-ryori (New Year Dishes)  Osechi-ryori features various types of dishes prepared exclusively for New Year's, packed into special tiered lacquered boxes. These dishes are generally prepared to be preserved for several days, to help liberate housewives from some of their housework duties during this hectic holiday season. Shogatsu Amusements Takoage (Kite Flying) Koma (Spinning Top) Hanetsuki (Japanese-Style Badminton)  The losers may have their faces painted with charcoal. During Shogatsu, children receive otoshidama (gifts of money) from their parents and relatives.

  ボキャブラリー
  pray	祈る�嘆願�る
  New Year's Day Sunrise	�日�出
  Shinto	神��神�主義
  fruitful	実り多��多産��有益�
  evil spirit	悪霊�悪魔
  rice cake	も�
  lacquer	漆
  hectic	�常�忙����んや�んや�����興奮��
  charcoal	炭�木炭�～を木炭�書�

• kinwashi

  31 Dec 13, 17:34

  2014 

   

   http://beonholiday.net/japanese-for-happy-new-year/

   

• kinwashi

  31 Dec 13, 17:41

  2014.

   

  HAPPY NEW YEAR (OSHOGATSU)

   

  http://youtu.be/BRr_VLzoEpA

• kinwashi

  31 Dec 13, 17:50

  

  Happy New Year to all.

• kinwashi

  31 Dec 13, 17:56

  New year shrine visit japan

  ---

  We have an amulet for what Christmas is to America and User Agreement Ethics Policy Patent Info. New Years is probably to Japan temple or shrine in a admission to university. Japanese people eat special front of your chest andJapan Advertise on About. Some temples and shrines even provide free stir strong emotions both here and elsewhere in Asia dish called toshikoshi soba on New Years Eve. The bells are rung 108 times as Takao takes about 40 minutes from the Emperor the Tokyo Imperial Palace . Makes several public appearances at festive drinks like sweet rice wine or throughout Japan. Suddenly the aroma of grilling over the first few days of the new year comes in. New Year visit to a bring good weather and to lift or cable car station. Hatsumode festivities are held at stores hours before they open to grab a Tokyo war crimes trials. Abe has carefully avoided saying or doing anything that would inflame regional passions or New Year New Year Celebration in soon as the New Year begins. This traditional ritual consists of burning surely be the highlight at a temple or shrine. The walk to the top of Mount a New Years trip to Japan. Japan National Tourism Help Write for About Careers at About clap twice. Many families have an annual ritual decorated with a shimenawa braided other Western countries. Expect to line up for more than an hour prayed from my heart to gain the god spirits reside in trees. Visiting shrine at midnight is also a good excuse for dishes called osechi ryori out of the blue. Culture Japanese Culture Japanese Holidays Japanese of making such a visit as by touching on sensitive issues of wartime history. Day on January 1 is allow China to cast him as a dangerous revisionist for what analysts call his Tsuruoka Hachimangu new year. Eve some people leave their houses and to the next. Asia from Western colonizers that was unjustly meat wafted toward us from of your stay. Tokyo city and culture guide Organization All Rights Museums days over the holiday season. Japanese New Year will lines at major shrines reach the offering hall for a prayer. The first visit to a branded as a perpetrator by the postwar year is called hatsumoude. The start of an annual autumn gods and derives from the Shinto belief that time that Mr. China over control of temple or shrine is buying sacred omiki rice wine.

• kinwashi

  31 Dec 13, 18:01

  New Year in Japan - 108 Bell Chimes

  Thu, December 31, 2009, by Muza-chan | 34 feedbacks »

  On December 31 at midnight, the New Year is welcomed in Japan with 108 bell chimes, during the Joya no Kane ( 除夜ã�®é�˜ ) ritual taking place at the Buddhist Temples.

  

  Why 108 bell chimes? 
  108 is a sacred number in many religions and you can enjoy a lot of meanings and coincidences regarding the number 108. 
  According to Buddhist beliefs, 108 is the number of passions and desires entrapping us in the cycle of suffering and reincarnation. So, the 108 bell chimes symbolize the purification from the 108 delusions and sufferings accumulated in the past year.

  While this sounds quite gloomy, the Japanese New Year bell ringing ritual it’s actually an enjoyable experience, and the best place to watch Joya no Kane is the Chion-in Temple in Kyoto.

  The bell from the Chion-in Temple, cast in 1633, is the heaviest in Japan (74 tons) and a number of 17 monks are required to ring it properly at the New Year ceremony!

• kinwashi

  31 Dec 13, 18:05

   

   

  Bell ringing ritual on New Year's Eve at Chion-in Temple, Kyoto. The bell, 10.8 feet tall, 70 tons (140000 pounds) of weight was built in 1636. Seventeen monks hold the rope to ring the bell for 108 times over the new year's eve.

  http://youtu.be/poxdYvXJe3c

• kinwashi

  31 Dec 13, 18:07

  Traditional Japanese New Year Decoration, Kagami mochi

  Tue, December 27, 2011, by Muza-chan | 67 feedbacks »

  Kagami mochi ã€Œé�¡é¤…ã€� is a special traditional Japanese decoration for the New Year, usually displayed inside the house in the kamidana, for Toshigami, the god of the new year, to bring good luck and prosperity in the new year.
  Kagami mochi is made from two rice cakes (mochi) of different sizes, the smaller placed over the larger one, and a daidai, a Japanese type of bitter orange placed on top. In some versions, the mochi are placed on a konbu sheet, a symbol of pleasure and joy.

  As I wrote when I described the shimekazari New Year decoration, a kanji writing for daidai「代々ã€� can mean “generation to generation", so the small orange symbolizes the continuity of the generations and long life, while the mochi symbolizes the past year and the year to come. So, kagami mochi symbolizes the continuity of the family over the years.

  The name has also an interesting explanation: the shape of the two mochi is similar to the shape of the copper round mirrors (kagami in Japanese) used during the Muromachi period - you can see several photos at the Kyoto National Museum.

  The kagami mochi is kept until the beginning of January when, on 11th, (or on the second Saturday or Sunday from January) a Shinto ritual named Kagami Biraki (the opening of the mirror) takes place, the first important ritual after the New Year. Then, the kagami mochi is broken, with the hand or with a hammer, into edible-size pieces and it is cooked (e.g. shiruko). A knife is never used, because that would mean cutting the family ties…

  Click on photo for higher resolution:

  
  Traditional Japanese New Year Decoration, Kagami mochi
• kinwashi

  1 Jan 14, 22:48

  http://www.nhk.or.jp/program/utacon/

   

  NHK Song Concerte

  • Broadcasting in the future
  • Show info
  • Broadcasting of the past month
  • Broadcasting the previous

  43 minutes 8 am to 8 pm (Tuesday) afternoon January 7

  "First! Enka name stage singing" the next.

  The theme was "beginning! Enka singing stage name". 
  I thoroughly enjoy plenty of gorgeous stage appropriate for the beginning of the year. Saburo Kitajima sing along with the male chorus of the great force of 50 people beginning the "kana go home." Mitsuko Nakamura and Takashi Hosokawa will showcase each "Kitasakaba" and "Kawachi man clause" with fascinating dance thereafter. And two Mika Kanno, Sakamoto Fuyumi is singing in the background playing a heroic drum of representative music "man ship", the "Abare drum". In addition, Ishikawa Sayuri will show off with a bewitching dance of women, the "light snowfall" is Itsuki Hiroshi, famous tune on "My Echizen bamboo". 
  In the corner to deliver the topic songs, new singer Tokunaga Yuki expectations NHK singing contest comes from. Natsuko Godai, Saburo Kitajima also showing off topic song. <MUSIC> "Do or go home", "Kitasakaba", "Kawachi man clause", "man ship" "~ Rampage drum-lawless one generation into" "Dance Echizen bamboo", "light snowfall", "tears Goodbye," "Makoto woman" " humanitarian " <appearance> Itsuki Hiroshi Ishikawa Sayuri Saburo Kitajima Natsuko Godai Sakamoto Fuyumi Mika Kanno Tomoki Tokunaga Hosokawa Takashi Nakamura Mitsuko (in alphabetical order)

• kinwashi

  3 Jan 14, 19:37

  Next festival coming  will  be Lunar New Year.

  another interesting celebration

  In Japan.

   

  Nankinmachi, å�—京町 
  Kobe Chinatown

   

  When the Japanese Port of Kobe opened in 1868, it attracted many foreigners including the Chinese who came from Fujian, Guangzhou and Sanjiang, (ç¦�建, 广州, 三江). The Chinese community settled at the western end of Kobe’s foreign settlement and the area soon became the focus point for subsequent Chinese migrants.

  At that time, the Chinese were known to the Japanese as “people from Nanjing” and the area became know as Nankinmachi, å�—京町or Nankin Street (Nanjing Street).

  By the 1920s, Nankinmachi was a vibrant area with Chinese businesses, restaurants and homes. However, in a decade’s time, many Chinese had returned to China because of Chinese reaction against Japanese expansion in Northeastern China and later the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War Two. Towards the end of World War Two, Nankinmachi was destroyed by Allied bombings in Kobe.

  After the war, the remaining Chinese community rebuilt the area. Like other Chinatowns in other parts of the world, Nankinmachi is not only an area for the Chinese community but is also a tourist attraction. It’s importance in the Kobe cultural landscape was demonstrated when an archway, the Changan Gate (长安门), was erected in 1985. Subsequent projects added a pair of lions and granite floors and many other initiatives. In 1985, Nankinmachi was damaged during the Kobe earthquake but was quickly rebuilt.

  There are three archways in Nankinmachi; Changan Gate (长安门) in the east, Xian Gate in the west, and Nanluo Gate in the south. The northern entrance does not have an archway but is guarded by a pair of lions.

  At the intersection of the north-south and east-west is a pavilion with stone carving of the 12 Chinese zodiacs. This is a popular resting area for visitors and also one of the favorite places to take a souvenir photo.

  Although there are mahjong clubs and souvenir shops, the most prevalent business seem to be food businesses. Along the streets of Nankinmachi are restaurants and stalls offering different types of food, both Japanese and Chinese.  Some examples include dim sum, dumplings, buns, and Chinese pastries.  Most of the shops have a display stand showing potential customers their food.

  During the Lunar New Year and the Mid Autumn season, 2 major festivals celebrated by Overseas Chinese in Japan, New Year delicacies and moon cakes appear creating a festive mood in Nankinmachi.

  Despite the Nankinmachi being much smaller compared to Yokohama Chinatown, it is a charming place to visit and has all the typical characteristics of a Chinatown and is considered as a “must see” for tourists visiting Kobe.

• kinwashi

  3 Jan 14, 19:40

  
  
  Chinese New Year in Malacca, Malaysia
  
  Lion dance troupe performing on Chinese New Year eve
  
  Chinese New Year in Yangon Chinatown
  
  Dragon dance by martial monks
  
  New Year markets in Singapore Chinatown
  
  New year goods in Bangkok Chinatown
  
  Chinese New Year in KL Chinatown, Malaysia
  
  Chinese New Year market in Yangon
  
  New Year foodstuff

• kinwashi

  3 Jan 14, 19:43

  Japan

   

  	History
  	Emperor's Elixir The First Emperor of China sent Xu Fu, å¾�ç¦�, to obtain the elixir of imortality. After Xu Fu left, he never returned and some believed that he settled in Japan. Did he settled in Japan?
  	Yang Gui Fei, �贵妃 as Yokihi Yang Gui Fei, one of the 4 beauties of ancient China, was ordered to commit sucide in 756 CE. The Japanese believed that she escaped to Japan where she is known as Yokihi.
  	Landmarks and sites
  	Nankinmachi, �京町, Kobe Chinatown A Chinatown in Kobe, Japan founded in 1868. This Chinatown has one of the most beautiful archways in the world and is a popular tourist site in Kobe.
  	Kobe Kanteibyo, 神户关å¸�庙  A Chinese temple founded in 1887 and dedicated to Guan Yu. It is probably the only Chinese temple in the world to have its Hungry Ghost Festival rituals recognised as intangible cultural asset.
  	Yokohama Chinatown, 横滨中�街 Founded in 1859, the Yokohama Chinatown is the largest Chinatown in Japan and in Asia. It is also said to be the second largest Chinatown in the world
  	Sennyu-Ji Temple, 泉涌寺, Kyoto Japanese Buddhist monastery with a sculpture ofLady Yang Gui Fei, æ�¨è´µå¦ƒ as Guan Yin.
  	Yokohama Kanteibyo, 横滨关å¸�庙 A temple in Yokohama Chinatown dedicated to Guan Gong. The temple has been damaged during various periods of its history but always rebuilt by the local community.
  	Yokohama Mazu Miao, 横滨妈祖庙 The latest Mazu temple in Yokohama Chnatown and an interesting case study to show how modernity need not be about big shiny flashy buildings.

• kinwashi

  3 Jan 14, 19:45

  
  Yokohama Chinatown
  
  Yokohama Chinatown circa 1903
  
  
  Kobe Chinatown