Kinwashi Tour Japan Thread

• kinwashi

  29 Dec 14, 22:10

  
  

  16 Amazing Things to Do in Japan in the Winter

  There are many things that you can only experience in a Japanese winter. Here are some recommendations that you should definitely try if you come to Japan in the winter months.

  ---

   MIRACLEWATAGE 

  This post is also available in: Japanese

  

  1. Eat Japanese nabe (hot pot): sukiyaki and chanko-style

  Nabemono or, nabe for short, is traditional Japanese hot pot dish mainly eaten during the cold season. Traditionally, it’s eaten in groups sitting around a table while the food cooks on a gas burner. 

  First, I am going to talk about sukiyaki, one of the most popular nabe dishes, and chanko, a styl eof nabe deeply intertwined with sumo.

  Sukiyaki

  

  kobebeef.co.jp

  Sukiyaki is usually prepared by cooking beef, onions, tofu, and other ingredients in a sweet soy sauce based soup. Ingredients may vary by region, but the flavor and contents are very similar, making it a nostalgic dish for many Japanese.

  Curiously, “Sukiyaki” a song by Japanese singer, Kyu Sakamoto, which hit number 1 on the American Billboard chart in 1963 had nothing do with this dish. This song title was used because at the time it was the most well-known Japanese word among Americans. The Japanese title “Ue wo muite arukou” translates to “walk with your head held high” in English.

  

  matome.naver.jp

  Chanko

  

  hibiki-food.jp

  

  news.ameba.jp

  Chanko usually refers to any dish served to sumo wrestlers. Usually it is a nabe dish served in the sumo wrestlers’ training house, the sumo-beya. This nabe dish can be vary among different sumo-beya. The soup can be flavored with salt or soy sauce, with a stock base of chicken or fish.

  Today, reasonably priced and tasty chanko can be had at many chanko restaurants near Yougoku, an area where many sumo-beya are located.

  You might want to try visiting some sumo-beya which are open to public for sumo training viewing and when they serve chanko.

  Sumo Tour: Tokyo Tournament & Chanko Dinner Plan

  2. Winter BBQ: Kitami Yakiniku Festival

  

  kitamikanko.jp

  Why BBQ under the snowy sky when temperature is dipping to minus 10 degree Celsius (14 degree Fahrenheit)? It would be much more comfortable gathering inside, right? But such naïve questions would soon evaporate if you meet the feverish fans of this mid-winter festivity. You will be running to the table with your own shop sticks. This festival happens every year in February in Hokkaido.

  3. Experience an unusual tradition: Yonekawa Mizukaburi

  

  www.city.tome.miyagi.jp 

  Just who on Earth are these men…? This is the appearance of a Miyagi prefecture tradition called “Yonekawa Mizukaburi.” Men in straw costumes with their faces heavily painted in black ink act as divine messengers as they prepare buckets of water and throw them on houses in the area in order to protect them from fire. During the winter in Japan around the New Year season, many unusual traditions from ancient times are still practiced. If you’re interested you are by all means welcome to check it out; just be sure to thoroughly observe the safety precautions to prevent any interference.

  4．Enjoy snow art at the Sapporo Snow Festival

  The Sapporo Snow Festival is the number 1 winter festival known by most Japanese people. This annual festival actually has a history dating back to 1950. Giant snow sculptures of anime characters such as Pokemon and Hatsune Miku or historical objects like buildings and Buddha are lined up by the dozens.

  There are giant sculptures reaching heights of close to 20 meters and now even teams from Canada and the United States participate as well.

  In 2015, the Sapporo Snow Festival will be held from 5 February to 11 February.

  

  plaholi.com

  

  ameblo.jp

  5．Enjoy winter sports in Niseko

  Foreign skiers love skiing in Hokkaido because of the powdery snow.

  

  hokkaidolikers.com

  Advertising displays and restaurant menus in Niseko are written in English because this town is popular among foreign people.

  Also the population of foreign people living there has been increasing.

  Of course, there are many winter sports resorts other than in Niseko, so if you’re interested, please take a look at the article linked below.

  38 resorts for ski and snowboard lovers in Japan

  6．Experience the beautiful illumination around Tokyo Station

  In Tokyo, there are several winter illuminations in places such as Roppongi, Ginza, and Shinjuku. Two of the more popular illuminations are the ones at Marunouchi and Tokyo Station called Tokyo Michi Terrace 2014.

  The illumination at Marunouchi stretches over dozens of meters around historical buildings surrounded by skyscrapers, allowing you to enjoy both the modern and traditional. This year, the exhibit will be up from November 11th to February 15th.

  Marunouchi Illumination

  

  jorudan.co.jp

  Tokyo Michi Terrace 2014 is a celebratory light up event in the area around Tokyo Station. The main event is the light up of the Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the station’s opening. The illumination’s theme is “The Color of Taisho Era Romance.” The illumination can be seen from December 24th to the 28th.

  Tokyo Michi Terrace 2014

  

  blog.livedoor.jp

  Around Tokyo Station, there are a number of hotels and shopping malls, with several leading brands and Michelin restaurants. We recommend you to doing shopping in the evening and slowly enjoy the lights after an early dinner in the area.

  Marunouchi Illumination Official Site (Japanese Only)

  Tokyo Michi Terrace 2014 Official Site (Japanese Only)

  7．Enjoy new year events in Japan

  The Japanese New Year events are the ringing of the bells on New Year’s Eve held at temples the night of December 31st, watching the first sunrise of the new year, and the first visit to the Shinto shrine before January 7th.

  The bells on New Year’s Eve (Joya no Kane)

  

  blogs.yahoo.co.jp

  This ritual takes place on the night of December 31st at a Buddhist temple. There’s typically a large bell inside the temple that is struck 108 times. The point of the 108 strikes is to symbolize the number of types of “Bonnou” or “worldly passions and desires” that exist in the minds of humankind. (These worldly passions and desires are generally said to disturb and corrupt the mind as well as taint the heart.)

  While listening to the sounds of the temples in Japan, there is a main hall to go inside to pray and finish off the end of the year. Also, depending on the temple, some actually let you strike the New Years Eve Bell.

  Temples in Tokyo that let you strike the New Year’s Eve Bell:

  • Tsukiji Namiyoke Jinja (Tsukiji)
  • Tenryu-ji (Shinjuku)
  • Toyokawa Inari Betsuin (Akasaka)

  The first sunrise (Hatsuhinode)

  

  plaza.rakuten.co.jp

  The first sunrise refers to the first sunrise of the new year. It is so popular that there are even recommended spots and tours all around Japan to see the first sunrise. The most famous and extremely popular first sunrise would be the goraikou seen on Mt Fuji. Goraikou refers to seeing a sunrise on top of a mountain, especially for sunrises rising above the horizon, and it is an extremely auspicious sign.

  There are many people who come from abroad to see Goraikou on Mt Fuji, crowding it to the point that people are unable to climb the mountain.

  If you are interested, it’s recommended that you go with a tour. 

  

  blog.omotefuji.com

  New Year’s visit to a shrine or temple

  

  plaza.rakuten.co.jp

  Visiting shrines or temples for the first time in the new year is to show thanks to the gods for your life over the past year and to pray  for your safety and peace in the new year. Generally, people go between January 1st and January 7th.

  Please read the following article about shrine etiquette before you go.

  Proper Shrine Worship Etiquette

  8. Go bargain shopping

  

  sankeibiz.jp

  In Japan, many retail stores including department stores and shopping malls hold bargain sales from the middle of December to the middle of January. It is a good opportunity for you to shop reasonably because some expensive items are sold at unbelievable prices.

  Also on New Year’s, many shops sell fukubukuro (“lucky bags”). Products are packed into a bag where you can’t see the inside and are sold as is; the price of the items inside is much higher than the price of the bag. For example,  If you buy a fukubukuro worth 10,000 yen, you won’t know what the items are but they may be worth 30,000 yen or more.

  Even though you can’t see what’s inside, knowing that you’re getting a great deal gives one an excited and nervous feeling when they buy it!

  Items inside a fashion brand’s fukubukuro

  

  img.yaplog.jp

  Items inside an electronics store’s fukubukuro

  

  blog.livedoor.jp

  9. Enjoy a cafe made of snow

  

  furanotourism.com

  The “Furano Kan Kan Mura” is an event held every year at a ski resort in Furano City, Hokkaido.

  Particularly recommended is the completely snow-made “Ice Cafe”. Chairs, tables, counters, everything is made out of snow. After you enjoy your skiing, doesn’t having a drink at the Ice Cafe sound good? This year the event runs from December 23rd until March 10th.

  Furano Kan Kan Mura Official Site

  10．Watch monkeys enjoying themselves in hot springs in the snow

  

  tamawakaba.exblog.jp

  There are natural hot springs all around Japan, and there are many tourists that enjoy the open-air hot springs. Wildlife in the mountains also utilize them for medicinal purposes or just to keep warm.

  The most famous hot springs where you can see monkeys enjoy the hot springs is Yaenkoen (wild monkey park) in Jigokudani (Hell’s Valley) in Nagano prefecture. The park opened in 1964 and ever since then you could view monkeys in close proximity. Recently, there have been many videos of monkeys relaxing in the hot springs.

   

  There is an official site, so please check it out!

  Jigokudani Yaen Koen Official Site

  11．Enjoy a stroll down the Yuki no Otani walk

  

  rise.xsrv.jp

  Yuki no Otani is located in Tateyama, Toyama Prefecture. The wall reaches a height of 20 meters in some spots. What makes this wall’s construction possible is that it is made from the snow that is plowed away from the road. It’s a great spot to take some commemorative photos.

  12. Enjoy fireworks in the clear winter skies

  Usually in Japan many fireworks festivals are held in the summer, but in several regions there are also many fireworks festivals held even in winter. Shizuoka Prefecture’s Atami city, about an hour away from Tokyo by train, holds a big winter fireworks festival as big as the one in summer. This year the fireworks show will be held on December 7th, 14th, and 23rd. 

  atami-furuya.co.jp

  Atami Fireworks Festival Official Site (Japanese Only)

  13. Eat crab cuisine

  It is said that winter is the season for crab cuisine. It has that strong image because December is the peak time with a large amount of crab being delivered from Hokkaido, Hokuriku, and other areas on that side of the Sea of Japan. But the timing when crab tastes the best actually differs slightly depending on the species of crab.

  The amount of crab being consumed is the most during December to January, which leads to the image of crab cuisine being winter dishes. 

  

  yamashiro-spa.or.jp

  

  blog.goo.ne.jp 

  The most famous for crab cuisine is “Kani Douraku.” Originally from Osaka, this chain restaurant has spread around the country. The shop fronts are adorned with a huge model of a crab that often moves, making it an overwhelming experience from the get-go. All of the dishes include crab; of course, crab hot pot is a standard, but they also have crab sashimi, crab sushi, crab tempura, grilled crab, fried crab, and a plethora of other meals.

  Kani Douraku Official Site

  14. Open air bath to relieve the day’s exhaustion

  

  shirahone.net

  These open air baths are located so you can have a view of the snow fields. The photo is from the Shirahone hot springs from Nagano prefecture. In these baths, you can feel the extremely cold air while your body is warmed by the water as you look at the never ending pure white snow. If you visit Japan in the winter, please try to enjoy an open air bath.

  15．Using beans to ward off oni

  In Japan, February 3rd is Setsubun no Hi (the first day of spring) and there’s a tradition of throwing soy beans. 

  

  blogs.yahoo.co.jp

  With the passing of seasons, it’s easy to get rid of evil energy. Oni, meaning demon or orge, symbolize the evil energy, so one throws soy beans at it. The person throwing the beans shout “demons out!” while throwing beans at the entrance of the house or an open window before quickly shutting it so that the demon cannot come back inside. Then they say “fortune inside!” while scattering soy beans inside.

  In each event, a staff or a family member will act as the oni, and people will throw beans at them to kick them out of the house in an anthromorphization of the evil energy.

  

  asahi.com

  If you happen to be in Japan on February 3rd, please try to experience this.

  16. Sitting lazily under a kotatsu

  

  forest-house.co.jp

  A kotatsu is a table with a blanket draped between the surface of the table and a heater. It shows up often in TV shows and anime, so a lot of foreigners are familiar with what it looks like.

  In Japanese homes, it is standard in the winter for families to eat together at the kotatsu then spend time together like watching TV.

  There are inns and hotels with kotatsu prepared for foreigners to enjoy, so if you stay at one, please try to experience this warmth.

  
• Derp McGhee

  1 Jan 15, 12:39

  Interesting thread

• kinwashi

  1 Jan 15, 19:01

  One more interesting thing in Japan New Year Countdown.

  Not just throwing wishing red and white ball  floating at Marina bay over in Singapore.

  Come see what at Dotombori river in Osaka every year Countdown.

   

  video.

   

  http://youtu.be/Lc531DiKGg8

   

  http://youtu.be/6fOuJ9Cqyb4

• kinwashi

  1 Jan 15, 19:07

  This year at Dotombori River countdown.

   

   

  新年���頓堀�ダイブ�１８歳男性�死亡

  http://youtu.be/j7EXFcCvus4

• kinwashi

  1 Jan 15, 19:11

  18-year-old Korean man drowns after jumping into Dotombori River

  JAPAN TODAY -- JAN 01

  An 18-year-old Korean man drowned after jumping into the Dotombori River during New Year's Eve celebrations early Thursday.

   

  Police said the man, who has not been named pending notification to his family, was carrying a South Korean passport, NTV reported.

  He was one of a crowd of about 60 people who jumped into the river in Chuo Ward just after midnight, NTV reported.

  - See more at: http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/110838.php#sthash.wB0Lk9aR.dpuf

• kinwashi

  1 Jan 15, 19:15

  Snowstorms, strong winds hit many parts of Japan

  JAPAN TODAY -- JAN 01

  Strong gusts and heavy snowstorms hit many parts of Japan for the New Year with the Japan Meteorological Agency predicting that unstable weather conditions would continue until Saturday.

   

  A low pressure system brought snow clouds over the Japan Sea coast on Wednesday. For Thursday, the agency forecast up to 80 cms of snow for the Hokuriku area, 70 cms for the Kinki region, 60 cms for Chugoku, 50 cms for the Tokai and Tohoku regions, 30 cms for Shikoku and 10-20 cms for parts of Yamaguchi Prefecture and northern Kyushu.

     

   

  元日ã�®åˆ—島を寒波ã�Œç›´æ’ƒã�—ã€�北陸を中心ã�«çŒ›å�¹é›ªã�¨ã�ªã�£ã�¦ã�„ã�¾ã�™ã€‚　強ã�„寒気ã�®å½±éŸ¿ã�§ã€�北日本ã�‹ã‚‰è¥¿æ—¥æœ¬ã�¾ã�§åºƒã��雪ã�¨ã�ªã�£ã�¦ã�„ã�¾ã�™ã€‚富山市内ã�§ã�¯ã€�未明ã�¾­ã�§ç©�雪ã�¯ã�‚ã‚Šã�¾ã�›ã‚“ã�§ã�—ã�Ÿã�Œã€�1æ—¥å�ˆå‰�11時ã�«ã�¯18cmã�¨ã€�ã�“ã�®æ•°æ™‚é–“ã�§æ€¥å¢—ã�—ã�¦ã�„­ã�¾ã�™ã€‚

  News sources: Japan Today, ANNnewsCH

  - See more at: http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/110840.php#sthash.BoT5Xld2.dpuf

• kinwashi

  1 Jan 15, 19:20

  Thank You

   

  For giving us this additional on this Festival.

  At the right timing. where we celebrated this New Year.

  video.

   

   

  http://youtu.be/cWUBbj-tPf0

• kinwashi

  1 Jan 15, 19:39

   

  Yes,  its snowing over in Japan my friend Suzuki chan sended me this photo.

  just this afternoon.

  

• kinwashi

  1 Jan 15, 19:44

  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

  1 Jan 15, 19:46

  • 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.

  • 30 Dec `13, 8:10PM

    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

  1 Jan 15, 19:49

  • 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.
  • 31 Dec `13, 6:01PM

    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!

  • 31 Dec `13, 6:05PM

     

     

    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

    Edited by kinwashi 31 Dec `13, 6:05PM
  • 31 Dec `13, 6:07PM

    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 15, 19:53

  Bless your home in Japan by taking home the sacred New Year’s fire

  Join the locals in a traditional New Year’s Eve ritual in Kyoto, Japan that involves taking fire home to make sure you're blessed for the upcoming year.

  ---

   YUKI.LING 

  

  When it comes to choosing where to spend the last day of the year, many would prefer a city where the festivities are usually merrier than in a little town. For those who want to stay around a major city, but at the same time are looking for a local and traditional celebration, then head to Kyoto.

   

  tommy-miyabi.blog.so-net.ne.jp

  The traditional New Year’s Eve celebration known as Okera-Mairi is held annually to pray for good health for the coming year.

  yasu733.exblog.jp

  This ritual is held at Yasaka Shrine from 7pm on the 31st of December until sunrise at about 5am the next day. The climax of the whole ritual usually is between the last hour of the year and the first hour of the New Year, from about 11pm to 1am.

   

  olaf-mama.at.webry.info

  The name of the ritual, “Okera,” refers to a kind of medical herb called “Atractylis Ovata.” The locals believed the herb is able to cast away all the bad and evil energy throughout the year, and it will bless the following year with good health and longevity.

   

  wkdfestivalsaijiki.blogspot.it

  At the shrine, the herb’s roots are torched by fire to create watch fires known as “kagaribi.”

   
  tommy-miyabi.blog.so-net.ne.jp

  There is the custom of people taking back some of the embers of this fire to their homes. It is believed that if you use these embers to make a fire at home and prepare zoni – a broth containing vegetables, chicken and mochi rice cakes – which is a representative New Year cuisine served in Japan, or to light the candle of the household altar, you can spend a year in peace.

  www.jnto.go.jp

  www.houseofjapan.com

  In order to take this fire home, bamboo ropes are kindled with the herbal root fire and these ropes must be swung around constantly so that the fire will not go out. The numerous red flames burning at the very end of the ropes form a symbolic spectacle of New Year’s Eve in Kyoto.

  www.jnto.go.jp

  kyoto-tabiya.com

  Once “Joya-sai,” or New Year’s Eve ritual was finished, sacred fires were lit on three “Tooro” lanterns in the precincts. Visitors holding “Kitcho-nawa,” or ropes made of bamboo fibers, in their hands kindled the tips of the ropes, then took them home carefully so the delicate embers would not burn out.

  wkdfestivalsaijiki.blogspot.it  (from a Kyoto Shimbun newspaper report on the festival in 2006)

   
  www.yasaka-jinja.or.jp

  

  TAGS:
• kinwashi

  2 Jan 15, 19:46

  Heavy snow in many part of Japan.

  Received this picture house of my friend Suzuki chan at Okayama.

   

  

• kinwashi

  2 Jan 15, 19:49

   

  If you want some wild honey this can also be arranged,

  DIY this kit,

  And waited  for a few months immediately,

   You can havested for your own consumption,

  No need to buy from the supermarket.

   

  

• kinwashi

  2 Jan 15, 19:58

  So the above the wooden box as i told before, what is that for.

  Remember there is a property agent posted his or her advertisement here in this thread.

  I,  had feature this house before. Now the same house is covered  with white thick snow.

  This morning the third day of the New Year.

   

  • • The Terrace EC comprises of 747 units in 12 towers building and the highest level is 17 storeys tall with executive condo ranging from lavish 3 bedrooms to the spacious penthouse with five bedrooms. The executive condos are specially designed to make sure that it provides a comfortable and premium living experience. It has all the facilities in the building and is also near to a wide variety of amenities. The Terrace EC is located at Punggol Drive / Edgedale Plains which is next to Kadaloor LRT Station. With the top notch professionals and engineers working on the projects, the quality of the design and the overall executive condo is unquestionable. 

      
      

      For more info click here: http://www.ec-the-terrace.com/ 

      http://www.ec-the-terrace.org/  
  • kinwashi

    

    9,960 posts since Jan '08

    
    • 10 Nov `14, 9:50PM
      

      You very Jialat, this thread are all on Japan.

      not buying houses. you came in on the wrong thread on your advertisement.

       

      Coming here to look for business.

      Why? Hard time ahead eveywhere you all go.

      Must have some standard and prestige like those  days. buying houses from you all. must make appointment at your showroom. selling like hot cakes. Bring cheque in hand when viewing.

      Not like  now Garung Guni selling. food centers near MRT stations. on the road side. time had change.

       

       

       

       

      Edited by kinwashi 11 Nov `14, 5:59PM
    • 11 Nov `14, 5:59PM
      

      Coming  here to teach us how to buy property.

      Do you know the property here are sucking people blood kind of prices.

      Now most  bankers are calling back their loan for safe guard.

      Do you know how many fire sales on the market as today.

      Those high end already many people die selling at heavy loss.

      So you think this is the right time to go into property.

      You know how many property agents already not driving those luxury continental cars.

      Because they cannot pay their loan,

      Cause not easy to close one sale in a month and many months.

      This is a Taxi Drivers thread, nothing to do with you and your property.

      Everydays we are meeting many  people, our's News are much better than you,

      And latest updated better than the Newspaper.

      What is current property you should know better. and we know more than you.

       

       

      Edited by kinwashi 11 Nov `14, 6:01PM
    • 11 Nov `14, 6:07PM
      

      Buying property ...

      From Japan i know more than you..

      Just those captured minimun sum amount  from us our's life saving account.

      Unlawful captured.

      This amount  more than hundred thousand strong Sing dollars.

      With this amount how many property, can i buy in Japan.

      Some more with land you can grown Aparagus and Spring Onion.

      The below picture i took from there.

       

      

    • 11 Nov `14, 6:16PM
      

      If you want some wild honey this can also be arranged,

      DIY this kit,

      And waited  for a few months immediately,

       You can havested for your own consumption,

      No need to buy from the supermarket.

       

      

    • 11 Nov `14, 6:18PM
      

      Simple wooden box.

       

      

    • 11 Nov `14, 8:46PM
      

      Fertile soil all round the compound.

       

      

    • 11 Nov `14, 8:51PM
      

      Traditional Japanese Style Housing (Bungalow).

      Back Yard View.

      House agents alway shown you this kind of pictures.

      When they are selling the property.

      I,  also know.

      

    • 12 Nov `14, 6:47PM
      

      Sorry,

      this House not on sale just and example like this kind,

      What you think the price for this in Japan.

       

      

    • 12 Nov `14, 6:51PM
      

      Big Garden.

       

      

    • 12 Nov `14, 6:55PM
      

      Plenty of space available.

      Fertile lands, ready for your crops.

       

      

• kinwashi

  2 Jan 15, 20:04

  So the above is taken in Spring.

   

   

  And the below is winter this morning picture taken by my friend,

   the same country road and the farm lands are gone covered with thick white snow.

   

  

• kinwashi

  5 Jan 15, 17:19

  Japanese 9 yummy street foods you can’t miss at Matsuri Festival !

  When you visit a local Matsuri festival, maybe you should try some of these foods!

  ---

  KOJI.T 

  

  1.Grilled Squid (Ikayaki)

  

  www.gurum.biz

   

  Smoke rises from a fish gridiron. And it smells so good. How can you resist its attraction ? It’s cooked with soy sauce on a grid. Sometimes it’s served in many izakayas,Japanese pubs, too. Maybe squid on a stick is served entirely without removing intestines or ring-shape cut from the body. It goes well with mayonnaise.

  

  www.e-matsukiyo.com

  If mixed hot peppers (Shichimi Tougarashi : photo on the left) are available, you can add them to mayonnaise.

   

  2.Grilled Indian Corn (Yaki Toumorokoshi)

  

  r.gnavi.co.jp

   

  There are many festivals in summer, and at that time Indian corns are in season. Like grilled squid, grilled Indian corns are grilled on a gridiron with soy sauce. It’s served on a stick, too. This is one of my favorite foods at festival. Last year I ate two Grilled Indian corns on sticks because locally grown corns were nice and sweet. I’m looking forward to the local matsuri !

  3.Japanese chow mein (Yakisoba)

  

  blog.livedoor.jp

   

  One of the most popular foods at Matsuri is Yakisoba, grilled noodles with Japanese Worcester sauce(commonly just called “sauce”) and some vegetables such as cabbage and onion.What are those on the noodle ? Well, green powder on the top is “Aonori”, green dried seaweed. Vivid red thinly cut stuff is called “Beni shouga”, red pickled ginger.

  4.Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki

  

  erecipe.woman.excite.co.jp

   

  Okonomiyaki is also one of the most popular foods at Matsuri, made from various ingredients including flour and vegetables. It also uses “Sauce”, Japanese Worcester sauce and mayonnaise.
  
  But listen up guys, basically there are two styles of Okonomiyaki, namely Hiroshima-style and Kansai(the western region including Osaka)-style. 
  
  Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki includes noodles and the ingredients are layered rather than mixed. On the other hand, Osaka-style Okonomiyaki’s batter contains flour and grated Nagaimo-yam to soften its texture. Unlike Hiroshima-style, ingredients are mixxed well.

  5.Kansai-style Okonoimiyaki

  

  blog-shinjuku.takashimaya.co.jp

   

  6.Octopus Ball (Tako Yaki)

  

  sokuup.net

   

  Takoyaki is made from wheat flour, minced octopus(tako), thinly sliced red pickled ginger, green onion. And the “sauce” makes it complete. 
  
  Did you know ? Urban legend has it that every family in Osaka has a Takoyaki pan because they love to make it. Based on my personal experience, this legend is so far so true !

  7.Cotton Candy (Wata Ame)

  

  www.event-goods.jp

   

  Packed in animated plastic bags

  

  coneta.jp

   

  Its fluffy texture and the magic of making of cotton candy is definitely unique to Matsuri. I haven’t seen Wata Ame aside from Matsuri, so I assume it’s one of festival things. Not only its taste but also its bag make us fun because of various characters from animation. It’s so colorful, and kids bringing those cotton candy are so adorable.

  8.Candy Apple (Ringo Ame)

  

  ameblo.jp

   

  It looks tasty and reminds me of Matsuri. It have a place in my memory as a festival food. I assumed it originated in Japan, but actually it’s from North America. Also known as toffee apples are whole apples covered in sugar candy coating on a stick.

  9.Shaved Ice (Kaki Gori)

  

  blog.tpg18.com

   

  Shaved ice is finely crushed ice with colorful syrups. For example, strawberry, melon, lemon, green tea, orange and blue Hawaii(a tropical cocktail).
  
  This is one of my American girlfriend’s favorite foods. She misses it even in winter !! Maybe we should buy a hand-powerd ice shaver !

  
• kinwashi

  5 Jan 15, 17:23

  When it Comes to Japanese New Year’s Food, the Display’s the Thing!

  Enjoy food as art during Japanese New Year!

  ---

  WSDSTATION 

  

   

  Osechi Ryori (New Year’s Day Dishes) 

  

  Photo by nAok0 on Flickr

  Osechi Ryori is the catch-all term for the meticulously prepared, immaculately displayed food that many a Japanese family sits down to eat on New Year’s Day. The last time I had anything like the above was about four years ago when my parents were visiting from the US. I’d always thought of osechi ryori as better shown than eaten, but I was proven wrong that day! Savoring each compartmentalized bite helped me to appreciate my surroundings all the more. I was enjoying the food as art, but it tasted like heaven, too. Here’s a review of some of the things I probably had that day. 

   

  Ikura (Salmon Eggs) 

   

  Photo by adamchamness on Flickr

  If you enjoy the taste of caviar, then you will fall in love with the succulent salmon roe often served as part ofosechi ryori.   If you have a Japanese speaker with you, make sure to check whether the salmon eggs you’re being served are the real thing—you would be surprised by how many restaurants serve a completely fake variation that tastes just enough like the real thing to get them by but is often many times cheaper. Trust me, there is nothing like the real deal.

   

  Kazu no Ko (Compressed Fish Eggs)

   

  Photo by [puamelia] on Flickr

  These fish eggs are compressed and made into strips which can then be sliced, diced and put into various soups. I would recommend my kazu no ko with a garnish of bonito flakes and parsley, just exactly as the picture above shows. Having some cuban wine to go with it is certainly a creative choice, although I prefernihonshu (Japanese rice wine) on occasions like this. Japanese alcohol with a Japanese meal, I’d say!

   

   Kuri Zenzai (mochi and bean soup with chestnuts)

   

  Photo by midorisyu on Flickr

  As I explained in another blog about the fabulous Japanese confection called daifuku,  bean paste is simply a staple of traditional Japanese meals and sweets. Get the beans to a savory, soupy consistency, add mochi, and top everything off with chestnuts! Yes, bean paste does take some getting used to. The good news is, you’ll be very happy once you do.  

   

  Ozoni (daikon and mushroom soup with a side of lobster or shrimp)

   

  Photo by midorisyu on Flickr

   

  Photo by midorisyu on Flickr

   Whatever the side dish, it’s the light, slightly tangy broth that makes ozoni  soup so tasty for me. Mushrooms and daikon radishes really hit the spot, although you can add other vegetables at your leisure. As for side (or main?) dishes, I prefer shrimp to crab or lobster, as you can usually eat the whole thing, shell and all, without too much trouble. Take your time with all this—I’ve had 15 years to get adjusted. 

  New Year’s Celebratory Fish (Tai)

   

  Photo by midorisyu on Flickr

   The tai fish has a special place in Japan, no more so than on New Year’s. It’s the butt of a pun that’s funny if you speak Japanese but weird if you don’t, so I won’t bore you with it—suffice it to say that this “celebratory fish” ends up on everybody’s plate sometime during the New Year festivities. Apparently fish in general and this one in particular was very expensive in prewar Japan. As precious few could get their hands on it, eating one became a special event that signified having been blessed by circumstance. Maybe eating one today is a bit like Thanksgiving? I don’t know, but I do love the taste!

   

  Radish Wrap (daikon-maki) 

   

  Photo by midorisyu on Flickr

   Right now, you’re all looking at your screens and going, “Do you really expect me to eat that?” The truth is, I really don’t—Even as a fan of daikon in general, I don’t know why I would bother. But as I said in the title, when it comes to New Year’s meals in Japan, the display’s the thing! One should really appreciate the art of it all. If you can do that, you’ll be one step closer to enjoying the taste as well. 

  
• kinwashi

  5 Jan 15, 17:28

  EL

  Half naked men compete for lucky ball in cold winter in Japan

  Tamaseseri Festival is one of the rituals held during the New Year festive in Fukuoka.

  ---

  YUKI.LING 

  

  Every country will have a different way to usher in the New Year. In Japan, various rituals and traditional festivals are held, hoping to bring in a prosperous and peaceful year.

   

  chibaphoto.jp

  In Fukuoka, Kyushu, a traditional event known as the Tamaseseri Festival or the Ball-catching Festival is held on 3rd of January in Hakozaki Shrine.

  “Seseri” means “to touch” or “to compete”, which is just what competitors clad in loincloths do!

  www.crossroadfukuoka.jp

  The main attraction of this festival is you will see half naked men fighting in the middle of cold winter day. Not only that, these men who are only wearing loincloths will also be splashed with cold water during the whole competition. It is already cold enough by just imagine the scenario.

   

  ganref.jp

  The men who are divided into two different teams – the Land team made up from the farmers and the Sea team consists of fishermen will fight to catch the lucky ball and lift it high on the head.

  

  www.goldenjipangu.com

  This lucky ball known as the Takara-no-tama is weighed about 8 kg and comes in about 30 cm diameter big. According to the traditions, the man who lifted the ball will gain good success and fortune in the New Year.

  

  chibaphoto.jp

  It also determines whether the New Year will bring a good harvest or catch, depending on which team lifted the ball and hand it over to the Shinto priest. If the winner comes from the Land team, then the year will be filled with good harvest. And if the winner is from the Sea team, then it will be a year with a lot of fishes.

  

  yokanavi.com

  One o’clock in the afternoon. Two purified balls – a “yang” (representing masculinity) ball and a “yin” (representing femininity) ball – are carried to Tamatori Ebisu Shrine. The “yin” ball is dedicated to this shrine.

  www.jnto.go.jp

   

  blog.jtbusa.com

  Meanwhile, children will carry the “yang” ball heading to the direction of Hakozaki Shrine. In the middle of the journey, the children will toss the ball to men waiting along the way.

  

  syalishan.blogspot.it

  These men start scrambling for the ball, and amid cries of “Oisa! Oisa!” the atmosphere becomes one of feverish excitement. This excitement reaches its peak by the time the men pass under the torii gate.

  www.jnto.go.jp

   

  chikugogawa.blog25.fc2.com

  It is also believed that by touching the ball it is enough to bring a good luck in the New Year, which creating a great chaos since everyone is trying to get some luck from the ball.

  

  www.sun-sentinel.com

  The Tamaseseri festival is one of the three main festivals of Kyushu and dates back 500 years. Historians also said that it originated from the legend of the dragon god (ryujin) offering two balls to Empress Jingu.

  injapan.gaijinpot.com

  
• kinwashi

  7 Jan 15, 23:23

  
  

   9 Japanese exquisite sweets that are desserts of the people

  Japanese confectionery, wagashi, has two great points: its' moderate sweetness and its appearance. Here are some cute and delicious wagashi.

  ---

  UMATSU 

  

   

  

  ja.wikipedia.org

   

  1. Anmitsu

  Anmitsu is made with anko (a jam made from boiling sweet adzuki beans), zero-calorie agar-agar jelly, and fruits that are then covered in brown sugar syrup. This is a standard offering at Japanese tea shops. It’s an enjoyable dish to eat with tea.

  

  www.flickr.com;　photo by Hitoshi Taguchi

  This is an extravagant version that includes small white balls of mochi.

  2.Taiyaki

  This sea bream shaped pastry is filled, usually with anko, but you can sometimes find other fillings like chocolate or custard. It’s best when just freshly made.

  

  ja.wikipedia.org

   

  3. Mitarashi Dango

  Mitarashi dango are balls of mochi covered in a sticky sauce made of soy sauce and sugar.
  The visual and the smell both stimulate the appetite.

  

  photozou.jp; photo by オãƒ�ニワ ãƒ�ニャ男 (Ohaniwa Ohanyaotoko)

  4. Rakugan

  

  commons.wikimedia.org

  These candies melt in your mouth and spread the sweetness. It’s an elegant Japanese candy.

  It’s a dried candy made by mixing starchy rice flour with starch syrup, sugar, and coloring, then placed into molds. After that, it’s filled with anko, adzuki beans, chestnuts, or other filling, then pressed together to create one candy.

  ja.wikipedia.org

  5. Konpeito

  These colorful, cute Japanese candies can take 1 to 2 weeks before they’re done.

  

  ja.wikipedia.org

   

  6. Ningyoyaki

  These pastries are made of dough modeled in the shape of faces and then stuffed full of anko jam.
  Sometimes people are hesitant to eat them because of the expressions on the faces.

  

  ja.wikipedia.org

   

  7.Mizu Youkan

  This is the ultimate zero calorie sweet. It’s a Japanese jelly made with zero calorie agar-agar, a small amount of anko, and sugar. It’s recommended that you eat this chilled during the summer.

  

  www.fotopedia.com; photo by [puamelia]

  8. Namagashi

  The delicate work put into nagamashi to make them look like flowers or other natural motif makes it feel like it’s almost a waste to eat them. Because wagashi makers change their products to go with the seasons, you can enjoy the seasons through sweets.

  

  ja.wikipedia.org

   

  9. Oshiruko

  If there’s something Japanese people definitely want to eat in the winter, it’s oshiruko.
  In the warm soup made with anko, there’s grilled mochi and shiratama dumplings.

  

  ja.wikipedia.org

   

  

  Edible art? Enjoy Wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets

  The attraction of Wagashi is not only enjoying its taste but also feeling each season with your eyes.

  ---

  TSUKASAP 

  

  

  www.will-way.biz

   

  Wagashi as art.

  Wagashi is a traditional Japanese confectionery which is often served with tea. It is usually made of mochi (glutinous rice cake), anko (azuki bean paste) and fruit.
  Wagashi is essential to enjoy as a treat and an art to express the passing seasons. For example, wagashi in summer can express ‘coolness’ with a clear jelly to represent water or freshness to help get through the hot, humid, summer season. It is a great pleasure to enjoy the changing seasons by enjoying the changing wagashi.
  

  Spring

  The season famous throughout Japan for the blooming cherry trees. Spring is faithfully represented in wagashi with cherry blossoms and other spring flowers, while wagashi shops, too, are full of a flowery atmosphere.

  Flower blooming

  

  luckystar07.com

  A bright pink and green help express spring blossoms.

  Cherry blossoms

  

  wagashi.okaimono-review.jp

  Real cherry blossom leaves are sometimes embedded in wagashi. You can feel that Spring is coming soon!

  Summer

  To get through the humid summer, wagashi has a clear color to express ‘water’ and freshness.

  A gold fish bowl

  

  kyoto-wagasi.com

  This looks just like a real gold fish bowl, right?

  Clear colors

  

  kujira.cocolog-nifty.com

  The beautiful clear colors help to make us feel cool despite the humidity.

  Autumn

  In Autumn, wagashi express the beautiful colors of changing leaves and mountains.

  

  yukikot23.exblog.jp

  Persimmons and colored leaves are the traditional symbols of autumn.

  Chestnuts

  

  obulog.seesaa.net

  This wagashi has a chestnut mixed in with the anko (red bean paste). Chestnuts are another popular food in autumn.

  Winter

  Winter wagashi express the quietness of snow falling, or the warmth of sunshine we can feel in the cold winter.

  Snow

  

  youkan6.blog61.fc2.com

  This looks like a flower covered by snow in winter. Notice the slight pink/red color on the left.

  Christmas!

  

  blog.goo.ne.jp

  These days, there are even cute Christmas wagashi.

  Japan is surrounded by beautiful nature and it is possible to feel each season closely. Japanese culture often celebrates this subtle appreciation of feeling the changing seasons. Wagashi is just one of the ways these seasonal ideas are expressed and enjoyed.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
• kinwashi

  7 Jan 15, 23:42

  Just one owl flew  into  Istana one day , not long ago.

  Talk of the town lately.

  See how many owls are there over here.

  In Japan.

  video.

   

  http://youtu.be/Xqsmw1KhWNo

   

  Japan has owl cafes where you can totally sit and have a drink with some owls

  JUNKEE.COM 

  Back in August we went and hung out in Melbourne's brand-new cat cafe, which was kind of great, but now Japan has gone and done a Japan and thought of the next weird/great thing we'll all be secretly trying out in ten years.

   

  Fukuro no Mise is a cafe in downtown Tokyo that is literally just filled with owls. Like, up to thirty owls. You have to pay and book a time to get in, but once you do you can have a drink and put an owl on your head and take a photo with it, so on balance it's worth the prep-time.

  - See more at: http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/110897.php#sthash.IHgPNJ9k.dpuf

• kinwashi

  9 Jan 15, 20:37

  Over at Kawasaki Japan there is a kind of Festival.

   

   Kanamara Matsuri ã�‹ã�ªã�¾ã‚‰ç¥­ã‚Š

  Can you imagine .

   

  what is this? Festival

   

   

  video.

   

  http://youtu.be/3DerhIGKnSU

• kinwashi

  9 Jan 15, 20:43

  Japanese Dog Breeds: The Pride of Prefectures

  There are many people in the world who have Japanese dogs. If you are a dog lover, you might want to consider one of these unique and beautiful breeds.

  ---

  HANNAHK1013 

  

  
  

  blog.livedoor.jp

  There are many kinds of dogs that originate from different prefectures of Japan. These dogs are known all over the world, and the areas they’re from are very proud of them. 

  Here are some of the most popular Japanese dogs. See how many you know! 

  Akita-inu

  
  

  blog.goo.ne.jp

  In Russia, the Japanese Akita-inu (“inu” means dog in Japanese) is very popular these days since Japan gifted it to Russian President Vladimir Putin a few years ago. The Akita-inu is originally from Akita prefecture.

  Hokkaido-inu (Ainu-inu)

  
  

  ainudogs.exblog.jp

  In Japan, the Japanese Hokkaido-inu (Ainu-inu) is used as the mascot for one of Japan’s biggest telecom companies and appears frequently in their popular TV commercials. The Hokkaido-inu is originally from Hokkaido prefecture.

  Kai-ken

  
  

  nakaryuuhuusou.blog44.fc2.com

  The great hunter Kai-ken is used for hunting animals in mountains. Kai-ken is originally from Kai in Yamanashi prefecture.

  Kishu-inu

  
  

  thekishuken.blog.fc2.com

  There is another white dog Kishu-inu in Japan and it is very similar to the Hokkaido-inu. Many people say the Hokkaido-inu has cute eyes like a tanuki and the Kishu-inu has sharp eyes like a fox, but as you can see it is very, very hard to see the difference…

  The Kishu-inu is originally from Wakayama prefecture (its old name is Kishu).

  Shiba-inu

  
  

  ja.wikipedia.org

  One of the most popular Japanese dogs is Shiba-inu. There is also a small version of it called the Mame-shiba. There is a popular TV show on TV Tokyo network using the Mame -shiba as the main character named “Mamesuke” and he is very cute.

  Mame-shiba

  
  

  prcm.jp

  Shikoku-ken

  
  

  nonohana222.blog9.fc2.com

  The Shikoku-ken is a mix between the Japanese wolf, okami, and a Japanese dog. It is very handsome and looks similar to the Japanese wolf. It is sometimes called Tosatoken but is totally different from Tosatoken. The Shikoku-ken is originally from Shikoku island.

  Tosatoken

  
  

  blog.goo.ne.jp

  The famous Japanese Tosatoken is a fighting dog. It is very big and dangerous and there have been cases where it has killed its own master. The tosatoken is originally from Shikoku island (its old name is Tosahan).

  Japanese dogs are famous for loyalty to their masters, and there is a Japanese old film called “Hachiko Monogatari” (the story of Hachiko). In 2009, it was remade into “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale” in America. 

  
  

  hoonanea.exblog.jp

  Cover photo: Wikipedia

  
• kinwashi

  9 Jan 15, 20:49

  Did you notice this,  when you are having foods with Japanese.

  Sure they will do this before and after they finished their foods that ended.

   

  .What is the reason of doing this?

   

  In Japan, people say ”Itadakimasu” before they eat, and “Gochisosamadeshita” after meal with both hands together. This is how to show respect and appreciation to whom made the food for you (can be the chef, farmer, fish man, or anybody who was involved). 
  
  A long time ago, Japan was very poor and it was difficult to get any food. Since then, they have always been grateful to have something they can eat.

  

  blog.livedoor.jp

   

• kinwashi

  9 Jan 15, 20:53

  

  blog.goo.ne.jp

  When you leave one piece of rice, Japanese old people say “You will go blind”. After meal, they even drink Green tea with their bowls, that they had rice in, not to waste any rice or taste.
  
  When you eat, you should not put your elbow on the table nor put your bowl on the table while you are eating. It doesn’t look respectful and people think you’re like an animal by not using both hands (this doesn’t occur in European food with knife and fork).
  
  Also when someone’s giving you food with chopsticks, you cannot take it with chopsticks (it’s called “Hashi-watashi/Awase-bashi”). You can receive it with your plate, or you can take it from his plate, but never touch someone’s chopsticks with yours. This is because when someone died, in Japan, they pick up his bone with special chopsticks and carry it to next person until its urn.

  

  contest.japias.jp

  When you get complimented by someone, you should be modest and deny even though you are thinking it’s right.
  When someone offers you something, you should deny once even though you really want it. Most importantly, you should not forget about it and you will offer something to him next time.

  In Japan, people bow when they say Hello, Good bye, Thank you, and Sorry, but not with hands together. We put hands together when we apologise or ask for a favour but not with a bow. Some foreigners get confused with other asian culture(ex: Thailand or India) and bow to Japanese with hands together, but this is not quite Japanese way. We bow with hands together when we pray.

  

  blog.livedoor.jp