Tag Archives: custom

summer solstice in Japan

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summer solstice in Japan

The day on 22nd June was longest at the summer solsticen in Japan.

In Osaka,
Sunrise… 4:45am
Sunset… 7:15pm

In this season, people start to plant rice before (now start in May.).
There are a custom to eat ‘octopus’ in Kansai area to grow up the ear of rice like octopus tentacle!
On the other hand, people toast rice cake to offered to the god in Kanto area.

Actually I didn’t know these custom…

Anyway, the summer solsticen　is a sign for start the summer！
And the rainy season will finish soon.
I can’t wait summer!!!

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japan custom

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Japanese custom eat Ehomaki in Sestubun

3rd of Feb. is “Setsubun” in Japan.
If you missed my blog about Stsubun, please click here!

In setsubun, we eat “Ehomaki”.
ehomaki
Ehomaki is a long sushi roll which you eat all in one go on the night of Setsubun,
while facing silently toward the year’s “lucky” direction with your eyes closed,
wishing for perfect health and praying for prosperity of business.

You make ehomaki with seven ingredients, cucumber, shiitake mushrooms, seasoned omelet, teriyaki eel,
sweet fish flakes and kanpyo are rolled in seaweed representing the seven gods of happiness.
By doing so, people hope to bring happiness into their lives.

Actually, ehomaki had long been eaten in the Kansai area but the reason why it spread throughout Japan was, surprisingly, due to a sales-promotion by convenience stores in the early ’90s!
Also, research shows that 60 percent of people in the Kanto area still don’t eat ehomaki.

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japan custom

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The Last Day of Winter “SETSUBUN”

The Last Day of Winter, called “Setsubun”.
In 2015, 3rd of Feb. is Setsubun.

Setsubun literally means “division of seasons.”
It is used to mark the end of winter and summer, and is derived from the old lunar calendar.
However, “setsubun” has now come to mean the day before the first day of spring only.
It usually occurs around February 3rd. On this day, in a custom called mame-maki,
people throw and scatter roasted soy beans inside and outside their houses while saying,
“Get goblins out of the house! Invite happiness into the home!”
In Japanese “Oni ha soto! , Fuku wa uchi!”
setsubun

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japan custom

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In Japan, 31st Dec. is called 『Omisoka』.
Omisoka means the last day of the year.
Most Japanese finish preparations for the New Year by Omisoka
including a very thorough end of the year housecleaning.
Then families gather to greet the New Year!

On New Year’s Eve midnight, at temples ring the bell.
This is called 『joya-no-kane』
jyoya no kane
The bell is rang 108 times because There are 108 of these desires.

Also, we eat 『SOBA 』 noodles with listening the bell.
toshikoshi soba
And then people visit shrines,temples late at night to greet the New Year.
hatsumoude
This is the traditional style of New Year’s Eve in Japan.

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Japan custom

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japanese custom in Christmas

In Japan, Unmarried people stay with their friends or boyfriend/girlfriend in Christmas.
christmas tree

There are two Important Christmas food for Japanese.
One is cake. another is chicken!
Some people buy luxurious cakes at department or hotels more than JPY3000!!
Then we eat chicken especially Kentucky Fried Chicken!
My father cannot eat chicken so when I was a child,
I couldn’t eat Kentucky fried chicken even in Christmas…

In Japan, Christmas is celebrated on the 24th.
Originally Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ,
but Christmas Day is not a national holiday in Japan.

This is unique custom in Japan.

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