Japan events

Today I introduce the main events of Japan for one year.

On January 1 of the beginning of the year there is a culture of visiting shrines.
This culture is called Hatsumoude.
Or go to see the first sunrise of the beginning of the year.
I go to see the first sunrise on the sea every year.
And I have a special meal on January 1st.
It is called Osechi.

 

February is famous for the event called Setu bun.
It is an event that drives away bad things.

It is an event that hits the bean to the person wearing the face of the demon.

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!” Some people believe that mame comes from the word mametsu which means drive away evil matter, in Kanji.

After throwing the beans, people customarily eat one roasted soy bean, mame, for each year of their age, and pray for happiness throughout the year. There is another reason why people roast and eat these beans; It is said that the bean contains the evil of the previous year, and so it is roasted to prevent evil from sprouting. People in some regions scatter peanuts and eat them, because peanuts are easier to clean and pick up. Some people eat rolled sushi, ehomaki, while facing the year’s “lucky” direction.

 

March is a day to celebrate girls.
Decorate the doll and celebrate the girl.

Doll’s Festival
Hinamatsuri(Doll’s Festival) is an occasion to pray for young girls’ growth and happiness.
Hinamatsuri is celebrated each year on March 3.
Most families with girls display dolls for the Doll’s Festival called Hina-ningyo.

 

Speaking of April in Japan is cherry blossoms.
It is a very beautiful cherry blossom.
We have a party under the cherry tree.

 

During the Edo period, people celebrated the healthy growth of boys on the 5th of May, when a Shogun had a new born boy.
In the Edo period, when a Shogun had a new born boy, they celebrated on the 5th of May by raising flags.
It is common for a family that has a son to decorate their house with a flag and gogatsu ningyo to wish for their son’s health and success.
By the way, this baby is me.

 

June is the rainy season in Japan.
It has been raining for a long time.
By the way, the rainy season lasted until last week this year.

There are no events that stand out because it is raining, but it is a season when the hydrangea blooms beautifully.
In a Japanese custom, people believe that if you hang this doll at the eaves, it will bring good weather for the next day.

 

Tanabata is an event that originated from the legend of two stars called Ori-hime and Hiko-boshi. It is held on July 7th every year.

Tanabaka is also known as the Star Festival in English.

Orihime represents Vega, Hikoboshi represents Altair.
Orihime and Hikoboshi fell in love and were so crazy about each other that they could not focus on their work.
The heavenly gods got angry and separated Orihime and Hikoboshi onto the different sides of the Milk Way, or Ama-no-gawa in Japanese.
However, the heavenly gods felt sorry for them and allowed them to cross the Ama-no-gawa to meet each other once a year on July 7th.
On this day, many people pray for good weather on July 7th, because if it rains, Orihime and Hikoboshi will not be able to meet up due to the rising water levels of Ama-no-gawa.
It is said that Tanabata is a special day for lovers because it is the day where lovers reunite.

We put up bamboo decorations to celebrate the reunion of Orihime and Hikoboshi on Tanabata.
We hang strips of paper called Tanzaku and other paper accessories on the bamboo sticks.
It is believed that your wish will come true if you write it on the Tanzaku and hang it on the bamboo sticks.

 

Obon is the time of year when the souls of ancestors come back to visit.
Obon is a traditional Japanese event to welcome the sprits of ancestors.
Obon is observed from August 13th to August 16th.
People usually get a few days of vacation during the Obon period.
Everywhere is crowded during the Obon period.
During the Obon holiday, people go back to their hometowns and visit their family graves.
Bon Odori is the Japanese traditional folk dance performed in the evenings during the Bon season.

The gunpowder is ignited and launched to make it look beautiful.

 

There are no big events in September.
I eat Dango while watching the moon.
The Dango is said to be made by rabbits on the moon.
So in Japan it is thought that there is a rabbit on the moon from old days.

 

April is the season when flowers bloom, but October is the season when dead leaves look beautiful.
It is said to be autumn leaves.
I have not seen it yet.

 

Shichi-go-san is an annual Japanese festival to celebrate the growth of children. It takes place on or around November 15.

The festival is for boys aged three and five, and girls aged three and seven. That’s why it is called shichi-go-san (seven-five-three).

By the way, that man is my father, that child is me.

 

December is the last month of the year. A bell called Jyoyanokane will ring 108 times on December 31st. This is done at the shrine.
And The number of earthly desires, bonnouIn Buddhism, it is said that humans have six physical elements: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind. These six elements are classified into three categories: good, evil and normal, representing 18 desires. These 18 desires are classified into purified and contaminated to become 36. There are past, present and future aspects for each of those 36 desires, so the total is 108. It is said that each bell sound erases one of your 108 bonnou so that you can begin the new year feeling refreshed.
Toshi koshi soba is a traditional noodle dish eaten on New Years Eve in Japan.

 

Did you know that?
About monthly events in Japan.
Which are you most interested in?
I like April and July most.