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Top >> about Japan >> Japanese annual event
Japanese annual event
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Tanabata means the 7th evening in English.
Tanabata is popular festival in Japan and is held on 7th July.
Its origin is very old (from Nara periods: A.D. 8th century).
Tanabata legend (love story between the two stars)
Princess Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair) loved each other. However her father separated the two lovers across the Amanogawa River (Milky Way) and they became not to be able to meet any longer.
Princess Orihime cried with sad everyday.
Her father was moved by his daughter's tears and allowed the two to meet only on the 7th day of the July.
Custom
At Tanabata festival, we hang small pieces of paper on bamboo.
On these small pieces, wishes are written.
We write our wishes on these small papers with all one's heart.
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This festival is held at the end of July - August all over Japan.
The first firework festival was Sumidagawa festival at 1733 (Edo period).
At 1732, A large number of people died because of famine and plague.
Next year, the festival for a memorial service was held and fireworks display was one part of that festival.
Japanese firework is very colorful and beautiful.
Small firework is held at each home.
I like Senko-hanabi, very small and feel transitory.
There are a lot of small fireworks at Toyshop.
The right picture shows small skyrockets.
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Buddhist festival for honoring the spirits of ancestors. It is held from
August 13 to 16. In this period, it is thought that the spirits of ancestors
visit each home. We call this ceremony Mukaebi.
At the 13th day evening, people welcome their ancestors with a small fire lit at the gate.
In this period, people offer foods before the family altar every day and the sutra recitation by priest is held.
At the 16th day, people light fires to speed the spirits back to the other
world. We call this ceremony Okuribi.
Daimonji-Yaki and Shoryo-Nagasi (Toro-Nagashi) are a kind of Okuribi.
(Shoryo-Nagasi : floating lanterns for the spirits of the dead)
| Toro (lantern) |
These lanterns are used as Okuribi and Mukaebi at each home.
There are various designs and the design varies with the district. |
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Example of foods for altar
(Rakugan) |
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Otsukimi is to appreciate Moon.
Though the 15th day of each month at the lunar calendar is full moon, Otsukimi is held at the 15th day August.
According to the solar calendar, the 15th August of the lunar calender
is the 25th September at 2007.
Origin is from 885 (Heian period).
Odango (dumpling) and Susuki (Japanese pampas grass) are offered on Moon.
In the old days, noblemen and noblewomen have written poems and play musical instrument, appreciating moon. And farmers have played for good harvests.
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Shichi-go-san (means 753) is a traditional annual event for children of
3, 5 and 7 years old, held on November 15th. They wear traditional formal
wear and go to the shrine with parents to be rid of ill luck. Long time
ago, the existence ratio of child was not so high in Japan. So parents
celebrated their child's growth and prayed their child's health and this
event has continued to present-day Japan.
Parents buy Chitoseame at the shrine for their children. Chitoseame means
a thousand old candy in English. Chitoseame is long, thin candy having
red and white pattern, which symbolizes and ensures healthy and longevity.
Chitoseame is sold with a bag that a crane and a turtle are painted on.
they represent long life in Japan.
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Chitoseame |
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Though writing about Christmas event in Japan is very difficult for me, I will try to explain
it.
In Japan, Christian population is about 2 millions. However there is no
doubt about that Christmas is one of the main annual events in Japan today.
Christmas event in Japan has no relations with religion. Then what dose Japanese do at Christmas event? ..........................
1) Children get presents from their parents. Young children believe that Santa Claus gives the presents. (This custom seems to be established by stratagem of toy dealer mainly.)
2) At Christmas Eve, the family or friends decorate Christmas tree and eat Christmas cake or have Christmas party.
(This custom also seems to be established by stratagem of toy dealer, cake dealer, etc.)
3) Christmas Eve seems to be very important date day for lovers. (I don't know its reason.)
4) In this season, various retail stores such as foods, home electronics, clothes, jewelry and so on have Christmas sale. Winter bonus is allowed at this time. So Christmas sale is the largest sale in a year.
The reason why Christmas has planted deeply in this country seems to have been the scheme by merchants, judging from above No.1, 2 and 4.
For foreign Christian, it may be hard to understand the above conditions
in Japan. To tell the truth, I also can not understand well about this
phenomenon. --;
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We call the last day of the year Omisoka. At Ohmisoka, Japanese spend doing the following things.
In the daytime, we make preparation for new year such as cooking and cleaning.
In the night
1) Many Japanese watch TV.
Formerly, major Japanese watch same TV programs. At pm 7, they used to watching the grand prize awarded to the best singer of the year.
Then at pm 9, they watching very famous pop song show named Ko-haku Utagassen.
Ko-haku Utagassen means the Red and White Year-end Song Festival, in which 25 men (white team) and 25 women (red team) are split into two teams and compete the evaluation of songs each other.
But nowadays, there are various TV programs for this night and people watching the other TV program increase.
2) The bell of New Year's Eve (Joya no Kane)
At midnight, the Buddhist temple bells are rung 108 times and people listen
to this sound.
There are some origins to ringing 108 times. The most convincing origin is that the numbers of worldly desires human being has, are 108. It is thought that one worldly desires disappears with ringing one time.
We call this ceremony "the old year and the new year".
3) Buckwheat noodles eaten on New Year's Eve (Toshikoshi soba)
Just before midnight, Japanese eat soba noodles.
The origin of this custom is Edo period.
The shape of soba noodle is fine and long. People associate this "long" with a long life. That is, by eating soba noodles, people wish one's own long life.
By the way I like soba noodles very much. This is very good for health.
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| New Year decoration |
New Year decoration (Shimenawa) |
New Year decoration for merchant |
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Foods for New Year hoidays
(Kazunoko) |
Bell of Buddhist temple |
Soba noodle |
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The period from 31st December to 3rd January is public holiday in Japan and the period is longer than that at most of the company.
There are various events at New Year's Days.
8-1 New Year's decorations
1) Kadomatsu (Decoration of the gate with pine branches)
 Pine branches with bamboos are decorated on the both sides of gate. Nowadays
orthodox decoration at each home has decreased and simple decoration such
as the papers printing these is often used.
The origin of this custom seems to be Heian period (794 - 1185) and Kadomatsu was the guide for inviting God (Shintoism God).
2) Shimekazari (Shinto decoration of sacred straw festoons hung with strips of white paper)
Shimekazari is decorated on the top of house entrance. As you can see in the picture, Shimekazari is the rope braided with straw, with strips of white paper, a bitter orange and ferns with white-backed leaves.
This decoration is also the guide for inviting God (Shintoism God). The
rope (Shimenawa) symbolizes border and the inside of that is holly area.
There is Shimenawa at the front entrance of Shinto shrine. Then Shimekazari is thought to block the invasion of bad luck into home.
I also decorate this Shimekazari on the top of house entrance every year.
3) Kagami_mochi (large, round rice cake offered to the gods)
 Mochi is the preserved food made form mochi_rice.
When I was a child, mochi used to be made at each home. But nowadays, most people buy it at markets.
Kagami_mochi is the special mochi for offering. Kagami means mirror in Japanese. At ancient times, the form of Kagami was circle. Then its name (Kagami_mochi) originates the shape was similar to ancient mirror.
Kagami_moshi is decorated to 11th January and then all the members of the family eat it.
The arts of cooking are baking, Zoni, Oshiruko and so on.
8-2. Hatsuhinode (the first sunrise of the year)People wait the first sunrise at the place with a fine view of the sunrise. With sunrise, they pray to sun that this year will be good for them and their family.
From ancient times, sun and moon has been the object of faith. This seems to be common to agricultural people.
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Setsubun (The day before the beginning of spring)
In Japan, 4th February is called Risshun.
Risshun means the first day of spring according to the lunar calendar and in Japan spring starts from this day.
Setsubun is the day just before Risshun, that is, 3rd February.
At Setsubun day, people have the roasted-bean-scattering ceremony celebrating the coming of spring.
When scattering beans, people shout as follows.
Scattering beans inside the house, "Huku ha~ uchi!"
Scattering beans outside the house, "Oni ha~ soto!"
"Huku ha~ uchi!" means "good fortune please come in my house".
"Oni ha~ soto!" means "demon don't come in my house".
The roasted-bean has been thought to have some spiritual power and people eat these as many as his or her ages after scattering ceremony.
Then a holly branch is decorated on the entrance door to keep evil spirits away
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| Roast-beans and ogre mask |
Roast beans, Japanese sweets,
holly brnch, ogne mask and wealth mask
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Old paintings of Setsubun
(Edo period) |
- Hinamatsuri is held on March 3rd. The purpose
of this festival is to pray for young girls Egrowth, health and happiness.
Hinamatsuri originates from an ancient Chinese custom in which the impurities
of people were transferred to paper dolls and then these paper dolls was
floated on the river to wash away the impurities. This custom spread to
Japan in Nara period (710EE84). It was court nobles' custom at first, but
later spread to the warriors, and the common people in the Edo period.
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(Paper dolls floated down a river out to sea.) |
The form of Hinamatusri decoration is following.
The emperor doll and empress doll wear court dress are placed on the top
tier. Then three court ladies and five musicians are placed on the second
and the third tier, respectively. Furthermore, miniatures of the household
goods and other items are decorated as you can see at the following picture.
The number of tiers changes between three and seven. Other items such as
Hina-arare (popped rice covered with sugar), Hishimochi (three layers of
rice cakes), Amazake (alcoholic drink made from rice), and peach blossoms
are also displayed.
Recently, there are also compact sets of the emperor and empress dolls to suit today's housing conditions.
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| Seve tiers decoration |
Emperor doll and empress doll |
Empress doll |
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Three court ladies
(Sannin Kannyo) |
Five musicians
(Gonin Bayashi) |
Household goods and
other items |
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| Hishimochi, Amazake and Hina-arare |
Hichimochi and mini dolls |
Doll's paintings on the clamshell |
Following pictures were offered by the toy shop nearby (Cat's Eye).
You can see various types of Hinamatsuri dolls.
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Usually Shunbun-no-hi falls on March 20 or 21, the day when the length of day and night is equal. And this day is one of the national holidays of Japan.
The seven day period, including Shunbun-no-hi, is called Higan (spring equinoctial week).
Higan is Buddhist terms and means "the next world", and during this period Japanese people visits to their graves in order to comfort the sprits of their ancestors.
Ohagi is the traditional Japanese cake made from rice dumpling covered with bean jam. Originally, Ohagi was the foods to offer to the sprits of the ancestors in Higan season, but nowadays Ohagi is a typical Japanese-style confectionery.
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| Ohagi |
Ume (Japanese apricot) |
Flower arrangement with Ume |
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There are cherry trees in all over Japan.
Spring coming, cherry blossoms come out.
At the south part in Japan, cherry blossoms come out in the last ten days of March, and at the north part of Japan, in the first ten days of April.
Since ancient time, Japanese has loved cherry blossom.
Japanese spread a rush mat under the cherry tree and drink sake, eat, sing a song with family, friends or coworkers, viewing cherry blossom. We call this custom Hanami.
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May 5th is Kodomo-no-Hi (Children's day).
This day was originally for boys and the day for girls was March 3rd (Hinamatsuri).
However, now this day has become a national day to celebrate children in general.
On this day, Koinobori flags (carp-shaped streamers) are set up at the house with boys.
And dolls for Boy's Festival are also set up in the house.
The purpose of these dolls and flag is to pray for boy's growth and health
This article is on the writing.
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Various goods made in Japan
The high-tech products
1.Home electronics
2.Car & Bike
3.Game instrument
4.Precision instrument
Traditional goods
1.Furoshiki
2.Juzu
3.Folding paper
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