Chika

2016 September Courses

by

Sign-up is available for the September courses: 9/6/16 – 9/28/16 It’s $125 for 4 classes!!! We will meet once a week for four weeks in College Park, MD Course Schedule for 9/6/16 ~ 9/28/16          Time Tue Wed 6-6:50pm JAP 102 Beg 1 7:10-8pm JAP101 Chika Sugiyama 4500 Lehigh Rd, College Park, MD 20740 mail@learnjapan.co 202-656-6085

七夕 – Tanabata

by

tanabata 01

July 7th is Tanabata.  It’s not a holiday, but Japanese families (especially with small children) celebrate it by writing their wishes on strips of colored paper and hanging them on bamboo branches.  We also wish Orihime and Hikoboshi to be able to meet safely (please read Story of Tanabata about it).  People say that wishes on Tanabata come true.  So let’s make a wish!

雨の京都 – Rainy Day in Kyoto

by

梅雨の京都

Traditional Japanese scenes (shrines, temples, old style houses, streets, gardens etc.) look particularly lovely in the rain.  This is good because it rains often in Japan at certain times of year.  Tourists typically prefer to visit during the dry and sunny days, but I still enjoy cloudy skies, and the look and sound of rain on the glistening streets and buildings.  This photo was taken in Kyoto.

七夕の話 – Story of Tanabata

by

tanabata 03

The story of Tanabata was inspired by a Chinese folktale.

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful lady name Orihime near the Milky Way.  She was a daughter of God of Sky and wove beautiful clothes every day.  When Orihime reached the marriageable age, God of Sky introduced her to Hikoboshi who lived on the other side of the Milky Way.  When the two met, they fell in love instantly and married shortly thereafter.  However, once the two were married, they were too busy to spend time together and did not work.  God of Sky scolded them, but they still did not work.  In anger, God of Sky separated them across the Milky Way and forbade them to meet.  Orihime was in tears every day. God of Sky felt sorry for them and said to Orihime. “If you work hard, you may meet Hikoboshi on the 7th day of the 7th month every year.”  Since that day Orihime and Hikoboshi worked hard every day in order to see each other.

2016 August Courses

by

Sign-up is available for the August courses: 8/1/16 – 8/24/16 It’s $125 for 4 classes!!! We will meet once a week for four weeks in College Park, MD Course Schedule for 8/1/16 ~ 8/24/16          Time Mon Tue Wed 6-6:50pm JAP 101 Beg 1 Beg 2 7:10-8pm JAP 103 Chika Sugiyama 4500 Lehigh Rd, College Park, MD 20740 … Read more

雨の日本 – Rainy Day in Japan

by

雨の日本 03

Traditional Japanese scenes (shrines, temples, old style houses, streets, gardens etc.) look particularly lovely in the rain.  This is good because it rains often in Japan at certain times of year.  Tourists typically prefer to visit during the dry and sunny days, but I still enjoy cloudy skies, and the look and sound of rain on the glistening streets and buildings.

梅雨 – Rainy Season

by

鎌倉　明月院 02a

We have a rainy season every year in Japan.  It arrives first in Okinawa (south) and moves up towards the north.  It usually reaches Tokyo around the beginning of June and lasts for about a month to six weeks.  This is a photo of jizo or a guardian deity of children in Meigetsu-in, Kamakura.

父の日 – Father’s Day

by

Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day!  Yes, we celebrate Father’s Day in Japan.  We say “otōsan, arigatō (お父さん、ありがとう)” that means “thank you, dad”.  So, お父さん、ありがとう to all dads!

ホタルイカ – Firefly Squid

by

firefly squid 1

Firefly squid live in deep sea, and I don’t think they can be found around the U.S.  As far as around Japan, they can be found mainly in the Sea of Japan.  There are about 1000 bioluminescent organs on each firefly’s body and release beautiful blue light.  Firefly squid is only 2, 3 inches long at maturity, but they are delicious.  😛  Japanese people enjoy eating them very much.  There is a firefly squid museum, and you can touch them alive in spring.  There is a sign on the tank “please do not eat them”.  lol

firefly squid 2