Setsubun literally means “dividing season” and it is the day before the beginning of spring according to the traditional East Asian calendar. There is a setsubun for each season, but when we talk about setsubun, we usually mean the Spring one.
In Japan people have believed for centuries that evil spirits are released when the season changes. Often a bean-throwing ceremony or mamemaki (豆まき) is carried out at many places from individual households to local shrines. A new tradition for the setsubun is to eat ehōmaki (seven-ingredient sushi roll) and it’s becoming more and more popular in Japan nowadays.
Kagami biraki means “to open the mirror” in Japanese. The mochi that was offered to Toshigami-sama as a Shōgatsu kazari is called kagami-mochi or mirror-mochi because of its shape. Usually on the 11th of January (the date may differ depending on the area) we eat this mochi, and the ceremony is called “kagami biraki” or “to open the mirror”. For this ceremony we are supposed to break it with a mallet instead of cutting it with a knife. Cutting is considered taboo because it has an association of seppuku or harakiri.
“謹賀新年” is read as kinga shinnen. It means “happy new year” in Japanese, but it is only used as a written greeting for nengajo, etc. When we say “happy new year” in person, we use akemashiteomedetougozaimasu.
New Year’s Eve is called Ōmisoka in Japanese. Through the ages Japanese people have believed that the Shinto God, Toshigami will visit each household on New Year’s Day. Therefore, in Japan we clean the entire house thoroughly by Ōmisoka. Traditionally on Ōmisoka in Japan we prepareosechi for New Year’s, and we eat toshikoshi soba for dinner. Many people watch Kōhaku Uta Gassen or “Red and White Song Battles”.
Shōgatsu kazari is the generic term of all types of Japanese New Year’s decorations. Shōgatsu kazari is usually suggested to be put up by the 28th of December, and to be taken down on the 7th or 15th of January depending on the area of Japan. Both shimekazari and kadomatsu are specific type of shōgatsu kazari.
Christmas is just around the corner. This is a photo of Japanese style Christmas dinner from a beautiful hotel in Kyoto. They have French Christmas dinner too. ￥10,000 (approx 88.40 USD) per person.
Obon is a ceremony held in late summer when the Japanese offer thanks and respect to their dead ancestors (click here for details). People in Japan believe that their ancestors’ souls can travel back to our world at this time. Some households shape small cows or horses called shōryō-uma or “spirit horses” out of vegetables and place these in the family altar so that their returning ancestors may travel more comfortably. Unlike Halloween in the West, the returning souls are not considered frightening, but are warmly welcomed.
This is the second year that Mountain Day is being celebrated as a national holiday of Japan. So if you haven’t climbed a mountain yet, or at least taken a long hike along a mountain trail, this would be a good time to start. (click here for more details about Mountain Day).
Unlike American schools, the Japanese school year starts in spring. From kindergarten to graduate school, all schools usually begin in April and end in March. Graduation is a very emotional event for most Japanese, and many students and teachers cry during the ceremony. In the Tokyo area graduation frequently falls the cherry blossom season and this makes it even more memorable.
