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万華鏡 – Kaleidoscope
The kaleidoscope was invented by Scottish scientist David Brewster in 1817. By 1819, the kaleidoscope had already been imported to Japan and was so popular that in Osaka fake ones were being produced and sold. In Japan kaleidoscope is still popular and is considered as one of the traditional Japanese toys. It is called mangekyō in Japanese.
浴衣 – Yukata
The yukata is an ordinary summer kimono for both men and women of any age. It’s inexpensive and you can probably find a low-priced set of yukata including both obi belt and geta shoes for $30~$40 in Japan.
Practice Session
Beginners welcome!!! $10 for the first timer, $5 for the current students, $15 for others. We practice speaking Japanese phrases. Contact me for details. Level: Beginner & Intermediate (some verb conjugations, some adjective conjugations, etc.) Not meant for the advanced speakers.
着物 – Kimono
The kimono is the traditional native clothing of Japan. There are many different types of kimono. For women the most gorgeous and well-known one is the furisode. It is worn only by unmarried women, is very expensive, and is worn on special occasions like graduations, weddings, etc. The yukata is a summer kimono for both men and women of any age. It is again becoming fashionable among young people in Japan today and is much more popular than it was a decade ago. There are many other types of kimono depending on the occasion, season (different material), color (marital status, occupational clothing, etc.), etc. For example a Miko or shrine maiden always wears a kimono that is white above the waist and red below.
Sumida River Fireworks
The biggest firework event in Tokyo is held annually near the Sumida River (隅田川花火大会). The total number of the fireworks for this event is 20000 shells and the show lasts about 90 minutes. The original firework event was held in 1733, and since 1978 it has been held every year.
花火大会 – Fireworks
In Japan, fireworks are normally held in late July to August. In the Tokyo area, about eight different places annually hold big firework displays that set off more than 12000 shells and last over one hour. Elsewhere there are many more smaller firework shows that set off less than 5000 shells and last about 30 minutes or more. People often attend fireworks wearing a Yukata (Summer Kimono).
Asagaya Tanabata Festival
A neighborhood in Tokyo called Asagaya holds its annual festival (阿佐谷七夕まつり) for Tanabata (click for more details) in August about one month after the day of Tanabata because the date of the festival is based on the lunar calendar. It was first held in 1954 and since then Asagaya has become well known for its spectacular Tanabata festival. They built glass roof in 1962 for the festival because when it rains, the dye from Tanabata decorations can stain visitors’ clothing.
七夕 – Tanabata
Tanabata (たなばた or 七夕) is a Japanese event / celebration day that originated in China. According to Chinese legend, the Milky Way separates the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). They are in love but are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar year. For Tanabata we celebrate the meeting of these two lovers by writing our own wishes on colored paper, and attach these to a bamboo branch. People say that wishes made on Tanabata will come true.
梅酒 – Japanese Plum Wine
Japanese plum wine or Japanese plum juice is not difficult to make. If you see Japanese plums in a grocery store, you might want to try it. We normally use sugar crystals (rocks of sugar) for this, but granulated sugar or honey can be used as well. Japanese plum wine can be made by placing plums (cleaned), sugar, and a clear liquor (such as vodka or clear rum) together in a clean jar and letting it sit for 3~24 months. The 3-month version has a very light plum taste, while the 24-month version is very thick. Normally in Japan we take the plums out of the liquor after one year. The plums can be eaten as is or used for cakes, cookies, jam, etc.