Uncategorized - Japanese Language & Culture for Everyone! - Page 28

雨の日本 – Rainy Day in Japan

July 11, 2016June 10, 2015 by Chika

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.

Hydrangeas & Snails

June 11, 2020June 5, 2015 by Chika

Hydrangeas (紫陽花 / あじさい) & snails (かたつむり) are both familiar symbols of a rainy season for Japanese people.

梅雨 – Rainy Season

July 4, 2016May 30, 2015 by Chika

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 year it has already arrived in Okinawa and should reach Tokyo during the second week of June.

藤城清治 – Seiji Fujishiro

June 2, 2015May 15, 2015 by Chika

Seiji Fujishiro is one of my favorite Japanese artists. He is known for shadow play art. There is a Seiji Fujishiro Museum in Tochigi (1.5 hours from Tokyo by train), Japan. I have visited the museum, and I felt like I walked into a wonderful mystical space.

Koi Nobori Food

June 2, 2015May 5, 2015 by Chika

Kawaii Koi Nobori food to celebrate Children’s Day.

こどもの日 – Children’s Day

May 14, 2020May 1, 2015 by Chika

May 5^th is an official holiday in Japan called Children’s Day. Often we raise carp-figure flags (こいのぼり – Koi Nobori) on the roof of the house to wish a child (or children)’s health and strength. In a Chinese legend a carp that swam against upstream turned into a dragon, so we wish our children to be as strong as the carp.

Scavenger Hunt (Sakura Matsuri)

April 11, 2015April 10, 2015 by Chika

Join this Scavenger Hunt & win a free 30-minute Skype session

Capture as many as possible of the following items on camera at the National Cherry Blossom Festival 2015 (the street festival) or at the specified location. Please email your photos to mail@LearnJapan.co. Please try to include enough background to show that you were at the festival. You do not have to complete the entire list to win a free Skype session with Learn Japan.

キリンビール
Doraemon’s favorite food
Naruto’s favorite food
Paper craft bird that is traditional Japanese culture/activity
Music instrument that is related to Mr. Miyagi’s (the original Karate Kid’s Sensei’s) hometown.
Signboard/sign for a “シーヴィーエス” within 0.1 miles from the street festival

桜祭り – Sakura Matsuri

April 10, 2015April 5, 2015 by Chika

I will be at the Sakura Matsuri (the street festival) for the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC on Saturday, 4/11/15. Please come out and join a scavenger hunt to win a free 30-minute Skype session with Learn Japan!

Details will be posted here at 11 am, 4/11/15.

桜 – Cherry Blossom

January 10, 2018April 1, 2015 by Chika

It’s time for cherry blossoms again!!!

Although cherry blossoms are not a floral emblem of Japan officially, cherry blossoms are strongly associated with Japan and Japanese culture.

Photo: 2013年3月 - 壁紙ING管理人の写真ブログ

流行り – Fad

March 11, 2015March 10, 2015 by Chika

In Japan we go through fads of food, books, toys, fashion, etc. Some of fads stay for a while, and some of them disappear after a few months. Here are some examples.

Tom Yum Instant Noodle by Nissin Food became so popular in April 2014. Demands were so high that supplier couldn’t catch up. People were willing to pay 4 times as much.

Another one was Beef Sukinabe by Yoshinoya Fast Food Chain Restaurant. This sale started in December 2013 and they sold 14,000,000 orders before they temporarily stopped the sale in May 2014.

As far as fashion, gingham check designed clothes were one of fads in 2014.