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地獄谷のサル – Monkeys in Onsen
There is a park in Nagano Prefecture, Japan where you can watch Japanese monkeys taking a bath. This is one specific type of monkey called a Snow Monkey. The park is specially designed to keep these monkeys as wild as possible and to strictly control tourists. For example visitors are not allowed to feed the monkeys so that monkeys won’t harass or try to follow tourists. But for those who want closer contact, there is an inn nearby where monkeys may join you while you take a bath in onsen outside.
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温泉 – Onsen
Onsen or hot springs in Japan are natural spring that wells up from the underground or man-made bath that uses natural spring water. The regulations in Japan to be qualified as an onsen are to have one of the followings. 1. The water has to be at least 25 Celsius degrees naturally before heating. 2. The water must contain certain levels of mineral as it wells up naturally.
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2016 Anime Top 5
This year is almost over. So I’d like to share with you some popular anime released in 2016. According to the Japanese fan website www.anikore.jp, the following new anime were judged the best to appear in 2016:
1) ERASED
2) Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-
3) Your Name
4) A Silent Voice (this one is not yet available on DVD)
5) New Game!
I only know first three anime, and they are all good. My favorite is ERASED. A Silent Voice DVD isn’t yet available.
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しめ飾り – Shimekazari
Shimekazari is a decorated shimenawa. Today many households just put up shimekazari like any other new year’s decoration; but traditionally its purpose was to attract the spirit of one particular Shinto deity: Toshigami-sama, (protector of health and good fortune), so that he would purify the house and keep bad luck and evil spirits away.
Shimekazari is usually suggested to be put up between 13th and 28th of December, and to be taken down on the 7th or 15th of January depending on the area of Japan.
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Shell-less Hatching
A Japanese high school teacher, Yutaka Tahara figured out how to hatch a chicken in plastic wrap without a shell. In high school students study the chicken embryo development, but the chickens die in the process. Teacher Tanaka researched for 30 years how to hatch the chicken successfully. It is fascinating!
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KFC Christmas Dinner
It’s almost that time again… it’s almost time for… KFC!!! lol
I mention this every Christmas season, so you may be tired of hearing it, but please let me say it again for the first timers. In Japan KFC chicken is very typical and popular Christmas dinner for many households & Christmas parties. KFC starts taking orders for the Christmas special as early as 11/1/16. People form long lines in front of KFC stores on Christmas Eve because we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day.
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クリスマスの和菓子 – Christmas Wagashi
Wagashi or traditional Japanese sweets with non-traditional theme, Christmas. ? Lovely ?
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しめ縄 – Shimenawa
A shimenawa is a rope that people display in shrines and households. The purpose of a shimenawa is to attract the notice of Shinto gods, and to purify the area and keep evil spirits away.
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Christmas Special – BEG 1
Only $49.99 for a BEG 1 (beginner classroom style course) for January, 2017.
It’s $49.99/person for four 50-minute classes! 60% OFF!!!
Hurry! Offer lasts while seats available.
Dates Time Max # of Seats 1/3, 10, 17, 24/17 7:10-8 pm 7 1/4, 11, 18, 25/17 6-6:50 pm 7 * Please click here for more details.
** No refund, you can exchange it for one private lesson (process due 12/31/16, expires on 2/1/17).
SCETA Japan Center
4500 Lehigh Rd, College Park, MD 20740
202-656-6085
mail@LearnJapan.co
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和菓子 – Wagashi
Wagashi means “traditional Japanese sweets” in Japanese and as the name is self-explanatory, all the traditional Japanese sweets are called “wagashi”. They are often made with red mung bean paste, navy bean paste, rice, rice flour, etc.
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紅葉 – Maple Leaf
Japanese Maple leaves are one of the most symbolic images of autumn for Japanese people. Chestnuts are used in lots of autumn food (for more details please read my chestnut post), but maple leaf patterns are the shape most often featured in autumn designs.
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Christmas Special – Calligraphy
One calligraphy class for $29.99!
A calligraphy brush included!!!
Hurry! Offers last while seats available.
❤ Perfect for a Christmas Gift ❤
Calligraphy Class Slots
Monday Tuesday Wednesday January 2017
2
1:30-2:45pm
3:15-4:30pm
3
1:30-2:45pm
3:15-4:30pm
4
1:30-2:45pm
3:15-4:30pm
9
10
1:30-2:45pm
3:15-4:30pm
11
1:30-2:45pm
3:15-4:30pm
16
17
1:30-2:45pm
3:15-4:30pm
18
1:30-2:45pm
3:15-4:30pm
23
24
1:30-2:45pm
3:15-4:30pm
25
1:30-2:45pm
3:15-4:30pm
- No refund.
- Each class is 75 minutes.
- You can keep your calligraphy brush.
SCETA Japan Center
4500 Lehigh Rd, College Park, MD 20740
202-656-6085
mail@LearnJapan.co
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Yōkai Event
This event was originally scheduled for just one day, but by request I am now extending the duration of the exhibition. I invite you to drop by the SCETA Japan center.
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酉の市 – Tori no Ichi
The “tori” or rooster is one of the 12 signs of the oriental zodiac. Each November you can purchase a special rake at fairs (called 酉の市 or “Tori no Ichi”) that are held at several shrines in Japan. People believe that these special rakes gather luck for business. The rakes vary in size from just a few-inches to 10-feet long. People say that if you want to expand your business, you should buy a bigger rake every year.
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左上右下 – Sajō Uge
Please look closely at these fish. Do you notice anything about how they are served???
The head is always on the left and the tail is to the right. If you go to a real Japanese restaurant, they will always serve fish this way. Traditionally in Japan we say “左上右下”. That means “left is superior to right.” If you serve fish the other way, it is considered to bring bad luck.
If you are interested in learning about Japanese culture, please contact me.
Chika Sugiyama
202-656-6085
mail@LearnJapan.co
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PPAP
This song by 古坂 大魔王 aka ピコ太郎 (Pikotaro) has entered the Billboard Hot 100 today (10/28/16) and is ranked #77.
On 10/28/16 PPAP was also recognized by Guinness World Records as the shortest song that has entered the Billboard Hot 100.
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秋の富士山 – Autumn Mt. Fuji
If you want to see autumn leaves near Mt. Fuji, late October through mid November is the best time for it. The Fuji Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival (11/1/16 – 11/23/16) is held in the area. -
もみじ回廊 – Maple Corridor
The Maple Corridor is the main attraction of the Fuji Kawaguchiko Autumn Leaves Festival (富士河口湖紅葉まつり: 11/1/16 – 11/23/16) in Yamanashi, Japan near Mt. Fuji. As of 2016, this annual festival is free of charge. You might want to stay until the dark to see the night illumination of the Maple Corridor as well.
* Photo by Saori Moriuchi, https://www.instagram.com/tarako_sun
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2016 November Courses
Sign-up is available for the November courses: 11/1/16 – 11/23/16
It’s $125 for 4 classes!!!
We will meet once a week for four weeks.
Don’t worry. Classes are small – Seven students max
Course Schedule for 11/1/16 ~ 11/23/16
Tue Wed 6-6:50pm JAP 102 BEG 1 7:10-8pm JAP 101 Ready to sign-up? Please click here.
Chika Sugiyama
4500 Lehigh Rd, College Park, MD 20740
mail@learnjapan.co
202-656-6085
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三島神社の金木犀 – Mishima Shrine Kinmokusei
Mishima Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Shizuoka, Japan. The Kinmokusei tree has been designated as a natural monument of Japan since 1934. Kinmokusei usually blossoms in the middle of September in Mishima Shrine. Please read Kinmokusei post for more information.
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神社 – Shinto Shrine
A Shinto shrine is the place where we enshrine and worship Shinto God. There is an entrance gate called Torii, and inside of the gate is considered to be Shinto shrine precinct where the Holy Spirit subsides.
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お月見 – Otsukimi
Otsukimi is a traditional event or festival held in Japan on the 15th of August by the old lunar calendar, which happens to fall this year on September 15th 2016 by our modern calendar. Otsukimi means “moon viewing” in Japanese. We are supposed to view the full moon and appreciate the year’s harvest, but since it goes by the old calendar which is not perfect, it sometimes happens that you cannot actually view the full moon on this day. For example this year the full moon falls on the 17th of September, two days later. Anyway, on Otsukimi we Japanese still offer dumplings, fruits, and vegetables to the Kami (gods, or powers of nature) to show our appreciation for this year’s harvest.
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銀河鉄道の夜 – Night on the Galactic Railroad
Night on the Galactic Railroad is a famous novel written by Kenji Miyazawa. Due to the death of the writer, it was left as an unfinished manuscript (the first draft was written in 1924), and it took a while to finally publish it in 1934. Miyazawa describes his fantastical world very beautifully and talks about the meaning of our lives. I have read the novel and seen an anime version made in 1985, and they are both excellent. A manga version, TV shows, a musical, a play, etc. have also been made from this story.
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山の日 – Mountain Day
Mountain Day is a new national holiday of Japan that starts this year for the first time! The date is the 11th of August, and though it was established in 2014 this is the first year that will take effect. A similar holiday, called Ocean Day, was established 20 years ago to encourage people to appreciate the sea. And now it’s mountains. Only fair, of course. Right?
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夏の風邪は・・・ – Summer Cold
The Japanese have a saying: “夏の風邪は犬も食わぬ” Roughly translated it means “even a dog won’t eat a summer cold.” The implication is that, while dogs are known to gulp down practically anything, a summer cold is so terrible they won’t go near it. People in Japan (and elsewhere) have known for generations that catching a summer cold is really bad. So please, be careful!
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Japanese Items
My student wanted to translate a Japanese snack package that she received in her “Kawaii box”.
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2016 September Courses
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
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七夕 – Tanabata
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!
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雨の京都 – Rainy Day in Kyoto
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.
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七夕の話 – Story of Tanabata
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.
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2016 August Courses
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
mail@learnjapan.co
202-656-6085
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雨の日本 – Rainy Day in Japan
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.
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梅雨 – Rainy Season
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.
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父の日 – 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!
