Every year on May 3rd and 5th, there is a “big kite festival” held off the river bank of the Edogawa in Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture. There are basically 3 types of kites that are used during the event. The first are sponsor and/or community participant kites that measure about 2m X 1.5m. Second are [...]
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Starbucks VIA made its debut in Japan today (April 14, 2010) with two flavors: Columbia & Italian Roast. Perfect timing as Japan’s instant coffee drinkers are on a major rise according to tonight’s news. The news story featured a coffee machine that uses instant coffee to make a fresh cup of Joe. The company limits [...]
I probably mentioned this before, but one of Japan’s unique Christmas traditions includes the purchase of a “Christmas Cake”. I believe the popular cake of choice is short cake decorated with Christmas related items. On TV I’ve seen other types of Christmas Cakes that run up to ¥20,000 ($200+) and higher. Well this year I [...]
No, this is not a swine flu vending machine or vaccine vending machine. BUT I just wanted to apologize for the big gap from my last post. I was getting attacked left and right. I started out with a cold and a pretty bad cough to the point of losing my voice. I went to [...]
By now, you have probably heard of Japan’s “Golden Week” in Japan which is basically a series of five holidays that are observed during the crossover of April and May in spring. Well here in autumn, in September to be exact, there is another series of holidays back to back, that has been recently referred [...]
Here is a video I took from the train platform of a train party. You can see some people dancing in one of the cars. It is possible to rent trains like this for special events. They arrange these trains to fit into the regular train schedules. WARNING: If you watch the whole video, it might [...]
One of the top three biggest festivals in Japan includes Aomori Prefecture’s Nebuta Festival held in August. The festival is famous for its massive lantern floats. The festival events lasts for seven days with these huge man-powered floats making their rounds on the streets at night almost scraping buildings as they move along. It takes [...]
In the past few years, Inakadate Village in Aomori Prefecture has been getting a lot of publicity during the summer. Why? It is because of their unique way of planting rice. They use three or four different kinds of rice plants, basically different colors, to create a MASSIVE picture display on several rice paddies. It [...]
July 7th in Japan is known as “Tanabata” or ‘Star Festival’. Tanabata is explained through a Japanese legend, with its origins from China. Two stars Hikoboshi (Altair / the cow herder star) and Orihime (Vega / the weaving princess) fall deeply in love, but are separated by “Amanogawa” (Milky Way / Heaven’s River). They [...]
Need a little laugh? Here is a video that just can’t help but bring a smile to your face. This little baby boy imitates his daddy on the cell phone who is obviously a businessman. And baby seems like he’s more than ready to follow in daddy’s footsteps. He has the mannerisms of how many [...]
Japanese schools do some cool things, and this is one of them… an aerial school photo. This is one of three elementary schools I work at and this school is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. This aerial photo is one of the things they are doing to help commemorate this special event. The aerial photo [...]
Japan’s fiscal year is from April to March. Pretty much everything has its start in April in Japan; schools, job position changes, university graduates entering the work force, etc. So it is also a busy time with many transitions and emotional stress, which is why I think “Golden Week” (almost a week of holidays at [...]
May 5th is Chidren’s Day in Japan. To celebrate, the Japanese hang “koinobori” or carp banners outside of their homes wishing for health and success for their children. Koi or the carp is a symbol of strength in Japan. It is common to see koinobori around Japan during April and the beginning of May. [...]
We are in the midst of “Golden Week” here in Japan. One of the top three holiday seasons in Japan. In winter there are the “New Year” holidays. In summer there are the “Obon” holidays. And in spring is “Golden Week” which are four holidays lined up on either side of the weekend that connects [...]
This begins a new series I’d like to do on school events in Japan with a focus on junior high schools (= 7th, 8th, 9th grade USA). I’ve been in Japan for over 10 years teaching English at junior high and elementary schools, so I thought this might be interesting. So we will start at [...]
The sakura (cherry blossoms) are at their peak in the Kanto Region, which also means it is time for Hanami (flower viewing parties/picnics). The cherry blossom season is very short; a mere 2 weeks on average. And that means there isn’t much time to enjoy them. So when the sakura are scheduled to bloom or [...]
The “sakura” or “cherry blossom” season has started in the Kanto Region of Japan for 2009. Here in Saitama you can see the pink blossoms lining the streets, surrounding schools…almost anywhere. But the sad thing is that the cherry blossoms usually only last for about two weeks (if even that long). From what I’ve seen [...]
March 14th is “White Day” in Japan. “WHAT IS THAT?!” My thoughts EXACTLY! White Day is Japan’s other Valentine’s Day, or should I say, “Part 2″ in the celebration of LOVE! As I mentioned in my post about Valentine’s Day in Japan, February 14th is the day that “women” give chocolate to “men”. And White Day is when men [...]
Just wanted to add this, so you can see how AMAZING these Hina Ningyo (Girl’s Day Dolls) displays can get. And also look at the post below about Girl’s Day in Japan.
HAPPY GIRL’s DAY! March 3rd in Japan is known as “Hina Matsuri” or as many of us know it, Girl’s Day! It is a day to celebrate healthy growth and happiness for girls. And the biggest thing that stands out on this day is probably the “hina ningyo”, or Japanese Girl’s Day dolls. The two main [...]
Valentine’s Day has spread all over the world and it may all seem the same, but it’s not; at least not in Japan. Many of us have grown up with February 14th being a day to express our fond feelings for someone special to us by giving flowers and chocolate, and/or even a card. Men [...]
It is now the “Juken” season in Japan. January and February mark the “entrance examinations” for private elementary schools on up to the public and private university undergraduate and graduate programs throughout Japan (and even some private nursery schools). Students literally have to compete to get into the schools they apply for. The first round [...]
Japan has it’s own version of blues music called, “Enka” which is often about lost loves, broken hearts, and looking back on how things used to be. Enka is popular among the older generations and could be labeled the “J pop” music before World War 2. Singers of enka usually are dressed formally in [...]
In the USA (and many western countries) many people send Christmas greeting cards to friends and loved ones. In Japan they send New Year greeting postcards. In the US you can buy a box of Christmas cards that come with envelopes or many people choose to have photo Christmas cards printed of [...]
Twice a year the Japanese take the time to show their appreciation to people who have taken care of them throughout the year through their friendship, relationships, or some type of service by sending gifts called Oseibo and Ochugen. Oseibo is given as a year end gift in winter. And Ochugen is given mid year or [...]
