February 2018
What is Ema, or picture tablet?
Ema are wooden votive picture tablets which are found in shrines or temples in Japan. People write their wishes and dreams on the back of "Ema" and hang them in the designated area in the precincts of shrines or temples. People originally donated living horses. Front of Ema has picture. […]
Let's eat Octopus balls at Japanese stall !
Octopus balls called Takoyaki in Japanese are originally local food for Osaka, Japan. You can enjoy them throughout Japan nowadays. It is very popular food for stalls in the festival. It is fun to see how they are being made on the special plate. Osaka people make them at home.
Valentine’s Day in Japan
How it goes with Valentine’s Day in Japan ? Saint Valentine's Day on Feb. 14th is cerebrated around the world. Each country has its own custom how to cerebrate this day. How it goes in Japan? The day for women give Chocolates to men. Rather than couples exchanging cards or gifts each other, only women give […]
Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum（江戸東京たてもの園 Edo-Tokyo Tatemono-en）is located in Koganei park in Koganei-city, Tokyo. Although it's not very center of Tokyo, it's not too difficult to visit because the nearest station is just 20 minutes from Shinjuku station. Exhibition of reconstructed valuable historical building This is a very unique open-air museum […]
National Foundation Day in Feb. 11th
February 11th is cerebrated as National Foundation Day. It is a National Holiday in Japan. Based on Nihon-shoki (the oldest chronicles of Japan), the first Emperor of Japan, Jinmu（神武）, ascended to the throne on this day. In Japanese, 神（Jin）means God and 武（Mu）means martial arts. It is said that the present Imperial family are the […]
Setsubun festival in Feb 3rd. Eat Eho-maki!
Setsubun Festival "Demons out! Happiness in!" February 3rd is “Setsubun” festival in Japan. (The date is different on each year, but mostly around Feb.3rd) It’s kind of a funny holiday in Japan. “Setusbun” literally means “splitting the seasons”. It is the day before the first day of spring, so Setsubun splits between winter and spring. Although […]