ayamochi

23rd January – 睦月

コンビニ　（Conbini） The shorter way to say the convenience store in Japan. Most Conbini open 24/7 and have variety of items. Now that I do not have much to write about Oshougatsu topic, I will start writing about general stuff about Japan! There are numbers of different Conbini chain stores (Daily Yamazaki, Ministop, local Conbini etc…),Continue reading “23rd January – 睦月”

22nd January – 睦月

正月遊び　（Shougatsu-Asobi）No.3 かるた　（Karuta） Karuta was originally came from Portugal, in Azuchimomoyama Era, one ship came to Japan and introduce the game called ‘ウンスンかるた(Unsun Karuta)’. Carta means ‘card’ in Portuguese. This game was popular among the nobility in Heian Era – was called 貝合わせ (Kai-awase) using the shells. Each shells were painted and written poetry, finding theContinue reading “22nd January – 睦月”

21st January – 睦月

正月遊び　（Shougatsu-Asobi）No. 2 福笑い　 (Fukuwarai) Since Meiji period, it has been played, Fuku means happy, Warai stands for laugh in Japanese. Blindfolding one person and placing the face parts without looking. Eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth… As people guess the position but it hardly be placed where it should. Because the face looks funny, it makeContinue reading “21st January – 睦月”

20th January – 睦月

正月遊び（Shougatsu-Asobi）No. 1 Traditional games that are played often in Oshougatsu time. In Japan, Many kids used to play traditional games in Oshougatsu time. However, because of many reasons including the advance of video games, nowadays people rarely play traditional games. Here are some of the extinguishing games: 羽根突き　（Hanetsuki） Badminton-alike game. Can play solo or 2Continue reading “20th January – 睦月”

19th January – 睦月

ことわざ（Kotowaza）1月冬 Proverbs for January, Winter 一月往ぬる二月逃げる三月去る Ichigetsu inuru, nigetsu nigeru, sangetsu saru From January to March, there are many events so feels like those months pass very quickly. each verbs has the same pronounce as the months, Ichi (1) – Inuru, Ni (2) – Nigeru and San (3) – Saru. 一年の計は元旦にあり Ichinen no keiContinue reading “19th January – 睦月”

18th January – 睦月

達磨　（Daruma） Japanese traditional doll with weight at the bottom. In the Shougatsu time, people draw left eye on Daruma doll and make a wish. Then if the wish comes true, they draw the right eye on it. The doll with weight called 起き上り小法師 (Okiagari-koboshi) was originally made about 1400 years ago in China and itContinue reading “18th January – 睦月”

17th January – 睦月

松竹梅　（Shou-Chiku-Bai) Pine tree, bamboo and plum – the lucky symbols in Japan Have you ever seen those symbols in Japan? Probably you have! Not only for celebration, many shops such as Soba shops, Sushi shops use shou-chiku-bai to categorise memu. All 3 symbols are equally fortunate but in order to make difference in menu, shopsContinue reading “17th January – 睦月”

16th January – 睦月

福袋　（Fukubukuro） The special bags which contains many items inside and people generally cannot see inside until they purchase to open it. Those are sold on the shop opening sale after New Year, generally held on 2nd or 3rd of January. 福袋 (Fukubukuro) was started at 大丸呉服店 (the Daimaru Kimono shop) in Edo period, they putContinue reading “16th January – 睦月”

15th January – 睦月

小正月　（Koshougatsu） The period putting the New Years’ decoration at home, ends on 15th January. Koshougatsu is the day to send the home coming god 歳神様(Toshigami Sama) to the sky. Koshougatsu is the day to wish for the great harvest for the year. It is also known as 女正月(Onna-shougatsu), the resting day for the ladies whoContinue reading “15th January – 睦月”

14th January – 睦月

センター入試　（sentar-nyuushi） On one Saturday and Sunday in the middle of January, the entry exam for universities is held for 3rd year high school students. This exam has all the same questions for everybody and depending on the points from that exam, Japanese universities will allow students to join the uni. Therefore, the result of thisContinue reading “14th January – 睦月”