13th April – 卯月 Each countries have its own national anthem, and so does Japan. Japanese national anthem is called 君が代 (Kimi ga yo) and it is known for the shortest anthem in the world. It consists of 32 words and only have about 45 seconds to finish up singing. Kimigayo was written by unknownContinue reading “日本国歌 (Nihon Kokka) – Japanese Anthem”
Tag Archives: #April
キジ (Kiji) – Pheasant
11th April – 卯月 Japanese national bird, it was determined in 1947. Pheasant stays in Japan whole year and it is Japanese endemic species. 雉 (Kiji) as a national bird of Japan, is believed to exist most places in Japan exept in Hokkaido and Tsushima, however many people never have seen them. Kiji is veryContinue reading “キジ (Kiji) – Pheasant”
狛犬 (Komainu)
9th April – 卯月 In the shrine, you might realize there are 2 pair of statues of dog alike animals before getting close to the main hall. Those stone or wooden made statues are called 狛犬 (Komainu), and those are believed to guard the shrines from evils just as a watchdogs. Komainu 狛犬 can beContinue reading “狛犬 (Komainu)”
潮干狩り (Shiohigari) – Clam digging
7th April – 卯月 Digging the sandy beach to find shells such as clams when it is low tide. In the spring season in Japan, many family go to the sandy beach to enjoy 潮干狩り (Shiohigari). The sandy ground where normally is deep under the sea comes out due to the low tide, has plentyContinue reading “潮干狩り (Shiohigari) – Clam digging”
こけし (Kokeshi) – Traditional Japanese wood doll
5th April – 卯月 こけし (Kokehsi), also written as 子芥子, is the traditional wooden doll in Japan. It consists of round part with column and is drew face, hair plus Kimono. In the end of Edo era, Kokeshi were sold in the hot spring hotels in Tohoku area. At that time, people went to theContinue reading “こけし (Kokeshi) – Traditional Japanese wood doll”
タケノコ (Takenoko) – Bamboo shoot
4th April – 卯月 Most people probably know that 筍 (Takenoko = Bamboo shoot) is edible but did you know that we can only eat few bamboo species? 竹(Take =Bamboo) grows very fast, and within around 10 days, the bamboo shoot becomes hard Take tree. 竹 can live more than 100 years, so it isContinue reading “タケノコ (Takenoko) – Bamboo shoot”
オノマトペ : 動物 (Onomatope : Doubutsu) – Onomatopoeia No. 2:Animals
3rd April – 卯月 Japanese uses onomatopoeia a lot in the conversation, as I said on the previous blog. For the sound of animal barking, Japanese hear it differently to the other countries. -小鳥 (Kotori) Little bird: ピヨピヨ – Piyo Piyo -烏 (Karasu) Crow: カーカー – Car Car -猫 (Neko) Cat: ニャー – Nya- -犬 (Inu) Dog: ワンワンContinue reading “オノマトペ : 動物 (Onomatope : Doubutsu) – Onomatopoeia No. 2:Animals”
キラキラネーム (Kirakira ne-mu) – Shining Name
2nd April – 卯月 キラキラネーム is the name for people which uses abnormal Chinese character (Kanji) and / or can be read differently to the actual pronunciation. Kirakira name have started to appear from the mid of 1990’s in Japan (aroud 1995), and in 2000’s the number of Kirakira name has increased rapidly. In JapaneseContinue reading “キラキラネーム (Kirakira ne-mu) – Shining Name”
Little Japan Dictionary 