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”
Tag Archives: #Japan
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”
花粉症 (Kafunshou) – Hay fever
6th April – 卯月 Hay fever exists whole year in Japan, but the worst season starts from the early February and continues till May – In Japanese spring time, there are Cedar pollen flying around and make illiterate many people. Cedar tree afforestation had done from Edo era, and even after the World War 2,Continue reading “花粉症 (Kafunshou) – Hay fever”
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”
日本に住む: 住居編 (Nihon ni Sumu: Jyuukyo hen) -Living in Japan: house
1st April –卯月 (Uzuki) April is the time when new semester and terms start for schools and jobs in Japan. In this season, many people move to the cities to start working or commute schools, therefore there are heaps people starting to live by themselves. Today’s blog will give some information about living by oneselfContinue reading “日本に住む: 住居編 (Nihon ni Sumu: Jyuukyo hen) -Living in Japan: house”
桜エビ (Sakura ebi) – Sakura Shrimp
31st March – 弥生 Sakura ebi – named afterits color, just like a pretty pink color, cherry blossom (桜=Sakura). Moreover, Sakura ebi can be taken the most in spring when sakura blooms, this is why it is called Sakura ebi. Sakuraebi lives only in Tokyo bay, Sagami bay and Suruga bay, however the area onlyContinue reading “桜エビ (Sakura ebi) – Sakura Shrimp”
Little Japan Dictionary 