31st May – 皐月 梅雨 (Tsuyu), the rainy season falls around June till mid July every year in Japan. During this season, many days have rain or cloudy days, so it’s very humid and damp. The Kanji 梅 means plum, this is because 梅雨 season is the time when plums ripen. Today, the Shikoku areaContinue reading “梅雨 (Tsuyu) -rainy season”
Tag Archives: May
ジブリ映画 (Jiburi Eiga) – Studio Ghibli Movies
30th May – 皐月 Probably many people who like Japan know what Studio Ghibli is – Japanese animation company which have produced many popular films. Ghibli movies have beautiful drawings and fantastic music so it has been loved by various generation in Japan. Some non-Japanese pronounce Ghibli as ぎぶり (Giburi). However the correct way toContinue reading “ジブリ映画 (Jiburi Eiga) – Studio Ghibli Movies”
折り紙: 菖蒲の作り方 – Origami: How to make Iris
25th May – 皐月 Probably some people might know how to make a bird crane with Origami, so I would like to teach you other things to create with Origami, which is one of my hobbies – today’s one is Iris (菖蒲 Ayame/ also can be pronounced as Shoubu). May is the season for Ayame,Continue reading “折り紙: 菖蒲の作り方 – Origami: How to make Iris”
異字同訓 (Iji Doukun)
24th May – 皐月 It might be one of the hardest languages to learn Japanese, as Japanese have 3 different styles Alphabets and I’m most cases we use all alphabets everywhere. Especially remembering 漢字 (Kanji) is a nightmare – even for native Japanese too as there are just too many of them. Each Kanji normallyContinue reading “異字同訓 (Iji Doukun)”
断捨離 (Danshari)
22nd May –皐月 断捨離 (Danshari) is the new mindset of cleaning, consists of 3 processes: 断 (Dan) – stop buying stuff which is not necessary 捨 (Sha) – throw away the things which are no longer used at home 離 (Ri) – stop the obsession toward things / buying This mindset was established by Mrs.Continue reading “断捨離 (Danshari)”
還暦祝い(Kanreki Iwai) – 60years old cerebration
16th May – 皐月 Japanese culture has special cerebration for turning point of years. One of the big cerebration can be 成人式 (Seijinshiki = 20years old) and 還暦祝い (Kanreki Iwai) for 60 years old. For 還暦祝い, traditionally people who turned 60 years old wear red hat and vest. However, nowadays, this custom is vanishing andContinue reading “還暦祝い(Kanreki Iwai) – 60years old cerebration”
ヨナ抜き音階 (Yonanuki Onkai) – Japanese musical scale
11th May – 皐月 Old Japanese music style has unique sounds that are very peculiar, this is because there is a Japanese musical scale exists. Older time before Western music spread in Japan, Japanese used to call the sound of Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti as ヒフミヨイムナ (Hi Fu Mi Yo I MuContinue reading “ヨナ抜き音階 (Yonanuki Onkai) – Japanese musical scale”
こどもの日 (Kodomo no Hi)
5th May – 皐月 Part of Golden week holiday, the day for children – Respecting the children’s individual characters, wishing for happiness for them and appreciating their mothers for bringing up the children. Some people might have heard that 5th of May is also called as 端午の節句 (Tango no Sekku). However, this is a differentContinue reading “こどもの日 (Kodomo no Hi)”
苗字 (Myouji) – Surname
4th May – 皐月 It is said that Japanese surname exists around 300,000 and there are very common ones to the rare one only 1 household owns. There are 3ways to say surname in Japanese: 苗字 (Myouji), 名字 (Myouji) and 姓(Sei). 苗字 was often used in Edo period, 苗 means seedlings so it has theContinue reading “苗字 (Myouji) – Surname”
Little Japan Dictionary 