#oshougatsu – Little Japan Dictionary

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”

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”

10th January – 睦月

鏡開き　Kagami-biraki Breaking the Oshougatsu decoration rice cake (Kagami-mochi) and eating it on 11th January. Do you still remember the Kagami-mochi from the first blog? As it is already explained, Kagami-mochi is believed to have the soul of god inside and eating it will bring the god into the body. When Oshougatsu comes close to theContinue reading “10th January – 睦月”

1st January – 睦月 (Mutsuki)

明けましておめでとうございます (Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu) — Saying to each other and celebrate the New Year. Thanking the gods for letting people pass through the previous year safely, and celebrating about welcoming the gods again to earth. A Happy New Year! In Japan, it is the celebration of welcoming the gods who bring happiness, harvest andContinue reading “1st January – 睦月 (Mutsuki)”