The characters for setsubun in Japanese are 節分, literally meaning “season division.” This celebration traditionally takes place on February 3rd, one day before spring according to the lunar calendar. In older times, spring used to be the New Year, so setsubun can be understood as a form of ancient New Year’s Eve. To welcome the new year…
A Place to Fall in Love with Japanese Bamboo
Taro Wakayama is the owner of Wakayama Farm, an exceptional place in Utsunomiya. This city can be reached in one hour by Shinkansen from Tokyo. Despite the name having the word “farm,” this is the last carefully tended bamboo forest in Japan. A few years ago, it started welcoming visitors on its ground. Mr. Wakayama…
The Nengajo Postcard: How Japanese People Send Their Best Wishes for New Year
Japanese people exchange nengajo postcards as New Year greetings, much like Western people sending Christmas cards to each other. New Year Greetings in Japan In Japan, it was a long-established custom to personally present your greetings to people who had helped you and to your superiors at the beginning of the year. They gave thanks…
The Japanese Shugendo Religion: Going Back to One’s True Nature
Taichi Tani is a monk in a village in Kochi Prefecture on Shikoku Island. Although Shikoku is famous for its pilgrimage and numerous Shingon Buddhism temples, Mr. Tani’s temple is outside the pilgrimage route and from another tradition: Shugendo. Shugendo is a Japanese religion mixing Buddhism, Shinto, and Taoism. Ascetic training in the mountains is a central…
Omisoka and O-Shogatsu: The Japanese Year-End and New Year’s Holidays
The New Year, called “O-Shogatsu” in Japanese, is a traditionally very important holiday for Japanese people. In ancient times, January used to be early spring according to the lunar calendar. It was the season when everything started flourishing again. Like in many other cultures, people gathered and wished each other a prosperous year. Today’s Japanese…
The Kadomatsu Decoration, Traditional of the Japanese New Year’s Holiday
Kadomatsu is a decoration with three cut pieces of bamboo and pine for the Japanese New Year’s holiday. After Christmas, you will see this decoration at the entrances of houses and buildings in Japan. The Role of Kadomatsu Decorations Kadomatsu is the landmark for the Shinto deity Toshigami-sama to enter your home. In Japan, it is believed…
A Quick Guide to Kagami Mochi, the Traditional Japanese New Year Decorative Cake
During the end of the year and New Year’s holidays in Japan, you can see two donut-shaped objects with a mandarin on top of it. What is this snowman-like object? The Kagami Mochi and Its Meaning Kagami mochi is used as a traditional Japanese New Year decoration. It is usually made up of two layers of…
Discover Japanese Arts and the People Who Make Them
Japan is home to numerous passionate artists. Some express themselves through traditional painting, calligraphy, traditional dances, or music, while others do it through modern means like animation or modern theater. Read our interviews of inspiring artists in Japan: their personal connection to their art, their place in Japanese society, and the messages they want to…
Tsukimi, the “Moon-Viewing” Celebration
Praying to the Harvest Moon As it is often depicted in Japanese pop culture, manga, anime, or video games, you may have already heard about ”tsukimi,” or more formally “otsukimi,” literally “moon viewing.” It is the most emblematic celebration in autumn, and shops often have decorations or sell items bearing the moon, rice cakes, or rabbits (more about this…
Teru Teru Bozu, the Japanese Handmade Charm for Good Weather
Have you ever seen this doll hanging by someone’s window in Japan? You have great chances to see them during the rainy season. Japanese children (and sometimes adults, too) hang these dolls called teru teru bozu, as a charm to bring good weather. The Custom of Making a Teru Teru Bozu Imitating this very ancient…