This summer is too hot every day, but I like summer because there are many festivals in summer. I’m going to introduce summer festival of my hometown in Tochigi prefecture. Have you ever heard about “Yamaage-matsuri”?
Archive for the ‘Culture Corner’ Category
Hot festival!
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Bon-Festival
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010Hello, my name is Misato. Today I’m going to introduce a special festival in Japan, “Bon” or “Obon”.
Bon is a Japanese festival where we pray for our ancestors’ spirits. The origin of bon hasn’t been found clearly. Anciently, there was the event that ancestors visit descendants to exchange twice a year. This event was held in early spring and early autumn. The event in early spring became festival of new years, and the other became bon. In Bon festival a variety of foods are offered to the spirits of ancestors, and people pray for their ancestors’ repose.
Many Japanese people who have moved to the cities to work return to their home towns during this period. In towns and villages across the country, people in yukata gather for outdoor dances known as bon-odori. Bon-odori is imitation of the deceased from hell.
In some districts, people made syouryouma. Syouryouma is made from cucumbers and eggplants. Cucumbers are likened to horses which run fast, because people wish their ancestors come back home fast. Eggplants are likened to cows which walk slowly because they wish their ancestors go back to the next world slowly.
Thank you for reading and listening.
Health and Sports Day
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
Hi, my name is Hideki. Today, I am going to introduce a special day in Japan. In Japan, there are a lot of the special days.
I chose “Health and Sports Day”. Do you know about meaning of the special day?
Health and Sports Day is to encourage people to play sports and cultivate a healthy mind and body.
This day was made because of the opening ceremony of Tokyo Olympics which was held in 10.10.1964.
Sports festivals are often held on this day.
Especially, elementary school, junior high school, and high school held sports festivals, and students are very excited.
However, fathers who usually don’t exercise, often go to the hospital after they are injured at school festivals.
Thank you for reading!! If you interested in Health and Sports Day, I’m so happy!! See you.
Fireworks of the world class – “Nagaoka fireworks”
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010In Nagaoka city of Niigata has very famous fireworks display every August 2 to 3. This event started in 1840. It started in full scale on September 14 to 15, 1879 by persons related to red-light district. They put their savings together, and launched 4 sun, 5 sun, 7 sun size fireworks total 350 fireworks in festival of Senjyu-cyou yahata-sama. Now this fireworks display became very famous for big scale and gorgeous in all over Japan and one of top3 fireworks in Japan. The number of launches of fireworks is about 20,000. What is particularly famous is Phoenix. This is prayed for the revival from the Chuetsu great earthquake in October, 2004, it has 1.5 kilometers wide. Moreover it recognized to Guinness Book with the widest fireworks in the world. Every August 2 to 3, there are about 800,000 people gather from all of Japan!
The Double Ninth Festival
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
Hey, have you ever heard about The Double Ninth Festival? It’s a traditional festival in China. The “double nine” in the name refers to the ninth day of the ninth lunar month. In fact, in China we usually call it “Chongyang”, because according to the <I Ching>, a sacred book of Taoism, nine is the yang (from “yin” and “yang”) number. And “chong” means double.
The Double Ninth Festival is to bless the aged people to live longer. The number “9” in China has the same sound to the word “long”.
This festival has a long history. The earliest record can be found in The Three Kingdoms period (about AD220~280). On the day of The Double Ninth Festival, people climb the mountains and wear a plant “Zhuyu”. On this day, people eat the “Chongyang cake”, enjoy chrysanthemums, and drink wine which is made from chrysanthemums. Chinese people think all these activities can get rid of evils. Flying kites is also a traditional activity.There are lots of Chinese ancient poetry about this festival. The most famous one is WangWei’s “Double Ninth, Missing My Shandong Brothers”.
As a lonely stranger in the strange land,
Every holiday the homesickness amplifies.
Knowing that my brothers have reached the peak,
All but one is present at the planting of zhuyu.
The girls’ festival
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010The Girls Festival is a famous day in Japan. This festival is practiced in houses with a girl andis for happiness and growth of girl. March 3 is girl’s festival. During this festival, we can see dolls displayed at many places. In Japan, the girls festival is called “Momo No Seku”.
Many families display dolls in their house. Dolls are displayed before the girls festival on March 3. These dolls are very beautiful. When this festival is drawing near, we often hear this festival’s song. This song’s music box is displayed with the dolls.
Though March 3 is a very famous day, the day is not a public holiday. People celebrate the doll’s festival in each house. For example, we eat Sakuramochi and Chirasizushi. Moreover we offer Hinaarare at dolls. There are various celebration ways.
It is traditionally said that if you won’t put away dolls by March 3, you don’t get married. So many people put away dolls before the girls festival. In houses with a girl, March 3 is a special day.
Fireworks
Tuesday, July 20th, 2010
Hello, I’m Hiroya.
I will introduce “Fuefuki’s fireworks” in Yamanashi. It is my hometown .
The famous event everyone knows is a fireworks event. Especially, Fuefuki’s firework is very beautiful. This year’s fireworks display will be the 57 time. A lot of people come to it. The event will take place in August 21. I go to it with my family or friends every year. It usually starts at 7:30. Besides, there are a lot of booths in fireworks event hall. So, i think we can enjoy it a lot.
If you don’t have a play for a trip in summer vacation, i advise you to go to Yamanashi and fuefuki’s fireworks display. You will feel the beauty of the fireworks.
Thank you for reading. Bye.
Japanese Christmas
Sunday, July 18th, 2010Hello, I am Shin. I want to share with you a special day of Japan. It is “Christmas”. Maybe, you know this day, but do you know what is Christmas?
As you know, the day is in December 25th every year. People celebrate this day with lover or family, but most people who celebrate don’t know what they celebrate.
I am Christian, so I know that Christmas is when Jesus came into the world. In Christmas I celebrate with my family in church every year. But some my friends said, “I don’t know that Christian also celebrate Christmas.” And I know a temple which celebrates Christmas.
A special event in my hometown
Sunday, July 18th, 2010
Ome Taisai is held in my home town, Ome in May 2nd and 3rd every year. Ome Taisai is one of the biggest traditional festivals in Kanto region in Japan. (more…)
Korean New year’s day
Friday, July 16th, 2010Do you know “new year’s day”?
In korea, the new year’s day is one of the best national holidays.
First of all, we have a ceremony to remember our ancestors on that day.
We can see lots of relatives because that day is a family gathering day.
what’s more, we usually eat rice-cake soups and many other delicious traditional foods.
And we play a lot of traditional games, but nowadays it fading away..
To be frank, my favorite thing formal bow of respect to my elders.
Why?
when we do this, we get pocket money.
so, I like new year’s day.