Hina-matsuri-Japanese Dolls Festival

On 3th March people celebrate happiness and growth of girls and decorate their houses with dolls called “O-hina-sama“. The festival called “hina-mastsuri” or “momo(peach blossom)-no–sekku“. Some people celebrate hina-matsuri on 3th April. Some hold annual or seasonal events on the day of a month later like that, the date based on the old calendar(the lunisolar … [Read more…]

Chopstick and Hashikura Temple

I have my own chopsticks for private use. In Japan having your own chopsticks and your bowl for rice and sometimes  your bowl for soup and your cup for Japanese tea is very common.   People often give Meoto-bashi, Meoto-jawan or Meoto-yunomi (meoto means a couple, Mr. and Mrs.), two pair of chopsticks, a pair … [Read more…]

The Setsubun Event

Today is the day called risshun in Japan, the beginning of spring. (But spring has come just on calendar, it’s very very cold today.) And day on which season changes (on calendar) is called setsubun.   Yesterday we hold the setsubun event. If people from overseas saw the event, they though it very outlandish. Before … [Read more…]

Flowers calling spring

Branches of hydrangea, rape blossom, and carnation. It’s coldest season for a year in Japan, so we want to feel coming spring from flower arrangements.   Today, I learned narcissus arrangement  in Ikebana class. I ’m longing for spring…

Mochi breakfast

Yesterday I made zouni for breakfast. We have zouni for a breakfast on New Year’s Day in Japan using mochi(rice cake) which we made near the end of last year.(→mochitsuki) Zouni is soup with mochi(rice cake), its ingridients and seasoning vary from region to region and home to home. I made zouni with Japanese white … [Read more…]

Flower Arrangement for New Year’s Day

Japanese apricot blossom, Pine tree, yellow chrysanthemum,  red fruits of chloranthus glaber Makino. Japanese people like those flowers as plants for celebration. Especially Japanese apricot(Ume) and pine tree. Ume blooms in very early spring when we can’t see other flowers. Pine tree has evergreen leaves which has been symbol of virtue in Japan. Adding bamboo, … [Read more…]