Showa no Hi

Apr.29

It's a National holiday in Japan. it is called Showa no Hi (Showa's Day).

Since today was the birth day of the Showa Emperor, it had been called Tennou Tanjo-Bi

(the Emperor's birthday). before he died in 1989.

After his death, this day was called the Greenery Day, because hi loved nature too much.

However, the Showa period(1926-1989) is impressed period for Japanese which was called turbulent period , and they requested the Government to chanege the name.

Because of that today was renamed Showa no Hi (Showa's Day) and the Greenery Day was moved to May 4.

Children's Day

About 300 years ago, Japanese started celebrating May 5th as the day for boys.

They hoist Koinobori, carp shaped streamers.

According to Chinese legend, carp become dragons when they swim up waterfall.

Now, parents celebrate the growth and health of their children, not only boys.

My Home-Page

Today, I uploaded my Home-Page.
Please access following U.R.L..

http://kgoto0167.wix.com/japan-tour

Hikone Castle & Castle Town Tour

Hikone Castle(National Treasure) & Castle Town

Walking Tour
in English with a National Licensed Tour Guide
(Exploration in Historic Town “ Hikone”)

・Group: 1 group(10 Max.) only/day
...
・Schedule: Every day except below
*February:18,23,24,25,26
*March:3,8,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,21

・Fee:7000 yen/group (Usual Price:10000 yen/group)
*Cash only

*Transportation fee, entrance fee and cost of meals are not included.
*Insurance not covered

・Starting time at A.M. : I can fit in that schedule with you.

・Time required: about 4~5 hours

・Meeting point: Ticket gate in JR Hikone station
*Time required:
From Kyoto: about 50min.
From Osaka: about 80min.
From Nagoya: about 50min. (Shinkansen and change
train at Maibara station)

・Reservation: Please reserve by e-mail.
*Address: kgoto0167@yahoo.co.jp
(First come basis)

Trivia about Japanese Culture (6) Valentine's da

Trivia about Japanese Culture (6) Valentine's day

The present system on Valentine's day in Japan is different from Western style.
In Japanese style, instead of expressing the love verbally, women send chocolates to someone in mind.
Though this is the basic style, it has become diverse recently.
For example, chocolates which women give to their friends, colleagues, or bosses are called as "Giri-choco", obligation chocolate.
Anyway, as 20% of annual consumption of chocolates is consumed around this day, we just have to say that this is a national event.

バレンタインデーにおけるプレゼントのやり方は、西洋と日本では異なる。口頭での告白に代わって、女性から本命の彼氏にチョコレートを送るのが日本のスタイルである。
このスタイルが、基本であるが、最近では、多様化してきた。
例えば、女性の友人や同僚、上司が受け取るチョコは、義理チョコと呼ばれる。
いずれにせよ、チョコレートの年間消費量の20％が、この日前後に消費されるので、この日は、国民的行事であると言わざるを得ない。

Trivia about Japanese Culture (5) "Setsubun (Feb

Many Setsubun events are held at many temples and shrines in Japan/around the country.
Why are roasted soy beans thrown at Setsubun?
It has been said that a bean has spiritual power which drives away evil.
Moreover, bean is called "Mame" in Japanese.
Usually, we use Kanji character/Chinese character "Mame" in one word.
However, when we try to represent it by two words in Kanji, "ma" can be substituted for evil in Kanji and "me" can be substituted for eye in Kanji.
Therefore, since "Mame" means devil eye, meaning of roasting bean is meaning of roasting devil eye.
That is to say, it shows meaning of driving away evil.

（節分には、多くの行事が行われる。なぜ、節分に炒った豆をまくのか？
豆は、邪気を払う霊力があると言われているからである。更に、Beanは、日本語でMameと呼ばれる。
Beanは、普通、漢字一文字で書ける。
ところが、Mameを二文字の漢字で書くとすると、Maは、漢字で、evilと書け、meは、漢字で、eyeと書ける。よって、Mameは、evil eyeという意味になり、Mameを炒るという意味は、evil eyeを炒るという意味になる。つまり,邪悪を払うという意味になるのである。）

Setsubun(Feb.3) (1)

According to "Nijushisekki", one year is divided into 24 seasons in the lunar calendar.
Moreover, each 4 seasons are unified in one group each which is called Setsu.
That is to say, one year consists of 4 Setsu, or seasons.
Simply speaking, each Setsu is called spring, summer, fall and winter.
Then, the first day of each Setsu is called Risshun, Rikka, Risshu and Ritto.
For example, the literal translation of Risshun is "Spring starts.”
Then, the previous day of each Setsu is called Setsubun.
The literal translation of “bun” is dividing.
That is to say, Setsubun means dividing Setsu or the seasons.
Moreover, the previous day of Risshun(Feb.4th) is the most important day among 4 Setsu,
because Risshun is the New Year's day and the previous day is the New Year's Eve
in the old calendar.

二十四節気によると、1年は24の季節に分けられた。更に、それぞれ、4つの季節は、節と呼ばれる一つのグループに分けられた。つまり、1年は、4つの節からなる。
簡単に言えば、それぞれの節は、春、夏、秋、そして冬と呼ばれる。そして、それぞれの節の最初の日は、立春、立夏、立秋　そして、立冬と呼ばれる。

例えば、立春の直訳は、春がスタートするという意味である。そして、それぞれの節の前日は、節分と呼ばれる。分の直訳は、分割である。
つまり、節分は、節、又は、グループを分けるという意味である。
更に、立春（2月4日）の前日は、4つの節の中で、最も重要な日なのである。なぜならば、古い暦では、立春は新年で、前日は大みそかだからである。

Trivia about Japanese Culture (3)

Today is the day called Daikan, which is one of the Nijushisekki.
In ancient times, one year was divided into 24 seasons and each season was named after a suitable term which represents the season's feature.
A literal translation of Daikan is 'big cold'.
That is to say, Daikan means the severest and coldest season in a year.

（今日は、二十四節気の一つの大寒と呼ばれる日である。
古代、1年は、24の季節に分けられた。
そして、それぞれの季節は、その季節の特徴を現す言葉が用いられた。
大寒の直訳はビッグコールドである。
つまり、大寒は、1年で最も寒い季節という意味である。）

An Internet Addiction（ネット中毒）

I have secluded mysely in my room these days to create my blog site.

I'm coming down with an internet addiction.

（最近、ブログサイトを作るために、部屋にこもりっきり。ネット中毒になりそう・・・。）

Snow is falling.

Now, snow is falling silently and piles up in Hikone.