Japanese New Year’s Decorations

The New Year is upon us, and for many, there are some pretty high hopes for the coming year, given how… insane 2020 ended up being. I thought I’d take a minute to stop and take in the local sights around the neighborhood and look a little bit into their significance. Just a light and […]

Valentine’s Day in Japan

If you’ve lived in Asia before, this may sound familiar. For those of you who have never been, particularly those in America, you may know Valentine’s Day as a holiday where, traditionally, it is expected that the man makes a grand gesture of sorts to show his love for his partner. That has changed a […]

Coming of Age Day – Seijin no Hi (成人の日)

20. This is a most important number in Japan. This is the age at which you transition from childhood to adulthood, the age at which you leave behind childish things and begin to take control of your own destiny. But how do you do that? Well, put on your fanciest outfit and join us for […]

Setsubun

After about two years of asking various Japanese people about this holiday, I have enough information to pass it on to you, my fair reader. This year, it falls on February 3rd. It marks the official turn from winter to spring in Japanese tradition. However, it is also a holiday that involves beans, demons, and […]

Pocky Day in Japan

11/11, November 11th, is Pocky Day here in Japan. It’s pretty low-key; you won’t really find it unless you really look for it. The consumer-based holiday isn’t really all that old or revered, but it did come about from a bitter rivalry with a certain country across the Sea of Japan, or the East Sea, […]

Children’s Day in Japan

Japan is no stranger to population woes of the modern era: Birth rates are down, people are working longer hours, and many young adults don’t see the benefits or point of marrying and raising a family. Amidst all this negative, the country still celebrates children and give thanks and gratitude towards their mothers on Children’s […]

New Year’s in Japan: Joya no Kane, Hatsumode, and Shishi-mai

I’ve heard a lot and have spoken to a lot of people about the New Year’s traditions. There were so many small pieces that lead up to the evening itself that I decided to focus on two of the biggest and give them a go: Joya no Kane (New Year’s Bell) and Hatsumode (First Temple […]