Ohanami (お花見) is a famous Japanese custom and literally means “flower viewing.” It is a term used to describe the very short period of time, only about a week or two, during which the Japanese can enjoy the beauty of the blooming cherry blossoms. Ohanami is an ancient custom believed to have started during the Nara Period (710-794), but today ohanami generally consists of an outdoor gathering or party beneath the cherry blossom trees, usually in a public park such as Ueno Park.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Ohanami (お花見)
Ohanami (お花見) is a famous Japanese custom and literally means “flower viewing.” It is a term used to describe the very short period of time, only about a week or two, during which the Japanese can enjoy the beauty of the blooming cherry blossoms. Ohanami is an ancient custom believed to have started during the Nara Period (710-794), but today ohanami generally consists of an outdoor gathering or party beneath the cherry blossom trees, usually in a public park such as Ueno Park.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Gateway to Japan, CHIBA



Narita is located about 50 miles north east of Tokyo. You’ll be amazed how inconvenient it is to get to the center of Tokyo and probably, how difficult it is to find a person able to speak good English when you really need help or get lost. Anyhow, Chiba is the place where I was born and grew up. The best part of Chiba is its geographic variety and leisure.

First off, Tokyo Disney Resort is the most prominent landmark of Chiba. Although the name has “Tokyo” in it, it’s not located in Tokyo prefecture. Tokyo Disney Resort consists of Tokyo Disney Land, Tokyo Disney SEA, and surrounding facilities and hotels. Tokyo Disney Land is almost similar to Magic Kingdom in Florida, but I personally find Tokyo better in terms of the courtesy, professionalism, and the maintenance although it was built in 1983 long before Hong Kong Disney Land. It might be weird for non-Japanese people to hear the Disney characters speaking Japanese though. Tokyo Disney SEA was built in 2000 if I recall correctly and not a mimic of anything. It has more relaxed and romantic atmosphere, targeted at grown-ups rather than kids. So if you have already been to any other Disney Lands, I would highly recommend visiting Tokyo Disney SEA.
The capital, Chiba-city is on the coast of Tokyo bay, 30 minutes train ride from Tokyo Station.





Overall, Chiba is a perfect place for me to live in with variety of things to have fun, good food, closeness to Tokyo, and Narita airport giving me an easy access to the U.S. and other countries. I would be happy if you keep in mind that you are in Chiba when you get to Japan.
Naoki Wada
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Valentine's Day
Hi!
Hopefully everyone was able to enjoy their Valentine's Day last weekend. Compared to the US, Valentine's Day in Japan is quite different and moreover, a lot more serious. In Japan, it is *usually only the woman who gives out chocolate to the person they love, and the day is considered to be a great opportunity to express romantic feelings and start out a relationship. Chocolate-giving can be either “Giri-choco” (which is the chocolate distributed as gratitude or friendship such to bosses, friends or family) or “Honmei-choco” (the serious chocolate only given to the person the women truly loves or have romantic interests). Men who received gifts on Valentine’s Day are expected to return gifts to the women the following month on “White Day”, which is 3/14. This day is a Japanese creation and cannot be seen elsewhere. So, when you receive either a “Giri-choco” or a “Honmei-choco” in Japan, make sure you make appropriate return gifts on White Day!
Hopefully everyone was able to enjoy their Valentine's Day last weekend. Compared to the US, Valentine's Day in Japan is quite different and moreover, a lot more serious. In Japan, it is *usually only the woman who gives out chocolate to the person they love, and the day is considered to be a great opportunity to express romantic feelings and start out a relationship. Chocolate-giving can be either “Giri-choco” (which is the chocolate distributed as gratitude or friendship such to bosses, friends or family) or “Honmei-choco” (the serious chocolate only given to the person the women truly loves or have romantic interests). Men who received gifts on Valentine’s Day are expected to return gifts to the women the following month on “White Day”, which is 3/14. This day is a Japanese creation and cannot be seen elsewhere. So, when you receive either a “Giri-choco” or a “Honmei-choco” in Japan, make sure you make appropriate return gifts on White Day!

Thursday, January 28, 2010
Winter Break
The New years is a very big deal in Japan. Families will all go back to their parents this year around like Thanksgiving in America. The traffic leaving Tokyo is very insane before new years and coming back into Tokyo is even worse right before work starts for most. Most stores will close for 2 or 3 days to relax and start up again by the 3rd or 4th.
Winter in Japan is alot warmer outside than it is in the midwest but without central heating inside the houses its cold.
Here are some pictures from Japan during the winter and new years in Japan!

Here is Meiji University Izumi campus in Tokyo.

The infamous Hachikou in front of Shibuya Station

This is a dish called tsukemen (付け麺), which the noodles are separated from the soup and you dip them into the soup. It was delicious!

A necessity in japanese houses during the winter

At midnight people will go to a temple to wring a huge bell a total of 108 times called hatsumoude. You will pay a small amount and then pick a number that goes from 0 to 108 to keep track of how many times the bell is wrung.

Outside view of the temple

At a shrine people come to throw money into a box and pray for good luck in the upcoming year. The white tent served hot sake.It is up to the person to go to a shrine or temple on New years.

Toshikoshi soba is essential for celebrating the new years as it is something you eat before the new year.



Osechi ryouri (おせち料理)is a traditional meal that families have on new years day where family members gather and greet each other with akemashite omedetou gozaimasu (明けましておめでとうございます)or Happy new year! Parents, grandparents will usually give their children, grandchildren money(お年玉)varying in amounts. Each of dish has a different meaning for the new year.

Here is my grandfather giving otosu、a mirin based sake that people drink on new years. It has a very taste that most young children do not enjoy
Winter in Japan is alot warmer outside than it is in the midwest but without central heating inside the houses its cold.
Here are some pictures from Japan during the winter and new years in Japan!
Here is Meiji University Izumi campus in Tokyo.
The infamous Hachikou in front of Shibuya Station
This is a dish called tsukemen (付け麺), which the noodles are separated from the soup and you dip them into the soup. It was delicious!
A necessity in japanese houses during the winter
At midnight people will go to a temple to wring a huge bell a total of 108 times called hatsumoude. You will pay a small amount and then pick a number that goes from 0 to 108 to keep track of how many times the bell is wrung.
Outside view of the temple
At a shrine people come to throw money into a box and pray for good luck in the upcoming year. The white tent served hot sake.It is up to the person to go to a shrine or temple on New years.
Toshikoshi soba is essential for celebrating the new years as it is something you eat before the new year.
Osechi ryouri (おせち料理)is a traditional meal that families have on new years day where family members gather and greet each other with akemashite omedetou gozaimasu (明けましておめでとうございます)or Happy new year! Parents, grandparents will usually give their children, grandchildren money(お年玉)varying in amounts. Each of dish has a different meaning for the new year.
Here is my grandfather giving otosu、a mirin based sake that people drink on new years. It has a very taste that most young children do not enjoy
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