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My seven-tiered Hina doll set images

My seven-tiered Hina doll set

The photo shows my seven-tiered Hina doll set. My grandpa bought the set for me when I was a baby. Platforms covered with a red carpet are used to display a set of ornamental dolls (雛人形 hina-ningyō) representing the Emperor, Empress, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the He…(274 words)

EmiOnishi image

EmiOnishi

tradition custom Dolls Hinamatsuri Event
Hadaka Matsuri, a.k.a "The Naked Man Festival" images

Hadaka Matsuri, a.k.a "The Naked Man Festival"

On the third Saturday night in February, the annual Hadaka Matsuri is held at the Saidaiji Kannon-in temple in Okayama Prefecture. This year's festival will be held on February 21st, 2015.Originating in 1510, this historic festival is also one of Japan's largest Naked Man festivals. In fact, na…(349 words)

Andrea Miyata image

Andrea Miyata

Tera (Temple) Okayama Event festival Japanese festivals Train City Walk Lucky running
“Benkyoukai” Helps People in Japan Get Ahead images

“Benkyoukai” Helps People in Japan Get Ahead

Allow me to introduce you to a term Benkyoukai. The term Benkyoukai is made up of three Kanji Characters and the first one is written as 勉, which means “exertion”. The second character is written as 強and it means “strong”. The third character is written as 会 and it means “meeting, association,…(278 words)

AustinA image

AustinA

Visit Event Sport May Japanese Culture Hobby Business activities
Kameido Tenjin's birds for good fortune images

Kameido Tenjin's birds for good fortune

Kameido Tenjin Shrine (亀戸天神社) is known as a shrine for people who wish for success in their studies, like passing exams. On January 24 and 25, the shrine has a special event, the usokae-shinji (鷽替神事). Similar festivals are held at a few shrines in Japan, in Tokyo also at Yushima Tenjin, Ja…(241 words)

David image

David

Kameido Jinjya (Shrine) good luck Event Japanese festivals January Omamori Tokyo
Tell me about Japanese Undokai (Sports days) images

Tell me about Japanese Undokai (Sports days)

School Sports Festival for Kids! Anyone can be a hero on this day. It’s also a day for Dads to fight!For some kids, it will be an important day to determine his or her position in the hierarchy of class. The event will also strengthen the unity of each class. For Dads, it will be a day to f…(379 words)

totowatanabe image

totowatanabe

Sport Event Bento (box meal)
Kumamon, the Japanese Bear Character of the Kumamoto Prefecture images

Kumamon, the Japanese Bear Character of the Kumamoto Prefecture

Kumamon from Kumamoto Prefecture might be a benchmark for how to bring the genki back to regional areas battling the power drain that comes with ultra-ageing and decreasing populations.I visited the Kumamoto Prefecture Tokyo Representative Office in Nagatacho the other day and “upbeat” is the best …(722 words)

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Yuru Kyara Tokyo Event History Osaka Japanese inn Kumamoto Kyushu Japan Travel
Enjoy the Yokohama Market, heaven for fish lovers, in a more delicious way images

Enjoy the Yokohama Market, heaven for fish lovers, in a more delicious way

When we think of the Marine Products Division of the Yokohama Market, we imagine the intermediate wholesalers, true professionals in the world of fish, all lined up, with other professionals in the world of fish—the fish mongers and the sushi shop owners—coming to purchase their wares. Normally we …(1809 words)

Kanagawa P.G.T.D. image

Kanagawa P.G.T.D.

Yokohama Fish Market Visit Restaurant Food Summer Japan Shopping Event
Preserved alpha rice images

Preserved alpha rice

Have you ever heard of preserved alpha rice? It is packed in pouch and very useful for disaster cases. Even without gas or electricity, it can be cooked with hot water or water! We joined the children's outdoor event the other day and one of the NPO groups was demonstrating how to cook preseved…(165 words)

EmiOnishi image

EmiOnishi

emergency provisions Outdoor recreation Children Disaster emergency Event
Oiran Parade : The screamingly bright colors! images

Oiran Parade : The screamingly bright colors!

Shinagawa Shukuba Festival is held on the last Saturday and Sunday of September every year. We just had one two weeks ago. One performance you should not miss is the parade of oiran (courtesans) wearing beautiful Kimono. If you are lucky, you will have an opportunity to watch one of those oiran par…(467 words)

EmiOnishi image

EmiOnishi

Japanese festivals Kimono oiran Event Flower Autumn Live festival Kanto style
Setsubun - Ehomaki culture images

Setsubun - Ehomaki culture

"Setsubun" is the day before the beginning of Spring in Japan and it's on February 3rd every year. A long sushi roll is eaten on the night of Setsubun while facing toward the year's "lucky" direction. This custom originally started in the Kansai area. With your eyes closed, we wish for perfect …(184 words)

EmiOnishi image

EmiOnishi

Setsubun Sushi ehomaki Convenience store Event Winter Kansai Eel
Analogue Photography Darkroom and Photo Gallery in Yokohama images

Analogue Photography Darkroom and Photo Gallery in Yokohama

The Dark Room International was created in 1999 to be Japan's first public rental darkroom. It is located in Yokohama's famous Noge district, an old-school area near JR's Sakuragicho Station.The brainchild of Hisao Saito, a professional commercial photographer who is well-known in Yokohama for …(197 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Yokohama Gallery Photography Visit Japan City Art Event Flower Exhibition
Chindon'ya images

Chindon'ya

The Chindon'ya are a type of Japanese marching band that wear elaborate costumes and perform in a variety of festivals, shop openings, and other promotions or special events. Originating in Osaka during the late Edo period, most of the remaining Chindon'ya are based in Tokyo. Chindon'ya usual…(511 words)

mikekato image

mikekato

Tokyo Event Music Osaka Children Play Entertainment
Anime Come To Life images

Anime Come To Life

Japanese pop culture, particularly anime (short for “animation”) has become one of the country’s iconic exports in recent years and many people globally have become acquainted not only with internationally famous anime as Pokemon, but also more eclectic characters as well. An entire subgenre has s…(1100 words)

jdlawrence image

jdlawrence

Anime Tokyo Visit Event Art Music English Fashion Otaku
“Promotion Daimyo Character” Ieyasu Kun Rallies for your Success in Hamamatsu City, Japan images

“Promotion Daimyo Character” Ieyasu Kun Rallies for your Success in Hamamatsu City, Japan

Festooned with Symbols of Success for Japan “Ieyasu Kun” will make you smile and help you feel you can do anything you set your mind to.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlwK79Rl3ioHis “Chon Mage” hair fashion says it all! Look closely at Ieyasu Kun’s head and you will see it is not a black ha…(566 words)

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City Hamamatsu City Tokyo Train Event Food Japanese festivals Shinkansen Bullet Train Yuru Kyara
UNKAI Sea of Clouds in Hokkaido images

UNKAI Sea of Clouds in Hokkaido

Unkai Terrace is located in the resort town of Tomamu in Hokkaido Japan, about a 2.5 hour drive from Sapporo. The word "Unkai" in Japanese means "sea of clouds" and the natural phenomena only occurs occasionally, typically on summer mornings. Resort Tomamu located in Shimukappu village has the unka…(313 words)

EmiOnishi image

EmiOnishi

Sea Hokkaido Hotel Summer Visit Event Coffee Nature Mountain view
Anime Street! Let's go to Asagaya! images

Anime Street! Let's go to Asagaya!

At the end of March 2014 opened a fantastic street called Asagaya Anime Street, a place where anime creators and fans of anime can come together and create an experience like no other.Located only about 4 minutes by walking from Asagaya station, Asagaya Anime Street is like a little mall design…(650 words)

Alex Kobayashi /Subtokyo image

Alex Kobayashi /Subtokyo

Anime Tokyo Drink Visit Event Museum Coffee Game Manga Movie
Top 10 Things to do in Okayama Prefecture: Autumn images

Top 10 Things to do in Okayama Prefecture: Autumn

Just because summer is over doesn't mean there's not plenty to do and see. If you're headed to or passing through west Japan, don't miss stopping off in Okayama Prefecture and enjoying some of the best seasonal activities.1. Bizen Pottery FestivalI wrote about this festival previously in a…(1168 words)

Andrea Miyata image

Andrea Miyata

Autumn Okayama Visit Train City Park Summer Building Event Food
Manhole Covers Highlight Local Features images

Manhole Covers Highlight Local Features

This is because they are emblazoned with cartoon characters or buildings that have a connection to the local area. There has even been an increase in the number of so called “manhole-joshi,” that is women who like to take pictures of unique “design manhole” covers. A panel discussion event called “…(264 words)

HiraganaTimes image

HiraganaTimes

Japan Event Trip Souvenir Japanese Television design new cartoon
Thousands of lanterns being launched into the winter night sky is a fantastic spectacle images

Thousands of lanterns being launched into the winter night sky is a fantastic spectacle

Various festivals and processions are held periodically in Japan to ask various deities to keep people free from disease and bodily harm. Sky lanterns are featured prominently in one of these festivals. Participants write their wishes on lanterns resembling small hot air balloons. These lanterns ar…(283 words)

DeepJapan Editor image

DeepJapan Editor

Winter Japan Event festival Snow Scenery
Where can I participate in a mochi-making "Mochi-tsuki"event? images

Where can I participate in a mochi-making "Mochi-tsuki"event?

Mochi-tsuki event takes place when people celebrate something and it’s always a happy event. As it is often held at local shopping center events or festivals, you might want to check out such local information first. I also know some hotels hold mocha-tsuki event as a part of their New Year’s even…(157 words)

totowatanabe image

totowatanabe

Event Mochi (Rice cake) Shopping New year
Valentine's Day in Japan images

Valentine's Day in Japan

Japan is well-known for putting its unique spin on western holidays. Christmas, Halloween, even St. Patrick's Day - so why not Valentine's Day?The chocolatier Morozoff Ltd. introduced Japan to Valentine's Day back in 1936. By the mid 1950s, after it had marketed a hugely successful campaign of …(288 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Yokohama Event Holidays City Department store Christmas chocolate tradition custom Sogo
The Silk Museum A specialized silk museum that is out of the ordinary images

The Silk Museum A specialized silk museum that is out of the ordinary

The port of Yokohama has developed dramatically together with raw silk, and at the same time the silk thread industry has supported the Japanese economy. The Silk Museum was established in 1959 as part of the events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the opening of the port of Yokohama. Current…(734 words)

Kanagawa P.G.T.D. image

Kanagawa P.G.T.D.

Museum Yokohama History Winter Kimono Traditional Building Event English
Quick and easy things to do in Yokohama #8 images

Quick and easy things to do in Yokohama #8

The tallest lighthouse in the world? That really depends on one's definition of what lighthouses are, but Yokohama's 50+ year old landmark is often billed as such.Inaugurated in 1961, when it certainly was the world's tallest lighthouse, Yokohama Marine Tower is a 106 meter high lattice tower w…(371 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Yokohama Quick and easy things to do Yokohama Marine Tower Tokyo Visit Japan Summer English Event Yokohama Treasures
My favorite trips to the old towns in JAPAN images

My favorite trips to the old towns in JAPAN

SugitoTtown(杉戸町), which located in Saitama Prefecture is one of the post-station towns developed along the Nikko Highway(日光街道) in Edo period.The Highway starts from Nihombashi(日本橋) in Tokyo and reach Nikko in Tochigi Prefecture.This town is one of the 21 post towns along the Hig…(566 words)

Erika1228 image

Erika1228

Japan Tokyo Visit Train City English Trip Asakusa Event History
Japanese style wedding, what it is like? images

Japanese style wedding, what it is like?

According to national statistics in Japan, a bit more than 600,000 couples got married in 2017. Another private survey for such newly married couples showed that two-thirds of them had a wedding ceremony and that only 17% of them chose Japanese traditional style, Shinto wedding ceremony, while 65% …(453 words)

TomokoI image

TomokoI

wedding Tokyo Event Jinjya (Shrine) Kimono experience Kimono fashion for men Kimono Chiba Tokyo Bay Sake (Rice wine)
3 Tips for Surviving Rush Hour in Japan images

3 Tips for Surviving Rush Hour in Japan

From my point of view, as someone who has to deal with the morning rush every morning, its difficult to understand why anyone would want to experience it. During the morning rush, all the trains and platforms are congested with people. Not only people but many grumpy people who are already in a bad…(350 words)

GenS image

GenS

Japan Rush hour Tokyo Train Yokohama Event Music Sport Railway platform
Recommended Craft Beer in Japan images

Recommended Craft Beer in Japan

Question: What craft beer in Japan do you recommend?My personal favourites: anything from Baird Beer, Brimmer Brewing, Coedo, Yona Yona, and whatever's on tap at Antenna America. Check out my website for links, addresses, and event information:http://www.abrewcadabrew.comFor a comprehensi…(55 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Beer Drink Event Visit
Making Mochi by Hand for New Years images

Making Mochi by Hand for New Years

My family always makes handmade mochi at the end of the year. It turns in to party that starts at about 6:00am when we start to steam the mochi-rice. My father-in-law always hands me a beer and all the men stand outside waiting for the rice to be ready for a pounding. My wife and mother-in-law wise…(383 words)

Jeff Aasgaard image

Jeff Aasgaard

Mochi (Rice cake) New year Event Beer Udon noodles Winter
Hanami images

Hanami

Hanami is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers and people eat “bento” and drink alcohols under the trees. Every television and newspapers share the blossom forecast early March each year, which shows how hanami is a cherished annual event for the whole nation. T…(95 words)

Daijo image

Daijo

Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) Tokyo Event Roppongi Cherry blossom Cherry Bento (box meal)
Summer Festival in your neighborhood images

Summer Festival in your neighborhood

This useful tip is for short term visitors and for long term residents, both. If you wish to immerse in local japanese culture, make new friends, know your neighborhood, or simply enjoy a fun-filled evening with beer, pan-fried noodles ("yaki soba"), etc. look out for summer festivals organized in …(192 words)

Samir Bodhe image

Samir Bodhe

Summer festival Event Beer Soba noodles Play Children Japanese Culture Playing Kids
Traditional American Thanksgiving images

Traditional American Thanksgiving

As a native Californian living in Japan there are some food holidays and flavors I really miss from home! Food is an amazing part of our socialization and culture. The food in Japan is amazing but we also like a bit of home too. Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner are a couple of those times! Also, b…(186 words)

Traci Pink Cow image

Traci Pink Cow

Traditional Thanksgiving Tokyo Event Food Dinner festival Holidays Region Christmas
Japan's Sengakuji and the 47 Famous Samurai (Part 2) images

Japan's Sengakuji and the 47 Famous Samurai (Part 2)

December 14 marks the day 46 Samurai (not 47 and I will explain why later) brought the head of Kira and submitted themselves to justice at Sengakuji Temple.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBngXIDIiWEThis is a video showing a re-enactment of the Samurai leaving Ako (performed in Ako City in Hy…(538 words)

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47 Ronin City Yokohama Food Event Tera (Temple) Ticket Museum History Sengakuji Temple
Running Around in Yokohama images

Running Around in Yokohama

I often write reviews and articles about restaurants in Yokohama, but what do I with the all the calories that come with the job? Well, like many of the 3.7 million people who live here, I run. And there really is no better city in Japan to do just that.Yokohama is chock-full of running routes,…(230 words)

Former Deep Japan Writer image

Former Deep Japan Writer

Yokohama running City Event English Kanagawa
Hiroshima's Botanical Gardens images

Hiroshima's Botanical Gardens

A visit to Hiroshima city in Spring or Summer should include a stop by the Botanical Gardens in Saiki-ku, only a 30 minute drive from Hiroshima city center or a 40 minute bus ride from the bus center (inside Sogo department store). It is an easy stop-off on the way to or from one of Hiroshima's…(311 words)

jjwalsh image

jjwalsh

Hiroshima Botanical Gardens Picnic City Visit Summer Event Trip English Spring
How to be successful at a japanese-english bilingual fair. Be an explorer. images

How to be successful at a japanese-english bilingual fair. Be an explorer.

Career Forum is a bilingual job fair organized by DISCO International worldwide (Boston, Tokyo, Osaka, London,etc). You have to register through the CFN website. Rome wasn't built in one day. Finding a job is a lengthy process. Furthermore, nothing could guarantee you to win the first prize: a …(645 words)

Naoka image

Naoka

English Japanese Work Tokyo Japan Event Etiquette Business Osaka Stay
People raise the glass and say Kanpai- then we take a sip-keep the glass down and then clap - to kind of signify the start of the event /party etc. images

People raise the glass and say Kanpai- then we take a sip-keep the glass down and then clap - to kind of signify the start of the event /party etc.

In Japan, we say Kanpai when we do a toast. In corporate events, parties with friends or your host families, you might have to go through this... In corporate events normally they might have a speech - after which the speaker will raise the toast and say Kanpai. Then people raise the glass and say …(179 words)

suku image

suku

Event Toast Drink Juice
Yoyogi Park images

Yoyogi Park

Yoyogi Park in Harajuku near Shibuya almost guaranteed has an event or festival going on during the weekends. Japanese traditional festivals are all well and good, but experiencing more mainstream and modern festivals also provides for a great cultural experience in my opinion.One festival duri…(109 words)

KurtisW image

KurtisW

Tokyo Park Shibuya Event Harajuku Yoyogi Park Spring
What are popular? Usually the latest. Where can you get them? Usually everywhere. images

What are popular? Usually the latest. Where can you get them? Usually everywhere.

Japan is full of electronics - whether it be in areas known as clusters of electronics-oriented shops like Akihabara in Tokyo or Nipponbashi in Osaka, in stores specializing in electrical and electronic products (Denki or Denka Seihin) like DeoDeo (Hiroshima-based nationwide outlet), Joshin Denki …(185 words)

Mike's image

Mike's

Tokyo Shopping Event Department store Osaka Ueno Akihabara Kansai Kanto Camera
Enjoy “Setsubun” (Bean throwing ceremony)! images

Enjoy “Setsubun” (Bean throwing ceremony)!

“Setsubun” is the day before the first day of spring, which falls on February 3rd. In the evening of this day, we throw roasted soy beans inside and outside our houses with a cry of "Fuku wa uchi, Oni wa soto!" meaning "Out with the devil! In with good fortune!" Sometimes, we pick someone to play a…(101 words)

OKAKI-sun image

OKAKI-sun

Setsubun Event Holidays Surgical mask Spring
Hamamatsu Kite Festival images

Hamamatsu Kite Festival

May 3rd to the 5th the Kite battle begins at Nakatajima park Hamamatsu.These kites are not something you would find at Toys-r-us.It takes 10 to 15 people to lift one of these kites into the air!Each kite represents a cho or an area where you live.Any group member that had a new born child…(124 words)

Yuuki I image

Yuuki I

Park Event May Tourism omatsuri