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In Ibaraki Prefecture, lovers of traditional Japanese culture usually look forward to the period between mid- April and early May. First there is the excitement of HANAMI ( Cherry blossom parties) and then there are the amazingly extravagant carp streamers ( koi nobori), which are raised up at the homes of families with boys, to be admired- and photographed.
Carp streamers fly over the nanohana and peach blossoms in Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture
Sure, you can see plenty of carp streamers ( of a more modest scale) and other childrens Day decorations anywhere you go in Japan in this season. But before May 5th, there could be no better way of savoring this season than taking a drive or a bike-ride in the Ibaraki countryside. You are sure to see plenty of this area`s abundant, breathtakingly large and colorful koi nobori waving proudly against the blue sky. It is quite a spectacle!
TsukuBlog
A Local Perspective on Life in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
With All The Attention On Cherry Blossoms and Hanami, HANA-MATSURI, The Japanese Celebration Of Buddha`s Birthday On April 8th, Is Often Overlooked These Days (revisited)
8 April, 2021
With cherry blossom revelry down in the valley below, worshippers pour tea (AMACHA) over a TANJO BUTSU – a special Buddha image with one hand pointing up and another one down, used for celebrating April 8th – Buddha`s birthday
By Avi Landau
Through a break in the cloud-like canopy of cherry blossoms at Ueno park, I spotted it, up above on a hill, at the edge of The Ueno Kiyomizu Temple`s elevated veranda. A small pavilion, bedecked with flowers- and inside a small image of the Buddha. Despite the excited, pulsating throngs of cherry blossom enthusiasts pushing around me, I stopped for a moment to watch as someone took a dipper and poured a liquid over the little statue`s head. Then, in the middle of HANAMI, I remem
TsukuBlog
Some Musings on the History of Japan`s National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinenbi, 建国記念日)
11 February, 2021
Before 1872 and the adoption of the Western Gregorian Calendar, the Japanese kept track of the passage of the years in one way – the NENGO system, in which a new ERA (年号) was proclaimed with the accession of each new emperor, with each successive year of rule during that reign numbered, advancing by one on each (Lunar) New Year`s Day (which usually fell in February). In fact, this system is STILL used in everyday Japanese life, with this year being the 3rd year REIWA (零和) – the name of the current NENGO – in addition to it being 2021.
TsukuBlog
A Local Perspective on Life in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
明けましておめでとう- Akemashite Omedeto! – ( the Japanese greeting for the beginning of the New Year )- a revealing look at the origin of the expression
1 January, 2021
O-Zoni, the traditional New Year`s soup which is eaten during the first three days of the year. The ingredients used to make it vary from region to region. Pictured above is a batch cooked up in Nara Prefecture. It has a white miso based broth and is filled with thinly sliced radish, a block of tofu and a round MOCHI rice cake.
By Avi Landau