TsukuBlog
A Local Perspective on Life in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
The Legacy of the SAKIMORI (防人)-Japan`s Ancient Frontier Guard Conscripts- is their timeless poetry of LONGING- and the colorful SAITOH-SAI Festival ( 祭頭祭 ) at Kashima Grand Shrine on March 9th
8 March, 2021
By Avi Landau
One of the good things about living in the Tsukuba Science City, is that in addition to all the local folk ( JIMOTO NO HITO ), you get to meet the SHINJU-MIN (新住民), the people who have come from ALL OVER JAPAN ( as well as from all over the world) to work at or study at the various research facilities and institutions of higher learning located here. Because of this diversity in geographical background , whenever I make new acquaintance, I always make sure to ask: SHUSHIN CHI WA DOKO DESU KA? (Where are you originally from?), and since I have been to all of Japan`s 47 prefectures, after hearing the answer, I mention that I have been to THEIRS and usually make so
TsukuBlog
A Local Perspective on Life in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
On January the 7th – the Seven Herbs Of Spring (春の七草) in Rice Porridge (and the viewing of BLUE horses!)
6 January, 2021
A packet of the NANAGUSA (seven herbs of spring) which are traditionally cooked into a rice porridge each January 7th
By Avi Landau
Just when you thought we were through with all the traditional dishes. Just when you’ve decided that you’ve had more than enough of the soba, the O-zoni, and the O-sechi of O-shogatsu. Just when you find yourself daydreaming about dining at one of Tsukuba’s fine Italian, or French, or Chinese, or Korean restaurants which will be reopening after the long holiday. Just THEN, you realize that tomorrow is January 7th, time to eat the very traditional NANA KUSA GAYU 七草粥 (porridge with the seven herbs of spring) and head off to the supermarket to get ready.