Your cart is currently empty!
Category: Daily Life
Shichi-Go-San – Traditional Japanese Festival
Shichi-Go-San (七五三 lit. “seven-five-three”) is a Japanese custom celebrated on November 15. On this day, five-year-old boys and three- and seven-year-old girls visit the shrines to pray for health and prosperity in their growth. In ancient Japan, children were more susceptible to disease and mortality in children was a serious problem. The Shichi-Go-San festival emerged… Read more
High School in Japan: A Choice With a Thousand Details
I still remember the school years as if it were yesterday, the time when we went from middle school to high school, and in my personal case it was in a certain way “natural”. I simply continued my studies at the same school, which had grades from preschool to high school. There was not much… Read more
The Hidden (But Cute) Side of the “Undokai” Sports Festival
Many of you have probably already heard about the undokai sports festival in Japan. A celebration full of physical tests, sports competitions, dances and rhythm tables, which are an unmissable tradition, especially in schools in Japan. These are organized from kindergarten or kindergarten, through all school grades, universities, and even in companies and neighbors in… Read more
What is celebrated on Culture Day in Japan?
Culture Day (文化の日, Bunka no Hi) is the national event to celebrate traditional Japanese culture and promote the love of freedom and peace enshrined in the Japanese constitution. It has been a public holiday since 1948 although it was officially adopted in 1946 after World War II. It is celebrated annually in Japan on November… Read more
Montezuma’s Revenge vs. The secret mission ninja bug suicide attack
Proof of one of the benefits of the banana peel 43 years ago, at the end of October, I arrived at the Mexico City airport. My husband was very excited and told me that he wanted me to try a drink made from the fruit called “soursop”. He bought a can of Jumex and drank… Read more
A Mexican Flower that Conquered the Heart of Japan
Cosmos bipinnatusオオハルシャギク（ コスモス、アキザクラ 秋桜 ） A few weeks ago, flowers called “コスモス Cosmos” began to bloom in Japan, like every year during autumn. From my childhood to this day, during the autumn the pink flowers (and other colors too) of Cosmos look beautiful in public gardens, home gardens, riverbanks, and in every corner of Japan… Read more
Why do Japanese people sleep on futons?
The experience of sleeping on a futon (布団) is one of the most attractive activities for people who come to Japan. This typically happens when staying at a ryokan (旅館, traditional Japanese hotel) or guest house, where Japanese-style rooms, called washitsu (和室), tend to be the norm. (You can watch the video of this post… Read more
Reiki, Healing with Our Hands
Some time ago, I learned that some people used their hands to heal or relieve discomfort; a Japanese technique known as Reiki (霊気). It is a very soft and relaxing technique, where physical contact is minimal or nonexistent at all, in which it is understood that “ki” or universal energy is transmitted from one person… Read more
Higanbana – The Autumn Equinox Flower in Japan
After a long, hot summer, the arrival of the higanbana in mid-September heralds the beginning of autumn. The tall stems and spectacular bright red flowers seem to appear out of nowhere and appear around paddy fields mostly. The flowering season is short and lasts only 2-3 weeks, but if you happen to be in Japan… Read more
Tsukimi – Contemplate the Autumn Full Moon
Tsukimi 月見 (also known as Otsukimi お月見 with honorific) literally means “moon watching” and is a Japanese festival in honor of the autumn moon. This celebration usually takes place towards the end of September or the beginning of October according to the modern solar calendar. Formerly it was celebrated on the 15th day of the… Read more