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![]() Ohanami (Flower Viewing) Sakura (cherry blossom) is Japan’s national flower and it blooms in late March to April everywhere at various times depending on the weather and the location. People get busy to celebrate the beauty of Sakura. It is customary for thousands of people to gather in parks and other public places to appreciate some of the 150 varieties of cherry blossom trees found in Japan. Ground coverings are spread out to accommodate the gathering of families, friends and workers spending time eating and drinking under the beautiful cherry trees. Businesses, schools and households begin their year at this time in April. Ohanami represents a time of change. The first Ohanami took place in the late 17th century. Short skits were acted and brightly coloured kimono were a common sight. The political situation at that time was such that many restrictions had been placed on the Japanese people. Therefore, this was a rare occasion when they could gather and enjoy themselves without fear of retribution for their actions. The small white and pink blossoms are the topic of many poems and they capture the hearts of the Japanese. For more than 1,000 years Sakura has stood as an icon of Japan and its beauty. Being held at the beginning of spring, Ohanami also welcome the gods who will bless the rice fields in rural areas although this has now been forgotten in all but the most traditional regions of Japan. |
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![]() Tsuyu - Rainy Season From early June to mid-July, Japan is hit by the rainy season, so called tsuyu or baiyu (literally means ‘plum rain’) because it coincides with the plum ripening season. The Meteorological Agency announces the official beginning of the rainy season and thereafter, day in and day out, the sky remains gloomy while temperatures and humidity rise. The cause of this gloomy season of high precipitation has to do with the movements of air masses. With the cold air masses over the Okhotsk Sea moving northwards and the warm air masses over the Pacific Ocean moving southwards, they collide and result in a seasonal rain front. Since Japan stretches over a wide range of latitude, the start of tsuyu varies from location to location. Hokkaido, however, is the least affected by this rainy season. Although the long-lasting rain is unpleasant, it has many positive aspects. Rain is important to agriculture and is a valuable source of drinking water. Therefore, the rain of tsuyu is a rain of blessings for the Japanese people. By this time, farmers would have done their rice planting and families would have made plum brandy or pickled plums out of their plum harvests. During this rainy season, children often hang a doll called teru teru bozu outside their windows or from the eaves to wish for sunshine the next day. Teru teru bozu is a very simple doll made of white tissue paper or white cloth. This custom was brought to Japan from China many years ago. |
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![]() Joya-no-Kane New Year’s Eve, 31st December is an important day in that it is the day to wrap up the old year and start preparing for the coming year. People listen to Joya-no-Kane, the watch-night bells of temples starting around 11:00 pm on New Year’s Eve and lasting till around 12:30 am on New Year’s Day, 1st January. The custom of ringing out the old year with temple bells on New Year’s Eve has been observed since the Nara Period (710 – 794 AD). Traditionally, monks took turns striking the temple bells 108 times in succession. However, nowadays many temples give opportunities to anybody who wants to strike the bell which has the power to drive away evil. According to a Buddhist belief, the 108 peals of the temple bell represent the 108 evil passions that beset mankind. When the last peal sounds, these earthly desires of humans are cast out and people greet the New Year in a pure state of mind. |
Check out these interesting reads in our archives as well: |
Know Japan 2013 archive |
Know Japan 2012 archive |
Know Japan 2011 archive |
Know Japan 2010 archive |
Know Japan 2009 archive |
Japanese Recipes 2008 archive |
Japanese Customs 2007 archive |
Japanese Customs 2006 archive |
Japanese Festivals 2005 archive |