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Namiko's Japanese Language Blog

By Namiko Abe, About.com Guide to Japanese Language since 1997

Kayaributa

Wednesday June 4, 2008
I was reading an article that the production of "kayaributa" is now at its peak before summer starts. When I saw a picture of it, it made me nostalgic. "Kayaributa" is a pig shaped pottery that you put a mosquito coil (katori-senkou) in. It is one of the things that give a poetic charm to the Japanese summer. Why a pig? Unfortunately I don't have the answer, but it has a humorous look, doesn't it? Since there are many mosquitos in Japan, katori-senkou is an essential item for summer. It has been used for more than 100 years and is still popular. I wonder if other hot and humid countries have something similar.


Japanese Translation

Comments

June 5, 2008 at 3:41 am
(1) Amanda says:

Hahaha, that’s fantastic! What a cute idea. :)

June 5, 2008 at 11:48 am
(2) Jesse says:

In upstate New York we use lots of bug repellent.

June 5, 2008 at 11:35 pm
(3) Shuji says:

Quote:I wonder if other hot and humid countries have something similar.

In the Philippines, we also have tons of mosquitos and we call mosquito coils “katol”. I think it came from the Japanese word “katori-senkou”. Interesting, isn’t it?

June 6, 2008 at 10:20 pm
(4) Akai says:

Here in Brazil we have a lot of mosquitos too.
In my house, we use that little electric thing with a refill that you plug into the socket.

June 12, 2008 at 9:53 am
(5) Seth says:

Malaysia nimo mada katori-senkou o tsukate iru hito ga imasu yo.(Hope my grammar is correct. I’m still learning too). Yoroshiku ne. ^_^

June 13, 2008 at 7:10 am
(6) lovely says:

wow! this is such a revelation to me. i did wonder about these kayaributa when i saw these while i was in japan. thank you for the entry.

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