Namiko's Japanese Language Blog

My hometown has a danjiri festival in May every year. Danjiri is a traditional wooden float in the shape of a shrine or temple. The taiko (drum) and kane (bell) are used to play the danjiri rhythm. Whenever I hear the sound, I get very excited. I was not able to see the festival for several years, and when I saw it and heard the rhythm again, I was almost in tears. It surprised me how much I missed it and was moved by it. I think many cultures have rhythm rooted in its country and people. My nephew and niece visited my parents place during the danjiri festival this year. They loved it and followed it through the town.


Japanese Translation

Next Sunday is Mother's Day (Haha no hi). Click here to learn the kanji character for "haha (mother)." Although "Happy ~" can be translated as "~ omedetou," there is no Japanese equivalent of "Happy Mother's Day." Sending a Mother's Day card is not too common in Japan, but giving flowers (especially carnations) is a popular thing to do. I am very close with my mom. She is very open-minded and has been very supportive of whatever I have done. Since hugging parents (except by children) is not a common practice in Japan, I sometime wonder if words are enough to show love. Besides, I feel a little embarrassed to express my feelings in front of her, but I always appreciate her open mindedness.


Japanese Translation

I was at a kids’ party and saw a game being played. A picture of a donkey was on a board and blindfolded children were trying to pin a tail on it. Both my Japanese friend and I had never seen this game before, but we both agreed on how similar it is to the Japanese game called, "fukuwarai." I found out later that the game is called, "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" and it is one of the most popular games at children’s parties. I am surprised that I’d never come across it before. It is interesting to realize that culture is something you have to grow up with and experience. I am sure that every Japanese person knows about "fukuwarai" and has played it at sometime in their childhood.


Japanese Translation

It has been weird weather lately. It was very warm and felt almost like summer, then it snowed a week later. The Japanese have a word for the varying weather this time of the year. "Sankan-shion" basically means three days cold and four days warm. It is one of the "yoji-jukugo," which are idiomatic expressions made up of four kanji characters. I don’t mind winter and I even like bundling up with a warm coat and a scarf in chilly weather. However, I now miss colorful light spring clothing and I am looking forward to wearing it sometime soon.


Japanese Translation

I went ice-skating the other day. I have been to an outside skate rink only once in Japan. I don’t remember if the area was cold enough to have an outside rink, so it might have been artificial. However, I still remember the great feeling I had from skating under the sky. Skating at Rockefeller Center in New York always looks nice. I am not sure if skating is a popular participation sport in Japan, but watching figure skating is very popular. Japan has had some good figure skaters lately. Shizuka Arakawa won the gold medal at the Winter Olympics in women’s singles in 2006. Mao Asada is the 2008 World champion and is expected to win a medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. When I am on the ice I can’t imagine jumping high, holding all kinds of postures and still being graceful. I am sure it requires a lot of practice, patience, and a strong mind.


Japanese Translation

As I mentioned in the previous blog, the Japanese school year starts in April. In this month the entrance ceremony is held everywhere for new students, kindergarten through to university. My nephew will enter grade one this spring and today is his entrance ceremony. Japanese elementary school children traditionally wear a school bag called "randoseru". It is kind of a symbol for children in grade one. It is cute to see them going to school with a randoseru that almost seems too big (they will use it for the next 6 years). I remember I was so excited about my shinny red randoseru when I entered grade one. I used it every day until I graduated from elementary school. I am sure my nephew is very proud of it, too.


Japanese Translation

Like many other Japanese, I love cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms are one of the national flowers of Japan (the other one is the chrysanthemum). It is beautiful in full bloom and gracious even when scattered. The Japanese often find beauty in something transient. I think cherry blossoms appeal to the aesthetic sense of the Japanese. I always feel happy when I see them, but at the same time its short life makes me sad.


Japanese Translation

Since the Japanese school year starts in April and ends in March, March is the graduation season. Most Japanese high schools have uniforms and students usually wear them in the graduation ceremony, too. I was always fascinated by the movie scenes in which a girl wears a beautiful dress and is picked up by a boyfriend for the prom. It is something that you never imagine in rather strict Japanese school life. I am not sure if boys are as excited as girls, but I think it is fun to dress up on special occasions.


Japanese Translation

Japan has adopted many Western events (Christmas, Valentine’s, Halloween etc.), but Easter is still unfamiliar to most Japanese and I too didn’t know much about Easter. Easter egg hunting seems to be fun for kids. I noticed that the treats kids get in North America are mainly chocolates. I am not sure if chocolate is as popular for Japanese kids. Maybe it is another culture difference. I know there are many chocoholics out there, but I will choose Japanese sweets over chocolates.


Japanese Translation

There is a rather strange Japanese custom on March 14th, one-month after Valentine’s Day . It is called “White Day” and it is the day that a man who has received a gift from a woman on Valentine’s Day gives her a gift in return. I think the idea is very Japanese. By the way, what would be a nice gift for women? According to research, the most popular item on White Day is a necklace. A ring, a handkerchief, a bouquet of flowers and a stuffed animal are among the top five. I guess there is something universal about catching a woman’s heart. However, some might be puzzled about a handkerchief being ranked so high, but there are so many beautiful handkerchiefs available in Japan and Japanese women like to collect them.


Japanese Translation