Japan’s World Heritage Sites
As of February 2025, Japan proudly hosts 26 World Heritage Sites, each contributing uniquely to global heritage. 1 Buddhist monuments in the …
Trivia about Setsubun
Setsubun (節分), usually celebrated on February 3rd, marks the day before the first day of spring according to the East Asian …
成人式 – Seijin Shiki
“Seijin no Hi” or “Coming of Age Day” is a national holiday celebrated on the second Monday in January with a ceremony …
天のウズメ – Ama no Uzume
Ama no Uzume, also known as Uzume of Heaven, is the goddess of entertainment in Japanese mythology, prominently featured in the legend …
化粧まわし – Keshō Mawashi
A mawashi is like a loincloth or woven cloth belt that sumo wrestlers wear when they wrestle. A keshō mawashi has a …
大相撲 – Grand Sumo Tournament
The Japan Sumo Association holds tournaments every other month and each tournament lasts for 15 days. Each sumo wrestler must fight a …
神社の池 – Shrine Pond
If you go to a Shinto shrine, there may be a bridge over a pond or a stream. It is said that …
初詣 – Hatsumōde
Hatsumōde is your first visit to a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine in the New Year. You generally wish for health and …
平成 – Heisei Era
In Japan besides the Western Calendar (西暦) we often use Japanese imperial year (和暦). Currently the imperial year is Heisei (平成) 31 …
菱餅 – Hishi Mochi
For hina-matsuri we display beautiful dolls and offer food and drink. Normally the drink is shirozake or Japanese white wine, and the …