ひな祭り – Hina-Matsuri
March 3rd is Hina-matsuri (English translation “Dolls’ Festival, Girls’ Day, or Dolls’ Day.”) It is not an official holiday, but a traditional …
Announcing 2016 April Classes
4/11/16 – 5/4/16 Only $90 for 4 classes!!! (Offer ends 4/9/16) We will meet once a week for four weeks (4/11/16 ~ 5/4/16) in …
ラテアート – Café Latte Art
In Japan café latte art is 3D!!!
Plum Blossoms in Snow
Plum blossoms start blooming in February in Japan. (Please read my plum post for more information.) In Japanese poems, February is already …
雪見酒 – Yukimizake
Yukimizake means to drink Japanese sake while you enjoy watching snow falling. The word breaks down as follows: yuki = snow, mi …
こたつ – Kotatsu
The kotatsu is a wooden table with an attached heater inside and covered with a blanket. It’s a common way to keep …
雨後の山月 – Mountain Moon
“Mountain Moon after Rain” or “雨後の山月 時致” by Yoshitoshi Tsukioka (月岡芳年) 1885 This is one of Ukiyo-e. Please read my Ukiyo-e post for …
成人の日 – Coming of Age Day
Young people in Japan are considered to be adults when they reach 20, not 21. “Seijin no Hi” or “Coming of Age …
Happy New Year
“Happy New Year” is “Akemashite Omedetō Gozaimasu” (あけまして おめでとう ございます) in Japanese.
大晦日 – New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve is called “Ōmisoka (大晦日)” in Japanese. Through the ages Japanese people have believed that the Shinto God, Toshigami will …