| More interesting facts on Japan in
the coming months! |
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 大晦日（おおみそか）
New Year's Eve
The last day of the year, December 31st, is
called Omisoka. To welcome the New
Year with good feelings, a general house cleaning
is done. The flooring rush mats (tatami)
are re-covered and the sliding paper screens
(shoji) are re-papered, family reunions
are held and the whole family ushers in the
New Year with a sense of togetherness.
At about midnight, bells speeding the passing
of the old year (joya-no-kane) begin
ringing at temples all around the country.
According to Buddhist teachings, human beings
have 108 worldly desires which are removed
by striking the bell symbolizing the passing
of the old year 108 times. While listening
to the sound of the bells, people eat year-crossing
soba (toshikoshi-soba) which
became widespread in the Edo Period (1603-1867)
in the hope of a long life because soba
is fine and long.
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 敬老の日
( けいろうのひ
)
Respect-for-the-Aged Day
The third Monday of September is Keiro-no-hi
(Respect-for-the-Aged Day), a national holiday.
It is a day to honour the aged, celebrate
their long lives, pray for their good health,
and deepen understanding on the issues of
welfare for senior citizens.
On this day, regional governments and Respect-for-the
Aged associations organize all kinds of events,
such as variety shows, as well as donate mementos.
Volunteers make visits to old people's homes.
As Japan has the world's longest life expectancy,
this national holiday is likely to become
increasingly more important.
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 国鳥（こくちょう）
The National Bird
The bird that represents Japan is the pheasant.
Native to Japan, the pheasant has been a familiar
sight to the people since ancient times and
was designated as the country's national bird
in 1947.
It lives in wooded areas and grassy fields away
from human habitation. Its main features include
light brown feathers with black spots for males;
females are smaller and have shorter tails than
males.
In fall and winter, pheasants were objects of
hunting. Since ancient times, they were highly
valued for eating. They were often used as congratulatory
gifts for weddings.
Among birds, pheasants are considered the finest
species; because of the sorrowful cries of males
and females for each other, they are taken as
symbols in classical Japanese poems and Haiku
(poems in seventeen syllables) of love for one's
family.
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 日本の国花（にほんのこっか）
Cherry Blossom
The flower that is most beloved by the Japanese
people and that symbolizes Japan is the cherry
blossom. From the cherry blossom which blooms
and falls only within a week or so, the Japanese
sense beauty, as well as transience, melancholy,
and perhaps graceful resignation.
The lyricism of the Japanese people has been
closely connected with this flower from ancient
times; since the Heian Period (794 - 1185),
it has often been included in classical Japanese
poems. From the early years of the Showa Period
(1926 - 1989) till the Second World War, the
way that the cherry blossom quickly and gracefully
falls was appropriated into militarism to
beautify the deaths of the suicide units.
Today, Japan has sent cherry trees with their
beauty overseas as a symbol of peace, and
their light pink flowers bloom every spring,
for example, beside the Potomac River in Washington
DC, and on the remains of the Berlin Wall.
In Japan, people enjoy outdoor parties under
the cherry blossoms in early April. They sit
on mats under the cherry trees, eating, drinking,
singing cheerfully and viewing the blossoms.
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 相撲（すもう）
Sumo
Sumo is Japan's national sport and
has existed since ancient times. Professional
sumo started in the Edo Period (17th
century).
In the middle of January , the year’s
first sumo wrestling tournament is
held at Ryogoku National Sport Indoor Arena
in Tokyo for 15 days. In sumo, two
wrestlers face off in the middle of the dohyo
ring measuring 4.55 meters in diameter. Every
action, such as scattering of purifying salt
on the ring, is part of sumo’s
ancient tradition.
There are 70 different ways to win, such as
oshidashi (push out), uwatenage
(over-arm throw), yoritaoshi(frontal crush-out),
or yorikiri (frontal force-out).
Sumo wrestlers are ranked according
to their results. Yokozuna (grand
champion), Ozeki (champion), and
Sekiwake (junior champion) are the
top three ranks. They wrestle with several
ranked competitors during the 15-day tournament,
and a winner is decided.
Sumo wrestling tournaments have been
held six times a year since 1958. The achievements
of a few foreign wrestlers have gradually
internationalized the appeal of sumo.
The number of sumo fans is increasing
not only among Japanese, but also non-Japanese.
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おまもり
猫（ねこ）Cats
お盆（おぼん）
だるま
三社祭（さんじゃまつり）
神田祭（かんだまつり）
ひな祭り（ひなまつり）
温泉（おんせん）