初詣 (はつもうで、Hatsumoude; First temple or shrine visit of the New Year) - 冬の風物詩（fuyu no fuubutsushi) 8 : Special Attractions of Winter 8

初詣(はつもうで、Hatsumode)

 Hatsumode is the first visit to a Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine in a new year.

 There is the custom in Japan of making visits to temples or shrines at New Year, even if people are not Buddhist or Shinto believers, in order to pray for health and happiness, in the new year. On the occasion of hatsumode, people give money offerings, draw lots for written oracles, and buy good luck charms.

絵馬（えま, votive picture）

The crowds at famous temples and shrines are huge and are always broadcast on television newscasts.

＊Top 10 popular temples and shrines for hatsumode.
1. Fushimi Inari Taisha (Shrine),   http://inari.jp/, http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3915.html
2. Meiji Jingu Shrine,   http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/
3. Heianjingu Shrine,  http://www.heianjingu.or.jp/, http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3904.html
4. Sumiyoshi TaishaShrine, http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4007.html
5. Meguro Fdoson Ryusenji, http://park6.wakwak.com/~megurofudou/top.htm
http://www.mizuhiroba.jp/en/meisui/fudoson.html
6. Imamiya-ebisu Shrine,   http://www.osaka-info.jp/en/facilities/cat21/post_301.html
7. Kawasakidaishi Heikenji Temple,  http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/spot/shritemp/heikenji.html
8. Shimogamo jinja,  http://www.shimogamo-jinja.or.jp/english.html
9. Tokyo Daijingu,  http://www.tokyodaijingu.or.jp/english/
10. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine,  http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3939.html

日本の洋菓子 (にほんのようがし) -- Japanese Pastry

 洋菓子 (ようがし)　　Pastry

Depa-chika-sweets

 While refferred to as "pastry", many so-called "Western-style" sweets have been arranged and evolved into the unique "Japanese-style pastry".

Baumkuchen

 Firstly, "Baumkuchen" , is a German variety of spit cake. The characteristic rings that appear when sliced resemble tree rings, and give the cake its German name, Baumkuchen, which translates to "tree cake".  Now it seems more popular in Japan as one of the standard gifts or common sweets than in the home country.

Maccha-flavored cream puff

 Another one is "Cream puff" or "Choux à la crème" called as "Shuukuriim" in Japan. The French choux pastry ball is filled with whipped cream, custard or ice cream, and in Japan the custard cream has been arranged into flavor with chocolate, maccha, yogurt and so on. There is a bite-size, too called "petit shoe".

Mont Blanc

  "Mon Blanc" was an Italian home confectionery prototype, what initially was a cold dessert with whipped cream and chestnut paste.
 A Japanese owner of a confectionery in Tokyo arranged it into Japanese taste by using kanroni (chestnut boiled with sugar), and the mixture was evolved into a baked confectionery which can be taken home.

歌舞伎 (かぶき, Kabuki) --- 日本の伝統芸能(でんとう げいのう) -- Japanese Traditional Performing Arts 1

歌舞伎(Kabuki)

Ebizo Ichikawa

Kanzaburo Nakamura

  Kabuki is a traditional stage drama performed exclusively by men to the accompaniment of songs and music. It is characterized by a combination of rhythmical words, dancing, elaborate costumes and other inventions such as Kabuki stage equipment.


 

Super Kabuki 
 
 There is another Kabuki called "Super Kabuki" which is the modern form with a variety of music from different genres, special effects, lighting and stage arts from Western theater. The most famous production of Yamato Takeru was produced by Ennosuke Ichikawa in 1986. The latest Super Kabuki, "One piece Super KabukiⅡ" is running at the Shinbashi-enbujo theater in Tokyo.

Ennosuke Ichikawa

プリクラ (Purikura) ---- 日本のサブカルチャー (nihon no sabukaluchaa) Japanese Subculture 6

Purikura Booth

 プリクラ (Purikura) 

 In Japan, Pruikura or プリクラ is the shortened form of the registered trademark Purinto Kurabu(プリント倶楽部) or Printo Club. It refers to a photo aticker booth or the product of such a photo booth.

Customizing the beauty

 The prikura activity is popular among Japanese school children and young adults, mainly girls, young women and young couples.

 Purikura booths let you take digital pictures with your friends which you can add frames, stamps, sparkles with a variety of pen colours and styles in addition to enlarging your eyes and smoothing your skin.

 Your finished pictures are then printed off on sticker papaer in multiple copies so you can cut them up share them out. Purikura pictures are often used to decorate stationery in school but you can use them anywhere.

N & G

かわいい、可愛い -- 日本の言葉 (にほんの ことば) と文化 (ぶんか)：A Japanese Word and Culture

かわいい、可愛い(kawaii)

赤ちゃん (a baby)

こいぬ (a puppy)

 

 When you visit Japan, you might hear the Japanese word, "Kawaii" here and there, especially at shops. The adjective is often used as an exclamation of delight whenever people see something cute, lovely, charming or adorable. 

おべんとう(a boxed lunch)

キティグッズ (Kitty goods)

 Japanese people are easily attracted with "kawaii" items. It is used not only to express the appearance but also to express one's character. "I want to be a kawaii obaachan in the future." means "I want to become a gentle and lovable old woman when I get aged.

  Every prefecture and many organizations have their own mascot character called "Yuru chara" to attract many people's attention.

タボくん(Tabo-kun- Shiga Pref.)

ぐんまちゃん(Gunma-chan-Gunma Pref.)

 Recently, it has developed as a word which expresses whatever Japanese young girls like - beautiful, fluffy, colorful, weird, pop, etc.  And now, due to this expression, new fashion genres are popping up, such as anime, mascots, nail art, sweets, and celebrity idols such as Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and AKB48, etc. There are no rules. Anything, anywhere can be kawaii.

キャリー・パミュパミュ (Kyary Pamyu Pamyu)

AKB48

かわいいおばあちゃん (a lovable old woman)

スマートフォンカバー (smartphone cover)

コスプレ (Cosplay) ------ Japanese Sub Culture 5

Cosplay (コスプレ kosupure)

Cosplay, a portmanteau of the words constume play, is a persormance art in which participants called cosplayers were costumes and fashion accessories to represent

a specific character or idea. Cosplayers often interact to create a subculture centered on role play and a broader use of the term "cosplay" applies to any costumed role play in venues apart from the stage. Any entity that lends itself to dramatic interpretation may be taken up as a subject and it is not unusual to see genders switched. Favorite sources are manga and anime,  comic books and cartoons, video games, and live-action films.



The rapid growth in the number of people cosplaying as a hobby since 1990 has made the phenomenon a significant aspect of popular culture in Japan and some other parts of Asia and in the Western world. Cosplay events are common features of fan conventions and there are also dedicated conventions and local and international competitions, as well as social networks, websites and other forms of media centered on cosplay activities. (Wiki)

ランドセル (Randoseru) ----- 日本の文化 (nihon no bunka) Japanese Culture 9

 Randoseru

A randoseru (ランドセル) is a firm-sided backpack made of stitched firm leather or leather-like synthetic material, most commonly used in Japan by elementary schoolchildren. Traditionally it is given to a child upon beginning his or her first year of school. The term is a borrowed word from the Dutch "ransel" meaning "backpack", a clue to its origins nearly 200 years ago as used in the Netherlands.

 
In more conservative schools the color, brand and design is mandated, typically with red as the traditional color for girls and black for boys. However, due to changing attitudes toward gender stereotypes, more colorful versions such as pink, brown, dark blue, green, blue
 and even two-tones are more widespread.[Wikipedia]

姫路城 (Himeji-jo), Himeji Castle --- 世界遺産 (Sekai Isan) (UNESCO) World Heritage Site 4

姫路城 (Himeji-jo), Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle & Cherry Blossoms

 Himeji Castle is widely considered Japan's most spectacular castle. Himeji Castle is also known as "Shirasagi-jo (White Heron Castle)" because of its walls covered with white plaster.

The Renovated Castle

Unlike many other Japanese castles, Himeji Casle was never damaged in wars, earthquakes or fires and survives in its original form.

In 1993, Himeji Castle was registered as a UNESCO's World Heritage site, because it is a wooden castle structure of incomparable worth in the world and because the whole structure including towers, stone ramparts, and earthen walls are extremely well preserved. It is also designated as national treasure along with the other three castles ( Matsumoto Castle, Hikone Castle and Inuyama Castle).

Himeji Castle & the Blue Impulse

 A fort was constructed by Norimura Akamatsu, the ruler of the Harima domain in 1333. Over the centuries, the various clans such as Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Ikeda Terumasa enlarged it into a large castle complex. The well defended castle and its wooden interior are fascinating, and the castle's sight is spectacular, especially during the short and crowded cherry blossom season, that usually takes place in early April.

Under Construction

Himeji Castle re-opened to the public on March 27 after 5 1/2 years of renovation work, following a ceremony on the previous day featuring the Air Self-Defense Force's aerobatic team Blue Impulse.

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The Link to Japan's Top 100 Castles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan%27s_Top_100_Castles

鯛焼き( Tai-yaki), 今川焼き( Imagawa-yaki), どら焼き( Dora-yaki) -- 日本のお菓子、Sweets in Japan 2

 鯛焼き(Tai-yaki)

Tai-yaki

  Taiyaki（literally "baked sea bream") is a Japanese fish-shaped cake or waffle batter filled with azuki sweet read bean paste. The batter is poured into a fish-shaped mold for each side. The filling is then put on one side and the mold is closed. It is then cooked on both sides until golden brown.

 There are other common fillings made of custard, chocolate, maccha cream, cheese, sweet potato, etc..



今川焼き(Imagawa-yaki)

Imagawa-yaki

 Imagawa-yaki is the same as Taiyaki but with a circular shape, and there are various kinds of names depending on regions.

Ōban-yaki (大判焼き) — is major in Kansai region and Hokuriku region.
Kaiten-yaki (回転焼き) — is major in Kansai and Kyūshū region.
Taiko-yaki（太鼓焼き）- Kansai and Chugoku region
Oyaki（おやき）- in Hokkaido and Tohoku region
Nijū-yaki (二重焼き) - in Shimane, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kagoshima
Anko-manjuu（あんこ饅頭）- Okinawa

どら焼き(Dora-yaki)

Cream dora-yaki

Doraemon dora-yaki

  Dora-yaki is a type of Japanese confection, а red-bean pancake which consists of two small pancake-like patties made from castella wrapped around a filling of sweet Azuki red bean paste.

  In Japanese, dora means "gong", and because of the similarity of the shapes, this is probably the origin of the name of the sweet. In Kansai area, such as Osaka or Nara, this sweet is often called mikasa（三笠）.

Seasonal Sakura dora-yaki

いちご大福 (Ichigo Daifuku) --- 日本のお菓子、Sweets in Japan 1

いちご大福, Ichigo daifuku　　

  Ichigo Daifuku is a glutinous rice cake stuffed with anko (sweetened read bean paste or white bean paste) and ichigo(strawberry).

 Daifuku mochi(大福餅）or daifuku(大福-literally "great luck"), which are soft mochi dumplings stuffed with a sweet filling, such as red bean paste (anko) or white bean paste (shiroan) are very popular as an afternoon treat (rather
than a dessert).

みかん大福(orange daifuku)

もも大福(peach daifuku)

ぶどう大福(grape daifuku)

  Ichigo daifuku first created during the 1980’s, are a true Japanese delicacy featuring a good combination of the traditional sweets and seasonal juicy fruits.

 Other than ichigo daifuku, there are mikan(maderine orange), kiwi, melon, peach daifuku and so on.

高野山(Koyasan), World Natural Heritage in Japan 3

Konpondaito

  Koyasan (高野山) is a complex of temples located in the Kii Mountain Range in Wakayama prefecture, and it is the center of Singon Buddihism, an important Buddhist sect which was introduced to Japan in 805 by Kukai, posthumously named Kobo Daishi, one of Japan's most significant religious figures.




 In 2004, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site, and it has just been selected as one of twenty "Best of the World" destinations for 2015 National Geographic Traveler magazine's December 2014/January 2015 issue.

Kongobuji

 A small and secluded temple town has developed around the sect's headquarters to one of Japan's most sacred sites providing a peaceful and serene mountain retreat. It is also the site of Kobo Daishi's mausoleum (Okunoin) and the start and end point of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage.

Monks practicing asceticism

 Koyasan warmly welcomes both pilgrims and visitors. There are 52 temples that provide lodging (Shukubo), and the accommodations are fastidious and comfortable. Temple monks take care of most daily chores, such as food preparation and serving vegetarian monk's cuisine (Shojin ryori) including Halal meals for Muslims, cleaning, room preparation, etc.

Inner sanctuary 1

Inner sanctuary 2

  While staying at shukubo, visitors can participate in activities such as morning ceremony, sutra copying and meditation. Not all temples offer all activities, so please check with your shukubo to see what is available.