Japan.trivia

 Nengajo (New Year's greeting cards) to be sent to your loved ones, relatives, and friends as New Year's greetings. In fact, the nengajou (New Year's greeting card) has a history of over 1,000 years. In recent years, with the spread of e-mail and SNS, more and more people do not send New Year's cards, but it is still nice to receive one! What is a "Nengajo(New Year's greeting card)"? Nengajo are greeting cards to celebrate the New Year, and are often sent using postal postcards or cards. The word "Nenga" means "to celebrate the new year," and it is generally considered good manners to send a New Year's greeting so that it arrives on January 1. The word "Nenga" means "New Year's greetings," and it is generally considered good manners to send a New Year's greeting card on the first day of January. It can be sent to anyone regardless of the relationship, including close friends and those who have been indebt...

 In Japan, it is customary to give "Otoshi-dama(New Year's money)" to children during the New Year's holiday.  What is a "Otoshi-dama"? What is its meaning, origin and origin? Why is it called a "Otoshi-dama" and what does it mean? What is "Otoshi-dama"? Otoshi-dama, a New Year's tradition in Japan, is a gift of money or goods given in celebration of the New Year. It is given mainly from adults to children and from superiors to subordinates. The current "Otoshi-dama" is an allowance for children for the New Year, but it actually has a deeper meaning than that of the original New Year's event. It originated not with money, but with rice cakes. Today's "Otoshi-dama" is mostly money, but originally it was rice cakes. However, it was not just a rice cake,because it was a symbol of "soul". In the old days, it was believed that at the beginning of each year, the spirit of the New Year was shared from th...

Kagamimochi is an offering to "celebrate the New Year with God and wish for good luck in the year ahead". Kagamimochi are the vessels for the New Year's god, the "New Year's God". The Kagamimochi is the place for the New Year's god to reside. New Year's decorations such as sacred straw ropes and kadomatsu are used to welcome the New Year's gods who visit homes during the New Year, and kagamimochi are "yorishiro" for the gods to stay. Kagamimochi serves more than just that. It has long been believed that the god of the new year divides his soul among us, along with the happiness and blessings of the new year. The Kagamimochi is a symbol of that spirit. Kagamimochi is made up of two round rice cakes, one large and one small, stacked on top of the other, and many people have probably seen one with an orange on top. It is said to have already existed in the Heian period (794-1185), as it is mentioned in the Tale of Genji (Tale of Genji). Wh...

 Many places hold mochi pounding when the New Year approaches. The "Mochitsuki Festival" is a classic year-end event in Japan. It is held at various places such as schools and neighborhood associations. Mochi has been considered a sacred food in Japan since ancient times. Originally, rice was considered sacred in Japan, and the rice from the rice plant was said to strengthen the life force. The rice from the rice plant was said to strengthen the life force, and rice cakes, which are made by pounding the rice and hardening it, were thought to have particularly strong power. This is why people began to make rice cakes on special occasions, and the practice of making rice cakes at the end of the year in preparation for the New Year, which is the most important time of the year, seems to have become a common practice. Note that when rice cake pounding is done at the end of the year, it is often avoided on December 29 for good luck. This is because of the "double burden"...

 Hatsumode, a New Year's visit to shrines and temples Hatsumode, or New Year's visits to shrines and temples, are held at the beginning of each year to wish for happiness in the new year. Meiji Jingu Shrine, which is considered the most visited shrine in Japan, attracts about 3 million people who come to pray for good luck in the coming year. Visitors can enjoy the excitement of the New Year at famous shrines and temples, or quietly at more secluded temples and shrines. It is an event that symbolizes the New Year, and the method of worship varies, with some people going to local shrines and temples, while others visit famous shrines and temples. The timing of visitation also differs from person to person, with some saying "Hatsumode is only possible if you go on the first three days of the year" and others saying "Hatsumode is the first visit of the year. Hatsumode, an annual New Year's event, refers to the first visit to a shrine or temple after the New Year...

 "Omikuji" has been used in Japan since ancient times to divine fortune. What is Omikuji? Omikuji is an oracle that is believed to express the will of God in the act of "kuji," which determines things mechanically and fairly. It is said that by drawing an omikuji after visiting a shrine, one can learn the true intention of God. Usually, the result of a lottery is determined by chance. In Japan, however, it has been believed since ancient times that the will of the gods and Buddha intervenes in the outcome of sacred lotteries. Omikuji are generally used to divine one's fortune or good fortune, but there are many different types, and each shrine has its own twist. The contents of the omikuji include descriptions of fortune telling in terms of good or bad fortune, or in terms of big, medium, small, or small good fortune, as well as descriptions covering all aspects of life, such as money, love, lost possessions, travel, waiting, and health. Some also include waka p...

Shime-nawa (a sacred rope) indicates the sacred place where the gods have descended. It is believed that no impurity or evil spirits can enter the place where it is placed, and it also serves as a kind of protective wall and ward off evil spirits. What is the meaning of the "shimenawa" at shrines ? Shimenawa, a sacred rope displayed at shrines and home Shinto altars, has long been considered "sacred". Meaning and origin of the sacred rope New Year's Day is "an event to entertain the New Year's Deity who has come to this world. The place where we welcome and worship the gods must be prepared as a sacred place. The sacred rope serves as a "boundary" between the realm of the gods and this world, preventing the entry of impure things. The origin of the sacred rope is said to be the myth of Amaterasu Omikami (Amaterasu Omikami) written in the Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters). In ancient times, when the gods took Amaterasu out of Iwato (the cave ...

 On New Year's Eve in Japan, people eat "New Year's Eve soba" (buckwheat noodles). In Japan, it is a "tradition" regardless of region. Origin of New Year's Eve Soba Noodles There are various theories as to the origin of New Year's Eve soba, but it seems to have originated because it is easy, tasty, and brings good luck. It began around the middle of the Edo period (1603-1867). Soba has long been cultivated as a crop to save people's lives, but at the same time, it was also eaten on special occasions as a good luck charm. For example, Togakushi soba, Yamagata soba, and wanko soba are just a few examples of local soba dishes that were developed to be served on special occasions. It seems that soba was also well known as a healthy food, as it was mentioned in the "Honcho Shokkan (book of meals)" of the mid-Edo period (1603-1868) that soba was good for one's health. Soba is said to be effective in removing the dregs of the five internal...

 Many of the prizes are also goods from popular artists, and BE:FIRST prizes are now available. BE:FIRST is a boy group born from the audition "THE FIRST" organized by SKY-HI. The seven members are SOTA, SHUNTO, MANATO, RYUHEI, JUNON, RYOKI, and LEO. BE:FIRST is a group formed by seven members selected from the participants of "THE FIRST", an audition for finding a boy group organized by SKY-HI. Finally, they made their debut with the final on August 13, 2021. BE:FIRST is aiming for global success and has already established official social networking sites such as TikTok and YouTube. Since the release of their debut single, "Gifeted.", they have continued to distribute digital singles and released their second single, "Bye-Good-Bye", in May 2022 and their first album in August 2022. A "crane game machine" is an arcade game (arcade game machine) in which players operate a crane or arm inside a transparent case with buttons and sticks on...

 Makoto Shinkai's latest animated feature film, "Suzume no Togome" will be released in theaters nationwide on November 11, 2022 (Friday). Makoto Shinkai's Latest Film is a Road Movie about a Girl's Growth "Suzume no Tojimari" is the latest film by Makoto Shinkai, the director of the hit "Kimi no na wa. The film "Suzume no tojimari" is the latest work by Makoto Shinkai, the director of the hit films "Kimi no na wa" and "Weather Child". The new setting of "Shinkai World," which spins a story of a boy and a girl with vivid colors and beautiful music, is "abandoned places around Japan. This road movie depicts the liberation and growth of Suzume, a young girl who closes the "door" that leads to disaster. The name of the girl. "Kimi no na wa," director Makoto Shinkai, highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad since its worldwide success, depicts a young girl's adventure with beautiful co...

 Japanese public telephones have priority over cell phones in times of disaster What is a "public telephone" ? 　 As the name suggests, a public telephone is a telephone that can be used freely by an unspecified number of people (the public). In Japan, public telephones can be broadly classified into the following categories. Type 1 Public Telephones 　Type 1 public telephones are permanent public telephones that must be installed by NTT East and NTT West in accordance with the Telecommunications Business Law and its enforcement regulations. The following conditions must be met in terms of installation in order to "ensure the safety of social life and the minimum means of communication outside the home". The phone must be located in a place where anyone can use it at any time, or in a conspicuous place in a facility where anyone can easily enter and leave the facility. At least one unit must be placed in every 1 km square in urban areas and at least one unit in every ...

 An indispensable item for summer in Japan: mosquito coils Mosquito coils are an indispensable part of the Japanese summer, with smoke trailing from green whirlpools over the veranda and eaves where a refreshing night breeze blows, and people in yukata (summer kimono) love fireworks with a fan in hand. The rainy season has ended nationwide, and the "Japanese summer" has arrived with full-blown heat. During this season, mosquito repellents are indispensable in preparation for the arrival of mosquitoes, whose wings make unpleasant noises and are known to cause various illnesses. Various styles of mosquito repellents, such as electronic mosquito repellents, are available in the market, but the most popular is the green swirl mosquito coil. It is a summer tradition. History of Mosquito Coils Mosquito coils are said to have their roots in "kayaribi," or mosquito coils used in the Heian period (794-1185). At that time, mosquitoes were repelled by burning mugwort leaves, k...

 As winter approaches, severe cold envelops the entire country. While snow rarely falls in most of Japan's metropolitan areas, the mountains and northern regions are covered with snow. The best part of traveling in Japan is being able to experience nature in each of the four seasons. Japan has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Even in the cold winter months, there are miraculous and spectacular landscapes created by nature and beautiful traditional winter-only events throughout Japan. Although winters in Japan are cold and snowy in many regions, there is a lot of unique beauty, fun, and delicious food to be had. How is the winter climate in Japan? On average, winter temperatures in Tokyo in December are about 12 degrees Celsius in the daytime and 5 degrees Celsius in the morning and evening. In January of the following year, daytime temperatures are 10°C and morning and evening temperatures are 2-3°C. In February, daytime temperatures are 10-11°C and morning ...

Autumn in Japan generally refers to the three-month period from September to November.  As can be inferred from the Japanese words "autumn for appetite," "autumn for harvest," "autumn for sports," "autumn for reading," and "autumn for art," autumn is one of the four seasons in Japan that is particularly refreshing, pleasant, and has delicious food. What is the weather like in autumn in Japan? Autumn temperatures in Tokyo in September range from 23 to 28 degrees in the daytime and 18 to 21 degrees in the morning and evening; in October, daytime temperatures range from 19 to 23 degrees and morning and evening temperatures range from 14 to 18 degrees; in November, daytime temperatures range from 14 to 18 degrees and morning and evening temperatures range from 7 to 12 degrees. Although typhoons sometimes occur in September and mid-October, the weather is relatively clear and pleasant. The air is fresh and the days are comfortable. What to w...

 20% of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 occur near Japan 10% of all magnitude 5.0 earthquake earthquakes and 20% of all magnitude 6.0 or greater earthquakes occur near Japan. In Japan, where many earthquakes occur, technology to withstand earthquakes is much more advanced than in other countries. For example, the experience of buildings being destroyed by earthquakes has led to the development of research on building and civil engineering technologies that can withstand large earthquakes. As a result of this research, buildings and bridges are required by law to be designed to withstand large earthquakes. Japan is famous throughout the world as a country that is particularly prone to natural disasters. For example, although Japan is less than 1% of the world's land area in terms of earthquakes, 20% of the world's earthquakes occur in Japan. Japan also accounts for more than 20% of the total amount of damage caused by natural disasters worldwide. Japan is located in a...