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I visited japan in the month of April 2000. April is the month where new academic year, newly hired employees begin to work, flowers begin to bloom,trees break into leaves and creatures begin to act. In May fresh young leaves come out and gentle breeze blow. The rainy season begins in late June and lasts for a month. During the rainy season it continues to rain for weeks without any break. As everything gets very moldy one should be careful about food. |
JAPANESE
CULTURE AND CUSTOMS
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Whenever we move to a new house, we are supposed to give gifts to our neighbours. This is Japanese custom. When we visit our friends, relatives or co-workers, we have to take gifts to their family. However expensive the gift is, we say TSUMARANAIMONODESUmeansNOTHING SPECIAL. But it is not nothing special in literal meaning, but a gift we carefully selected for our dear ones. But you must be wondering why do Japanese say such irrational thing? It is traditional Japanese custom that we return the gift when we receive one. If we say,"This is an excellent thing and I had lots of trouble finding it," while giving the gift, the person who receives it will feel very happy, but on the other hand, he will be embarrassed to consider what he should return one day. If we say, "it is not anything special" the person who receives a gift will not have to return an expensive thing.TSUMARANAIMONODESUalso means you do not have to return the gift. Giving gifts is just a custom, when we are done a favor by others we express our gratitude by giving gifts, it indicates "Thank you very much for your kindness".
When a Japanese employee gets his bonus in summer or winter, they go and buy gifts to those who have done favor to them that year and the previous year. Gifts at mid summer are called "OCHUGEN" and the one at the year end is called "OSEIBO". Both these words are originated from chinese custom..........the former means to give offerings to the deceased family member and the later means to give offerings to their ancestors at the year end.
Cherry Blossom known as SAKURAis the national flower of Japan. This flower blooms by the end of April month all over Japan. these flowers bloom only for a week and fall soon that is why it is very special here. The life of cherry blossoms is very transient. Sakura is very often known as HANA.This flower has enriched the Japanese way of life and is loved for many years. Cherry flowers are cultivated throughout Japan and has 300 varieties. the most representative kind is "somei yoshino" which bears large,pale pink, single petaled flower. "Yamazakura" is a kind of cherry tree which naturally grows in the mountains. Japan has countless stories and folk tales relating to the cherry blossoms. Sakura-gari (hunting) means to enjoy observing and comparing various kinds of cherry blossoms from different areas throughout the country. Sakura-iro (color) is used to describe delicate pinkish white color.Sakura-mochi is a rice cake filled with sweet bean paste and wrapped in a pickled cherry leaf. Sakura-yu (hot water) is drink made by pouring hot water onto pickled cherry blossoms in a cup, and is served on auspicious occasions. Sakura-niku (meat) means horse meat.
When the wind brings about a shower of falling cherry blossom petals, the Japanese call it HANA-FUBUKI(snow storm), comparing the petals to snow. Drinking a cup of SAKE(wine) with a petal floated on it is very common during the season. When cherry trees begin to blossom cheery front is issued on Television and in the News paper, which tells us the blossoming dates.
In Japan when cherry blossoms people go to parks and river sides for viewing the flowers. People sit on the blankets, drinking sake sometimes singing with their friends and enjoy the cherry blossom season. It is believed from their ancestors that drinking sake with fallen pollen in their cup is good for health.
In 1909 Japanese gave 2000 cherry
trees to Washington D.C
for International Friendship. It also gave 300 cherry trees to Germany
to promote friendship between the 2 countries, in return Germany
too gave Linden trees to Hachioji, Japan.
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Contact me at: [email protected] |
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