What is Shichi-Go-San ? Shichi-Go-San (七五三, “Seven-Five-Three”) is a traditional Japanese festival celebrated on November 15 each year, honoring the growth and well-being of young children. The name, “Shichi-Go-San,” comes from the ages of the children involved: seven (七, shichi), five (五, go), and three (三, san). Who celebrates Shichi-Go-San ? Boys typically celebrate at […]
On Sunday, August 31, the grand mikoshi parade took place in Takadanobaba. On this special occasion, our students joined local residents and members of the neighborhood committee to celebrate together. Our students wore the traditional festival attire embroidered with the school’s name: a happi coat fastened with an obi belt on top, and short festival […]
On June 13, as part of their cultural experience, students from the Tourism Business class had the opportunity to take part in a traditional furin 風鈴 (Japanese wind chime) workshop at Shinohara Maruyoshi Furin Workshop (篠原まるよし風鈴). They could choose between two activities: glass blowing, where they made their furin from scratch, and/or furin painting. What […]
The yukata is a lightweight garment often worn during summer festivals in Japan. Unlike the kimono, which is more formal and often more challenging to wear, the yukata is a more casual yet equally elegant outfit made of cotton and decorated with floral, geometric, or nature-inspired patterns. Historical background of yukata The yukata is a […]
What is the Rokuyō calendar ? The Rokuyō (六曜) is a traditional Japanese calendar system that assigns a fortune—ranging from good to bad—to each day, cycling through six distinct types. While not based on scientific evidence, Rokuyō remains influential in Japan, especially when selecting dates for significant life events like weddings, funerals, and business openings. […]
When is Golden Week? Golden Week (ゴールデンウィーク) is one of Japan’s biggest holiday seasons, spanning several national holidays that fall close together at the end of April and beginning of May. It’s a popular time for travel, leisure, and family gatherings across the country. Why “Golden Week”? Golden Week itself wasn’t a term initially used […]
Is Christmas a national holiday in Japan ?Do Japanese celebrate Christmas and how ? Christmas (クリスマス) is not a national holiday in Japan, but it is widely celebrated in a unique way. Unlike in Western countries, Christmas in Japan is more about festive gatherings and romantic gestures than traditional religious customs. Christmas Eve, in particular, […]
On February 2nd, Shinjuku Japanese Language Insitute celebrated Setsubun a day early. Teachers explained the significance of Setsubun in each class and distributed beans. Suddenly, to everyone’s surprise, a demon appeared in the classroom! Amid rising tension, the students faced the imminent threat by shouting loudly, “Out with the demon, in with good fortune!” They […]
Rainy season occurs from the end of May to the end of July in Japan. It sometimes amount to a quarter of the annual rainfall and is dreaded by many. Unpredictable weather, rising heat and humidity… Many people may think it’s wiser to avoid going to Japan during that period of time. However, rainy season […]
Every autumn (秋), Japan gets the chance to showcase its famous red maple leaves. This phenomenon can be expressed by two different words: momiji and kouyou. Even though they are written with the same characters, 紅葉, they describe two distinct things. Momiji refers to the maple leaves covered with red at that time of the […]
