Kikyo's diary

This blog introduces daily lives, travel, food, culture, work in Japan.

Mother's Day in Japan

Happy Mother's Day ! May 13th this year is Mother's Day. The second Sunday in May are set Mother's Day In Japan. Most popular present is flowers especially carnations on Mother's Day. There were only red and pink carnations before. Nowaday…

冬至, Winter solstice on December 22

Today is "Toji", Winter solstice! Sponsored Links // 今日は12月22日が冬至です。 冬至は、1年で最も日が短くて、最も夜が長い日です。この日から段々と日が長くなっていきます。 まだ、とても寒いですが、今日を境に春に向かっています。 “Toji” means t…

Osechi-ryori (Japanese New Year’s cuisine)

おせち料理 Osechi-ryori (Japanese New Year’s cuisine) Sponsored Links // おせち料理について、簡単な英語の説明を考えました。 Now, it is time to select Osechi-ryori, Japanese New Year's cuisine. 今、おせち料理、日本のお正月の料理を選ぶ時期で…

Momijigari, Autumn Leaves Viewing (2017)

// Momijigari is “Autumn Leave Viewing.” Autumn Leave Viewing is one of the seasonal events of Autumn in Japan. After the hot and humid summer, people enjoy the comfortable climate and plan to view the colored autumn leaves. Mt. Fuji from …

Japanese Calendar, 2018

// // National holidays in Japan 2-Jan New Year's Day gantan 8-Jan Coming of Age Day seijin no hi 12-Feb National Foundation Day kenkoku kinen no hi 21-Mar Spring Equinox shunbun no hi 29-Apr Showa Day showa no hi 3-May Constitution Day ke…

Grand Sumo Tournament (2017)

Do you know Sumo?Sumo is a Japanese national sport.It is said that Sumo has been practicing more 1500 years. In ancient time, Sumo matches were annually held as rituals to pray for a good harvest.This lasted over 300 years as an event of t…

Traditional festivals in autumn

// Many traditional festivals are held in autumn in Japan. The pictures below are “Hagi matsuri” in Nashiki Shrine, Kyoto."Hagi" means bush clover, and "matsuri" means festival in Japanese. Bush clover is one of “aki-no-nanakusa”(the seven…

Tsukimi, Moon Viewing

// We have many seasonal events in Japan, which are often held in shrines and temples.In Shinto, it is said that “yaoyorozu no kami” which means eight million gods are existing in nature, even in mountain, trees, river, ocean, all over the…

Japanese Calendar, 2017

// National holidays in Japan 2-Jan New Year's Day gantan 9-Jan Coming of Age Day seijin no hi 11-Feb National Foundation Day kenkoku kinen no hi 20-Mar Spring Equinox shunbun no hi 29-Apr Showa Day showa no hi 3-May Constitution Day kenpo…

Taiiku-no-hi, or National Sports Day

// Taiiku-no-hi, or National Sports Day (October 9th, 2017) National Sports Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October. It is one of the national holidays in Japan.This year National Sports Day is on October 9th. The date used to be…

Mt. Fuji and Shinkansen (Bullet train)

// These are Mount Fuji and Shinkansen or bullet train. These are symbols of Japan. Mt. Fuji is the highest mountain in Japan. It is 3776 meters above sea level. When it is fine day, you could see Mt. Fuji from the window of the Shinkansen…

I start to write my blog in English

// Hi, I am Kikyo, the writer of this blog. Thank you so much for visiting my blog. You might see my Japanese blog "Daisuki! Kabunushi Yutai", meaning "Love! shareholder benefits." I write about the shareholder benefits called Kabunushi Yu…