|
|
|
![]() Cherry Blossom The flower that is most beloved by the Japanese people and that symbolizes Japan is the cherry blossom. From the cherry blossom which blooms and falls only within a week or so, the Japanese sense beauty, as well as transience, melancholy, and perhaps graceful resignation. The lyricism of the Japanese people has been closely connected with this flower from ancient times; since the Heian Period (794 - 1185), it has often been included in classical Japanese poems. From the early years of the Showa Period (1926 - 1989) till the Second World War, the way that the cherry blossom quickly and gracefully falls was appropriated into militarism to beautify the deaths of the suicide units. Today, Japan has sent cherry trees with their beauty overseas as a symbol of peace, and their light pink flowers bloom every spring, for example, beside the Potomac River in Washington DC, and on the remains of the Berlin Wall. In Japan, people enjoy outdoor parties under the cherry blossoms in early April. They sit on mats under the cherry trees, eating, drinking, singing cheerfully and viewing the blossoms. |
|
|
![]() The National Bird The bird that represents Japan is the pheasant. Native to Japan, the pheasant has been a familiar sight to the people since ancient times and was designated as the country's national bird in 1947. It lives in wooded areas and grassy fields away from human habitation. Its main features include light brown feathers with black spots for males; females are smaller and have shorter tails than males. In fall and winter, pheasants were objects of hunting. Since ancient times, they were highly valued for eating. They were often used as congratulatory gifts for weddings. Among birds, pheasants are considered the finest species; because of the sorrowful cries of males and females for each other, they are taken as symbols in classical Japanese poems and Haiku (poems in seventeen syllables) of love for one's family. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
![]() New Year's Eve The last day of the year, December 31st, is called Omisoka. To welcome the New Year with good feelings, a general house cleaning is done. The flooring rush mats (tatami) are re-covered and the sliding paper screens (shoji) are re-papered, family reunions are held and the whole family ushers in the New Year with a sense of togetherness. At about midnight, bells speeding the passing of the old year (joya-no-kane) begin ringing at temples all around the country. According to Buddhist teachings, human beings have 108 worldly desires which are removed by striking the bell symbolizing the passing of the old year 108 times. While listening to the sound of the bells, people eat year-crossing soba (toshikoshi-soba) which became widespread in the Edo Period (1603-1867) in the hope of a long life because soba is fine and long. |
Check out these interesting reads in our archives as well: |
Know Japan 2013 archive |
Know Japan 2012 archive |
Know Japan 2011 archive |
Know Japan 2010 archive |
Know Japan 2009 archive |
Japanese Recipes 2008 archive |
Japanese Customs 2007 archive |
Japanese Customs 2006 archive |
Japanese Festivals 2005 archive |