Times to Celebrate
Japan celebrates many festivals and celebrations throughout the year. Some of these festivals are centuries-old, while others are relatively new. All of them are an important part of the Japanese people and culture.
"Sakura Matsuri" (Cherry Blossoms Festivals): This festival, celebrated in April, marks the first day of spring. The cherry blossom tree is Japan's most beloved plant and it is the country's official national flower. People celebrate by participating in "hana-mi," or flower viewing. Under the shade of wispy cherry blossom trees, they eat picnic lunches, drink sake (Japanese wine), and enjoy the cherry blossom flowers.
"Hina Matsuri" (Girls' Day): This girl power day is celebrated on March 3rd. Families with young daughters celebrate at home to ensure their daughters' future happiness. They often spend time decorating "Hina-Ningyo," beautiful ceremonial dolls dressed in silk which are replicas of the emperor and empress and others in their court. The Hina are displayed for a few days after the festival in the best room of the house, then they are carefully boxed and put away until the next year. The Hina are handed down from generation to generation.
"Tango no Sekku" (Boys' Day): This day for the boys is celebrated on May 5th with joyful spectacles, such as the flying of colorful carp (fish) banners. Boys display samurai dolls and armor at their homes and celebrate by eating rice cakes. The carp has become the symbol of the festival because the Japanese consider it the most spirited fish. It is full of energy and power and can fight its way through swift running streams and cascades, representing overcoming life's difficulties to have a successful future.
"Shogatsu" (Japanese New Year): The New Year's celebration is the biggest event in Japan! Companies and government offices close for the first three days of the New Year to celebrate the event. On January 1, families gather to drink a special kind of sake that is supposed to ensure a long life. People eat a soup that contains rice cakes, which are believed to wipe away any bitter memories remaining from the previous year. Families also visit Shinto* shrines or temples to pray for good fortune in the coming year. The spirits worshipped in the temples are called "kami." Tokyo is home to the most popular Shinto shrine, known as the Meiji Shrine, which millions of people attend during New Year's.
"Seijin No Hi" (Coming of Age Day): Seijin No Hi is celebrated on January 8th. This holiday is for women who became legal adults (age 20) the previous year. Most families buy a kimono for their daughters to mark the occasion. A typical kimono can cost between 300,000 and 400,000 yen, or about $2,700 to $3,700. Young women go to the Shinto shrine and pray for a future of health and success on this day.
*Shinto: a religion native to Japan, characterized by worship of nature spirits and ancestors.
Love Revolution
In traditional Japanese culture, arranged marriages were very popular. About 95 percent of people had their marriages arranged. In Japanese, an arranged marriage is called "miai," which means "looking to each other." When young men and women reached 18 years of age, they would have "miai" meetings to find their marriage partner. The woman did not decide whom she wanted to marry, her parents did. Most women accepted the marriage because they were taught to obey and follow their parents' orders. Many Japanese women could not find true love and happiness because they married men who they didn't love.
Modern Japanese culture is very different from the traditional culture. Today many girls begin dating in high school and their parents are not as strict as they once were. Japanese girls are also bolder about showing their love. On Valentine's Day, girls sometimes give chocolate hearts to express their feelings for someone. March 14th is "White Day," which is the day for boys to give gifts to the girls.
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