Cherry blossoms

In this time, I had difficulty finding good topic about Japanese traditional culture because I think recently a large number of Japanese are not interested in their own culture, but interested in western or the others' country. Therefore, when I reflected what event was very popular and hot in spring, I came up with a cherry blossom viewing picnic, but this topic was posted by another Japanese student. However, I chose this topic because I have confidence to research and write much deeper ;)

At present, a cherry blossom viewing picnic means the situation that people drink sake, eat Japanese box lunch, and make a lot of noise, singing a song or screaming with joy without reasons under the cherry blossoms.

However, the reason of doing a picnic under cherry blossoms was different from preselnt type. The origin of it was originally a religious event to purify. By enjoying under the cherry blossoms, people drive out evil spilit and spend the time with God. Formerly, people did festivals under the flowers to wish autum's huge harvests and augured the harvest using flowers. Bloom of cherry was the proof of God's Advent, and something bad happened if cherry blossoms suddenly fell.

Globalization

In this time, I picked up the internationatization of "KFC's Colonel Sanders's statue" that is known to all over the world. In Japan, this statue is very famous to Japanese, and this statue expands to overseas more and more. I will try to explain why this statue was made and was put in front of the KFC.

At first, the reason why this statue was made is that this statue was made for KFC's event in Canada, but after this event, it was put into a warehouse. However, Japanese KFC officer who came to Canada to inspect KFC found this statue, and bought it back to Japan.

Next, the reason why this statue was put in front of KFC's store is that people in Japan identified KFC as a store that dealt with electorical fittings or a barbershop because completely nameless KFC used roofs and signboards painted srtips of red and white as a image color a long time ago. So, the Colnel Sanders's statue was put in front of KFC's store so that people would not mistake the KFC's store for the another store.

In addition, I will try to introduce the interesting information about KFC. The content of the interesting story is that people in Japan call KFC "Kentucky Fried Chicken". However, I said to my overseas friends "Let's go out to eat "Kentucky Fried Chicken" but at first they did not identify Kentucky Fried Chicken as KFC. After that, I asked them why they did not identiy. The reason why was that was that if this store is called Kentucky Fried Chicken, this store sells only chickens, so they call these stores onlhy KFC. However, Japanese tend to put together various things as a group. Therefore, Japanese call KFC Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Japanese characteristic

This time I will explain Japanese characteristic.

To Japanese, relationship betwwen persons is very important.

This picture was taken by me in Izakaya（居酒屋）, so there are three in this table.

Japanese generally get together ang go out somewhere. Some of Japanese go out and spend the time by him/herself, but most of them do with their friends because Japanese do not have a strong ego. Therefore, Japanese have a tendency that they cherish links between persons. By doing this, they can help one another when they have some problems. For example, they can ask their friends what to do next if they do not have any idea.

Although I said "Japanese cherish relations between persons", they are also particuliar about another. It is the number that is very important for Japanesewhen they do something. I asked my friends how many people you want to go out somewhere with. The result of this question was more than three. The reason of this answer is that if two go somewhere or eat out, they always have the other in their mind, but if more than three, they do not care about one another so much rather than two. Only reading this article might cause readers misunderstanding that Japanese can not enjoy by two, but if the two are very close and do not care about each other at all, they can do something with joy!!

Next picture shows Japanese couple in a house.

It represents a man who smokes and a woman who does housework.

Now the idea is obsolete, but this way of thinking was usual years ago; the men do not do anything about housework, but just watch TV, lying down because they have a very hard day in their office and their nerves are scattered by their boss, so they think that they want to relax even when they are in their house. On the other hand, the women do not work outside of house, but only do housework. This idea is completely Japanese stereotype. However, recently couple share housework and have jobs mutually. The Japanese way of thinking about what couple should be is changing gradually.

Special Water and the Way of Praying

This describes a water tub.

There is this in the shrine. The use of this water is not drinking, (but if you want to drink, it is O.K.!),but washing your hands before you pray to Japanese God for anything.

The reason why Japanese do that is to purge themselves of sin. When you pray to God, you absolutely put your hands together in front of your face. At the time, if your hands become corrupted and you pray to God with these hands, it is very rude at God in Japan. Therefore, you must wash your hands when you pray to Japanese God!! If you forget to do that, your wish does not come true!!

Next, I will explain the way of praying.I got the information from my grandmother.

At first, you throw in a coin into a offering box. Next, you have to bow once and clap your hands twice before you pray. After praying, you do not forget to bow once. That's all!!

Next time, you have the opportunity to go to the shrine, let's try do this!!

Toyohashi Shrine!!

This picture was taken in my hometown, too. It shows Toyohashi shrine.

Usually, nothing happen in this place, but once a year in October the festival is held there. At that time, neighbors come here and see a lot of fireworks. However, the fireworks that are played in this place are a little bit different. The way of fireworks is that people hold a cylinder tha t was rolled with rope and the fireworks are fired from the top of it. It is not that everybody can do this fireworks. People who can do fireworks only take part in chounaikai.

If you want to do fireworks, please join chounaikai!!

Park♪♪

This picture was taken in my hometown, Toyohashi, Aichi. Have you ever been to Aichi? ;)

This picture describes a park, but this park is not usual!! Usually this park is used by a lot of childen who come to the park with their mother rather than father. At that time, their mother talk with each other about neighbors while they watch thier children play. Especially, they talk about not so good content, in short, rumor!! The rumor easily spread over the town because they talk to their family about the information taht they get in this park, and their family speak to their friends.

So, please be careful not to do something bad when you come to my hometown!! ;)

Koinobori

This picture is carp-shaped streamer, in Japanese "koinobori". Koinoborio is a mark that there is a boy in a family and they tell the God that please protect him from somthing bad. In additoin, a carp is the creature that can live in any conditinon, even if they are ont only in a crean stream but also a pond. For this reason, display of koinobori means the wishes of family that children will grow up strong as a carp. Moreover, the Chinese tradition describes that the carp climbed in a fast river, rose in waterwall and transform into a dragon. These are the explanations of carp-shaped streamer!!