This article describes a visit to Noritake Garden, the original production site for Noritake fine china. (Archived article - Originally published by Japan Today)
Month: February 2017
Hina Dolls at Meguro Gajoen–all kinds of traditions at once
This time of year in Japan, displays of Hina dolls are ubiquitous. Historically the third day of the third month is Girl's Day (while the fifth day of the fifth month--now the Children's Day public holiday--was Boy's Day). The traditional observation of Girl's Day included displays of Hina dolls--dolls depicting a king, queen and courtiers … Continue reading Hina Dolls at Meguro Gajoen–all kinds of traditions at once
Plum Blossoms: Harbingers of Spring
One of the many things I love about winter in Japan is that it is the season when plum trees bloom (at least in the coastal areas). I admire the tenacity of those little flowers, which open themselves in the dead of winter and continue to bloom--and send their pretty fragrance into the cold winter … Continue reading Plum Blossoms: Harbingers of Spring
Ninja: spies with secrets and cool moves
Ninja! Black-garbed fighters stealing through the darkness to engage in acts of espionage and subterfuge, combined with acrobatic fighting. Like many stereotypical images, this is an over-generalization that misses many of subtle aspects of these "warriors in the shadows". Nonetheless, Ninja are somewhat romantic figures and it's fun to search out traces of these Edo-period … Continue reading Ninja: spies with secrets and cool moves
Spilling the beans on Setsubun
On February 3 in Japan we celebrated "Setsubun" (division between seasons). This little traditional holiday (no, we don't get the day off work) seems to have derived from Chinese New Year, arriving in Japan around the eighth century. Unlike Chinese New Year, though, the date of the holiday is now fixed. Most of Japan's other … Continue reading Spilling the beans on Setsubun
