新年あけましておめでとうございます。 Shinnen akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! （Belated) Happy New Year! 2021 has already begun, but in case you missed any New Year’s prep and want to be better prepared for next year, or if…
Tag: wafuu
Oseibo: Japan’s Winter Gift-Giving Tradition
御歳暮 おせいぼOseibo Right around the same time that we in the West start Christmas shopping for friends, family, and co-workers, Japan is also getting into Santa-mode. Only, it’s not for Christmas. You…
Ginnan: The Stinky But Savory and Delicious Ginkgo Nut
This year, the lively and fun autumn festivals in Japan have been canceled, like so many other public events. But nothing can stop the seasons from happening in order, just…
Why Do Japanese Take Off Their Shoes?
“Dosoku kinshi” (土足禁止) Shoes Prohibited Shoes Prohibited! “Dosoku kinshi” (土足禁止) means “shoes prohibited.” Although in the West we walk straight into the house wearing our shoes or sandals, in Japan,…
3 Things You Didn’t Know About Umeshu, Japanese Plum Wine
梅酒 Ume-shu If you have ever been to an izakaya (居酒屋), Japanese pub, you might remember trying a delightfully sweet, fruity, and surprisingly strong drink called umeshu, Japanese plum wine.…
Obon Midsummer Festival
What Is Obon? Bon (盆), or Obon (お盆) is a midsummer festival not unlike Mexico’s Day of the Dead. According to Buddhist belief, ancestors’ spirits are believed to come back…