Archive for January, 2011
Japanese Mythological Gods Posted by Ginny on Jan 31, 2011
There are lots of mythological Japanese gods. However, one deity in particular is the main deity that is somehow related to the other deities. Try guessing whom the deity might be! If you don’t know now, by the end of this article, you’ll find out! Amaterasu(天照) is the goddess of the sun and is one…
Japanese National Parks Posted by Ginny on Jan 27, 2011
Did you know that Japan is a beautiful place with many national parks? Here are some my favorite national parks: Kushiro Shitsugen Kokuritsu Kōen (釧路湿原国立公園) or Kushiro Shitsugen National Park is known for its beautiful, green wetlands. Daisetsuzan Kokuritsu Kōen (大雪山国立公園) or Daisetsuzan National Park is the largest national park in Japan. Shiretoko Kokuritsu Kōen…
Ryukyan Festivals Posted by Ginny on Jan 25, 2011
January is a busy month of rituals for the Ryukyan people of Okinawa. For example, the festival of sougwachi is a New Year’s festival where the head of the household visits his elderly father and mother and his in-laws. The elderly also present some salty and dried squid to the head of household. The head…
Musunde Hiraite Posted by Ginny on Jan 22, 2011
There is a cute Japanese children’s song called Musunde Hiraite (むすんでひらいて). Here is a video of the song. Note that the hand motions go along with the song. むすんで (musunde) Clench the palms together 開いて (hiraite) Open them 手を打って (te o utte) Clap your hands together むすんで (musunde) Clench the palms together また開いて (mata hiraite)…
Japanese Anime Posted by Ginny on Jan 19, 2011
It’s still not too late to make the commitment to learn Japanese! One way you can do this is by watching Japanese anime. If you’re not yet comfortable with your listening skills, you can still enjoy watching anime by making sure there are subtitles for each episode. That way, if you come across any words…
The 47 Rōnin Posted by Ginny on Jan 18, 2011
The shijū shichishi (四十七士) or the forty seven rōnin, were a legendary band of samurais who displayed the ultimate form of loyalty and sacrifice. The story of the forty seven rōnin is called chūshingura (忠臣蔵). Although the chūshingura is a widely loved story, it’s a fictional story, and there is little evidence that the forty…
Supernatural Animals Posted by Ginny on Jan 15, 2011
Japanese folklore is full of supernatural animals that perform amazing deeds. One of these creatures is called bakeneko (化け猫) or cat monster. Bakeneko are cats that have supernatural abilities and are able to shape shift into human beings. Many of the stories told about bakeneko are told orally and passed down through the centuries. Some…