What is 'White Day' and Why You Should Care?

February is finally over men! We made dinner reservations weeks in advance, spent extra hours at the gym, searched for jaw-dropping gifts, and carefully selected the perfect outfit, all to impress that special someone on February 14th – Valentines’ Day. Congratulations! Ganbaremashita (頑張れました, you gave it your all)! Unless…you live in Japan, then your work has only just begun.

Valentines’ Day in Japan

Valentines’ Day in Japan works a bit differently than in the United States and Europe. Men do not give women anything for Valentines’ Day! Instead only the women hand out chocolates to their male companion(s). There are two different types of chocolates that girls give out.

First is the giri-choco (義理チョコ), “obligatory chocolate,” which are chocolates that women may give to male co-workers, superiors, and friends that they are more socially obligated to give a gift to. Second, the honmei-choco (本命チョコ), “true feeling chocolate,” is reserved for the one guy whom that woman has strong romantic feelings towards. This could be her husband or (prospective) boyfriends. These chocolates are a higher quality and more expensive than giri-choco.

White Day

In 1977, a confectionery company in Fukuoka marketed marshmallows to men as return gifts to women on March 14 and called it Marshmallow Day (マシュマロデー). Men mostly gave white gifts: marshmallows, white chocolate, and white lingerie (mostly likely for girlfriends or wives). With the idea of giving white gifts, the first official White Day was celebrated in 1978.

Today the gifts are not restricted to the color white; cookies and jewelry are common gifts as well. Similar to giri-choco, it may be more of a social obligation when a man gives a woman White Day chocolates instead of feelings of true attraction. The men get to know in advance which girl has the strongest feelings and do not have to endure the anxiety of confessing themselves.

Sounds like a good deal right men? Well…the Japanese employ the general rule of Sanbai gaeshi (三倍返し), or “triple the return,” towards White Day. With this rule, the return gift should be about two or three times the cost of the original Valentines’ Day gift. Which means if a woman spends about 2000 yen on your gift, the return gift should be in the 4000 or 6000 yen range!

What do you think? Do you think gift giving should be done on the same day or different days? As well as all other aspects of a relationship, I am sure that the men and women have different opinions on the matter.

Doraemon: Gadget Cat of The Future

Doraemon is one of Japan’s best-loved characters. Everybody from little kids to grown adults watch his animation show. He’s a robot cat from the future with a magic pocket full of cool gadgets. See the appeal?

Doraemon (どらえもん) lives with a boy named Nobita Nobi (野比のび太). His wacky gadgets help Nobita deal with bullies, avoid studying and doing homework, and overcome all sorts of other problems that plague boys everywhere. The only trouble is that his gadgets always take on a life of their own, and then there’s trouble. And there’s always an important lesson in the end.

Doraemon was constructed by the Matsushiba Robot Factory on September 3rd, 2112. However, he was considered defective because of several malfunctions. He was struck by lightning and this sent him back to the present, where he first appeared to Nobita by popping out of his desk drawer at school and warning him that in 30 minutes he’d be strangled and roasted alive.

His gadgets, toys and tools come from the department stores of the 22nd century. It’s estimated that there have been around 4,500 of them since the beginning of the series (this is one of the main reasons for the show’s popularity). Whenever needed, he pulls them out of the 4-dimensional pocket on his belly (四次元ハット, yonjigen hatto). They include:

Anywhere Door
どこでもドア – dokodemo doa
This is a pink door that will take you anywhere in the universe that you want to go. Just stand in front of it, make a wish of where you’d like to go, step through and you’re there.

Time Cloth
(タイムふろしき – taimu furoshiki)
This is a red cloth with little clocks all over it. You wrap it around something and that thing becomes older or newer, depending on the side. Nobita used it to make older appliances newer and sell them in one episode.

Small Light and Big Light
(スモールライト) and (ビッグライト)
The Small Light is a flashlight that shrinks whatever object or person you shine it on. The Big Light works the same way but enlarges whatever you aim its light at. The Gulliver Tunnel (ガリバートンネル) is similar. It shrinks or enlarges you depending on which side you enter.

Memory Bread
(暗記パン – anki pan)
Images are imprinted on the bread and when someone eats it, they form false memories in their mind.

Animal Biscuits
(変身ビスケット – henshin bisuketto)
Animal crackers that turn you into the animal when you eat them.

Air Gun
(空気ピルトル – kuuki pisutoru)
This is a tube that you slip over your finger and it knocks your opponent over with a powerful blast of air when you say, ‘Bang!’

Anything Mind Gas
(強力ハイポンプガス – kyouryoku haiponpu-gasu)
When you spray something with this gas, the thing becomes attracted to you and will flee from anybody else.

Voodoo Camera
(のろいのカメラ – noroi-no-kamera)
Take a picture of someone with the Voodoo Camera and it makes a voodoo doll of them.

What If Phone Booth
(もしもボックス – moshimo-bokkusu)
Ask into the phone about some unreal condition using ‘What if…’ and you enter that world.

Fluffy Medicine
(ふわふわ薬 –fuwafuwa kusuri)
Take some of this stuff and your body weight becomes light enough that you can float in the clouds. Too much can be dangerous though.

Dream Reader
(ユメテレビ – yume terebi)
When you have trouble falling asleep, you can watch other people’s dreams using the Dream Reader.

Takecopter
(タケコプター)
The Takecopter is a propeller that you attach to any part of your body with a suction cup that lets you fly.

Although Doraemon TV shows and movies have appeared in countries outside of Japan, he has yet to make his English-speaking debut. Kids in the world’s English-speaking countries will just have to wait until the day they can experience the wonders of Doraemon’s 4-dimensional pocket.

Sweets In Japan

Strawberry Daifuku いちご大福

Daifuku is a Japanese confection consisting of a small round mochi (soft and sticky rice cake stuffed with sweet fillings, most commonly sweetened red bean paste. Daifuku comes in many varieties. The most common is white-, pale green-, or pale pink-colored mochi filled with anko. But in the Strawberry Daifuku, there's a whole strawberry inside and the taste together with the red bean paste is really great. Totally new flavour for me. Totally great! ^^ Love it! ^^ And you can get them almost everywhere!

Mitarashi Dango みたらし団子

Mitarashi Dango is a Japanese dumpling made from mochiko, rice flour, covered with a syrup made from soy sauce, sugar and starch. Three to four dango are often served on a skewer. You can't imagine, how sticky and sweet they are. You can get them everywhere, really, so you should try! They are one of the sweetest things here, I would say! :)

Taiyaki たい焼き

Taiyaki is a Japanese fish-shaped cake and It's most common filling is - of course - red bean paste. Taiyaki is made using regular pancake or waffle batter. The batter is poured into a fish-shaped mold for each side. The filling is then put on one side and the mold is closed. It is then cooked on both sides until golden brown. Love them fresh and hot.

Imagawayaki 今川焼き

Almost the same as Taiyaki. You can get them at every festival! They are really yummy with vanilla cream, cheese cream, chocolate cream (that's the best!) or red bean paste fillings. Their dough is thicker than the Taiyaki ones and there's no better thing to eat, when it's cold outside, than a hot and fresh Imagawayaki at a festival! ^^

Ningyoyaki 人形焼

Ningyo-yaki are small snack cakes, made from cooking batter of flour, eggs and sugar in an iron mold. They are sold both with and without sweet bean paste. Many come in the form of the seven gods of good luck (shichifukujin 七福神) or the great lantern at the Kaminarimon gate of Asakusa temple. ^^ On festivals at Senso-ji, you can always buy them. Or just at the supermarket or combini in different, cute character forms (but of course these ones aren't as delicious as the fresh ones ^^).

Dorayaki どら焼き

Dorayaki is а red bean pancake which consists of two small pancake-like patties around a filling of sweet red bean paste. You can get them in very small to really big sizes (from 5 cm to 15 cm ^^) almost everywhere and they are very very tasty and a perfect snack, when you're hungry! ^^

Geppei 月餅

These nice little things have their origins in China, but you can get them almost everywhere here in Japan, too. They also are called mooncakes and red bean paste is the most popular filling, but other sorts of beans as well as chestnut are also used. They taste very very rich and have unbelievable much calories! ^^ For me, they taste very nutty and I love that kind of taste! ^^

Melonpan メロンパン

A "bread" with an enriched dough covered in a thin layer of crisp cookie dough. It's appearance resembles a melon. Just try one and you'll be addicted! ^^ You can buy melonpan in different flavours/with different doughs and with different fillings like strawberry cream, chocolate or vanilla cream. ^^

Baumkuchen バームクーヘン

First, yes, yes, of course I know, that Baumkuchen is from Germany! :D BUT the Baumkuchen here in Japan differs from the Baumkuchen I know from Germany. ^^ And it's one of the most popular pastries in Japan! So as I remember from the little Bavarian town where I was born, the old men, spinning around Baumkuchen over open fire on festivals and made an really crunchy caramel crust outside. The Baumkuchen here looks much more exclusive and filigree. In Germany, you can get that softy Baumkuchen often, too. But as Baumkuchen isn't that popular, too, I've often forget, to buy one...but here...no chance to escape! ^^

Toppo トッポ

Toppo, the "reverse pocky", is a chocolate and bread-based snack, which you can buy in many different flavours/with many different fillings. The best was an winter special edition filled with white chocolate and little cinnamon flavour, hihi. That was great! ^^ But I love the classical Toppo very much, too (much more than pocky, I'm sorry ^^).

Kakigori かき氷

Kakigōri (かき氷?) is a Japanese shaved ice dessert flavored with syrup and condensed milk and you can get it almost everywhere while the hot, Japanese summer season! It's available in many, many different flavours like strawberry, cherry, lemon, green tea, grape, melon and colourful syrup-variations. ^^ I love cherry the most! ^^

Garigari-kun ice ガリガリ君

That's the most popular ice bought in convenience stores here in Japan. It's only 60 Yen and 70 kcal (as I remember). The taste is really hard to describe. Sweet, very refreshing, like sugar soda. Really different for me. ^^ I love it! ^^

Tadaaa, all these things let increase your body weight very fast, I think! ^^

So it's really hard to withstand these nice, tasty, yummy, delicious sweets day by day! :D

You will see it yourself, when visiting Japan! ^^

Wish you many sweet new things to explore, hehe! :)

By: Vanessa (Asakusa)

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is coming soon! ^^
Here, first, the girls have to do some "work"! ^^
It is said that St. Valentine's Day was imported to Japan in 1958 by a Japanese confectionery company.
In Japan, it is only the women giving presents - mainly chocolate - to men, but not the other way around.


Men are supposed to return the favours received on Valentine's Day one month later on White Day, a Japanese creation.
White Day is believed to have been introduced by a marshmallow manufacturing company in the 1960s.
But today's entry is all about Valentine's Day! ^^

So, here are some different kinds of gifts for Valentine's Day, we girls have to prepare:

1) Chocolates that women give to their sweethearts to prove that their love is true. This type of chocolate - the kind that you give to someone you really like or love - is called
本命チョコ(=honmei choco = chocolate of love).
A handmade chocolate is usually preferred by the receiver, because it is a sign that the receiving male is the girl's "only one". ^^ If you're not good in cooking or baking, so you can buy expensive, exclusive chocolate, too...I think, you know, what to do. The receiver of this kind of chocolate should have definitely the feeling of being someone special to you! :)




2) Another type is chocolate that is given without any romantic feelings attached. This type of chocolate is called 義理チョコ（=giri choco). The literal translation is "obligatory chocolate" and it's true that this chocolate is given out of a feeling of obligation. Women usually give
義理チョコ(=giri choco)
to classmates, coworkers, bosses, teachers, or clients that they are not romantically interested in. This kind of chocolate doesn't have to be outstanding in price, gift wrap or quality. Nothing special, but nice. ^^




So on that day only women are supposed to give chocolates to men. And the men can't do anything but be passive and just wait to see whether they can get chocolates or not. Many high school boys compete to see who gets the most chocolates and use this as a way to measure their popularity.
Even if they know it is just giri choco, many men still feel loved by the number of chocolates they get. ^^
At the end of January, all the department store or sweet shops start to sell fancy chocolates for Valentine' day.

In the last years, women have started to wonder why only men can get all these delicious chocolates.....
Because of that, there's a trend called,
友チョコ(=tomo choco = chocolate for friends)
women give each other chocolate. This tomo choco doesn't have to be expensive, but it has to be definitely cute. You can buy normal chocolate and decorate it, until it's cute enough and let your lovely friend get a big smile. ^^




So are you prepared already?
But don't worry, there are some days left! ^^
And honestly...I am, too, not prepared...yet! :D
Waaaaah! :D
So let's give our best the next days and have much fun! ^^

By: Vanessa (Asakusa)

Gift Giving

In Japanese culture, it’s customary to offer your host family a gift, or give a gift when coming to someone’s house for dinner or special occasions. The gift giving tradition can be intricate, and it’s necessary to have a basic grasp of this custom when interacting with the locals.

Japanese Gifts: Omiyage and Meibutsu

The most popular type of gift is known as the omiyage, a gift that represents a place the giver came from or travelled to recently. For instance, if you just got back from China, a nice gift that represents that place is highly appreciated. Some of the most popular omiyage items include chocolates, candies, wine, rice crackers, fruits, and other alcoholic beverages.

The same principle holds for those who travel within the country. Meibutsu refers to a prized item from a specific Japanese region. Most cities and towns in Japan have their own specialty. If you’ve been in Japan long enough, someone may ask you what your town’s meibutsu is. So when you travel within the country, be sure to pick up a meibutsu or two that you can give to your host family or friends.

Japanese Gift Giving Tips

There are two popular gift-giving seasons: chugen (中元) and seibo. Chugen is for the winter season and seibo is for summer. The Japanese give gifts to friends, especially those who have helped in the past. Gifts don’t have to be costly. In fact, a lot of people feel embarrassed giving expensive gifts and could feel bad expecting them. The art is in the giving, not just the gift itself. The best gifts are still the meaningful ones that build a deeper connection between giver and recipient. Note these gift giving tips while in Japan.

Place the gift item in a shopping bag. This keeps it out of sight until you present it. But be sure to wrap your gift as well; don’t just toss it in the bag.

Present the gift in in the living room area. When you hand your friend the gift, say “Tsumaranai mono desu ga...” This means “this is boring but…,” expressing modesty. But in corporate settings, avoid such phrase, as it shows insignificance and belittles the worth of the recipient. Instead, use the phrase “Honno o shirushi de gozaimasu ga...” which means “This is a token of my appreciation, but…” as it shows gratitude to the recipient.

Do not offer gifts with the numbers 4 and 9 as they represent death. Don’t give four pieces of a thing. It’s best to go for a pair, which is considered lucky.

Do not give the same gifts to unequal individuals. Social rank is important and prominent in Japan. If you give a bottle of sake to a businessman, do not give the same gift to his boss.

Expect the recipient to reject the gift, and continue to offer it. In Japanese culture, it is polite to turn down a gift *twice* before accepting it.

Another unique Japanese custom is for ladies to offer chocolates to men on Valentine’s Day. The woman may offer chocolate to a man she admires or, of course, to her partner (giri choko / 義理チョコ /, or obligation chocolate).

Whenever you visit a Japanese household, don’t forget these gift giving tips. And consider carrying over something of their essence in your life back to your country. Even a small gift—sometimes especially a small gift, if it’s heartfelt and original—can convey much thoughtfulness and good will, anywhere in the world.

A Happy New Year In China

Do you know what day it is today (January 23rd) ?? It's Lunar New Year in China !!
It's for 1st of January in the Lunar calendar.
From 23rd to 25th, they celebrate it by shooting fireworks, beating drums, exploding firecrackers and so on.
They also have so many performances on streets wearing Chinese dress, dancing with Dragon shaped something.
Especially the fireworks are held on a much larger scales than those of Japan.
 


People go back to their houses and spend these days with their families.
That's the same as Japanese New Year days.
But, look at these pictures !! These are the situation people are waiting for buying train tickets.
And inside the train, people are sitting on the aisle.
Japanese rush on the platforms is also crazy, but this is more.
 

And even in Japan, at Yokohama Chinese town, people celebrate it, too.
Many events are held there as if there was real China !!
 
They will have special dishes on these days.
As we Japanese have Osechi Ryori, they have their own Osechi Ryori.
It depends on their home and where they live.
One of the important things is, rice cake, there are some kinds, triangle, stick type and etc...
But the common meanings they have are to be rich and to have good luck in the year.
 

These celebrations last at least for 3 days.
When you have a chance, why don't you go to China and experience their most important day ?

By: Tomoyuki (Asakusa)

Japanese Fairy Tale: Animal Competition For Eto (Chinese Astrology)

Do you know we have twelve Eto in each year ?
Eto is called Junishi (十二支), and they are all animals.

They are 子 (ne; Mouse), 丑 (ushi; Cow), 寅 (tora; Tiger), 卯 (u; Rabbit), 辰 (tatsu; Dragon), 巳 (mi; Snake), 午 (uma; Horse), 未 (hitsuji; Sheep), 申 (saru; Monkey), 酉 (tori; Hen), 戌 (inu; Dog), and 亥 (i; Wild boar).

Do you wonder why are these animals ??
We have a fairy tale for that reason.

Once upon a time, at the end of a year, The God told all of animals like this. "Come to see me in the morning of the New Year (Jan 1st), and I will let the first 12 animals be the symbol animals of the year in order."
Each animal was excited about that, but a cat forgot when he should go to see the God. He asked it to Mouse, and he lied, "You should go on the second of January." Cat trusted Mouse completely and went back home to sleep.

In the morning of 1st of Jan, Cow departed his house at midnight. "I am the slowest animal, so I have to depart much earlier than any." Mouse was listening to it on the ceiling and rode on the head of Cow slyly. When Cow arrived at the gate of the place where the God was, no one had arrived yet.

Cow was about to greeting the God, but Mouse got off from his head and greeted at first. As a result, Mouse greeted at first, then secondly Cow. And continued trot Tiger and Rabbit, Dragon, Snake who crawled on ground, Horse and Sheep. Dog and Monkey fought on the way to go, and Hen came with stopping them together. Though Wild boar came before Tiger, he couldn't stop himself and passed the gate.

Finally, the order they arrived was Mouse, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Hen, Dog, and Wild boar. The God told them to protect humans from evil things of the years.

On the other hand, Cat knew that he had been deceived by Mouse after this competition. He got really angry, and had a grudge against Mouse. It is said that this is the origin Cats chase mice now.

By: Tomoyuki (Asakusa)

Happy New Year!!!

Wow, I hope you had a great New Year's Eve!

Now it's really the year 2012! ^^
Time runs by so fast, don't you think so, too?
This day, January the 1st, is really special and important for Japanese people!

It's called Ganjitsu and there are many traditional things happening on this day. Ganjitsu is a very auspicious day on which many people strive to be up in time to greet the rising sun. This is called hatsu-hinode.

When you see someone the first time in the New Year, you should say "akemashite-omedetou-gozaimasu" (Happy New Year) whenever they see at the first time in the new year. ^^

And there is a custom of giving money to children during New Year's holidays in Japan. It's called otoshidama (お年玉). It is handed out in small decorated envelopes called Pochibukuro. So if you are going to family gatherings, it's good to prepare some money in cute Pochibukuro.^^

Japanese people eat special dishes called osechi. The box, in which they are packed, is called a Jubako box and has several layers. Each dish has a particular meaning. Prawns for long life, herring roe for fertility, and so on.

It is also traditional to eat mochi (rice cake) dishes during New Year's holidays. Zouni (rice cake soup) is the most popular mochi dish.

A very popular custom is the sending of New Year's cards, which are specially marked to be delivered on January 1st. They are called Nengajo and you can read everything about that here! ^^
It is not uncommon for one person to send out several dozens of cards to friends, relatives and co-workers.
And today - since midnight - many people visit a shrine or temple for Hatsumōde, the first shrine or temple visit of the New Year in Japan is called. Sensoji is really crowded and there are many people outside, going there for Hatsumōde.

When you are wandering along Asakusa today, you can see many Kadomatsu, which are placed at the entrance of houses. Comprised of pine boughs (symbolising longevity), bamboo stalks (prosperity) and plum-tree sprigs (constancy), they are set up as an invitation to the god of the year, the toshigami (protector of household prosperity) to come in and bless the home.

Shimenawa, you can find, too. They marked sacred places and are a specially plaited rope (nawa) festooned with strips of white paper (shime) symbolising purity. They are meant to keep away evil spirits. During Ganjitsu, shimenawa are often hung on the doors of homes and businesses.

So, you see, there are many things, with long and deep traditions, you may not know from your country.
Really different!
So if you are curious now, it may be a good idea to visit Japan this time of the year! ^^
But first, enjoy your Ganjitsu! ^^

By: Vanessa (Asakusa)

New Year's Eve In Japan

This day is the last day of the year 2011. ^^
Something magical is in the air and everyone can feel it! ^^
So, how do the Japanese celebrate New Year's Eve?

This last day of the year is called Ōmisoka (大晦日) and is a preparation day to welcome toshigami (年神), the new year's god. It's the second important day of the year for Japanese people (New Year's Day tomorrow is the most important one ^^)!
An important Japanese end-of-year custom is Oosoji which means extensive cleaning. So people clean their home...like we do oosoji at our hostel! ^^ But we're all in great mood! ^^
Around 11:00 pm on Ōmisoka at home, people often gather for one last time in the old year to have a bowl of toshikoshi-soba (年越しそば) or toshikoshi-udon (年越しうどん) together - a tradition based on people's association of eating the long noodles with "crossing over from one year to the next,". So eating this "New Year's Eve Noodles" is very common.

Traditionally, families make Osechi (おせち) for new year day because cooking during the first 3 days of the new year is not a good thing for Kami of kitchens. But nowadays, most of families buy Osechi or cook ordinary dishes.

At midnight, when the New Year begins, in all Buddhist temples over Japan their large cast bell is struck once for each of the 108 earthly desires believed to cause human suffering. This tradition is called joya no kane (除夜の鐘) which means "bell rings on new year eve's night." So at midnight, many people visit a shrine or temple for Hatsumōde (初詣).

Here in Japan it's unusual, to have big fireworks or some big party celebration, so the people celebrate traditional and quiet with their families.
The New Year's celebration is not over after midnight. January, the 1st is a National Holiday and most of the people have off until January the 4th. So post offices and banks, for example, are closed.
For Japanese, as you can see, New Year's Eve is very traditional (for me, it's really complex, to understand all of this traditions) and an absolute really important day for families.

So how do you celebrate New Year's Eve in your home country?
I hope, you will have a great New Year's Eve and of course a great New Year 2012!

All your wishes should come true and all the bad things should be catched far far away in the last year! ^^
So, let's give our best in 2012, right!
Ganbatte! ^^

By: Vanessa (Asakusa)

Christmas In Japan

Have you ever asked, how the Japanese celebrate Christmas? ^^

As you know, in Japan the main religion is not the Christian religion, it's much more Shintoism and Buddhism. So in fact of this, Christmas in Japan has become another meaning than a religious meaning for the most Japanese people.
You often find Christmas lightning and displays on the streets, Santa Claus, Christmas trees and many other typical Christmas accessoirs, here, too, but they are more in the meaning of getting this special Christmas atmosphere known and loved from other countries. ^^

So in Japan December the 24th is no special puplic Holiday, it's a normal working day, like every other working day is.
While Christmas day in many other countries will be celebrated as a day for the family, here the Christmas day is popular for having a date. You don't celebrate Christmas with your family. Here the New Year's Eve is the day for celebrating with the family. ^^

Here you celebrate the Christmas evening with your boyfriend/girlfriend or a person you fall in love with (and he/she hopefully in you^^). It is seen as a time to be spent in a romantic setting, so fancy restaurants and hotels are often booked solid at this time. It is often also a time when girls get to reveal their affections to boys and vice versa. Because of this, extending a girl an invitation to be together on Christmas Eve has very deep, romantic implications, hihi.

But when you can't have a date, then it's usual, to celebrate with one or more good friends, so don't worry. ^^
For the more elderly couples, many hotels host dinner shows featuring major singers, actors, and actresses. Tickets to these shows, due to the season, are very very pricy.
Christmas presents are exchanged between people with romantic commitments as well as close friends. The presents tend to be cute presents and often include Teddy Bears, flowers, scarves, rings and other jewelry. Christmas cards are also given to close friends.

I think, even there are many many differences in celebrating Christmas, it has one main topic - and that is love. ^^ And love is always the best thing! ^^

So let's surprise and have a great Christmas 2011, right! ^^

By: Vanessa (Asakusa)