Kotodama - Otsukare-sama and Okage-sama

We often say that a soul (Tamashii) inhabits in the words and phrases. We call it "Kotodama"in Japanese.
There are some words of phrases that express thanks and appreciation. I show you two words, Otsukare-sama and Okage-sama.
"Otukare-sama" is used when co-workers go away from work or co-worker goes back to the office. We can say only “Otsukare-sama” to co-worker. Japanese “Tsukare” means tiredness. So we imagine the co-worker’s job will be so hard and he (she) probably must be tired after work. And we say “Otsukare-sama to the co-worker in order to express our thanks for their work. The word is very short. But it has the meaning of compassion or appreciation. It is used frequently and one of colloquial formula.
About another word, “Okage-sama” , we haven’t heard it recently in Japan. It is a greeting word and very Japanese like. I like this word. Okage in Japanese basically means the grace or help of all of things, Buddha or someone. We can say as good and bad meanings. When we have some troubles or disease and we could solve these troubles or the disease cures, we say it to someone as beginning words. Okage-sama expresses appreciation for all of things that bring the solution. I heard “Okage-sama” the other day in TV. An old farmer used this word for his abundant harvest in his interview. I have forgotten the word. I keep my mind that I live safely and happily now by the grace of all of things. It is by Okage-sama.
I want to say good "Kotodama" every day.

Green Young Leaves

Green young leaves (Wakaba) are sprouting in few days. It is so beautiful and I feel spring and I like seeing these trees.
April is the month to start new life in Japan. Freshmen enroll in school and recruits enter a company. When I see the green young leaves, I think they are like these young people. There is future and hope.

I heard an interview of a famous doctor who ninety-six years old, Shigeaki Hinohara. He examines his patients in hospital now and he looks very young. He writes a lot of books to live healthier. An interviewer asked him the secret of his longevity. He said that no matter how old we were, to start something new was very important and to meet and talk to young people is one of the secret. I remember that Giorgio Armani said like that.
People become older, we usually go around with friends of same ages. Also we are unwilling to start something new. We sometimes use excuse “ I’m old to start. So it is no use to learn something or start something.” I noticed that the curiosity for new thing is essential to spend our fruitful time.
I try to absorb new world like green young leaves. Recently I start to learn Yoga. It seems good for me. April is good season to start something new.

Sakura 桜

The Japan Meteorological Agency announced a declaration of Sakura's blooming (Kaika Sengen) in Tokyo. It is announced every year.
We, Japanese have special feeling about Sakura. Almost Sakura flower are bloomed in every spring. New season begins in the period of blooming of Sakura. Children enroll in school and freshmen enter the company. We wait for spring for long cold winder and Sakura is a sign for spring. And we have a lot of festival or party (Hanami) under the full bloomed Sakura trees.
Moreover, we might feel that Sakura symbolizes one of Japanese spirit. Sakura flowers are very beautiful but the life is short-lived. (We call short-lived life "Hakanai Inochi". ) The flowers are falling in a flash and they are also beautiful like a shower.
There is a word "Isagiyoi" in Japanese. Falling Sakura flowers are "Isagiyoi " (without hesitating) It is as if Sakura receives own life without struggling. Human beings sometimes cling to something. It is obsession, own present situation, desire, pride, money, status, etc. We think that leaving or giving up readily (Isagiyoku) is better when we finish something. Sakura's whole life is just our taste. Sakura will express our beautiful and limited life for us.
Japanese love "Isagiyoi" Sakura.

These are some customs in Sakura season. I will explain them and show you the pictures of Sakura before long.

Hinamatsuri - Doll Festival for girls

Today is dool festival for girls, "Hinamatsuri" in Japan. Parents display Japanese traditional dolls, Hina Ningyo (doll) at home for their daughter until March 3. This festival's meaning is the parent's wish to grow up healthyly. Main dolls are the Emperor (Odairi-sama ) and empress (Ohina-sama). Other members are 3 female servants , (San nin kanjo), 5 musicians (Go nin bayashi) and two old servants (Udaijin and Sadaijin). There are some traditional days like Hinamatsuri. Setsubun (February 3) , Tango no sekku (May 5) for boys and Shichi go san (November 15).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinamatsuri
Mother cooks "Chirashi zushi" on March 3. It is food for celebration. We often cook it at other celebrations.
Also Hinamatsuri is called "Momo no sekku ". Momo is peach tree in Japanese. Momo bloomes in spring. Momo is very feminine flower. The flower is very tiny and cute. Color is pink. Momo is very important item for display. As other items, "Hishi mochi" is for offering. Hishi mochi is lozenge rice cake.
My mother used to say "After you sleep, the dolls have festival during the night. If you try to see it. we couldn't see it." when I was a child. This was my mother's joke. However, I have believed it and I have wanted to see the festival, if possible. Always I can't wake up midnight and see it.
It is just my memory of Hinamatsuri.
We, Japanese feel each season through these traditional ceremonies or events.

Onsen - Hot spring

Since a lot of volcanoes are distributed, hot springs well up in each area in Japan.
Japanese like onsen and enjoy the onsen ryokan (Japanese style hotel ). Winter is good season for onsen trip. Ryokan suplies a lof of services and fun to tourists. Bath, dinner and breakfast , relaxation , etc.
We almost take a bath before taking a bath (onsen). Depending on guests , they take a bath second time. In case guests who love onsen, they will take a bath in the morning before breakfast. This is called "Asa Buro". Three times in one stay.
I write more information about onsen.
1) Big bath (Dai-Yokujo) is settled in each ryokan. All guests can take a bath in Dai-Yokujo together. Dai-Yokujo become a popularity for rhokan. Depending on the ryokan, there is a small bath (Uchi buro) in the room. We feel supreme relax and happiness in taking a onsen.
And we think that we are Japanese heartily. ( It is just a trivia. We often say "Gokuraku, Gokuraku" in hot water. This word is an expression for feeling happiest time. "Gokuraku " means paradise or heaven in Japanese based on Buddhist.)
2) Gorgeous dinner and breakfast : For dinner, not only onsen but food of rhokan is very important for the tourists. Almost ryokan serve full course Japanese style dinner and breakfast. For example, a lot of raw fishes (Sashimi) , tempura, other dishes of marine or mountain products, Nabe ryori for a each person, miso soup, rice and fruits or deserts. Almost of dishes are in season. For breakfast, basic foods are grilled fish (Yaki-Zakana), onsen egg, natto, rice with grilled seaweed, other season plates, miso soup and fruits.
3) Souvenir: Japanese like to buy souvenir for memory of trip. It is for both of ourselves and friends. There is a souvenir shop (Omiyagemono-ya) in rhokan. It is a fun for tourists. In general onsen manju or other sweets are sold there. Onsen manju is boiled Japanese sweet cakes stuffed with azuki-bean paste. Since manju was boiled by steam of hot spring before, it will be called "Onsen manju. "
4) What sports do guests play in onsen ryokan ? It is ping-pong. (Takkyu ) Tables for ping-pong are decreasing now. However, ping-pong is one of the items for Onsen trip.

Hatsu- moude

Today is very beautiful blue sky without clouds in Tokyo.
Hatsu-moude is to go to shrine or temple for new year with family. We wish our happiness and health in a year. We basically go to shirine that Ujigami-sama who protect the place is enshrined.The place that most people who live in Tokyo go to Hatsu-moue is Meiji Jingu.　http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_Shrine
I always buy Omamori on Hatu-moude. Omamori is a charm. There are many kinds of charm and they are sold. I love Omikuji. Omikuji is fortune slip.
Many booths (Yatai) sell foods or toys only Hatsu-moude. There is very lively.
Hatsu-moude is a big event for Japanese people in new year.

This is Omamori. (charm)

Nuka-Zuke - Japanese special pickles

Rice is basically no taste. So we sometimes need some foods with rice. There are a lot of these kinds of food. Nuka-Zuke or Asa-Zuke is a kind of additional food. We generically call it “Tsukemono”.
The ingredients of Nuka-Zuke are vegetables. It is salty and vegetables are put in Nuka, including salt and water, of the special pot about for a day. Nuka is hull after threshing rice. Vegetables are fermented and taste is salty and sour. Old houses have a pot for Nuka and taste is original at each houses. This means each mothers taste. The main vegetables are cucumber, eggplant, carrot or radish, etc.
People stir Nuka and the vegetable once a day. This action is very important. It changes taste by one work. The pot was formerly inherited for generations long time ago.
However, recent houses in Japan don’t have the pot and almost people will buy Nuka-Zuke at supermarket.

Bushi-ni Nigon-nashi”

There is a phrase in Japan. “Bushi-ni Nigon-nashi” This means Bushi (Samurai) must not withdraw what he has said once. In Japan withdrawing a decision or promise that is said once was shameful as a Samurai (a man). This was manly attitude. I thought this phrase is alive in our country now.
However, my idea might be wrong. A Japanese leader of the opposition party retracted his resignation yesterday. I can’t believe that our representative politician withdraws his decision soon. I assure that people’s reliance on him will be clearly lost.
Though the case depends on the situation, the phrase is important about serious decision or promise like this case for human being. Japanese think that careless attitude is disgraceful. We should say our serious decision cautiously.
We are forgetting our good and old Japanese spirit now.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7080971.stm

Shrine & Temple

Our spirit is mainly based on Shinto and Buddhism.Shrine is architecture for Shinto and Temple is one for Buddhism.We worship nature for Shinto.

There are a lot of shrines and temples in Japan .Especially , 1 or 2 shrines are located at each city for the genius of the local area.

A festival is held at the time of "Bon" that it is said ancestors come home in summer for Buddhism.I used to go to summer night festival "En nichi" when I was child.Everyone enjoy traditional dance (Bon Odori) , play game or eat at the stands in temple.Some girls wear colorful "Yukata" ("Yukata is a kind of traditional Japanese wear for summer like kimono.)

Many traditional customs live in our life and is come down.

(The picture below is a shrine.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinto

"Wa" 和 - Harmony and Consideration

We respect "Wa" for our relationship with friend , family or co-workers ,etc. There are a lot of meanings in "Wa" . This meaning is harmony and consideration. We tend to think much of others, not individual.When we do something , we think how comfortable everyone spend in same space at first. Cooperating is first priority.
We often say this phrase."Feel of perceive air or atmosphere." This means we had better understand the feeling of others or situation around us. It is efficient way to keep good relationship by imagining how other people are thinking now even if they don't tell us. The concept "Wa" is very important to associate with other people for us.
I personally assume that the typical Japanese culture is excellent . However, we might forget "Wa" recently. It is sad that people who think of only themselves is increasing.