Sweets

Hello everyone, are you familiar with ‘Jūsanya’ (the Thirteenth Night)? The one that’s widely known is ‘Jūgoya’ (the Fifteenth Night), right? Jūgoya is also called ‘Chūshun no Meigetsu’ (the Harvest Moon), and there’s a tradition of moon viewing called ‘Tsukimi,’ where people enjoy delicious rice dumplings while admiring the full autumn moon. In fact, besides Jūgoya, there is a unique Japanese tradition called ‘Jūsanya.’ That’s what I’m here to tell you about this time. what is Jūsanya? Jūsanya refers to the night of the 13th to 14th of the old lunar calendar. While Jūgoya is a custom that originated in China, Jūsanya began in Japan. On Jūgoya, people pray to

Hello! Even though it’s officially autumn on the calendar, we’re still experiencing some hot days. As the saying goes, “The heat and cold last until Higan.” I’m hopeful that temperatures will start to drop soon. Right now, Japan is in the season of Higan. Higan occurs twice a year, in spring and autumn, encompassing three days before and after the equinoxes. During this time, it’s customary to honor our ancestors, often by visiting graves or offering food at family altars. A traditional sweet enjoyed during Higan is called “ohagi.” Today, I’d like to talk about ohagi. What is ohagi? Ohagi is made from a mixture of mochi rice and regular

In Japan, the tradition of offering dumplings, rice cakes, pampas grass, and taro to the moon while gazing at it is called “Otsukimi,” or moon viewing. The tradition of “Otsukimi” is believed to have been introduced from China during the Heian period. Initially, it was a sophisticated event where nobles enjoyed the full moon while sharing sake. By the Edo period, this custom spread to the common people, who began to celebrate the autumn harvest and pray for a bountiful year ahead by offering dumplings shaped like the moon. Originally, the tradition in China was to pray for family happiness, but in Japan, it evolved into a celebration of a

The tradition of Tango no Sekku, or the Boys’ Festival, originates from the story of Qu Yuan, a close aide to the king of the Chu state in China around 2300 years ago. Qu Yuan (340 BC – 278 BC) was a politician and poet known for his strong sense of justice and love for his country, which garnered him widespread admiration. However, Qu Yuan fell out of favor due to political machinations and was eventually exiled from his homeland. Disheartened by the fate of his country, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River. The people of Chu attempted to save him by sending out boats, beating drums to