September 2024

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