TsukuBlog » Children http://blog.alientimes.org A Local Perspective on Life in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 05:32:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 A Lesser Seen Japanese Rite of Passage: O-KUIZOME ( お食い初め), in which, besides the baby, A ROCK is the STAR! http://blog.alientimes.org/2010/03/a-lesser-seen-japanese-rite-of-passage-o-kuizome-%e3%81%8a%e9%a3%9f%e3%81%84%e5%88%9d%e3%82%81-in-which-besides-the-baby-a-rock-is-the-star/ http://blog.alientimes.org/2010/03/a-lesser-seen-japanese-rite-of-passage-o-kuizome-%e3%81%8a%e9%a3%9f%e3%81%84%e5%88%9d%e3%82%81-in-which-besides-the-baby-a-rock-is-the-star/#comments Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:47:57 +0000 Avi Landau http://blog.alientimes.org/?p=6844

Various foods and STONE for ritual tasting

 Being a parent involves  almost constant concern  over children`s health and  development. Even in these days of relatively advanced medical science and easilly accessible health care, parents sigh in relief at the passing of each flu season and each epidemic scare. It is hard to imagine what is must have been like in past ages.

That it why it is only natural that parents, no matter where in the world, celebrate their childrens growth, and that traditionally there have arisen ceremonies and rites meant to provide children with a little extra, one could say MAGICAL assistanc, in their road to reaching adulthhod in health and safety.

In Japan, with its great tradition of festive decoration and dress ,  certain rites and celebrations related to age have become a  popular subjects for photographers, professional and amateur, and pictures of these events, especially SHICHI-GO-SAN ( in which children 3, 5, and 7 years of age, dressed in traditional wear, visit shrines with their parents) and Coming of  Age Day ( in which 20 year-olds, often wearing kimono gather to celebrate), can often be seen in posters, guidebooks, coffee-table books and magazines, as in the photo album of many tourists who have visited Japan. Even if you dont have a camera, having a look at these events is an unforgetable Japanese encounter.

Read more about SHICHI-GO-SAN: http://blog.alientimes.org/2009/11/shichi-go-san-celebrations-uniquely-extravagant-in-ibaraki/

and Coming of Age Day: http://blog.alientimes.org/2009/01/tsukubas-coming-of-age-ceremony-seijin-shiki-proceeds-almost-without-incident/

Only the stone remains ( after the family members have eaten the rest)

The fact is though, that most of Japan`s numerous age related ceremonies and celebrations ( and there ARE many of them!), are NOT so easilly or often seen by foreigners, either tourist or resident. One of the most interesting ( and popular, for Japanese families) of these, is the ceremony which is usually called O-Kui zome ( お食い初め, literally FIRST EATING), and  takes place when a baby is about 100 days old.

Let me tell you about it.

The Okuizome ( pronounced O kui zoh meh) , is a ritual feeding , in which various foods, usually rice, fish and vegetables, are put against the babies lips with chopsticks. Interestingly, something else besides food is touched  to the babies mouth and gums- A SMOOTH, ROUND, STONE- which among other effects, is supposed to help the childs teeth and head properly harden.

There are records of this custom having existed in the Heian Period ( 794-1185), and thus it has been around for at least a thousand years. In the earliest references it was called MOMOGA NO IWAI ( 百日祝, meaning the One-hundredth Day Celebration). By now it has spread and is practised throughout Japan, though naturally with plenty of regional variation.

In Tsukuba, at least in some of its neighborhoods, the kuizome is held on the 110th day. In other area it is on the 100th day or the 120th. Anyway, generally speaking, the ceremony is held at AROUND the 100th day, and the most convenient day for relatives to gather ( probably the weekend) is usually set for the occassion.

Each food, and the stone is ritually put to the babies lips and gums

 Though the kuizome has traditionally been and is still usually held at home, these days, busy families might reserve a room at a traditional Japanese restaurant. In Tsukuba, Ichinoya, a restaurant which caters to a wide assortment of traditional celebrations, offers special Okuizome packages.

Though it is alright to use everyday household dishes, for this occassion, most families buy a special laquer tray and bowls ( there are different colors for boys and girls depending on the region), and a pair of chopsticks made from the wood of a willow tree.Naturally, those celebrating at a restaurant save themselves the trouble of having to prepare these things themselves.

As for the foods required, the essentials are:

 A fish ( usually the celebratory TAI, sea bream), which should have its head and tail still attached ( this symbolizes strengthening of the neck)

 Beans ( these represent loyalty and diligence since the Japanese word for beans MAME is a homophone for these virtues).

Boiled vegetables ( usually seasonal, and might include some kelp ( konbu), whose Japanese name reminds one of the word yoroKOBU – to be glad)

Soup

and of course- rice. Either plain white rice, or the celebratory sticky rice called SEKIHAN.

In Tsukuba, it is traditional to include UDON noodles among the kuizome dishes, as it represents LONG LIFE.

The stone or stones ( depending on the region), which should be small round, smooth and flat, can be either taken from a riverbank ( and washed!), or gotten at a shrine. Especially at the shrine where the baby had its MIYAMAIRI ( first visit to a shrine), when it was about one month old. Again, reserving a restaurant saves one the trouble of finding or getting the stones!

                                                             The Ritual Feeding

The ritual meal ( of course the babys are too young to actually EAT the foods), is an expression of the hope that the child grow to enjoy a wide variety of foods and that he/she never go hungry.

Though there is variation from region to region a common order of fake  feeding would be: rice, soup, rice, fish, rice, vegetables, rice, beans- repeated three times. Some families might actually put ONE GRAIN OF RICE into the childs mouth

The rice could  be said to be a symbolic ENERGIZER put to the babies lips to provide him/her with a dose of LIFE ENERGY.

Finally, the stone is  put to the lips and gums. As I said, this is done in the hope that the child`s teeth will grow strong, his/her head and neck frim and solid, and spirit strong .

The stone is also intended  as a spiritual energizer in that it can be considered to be a YORISHIRO （依代), a receptacle or antennae for receiving the Goddess of Childbirth- the UBUGAMI ( 産神）. The round shape of the stones reflects the shape of the mirrors found in shrines ( like that which attracted the Sun Goddess Amaterasu) and in turn the Kagami mochi ( mirror shaped rice cakes used to attract the God of the New Year) eaten at the beginnig of the year for spiritual re-invigoration. 

Usually, the person chosen to do the ritual feeding is a grandparent ( the same sex as the child), or the oldest available relative, as having an aging person perform the ritual was thought to guarantee long life to the child.

Naturally, all the relatives ( and or neighbors) who attend, enjoy lots of eating and drinking! All in all, its a charming and delicious way for a family to get together and celebrate a child`s 100th day!

1 Comments

  • At March 14, 2010, Nora wrote:

    Omedetoo and Best Wishes as long as a star live!

]]> http://blog.alientimes.org/2010/03/a-lesser-seen-japanese-rite-of-passage-o-kuizome-%e3%81%8a%e9%a3%9f%e3%81%84%e5%88%9d%e3%82%81-in-which-besides-the-baby-a-rock-is-the-star/feed/ 1 Amazing Turn-Around ! Moxibustion Gets Fetus to Move Out Of The Breech Position and Thus, C-Section is Avoided! http://blog.alientimes.org/2010/03/amazing-turn-around-moxibustion-gets-fetus-to-move-out-of-the-breech-position-and-thus-c-section-is-avoided/ http://blog.alientimes.org/2010/03/amazing-turn-around-moxibustion-gets-fetus-to-move-out-of-the-breech-position-and-thus-c-section-is-avoided/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 08:35:11 +0000 Avi Landau http://blog.alientimes.org/?p=7094  

 

Acupuncture, moxibustion and massage teacher and therapist Naruto Yoshida

For millenia East Asians have had their aches and pains soothed away by the application of acupuncture and moxibustion. Though no one is exactly sure about  just why or by what mechanism, millions of people around the world today can attest to fact that the insertion of needles ( acupuncture) or the application of heat ( moxibustion) to specific points on the body have helped bring them relief from various physical ailments.

This is testament to the indefatiguable efforts of  generations of traditional Chinese physicians who over the years built up a vast body of data on which points of the body, when stuck with needles, pressed, or heated, affected OTHER specific parts of the body. Their endeavor goes all the way back to a time when someone realized that a pain in one part of their body, perhaps the lower back, suddenly disappeared when another part of their body was pierced, perhaps by an arrow.

No matter how they hit upon the idea, this system of treating  bodily complaints  became a part of  the STANDARD PRACTICE of  maintaining  human health within the  vast traditional Chinese cultural sphere of influence, including of course, Japan ( to which these techniques were probably introduced in the 6th century).

In recent decades, these traditional forms of East-Asian medical treatment have become more and more accepted outside their usual home turf and acupuncture clinics are now common in the US  and many European countries.

( more than 30 years ago James Reston, a highly respected journalist for The New York Times, was in China on assignment and had to be hospitalized for what I think was appendicitis. After his surgery his pain was controlled with acupuncture. The reports of his experience helped make Americans more open minded about this, then, very exotic for of medical treatment.)

 Though stories of  the successful treatment of headaches, stiff necks and lower-back pain are impressive, for me, the MOST AMAZING thing I had ever heard of acupuncture and moxibustion`s powers was that it could be used to get a fetus in the breech position ( with its head up) into the right position ( with the head down), merely with the application of heat to the small toe!

A tiny cone of MOXA placed on the outer side of the little toe

It sounds incredible, but I have found that it really does often work, even when the pregnancy is in its late stages.

 Recently, I talked with Naruto Yoshida Sensei, a teacher and practitioner of acupuncture, moxibustion and massage therapy, who had just successfully gotten a soon-to-be-born fetus to turn over into the proper position, thus sparing the expectant ( though anxious) mother from having to have a Caesarean section.

This is what the treatment involved in this particular case:

When Yoshida Sensei first met the patient, he talked with her to try to gauge her emotional state. Finding her to be quite stressed about her baby being in the breech position ( and dont pregnant women and their husbands have enough to be worried about already), and thus probably stiff and TIGHT throughout her body, he decided to begin with some soft massage. He gently worked on her shoulders, lower back, arms, legs, hands and feet.

Feeling that she had become appropriately relaxed and phyically loosened up, he had the patient lie on her side. He then proceeded to place a tiny cone made up of the mugwort plant on the side of the small toe of her right foot, and proceeded to burn it. This took a few minutes and gave her a slight burning sensation. This was then repeated two more times.

The same was done to the small toe of her left foot.

A SENENKYU applied to the same spot

This acupuncture ( and moxibustion) point on the small toe is called the SHI IN NO KYU, and this spot which, when stimulated in the proper way, gets the fetus to turn upside down ( which in this case is the right side up!)

As is usual with acupuncture or moxibustion, one time does not always do the trick. In this case as well, especially considering the late stage of the pregnancy, it took two sessions with Yoshida Sensei for things to take a proper turn. And this happened a few days after the last treatment. The patient had continued the treatments on her own at home, with a special moxibustion applicator ( with a small base), called a SENENKYU.

What a relief for the mother-to-be. She can now go ahead with a natural childbirth, which is what she wanted.

And for us, it gives us an dramatic proof  of moxibustions powers ( though 100 percent success cannot, of course be guaranteed.

The SHI-IN NO KYU point on the little toe

By the way, the English word moxibustion, or moxa treatment derives from one of the Japanese words used for the plant mugwort- MOGUSA.

Another word for the same plant is YOMOGI. And I have recently written of how it is used in an important sprintime snack in Japan- KUSA MOCHI.

A SENENKYU applicator, on the left and a moxa cone, on the right

Another interesting point that I would like to mention is that for many older Japanese people moxibustions brings back bad memories of childhood punishment! It was not unusual for parents to discipline their kids by making them sit and endure the little moxa cones buring on their hands.

By the way, in Japanese acupuncture is HARI 、and moxibustion OKYU.

                                                                              POSTSCRIPT- Acupuncture and Asthma

Right after I had completed and posted the original version of this article, I set off to join a group (consisting of family and friends) at a Chinese restaurant ( which are always more fun with large groups- you can share more dishes!).

Sitting next to me, was a old buddy, who also happens to be a native New Yorker. When I asked him how his day had been, much to my surprise, he told me that he had just come from acupuncture treatment ( every day is teeming with coincidence) !

Apparently, he had once gone to a clinic because he had been having some sort of pain, but when the acupuncturist found out that my friend suffered from asthma he quickly and confidently asserted that he could treat that as well.

According to my friend,the treatments HAVE been effective, and he has in fact been able to cut down on his intake of prescribed medication.

]]> http://blog.alientimes.org/2010/03/amazing-turn-around-moxibustion-gets-fetus-to-move-out-of-the-breech-position-and-thus-c-section-is-avoided/feed/ 0 And Still More Food For Autumn Foraging In Tsukuba: MUKAGO (or NUKAGO) http://blog.alientimes.org/2008/10/and-still-more-food-for-autumn-foraging-in-tsukuba-mukago-or-nukago/ http://blog.alientimes.org/2008/10/and-still-more-food-for-autumn-foraging-in-tsukuba-mukago-or-nukago/#comments Tue, 28 Oct 2008 10:22:36 +0000 Avi Landau http://blog.alientimes.org/?p=1815 I was on my way to a little adventure in the woods surrounding the ruins of Konda Castle, near Sakura Junior High School. As I turned off the road and headed onto a little dirt trail, I noticed a neighbor of mine busily doing something by a bush of some sort. I called out a greeting so as not to startle her (Have you noticed that when Japanese are doing work outside, they never seem to glance up or around? I always attribute this to a deep focus on what they are doing, which is probably true, though some have told me that it’s just a way of avoiding having to say hello!), and then I asked her what she was doing. “I’m picking NUKAGO,” she said, “why dont you join me?” I thought, ”Well, why not?!”

Nukago is the archaic name (still often used by native Ibarakians) for MUKAGO (零余子), which look like tiny potatoes (they are actually tiny yams) clinging delicately to vines which grow out of the stems of the yama imo ( Japanese yams). I say delicately, because to be picked, they merely have to be touched and they come right off. I helped my neighbor gather up a small bag-full. She said she was going to cook them up with the rice in her rice cooker (some people also add ginkgo nuts and some kombu stock). Some Ibarakians also fry, roast, or boil them with salt, sake, soy sauce, etc. I found some original recipes online as well.                     

Mukago can actually be found on sale at some supermarkets for about 500 yen a fistful (as you can see in the blog linked above), but buying them could never match the fun of finding and picking them yourself. Kids, especially, always enjoy cooking up what they have foraged.

Many of your Japanese friends might not have ever tasted or even heard of mukago (also remember that in Ibaraki it is often called nukago), and those who HAVE might not rave about their taste. Still, having mukago at least once in autumn is considered a MUST by many, since it is a rustic symbol of the season and a welcome change of pace from just plain ol’ rice.

Mukago can be found in this area throughout autumn. In English they are called wild yam propagules (or bulbils) as they are how the yam plants propagate (by dropping these little babies to the ground). You can find them in wild fields, by the side of the road, and even in some parks.

Happy hunting!

]]> http://blog.alientimes.org/2008/10/and-still-more-food-for-autumn-foraging-in-tsukuba-mukago-or-nukago/feed/ 0 Children’s Club After School http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/12/childrens-club-after-school/ http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/12/childrens-club-after-school/#comments Fri, 28 Dec 2007 05:24:33 +0000 Kumi http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/12/childrens-club-after-school/ If your child is going to elementary school next year, and there is no one to take care of him or her after school because both parents are working, a “Children’s Club” could help you. Children can play and study with friends at a Jidoukan (児童館, children’s hall) or elementary school. There is at least one teacher with the kids.

Children: elementary grades 1-3
Fee: 4000 yen/month
Club Time: Monday to Friday after school until 18:00 (National holidays: 8:30 to 18:00)
How to apply:

In case of Public Children’s Club:
You can download the application form and fill it out, then you can submit it to the Jidoukan that which you wish to use. You have to submit the form from 17th December to 18th January next year.

If you would like Private Children’s Club, you can ask how to apply by phone from 15:00 to 18:00.

City Web Site ( in Japanese):
http://cms.city.tsukuba.ibaraki.jp/050400/modules/wordpress/index.php?p=130

http://tsukubainfo.jp/Category/ChildrensHalls
http://tsukubainfo.jp/Main/ElementarySchools

Also, there is some information about Children’s Clubs on this page.

http://tsukubainfo.jp/Main/Children
────────────────────────────────────────

Public Clubs (place, address, phone number, how many children) Map
────────────────────────────────────────
Kukizaki (茎崎)児童センター　　 Oguki(小茎)1793　　　 029(840)1321　　　30
Takezono Higashi (竹園東)児童館　　Takezono(竹園)3-18-1　　 029(851)5802　　　30
Takezono Nishi (竹園西)児童館　　　Takezono(竹園)2-19-2　　 029(852)5039　　　40
Azuma Higashi (吾妻東)児童館　　　Azuma(吾妻)4-12　　　 029(852)7858　　　30
Azuma Nishi (吾妻西)児童館　　　　Azuma(吾妻)2-5-4　　　029(851)8141　　　50
Kokonoe (九重)児童館　　　　　Uenomuro(上ノ室)2094　　 029(857)4631　　　30
Sakae (栄)児童館　　　　　　 Yokomachi(横町)127-4　　　029(857)4206　　　30
Namiki (並木)児童館　　　　　Namiki(並木)4-2-3　　　029(851)5331　　　45
Ounan (桜南)児童館　　　　　Namiki(並木)4-7-3　　　029(858)0791　　　40
Teshirogi Minami (手代木南)児童館　Matsusiro(松代)4-15-1　　 029(852)0670　　　50
Matsushiro (松代)児童館　　　　　Matsusiro(松代)2-21-2　　 029(855)6110　　　40
Yatabe (谷田部)児童館　　　　Yatabe(谷田部)4715　　 029(836)0611　　　40
Ninomiya (ニの宮)児童館　　　　Ninomiya(ニの宮)4-9-2　　029(855)6091　　　50
Yoshinuma (吉沼)児童館　　　　Yosinuma(吉沼)814-1　　　029(865)2070　　　30
Kamigou (上郷)児童館　　　Kamigou(上郷)2270-1　　 029(847)5546　　　30
Higashi (東)児童館　　　　　　Higasi(東)2-24-1　　　 029(851)4801　　　40
Ozone (大曽根)児童館　　　　Ozone(大曽根)447-3　　029(864)0181　　　50

───────────────────────────────────
Private Clubs (place, address, phone number) Map
───────────────────────────────────
Shimana elementary school club
(島名小学校児童クラブ)　　 Shimana(島名)537-1　　　080(6577)2163
Katsuragi elementary school club
(葛城小学校児童クラブ)　　　Karima(苅間)689　　　　090(1849)8067
Numasaki elementary school club
(沼崎小学校児童クラブ)　　　Numasaki(沼崎)1408-2　　 029(847)2887
Mase elementary school club
(真瀬小学校児童クラブ)　　　Mase(真瀬)2103　　　 090(4610)7523
Imakashima elementary school club
(今鹿島児童クラブ)　　 Imakasima(今鹿島)1761　　 029(847)4061
Onogawa elementary school club
(小野川小学校児童クラブ)　Tateno(館野)443-1　　　029(836)6659
Kukizaki Daiiti Children’s club
(茎崎第一児童クラブ)　 Takasaki(高崎)1873　　　 029(872)2866
Kukizaki Daini Children’s club
(茎崎第二児童クラブ)　 Simoiwasaki(下岩崎)2116　　 029(876)4100
Azora Children’s club
(あおぞら児童クラブ)　 Simohiratsuka(下平塚)886-1　　029(856)9696
Wakaba Day Care Children’s club
(わかば保育園児童クラブ)　Yatabe(谷田部)2061　　 029(838)0808
Minori Kindergarten Children’s club
(みのり幼稚園児童クラブ)　Takasaki(高崎)643-9　　　029(873)2540
Sakura Children’s club
(さくら学童クラブ)　　 Ueno(上野)1302　　　 029(863)0053
Kaname elementary school club
(要小学校児童クラブ)　 Kaname(要)449-1　　　　029(864)0571
Maeno elementary school club
(前野小学校児童クラブ)　　Maeno(前野)1367　　　 080(3399)0471
Yatabe Minami elementary school club
(谷田部南小学校児童クラブ)　Sakaida(境田)191-1　　　080(1363)3330
───────────────────────────────

Happy New Year!

Kumi

]]> http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/12/childrens-club-after-school/feed/ 0 Children’s Home Needs Computers http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/12/childrens-home-needs-computers/ http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/12/childrens-home-needs-computers/#comments Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:00:01 +0000 Shaney http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/12/childrens-home-needs-computers/ A group in Kyoto is trying to raise money to buy computers and support an internet connection for a local orphanage. If you have some spare change, please consider donating it to this worthy cause.

====================

On Sunday, December 9th, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. the students of FriendsWorld/Global College will be participating in a Clean Up Walk through Shimogamo Jinja and along the Kamogawa to help raise awareness about the environment as well as to raise money for the Karyo-en Orphanage in Kyoto.

Karyo-en is located in the Shimogamo area and houses 20 girls and 18 boys between the ages of 3 and 17 who have been abandoned by their parents, in most cases because they have remarried or somehow changed their lifestyles in a way that did not leave room for their children. Some children are of mixed blood and were abandoned when their mothers remarried into a Japanese family.

Karyo-en is subsidized by the Japanese government and its most basic needs, such as for food, clothing and adult supervision are minimally provided, but as you can imagine, the children’s lives are far from complete. In the past few years, some of the students at Friends World/Global College have brought food, clothing, books and toys to them as well as spent time playing with them and teaching them English.

This semester, one of our students who has been interning there, thought to raise money for computers and an internet connection for them. Although this will in no way come close to filling the gap left by the absence of family, on- line computers will give the children a way to connect to the rest of the world.

We are asking the children at Karyo-en to participate in this clean up walk with us to help empower them and demonstrate they can make a difference in their own lives as well as in the lives of others. We are hoping to raise money to purchase new and/or used computers that have a wireless internet connections, to buy equipment to set up the connection and to pay for it on a monthly basis. We are planning to continue this fundraising drive when necessary to buy additional computers or replace broken or out of date ones and to support the monthly internet connection charges.

We hope that you will help us by offering whatever donation you can. Any support, no matter how small, will be appreciated, so if your children would like to participate in their own name by contributing along with you- even just a few hundred yen- we will be grateful. This is not to say that we are not looking for larger donations- only that we hope that everyone can contribute an amount with which they are comfortable. We would also love to have you join with us in the cleanup, and ask your friends, family and colleagues to be sponsors too. The more money we can raise, the more computers we can buy and the longer we can support the internet connection.

Please contact me or anyone at Friends World/Global College and let us know if you can contribute to this drive in any way. We would like to buy the computers as soon as possible and start setting them up so please let us know how much you would like to pledge by Sunday, December 9. And please suggest to your family – especially your children and your friends – that they participate. Also, if you could help by forwarding this email to anyone who you think might be interested in helping, we would be much obliged.

Here are some of the different ways in which you can help:

Donate money (any amount would be appreciated) by sponsoring the students and children from the orphanage who will be picking up trash in Shimogamo Jinja and along the Kamogawa.

Participate in the cleanup walk and/or after-party with the children.

Donate any used computers you have that have wireless capability and are in good condition.

Forward this email to people on your mailing list who you think may contribute to this very worthy cause.

Start your own fundraising drive by telling your friends about this and asking for their help in any of the listed ways.

Donations can be sent either by mail to

Friends World/Global College
1-287 Akasaka Cho
Kinugasa, Kita-ku
Kyoto 603-8486

or can be deposited into our account at

Bank of Kyoto (Kyoto Ginko)
Kinkakuji Branch
Branch code: 165
Futsu Account number: 553079
Account name: Global College Japan Center
Barbara Stein

Overseas contributions can be sent to the above school address by an international postal order which can be obtained at any US post office.

For more information, contact Daniel Douglass (douglassdanielk[AT]yahoo.com).

]]> http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/12/childrens-home-needs-computers/feed/ 0 Convenience Stores And Supermarkets Promote Osaka Custom And Point Setsubun Celebrations In NEW DIRECTION http://blog.alientimes.org/2009/02/convenience-stores-and-supermarkets-promote-osaka-custom-and-point-kantos-setsubun-celebrations-in-new-direction/ http://blog.alientimes.org/2009/02/convenience-stores-and-supermarkets-promote-osaka-custom-and-point-kantos-setsubun-celebrations-in-new-direction/#comments Sun, 01 Feb 2009 09:32:39 +0000 Avi Landau http://blog.alientimes.org/?p=3005 Poster promoting EHO-MAKI for Setsubun

Poster promoting EHO-MAKI for Setsubun

Convenience stores and supermarkets have had a huge impact on Japan and they play a major role in the shaping of  contemporary Japanese culture and lifestyles. And though in many ways it could be said that these stores are helping to bring about the END of TRADITIONAL JAPAN, it could also be said that they are unlikely repositories of certain aspects of Japanese culture , always displaying traditional sweets of the season and never missing a chance to promote and sell foods and other paraphanalia related to traditional events and festivals. The quest for new products to sell has also led to some innovative ideas which have spiced up certain events. An example of this can be seen if you go to any combini or supermarket (supa) in the 3 or 4 weeks leading up to February 3 , which is the day on which the SESTUBUN festival is celebrated.

090129_1055011Sestubun (節分) , is sometimes called the BEAN THROWING FESTIVAL in English. This is because the main feature of the event is the throwing of soy beans , as a way of excorsizing evil and bad luck. In homes with small children, the man of the house usually dons a paper DEMON MASK (available at combinis and supas) on the evening of the 3rd and the children proceed to hurl the beans at him crying out – ONI WA SOTO. They then continue throwing beans in various directions, shouting FUKU WA UCHI- good fortune in ! Family members then go on to eat the same number of beans as their age. This ritual is called MAME MAKI (bean throwing), and it is also performed at various temples and shrines around Japan. It is usual for adults who are in their UNLUCKY AGES(especially men of 42 and women of 33) to attend these bean throwing events as a form of YAKU YOKE (purification for those of unlucky age). Famous temples and shrines often invite celebrities (sumo wrestlers, movie stars etc) to hurl the beans, and these scenes are often televised. Just watch the news on Tuesday night (the night of this years mame maki).

090201_1730011Nearly all convenience stores and supermarkets have for the past few weeks been displaying a wide array of demon masks and soy bean packages .

090128_1523011Another custom, though far less popular these days, is the the posting of a sardine head and fit onto thorny leaves called hiiragi on the front door. This is done to keep evil and bad fortune away. It is believed that the foul odor of the fish and the uninviting thorns should be effective in keeping any demons OUT. Supermarkets, including the one in the basement of Tsukuba`s Seibu Department Store have been promoting sardines for the making of these protective wreaths.

 Hiiragi, and especially bean throwing have been the generally accepted, standard ways of celebrating setsubun throughout Japan.

However, in recent years combinis and supas have been vigorously promoting an ADDITIONAL WAY of celebrating setsubun. Well… new to all people who have never lived in Osaka(and other parts of KANSAI).

I`m talking of course of the large sushi rolls called EHO-MAKI (恵方巻), which can be seen in promotional posters all over town. These oversized nori-maki (they look  like quite a mouthfull) are to be eaten by each family member, in silence, while facing the lucky direction of this year(according to the traditional Japanese almanac). Though most people in Tsukuba had never heard of this ritual until recently, many now reserve their EHO-MAKI weeks before setsubun. More purchase them on the day of the festival.

This year`s (2009) LUCKY DIRECTION

This year`s (2009) LUCKY DIRECTION

Eating Eho maki while facing the lucky direction, is in fact a custom, though not very old, which originated(along with so many other great business ideas) in Osaka. Osakan friends living in Tsukuba tell me that they had faithfully eaten their setsubun sushi-rolls every year of their lives, and had imagined that ALL Japanese did the same. Some Tsukubans of Osakan birth used to have Eho Maki sent  them each year by their mothers, before they became available nation-wide.

Nobody Ive spoken to could actually explain the significance of the sushi-rolls, but my feeling is that by facing the lucky direction, and slowly and silently taking the EHO -MAKI in, the good energies of this years lucky direction are absorbed by the antennae-like roll. Of course, these sushi- rolls are also chock-full of nutritious fillings (these vary according to price), including egg, seafood etc., to help keep the family healthy through the last weeks (or months!) of cold weather.

Of course, the most important point for families is that the EHO MAKI are fun and DELICIOUS!

Let me tell you a little more about setsubun. This word (節分) in fact means SEASONAL TURNING POINT which then means that traditionally there were four setsubuns in Japan, one for the beginning of each season. Nowadays however, only the day marking the coming of spring is acknowledged by the general public with special rituals. Though it is still quite cold,the first day of spring (rishun) is on February 4th according to the traditional calendar. Before the Japanese converted their calendar to the one used by Europeans, a day began at sunset on the previous evening. That is why setsubun is celebrated on the evening of the 3rd. This was considered to be the start of the next day- RISHUN.

090201_1744011The ancient Chinese believed that these seasonal turning points were times when the world and its inhabitants were susceptible to attacks by evil forces. For protection they would carry out a ceremony which the Japanese call TSUINA( 追儺 ), in which ritual bows and arrows were used to excorsize demons and bad fortune.

This ceremony was introduced to Japan  as a way of trying to stop an epidemic during the reign of Emperor Mommu (697-707), and during the Heian Period(794-1192), it was carried out anually in the  Court, with bow and arrow, on the Traditional New Years Eve.

During the Muromachi Period(1392-1573), the use of bow and arrow gave way to the throwing of beans (though some temples, especially in Kyoto, use the old excorsizing techniques), and the custom began to filter down to the masses. Bean throwing on the eve of RISHUN became a standard part of Japanese life in the Edo Period (1600-1868), and remains so to this day.

The use of beans is probably related to the DEMON EXTERMINATING CEREMONY (鬼退治の際, oni taiji no sai) held at Kurama Yama , Kyoto. According to a legend, the God Bishamon recommended throwing beans into the eyes, as an effective way of combating demons. Demon Eyes can be written with the characters 魔目(which is read - ma me, a homophone for beans) and  this sounds the same as 魔滅、which means DEMISE OF THE DEMON.

Also as anyone with an interest in traditional Indian food might know, beans are believed to have special life force powers.

Another interesting point is that the reason you eat the same number of beans as your age (and one for good luck) is that before the Japanese calendar changed to the Gregorian, February was the Month of New Years (usually) and thus all Japanese considered themselves one year older (did you know that the money given to children on New Years called TOSHI DAMA, is not New Years money(toshi can mean year) , but AGE MONEY (toshi can also mean age). Thus people celebrated their BIRTHDAY by eating their ages in beans.

For seniors who dont want to or cant eat dozens of beans, it is customary to put their age worth into a tea cup, pour tea over it and drink the tea.

Eating these beans is also considered to be protection against illness and bad luck.

If you would like to celebrate setsubun this year, the convenience store or supermarket will provide you with everything you need. Bean throwing should begin after the sun goes down. A parent puts the demon mask on and goes to the front door. The demon should stand outside and be pelted by the kids who cry ONI WA SOTO.Then throw beans inside the house shouting FUKU WA UCHI !. I once brought a mask and beans with me to New York and did mame maki with my nieces and nephew. It went over very well. If youve got kids, Id say- give it a try!

2 Comments

  • At February 2, 2009, Kevin wrote:

    Thank you for sharing this with us. Your article is one of the best written that I have found on this subject.

    Your site is bookmarked and I look forward to reading your blog!

  • At April 10, 2009, robin d gill wrote:

    Just searched for bow & arrow connection with the oni wa soto fuku wa uchi rite as it is in an old kyouka (comic poem) that will be in Mad In Translation. Good writing -- i was only familiar with the hamaya -- only wish there was more and, as it is a blog, your name, or if translated the name of the writer/editors and translator.

    敬愚

]]> http://blog.alientimes.org/2009/02/convenience-stores-and-supermarkets-promote-osaka-custom-and-point-kantos-setsubun-celebrations-in-new-direction/feed/ 2 Current events at Aquaworld Ooarai http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/02/current-events-at-aquaworld-ooarai/ http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/02/current-events-at-aquaworld-ooarai/#comments Fri, 16 Feb 2007 01:47:00 +0000 RrFish http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/02/current-events-at-aquaworld-ooarai/ So…, many kids love everything nice and sweet. How about something…oh, yucky and stinky?

There is a new special exhibit called ”Naruhodo! The Unchi – Unchi no Unchiku- なるほど！ザ・うんち ～うんちのうんちく～”at the Aquaworld Ooarai. Naruhodo! means “Aha!” and unchi is the word for, well, what my kid refers to as poopee! (The exhibition name probably was inspired by the wildly popular quiz show from the early 80’s to mid 90’s by the name of “Naruhodo! The World” which, by the way, still comes on TV every once in a while as a special program. )

The exhibition is all about “Unchiku(stock of knowledge)” of “Unchi.” Over 100 sea and land creature poo specimens are on display, including the dinosaur poo fossil. You can also look at various paper products made from animal dung, and learn a lot about unchi, such as how to tell the health condition of a creature by looking at its unchi. Your kid(s) may even want to take a sniff at red panda poo! This is a very kid-oriented exhibit, so many articles on display are at kid’s eye-level.

The “poo exhibit” is from February 10 to May 6, Sunday, which is the last day of the “Golden Week” holidays. Remember, children can get in at half price on Saturdays except during long school holidays like Spring break.

Your kid(s) may also enjoy a visit to “Doctor Fish” on the 5th floor of this aquarium. I’m sure Turkish people are very familiar with this fish, but it has very recently become well known and popular over here. For those who are not familiar with this fish, it’s known for its use in the treatment of skin problems like atopic dermatitis since it nibbles dead skin (and only the dead skin) off people. Please see this page for more information on Doctor Fish.
Why not experience what it feels like to be treated by Doctor Fish? The “doctors” are in the “touching pool” by the playground on the 5th floor ;-)

Aquaworld Ooarai(main page)
-Naruhodo! The Unchi
Feb.10(Sat) to May 6(sun)
-Doctor Fish
Feb.10(Sat) to Mar.31(Sat)

]]> http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/02/current-events-at-aquaworld-ooarai/feed/ 0 Excellent Site for Tsukuba Moms http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/12/excellent-site-for-tsukuba-moms/ http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/12/excellent-site-for-tsukuba-moms/#comments Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:00:05 +0000 Shaney http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/12/excellent-site-for-tsukuba-moms/ I think the foreign population has found a true kindred spirit in Kumi, a Japanese mom who is living in Tsukuba. According to Kumi’s blog, she lived in the US for two years and found it quite challenging to live in another culture. She started her Tsukuba Mom site so that she could help mothers and children in Tsukuba.

She only started her blog in early November, but she has already posted seven good blog articles on her site. Topics currently include food, medicine, school, and events. I think that she will be an excellent resource for moms (and others) in Tsukuba.

(I think I will also invite her to join the TsukuBlog team, if she is willing!)

1 Comments

  • At December 4, 2007, No wrote:

    Thank you Kumi and Thank you Shaney!

    That's really nice to know that someone can more like Mom' in Tsukuba... well done and I'll recommend this blog to some mothers!))

]]> http://blog.alientimes.org/2007/12/excellent-site-for-tsukuba-moms/feed/ 1 Faces for Father’s Day http://blog.alientimes.org/2008/06/faces-for-fathers-day/ http://blog.alientimes.org/2008/06/faces-for-fathers-day/#comments Sun, 15 Jun 2008 09:03:21 +0000 Avi Landau http://blog.alientimes.org/?p=878 A wallet, necktie or new set of golf clubs are fine Father’s Day gifts. But nothing could bring a bigger smile to a dad’s face than his portrait executed in crayon by his own toddler. And what better subject is there for all the budding young Hiroshiges and Sharakus out there than that big face, which all googly-eyed, has been cootchy-cooing at them since their eyes have started to focus?

Seibu Department Store has been displaying hundreds of such Father’s Day portraits as part of its Chichi-no-Hi (父の日, Father’s Day) campaign. They are sure to bring a smile to ANYONE who goes up to the 6th floor to check them out. Though these works lack polish and technique (they are by 3 year-olds!), they exude color, love and joy of life — and what could be better than that? And though we are grown up now, we STILL can’t escape those images of the big faces which peered down at US when WE were in OUR cribs. This exhibition will bring back a flood of memories and feelings.

Father’s Day was introduced to Japan after WWll and is held on the 3rd Sunday in June. Though at first completely overshadowed by Mother’s Day in terms of gift giving and spending, Dad’s Day has been slowly but surely catching up as family dynamics have been changing (more time spent with papa) and advertising campaigns have started to sink in.

The 6th floor of Seibu often has special events which are worth checking out. This month they will be having summer gifts (o-chugen) on display, and even if you don’t plan on sending these beautifully packaged and very over-priced boxes of juice, salad oil etc. to YOUR boss, in-laws, professor, or go-between (nakodo), many Japanese people do, and it is interesting to see all the different gifts and the lines of customers doing their duty.

The 6th floor events that I most look forward to are the Eki-Ben Fairs which bring together all the famous train station boxed lunches from around Japan, and the regional food fair which gives you a chance to taste and purchase delicacies for various prefectures, both far and near.

]]> http://blog.alientimes.org/2008/06/faces-for-fathers-day/feed/ 0 Faces For Fathers Day ( revisited)- and a bit on the history of that special day as it is celebrated in Japan! http://blog.alientimes.org/2010/06/faces-for-fathers-day-revisited/ http://blog.alientimes.org/2010/06/faces-for-fathers-day-revisited/#comments Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:38:06 +0000 Avi Landau http://blog.alientimes.org/?p=8067 A wallet, necktie or new set of golf clubs are fine Father’s Day gifts. But nothing  brings a bigger smile to a dad’s face than his portrait executed in crayon by his own toddler. And what better subject is there for all the budding young Hiroshiges and Sharakus out there than that big face, which all googly-eyed, has been cootchy-cooing at them since their eyes have started to focus?

Seibu Department Store has been displaying hundreds of such Father’s Day portraits as part of its Chichi-no-Hi (父の日, Father’s Day) campaign. They are sure to bring a smile to ANYONE who goes up to the 6th floor to check them out. Though these works lack polish and technique (they are by 3 year-olds!), they exude color, love and joy of life — and what could be better than that? And though we are grown up now, we STILL can’t escape those images of the big faces which peered down at US when WE were in OUR cribs. This exhibition will bring back a flood of memories and feelings.

Father’s Day was introduced to Japan after WWll and is held on the 3rd Sunday in June. Though at first completely overshadowed by Mother’s Day in terms of gift giving and spending, Dad’s Day has been slowly but surely catching up as family dynamics have been changing (more time spent with papa) and advertising campaigns have started to sink in.

The 6th floor of Seibu often has special events which are worth checking out. This month they will be having summer gifts (o-chugen) on display, and even if you don’t plan on sending these beautifully packaged and very over-priced boxes of juice, salad oil etc. to YOUR boss, in-laws, professor, or go-between (nakodo), many Japanese people do, and it is interesting to see all the different gifts and the lines of customers doing their duty.

The 6th floor events that I most look forward to are the Eki-Ben Fairs which bring together all the famous train station boxed lunches from around Japan, and the regional food fair which gives you a chance to taste and purchase delicacies for various prefectures, both far and near.

Oh!- and here are two versions of a song I wrote about the joys of fatherhood! They were recorded byThe TenGooz !

Enjoy:

http://www.jamendo.com/en/track/116593

and

http://www.jamendo.com/en/track/569922

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