Recently in Japanese culture Category

Hatsuyume is the Japanese word for the first dream had in the new year. 

Traditionally, the contents of the dream would foretell the luck of the dreamer in the ensuing year. 

In Japan, the night of December 31 was often passed without sleeping, thus the hatsuyume was often the dream seen the night of January 1. 

This explains why January 2 (the day after the night of the "first dream") is known as Hatsuyume in the traditional Japanese calender.

regarding the origins as to why this particular combination was considered to be auspicious.

One theory suggests that this combination is lucky because Mount Fuji is Japan's highest mountain, the hawk is a clever and strong bird, and the word for eggplant  suggests achieving something great.

Another theory suggests that this combination arose because Mount Fuji, falconry, and early eggplants were favorites of the shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Although this superstition is well known in Japan, often memorized in the form Ichi-Fuji, Ni-Taka, San-Nasubi (1. Fuji, 2. Hawk, 3. Eggplant), the continuation of the list is not as well known. 

Anyway, I wish your Hatsuyume is a splendid dream!!

The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation select one Kanji every year.

And It is kind of long custom in Japan.

Did you know the kanji of year 2011??

Can you read this?

The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation announced on Dec.12

 that the Chinese character "kizuna" (the bond) was selected as the kanji that best reflects the disaster-ridden year.

After the disaster we felt many kindness and bonds from our guests and friends from all over the world this year.

 Hearafter, I want to value the connection with the person.

It's Christmas Eve tomorrow. I guess people are in Christmas mood yet in your country!

It's the same here in Japan, but the way many people spend it might be unfamiliar with you.

First of all, cake is necessary for Japanese Christmas.

Besides, fried chicken and pizzas are popularly consumed for the day.

However, one of my non-Japanese friends told me once that eating cake and KFC for Christmas is weird!

"So what do you do??" I asked. He told me that they usually eat turkey.

Other than that, they have food that is unique to their country.

Even after knowing that, I still feel like eating cake!

Though the way to spend it is different, 

I hope everyone will have a nice Christmas this year. J

Today is St. Valentine's Day

In Japan women gives a chocolate to men it started from year of 1970

It's a chocolate festa all over Japan

Giving to your lover ,  friends, others...... and duty chocolate too

Have a great  St. Valentine's Day

SAKURA HOTEL HATAGAYA
Address: 1-32-3 Hatagaya Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Japan 151-0072
Phone: +81-3-5330-5250 (03-5330-5250)
Fax: +81-3-5330-5251 (03-5330-5251)
URL: http://www.sakura-hotel-hatagaya.com/
E-mail: info@sakura-hotel-hatagaya.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/hatagaya_hotel
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sakura-Hotel-Hostel-in-Tokyo-Japan/220350084985 

                                                    ↓ Too cute can not eat this chocolate panda

                                                             ↓ I don't know this is chocolate hahaha

Which X'mas cake do you like?

Those are most poplar christmas cake in Japan~

Sponge cake strawberry decorations with fresh cream

Strawberries and creams are between  sponge cake too

Yummy~~~~~

Choose one from A,B,C

A

B

C

Who is that???

He's not dead yet!!!

↓

I went to the No-ryo-Matsuri at Azabu zyuban last Friday.

It was pretty crowded in there.

No-ryo-Matsiri is famed festival and today is last night of Matsuri.

I enjoyed goldfish scooping and cockshy.

How about going to Summer Festival tonight?

**access

Hatagaya to Shinjuku / take keio new line

Shinjuku to Azabu zyu ban/ take Oedo line

Total  18 min 

330 yen

Do you have YUKATA?

YUKATA is Japanese summer KIMONO.

YUKATA are one of the seasonal charms of summer in Japan.

I bought SAKURA(cherry blossom) printed Yukata last month.

Today I will tell you how to wear it.

 Put your arms through the sleeves.Then spread your arms with your hands holding the cuffs so that yhe back seam should line up with your spin.

 Left hand holds the edge of both collars up and right hand holds the back seam up at the same time.

Lift to the hem comes to slightly below your ankle, which is the proper yukata length.

As the picture wrap the right side around your body.(lift the hem corner 10cm off from the floor.

Keeping the right side on your body,wrap the left side over the right side.（the left side hem corner 5cm off from the floor）
Keeping holding both sides, place a sash belt called koshihimo sash 2cm above hipbone on your body.

Wrap the koshihimo once.（cross the koshihimo sash at a bit above your waist on your back. See the picture)

Pull into the koshihimo sash through between the wrapped koshihimo sash and yukata then tie fastenly. The protruded koshihimo sashes are tucked in the wrapped one.

Now, check the hem of right side, left side and back side are proper length.

Smooth out the wrinkles pulling the protruded.

The protruded covers the koshihimo sash and no wrinkle is there.The collar is adjusted.

Insert kimono belt from the left opening under the sleeve. Clip the one side on the collar of right side at under your chest.

The other end is pulled out from the left opening under the sleeve, wrapped outside yukata and clip on the right collar.

Gather all wrinkles to both sides.

Place a datejime belt just under your chest.

Wrap the datejime belt once.（cross the datesime belt as the picture on your back）

One of the datejime belt is folded down diagonally.

Fasten at the both sides and tie at the center front. 

Fold the both ends of datesime belt back on itself.

Tuck them in between yukata and wrapped Datesime belt. Finish.

Enjoy your summer with yukata!

This is my favorite rock'n'roll album

KISS ALIVE!

私のお気に入りのCD＆レコード 

I bought this record when I was 12years old kid!

They're still around making an album and go for tour too

Super Rock Star Band KISS!!!

They're make up got a idea from Japanese KABUKI play did you know that!?

確か?12才のころカナダで買ったレコードです！

キッスはまだまだ現役で活動！アルバムを作ったり、ツアーに出たり！

永遠のロックスターバンドとして煌びやかに輝いてますよ?

メイクアップは歌舞伎からヒントを得たとか.....

This is the Farewell Tour T-shirt, one of my rock'n'roll T-shirt that I have!

So　many in my closet!

こちらは私のロックTシャツのコレクションの一枚です！

キッスだけで何枚あるのか??

Peaked Yellow's T-shirt Made in Japan

It's a hidden popular brand!

Very sexy singer ~ isn't she!?

ピークド イエロー 日本製です。

隠れたブランド品 マニアックですが?

お色気ある歌姫でしょう？！

Kamen Rider Double (仮面ライダーＷ（ダブル）, Kamen Raidā Daburu, Kamen Rider W, Masked Rider Double) is the eleventh series in the Heisei period run of the Kamen Rider Series and the twentieth Rider series overall !

No.1 Japanese Kids Hero is Kamen Rider Double!!! 

My kids are crazy about it too !!!

Do you like Japanese animaion?

Today our guest gave us comic books  ONE PIECE !!

These comic books are written in English.

Recently japanese animaion is popular all over the world.

How about studying Japanese with comic books?

This is a suvenior from Japanese guest. From Mrs. Suda (a lady.)

Rice dunplings　 (=dango).↓

We ate it during our break! 

Have you ever eaten dango??  This is very popular snack in Japan! 

There are many kinds of tast, with soy sause, or a soy and sugar sauce,  a red bean, and bean flour!　↓　(pictures from some kinds of website.)

 ↑ Bean flour dango.                             ↑　Mitarashi and a red bean dango.

↑Hanami (3 colored ) dango.It's  Beaautiful!  

This is usually s for spring, on hanami season. Taste sweet.

Why don't you try to eat them?

GOCHISOUSAMADESHITA!