Japanese Culture

You might have had sweet memories in your childhood when you got penny candies from the pocket money that your parents gave you. That excitement when you go home with the candies you got would be unforgettable. Penny candy is called “dagashi (駄菓子(だがし))” in Japanese. Dagashi has a huge variety of types and has a long history. We will introduce Japanese penny candies in this article. Let’s take a look at sweet Japanese memories! What is dagashi 駄菓子(だがし)? Dagashi (駄菓子(だがし)) are cheap candies and snacks for children. They have many varieties and each one is packaged in a colorful wrapping ...

Boy's Day / Tango no sekku May 5th is the national holiday Children's Day, and is also the day for a traditional Japanese festival for boys called 端午の節句 (Tango no sekku, Boy's Day in English). 端午の節句 (Tango no sekku/Boy's Day) is an important day to celebrate a boy's healthy growth. Japanese people display samurai dolls in their houses and carp streamers outside. They also have some special foods. The custom of Tango no sekku is derived from ancient China. In the ancient Chinese calendar, May is called 午 (go), which means the horse in the Chinese zodiac. Tango (端午) means ...

Hinamatsuri (ひな祭り), which is called Doll's day or Girl’s Day in English, is one Japanese spring event on March 3rd. People celebrate and pray for girls' health and happiness. It is custom to display Japanese ornamental dolls on a tiered stand with a red carpet-like material and have a special meal with one's family. Justinaひな (hina) means doll in ancient Japanese , and 祭り (matsuri) means festival! We'll share not only what Hinamatsuri is like but also its origin and the history of Hinamatsuri!Atsuya Hinamatsuri (ひな祭り) is a calm spring festival with a special meal and beautiful Japanese dolls! Hinamatsuri ...

“鬼(おに)は外(そと)！福(ふく)は内(うち)！(Demons out ! Luck in!)” In the Setsubun festival, Japanese people say 鬼(おに)は外(そと)！福(ふく)は内(うち)！and throw beans out opened doors and windows to drive away evil spirits and bring in good fortune. 節分(せつぶん) (Setsubun)  is one of the most well-known spring events for Japanese people. In this article, you will understand how to enjoy Setsubun and all about Setsubun’s rules, culture, and history! Justina I know about throwing beans during Setsubun! Actually, Japanese people do many things other than throwing beans during Setsubun! Atsuya What does 節分(せつぶん)  (Setsubun) mean? The original meaning of 節分(せつぶん) (Setsubun) is “the day before the equinox or ...