SHIWASU -- the last month of year --

The Japanese character in above picture is read " SHIWASU ".

We call December "SHIWASU".

SHIWASU means that it is the busy season even teachers have to run, they have a lot of thing to do.

Acutually, in December, people have many things to do.

They will have winter holiday for some days, so they need to prepare in their job.

In their home, people is engaged to do OOSOUJI, clean up!

Also people prepare season's greeting card, Chirstmas gift, new year decoration in their house.

In spiritual meaning, Year End is the point for review themselves and building new plan of next year.

Not only teachers but also you have to run in December!

SOTSUGYO -- graduation --

March is the season of graduation in Japan.

Fiscal year in school starts at April ends at March.

At the graduation ceremony we can see girls who wear Haori and Hakama, those are Japanese traditional costume.

In the ceremony they sing songs "Hotaru-no-Hikari" and "Aogeba-totoshi".

Hotaru-no-Hikari is expression from attendance and the other is from graduates.

Wish graduates brilliant future!

Shunbun-no-hi -- Vernal Equinox Day --

Shunbun-no-hi occurs on about March 21, the day when the sun reaches the vernal equinox, and the length of the day and night is equal. In Japan it is designed as a national holiday.

Also we call a week which includes Shunbun-no-hi "Higan".

In those days we are required to respect our ancestor with visiting tomb to pray for them.

And more we eat Ohagi in that week.

It is traditional food made by rice covered with bean jam.

Originally it was made in the home to offer to the spirits of the ancestors, but now it is a typical Japanese confectionery.

HINAMATSURI -- doll's festival --

Hinamatsuri occurs on March 3 and is an occasion to pray for young girls' growth and happiness.

Most homes with girls display small dolls contained several kinds of rolls for this festival.

But recently it is increasing the families who have not enough space to display these dolls in their houses.

Instead of these traditional dolls, they display only two representative dolls called Odairi-sama and Ohina-sama.

People believe they should put away it as soon as the day passed otherwise the girl might be late for marriage.

YUKIMATSURI -- snow festival --

At deep snow area there are snow festivals in winter season, mostly February.

Main content of the event is snowy statue.

The arts are so beautiful, wonderful and great.

Especially in night time, they are lighted by colorful spot lights so they seem so fantastic.

Most popular festival is taken place in Sapporo.

At there it is held contest of snowy statue every year, among several dozen of those.

To make only just one snowy statue, it needs plenty snow.

Self Defense Forces takes a part for carrying and building snow.

When you go there, do not forget pocket warmers.

St. Valentaine's Day

Feb 14th is the day which makes men fidgety all the day.

Because in Japan, on the Valentaine's Day girls (women) would give chocolates to boys (men) for the sign of love, appliciation, and respect.

10% of yearly sales of chocolate is made during this season.

This is almost the day like festival.

But for men it is not all happy things, because one month later, The White Day is coming, which is the day turned around men and women.

This day is not based on regional story, but on the strategy of chocolate company!

KANI -- a crab --

The sense of taste in winter is crab.

In Japan there are several kinds of crabs, Taraba-gani, Ke-gani, Watari-gani, etc.

Its name depends on its place of production.

Each of us has the favorite way how to eat the crabs.

Fresh as sashimi, broil, boil in the pot with vegetables, etc.

My favorite is fresh as sashimi.

But it is served only at specialized restaurant.

Usually we can enjoy boil one.

We have it with vinegar soy sauce.

It is so delicious!!