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!!