Events in Tokyo のアーカイブ

Valentine’s day is a day to gift flowers, candies and greeting cards to your friends and lovers, but is is quite different in Japan.  Unlike the Western countries, gifts such as flowers are uncommon, and the most popular gift is chocolate.

Valentine’s day was first introduced to Japan by Morozoff in 1936, when it ran an advertisement aimed at foreigners.  In 1953 it began promoting the giving of heart-shaped chocolates, which other Japanese confectionery companies followed suit thereafter.  Afterwards, in the 1970s, the custom that only women give chocolates to men, the unique point of the Japanese Valentine’s day, appears.

Many women give chocolates to all male co-workers or classmates.  This is known as Giri-choko (義理チョコ), meaning chocolate (choko) from a sense of duty (giri).  This contrasts with Honmei-choko (本命チョコ), chocolate given to a lover (Honmei).  Valentine’s day is a special day for girls, when they confess love to their loved ones.
Friends, especially girls, may exchange chocolate referred to as Tomo-choko (友チョコ).  Tomo means friends.  In recent years, women also buy chocolates or other gifts for themselves, as a reward to herself.

Valentine’s day is a big selling season for many stores.  Valentine’s sales are held, and many limited-edition products are made for this day.  You will have a great shopping in this season, if you don’t mind being squeezed by all the other women also trying to buy something special.

Another unique point about the Japanese Valentine’s day is that there is a ‘reply day’.  There is an event called White day on March 14th, when the men who recieved gifts on Valentine’s day are expected to give something back.  This ‘reply’ is expected to be more valuable (sometimes 2 or 3 times!) than the gift by women.  Reply to Giri-choko is usually expensive sweets, and that to Honmei-choko is often clothings or accessories.  If you are gifted on Valentine’s day, prepare for the month later!

 

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

A trend-pioneering event for girls is to be held in Tokyo.
The name of the event is Tokyo Girls Collection, TGC.  It would be the 12th event this March.

In the event, there will be 4 main fashion shows.  The themes of each stages are trend, ellegance, selected, and designers.  Many of the brands participating in this event are not very expensive, and are seen in popular fashion complexes, such as Marui and Parco.  In the fashion shows, the newest clothes from these brands are worn by the top models of Japanese fashion magazines.  Many girls come to this event to take one look at the heart-throb models.
One interesting point about this event is that you can buy the clothes that appeared in the show.  The clothes will eventually appear on stores, but at this point, they are purchasable nowhere except this event.  If you are to get a head start on the season’s fashion, this event is a big chance!

 The tickets are purchasable from 10 a.m. on Feb. 5, on the internet or by phone.  Beware the tickets are always sold out in a very short time!

Website: http://tgc.st/ (Jap)

 

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

Setsubun (節分, seasonal division) is the day before the beginning of each season in Japan.  Especially, Setsubun in spring, the day before Risshun (立春, the starting day of spring in the old Japanese calander), is celebrated on a massive scale.
The spring Setsubun is on the beginning of February.  It will be on Februari 3rd till 2025, but the day slightly differs by year.

A major event on Setsubun is Mamemaki (豆まき, bean throwing).  A man (usually the father in a household) performs as an Oni (鬼, demon), and his family throws roasted soybeans at him.  These soybeans are called Fukumame (福豆, fortune beans), and after you throw it, you eat the same number of beans as your age.  Beans, or Mame in Japanese, has the same sound with Mame (魔滅, destruction of badness).  Throwing the beans have a meaning to wish for a year of health.  People usually call out “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! (鬼は外　福は内)” when throwing the beans, means ‘get the demons out, and call the luck in’.

When the season of Setsubun comes close, roasted soybeans as Fukumame (some with a demon mask) are sold at many supermarkets.  Also, on Setsubun day, many Shrines hold Mamemaki events, where beans are thrown by priests and sometimes by celebrities.

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

In early January, you will probably see many youths (especially young women) dressed in beautiful Kimono.  If you see them on Jan. 1st to 3rd, they are likely to be going to Hatsumode.  If you see them around Jan. 10th, the Kimono is for Seijinshiki (成人式).

Seijinshiki is a ceremony for celebrating that one has become an adult. 
In Japan, the legal adult age is 20. To celebrate their becoming adult, the youths who just turned 20 (or soon turning 20) are gathered, and ceremonies are held at every municipality, sometimes schools and companies.

The Kimono worn at Seijinshiki is called Furisode (振袖).  Furisode is a formal Kimono for unmarried women.  Furisode is generally worn for formal social functions such as tea ceremony or wedding ceremonies of relatives.  It can be told whether a Kimono is Furisode or not by the sleeves.  Furisode is with long sleeves, which average between 39 and 42 inches in length.  Furisode is made of very fine, bright colored silk, usually with traditional patterns. 

Traditionall, by wearing Furisode, a young woman signified that she is both single and a legal adult, and thus available for marriage.  Today, this is not as strict as used to be: you can see some married, or not-that-young women sometimes wearing Furisode on TV, just to show that the day is auspicious.

Anyway, there will be many Furisode girls in town around this season, making people’s spirits bright.  Walking around just to see them is quite enjoyable.

 

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

Sadly, there is no boxing day in Japan.  But that doesn’t mean there is no sale!
The probable largest sale season is the few days after New Year’s Day.  There are big sales of course, and another delight - Fukubukuro.

Fukubukuro (福袋) is translated ‘lucky bag’ or ‘mystery bag’.  The former gets the literal meaning better, but the latter is a good one too.
Fukurukuro is a bag filled with unknown random contents and sell them for a substantial discount, usually 50% or more off the list price of the items contained within.  The low prices are usually done to attract customers to shop at that store during the new year.   Fukubukuro usually are snapped up quickly by eager customers.  Some stores have long lines hours (or even days!) before the store opens.

Traditionally, Fukubukuro meant a bag with luck and happiness inside.  Representitively, Daikokuten (大黒天), the God of fortune, toted a Fukubukuro, Lucky Mallet (there is another story about this item), and rice bale.  This can be seen in the drawing above.

Fukubukuro in the commercial world was invented by Ginza Matsuya, a department store, in the late Meiji period.  It was an easy way for stores to unload excess and unwanted merchandise from the previous year, due to a Japanese belief that one must not start the New Year with unwanted trash from the previous year and start clean.  Nowadays, Fukubukuro is more a lavish New Year’s event, rather than a way for stores to get rid of excess merchandise.  Some of them aren’t even a ‘mystery bag’: the contents are exposured, because less people want to buy something that might be leftover junk.

Fukubukuro are sold around Jan. 1st to 5th, not only at major department stores, but also many small shops in town.  Getting the Fukubukuro you’re aiming at, you might have to battle your rivals, but that’s one of the fun

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

A popular sport to do in the new year in Japan is Hanetsuki (羽根突き).
Hanetsuki is like badminton without a net, played with a square-shaped wooden racket and a birdie made with Sapindaceae seed.  Two players continue a rally, and the one who fails to hit back loses.  The winner can draw paintings on the losers face with Sumi (墨, Japanese ink used for calligraphy)

Actually, Hanetsuki is not as popular as it used to be, alike many other traditions.  However, the wooden racket, Hagoita (羽子板), is still popular for displaying at home.
Hagoita is usually decorated beautifully.  Most of them are painted with lacqer, and some have steric silk collages (these tend to be expensive, so probably no one will use it for playing Hanetsuki).

Hagoita are generally sold at Hagoita-ichi (羽子板市, Hagoita fair),  in December. In Tokyo, Sensoji (浅草寺) is famous for its Hagoita-ichi, which had been held every year since the Edo period.

If you are interested in the history of Hagoita, there is a small museum in Tokyo, which displays Hagoita from the Edo, Meiji, Taisho, Showa period.

Hagoita Shiryokan (羽子板資料館)
Address: 25-43-5, Mukojima, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
Open: 10:00-17:00 on Thur., Fri., Sat. (Closed period Oct.1-Jan.20)

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

On New Year’s Day, many people go to see the sunrise.
The sunrise on New Year’s Day is called Hatsu-hinode (初日の出), literally ‘first sunrise’.
In Japan, Hatsu-hinode is thought to be very auspicious, as it is the first dawn in the year.
This custom is actually not very old.  It is said that seeing Hatsu-hinode was spread in the Meiji period (1868-1912), and the origin was the New Year’s ceremony by the Emperor.

There are many spots famous around Japan, for seeing the beautiful Hatsu-hinode.  Some people climb Mt. Fuji and see Hatsu-hinode from the mountaintop.
There are Hatsu-hinode seeing events in Tokyo, and the observation decks of tall buildings such as Roppongi Hills, Sunshine City, and Tokyo Tower, are open early in the morning for this.

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

Not many houses have bright Christmas decorations in Japan, but in the city center of Tokyo, there are a few places where you can see the illuminations.
Below are some of the most famous Christmas illuminations.  It is likely to be very cold and crowded on Christmas eve, so prepare cold pretection!

Artelligent Christmas 2010
Location: Roppongi Hills
Date: Nov.9-Dec.25
Website: http://www.roppongihills.com/feature/christmas2010/02.html (Jap)

Tokyo Tower
Location: Tokyo Tower
Date: Nov.3-Dec.26

Omotesando Hills 2010 with Swarovski Elements
Location: Omotesando Hills
Date: Nov.4-Dec.25
Website: http://www.omotesandohills.com/event/index.php (Jap)

Aqua Xmas 2010
Location: Aqua City Odaiba
Date: Nov.13-Dec.25

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

In Japan, there aren’t many TV programs concerning Christmas as a religious event.  To hear the choir and carols, you should visit the concert halls.
Representitively, there is Suntory Hall.  Below are the list of programs of Christmas concerts on Suntory Hall.

Dec.13
Shigehiro Sano (T) European Christmas Concert

Dec.17
Showa Academia Musicae 35th Messiah

Dec.18
Michie Nakamaru Soprano Recital Starry X’mas VIII

De.19
Christmas Piano Concert

Dec.22
Mako Ishino (Vo)  Christmas Concert

Dec.23
Suntory Hall Christmas Organ Concert 2010 Tsugio Tokunaga (Vn) & his Friends

Dec.24
Suntory Hall Christmas Concert 2010 Bach Collegium Japan: Messiah

Reservations can be made on web.
http://www.suntory.com/culture-sports/suntoryhall/index.html (Eng)

Enjoy your Christmas season

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/

At Tokyo International Forum every year, a Christmas market is held.  The name of the event is ‘Marche de Noel de Strasbourg’.

As can be seen from the name, this event is a replication of the Christmas market of Strasbourg, a city in Alsace, France.
Alsace is the birthplace of Christmas trees, Strasbourg prides in the oldest Christmas market in the world, which had been held since 1570.  The city is even called ‘the Capital of Christmas’!

This year, craftsmen will come to Tokyo from this city, and will introduce the traditional Christmas culture in Strasbourg.  There will be many chalets, selling special beer, wine, jam, and other goods for Christmas.  There will be products particular to Strasbourg, like linen, woodwork and pottery, and also Alsatian food.  Walking around in the winter night is very cold, but you can always warm yourself up with hot wine.

Merry Christmas! / Joyeux Noël! / クリスマスおめでとう！

Marche de Noel de Strasbourg

Location: Tokyo International Forum
Date: Dec.10-25
Website: http://www.t-i-forum.co.jp/noel/ (Jap)

–
Higherground Co.,Ltd.
2-8-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
TEL:03-6459-2230
MAIL:info@higherground.co.jp
HP:http://www.higherground.co.jp/
TOP PAGE: http://livingtokyo.net/