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    • Testimonies/PR
  • Donate
  • How to Help
    • Become a Friend of the GVJCI
    • Donate Your Car!
    • Shop on Amazon
    • Volunteer
    • Purchase a 2021 Calendar Ad
  • DOR
    • DOR 2021 >
      • CSUDH Japanese American Digitization Project
      • Densho Campu Podcast
      • Lane Ryo Hirabayashi Tribute
      • South Bay JACL Oral Histories Collection
      • Tanka Poetry
  • Events/Programs/Classes
    • GVJCI >
      • Adulting Workshop Series
      • Be the Match Drive-Thru Donor Registry Event
      • The Bridge: GVJCI Heritage Center >
        • Book Club
      • Drive-Thru Restaurant Fundraiser
      • GVJCI Scholarship
      • Hinamatsuri & Kodomo No Hi
      • Japanese Language School >
        • JLS Graduates
      • Manzanar Immersive
      • Oysters, Bites & Biiru
      • Seniors >
        • TNK Online Classes
        • Online Smartphone Class
        • Food Distribution >
          • Greeting Card Program
        • Online Resources
        • Tomo Cafe | 友カフェ
        • Bento Program
      • TANOSHII Fun Camp >
        • Camper Registration
        • Counselor Registration
        • Testimonials
        • Camp Supporters
        • Activities
        • FAQ
      • Tomodachi Online Baking Workshops
      • GVJCI Virtual Matsuri >
        • Art Gallery
        • Entertainment
        • Food
        • Martial Arts
        • Scholarship Recipients
      • 2020 Online Art Show >
        • Artist Discussion & Performances
        • Artists A-H
        • Artists I-L
        • Artists M-S
        • Artists T-Z
    • Member Organizations >
      • Arts/Music/Dance >
        • Bando Hidesomi
        • Hawaiian Music Class
        • LA Men's Glee Club
        • Meito Calligraphy
        • Mel's Ukulele Picking
        • Taiko
      • Health and Wellness >
        • Kokoro Yoga
        • Meditation & More Class
      • Martial Arts >
        • Gardena JCI Kendo
        • Gardena Judo Club
        • Gardena Kendo
        • Gardena Naginata
        • Shotokan Karate
        • Shorinji Kempo
        • Kyudo Renmei
      • Service >
        • Evening Optimist Club of Gardena
      • Sports >
        • Sansei Baseball League
        • South Bay F.O.R Junior Sports Association
        • South Bay Youth Basketball
      • Youth >
        • Resources
        • Boy Scout Troop 683
        • Boy Scout Troop 719
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GVJCI Blog
ガーデナ平原日本文化会館ブログ

Shunbun no Hi

3/21/2019

1 Comment

 
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March 20th/21st is “Shunbun No Hi” or spring equinox and it marks the beginning of spring! (It's the 20th in the US but 21st in Japan because of time difference.)

“春” (shun) is kanji for spring and “分” (bun) is kanji for “to divide”. In other words, "shunbun" describes the official divide of winter and spring. It's not celebrated as much here in LA because do we even have seasons? But it's nice to know that it's getting warmer and it's that time of year again where pretty flowers are blooming! ...Unless you have allergies of course.

So how is this holiday celebrated in Japan?

During the Meiji Era (1868-1912) it became a national holiday derived from Buddhist belief of a river (Sanzu no Kawa) that divides life from the afterlife or the world of enlightenment. It is believed that when night and day are equal length (during both spring and fall equinox), Buddha helps stray souls cross to the other side of the river.

Since it's a public holiday, everyone gets school and work off. (Lucky!!) It's traditional for families to reunite on this day and visit burial sites of their ancestors to clean gravestones, replant flowers, offer incense, and pray as a way to honor them. Ohagi and botamochi are often left to give nourishment to ancestors in their journey.

Ohagi and botamochi are yummy Japanese sweets that is made with sweet rice and azuki paste. Ohagi comes from the autumn flower "hagi" (bush clover) and botamochi comes from the spring flower "botan" (peony).

Hope you enjoyed the super moon last night! 

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Source: https://www.jmoreyins.com/2013/03/19/12_days_of_japanese_festivities_day_2_shunbun_no_hi/
1 Comment

Pi Day? No, White Day.

3/14/2019

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By: Nicole Sato, GVJCI Program Manager 
March 14th is infamously known in the US as Pi Day. The punny holiday has taken a good commercialism with pie stores and pizza places celebrating Pi Day with their own pies.  

But in Japan, March 14th is known for a completely different holiday - White Day.  White Day??  If it weren't for this holiday, Japan may be celebrating Pi Day too. After all, they too like their pun holidays (November 11 is known as Pocky day because the 11/11 look like Pocky sticks.) 
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aSo what's White Day? Let's back up a little. In the US, traditionally, chocolates, flowers, and gifts are given from a man to a woman. However, in Japan, the tradition's been reversed. Girls and women of all ages stay up the night before crafting their best handmade chocolate sweets to give to men, whether it be friends (tomo-choko), someone they want to confess their love to or someone they love (honmei-choko), or just someone as a polite V-Day gesture (giri-choko).  Different, right? 

Now, White Day. March 14th? Does the date seem kinda familiar? That's right, it's exactly a month after Valentine's Day. There are several theories on how and why this holiday actually started, but the most popular theory is that in the 70s, the confectionery industry started it up as "return day" for men to say thank you to the women that gave them chocolates (and their hearts, maybe) a month before. Hallmark Holiday, much? Totally.  

Their plan worked though, because White Day is still a thing now. Originally, it was called "White Day" because it was marketed to sell marshmallows. From there, it evolved to white chocolate, and now today, there's everything from regular chocolate to jewelry as a return gift. Now, White Day is celebrated not only in Japan, but in many Asian countries, including South Korea, Vietnam, and China. 

Speaking of South Korea...Didn't receive anything on either days? Don't worry, there's always Black Day next month on the 14th where singles who didn't receive anything on the past two months eat jajangmyeon (I'll give you a hint - it's black-ish looking) in misery ​😉
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Our mission is to create a space to engage, share, and embrace the Nikkei experience and culture.

The GVJCI envisions a vibrant network and a welcoming space for all persons interested in Japanese heritage and culture where history and tradition are honored, people are inspired to create action and change, and cultural pride and respect for all humanity are promoted.




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