By Taylor Ingman, Marketing and Social Media Intern

​Source: justonecookbook.com

Source: justonecookbook.com

Sources:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2014/01/05/language/impress-your-hosts-with-osechi-meanings/​
​https://japantoday.com/category/features/food/the-meaning-behind-each-item-in-‘osechi’-—-new-year-cuisine
https://www.justonecookbook.com/osechi-ryori-japanese-new-year-food/
https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2020/12/meaning-osechi-ryori-japan-traditional-new-year-food/

By: Mika Matsumura, GVJCI Marketing and Social Media Intern

​Osouji is a Japanese custom that is typically done at the end of December. The word Osouji translates to "big cleaning/cleanup." Osouji is done before New Year's Day and is done to purify the home, work place, schools, and neighborhood. This custom was first seen as a purification ritual to symbolize cleaning not only one's house, but also the mind and soul. 
​
Osouji originated from another Japanese custom, known as Susuharai which translates to "Soot Sweeping." Susuharai is an annual ritual also performed in December that is symbolic when greeting the Shinto deities of the New Year. As seen in the images below, a team of people are cleaning the Matsumoto Castle. They use long bamboo sticks with brooms on the bottom to sweep the walls and clean the roof tiles. To tie it all together they hang a Shimenawa which a huge straw rope that are located on gates and the castle tower. The shimenawa acts and represents a barrier between our world and the world of the gods. The rope also prevents evil spirits from entering. These ropes are hung all year around at Shinto shrines, but specifically hung during this time by many businesses and homes.  

These historical custom of susuharai in Imperial Palaces traces back all the way from the Heian era. Later this custom spread to temples in the Kamakura period. By the Edo period, common people also took part in this annual cleaning of osouji. Another reason Japanese participate in the deep cleaning of osouji is to welcome the Shinto deity of the New Year, Toshigami-sama. Osouji must be completed before they can visit the shrine.  It is also seen as a purification ritual. Toshigami-sama is said to bring good luck and good health for the New Year. ​

Another Japanese word associated to osouji is "seiri" which translates to sorting items. For example to organize your closet.  Osouji is more than the home or shrines, but also the workplace and schools. In the workplace, everyone contributes dusting, scrubbing, and tidying up the area. The same is done in schools, students learn at a young age, the importance of cleaning.  There are many benefits to practicing osouji. Practicing osouji can help focus/clear your mind and even help develop a new/healthy habits. Of course it is difficult to clean and it is not a likable task, but it is one that must be done. It is easier to focus if you have a clean environment to work on. Cleaning your workspace will promote concentration and success. 

Although this Konmari Method Workshop is past the typical time of osouji, it is never too late to tidy up your home. Just was the saying goes, "New Year, New Me!" Join us in the New Year as we all learn a better way to declutter our homes by using the KonMari Method.  To learn more and register for this workshop, please click the button below. 

​

​https://jpninfo.com/36791
https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0000817/
​https://www.smartparenting.com.ph/life/home/osoji-japanese-cleaning-ritual-a00285-20190104
​https://visitmatsumoto.com/en/culture/susuharai-soot-sweeping-ritual-and-hanging-of-the-shimenawa-at-matsumoto-castle/

In the United States, it is common to celebrate Christmas by giving gifts, decorating trees, and spending time with family. Many Americans pray or attend church on Christmas as well. In Japan, however, there are different traditions associated with the holiday.
Christmas was first introduced to Japan with the introduction of Christianity in the 16th century. Because the majority of people living in Japan identify with Shinto and/or Buddhism, Christmas is not seen as a religious occasion and is not considered a national holiday. Japanese Christmas traditions are secular and commercial-- here are some popular ways to celebrate Christmas in Japan!

While many Americans eat turkey or ham on Christmas, Kentucky Fried Chicken is considered a Christmas staple in Japan. The BBC estimated that 3.6 million Japanese families eat KFC on Christmas, so it can be difficult to get fried chicken without placing an order weeks in advance!
The tradition started when Takeshi Okawara, the manager of the first KFC in Japan, came up with the idea of selling a Christmas "party barrel" inspired by the traditional American turkey dinner. The promotion was named "Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii" (Kentucky for Christmas) and launched in 1974. Since there were not many established Christmas traditions in Japan, KFC quickly caught on as a unique tradition.

In Japan, Christmas Eve is thought of as a couple's holiday, similar to Valentine's Day. It is common for Japanese couples, especially young couples, to have romantic dinners at restaurants  on Christmas Eve-- and it can be very difficult to find a table without a reservation! While gift giving is not a central part of Christmas in Japan (gifts are typically exchanged during Oshougatsu, or Japanese New year, instead), couples may exchange gifts with one another on Christmas Eve. No need to worry if you do not have a date-- people who are single often spend Christmas Eve with close friends and family.

While Americans often eat gingerbread cookies, fruitcake, or pie at Christmas, people in Japan prefer to eat Christmas cake, or "kurisumasu keeki." Unlike Western fruitcake, Japanese Christmas cake is a light sponge cake with fresh strawberries and whipped cream, similar to a strawberry shortcake. The cake slice emoji (🍰) is actually a slice of Christmas cake! The cake is typically eaten on Christmas Eve and may be topped with Christmas chocolates or festive decorations, such as Santa figurines. 

Christmas cake even makes an appearance in the Netflix series Dash and Lily. Lily, a half Japanese girl living in New York, has a Christmas cake with her family on Christmas day, showing that the tradition is celebrated by some Nikkei families as well.

Christmas decorations are not a uniquely Japanese tradition, but many places in Japan will go above and beyond with their elaborate lighting displays in the winter. Winter illuminations are typically displayed in November and December, but some may be put up as early as October and remain until February. Malls, public parks, and even famous landmarks such as Tokyo Station are decorated in thousands of twinkling lights. Due to COVID-19, some illumination displays have been cancelled or altered this year to prevent further spread of the virus. Take your Christmas date on a romantic stroll and admire the winter illuminations together!

In Japan, Santa Claus is known as Santa-san. Because most Japanese homes lack chimneys, the common Western trope of Santa coming down the chimney is practically nonexistent in Japan-- but Japanese children still look forward to presents from Santa-san on Christmas morning.
In addition to Santa-san, there is another gift-bearing figure in Japanese culture: Hotei-osho, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Japanese mythology. You may have seen a sculpture or painting of Hotei before-- he is commonly depicted as a smiling, bald, fat man, and is often mistaken for being the Buddha. Because of his happy face and large belly, Hotei is often thought of as being the "Japanese Santa."  Just like Santa Claus, Hotei carries a large sack full of gifts wherever he goes. He is the god of fortune and guardian of children; his ability to entertain children and make them laugh is another reason why he is associated with Santa. Hotei is believed to have eyes in the back of his head, ensuring that children remain on their best behavior-- similar to how Santa can "see you when you're sleeping!"

However you decide to celebrate, we at GVJCI hope you have a safe and fun holiday and a very happy New Year!

Sources:
​https://www.allthingschristmas.com/christmas-around-the-world/christmas-celebrations-and-traditions-of-japan/
​https://www.businessinsider.com/how-kfc-became-a-christmas-tradition-in-japan-2016-12
​https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0000770/#table_of_contents_anchor3
​https://touristjourney.com/christmas-in-japan/
​https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/japan.shtml

By: Mika Matsumura, GVJCI Marketing & Social Media Intern

Culture Day also known as 文化の日 (Bunka no Hi) is an annual national holiday celebrated in Japan on November 3rd. The day was originally intended to be a birthday celebration for the Meiji Emperor from 1868 until 1912. However, in 1927 the day was recreated to be "Meiji Setsu" in honor of the late Emperor. But again, in 1947 the day was rebranded due to post World War II and is now known as the current "Culture Day." On this holiday, they celebrate peace, freedom, and culture. 

In Tokyo, one of the largest and most widely known event is held at the Imperial Palace and is called the Order of Culture Award Ceremony. It is an award given to celebrate public figures that have displayed impressive culture, arts, science, or academic contributions to Japan and the world. The award is a great honor and is presented by the emperor himself. Some of the past recipients of the Order of Culture Award were former United States Vice President Dick Cheney, three American astronauts who were aboard Apollo 11, literary Scholar Donald Keene, Ikuo Hirayama a Japanese artist, and Japanese poet Makoto Ooka.

​Museums and art galleries are open with free entry on Culture Day, which makes them a popular choice for families and friends. Many schools show their student's artworks or hold performances where their talents are shown. Hakone in Kanagawa holds a famous event called "Daimyo Gyoretsu" and translated as  Feudal Lord's Parade. At this event clothing and traditions from the Edo-era are showcased. Many other parades and festivals are organized across the country to show the traditions that the area is known for. 

The holiday is a perfect way to reflect on Japan's rich history and culture. Here at Gardena Valley JCI, we similarly celebrate Japanese culture at our Matsuri. At our summer Matsuri, we see people wearing a kimono, yukata, and happi coats. We want to showcase our culture to the community as we perform dances, martial arts, taiko, and much more. There is always great Japanese foods and desserts as well as fun carnival games. Inside we have displays of history and artwork from students. If you miss Culture Day in Japan,  stop by our annual Matsuri to experience Japanese culture from our local community!

https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/japan/culture-day 
​https://savvytokyo.com/culture-day-quest-japanese-traditions/ 

Fall is the perfect time for kabocha and comfort food! This kabocha stew is guaranteed to keep you warm and cozy as the weather starts to cool down. This tasty stew is a great dish to share with close friends and family, especially during fall and winter. I took these pictures the other day when my mom and I made a large batch for our family; we brought some to her parents and brother as well, who all agreed it was oishii (delicious)! I love to make this stew with my mom-- the familiar Japanese flavors in this dish such as dashi and mirin (and of course, kabocha) remind me of eating Japanese food with my family. These classic ingredients will fill your kitchen with the nostalgic scent of a homemade Japanese meal. As my younger brother once said, this recipe smells like our grandparents' kitchen in the best way possible!

Ingredients:
1 small kabocha
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup sake
1/4 cup dashi
3 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp mirin
Vegetables (we used carrots, onion, and green beans)
Rib eye steak or prime rib
Harusame (glass) noodles (optional)

Preparation:
Optional: Boil harusame noodles until soft (around 3 minutes). Strain and rinse with cold water, then set aside for later.

1. Wash and cut kabocha into small chunks, removing insides.
2. Cut green beans and onions into small pieces. Peel carrots and cut into slices.

3. Thinly slice the steak (we used rib eye steak).

4. Add kabocha to a medium sized pot with vegetable oil. Use enough vegetable oil to cover all the chunks (they should be shiny).

5. When the kabocha has softened a little, add the rest of the vegetables to the pot. Add more oil to cover the vegetables.
6. Once the vegetables have softened slightly, add the steak to the pot. Cook until the meat has browned.

7. Add dashi and water to the pot. When the mixture begins to boil, add sake, soy sauce, mirin, and brown sugar.
8. Mix thoroughly and add harusame noodles if desired.
9. Serve hot with rice and enjoy! I sometimes like to sprinkle roasted sesame seeds on top. Itadakimasu (let's eat)!

This recipe is a modified version of the Nikujaga recipe from Chopstick Chronicles, using kabocha instead of potatoes and harusame (glass) noodles instead of konnyaku noodles; the measurements are slightly different as well. The original recipe can be found here: https://bit.ly/3pTOgAj.