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.) 

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 ​😉

By: Stephanie Mayeda, GVJCI Guest Contributor

1. Keep living spaces bright and airy.

2. Embrace horizontal lines in order to create structure and stability.

3. Japanese minimalist fashion often relies on earthy tones and neutral colors. And don't forget the culottes!

4. Be consistent in your neutral color palette so as to always keep the energy flow of your home in mind.

5. Of course, eliminating clutter is one of the major cornerstones of minimalism. All items in your home should have purpose and meaning. As famed Japanese organizing consultant Marie Kondo always asks, "Does it spark joy?" If not, reconsider if you really want to keep it!

6. This especially goes for the closet. Committing to only purchasing high-quality basics for your closet helps reduce clutter while also making your wardrobe last longer and choosing outfits easier. Win-win-win.

7. Even houseware items are reduced to only the essentials. And if you are going to display them, play with spacing colors as well.

8. Create a sense of Zen by adding natural elements like plants into your home. Light wood panelling and flooring are also both quintessential elements of Japanese interior minimalism.

9. If you're in need of some extra space in the bedroom, Japanese futon mattresses can be easily stored in a closet when not in use! 

10. And lastly, take extra special care to make your bedroom a place of tranquility and happiness. Including accents that you only absolutely love and keeping colors light and clean will make it the ideal space in your home to relax! 

by Ryan Ohara, GVJCI Community Outreach and Social Media Intern

​It's that time of year again!  New Years is just around the corner and everyone is getting ready to celebrate with lots of food, fireworks, and confetti!  All the worries of last year are left behind as the coming year brings hope of a better future.  New Years is an important holiday all across the world, and every culture celebrates it differently.
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Have you ever wondered how New Years is commemorated in Japan?  Well it turns out it's just as big, or even bigger than it is here in the U.S.!  In fact, Oshougatsu, which is New Years in Japanese, is one of the most importantly holidays in Japan, with an abundance of honored traditions backed up by centuries of Japanese history.  Households are cleaned and meals are prepared as people leave behind the old and start anew.  It is not uncommon for employees and businesses in Japan to take off 3 days or even a week for this momentous occasion!  Read on to learn more about what makes these beginning days so special!   

Of course this is only a glimpse into the bountiful history that Japan has to offer through New Years traditions.  Many traditions are region-specific, bringing in their own flavor of customs and practices that can't be seen anywhere else.  The coming of the New Year is an important time of reflection all across the world, and looking past the problems and desires that chained us to this year allows us to look forward to a bright and prosperous future.  What family traditions do you have planned this New Years Day?

May 5th is...?
If you said Cinco De Mayo, okay, okay, you're not wrong, but we wanted Kodomo No Hi! as the answer. 
That's right. Every May 5th is Kodomo No Hi in Japan! What's Kodomo No Hi? It directly translates to: Kodomo (子供): Child(ren) No(の): 's  Hi(日): Day. Yup, it's a day to celebrate children's health and happiness as well as thanking and celebrating mothers 🤰

Maybe you're like, "Wait. I thought today was Boy's Day???" Well, you're right and wrong. Boy's Day or Tango (that's with a short A not the long A like the smooth South American dance you all like 💃) No Sekku (丹後の節句) was officially changed into a Japanese holiday since 1948, when it became Children's Day. Boys are still celebrated though, as the means of celebrating (the koinobori, kabuto, etc) is still in tradition. Read on to find out! 

Feel like celebrating yet? Good! We'll talk about some things to get your Kodomo No Hi celebrations on the road! 

If you look up "shoubu kodomo no hi" you'll likely come up with some images of Irises. However, this shoubu is not the beautiful purple looking flowers but the grassy looking plant called calamus or sweet flag in English.  Shoubu's are often placed around the home during Kodomo No Hi because they're believed to ward off evil. "Shoubu" is also a play on words with the same sounding, different kanji word meaning "to value the way of the warrior or sword" which particularly fit in when Kodomo No Hi was known as Tango No Sekku. 

Do you celebrate Kodomo No Hi? How do you celebrate it? Did you learn something new? We hope so! 

Stephanie Mayeda, GVJCI Social Media & Community Outreach Intern

Ah, the first day of spring! Now's the time of year when people begin to spruce up the house, getting rid of the old and adding back a little new. If you're looking to add a little extra cuteness at little to no cost, then why not try out these adorable lanterns! Fit for many occasions, these little guys can add a touch of sweetness and creativity to anything from an elegant wedding to a child's birthday party.

Here at the GVJCI, we like to use these lanterns for our annual Matsuri held every June. They add a nice bit of prettiness to an event that's already filled with so much fun! To make them, check out the instructions below!

Happy crafting!