Spring is finally here! Spring is one of the most beautiful times of the year, and also signifies the blooming of the cherry trees! Cherry blossoms, or sakura, are a symbol of the spring time in Japanese culture. Cherry blossoms symbolize renewal and a fresh start. The Japanese fiscal and school year begins in April, the season of sakura, to celebrate and welcome a brand-new start. On Japan's southern, subtropical islands of Okinawa, cherry blossoms open as early as January, while on the northern island of Hokkaido, the flowering can be as late as May. In most major cities in between, such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the cherry blossom season typically takes place in early April. During this season in Japan, people like to have cherry blossom parties with colleagues, friends, and family. A cherry blossom makes people merry. They enjoy eating, drinking, and barbecuing underneath the cherry blossoms. This custom is called hanami. Hanami literally means “watching blossoms,” and the tradition can be traced back at least a thousand years. People will bring cooked meals, alcohol, snacks, and sweets, like a potluck party. Schools and offices hold welcome parties during hanami, a chance for people to bond and meet new friends. Even at night time, the cherry blossom viewing spots are crowded with couples enjoying the blossoms in a romantic atmosphere. Hanami at night is called yozakura. Cherry trees have spread throughout the world to other Asian country, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Turkey, Spain British, Australia, and beyond. We’re lucky to have thousands of cherry trees around the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C. |
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By: Nicole Sato, GVJCI Program Manager On March 31st, the name for the upcoming era in Japan was announced. Reiwa (Or Leiwa...apparently that's up for debate as well). Getting it's name from Manyoshu, the oldest collection of Japanese poetry, roughly translates to "beautiful harmony", but is not a direct translation. Gengou, or the name of the era, it's length defined by the ruling of each Emperor. Up until April 30, 2019, was Heisei, ruled by Emperor Akihito, before that Showa, which went until 1989 under Emperor Hirohito. In 2016, Emperor Akihito announced his request to step down, creating a wave of commotion in Japan, since traditionally, an Emperor is an Emperor until his death. However, a ruling was decided for an exception to be made to let Emperor Hirohito step down, and for the Crown Prince Naruhito to take the throne, officially changing the gengou from Heisei to Reiwa. Being Japanese or living in Japan, you're acquainted to the gengou. You're often asked "What year in Showa were you born?" or "This brings an end to the Heisei Year 30 (Heisei 30-Nen) school year." A tradition that's deep-rooted in Imperial Japan, even with the Imperial Family holding no power, per say, anymore, the tradition of gengou has continued to this day. Japan celebrated the start of Reiwa a little earlier than us. And boy, did it come with celebration. There were countdowns around the country, products such a Coke bottles, cakes, and keychains were being sold with Reiwa printed on them, and overall was a marketing opportunity for companies, as well as, an excuse for citizens to bask in the joyous mood. The transition from Showa to Heisei back in 1989, when Showa Tenno (Emperor Hirohito) passed, came with a less celebratory mood, as the country mourned the loss of an emperor. The beginning of Heisei came with sudden anxiousness riddled with the relief of the end of an era that was painted with war. Many Japanese citizens have an identity attached to the gengou they were born in. While it's "just a year" any other day, parting with something you've gotten used to has become a bittersweet thing for many Heisei born folks. It's almost how Americans are proud to be a "90s baby", attributing an era of culture and history to when they were born. Even with Reiwa beginning almost halfway through the year, many Japanese folks celebrated the "new year" as if it's the traditional new year in January by eating toshikoshi soba, or (roughly translated) New Year's Eve soba -- treating this gengou start as a new year, a chance to restart, both for the citizens and for Japan.
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 😉 Kellen Tomiyama, GVJCI Social Media & Community Outreach Intern Los Angeles is a city full of life and many different cultures. It seems that there are endless things to do, from great food to museums to trendy bars/nightlife, Los Angeles is one of the most diverse cities in the world. There are so many different cultures coexisting with one another, the city is a perfect example of a melting pot. One of the hidden gems in the city is Little Tokyo, a small province located in downtown LA. Little Tokyo is a collection of restaurants, shops and other fun things to explore, that embrace the Japanese culture and heritage. Japanese American National Museum The Japanese American National Museum gives visitors an in-depth look at the culture and heritage of Japanese Americans. It offers a wide range of exhibits from modern art to historical documents that embody the culture of Japanese Americans. One of the most famous past exhibits include Folding Paper: The infinite Possibilities of Origami, Marvel & Monsters: Unmasking Asian Image in U.S. Comics, 1942-1986. These exhibits inspire dialogues on important social issues and the impact of Japanese culture in the United States. The well-known HELLO! Exploring Supercute World of Hello Kitty originated at the museum and it now travels to museums across the nation. Daikokuya Daikokuya is a must try ramen spot in downtown LA, and a local favorite. They are famous for tonkotsu (Pork Bone) soup based Daikoku Ramen which is rich and creamy in flavor. It is a perfect balance between the stock, vegetables, meat, and noodles. Daikokuya also offers a variety of food options aside from ramen, including spicy mayo, yakisoba, rice bowls, and more. One of their specialty appetizers, takoyaki: grilled pancake octopus balls is a popular snack in Japan and the perfect starter to any meal. Mikawaya Mochi Ice Cream No meal is complete without dessert! Milkawaya is the birthplace of mochi ice cream. This popular dessert item has a chewy mochi exterior and a creamy ice cream center. They have tons of different flavors, like the traditional green tea, strawberry and red bean. Or if you are feeling more adventurous, try flavors like plum wine or black sesame. These little mochi treats are a must have when visiting Little Tokyo. Nisei Week Japanese Festival During the summer, Little Tokyo hosts its annual Nisei Week Festival to celebrate the culture and heritage of the Little Tokyo community. This Festival takes place in August and features free outdoor entertainment, music, cultural exhibits, food, and is an event for people of all ages. Highlights of the week includes, Taiko Drums, Dai Dengaku Street Dance, art displays and delicious food. Come and join the celebration to learn more about Japanese American Culture, meet new friends, and partake in the festivities. Credited sources: https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/california/articles/the-top-10-things-to-do-and-see-in-little-tokyo-la/
By Stephanie Mayeda, GVJCI Guest Contributer Greetings, fall friends! With Thanksgiving on the horizon, we know you all are stocking up on ingredients for the big feast. We all love the classic stuffing, mashed potatoes, and, of course, turkey. But let's not kid ourselves. The real star of Thanksgiving is the dessert! That's right, we're talking about pumpkin pie. Now, if you're a little tired of everything pumpkin that places like Trader Joe's or Starbucks has to offer, then we have the recipe for you. A kabocha squash pie is a lovely alternative to the pumpkin craze that sweeps the country every fall. For those who may not know, kabocha is a winter squash native to Japan and is served in dishes from tempura to miso soup. It is actually quite similar to sweet potato, due to its smooth texture and sweet flavor. Not to mention, it is high in Vitamin A, or the anti-oxidant beta-carotene! So those of you who are looking to add something new and delicious to the menu this holiday season, check out our easy step-by-step down below. Let's get baking! How to Make Kabocha Pie:1. Let pre-baked crust thaw for 10 minutes then poke holes (not all the way through) on the sides and bottom of the crust. 2. Put 1-2 cups of water (depending on the size) into a pan and place the steamer basket on top. 4. Check to see if kabocha is ready by placing a skewer into a thick cube. If it comes out easily, it's ready. If not, let it steam for another minute and check back. After the kabocha has cooled enough, remove the skin from each cube with a knife. 5. Transfer kabocha to the food processor or blender and puree until smooth. (Note: since the kabocha was steamed, it does not require any added liquid for this step) 6. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
9. Add 2 cups of pureed kabocha and whisk well. 10. Add 1/3 cup brown sugar, 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, and 1/2 tsp. kosher salt. Mix well. 11. Add 1 Tbsp. rum and 3/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. heavy whipping cream. Mix well. 12. Pour your filling into the pie crust and tap it on the counter to get rid of any air pockets. 13. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes the reduce temperature to 350 and bake for 50 minutes or until the skewer inserted in the middle of the filling comes out clean. (Note: Cover your crust with foil if it starts becoming too overdone) 14. Let your pie cool for 2 hours and serve immediately with whipped cream. Enjoy! All credit for this recipe goes to Nami Chen at justonecookbook.com! Her original post also included instructions for homemade whipped cream, which you can find here.
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