Ayako wrote to me from Japan about some origami cranes she got at when donating at a charity for the tsunami victims in Japan… "This is our traditional crane, made by origami… it’s a symbol of hope for peace in the world.  I got it at the charity show to pray for Japan.  It’s our sign...

March 3rd is Dolls Day in Japan.  It’s the day that families with girls express their wish for their daughters’ health. Ayako wrote to me from Japan about the holiday… I am at my mom’s house today.  It’s Hinamatsuri day. My mom’s ohinasama [set of dolls] is pretty.  My grandmother got them for my sister and...

Today is the start of the Chinese New Year. It’s the Year of the Rabbit. Below you can read some articles about the Chinese New Year. Thanks to Lila for the rabbit sketch! Happy New Year! Mama Lisa

This is the Year of the Rabbit according to the Chinese Zodiac. The Chinese Zodiac is followed in China, as well as Japan. Ayako wrote to me from Japan about the Year of the Rabbit… We have twelve different signs (animals) in Chinese lunar calender called “干支”. We call the men of the year “toshi otoko –...

In Japan, people traditionally make displays in their houses for special holidays.  The displays often include flowers, branches of trees and symbolic food. My friend Ayako Egawa in Japan sent the photo below of a floral arrangement she made for the New Year.  She wrote, "The berries are ’senryo’, lucky plants for the New Year in...

Yuzu Fruit Ayako Egawa wrote from Japan: December 22nd is the Winter Solstice in Japan.  [It's on the 21st in the U.S.*]  We Japanese enjoy “yuzu” around this time. You can enjoy “yuzu tea” and a “yuzu bath” easily. Wash...

Furoshiki is a way of using cloth to wrap presents or to make a bag to carry things in.  The Furoshiki is generally a square piece of cloth used to wrap things up and carry them.  (I believe the word Furoshiki refers to both the square cloth and the style of wrapping things.) Furoshiki goes...

Ayako wrote from Japan about a special flower: "I saw this flower blooming at my mom’s house.  It is in bloom only once in the year in the evening. I’m so lucky!  It is called ‘Gekkabijin’ (月下美人) in Japanese.  ‘Gekkabijin’ means ‘beautiful woman under the moonlight’… and the flower was lit by the full moon on...

The photo below shows a traditional Japanese kimono that a groom and a bride wear in a Japanese style wedding. Ayako Egawa wrote from Japan: We have two types of weddings, Japanese style and western style.  Brides in Japanese style wear a special white traditional kimono and brides in western style wear a wedding dress.  Both are...

Recently, Ayako Egawa wrote to me from Japan about how Japanese people give money as gifts for special occasions. Gift money is put in a fancy envelope. A colorful cord is tied around it and finished off with a special knot (much like bows and ribbons put on gifts in the US). ...

My daughter made a Chinese lantern in school last year.  Chinese lanterns are made out of paper and normally there is a light inside of them.  They’re popular in China and Japan. Here’s how you make a Chinese Lantern out of construction paper: 1. Draw a picture in markers on a piece of 12 x 18" construction...

Tonight is the full moon festival of Jugoya in Japan.  People view the moon and celebrate the harvest.  Celebrating includes the Green Tea ceremony and listening to people playing the koto. Below you can hear the koto. Jugo-ya displays are created for the festival.  Here is one from Ayako Egawa in Japan… Ayako wrote the following...

Dragonflies are a sign of the seasons in Japan.  The red dragonfly is specifically a sign of Autumn.  There are Japanese poems in the haiku style about this theme.  Haiku is an unrhymed Japanese verse form in three lines only.  The 3 lines have five, seven, and five syllables respectively.  Below are some haiku...

Last month a ship from the 1700’s was found in the Ground Zero construction site in New York. The ship was probably sunk at the site in an effort to extend the land in Manhattan in the early 19th century. It’s called The Mystery Ship and it’s now being studied at a lab...

Confucius Lives Next Door is an interesting account of life in Japan by T.R. Reid. Much of the book is spent explaining the role of Confucianism on Asian society. Confucius said: Isn’t it a pleasure when you can make practical use of the things you have studied? Isn’t it a pleasure to have an...

Ayako Egawa sent me some riddles from Japan which she translated into English. They’re all a play on words. Here’s what she wrote: Hi Lisa, these are Japanese riddles. I intended to choose ones easy to understand for kids in America. But please let me know if you can understand my explanation! 1. What is...

Ayako Egawa wrote to me this morning about the Star Festival in Japan.  Here’s what she wrote. It is Star festival, "Tanabata" today. I remember you told about this tradition in your daughter’s class. I saw a beautiful Tanabata display at the entrance of a building. I’d love to show the...