It is O-misoka today.

Hello.

This is May in Japan.

It is O-misoka today.
O-misoka means the last day of the year in Japanese.

Today, we have to prepare to invite God to a house.

Some people display New Year's pine and bamboo decorations in the entrance hall.
These decorations are called "Kadomatsu" in Japanese.
Kadomatsu is very expensive, so most people don't display it.

Most people display Shinto straw festoons and round rice cakes, because these are relatively cheap.
This is a Shinto straw festoon.
We display it in the entrance hall or a car.

This is a round rice cake.
We display it in the house.
We believe that God dwells in these decorations.

After preparations, people celebrate the New Year with their family and relatives.
It is a big event for Japanese people.
It looks like Christmas day.

And, we eat soba noodles at the end of a year.
It is a popular custom in Japan.
To eat soba means that cut off an accident of one year of this year.

Everything has a important meaning.
This is our custom on New Year's Eve.

By the way, I wish you a Happy New Year !!

Japanese people are busy toward the year end:Osechi

Hello.

This is May in Japan. 

There's only 1 day left this year too.
Japanese people are very busy toward the year end.

Last, we have to cook Osechi food. 

Osechi is special dishes prepared for the New Year.
It is the Japanese traditional food that put various dishes in multi-tiered food boxs.

The various dishes have meaning.
For example, the prawns are symbols of the longevity,
The herring roe has been eaten to pray for the prosperity of descendants.
The black soy beans have meaning that do work like a beaver.
The sea tangle rolls are lucky charms.

Some people don't cook Osechi, recently.
They order Osechi by delivery.

In my case, my mom cooks only dishes of  Osechi which we love.
I'm looking forward to eating Osechi.

Japanese people are busy toward the year end:O-souji

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

There's only 2 days left this year too.
Japanese people are busy toward the year end.

Next,we have to clean a house and its furnishings.

This general cleaning is called "O-souji" in Japanese.
It is written in Japanese as 大掃除. 

O-souji is very important in preparation for New year's Day.
O-souji has a meaning of removing a dirt for one year and meeting God of new year.

After a general cleaning, we feel comfortable to greet the New Year.

I have to make a house-cleaning !!

Japanese people are busy toward the year end:Nengajo

Hello.

This is May in Japan. 

There's only 3 days left this year too.
Japanese people are busy toward the year end.

Next,we have to write Nengajo.

Nengajo means a new year's card in Japanese.
It is written in Japanese as 年賀状. 

It is important for Japanese people to write new year's cards, because it is a Japanese institution.
We can tell far friends or people who took care of us about our condition and New Year's greetings by the New Year's card.
Recently, decreasing numbers of people send Nengajo by the spread of SNS and emails.

I like reading Nengajo, because I can know how my friends are getting along..
Oh, I have to write Nengajo early !!

Japanese people are busy toward the year end:Bo-nen-kai

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

There's only 4 days left this year too.
Japanese people are busy toward the year end.

First,we have a year-end event.
It is a year-end party.
The year-end party is called "Bou-nen-kai" in Japanese.
It is written in Japanese as 忘年会.

It is a party to be held at the end of the year to forget the trouble in the year.
Friends gather at a year-end party or some company hold  year-end parties.

I am going to join the year-end party with my friends.
I'm busy, too!!

Shigoto-osame

Hello.

This is May in Japan.

It is Shigoto-Osame today. 

Shigoto-osame means to carry out the last business of a year near the end of December in Japanese. 
Today is the last business day of the year at many companies.
Many people have 9 consecutive holidays until January 4. 
I feel envious about that !!
People who are workers of the service industry , like me, have no consecutive holidays.

I want consecutive holidays...

Merry Christmas!

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

Merry Christmas!

How was your Christmas?
I enjoyed spending Christmas with my family.

My nephew made us a Christmas cake with my sister.
He really tried hard in making a cake.

I felt that the handmade cake was more delicious than other cakes.

This cake was a Christmas present from nephew.
I felt that he has grown up on Christmas day.

Wishing you wonderful holidays!

Japanese people love Christmas Eve.

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

Today is Christmas Eve.
The streets are in full Christmas mode.

In Japan, Christmas Eve get very lively more than Christmas day.
Many people eat Christmas cakes and fried chickens on Christmas Eve, and come back in usual life on Christmas day.

Why Japanese people love Christmas Eve?
I think that Japanese people simply love eve of festival.
For example, Japanese people make a fuss on New Year's Eve.
Everybody gets crazy on New Year's Eve in Japan.

So, Japanese people love Christmas Eve !!

Merry Christmas !!

We have a holiday today.

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

Today is December 23rd and it is a holiday.
But it is not the Christmas holiday.

Today is the Emperor's Birthday,it is one of Japanese national holidays.

This is a calendar of December in Japan.
There is no Christmas holiday in Japan.

Most Japanese people are Buddhists, so we don't have Christmas holidays.
However, most people take the year-end and New Year holidays.

I think that many Japanese people are wavering for New Year holidays.

Whose hood is this?

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

My sister knit a hood.

This hood was knit in the image of a strawberry.

Whose hood is this?

The answer is my cat's !!

Look at this !

How cute !!

We are all fond of the cat.

Yutanpo

Hello.

This is May in Japan.

Today I'd like to introduce Yutanpo.

This is Yutanpo.

Yutanpo means the hot-water bottle in Japanese. 

As you know, this bottle filled  with hot water and used to provide warmth.

By the development of the electric appliance, people don't use it.

However, in late years, it is reviewed that Yutanpo is a safe and ecological heater, so many people use it.

I love Yutanpo !!

I get into bed with Yutanpo, everyday.

I wish spring was here...

My recent favorite, bittersweet chocolate cake

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

I have a favorite sweet recently.
Today I'd like to introduce it.

This is my favorite,"bittersweet chocolate cake".
It is to be had at any supermarkets, convenience stores.
It is sold one for 100 yen.

This is a kind of chocolate bars.
When I'm a bit hungry, I can eat it easily.

It is a cocoa cake sandwiching vanilla cream which coated with the bitter chocolate.
The cocoa cake is very moistened.

This cake is slightly sweet and so delicious.
This is my recommendation !!
Please try it !!

The new product : Mash Bon

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

Today I'd like to introduce the new product, "Mash Bon".

This is "Mash Bon".
Morinaga started selling this product in the end of September, 2014.

There are 6 pack in one box,
It is wrapped individually one by one.

This is a kind of chocolate snack.
The shape is strange and interesting.

It is the marshmallow of the raspberry on a cookie and coated chocolates.
The marshmallow has thick taste of the raspberry and sweet-sour.
It is very tastey.

It is sold one for 300 yen.
It is slightly expensive, but it is very delicious!!
Try it !

Winter season limitation:Meltykiss

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

Today I'd like to introduce the chocolate of the winter season limitation in Japan.
I think that many people are waiting that this chocolate is sold every year.

This is it.
The name is "Meltykiss".
This chocolate is roasted soybean flour taste, there are strawberry taste and plane taste.

There are 10-15 chocolates in this one box.
It is wrapped individually one by one.

It is a bite-sized piece of chocolate.

Soybean flour taste chocolate is in the bitter chocolate, and cacao powder is covered with around chocolates.
The chocolate really melts in the mouth.
It is like the truffle chocolate.

It is very delicious, so it is very popularity in Japan.
It's the winter season limitation, try it !!

It's a snowy day.

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

It snowed today.
The weather was stormy nationwide.

When I got up this morning, I looked at the outside of the window.
The ground was covered slightly with snow.

Snow is rarely piled up in my region, because my region, Kyushu is a mild climate.
Even if snow falls, snow is rarely piled up.

I made a snowman for the first time in a while.
Because there was little snow, it became the very small snowman.
The snowman has melted soon.

I want it to clear up tomorrow.

Gummy candy having new palate feeling:Cororo

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

Today I'd like to introduce the gummy candy which having new palate feeling.

This is the gummy candy,"Cororo".
It is a released product recently.
This is Muscat taste.
There is one more kind, grape taste.

Look !!
It seems flesh of fruit itself of the grape!!
The texture seems to eat a fresh grape,too!!

This is a surprising texture.
Try it !!

Sukesan udon : motsunabe for take-out

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

I introduced "Sukesan udon" before.
The blog article, please click this →A specialty of Kitakyusyu,Sukesan udon

Sukesan udon have takeout menus.
Today I'd like to introduce the one of takeout menus.

This is a motsunabe set for take-out.
It is sold for 2, 600 yen for four people.

The contents of the set are frozen udon, soup and Motsu.
These are materials of motsunabe, and we cook motsunabe at home.

Motsu means giblets of the cow.
Motsu is taken a lower step and seasoned it, so we can cook easily.

We cook it and add cabbage, bean sprouts, chinese chives.
It is very tasty.

I love motsunabe, because I can eat a lot of vegetables and warm my body.
It's a typical winter dish.

The most beautiful illuminations , "Kobe luminarie"

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

I introduced "Kokura illumination 2014" last time.
It is beautiful, but I know the most beautiful illumination event in Japan.

It is "Kobe luminarie".
Kobe luminarie started in 1995.
It is held with the requiem of the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake victims.

I went to Kobe to watch Kobe Luminarie in 2011.
Today I'd like to introduce Kobe Luminarie in 2011.

This was the entrance to the main place of Kobe Luminarie.

It was a huge gate of illuminations.

The design of this gate changes every year.
We can enjoy the illuminations of the different design every year.

There were various illuminations in the main place.

This was the work of the illuminations that I liked most.
The reason was....

The lights of illuminations reflected in the surface of the water.
It was very whimsical and beautiful.

How was Kobe Luminarie?
It is the most beautiful illumination event in Japan.

Kobe Luminarie is held until December 15.
If you have a chance, please visit Kobe !!

kokura-illumination 2014

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

The illumination event is now being held around Kokura station.
This annual illumination event started in 2001.
The main illumination places are two places, around Kokura station and the Murasaki river side.

I went to the Murasaki river side to see illumination event.

This is Murasaki river side.
The illumination lights reflect in the surface of the water.
It is so beautiful.

A tunnel of illumination lights is installed in the bridge over the Murasaki river.

I feel that illuminations are more beautiful when I go along the tunnel.

Izutsuya is along the Murasaki river, the illuminations are made on the building of it.
The name of illumination is X `mas fantasy.

It is full of many people every day.
This event is held until January 12, 2015.
If you happen to be out this way, look by all means.

The melonpan crust, maple syrup

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

I introduced "the melonpan crust" before.
The blog article, please click here →The melonpan crust

I found the product which was released by the different bakery company,"Fuji-pan Bakery".
The other taste is sold by the Fuji-pan Bakery.
Today I'd like to introduce it.

This is it.
It is maple syrup taste.
It also sells for about 70 yen.

I smelled the maple syrup.
It was strong sweetness.
It was filling, but I was tired of eating immediately. 

I thought that chocolate tip taste was the most delicious.