New Tirol Chocolate :AMAZAKE

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

Tirol Chocolate is cheap and delicious.
I found the New Tirol Chocolate.

This is it, "AMAZAKE."
It is a new product released on December 15, 2015.
It is sold only at Seven-Eleven of West Japan district.

This Tirol Chocolate sells for 45 yen.
It is expensive !!

AMAZAKE is a sweet alcoholic drink made from fermented rice.
Japanese people drink AMAZAKE by celebrations.

It is the white chocolate containing alcoholic liquor-containing ganache cream.
The fragrance of AMAZAKE is so good.
It tastes like Japanese sake.

Kagura

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

I visited Usa-jingu Shrine on the first shrine visit of the New Year, on January 3.
Kagura was performed at Usa-jingu Shrine.

Kagura means sacred music and dancing performed at shrines.
Kagura can also be written in Japanese letters as 神楽.

When Kagura holds the baby, it is said that the baby grows quickly and healthily.
Because many people wanted Kagura to hold their children, Kagura tried to hold children.
But many children cried loudly.

Poor babies !!

Hatsu moude at Usa-jingu Shrine

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

I visited Usa-jingu Shrine on the first shrine visit of the New Year, on January 3.

Usa-jingu Shrine is the head shrine of all Hachiman shrines, and it located in Usa City, Oita Prefecture.
Many people come for a New Year's visit to Usa-jingu Shrine, because it is a very famous shinto shrine.
Usa-jingu Shrine received many worshippers and tourists on that day.

The main shrine stands on a slightly high hill after passing through this torii.

This is the main shrine.
The manner of prayer is "Twice bowing, four times clapping and one-time bowing."
The steps and manners may differ depending on shrines.

Usa-jingu Shrine has the very large precincts.
Usa-jingu Shrine is the holy place and it has a long history.

It is a very interesting place, please come once !!

What is "初" ??

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

I introduced Hatsuhinode last time.
Today I'd like to introduce other vocabularies with Hatsu in Japanese.

Hatsuhinode is written in Japanese as  初日の出.
We can see the Japanese letter of "初" on TV and in the town a lot for New Year holidays.

This is Hatsuyume.
Hatsuyume means one's first dream on the night of New Year's day.

This is Hatsu uri.
Hatsu uri means the first sale of the New Year.
Japanese people love Hatsu uri, because of they can buy at a good bargain.

This is Hatsu moude.
Hatsu moude means the practice of visiting a shrine or a temple during the New Year.

In this way, we use the word of "初", when we do something for the first time in the New Year.

Hatsuhinode

Hello.

This is May in Japan.

Today I'd like to introduce "Hatsuhinode."

Hatsuhinode means the first sunrise of a new year.

"Hatsu" means first, "hinode" means sunrise. 

It is a custom that Japanese people pray to the first sunrise of a new year. 

By the way, my mother prayed to the first sunrise of a new year that I could marry in this year. 

I hoped so, too.  

Otoshidama of Kitkat

Hello.
This is May in Japan.

I introduced that Japanese KitKat has various flavors before.

Today I'd like to introduce a new KitKat.

This is a new KitKat,"Otoshidama of Kitkat".
Otoshidama means New Year's gifts.

This Kitkat is sold only at the post office.
It is limited sale until January 8, 2016.

It has a paper envelope for giving New Year's gifts on the backside.
People stuff money into the envelopes and give children the gifts.

This 1 box includes 3 packs of kitkat.
The price is around 140 yen.

We gave our nephew the kitkat.
He laughed happily.

Happy New Year !!

Happy New Year !!!

This is May in Japan.
Today we enter 2016 year.

It was a holiday, but I worked today.
In Japan, many people took holiday on New Year's day, until a few years ago.
Many shops closed on New Year's Day, so people spent time at home.
In late years, many shops open on New Year's Day, so people who work from New Year's Day increased.

I often hear it said that Japanese people work too hard.
I want Japanese people to take a rest on New Year's Day.

Anyway, may this year be another good one!!