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 !!