Skip to main content

ThingsAsian | ThingsAsian Press


ThingsAsianThingsAsian
  • Destinations
    • Afghanistan (24)
    • Armenia (3)
    • Azerbaijan (3)
    • Bangladesh (22)
    • Bhutan (30)
    • Brunei (20)
    • Cambodia (132)
    • China (548)
    • East Timor (6)
    • India (260)
    • Indochina (9)
    • Indonesia (126)
    • Iran (36)
    • Iraq (32)
    • Israel (27)
    • Japan (332)
    • Jordan (4)
    • Kazakhstan (4)
    • Korea, N (23)
    • Korea, S (67)
    • Kuwait (3)
    • Laos (70)
    • Lebanon (7)
    • Malaysia (250)
    • Maldives (3)
    • Mekong River (12)
    • Mongolia (21)
    • Mount Everest (4)
    • Myanmar (70)
    • Nepal (57)
    • Pakistan (48)
    • Philippines (164)
    • Saudi Arabia (16)
    • Singapore (89)
    • Sri Lanka (26)
    • Syria (18)
    • Taiwan (68)
    • Thailand (399)
    • Turkey (31)
    • United Arab Emirates (4)
    • Uzbekistan (6)
    • Vietnam (508)
    • Yemen (16)


  • Destinations
    • Afghanistan (24)
    • Armenia (3)
    • Azerbaijan (3)
    • Bangladesh (22)
    • Bhutan (30)
    • Brunei (20)
    • Cambodia (132)
    • China (548)
    • East Timor (6)
    • India (260)
    • Indochina (9)
    • Indonesia (126)
    • Iran (36)
    • Iraq (32)
    • Israel (27)
    • Japan (332)
    • Jordan (4)
    • Kazakhstan (4)
    • Korea, N (23)
    • Korea, S (67)
    • Kuwait (3)
    • Laos (70)
    • Lebanon (7)
    • Malaysia (250)
    • Maldives (3)
    • Mekong River (12)
    • Mongolia (21)
    • Mount Everest (4)
    • Myanmar (70)
    • Nepal (57)
    • Pakistan (48)
    • Philippines (164)
    • Saudi Arabia (16)
    • Singapore (89)
    • Sri Lanka (26)
    • Syria (18)
    • Taiwan (68)
    • Thailand (399)
    • Turkey (31)
    • United Arab Emirates (4)
    • Uzbekistan (6)
    • Vietnam (508)
    • Yemen (16)


Search form


Ceremony and Ritual in Japan


by Robert George, Dec 13, 2002 | Destinations: Japan / Tokyo
Springtime in Japan is one of the year's most anticipated events. With it comes Ohanami--cherry blossom time. During Ohanami season, which lasts only a few short weeks, the people of Japan turn out in droves to gather in city parks and private gardens in celebration of the ephemeral beauty of the flowering trees.

Springtime in Japan is one of the year's most anticipated events. With it comes Ohanami--cherry blossom time. During Ohanami season, which lasts only a few short weeks, the people of Japan turn out in droves to gather in city parks and private gardens in celebration of the ephemeral beauty of the flowering trees.

Image © 2002 Robert George
Springtime in Japan is one of the year's most anticipated events. With it comes Ohanami--cherry blossom time. During Ohanami season, which lasts only a few short weeks, the people of Japan turn out in droves to gather in city parks and private gardens in celebration of the ephemeral beauty of the flowering trees.
The New Year is Japan's most important celebration. At this time, the people of Japan visit shrines and temples to pray for blessings in the year to come. Families gather to enjoy specially prepared foods called O-sechi, and to exchange seasonal gifts. One traditional New Year's gift is a symbolic arrow to ward off bad fortune in the coming year.
On New Year's Day, all over Japan, people pay a visit to nearby shrines and temples to pray for health and prosperity in the coming year. Visitors remove their shoes to preserve both the sanctity and the cleanliness of these holy places.
In the heart of Gunma Prefecture near Mt. Haruna, is the ancient temple known as Mizusawa, dedicated to Kannon, the goddess of mercy. Amid a cloud of incense, this visitor offers a prayer to the images of Fudosan, the patron saint of suffering.

A story told with photos.


More From This Author

Preparing a field. Dalat, Vietnam.

Dalat

Vietnam
Robert George
In Japan, children are treated with the utmost care and attention. The literacy rate in Japan ranks among the world's highest, and the infant mortality rate is among the lowest. Despite its population density and astronomical cost of living, Japan provides excellent 'quality of life' for its children.

A Child's Life - Japan

Japan
Robert George
Perhaps the most anticipated and beloved celebration in Japan is the season known as Ohanami. The word translates as flower watching, and depending upon the weather in mid-spring, sometime during the month of April, the entire nation of Japan bursts into bloom with the ubiquitous sakura, the flowering cherry tree. The sakura create a frosty-pink canopy over city parks and country hillsides alike, and the people of Japan emerge after the long winter to rejoice in this ephemeral season. Beneath a canopy of blossoms, street vendors offer an array of traditional foods, including yakitori, skewers of savory grilled chicken.

The Taste of Japan

Japan
Robert George
Every year on November 15, Japan celebrates Shichi-Go-San--Children's Day. Dressed in their very finest garments, girls and boys aged three, boys aged five, and girls aged seven, go with their families to nearby shrines, where they line up, sometimes for hours, to await their turn to be blessed by the presiding priest. After the blessing, the child is presented with a gift of long sticks of candy called chitose-ame, "thousand year sweets," wrapped in ornate bags decorated with cranes and turtles, both symbols of longevity.

Kimono

Japan
Robert George

More Japan Stories
Goldfish Go Home

Strangers in Strange Lands at Cinequest 2013

Japan / Vietnam / India
Celeste Heiter
Cherry Blossoms

Film Review: Cherry Blossoms

Japan
Celeste Heiter

Seijin Hi: Coming of Age Day in Japan

Japan
Frank Lev
Sakurajima Volcano

Sakurajima Volvano

Japan
Jan Polatschek

Explore Other Destinations

China

China

Myanmar

Myanmar

Vietnam

Vietnam

India

India

Malaysia

Malaysia

Japan

Japan

Cambodia

Cambodia

Thailand

Thailand

Afghanistan (24)
Armenia (3)
Azerbaijan (3)
Bangladesh (22)
Bhutan (30)
Brunei (20)
Cambodia (132)
China (548)
East Timor (6)
India (260)
Indochina (9)
Indonesia (126)
Iran (36)
Iraq (32)
Israel (27)
Japan (332)
Jordan (4)
Kazakhstan (4)
Korea, N (23)
Korea, S (67)
Kuwait (3)
Laos (70)
Lebanon (7)
Malaysia (250)
Maldives (3)
Mekong River (12)
Mongolia (21)
Mount Everest (4)
Myanmar (70)
Nepal (57)
Pakistan (48)
Philippines (164)
Saudi Arabia (16)
Singapore (89)
Sri Lanka (26)
Syria (18)
Taiwan (68)
Thailand (399)
Turkey (31)
United Arab Emirates (4)
Uzbekistan (6)
Vietnam (508)
Yemen (16)



About ThingsAsian

ThingsAsian is an Asia travel website with stories contributed by a worldwide community. Although we cover a wide range of topics, our emphasis is on art, culture, history and travel. Our writers, photographers and contributors are real people who tell you the stories of their personal travels and experiences. Some of the countries we currently cover are Burma, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Email: info@thingsasian.com


© 1994-2015 Global Directions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


Web Design by Dayspring