“Kagamimochi

“Kagamimochi” is two rounds of rice cakes (mochi) with an orange on top. Kagami” means a mirror and Mochi means a rice cake. The rice cake is shaped like a flat round mirror and that’s the reason why it is called “Kagami mochi”  to appreciate and eat as a token of well-being.

“Kadomatsu” 

“Kado” means a gate and “Matsu” means a pine tree. “Kadomatsu” is a decoration consisting of bamboo and pine branches and symbolizes longevity and prosperity.  It is said that this is the appropriate way to welcome gods.

“Shimenawa”

“Shimenawa” is a twisted straw rope with fern leaves, an orange and other items of good omen. It is generally hung on doors during the New Year holidays and served as a charm against evil spirits.

"ETO(The Japanese zodiac)"

The Japanese zodiac is one of the ancient methods of expression used to indicate time and direction.
Twelve different animals are used in the zodiac instead of numbers and stars.The cycle is completed every twelfth year.
2023 is the year of the rabbit!

We throw away  roasted soybeans with saying "Devils out! Happiness in!", and people eat beans as numbers as their age.
This is called "Mame-maki" (Mame means beans, maki means throwing away.)

Some regions and families have a custom of decorating their entrance door with holly sardines (Hiiragi sardines). Hiiragi and sardines are also utilized to expel ogres. Ogres hate the prickles of holly and the scent of sardines, thus they are displayed at the entrance and used as means to exorcise ogres.

'Ehoumaki (Fortune sushi roll)'
Ehoumaki, a thick sushi roll, is traditionally eaten while facing the direction of good fortune for the year and making a wish. It is also an unspoken rule to eat a whole ehomaki in one mouthful.)

The hina dolls are believed to ward off evil and misery, and are　displayed as a prayer for good health and happy marriage for girls in the future,as they represent the Japanese imperial family’s wedding.

The hina dolls dressed in traditional clothes from the Heian Period (794-1185) .The empress wearing 12 layers of KIMONO colled ‘Juuni-hitoe’, The present Emperor and Empress also dressed in this clothes in the enthronement ceremony that was held 5yeres ago.  

Mini hina dooos.

Hina-arare are bite-sized sweet rice crackers whose colors are pink, green, yellow and white These four colors stand for four seasons. They are a symbol of abundant year for girls, and wish for a happy life.

Families with boys display a samurai warrior helmet replica or a samurai warrior doll inside the house, and set up carp streamers outside for success in life.

Displaying the samurai warrior’s suit of armor has the meaning of protecting the boys’ body.

We decorate a sweet flag at the front door on Boy’s festival and take a sweet flag bath on that night, because it is believed that a sweet flag has power to protect against evils. 
So we put tha sweet flag in a hot water on the essential oil burner so that the scent of  sweet flags makes you relaxed.

There are colorful round fireworks, fireworks that draw pictures of characters, fireworks that look like a ring, fireworks that hang down like a willow, and fireworks that small fireworks fly around after the fireworks burst.

Festival stalls lined up along the streets, and you can enjoy typical B gourmet food and traditional games like water balloon fishing or a shooting gallery.
If you find one, just walk around and check things out!

Handmade HANABI(fireworks) made in Japan.

“Goldfish scooping” is the most famous game for children. You need to scoop goldfish from a basin with a scoop. The scoop is made from a thin sheet of Japanese paper, so you need to be careful so that the paper will not be torn apart while you are playing.

This is Winter Cherry.

In Japan,'Hozuki ichi' are held in many places in summer.Hozuki ichi is a market in which Winter Cherry Plants are sold.The most famous market is held on July 9 and 10 at Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa.
Especially July 10 is called ”shiman rokusen nichi”.If you visit the temple on July 10, it corresponds that you have visited the temple for 46,000 days.It means you can get benefits of 46,000 days!

This is a replica of a 'MIKOSHI', portable Shinto shrine.
Mikoshi,  a portable shrine, is a carriage for Gods.
At festivals, Japanese people gather around the Mikoshi and carry it on their shoulders in order to worship gods.
While carrying the Mikoshi, the carriers often yell “Wasshoi, Wasshoi.”

This is a straw rice bag.
We celebrate the huge harvest of the 5 grains and offer a lot of rice bag.

We also offer red beans and white rice.
A color combination of red and white is considered celebratory in Japan.

Handmade Hexenhaus

Projection mapping.

Reindeer are making snowmen♪