Setsubun・節分👹

今年の節分は2月3日です。

皆様、豆は用意しませんか?
ヘアー・イノベーションでも、豆まきをします。

歳の数ほど豆を食べると言いますが、たくさん撒いと豆足りるかなぁ〜笑

恵方巻きも食べせんか?
2026年の恵方の方角は、南南東です。

何も喋らず、願い事を心で唱え、叶いますようにと。

setsubun1
Ehōmaki, an oni mask, and fukumame ready to go!

This year Setsubun falls on February 3rd. Setsubun is a traditional part of the Japanese lunar calendar celebrating the start of Spring.  As part of a cleansing ritual, fukumame (lucky roasted soy beans) are scattered first outside, then inside one’s home to clear any misfortune from the previous year and welcome in good fortune.  The phrase accompanying this varies throughout Japan, but what I learned and practice is :  “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (demons out, fortune in). 

After scattering them, you may also choose to eat as many fukumame as your age to ensure good fortune for the coming year. If you’re well into adulthood, like me, remember to plan ahead so you still have enough leftover to eat😉.

Will there be enough fukumame in these cute packets to equal my age?

Another more modern tradition is to eat ehōmaki (lucky sushi roll). Don’t forget you must eat it without cutting it, in silence, and while facing the lucky direction (ehō). The ehō changes yearly according to the zodiac and indicates the position of the New Year’s god Toshitokujin, who oversees the year’s fortune.  2026 is the year of the fire horse, and the lucky direction is south-southeast. It’s said that if you follow the three rules, the wish you make in your heart while eating it will be granted!

Various goods for celebrating Setsubun, like fukumame, oni masks and ehōmaki, are sold annually in convenience, grocery, and department stores.

Summertime☀️天神さん夏祭り!!

暑くなりましたね!

7月24日と25日は天神さん夏祭りでした。私達は25日遊びに行きました。今回はお神輿は見れませんでしたが神社の中踊りを見ました!!

Whew! It’s really gotten hot and humid in Matsue. Last week was the Tenjin Matsuri (every year throughout Japan on the 24th and 25th of July). We went on the evening of the 25th, so we didn’t see the mikoshi, which happened on the 24th. We did however see traditional dancing within the Shinto shrine!

夏祭りはとても楽しいですね!アメリカも夏祭りがあります!7月4日はアメリカ合衆国のお誕生です。アメリカは州ごとにパレード、お祭りの屋台、そして花火でその日を祝います。私はアシュランドで久しぶりにパレードを見に行きました。とても元気をもらいました💜

The Summer festivals in Japan are a great distraction from the hot weather😁. Being at the Tenjin Matsuri reminded me of the 4th of July celebrations I got to partake in when I visited my hometown: Ashland, Oregon! It was my first 4th of July experience in a very long time, and it was just as fun as I remembered from when I was a child💜. Below are some pictures from the 4th of July parade, which people from allover come to see!

ホーランエンヤ 2019 Horan-Enya

第3大船:大井・The third of the big boats from Ooi village

5月18日(土曜)はホーランエンヤの渡御祭。その日は曇りでした。

It was overcast on Saturday’s Horan-Enya as the boats escorting the Jozan Inari Shrine from the grounds of Matsue Castle headed for Adakaya Shrine in Higashi Izumo.

第2大船:やだ・The second of the big boats from Yada village

5月26日(日曜)はホーランエンヤの還御祭。その日は晴れて素晴らしい天気でした!

When the boats and the shrine retuned on the following Sunday, after 7 days of prayers for a good harvest in Higashi Izumo, the weather was spectacular!

大東七夕祭「Tanabata」

初めて大東七夕祭へ行って来ました!!私はもちろん浴衣で夏祭り気分を盛り上げて行きました👘

Last Monday, I attended a Tanabata Matsuri (festival) for the first time.  The festival is held in Daitō, a district in Unnan city, every August 6th.  Of course, I enjoyed wearing yukata👘!

Although Tanabata is officially observed on the 7th of July, Tanabata festivals are held throughout Japan in July or August.  You can read more about Tanabata and its history, here.  

In Daitō, each neighborhood makes a float, and these, along with lanterns and bamboo branches decorated with ornaments and wishes, are paraded down a street lined with summer festival booths to the sound of traditional drums, flutes and cymbals.  There was also a stage for live performances, and to top off the night, a fireworks display over the river!  It was truly spectacular, and I look forward to attending next year!

また、来年も皆さん元気いっぱい笑顔もいっぱいを待ってま〜す

さくら祭り:木次町🌸Blossoms in Kisuki

Jenniferです🌸

先週、木次町で桜を見に行きました!雲南市のさくら祭りは毎年4月のイベントです。雲南市内お花見スポットがいっぱいありますが私のおすすめは木次町のさくらトンネルです😊

Last week, Mr. K and I went to the cherry blossom festival held annually in the rural city of Unnan.  We had a picnic in the Kisuki area, which has a “cherry blossom tunnel,” as well as views of trees in the surrounding hillsides.

私は去年も木次町へ行ってましたが桜はまだ咲いてなくて残念でした。今年はなんと桜満開とても素晴らしかったです!!

Last year we also went to the festival, but we were too early and the trees had only just started to bloom.  This year our timing was perfect: a sunny day and trees in full bloom!  It was truly spectacular!!🌸

また、来年もキレイなさくらを待ってま〜す。
「I wonder where I’ll see next year’s cherry blossoms?」