Christmas Eve in Tokyo - 2012

One of the best things about moving to Tokyo was the fact that the move came with an instantaneous circle of friends and I was automatically welcomed into it.  There are about 25 girls working in Trey's office here in Tokyo and from the moment I landed here they have offered me their friendship, welcomed me into their community and most recently they have celebrated Christmas Eve with us.  They are beautiful, outgoing, smart and funny women and so a good time is guaranteed anytime they are around.

the house is ready...

Trey and I decided to stay in Japan for the Holidays this year.  With his busy work schedule and all the traveling he has done this year, the last thing we wanted to do was to pack again!  Of course, the decision was not easy as we both agree the Holidays are more meaningful with loved ones around.  Trey and I have a good time together just the two of us, but the Holiday spirit has to be shared and spread to the masses :o).  So we decided to surround ourselves with loved friends this year.  Christmas is not widely celebrated in Japan/Tokyo...I mean, the city is decorated and there seems to be a shopping frenzy in the last 4 weeks but in general they don't put up Christmas trees or exchange Christmas presents at home.  That didn't stop the group from joining us on Christmas Eve and celebrating the Holiday as it if was their own.

Our 6 guests (all girls; Trey and Huey (our puppy) were the only boys and they stuck together the whole night!) arrived with gifts...and by gifts I mean alcohol and sweets mainly :).  They say Japanese women have 2 stomachs, one for regular food and one for dessert - if that's the case then I can easily pass for Japanese!  We got sparkling wine, traditional Japanese cookies, cheese and crackers, ice cream (12 individually packaged ice cream servings in 12 different flavors), more cookies (ginger bread cookies & sugar cookies), flowers and the cutest miniature "bakery display" handmade by the mother of one of the girls - by the way "the girls" have names - Yuki & Yumi, Makoto, Yuko & Yoko and little Mayu - Yuko's daughter celebrated Christmas Eve with us.  They are awesome!

they are here!

Trey surrounded by Japanese beauties...

We had very non-traditional appetizers and dinner followed by home made brownies, cookies, ice cream and apple pie while a Nat King Cole CD packed with Christmas classics played in the background and The Polar Express played on the TV silently - I love that movie!  I bought the apple pie in an attempt to treat our guests so at least a sliver of American tradition only to find out - upon closer inspection of the box - that it was "Hecho en Méjico" - hahaha!!!!

pasta, salmon & broccoli for Xmas dinner....hmmmmm

Somehow as the night progressed and the sparkling wine AND non-sparkling wine AND the beer supply was depleted, we ended up jamming to Don Henley and the Eagles...not very Christmas-sey but a lot of fun!

Christmas Eve in Tokyo - 2012 lacked most - actually all - of the elements of how we traditionally celebrate Christmas back at home, but it was full of warmth, friendship, good chatter, great company and a lot of laughter - a VERY special Christmas thanks to this group of VERY lovely ladies!

Merry Christmas!  メリークリスマス! (Merīkurisumasu!)

New Year's is next!  I am excited for 2013...Actually the beginning of a New Year is always exciting...a clean slate and fresh start.  A new set of 12 months full of endless possibilities!

This will most likely be the last posting of this year so I want to wish you all a 2013 full of love, happiness, unexpected magic and good health!

{ PICTURES } to see more pictures from Christmas Eve and to meet, Yuki, Yumi, Yoko, Yuko, Makoto and Mayu, click here.  I posted them on Simply Mad Jewelry's page on Facebook :o)

Next time, I will tell you about New Year's in Tokyo (Bonenkai) - which they DO celebrate.  Until then, enjoy your holidays, and go out and explore an place you have never been to.

Kamakura, unexpected colors and celebrations!

K A M A K U R A…I love saying that word.  K-A-M-A-K-U-R-A is about an hour southwest of Tokyo.  I had never heard about K A M A K U R A until this past spring.  Hydrangeas – my favorite flowers for how perfectly symmetrical they are…round bunches of pretty – anyway, they bloom in June during rainy season and apparently K A M A K U R A (ok, ok! I will stop typing it like that, I will just call it K from now on) is the place to go to see these pretty things bloom.  With nothing but wedding plans in my head June came and went and I never made it to Kamakura.   Then, fall came – my favorite season – and again I was told Kamakura was the place to go to see fall foliage.  I had already missed my favorite flower; I wasn’t about to miss my favorite season!

I did a little research about K, decided what sights I wanted to visit, told Trey to get dressed (hahaha!) and we headed out to the train station.  We took the 1-hour ride to Kamakura; we got off the train and stopped at the info desk just to make sure we were heading in the right direction.  The lady behind the desk pointed to a large "torii" (if you read the last entry you know a "torii" marks the entrance to a shrine:o)) framing the beginning of a narrow street and said: “you can start there, it is the main shopping street and it will lead you to blah, blah, blah” – I lost her after shopping.  Did she say shopping?!?!?  All of a sudden I forgot about the gorgeous brown, golden, deep red, orange colors I had travelled an hour to see.  We had to start with the “shopping street” surely we were bound to bump into some tress.  Well…not so much! 

We walked the quaint narrow street, looked in the shops, bought some knick-knacks when all of a sudden we were at the entrance of a shrine.  A shrine surrounded by trees, trees and more trees – all of which were the healthiest and shiniest shade of green and had every leaf still attached – WHAT?!?!?!?!  It was November 18, I mean we are 2 months into fall…do these tress not know it is time to turn colors and lose the leaves?  I was disappointed but just for a second because….

From the green trees we looked down to see, not fall colors, but the most colorful display of Japanese cuteness!  Every little girl at this shrine – and there were many! – was wearing a tiny kimono with the brightest colors contrasting beautifully with their dark hair.  Small boys were wearing traditional Japanese ensemble as well.  Unbeknownst to use we had just stumbled upon Shichigosan.  Shichi means 7, Go means 5 and San means 3; 7-5-3.  Odd numbers are considered lucky numbers and so every year in mid November girls age 3 & 7 and boys age 3 & 5 are celebrated, they get dressed up and taken to the shrine.  In the shrine, parents give thanks for their children and their health and pray for their protection.  I love festivals, rituals and traditions and this one will be without a doubt one of the most memorable ones.  Just look at those pictures!!!

As if Shichigosan wasn’t enough, after taking all the colors and harassing every 3, 5 & 7 year old in the shrine for some photos, we stumble upon another unexpected sight…a wedding…A Japanese wedding!  It was my lucky day!  Gorgeous bride dressed in a gorgeous and perfectly white traditional wedding gown.

We caught the end of the ceremony which meant we were able to see them walk out to the open area of the shrine where I stalked them to take their pictures…well…I had to show you!

After so many celebrations, beautiful colors and excitement we were hungry people!  We just picked a random noodle place…Lunch was interesting - a foreigner from the table next to ours was surveying every table to se what they were having.  The problem was she didn’t speak Japanese and aside from Trey and I EVERYONE in the place was Japanese!  For the love of God lady! Order some noodles and let everyone else eat in peace!!  Just pick a picture you like on the menu, point at it and make the #1 with your index finger and then bow your head in gratitude.  Ay ay ay!

Once our bellies were full and happy, we headed to the Great Buddha of Kamakura (Kamakura Daibutsu in Japanese).  They were not kidding when they named it “Great” it measures 13.35 meters/43 ½ feet high. 

It has a loooooonngggg history and something really interesting about it.  It was cast in the year 1252, that was…hmmm….760 years ago!!! And here is the interesting part; when it was first built it actually sat inside a temple not out in the open space like it is today.  But the temple’s buildings were destroyed after a typhoon and a tidal wave in the 14^th and 15^th centuries and the mighty Buddha has been sitting there without shelter (and survived mind you) since 1495.  Stuff like that just blows my mind away…how some buildings, paintings, etc can stand the test of time.  I always find it fun to picture what the area or city looked like that many years ago, in this case I pictured lovely ladies dressed in Kimonos, holding parasols and strolling down narrow streets – all in black and white of course.  Soooo cool!!!

K was an unexpected surprise with so many colors and joyful celebrations…Kimonos are just awesomely pretty but when you shrink them to the size of a 3 year old what you get is just pure adorable-ness!!!  K A M A K U R A…quaint and charming town and for sure I will NOT miss the hydrangeas next June should I be lucky enough to still be here in Japan!

Tell me about your travels…what places have you been to?  Where would you like to go?  What kind of traveler are you?  History, food, culture, shopping…what interests you?

To see more colorful pictures from Kamakura, click here.  Follow me here for more from Japan and a little bit of everything else!!!

Next:  Bonenkai, year-end party!  Until then…go out and explore a new place!

Mad

Shrines vs Temples; what are the differnces?

A few weeks ago (sorry it has taken so long for this “follow up” posting) I blogged about Ueno Park and how my visit to the park sparked the curiosity to learn the differences between Shinto Shrines and Buddhist Temples – both of which abound in Japan.  Shinto, original Japanese religion and Buddhism, imported from China in the 6^th century, are the two most practiced religions in Japan – or at least they were in decades past.  Nowadays, it seems a very small % of Japanese follow or practice any religion at all.

My quest to find answers to my questions and identify the differences between the two began online but then I got smart and ask my friend Miyuki if I could “interview” her. What follows is a compilation of Miyuki’s contribution, coupled with bits and pieces found in www.nihonsun.com, www.mustlovejapan.com and (of course) www.wikipedia.com.

Here it goes…

Let’s pretend it is a beautiful fall day in Tokyo and you are out and about for day of discovery.  You have just finished an “oishī” (delicious) lunch with sushi and miso soup, and now you are in search of temples and shrines, shrines and temples. 

Torii...gate to a Shinto Shrine...not found in Buddhist Temple

Walking down the street you go until you see what looks like a temple or, wait a minute!  Is it a shrine? You are not sure and that’s the very reason you are exploring!  Well, if you are standing under or near a gigantic gate (called torii - usually red) then you have entered or are about to enter a Shinto shrine.  If you look a little closer you will also see statues of lions or dogs flanking main structure.  As you go further into this shrine you will see a large washbasin with long-handled ladles.  Time to purify yourself!  You MUST wash your hands and mouth before you continue. 

  

Washing your hands purifies your body and washing your mouth purifies your soul.  After you are pure, then you are ready to proceed and go all the way in and reach the statue of ….hmmmm…..well….a higher being  (kami in Japanese) – for lack of a better term.  There seems to be some discrepancy about whether these statues are gods, spirits, elements of nature or ancestors or all of the above.   You will not see our jolly-big-bellied friend Buddha anywhere near a Shrine…Buddha lives in temples.

wahsbasin to clean hands and mouth...purify!

Now that you have purified yourself, it is time to pray but WAIT!  Do not press your palms together and bring them to your chest…that’s not what a Shinto worshiper looks like.  Instead you will stand in front of the kami statue, you will bow twice, clap twice to wake up the kami and make sure he is listening (I am not making this up), then bow once more…WAIT you are not done yet!  After that single bow, look around you, you will find a box with what looks like a grill on top, do you see it?  That’s where your much appreciated donation goes…so chop, chop…produce some coins and make a contribution.  NOW, you are ready to pray!  Tell kami all about your dreams and whishes, ask for what you need and want and do not forget to say thank you for what you have.

"saisen-bako" - donation box...do NOT skip this step!

incense burner

Now, you are done at the Shrine, take a few pictures and enjoy the scenery – Shrines are usually surrounded by great natural beauty.  As you continue your journey of exploration, you are sure to come across a Buddhist Temple.  How do I know?  Well, there are many so you are bound to see one even if you don't want to, but you do, right?  How do you know you have encountered a Buddhist Temple, you may ask?  Aha!  Well, for starters there is no red gate/torii visible.  Buddha doesn’t require purification so you will not see the washbasin.  It seems Buddha is always on duty as you will not see any Buddhists clapping their hands to wake him up either.  You will, however, find burning incense believed to have healing powers.  Get beyond the incense and you will see a, most likely, ginormous statue of Buddha.  Most Buddha statues I have seen around here don't look like the jolly, big-bellied figurine my mother used to have and whose belly she used to rub for good luck.  

incense burner

Once in front of the statue DO press your palms together and place them against your forehead, this is the time to say your prayers.  If there are other statues in the Temple make sure you say a prayer to all of them so no one gets upset but always start with Buddha.  In case the towering statue of Buddha is not enough confirmation that you are in a Buddhist Temple, look around and up to find a large, huge Chinese bell or a Chinese gong or a Chinese drum or all three for additional confirmation.  Buddhism came from China, remember?

statues of Buddha

    
Both Shinto Shrines and Buddhist Temples have “ema” & “omikuji”.  “Ema” are thin wooden blocks where people write their prayers and wishes.  “Omikuji” are pieces of     paper with “fortunes” written on them.  They are folded and tied to a tree or a string.  You are meant to take one and unfold it to reveal your fortune, kinda like a fortune cookie without the cookie.

"ema"

omikuji

One last thing, if you have the fortune to witness a Japanese wedding, then you are in a Shrine.  If you come a cross a funeral you are in a Temple.  Not sure why, but weddings are held in Shrines & funerals in Temples.

Hope you found this interesting.  Something to talk about around the water cooler tomorrow or at the dinner table tonight ;)

Please feel free to share comments, questions or pictures…

Next: Kamakura: unexpected colors & celebrations!

Until then...go explore a new place!

The Kimono; much more than a dress

Imagine a stone-paved, narrow street lined by wooden structures with low roofs and “shoji” style doors.  Along the small street three Japanese ladies are walking, carrying parasols and wearing kimonos.  This was an every day scene in Japan prior to centuries ago when the only fashion trend – for men and women – was the iconic kimono just like it had been for centuries prior.

In 1853, the US Naval Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Japan and “forced” the country to open their ports and engage in international trading.  Until then, Japan had managed to preserve and protect their closely guarded customs.  Western influences started filtering in and giving way to a loss of interest in the traditional arts and crafts, including the kimono.  The more practical Western-style clothes took hold pushing the kimono to the “back of the closet”. 

beautiful colors!

It is nearly impossible for the rest of the world to understand the stature of the kimono in Japanese society.  To fully understand its cultural value one would have to immerse oneself in every aspect of Japan’s history, its culture, arts and literature.  Moriguchi Kuhihiko (son of Moriguchi Kako (a legend in the field of silk dying) tries to explain to us the importance of a great kimono:

“A fine kimono is an adornment like the jewels and furs worn by European women.  Although the form of the garment never changes, a custom-made kimono is a courtier gown and also an original work by a creative artist.  A splendid kimono is apt to be handed down from one generation to the next like a painting or a piece of jewelry.  Kimonos are not created to seasonal fads, but are designed as raiment that will contribute to Japan’s tradition of beauty”

Today, the average Japanese woman owns one kimono, at most.  Unless the dress makes a comeback like some fashion trends do, it is likely that girls who are born towards the latter part of this century will never own one.  And if she finds herself the proud owner of one of these masterpieces, she will need to go to school to learn how to wear it.  Such knowledge was traditionally passed on from generation to generation.  If you visit Japan today, you will find an endless array of affordable kimonos in souvenir and fashion stores, but that is not the kind I am describing here.  I am referring to the kimono that holds great artistic and cultural value and have been worn by both, men and women, with pride and elegance throughout history.  The kimono made of the finest hand-painted silk and embellished with intricate embroideries; a one-of- a-kind masterpiece. 

Japan, as a society has a tireless determination to pursue and achieve perfection in all they do and the art of kimono making is no exception.  The authentic kimono is made form the finest silk and runs upwards of $10,000, perhaps double that once all the accessories have been added.  In the simplest of terms, a kimono is a loose robe with long sleeves.  But there is nothing simple about the final product; an exquisite and complex combination created my multiple elements, each with a specific role.  Here is a list of some of the pieces: the “kanzashi”  (hairpiece), the “geta” (wooden sandals), the “obi”  (wide silk sash), the “obimakura” (small pillow that gives the “obi” its volume and shape on the back and the “susoyoke” (slip worn under the kimono.  Some of the pieces are seasonal or reserved for special occasions like the “eri-sugata” – a special collar used only during warm weather or the “haori” – a formal coat.  The process of getting dressed in a kimono is no simple task either and it requires two people to assemble the outfit perfectly.   

The color and pattern selection is taken very seriously.  The person for whom the kimono is created has an active role in designing and putting his/her touch in every detail.  A kimono defines financial status, style, taste and personality and it is of upmost importance that all the pieces are impeccable and fit perfectly together.  It is said that the “kimono is not a kimono until someone wears it and brings it to life”.  The colors and prints are chosen according to the season; it could be a flower or food that represents a period of time during the year.  For example, spring or summer kimonos the call for light colors and the pattern may be of cherry blossoms.  Somber and dark colors along with a bamboo or pinecone design would be more appropriate for a winter kimono.

Each color, print and the placement of such print provide additional information about the garment. The most formal kimono for married women, called “kurotomesode” is black with the pattern applied only below the waistline.  The single woman’s version of this formal kimono, called “furisode”, has longer sleeves and brighter colors.  A “homongi” is a kimono with the print visible only on seams, sleeves and shoulders.  The most casual style is called “komon” and it is identified by a small design that repeats throughout the entire robe.  These are only a few of the complexities of the hierarchy of the Japanese wardrobe.  There are other technicalities such as the left side of the kimono should always go in front of the right, except when dressing a corpse for a funeral, in which case the opposite applies.  The loose and wide neck was designed that way on purpose; to show that part of the woman’s body which is considered the most sensual.   

The world of the kimono is a world governed by century-old rules where everything is meticulously calculated.  It is magic and enigmatic.  When it comes to designing and creating a kimono nothing is left to chance, every detail is painstakingly cared for. 

Until next time...be happy!!!

Ueno Park; Shrines & Temples; Temples & Shrines

As part of my "let's discover Tokyo" mission (and as promised), I went to Ueno Park - just 20 minutes north of central Tokyo.  The park is expansive with many trees and green areas (duh!  it wouldn’t be a park without those things would it now) as well as several museums, some temples/shires, restaurant and a Starbucks (YUP! – a Starbucks in the middle of a national park in Japan).  There is also a zoo!  A ZOO!  A BIG zoo with monkeys….lots of monkeys!  I love monkeys!  I HAD to see the monkeys so I bought my ticket and took a detour from the stroll in  the park to see the monkeys…monkeys, monkeys, monkeys!

tree right over Starbucks...I made sure to crop the pict so the Starbucks would not interfere with this awesome tree!

some of the trees and green areas in Ueno Park

What started as a day of touristy exploration quickly turned into a long, reflective walk.  There is something about being surrounded by nature, vast and all-powerful nature that makes my brain and soul go from excited curiosity to a deep sense of peace and contentment.  Under my totally awesome state of mind I walked aimlessly around the park feeling highly spiritual.  The world was in perfect harmony and so was I!  That feeling was briefly interrupted when I saw the Starbucks, but it came back shortly after.

There was a gigantic pond with gigantic leaves growing out of it and a  Shinto shrine (or Buddhist temple, I don’t have a handle on the difference between the two yet) smacked right on the center of the pond – the temple/shrine is called Benten-do.  There is a lot of history surrounding that shrine/temple/pond and the whole park for that matter but between you and I Ueno Park and it’s history, as it turns out, are NOT the main focus of this blog posting.  For info about Ueno Park, click here http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3019.html

the gigantic pond...

leaves, plants growing in/from the gigantic pond - what are these called?

The main focus of this blog posting is that shrine/temple I mentioned a few lines ago and the other, 100’s of thousands shrines and temples in Japan.  In Japan they practice Shintoism (original Japanese religion revolving around innumerable gods) and Buddhism (imported from China in the 6^th Century revolving, well….around Buddha).  Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples are present in every direction you turn around the city.  In them, I see people ringing bells, well ONE gigantic bell, they clap, they bow and some even chant.  They wash their hands; they burn incense.  It intrigues me.  So Benten-do in Ueno Park got me thinking that this blog entry could be a good opportunity to do a little research.

these fountains are often seen in front of Temples/Shrines...will get the scoop on them....

make a donation, take the incense stick and light it

I want to tell you what I have learned about Shrines and Temples, Temples and Shrines.  Of course my findings come from sources such as Wikipedia and other travel guides which barely scratch the surface on this VERY ancient topic, but at least we will have a general idea for the next time Shintoism and Buddhism come up in casual conversation around the water cooler in the office or the dinner table at home – hahahaha!

there is the GIGANTIC "bell"...

these gate/pathways lead to a shrine or a temple...I have seen these around often...are they Shinto or Buddhist???

I will leave you with this for now and in a day or two when I have all my info organized I will tell you what the fountain by the entrance, the ever burning incense, the ginormous bell, the clapping and the bowing I see people doing are all about.

Until then, tell me…where do you live?  What places/cities are near you that you have not visited but would like to see one day?

Let the exploration continue….

Don Quijote in Japan

When we first moved here (Tokyo) a few months ago it was my intention to write on this blog often to relate what life in Tokyo is like for westerners who are, by far, a minority.   I have failed miserably.  Well…let’s just say I have been extremely lazy and have been using everything from the language barrier to the summer heat as an excuse to stay in the house and not venture out.  Don’t get me wrong, the fact that I don’t speak Japanese IS a challenge and the summer WAS unbearably hot but I have been given a great opportunity to discover this very unique city and I am not gonna take it for granted.  The weather has broken, fall winds are blowing and this is where this home-buddy puts an end to her summer laziness and starts exploring Tokyo and the surrounding areas.  I still don’t speak Japanese but I have a translator on my iPhone.

I am a big believer in taking baby steps, so instead of attempting to climb Mt. Fuji on my first outing of this “let’s discover Tokyo” mission, I opted for a shopping trip.  Baby steps remember?  I had heard of this store Don Quijote (Don Quixote in English) or Donki as the locals affectionate call it, but there is not one in the routes we normally take to go to the places we normally go to and I never took the time to look it up.  Did I mention laziness had set up camp in my house for the summer months?  Ok.  All I knew about Donki was that one could find “anything” and one could find it at a discount, which made my heart dance with joy because not many things are found at a discount in Tokyo.  Tokyo is the 3^rd most expensive city to live in the world, behind Olso #1 and Zurich #2.  I have not done an expert analysis but I think it would be safe to say things here are at least 25% more expensive than what we are used to pay. 

In any case, it was time to pay Donki a visit.  I did the obligatory google search to find the address.  Luckily for me Donki appeals to tourists – it is ranked #314 of 711 things to do in Tokyo by Lonely Planet travelers – and I was able to find the address in English.  I quickly clicked on the “maps” tab, I entered “point A” and “point B” details and clicked on “get directions” and within seconds I had the map, which would guide me to the famous Donki.  Donki’s time had come. 

[I need to make a pause here to point out how entirely bizarre it is to have a store in Tokyo, a city where 99.9% of everything spoken and written is spoken and written in Japanese, named after a Spanish fictional character…weird!]

Back to the story….armed with my map, my iPhone and my bicycle I embarked on my journey on a beautiful sunny and breezy afternoon.  It took me 15 minutes to get to my destination and to my delight there was a 100-yen store – the equivalent of a $1 store – right across the street from Donki.  I HAD to go in.  I have been to another 100-yen store and these places are full of surprises!!!!  The stuff in the 100-yen store here is of higher quality here than at the $1 store back home…I hate to say it but everything in Japan seems to be of higher quality, hence the lack of discounted or “cheaply’ priced items.

The 100-yen store was a total success… I paid 1000 yen and I walked out with….well…hmmmm….10 items….simple math!  Then I crossed the street to the main attraction – a gigantic 6-story building filled with things waiting to be bought by this expeditioner from the far West.  The board that listed the contents of each floor was so big it covered the whole entrance wall…floor to ceiling.  Donki is like having a Sports Authority, Target, Office Max, Home Depot, Michaels and Walgreens all in one place.  I am glad I finally made it to see Donki…I would go back, but the real reason to go back to Donki is for that awesome 100-yen store across the street…That’s the beauty of exploring…you never know what you will find or where you will find it.  

Mission “let’s discover Tokyo” will continue.  Let’s see what will the fall winds blow my way next week.

Until then, I invite you to do some exploring in your area and tell me about it!
See you soon...
Mad

Tokyo looks Pretty in Pink - Sakura Season

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Cherry Blossoms (Sakura in Japanese) have finally bloomed and if you blink you might miss them!  The delicate pink tones of the flowers give this enormous and urban city a much softer and sweeter edge even if only for fleeting moment.  The blooms only last for about a week or two.  Rain and wind can cut this time in half :o(  We went for a walk this past weekend just to see what all the fuss is about (I had never witnessed a Cherry Blossom season) and OMG! it is all they say it is and then some!  These trees are breathtaking.

Cherry Blossoms have great significance in Japanese culture.  They can be found on paintings on dishes, on Kimonos’ design even on the street you come across an occasional concrete tile that has a cherry blossom flower on it.  I think those denote a viewing route.  Now that we live here I had to find out exactly what is it that these trees represent to the Japanese people. 

Cherry Blossoms are native to China and Japan.  The ones found in Washington were given to the USA by Japan as a symbol of friendship in 1912.  In China the tree is associated with women’s dominance and beauty as well as the female body and sexuality.

In Japan, the meaning has evolved along the centuries.  Historically, it had a more religious and philosophical meaning - they were admired and held in high regard because the short blooming season reminded them of the short cycle of life.  And it was an opportunity to ponder on the transient nature of one’s life.  They were also associated with Samurais who were expected to have very shot lives.

Today, however, the activities surrounding cherry blossom season are the social kind.  They have come to symbolize innocence, spring and simplicity.  People use Sakura season as an opportunity and get together with friends and family to eat, drink sake and be merry!  These gatherings are called “hanami” and they are as popular today as they were thousands of years ago!

These trees are truly one of nature’s wonder!

More blogging to come….Tokyo is amazing and everyday I discover something new and interesting I want to share with you!  Stay tune and follow this blog so you don’t miss out on any postings!

Mata-ne (See you soon)

Mad