After many Japanese companies have switched to remote work, people are talking about zoom manner. Some sound real and some sound like jokes. What are those manners?

Japan Tourism Agency has published short videos that shows how Japanese people expect the foreign tourists to behave when they come to Japan. They are funny and even work for Japanese tourists.

Kokoro ga Pokitto ne is a Japanese TV drama that shows everyone has a heart that is a little broken but all need someone who listens to them and accepts them.

We had an opportunity to experience a hanko carving at Taihodo Seal shop in Tokyo. It was such an unusual and interesting experience. Have a look at our videos.

If you are looking for a good laugh, Manhattan Love Story is the one. I guarantee that this gives you a good feeling. Tencho who loves coffee more than anything and never speaks somehow is getting involved everyone´s love relationship including him having one.

11th of November in Japan is Origami Day. This traditional paper craft has an old history and it´s something Japanese children learn people around them as they grow. So why it´s Origami Day?

After a while you learn Japanese, you feel stuck. You also feel you haven´t actually learn anything. If you do, you are not the only one. Japanese can be confusing and vague.

Japanese tattoo design is impressive. Despite of the discrimination, it´s considered as an art. But do you know the meaning of the tattoo design?

St. Valentine´s Day is coming soon and it´s all about chocolate in Japan. A spa resort in Hakone prepares you a chocolate bath with real chocolate sauce. Do you want to try?

Happy New Year!! How did you spend the New Year´s Eve? This year I decided to join the celebration on the street, which means buying tons of rocket fireworks and shoot them up over one hour. My Vietnamese neighbour was so serious about this and had bought a car wheel sized firecrackers from their country. Of course, no one could win them. 

Oshogatsu (お正月/ New Year) is one of the most important events in Japan. Although things have become normal, people are still in the New Year feeling. All I want to say is, I´m not so late to tell you "Happy New Year!!". 2015 is a year of sheep. We will see, what sort of adventures it will bring us. Or perhaps you may have a good plan for the year. Have you decided any New Year resolution? Me? I like to visit as many friends as possible. They are spread all ove the world but I like to try to see them. Now, what´s yours?

 

Osechi ryouri (おせち料理) is the traditional dish Japanese people eat during the New Year. Like the turkey during the Christmas in the western world, Japanese eat osechi every day for the first few days of the New Year. The reason behind is to make women rest from cooking. Most of osechi is eaten cold and the rest of the typical foods are very easy to cook. You can either just re-heat or bake it on the stove like mochi (もち/ rice cakes). 

Although many houses buy it from a supermarket or a famous restaurant, still there are families who cook their own osechi. People upload their homemade osechi to their blogs. I love to see them because each family has their own style. Also it changes in the different regions, which is even more interesting. 

One thing is common. During Oshogatsu, the family sits at the kotatsu (炬燵) and eat osechi while watching university ekiden (駅伝). If you have a Japanese friend in Japan, it´d be interesting for you to spend one New Year with them. I´m sure you will have a great experience.

   

So let´s peek some families to see what kind of osechi ryouri they have eaten this year. Are there anything common? There are as many types of osechi as the number of the families. 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a while, people get tired of eating osechi, just like you may get tired of turkey and cranberry sauce after the Christmas. This family made a new plate using the left over from the osechi box. Looks good.  

 

 

And of course exists "Kyara Osechi (キャラおせち)". Sheep oinari are cute. 

 

 

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More about the New Year and the foods

Shogatsu

New Year decorations

Osechi ryori

Porridge day

Seijin no hi

 Akemashite omedetou

Happy New Year in Tokyo