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Do you know 24 sekki (Solar Terms) and 72 kō (Micro-seasons)? Understanding Japan’s Seasonal Rhythm: The 24 Solar Terms and 72 Micro-seasons In Japan, there is a unique way of dividing the seasons called the “24 Solar Terms and 72 Micro-seasons.” This traditional Japanese calendar divides the year into 24 segments, known as Solar Terms, and further into 72 smaller periods, called Micro-seasons. Each of the 24 Solar Terms reflects the season and is divided into three Micro-seasons, each lasting about five days, resulting in a total of 72 divisions throughout the year. Terms like “Risshun” (the beginning of spring), “Shunbun” (the vernal equinox), “Geshi” (the summer solstice), and “Risshu” (the beginning of autumn) are well-known among the Japanese people. Risshu and the 72 Micro-seasons Although we are still experiencing scorching heat every day, “Risshu” (the beginning of autumn) actually started on August 7th. According to the 72 Micro-seasons, Risshu is divided into the following three periods: “Suzukaze Itaru” (涼風至): The cool breeze begins to blow. “Kansen Naku” (寒蝉鳴): The cicadas start to sing. “Fukaki Kiri Matou” (蒙霧升降): Thick fog begins to rise. The Upcoming “Shosho” Period Next, we have the “Shosho” period, which marks the time when theread moreDo you know 24 sekki (Solar Terms) and 72 kō (Micro-seasons)?

19Jul, 20242024年8月19日

Experience

The Best 19 Things to Do in Shinjuku

By ninjakotan

The Best 19 Things to Do in Shinjuku Today, we introduce “The Best 19 Things to Do in Shinjuku (19 New Things to Experience in Shinjuku).” This booklet is only available in Japanese, but it contains many activities that foreign tourists can also enjoy, so we are sharing it here. Shinjuku is known worldwide for places like Kabukicho and the view of Mount Fuji from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Nishi-Shinjuku. However, the true charm of Shinjuku also lies in lesser-known areas like Kagurazaka and Ochiai, which are calm and hardly known to foreigners. The booklet describes Shinjuku’s finest offerings as “a toy box of Shinjuku’s best items.” When you come to Shinjuku, don’t limit yourself to Kabukicho and Nishi-Shinjuku. Explore the new Shinjuku and discover its hidden treasures! Highlights of “The Best 19 Things to Do in Shinjuku” Use the WE Bus to Visit Shinjuku’s Landmarks and Local Specialties: The Shinjuku WE Bus runs on three routes centered around Shinjuku Station, covering tourist spots and commercial facilities like Kabukicho and Shinjuku Gyoen. Enjoy Gourmet Delights in Kabukicho, the World’s Most Famous Entertainment District: Known as the “Number One Entertainment District in the East,” Kabukicho isread moreThe Best 19 Things to Do in Shinjuku

16Jun, 20242024年6月14日

Experience

Do You Know Ukiyo-e Shifted Japanese Culture from Kansai to Tokyo?

By ninjakotan

Do You Know Ukiyo-e Shifted Japanese Culture from Kansai to Tokyo? “Ukiyo-e” Is a Genre of Painting Established in the Early Edo Period “Ukiyo-e” is a genre of painting established in the early Edo period. Generally, Edo-period woodblock prints are known as representative works of ukiyo-e. However, originally hand-painted pictures (those drawn directly with a brush) preceded and later transitioned to woodblock prints. Woodblock prints enabled mass production and lower costs, making them accessible to the general public. “Ukiyo-e” Means “Pictures Depicting Contemporary Fashion and Trends” The term “浮世(“Uki-yo”)” originates from “憂き世” (“Uki-yo”), where “Uki” means “suffering” or “painful” and “yo” is a noun meaning “world.” It refers to the transient and sorrowful nature of life. Later, it came to be used to describe contemporary trends and fashions. Therefore, “Ukiyo-e” means pictures depicting the fashionable trends of the time. Nishiki-e (Full-Color Prints) Began in 1765 Woodblock print ukiyo-e began with “Sumizuri-e” (black and white prints) in the Manji era (1657-1661). In 1690, “Tan-e” (hand-colored prints) were created by adding colors with a brush to Sumizuri-e, followed by “Beni-e” and “Urushi-e” in 1716. In 1744, “Benizuri-e” (prints using red, yellow, and green) emerged, and in 1765, “Nishiki-e” (full-color prints using multipleread moreDo You Know Ukiyo-e Shifted Japanese Culture from Kansai to Tokyo?

29May, 20242024年5月27日

Experience

The New ¥1,000 Note Featuring Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa”

By ninjakotan

The New ¥1,000 Note Featuring Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” Hokusai’s Ukiyo-e, ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa’, Featured on New Currency Note for the First Time On July 3, 2024, new banknotes (Japanese Banknotes) will be issued for the first time in 20 years since 2004. This new series of notes features numerous anti-counterfeiting technologies and universal designs, which will be detailed below. Ukiyo-e enthusiasts will likely focus on the reverse side of the new ¥1,000 note, which features the ukiyo-e master Katsushika Hokusai’s ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa.’ This marks the first time in history that ukiyo-e artwork has been used on currency. Additionally, the obverse of the new ¥1,000 note features a portrait of Shibasaburo Kitasato, a Nobel Prize-winning bacteriologist. Source: Photo taken by our company of a poster from the Bank of Japan Prototype of “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” Hokusai persistently challenged himself throughout his life with the depiction of waves. He drew waves multiple times in his life, constantly experimenting to capture the elusive movement of water. His masterpiece “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” was created in his early 70s, but its prototype is believed to be “Oshiokuri Hato Tsusen noread moreThe New ¥1,000 Note Featuring Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa”