"Setsubun (sets-boon)"; the close of winter, the beginning of spring

February 3rd is the day of the close of winter.  In the traditional calender, February 4th is the beginning of spring.
"Setsubun" refers to the closing day for the transition of seasons; every season used to have the beginning day and the closing day.  "Setsbun" is the closing day of each season.
However, during Tokugawa Shogun era, only February 3rd was celebrated.  It seemed to welcome spring to get ready for agricultural work.

The ways we are celebrating "Setsubun" are in the pictures in this URL below; please take a look at them: (sorry about Japanese only)
http://tikitabi.com/sp/sp43/t04.html

We throw soybeans outside of our houses or to devils (sometimes ritually devils show up and stop by houses, and people throw beans to devils.)
It is saying that the spiritual balance is vulnerable due to evils' coming during the transition of seasons.  That is why we throw beans for the sake of exorcism.

After we throw beans, we eat beans as many as our ages.  For adult, it is too much calories these days.

The Entrance Examination to University in Japan

In the third weekend in January, the National Center for University Entrance Examinations (Center System) are set for two days at 690 test centers nationwide.
(http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/college-entrance-exams-begin-across-japan)

The Center System is the beginning of the series of entrance examination season in Japan.
Students have options to apply for the universities in which they would like to enter by using the scores from the Center System, however, national universities require the certain scores to apply for.  It doesn't help to release the stress under the pressure of single chance.
Most of the private universities have the exam in February, and most of public universities have them in March.  Many students travel around Japan to take exams in several universities like tours.

Actually, the government, MEXT, is thinking of changing the system in which students have more chances to take an exam just like SAT in United States.

Most of students burn out after entrance exam and take time to start with thinking of their carrier afterwards.
I would like to advise that everyone has many chances as long as he regards them as chances, even if she or he fails to enter the most favorite university to her or him.

Good luck anyway.

Coming-of-Age Day

Today, January 13 is a national holiday, called "Coming-of Age Day".
I have found the Web site about this day in English as follows:

"The second Monday of January is "Seijin no hi" (Coming-of-age Day) in Japan.
 People celebrate this day to welcome the young men and women, who have turned or will turn the age of 20 during the current year, as new members of society!! Ceremonies are held in every city, town and village. The people who have reached the age of twenty get the right to vote and also allowed to smoke and drink."
(http://www.eikaiwagakushu.com/nihonbunka/seijinnohi.html)

It used to be on January 15th, but since 2000, it has been set in the second Monday of January due to "Happy Monday Regulation", which legislate the some specific Monday as a national holiday to encourage to have vacations for hard-working Japanese people.

The reason why it used to be on January 15th is because it is "the small new year" on Lunatic Calender and used to have a ceremony of "Coming -of-Age Day" in Samurai era.
At that time, the age varied from 5-6 years old to 20 years old.  (According to Wikipedia)

A new year celebration in Japan

January 1st is a special day for Japanese people.
-families get together
-eat a special meal boxes, so called "Ossechy"
-eat vegetable soup dipped with a rice cake, so called "Ozounny"
-give money to kids, so called "Otoshi-Damma"
-drink flavored rice wine, so called "Otosso"

Please take a look at my photos below; those are things we have had in this new year events.

home-made "Ossechy" with Champaign and Red Wine

Each food has special implication regarding to health, wealth and future.

I will describe those implications someday as a new post.

"Ozounny"

Hard to see a rice cake but it is dipped under carrot.

"Otosso"

This is a traditional sake pitcher and sake cups (looks like small dishes).

We pour flavoured sake into sake cup (golden ones) and drink it.

"Otoshi-Damma"

Usually, we put some bills in it and give it to kids.  (sometimes relatives or other person as well)

The illustrates on the envelop represent the typical goods of new year in Japan.