April 20, 2010 in Sekaione Press, e-magazine by adminsekaione

e-Mag: May event in Japan

Gogatsuningyo ????
Toward Boy’s Day gogatsuningyo, warrior dolls, and kabuto, warriors’ helmets, are displayed at home, in the hope that the boys will grow as strong and healthy as warriors. But recently only kabuto are displayed because city houses and apartments have limited space.

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Koinobori ?????
Even now families with boys hoist koinobori, carp streamers. This originated from Chinese legend of strong carp that could fight their way up the Yellow River to become dragons.
The largest Koinobori measure 5 to 6 meters, but 1 to 2 meters koinobori sell best because many people put them up on the balconies of their apartment houses.

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Shobuyu ?????
On Tango no Sekku (Boy’s Day) iris and yomogi leaves decorate the eaves of houses, and an iris leaf bath is prepared because it is believed to drive away evil spirits. On this day sento, public bath houses, prepare iris baths, and children are admitted free.

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Warrior’s Helmet ??? (????
• Make a triangle.
• Fold again to make another triangle, and open.
• With folded edge, fold again to make two triangles along along center line.
• Take top layer and make a triangle, one of each side.
• Take inner edge and fold down equally on both sides away from you.
• Take top layer. Fold upward so point is halfway from top (not all the way to top).
• With the same piece, fold lower layer up again.
• To finish, tuck bottom flap inside.

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Clam Gathering at Low Tide ????
The spring tide occurs around Golden Week, and the water temperature has risen by this time. So people like to be on the beach, and clam gathering at low tide is one of the typical diversions of this season.

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Amusement Parks ???
Amusement parks are the most popular destinations for both young and old. People rush to Tokyo Disneyland especially. In 1991 more than half a million people had fun there during Golden Week. 100,000 came each day on peak days.

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Chatsumi ???
Young tea leaves are picked around the 88th day after Risshun. These are called ichiban-cha, first tea leaves, and they have a wonderful flavor and fragrance. Tea leaves traditionally were picked by hand, but because of the labor shortage, the work is now done by machine.

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Exodus ????
Narita Airport is crowded during Golden Week with Japanese tourists who travel to various parts of the world. Hawai, Guam and Southest Asia are their favorite destinations, but some also visit faraway places like South America, Africa or even the Antarctic.

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Overseas Travel ????
In 1964 when restrictions on overseas travel were lifted, the number of travelers was 130,000. Now about 10 million Japanese travel abroad annually for pleasure or on business. The strong yen encourages them to travel to foreign countries, because overseas travel is often less expensive domestic travel.
The busiest times for travelling abroad are New Year’s vacation, Golden Week, and summer.