Dear Language Enthusiast,
Greetings from Transparent Language! Every so often we send out this free newsletter
with topics of interest to Japanese language enthusiasts. This time, we will attach an
original letter written in Japanese as a separate file so that you can challenge yourself
by reading Japanese characters. We hope this helps you with your Japanese language
learning.
Here in New Hampshire flowers are blooming and spring seems to be upon us. As warm weather
approaches, traveling has been on our minds, and so we have chosen travel tips as the
topic for this newsletter. Included below are hints about when and where you should travel
in Japan along with information on some of Japan's fascinating festivals.
You will also find tips for using Power Japanese and JapaneseNow!
at the end of this newsletter.
Sincerely,
Transparent Language
www.transparent.com
In English:
As you continue to study Japanese, at some point you will have an urge to go to Japan
to try your Japanese. If you know the people and the country where the language is spoken,
I am sure you will acquire a clearer understanding of the culture behind the language.
When is the best season to explore Japan? Well, some people say it's April. Cherry
blossoms, the Japanese national flower, are beautiful then. Other people say it's autumn
because of the magnificent foliage; but if you are interested in seeing some of the best
festivals in Japan, summer is the season for that.
For most tourists, Tokyo is the first destination. Huge, chaotic, cosmopolitan, dense,
Tokyo is the place to encounter modern Japan's prosperity. For most Edokko (Tokyoites),
summer begins with a festival. The Sanja Festival, the most exciting one in Tokyo, is held
every year in mid-July at the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, where the flavor of the Edo
period, the era of samurai, still remains. The main event is the parade of mikoshi
(portable shrines); it attracts two million people!
You should not forget to include Kyoto on your itinerary. As most of you know, Kyoto is
the ancient capital where hundreds of temples and shrines-most of them designated as
national treasures-were beautifully preserved. The Aoi Festival is the one that tells
everyone in Kyoto of the coming of summer. In contrast to the Sanja Festival, the Aoi
Festival is elegant, tranquil, and perhaps the most picturesque pageant in Kyoto, home to
emperors and noble people for more than 1,000 years. Started in the sixth century, this
festival is the oldest and the best example of Heian culture--a period of courtly love,
art, and poetry, which was eventually usurped by the samurai warriors in the 12th century.
There is one thing you have to keep in mind: Japan has a notorious rainy season called
tsuyu when a light rain occurs for at least a part of each day. Every year it starts in
mid-June and continues for a whole month. Since it gets so humid, you should avoid
traveling in Japan during this season. The good news is that Hokkaido is exempt from the
rainy season, so you could enjoy Japan's dairy land during this time. In fact, the open
space and beautiful scenery of Hokkaido are unlike anything else in Japan.
Once tsuyu is over, Japan's hot and humid summer starts with the Gion festival in Kyoto.
Gion is probably one of the best festivals in all Japan. It starts on July 1st and
continues for about a month. The highlight is a parade of 32 festival floats that are
decorated spectacularly. Some of them are 50 feet high. The parade usually takes place on
July 17th. Some people, however, prefer yoiyama (the eve) or yoiyoiyama (the eve of the
eve), or even yoiyoiyoiyama (the eve of the eve of the eve) to the parade. Old Kyoto
houses display their household treasures. Young women, usually wearing yukata, (casual
cotton kimono for summer) get together to play music, whose rhythm, kon-chiki-chin, is
known nationwide. These are fantastic nights.
Hanabi (literally "flower fire" or fireworks) are also an essential part of
Japan's summer. Among hundreds of hanabi festivals held on riverbanks or beaches, perhaps
the one at the Sumida River in Tokyo is the most famous. Of course, you can buy sparklers
for your personal fireworks. They are available everywhere.
What if your itinerary doesn't accommodate these dates? Don't worry. August in Japan is
full of festivals, too. You may well come across some small festivals at local shrines. If
you are traveling in August, check the local tourist board.
One more piece of advice: If you want to experience really authentic accommodations, you
should try a ryokan instead of a western style hotel. It can be as expensive as some
high-class hotels, but it's worth the experience. You can enjoy the great feeling of
tatami (straw mats), authentic cuisine, and the traditional hospitality that ryokan have
preserved for years. You may even be induced to meditate. . .
