Japan Information

Japanese Woman Cloth Fasion

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:57:00 +0000

There were some very distinct fashion trends for young women in Tokyo this Spring.
Denim jackets and skirts - Never worn together, but a short denim jacket would be worn over a dress or t-shirt with pants in a wide range of lengths from the very short to full length in either army green or camouflage .

Harajuku Bridge to Yoyogi Park

If it's Harajuku's youth culture you want to see, don't even bother unless it's the weekend and preferably a Sunday. The bridge across the train tracks from Harajuku station to Yoyogi Park is full of Gothic Lolita or GothLoli. The costumes are very outstanding and you can't miss them. It is funny to see the surprise of the western tourists heading to Yoyogi Park and Meiji Jingu who clearly had not read their guide books fully on Harajuku. You can hear their comments that make it very clear they just don't understand what is going on. Essentially the youth who have dressed up are just hanging out with friends, many of them come with the hope of being snapped by one of the many magazine photographers who mingle in the crowd. Failing that there are lots of western tourist happy to take their pictures. See nearly 50 exclusive pictures of GothLoli in Harajuku. See also Harajuku Fashion and Harajuku Pictures

Japan Visa REQUIREMENTS Get Japan Visa Today And Take Visit In Japan

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:53:00 +0000

Japan Visa REQUIREMENTS-
Who requires a visa?
Depending on the length of stay and nationality, either a tourist or student visa may be required:

Nationals of the following countries may not require visas for stays up to 6 months:
Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Mexico

No visa may be required for stays of 90 days or less:
Singapore, Canada, U.S.A., Argentina, Bahamas, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Rep., El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Suriname, Uruguay, Barbados, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Andorra, Czech Rep., Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Monaco, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Turkey, Lesotho, Mauritius, Tunisia

14 days or less:
Brunei

Visas are highly recommended for nationals of Malaysia and Peru

Temporarily suspended:
Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran

Note: Nationals of countries that have concluded visa exemption arrangements with Japan for stays of up to six months in principle are granted permission to stay in Japan for 90 days at the time of landing. Nationals of these countries who wish to stay in Japan for more than 90 days must apply at their nearest immigration authority in Japan for an extension of their period of stay.
Whether or not they hold a visa, visitors who do not possess visible means of support for their stay, onward or return tickets and other documents for their next destination may be refused entry.

What documents will be required?
The following documents must be submitted whatever the purpose of the visit:
passport
Two 45mm x 45mm passport-type photos taken within the previous six months (stateless persons must submit three photos)
Two official visa application forms, available at the embassy or consulate
documents certifying the purpose of the visit (see the accompanying table)
A copy of a certificate of admission from the educational institution where the person concerned intends to study.
documents certifying that the person concerned can defray all expenses incurred during the stay in Japan

Time required to issue visa:
Usually 2-7 days

Note: In the case of applications that require inquiries to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (for example, applications for work or study visas that are not accompanied by a Certificate of Eligibility), it usually takes two to three months or even longer, so in such cases please allow plenty of leeway

What is the cost of a visa?
Single-entry: 3,000 yen / US$25
Double or multiple-entry: 6,000 yen / US$50

Note: Visa fees vary depending on nationality. Check with the nearest Consulate for further information

How long is the visa valid for?
Depending on Nationality, students usually receive a 1 year visa. This is usually determined by the course duration. Extension for student visa's are usually possible.

Temporary Visitor visas for tourism purposes are normally valid for a stay of up to 3 months (extensions for another 3 months granted at the discretion of Immigration Department in Japan), and Employment/Working visas (including intra-company transfer visas) for a period of up to 3 years.

Other information:
Any foreigner wishing to enter or land in Japan must possess a valid passport and a student visa obtained from an embassy or consulate.
A student visa cannot be acquired after arriving in Japan.
It is not permitted to work in Japan under a student visa.

Nationals who are permitted to stay for 6 months will initially be granted a stay of up to 3 months and may then apply, while in Japan, to the local Immigration Department for an extension of a further 3 months.
Such extensions are at the discretion of the immigration authorities in Japan and may not be granted. For further information contact the Consulate (or Consular Section at Embassy).

Embassy contact information:
Contact nearest Japanese Embassy for more information.

Japanease Hot Single Woman For Online Dating

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:14:00 +0000

Beautiful Japanese Women - We have thousands of beautiful Japanese women looking for western men for dating, relationships or marriage.
Meet beautiful Japanese women who are interested in western men. These beautiful Japanese women can speak English and are interested in travel.

Dating Japanese women who are looking for western men for dating, relationships or marriage. You can be dating thousands of beautiful Japanese women through Japanese Lifestyle Friends who are interested in western men. These Japanese women can speak English and are interested in travel.

Sure you can go to Japanese cultural events or even fly to Japan and spend several nights trying your luck to meet some nice Japanese women in Roppongi, but the best way is to do your research online. A quality Japanese dating site, Japanese Lifestyle Friends has almost one million members, but more importantly it has really good quality members including thousands of beautiful Japanese women with pictures in their profiles. It is easy to find Japanese women that fit your criteria; you can search for Japanese women by age, location (country & city), languages they speak (particularly important to be able to find Japanese women that can speak English) and if they feature a picture in their profile. Advanced search features allow you to further refine your criteria when searching for your ideal Japanese women including; what relationship the Japanese women are looking for, their profession, education, weight, height, hair style, thoughts on smoking and children.

Understanding Japanese Women:While there are many things similar about Japanese women and western women, there are also many things that are different. The good news is that many Japanese women prefer western men because they will be treated more as an equal. Many Japanese women want to live in a western country because the lifestyle is more relaxed. Find out more about Japanese women by reading our article on the culture of Japanese women. If you have further questions about dating Japanese women then join our forum to discuss Japanese Women.

Japanese Single Woman

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 08:26:00 +0000

Japanese Women History

Gender has been an important principle of stratification throughout Japanese history, but the cultural elaboration of gender differences has varied over time and among different social classes. In the twelfth century (Heian period), for example, women could inherit property in their own names and manage it by themselves. Later, under feudal governments (the Shogunate), the status of women declined. Peasant women continued to have de facto freedom of movement and decision making power, but upper-class women's lives were subject to the patrilineal and patriarchal ideology supported by the government as part of its efforts at social control. With early industrialization, young women participated in factory work under exploitive and unhealthy working conditions without gaining personal autonomy. In the Meiji period, industrialization and urbanization lessened the authority of fathers and husbands, but at the same time the Meiji Civil Code denied women legal rights and subjugated them to the will of household heads. Peasant women were less affected by the institutionalization of this trend, but it gradually spread even to remote areas. In the 1930s and 1940s, the government encouraged the formation of women's associations, applauded high fertility, and regarded motherhood as a patriotic duty to the Japanese Empire.

After World War II, the legal position of women was redefined by the occupation authorities, who included an equal rights clause in the 1947 Constitution and the revised Civil Code of 1948. Individual rights were given precedence over obligation to family. Women as well as men were guaranteed the right to choose spouses and occupations, to inherit and own property in their own names, to initiate divorce, and to retain custody of their children. Women were given the right to vote in 1946. Other postwar reforms opened education institutions to women and required that women receive equal pay for equal work. In 1986 the Equal Employment Opportunity Law took effect. Legally, few barriers to women's equal participation in the life of society remain.

Japan Women - Education and workforce participation

Gender inequality, however, continues in family life, the workplace, and popular values. The notion expressed in the proverbial phrase "good wife, wise mother," continues to influence beliefs about gender roles. Most women may not be able to realize that ideal, but many believe that it is in their own, their children's, and society's best interests that they stay home to devote themselves to their children, at least while the children were young. Many women find satisfaction in family life and in the accomplishments of their children, gaining a sense of fulfilment from doing good jobs as household managers and mothers. In most households, women are responsible for their family budgets and make independent decisions about the education, careers, and life-styles of their families. Women also take the social blame for problems of family members.

Women's educational opportunities have increased in the twentieth century. Among new workers in 1989, 37 % of women had received education beyond upper-secondary school, compared with 43 % of men, but most women had received their postsecondary education in junior colleges and technical schools rather than in universities and graduate schools (see Education in Japan).

In 1990 approximately 50 % of all women over fifteen years of age participated in the paid labor force. At that time, two major changes in the female work force were under way. The first was a move away from household-based employment. Peasant women and those from merchant and artisan families had always worked. With self-employment becoming less common, though, the more usual pattern was separation of home and workplace, creating new problems of child care, care of the elderly, and housekeeping responsibilities. The second major change was the increased participation of married women in the labor force. In the 1950s, most women employees were young and single; 62 % of the female labor force in 1960 had never been married. In 1987 about 66 % of the female labor force was married, and only 23 % was made up women who had never married. Some women continued working after marriage, most often in professional and government jobs, but their numbers were small. Others started their own businesses or took over family businesses. More commonly, women left paid labor after marriage, then returned after their youngest children were in school. These middle-age recruits generally took low-paying, part-time service or factory jobs. They continued to have nearly total responsibility for home and children and often justified their employment as an extension of their responsibilities for the care of their families. Despite legal support for equality and some improvement in their status, married women understood that their husbands' jobs demanded long hours and extreme commitment. Because women earned an average of only 60 % as much as men, most did not find it advantageous to take full-time, responsible jobs after marriage, if doing so left no one to manage the household and care for children.

Yet women's status in the labor force was changing in the late 1980s, most likely as a result of changes brought about by the aging of the population (see Elderly people in Japan). Longer life expectancies, smaller families and bunched births, and lowered expectations of being cared for in old age by their children have all led women to participate more fully in the labor force. At the same time, service job opportunities in the post-industrial economy expanded, and there were fewer new male graduates to fill them.

Some of the same demographic factors—low birth rates and high life expectancies—also change workplace demands on husbands. For example, men recognize their need for a different kind of relationship with their wives in anticipation of long postretirement periods.

Japanese Women in the Workforce

After World War II, the fixed image of the Japanese woman has been that of the office lady, who becomes a housewife and a kyoiku mama after marriage. But a new generation of educated women is emerging, that is seeking a career as a working woman.

Japanese women are joining the labor force in unprecedented numbers. In 1987 there were 24.3 million working women (40% of the labor force), and they accounted for 59% of the increase in employment from 1975 to 1987. The participation rate for women in the labor force (the ratio of those working to all women aged fifteen and older) rose from 45.7% in 1975 to 50.6% in 1991 and was expected to reach 50% by 2000.

The growing participation of women reflected both supply and demand factors. Industries such as wholesaling, retailing, banking, and insurance have expanded, in large part because of the effective use of women as part-time employees.

There is a new term for the female counterpart of the "salaryman" (サラリーマン), the "career woman" (キャリアウーマン).

Japan Tourist Visa Get Easily Today Free Consultant

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:50:00 +0000

Japan Tourist Visas

Visitors from most European countries, Australia and North America are usually issued a 3-month tourist visa on each entry to the country (see below). Nationals from other countries will have to obtain a visa in advance to enter Japan.

Foreign tourists are required by Japanese law to carry their passports with them at all times.

Citizens of nations other than those listed below must apply for a 90-day tourist visa in their home countries from the Japanese embassy or consulate.
Passport photos and a return ticket are usually necessary. Processing is usually free of charge.

Countries that have reciprocal visa exemption arrangements with Japan are:

6 months or less: (An extendable 3-month visa is usually issued on arrival, for further details see Immigration Offices).

Austria, Germany, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Switzerland, UK.

3 months or less: (A non-extendable 3-month visa is usually issued on arrival).

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Guatemala Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Iceland, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Malta, Macedonia, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Tunisia, Turkey and Uruguay.

Types of Japan Residence Visa

Visa Telephone Service Number: 03 5501 8431

According to Japanese law there are 27 types of residence visa as well as the tourist visas described above. Residency periods for these visas range from permanent status to a 15 day transit visa, including visas for 3 years, 1 year, 6 months, 3 months, 90 days and 15 days. Visas which allow paid work on the whole require a Japanese company, school, university or individual to act as sponsor.

accounting or law business
artist - artists, musicians and writers; not allowed to receive an income
company internal transfer - employee of a foreign company with main or branch office in Japan, transferred to Japan for a specified period of time
cultural activity - students of Japanese arts and martial arts etc - technically are not allowed to re
ceive an income
diplomat or consular official
education - language teaching in Japanese elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools and private language schools
engineering
entertainment industry
family resident - spouses and children of persons holding specified visas
foreign spouse or child of a Japanese national - typically 1 or 3 years. Spouse visa holders can legally work
government official
humanities, social science knowledge or international business
investment or management - managers of trading companies with offices and 2 or more full time employees
media - employees of media organizations including newspapers and TV stations inclusing freelancers
medical care - qualified doctors or Japan licenced nurse
overseas student - students of Japanese universities or vocational schools
permanent resident - spouses of Japanese nationals and long-term residents who have lived in Japan at least five consecutive years are advised to apply for this visa
professor - professors, assistant professors and lecturers (full-time or part-time) who work in a Japanese university, usually 1 or 3 years
religious - members of religious groups sent to Japan to undertake religious activities
research - paid research under contract with a public or private institution
school attendance - high school or language school students
settlement visa - cases determined by the Justice Ministry
short-term resident - 15 day or 90 day tourist or family visit visa
specific activity - cases determined by the Justice Ministry
spouse or child of a permanent resident - this visa is valid for between three months and three years and the holder is only allowed to work with permission of the immigration office
technical skill
training

Re-entry Permits

All Japan visa holders in the majority of cases will need a re-entry permit to re-enter Japan after travel abroad. Single or multiple use re-entry permits valid for 3 years can be obtained at immigration offices and at airport immigration offices in the case of emergency. Stamps corresponding to the re-entry permit fee must be purchased from booths either in or near the Immigration Office.

Working Holiday Visas

Japan has mutual working holiday visa agreements with Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Korea and New Zealand. Young people normally between the ages of 18-25 (sometimes 30 with the agreement of the immigration office) may work part-time during a one-year stay in Japan.

For further details on visas for Japan contact the Japanese embassy in your home country

Alien Registration

All non-Japanese citizens who are resident in Japan for more than 90 days will need to apply for an alien registration card (gaikokujin-toroku-shomeisho) within their first 90 days of residence. Alien registration cards are issued from local ward offices and contain the photograph (but no longer the fingerprint) of the holder.

Alien registration cards are necessary documents for obtaining a driving license, opening a bank account, buying a house and other activities requiring legal proof of identity. Foreign residents of Japan are legally required to carry their alien registration cards at all times.

Alien registration cards need to be updated if the holder's visa status changes or the holder moves to live in a different ward of the same city or to a different city within Japan

Make Your Tour Happy Know the Cost Of Traveling In JAPAN

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 05:18:00 +0000

TRAVEL COST:Before Going To Japan For a Travel You Must have to think about your Cost.And here is all information about your travel cost which will make your travel more Happy.

One US dollar is roughly 100 Yen - 110 Yen.

Sample daily budgets Not including cost for a 7-day Japan Rail Pass, but excluding airfare.
	Single Traveler	Two Travelers
Low Budget	6,500 - 10,000 Yen	13,000 - 17,500 Yen
Medium Budget	10,000 - 16,000 Yen	17,500 - 28,000 Yen
High Budget	over 16,000 Yen	over 28,000 Yen

ACCOMMODATION-
Low budget:
1,500 - 3,500 Yen per night and person
Dormitories and youth hostels, found in most cities and regions of Japan, typically charge between 1500 and 3500 Yen per night and person. Furthermore, booking services like Hostelworld offer great deals.

Medium budget:
3,500 - 7,000 Yen per single room and night
5,000 - 10,000 Yen per double room and night
At this level, you will find rooms in cheap business hotels and inexpensive, no-frills minshuku and ryokan. Some tour packages (for individual travelers) include accommodation at quality Western style hotels at this price level.

High budget:
over 7,000 Yen per single room and night
over 10,000 Yen per double room and night
Starting around 7000 Yen per person, you can get rooms in good business hotels and inexpensive Western style hotels. A stay at a ryokan with two meals included typically costs between 10,000 and 30,000 Yen per person and night. For a room in a high class Western style hotel, you typically pay 20,000 to 50,000 Yen per room and night.

Breakfast:

Low budget:
200 - 500 Yen per day
At this level, you will have to live from convenience store food (bread, rice balls, etc.) or visit fast food restaurants like McDonald's or Mister Donut which offer inexpensive breakfasts.

Medium budget:
500 - 1,000 Yen per day
Many coffee shops and some restaurants in shopping areas and around train stations offer breakfast sets for around 500 to 1000 Yen.

High budget:
above 1,000 Yen per day
Hotel breakfasts and breakfast buffets will usually cost you more than 1000 Yen. Breakfasts buffets in first-class hotels typically cost between 2000 and 3000 Yen.

Lunch:

Low budget:
400 - 700 Yen per day
Inexpensive lunch boxes are available in convenience stores and stands in railway stations and business districts. Various fast food restaurants, specializing in noodles, curry, domburi or hamburger, also offer relatively filling meals for 700 Yen or less.

Medium budget:
700 - 1,200 Yen per day
At this level you will have an even larger range of inexpensive restaurants such as the above mentioned fast food places, plus restaurants which offer lunch set special, so called teishoku, for around 1000 Yen.

High budget:
above 1,200 Yen per day
A lunch at most conventional restaurants cost typically between 1000 and 3000 Yen.

Dinner:

Low budget:
400 - 700 Yen per day
Convenience stores sell various, inexpensive ready-to-eat meals. Other options are again cheap fast food restaurants.

Medium budget:
700 - 2,000 Yen per day
Conventional restaurants are generally more expensive in the evening than during lunch time, as there are no lunch specials. At this level, you will be able to enjoy a nice dinner at a wide range of fast food and conventional restaurants, including the restaurants found in department stores where meals typically cost between 1000 and 2000 Yen, not including alcoholic drinks.

High budget:
above 2,000 Yen per day
With 3000 Yen per person you will be able to have a good dinner at a wide range of restaurants. Calculate 5000 Yen upwards per person for a dinner at upper class restaurants specializing in sushi, French cuisine, sukiyaki, kaiseki ryori, steaks, etc.

Sightseeing:

Low budget:
0 - 500 Yen per day
Japan offers many free attractions. Most shrines and some temples do not charge admission fees. A few museums charge no admission on one day of the week or month.

Medium budget:
500 - 1,000 Yen per day
Admission to famous temples costs between 100 to 700 Yen (around 200 Yen in Kamakura and around 400 Yen in Kyoto and Nara). Most museums and castles charge about 200-1000 Yen per person.

High budget:
above 1,000 Yen per day
Some museums and attractions (usually outstanding ones or tourist traps) charge between 1000 and 3000 Yen per person. Admission to large theme parks typically cost around 5000 Yen per day.

Japanese Accomodation Information Start From CHEAPER TO HIGHER.

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:36:00 +0000

Japan offers a wide range of accommodation types. Lodgings come in both the typical Japanese and Western styles, as well as in unconventional forms such as capsule hotels and temple lodgings.

Prices range from less than 2,000 yen per person for a bed in a dormitory to more than 25,000 yen per person for a night at a first class hotel or ryokan. Note that hotel rates in Japan are often given as "cost per person" rather than "cost per room".

Below is a list of accommodation types found in Japan. One US dollar corresponds to roughly 100 yen. See the current yen exchange rates for a more precise conversion.

Japanese Style:Ryokan
6,000 to 30,000 yen per person
Ryokan are traditional Japanese style inns with Japanese style rooms and meals. A stay at a ryokan is recommended to all travelers to Japan as it gives you the opportunity to experience a traditional Japanese lifestyle.

Minshuku
4,000 to 10,000 yen per person
Minshuku are Japanese style "bed and breakfast" lodgings. They are usually family run, offer Japanese style rooms, and often include one or two meals in the price.

Western Style:Western Style Hotels
10,000 Yen to 50,000 yen per room
Western style hotels, including various international and Japanese hotel chains, can be found across Japan, especially in the larger cities.

Business Hotels
4,000 to 9,000 yen per person
Business hotels offer small, simple Western style rooms with snacks and drinks provided by vending machines. Some business hotel chains, such as APA Hotel, Super Hotel and Toyoko Inn, operate dozens of hotels across Japan.

Pensions
4,000 to 12,000 yen per person
Pensions are comparable to minshuku (see above), except that they offer rooms in Western style rather than in Japanese style.

Low Budget:Dormitories
1,500 to 3,000 yen per person
Dormitories, usually housed in older buildings, can mainly be found in large cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Many dormitories offer women-only rooms.

Hostels
2,500 to 4,000 yen per person
Hostels offer lodging and meals at the lowest budget level. Japan Youth Hostels, a member of the International Youth Hostel Federation, operates more than 300 hostels across Japan.

Unique Lodgings:Capsule Hotels
3,000 to 4,000 yen per person
Mainly targeting a male clientele in need of nothing but a bed, capsule hotels accommodate their guests in small capsules. A television, a shared bathroom and coin lockers are usually provided.

Love Hotels
6,000 to 12,000 yen per room and overnight stay
Not meant as tourist lodgings, love hotels are visited by couples who wish to enjoy some undisturbed time together. Rooms at love hotels can be rented for 2-3 hours during the day or for an overnight stay.

Temple Lodgings
3,000 to 10,000 yen per person
It is possible for tourists to spend the night at some Buddhist temple lodgings (shukubo). One of the best places to experience a night at a temple is Mount Koya.

Longer stays:Weekly and Monthly Apartments
From 40,000 yen per month
Apartments and shared apartments, rented on a weekly or monthly basis (sometimes even on a daily basis), are among the most inexpensive ways of staying in Japan for an extended period. Several companies have emerged which specifically target foreigners in Japan.

OKINAWA Travel Guide,Take a visit in OKINAWA

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:17:00 +0000

Okinawa is Japan's southernmost prefecture, consisting of a few dozen, small islands in the southern half of the Nansei Shoto, the island chain which stretches over about one thousand kilometers from Kyushu to Taiwan.

Okinawa Prefecture can be divided into three major island groups, the Okinawa Islands (Okinawa Shoto) around Okinawa Island (Okinawa Honto), the Miyako Islands (Miyako Retto) around Miyako Island and the Yaeyama Islands (Yaeyama Retto) around Ishigaki Island.

Okinawa's climate is subtropical, with temperatures barely falling below 15 degrees in winter. The seas surrounding Okinawa's islands are considered among the world's most beautiful with coral reefs and abundant marine wildlife. Consequently, snorkeling and scuba diving are among Okinawa's top attractions.

The islands making up Okinawa Prefecture, are also known as the Ryukyu Islands, named after the native culture, which is distinctly different from that of the rest of Japan in terms of language, cuisine, arts, etc.

An independent kingdom and tributary state to China for several centuries, the Ryukyu Islands came under control of the Satsuma feudal fief (today's Kagoshima Prefecture) in the 17th century, and were made a Japanese prefecture in 1879, accompanied by efforts to assimilate the native population. But despite these past efforts, the Ryukyuan culture survived and is now Okinawa's other main attraction.

Towards the end of World War Two, Okinawa became the stage of one of the war's bloodiest battles, when American troops invaded the islands. Okinawa remained under US administration until 1972, while several thousands of US military members remain stationed on the spacious and controversial US military bases on Okinawa Main Island today. Attractions

Yaeyama Islands	Okinawa's southernmost island group.
Okinawa Island	Okinawa's main island.

How to get to Okinawa
Okinawa is best accessed by airplane. Ferries provide a slower, but not necessarily cheaper alternative. Please consult the Okinawa Island orientation page for more details.

Take a visit in "TOHOKU" city of "JAPAN" -Travel Guide

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:10:00 +0000

Want to take a visit in "TOHOKU" city of "JAPAN".Now see about "TOHOKU" Travel Guide. The Tohoku (lit. "North East") Region consists of six prefectures in the north of Japan's largest island Honshu. The Tohoku region is well known for its countryside, mountains, lakes, high quality rice and rough winters.
How to get to the Tohoku Region The Tohoku Region is well connected with Tokyo by the Tohoku, Yamagata and Akita Shinkansen lines.

Attractions

Aomori Preferture

Oirase Stream	Mountain stream famous for autumn colors.
Hirosaki	Former castle town in Northern Tohoku.

Akita Prefecture

Kakunodate

City with nicely preserved samurai district.

Iwate Prefecture

Hiraizumi

Tohoku's former cultural and political capital.

Yamagata Prefecture

Dewa Sanzan

Three sacred mountains with shrines.

Miyagi Prefecture

Matsushima	Scenic bay dotted by pine clad islets.
Sendai	Largest city in the Tohoku Region

Tohoku is every bit as beautiful as Hokkaido, with a rugged, mountainous terrain, which, coupled with spectacularly snowy winters, has isolated the region and contributed to the preservation of its traditions. In fact, Tohoku was so far removed from the ancient capitals of Kyoto and Kamakura, that the powerful Fujiwara clan was able to set up a kingdom of their own here in Hiraizumi, chosen for its location at the junction of two rivers and on the main road leading from Kyoto to the north. Hiraizumi reached its zenith in the 11th and 12th centuries, when it rivaled Kyoto in splendor. Today, Kyoto is Japan’s most famous destination, while Hiraizumi is a small village with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. Yet the area boasts some famous historic sites, including Chusonji Temple, with a treasure house containing 3,000 cultural objects and works of art; Konjikido, an elaborately decorated building famous throughout Japan for its decorations of gold leaf and mother of pearl; and Motsuji Temple with its traditional garden.

Tohoku’s natural beauty that speaks to me the most. One of my favorite spots in all of Japan is along the Oirase Stream, a clear, gurgling mountain stream that courses over moss-covered boulders and down waterfalls as it flows from Lake Towada 42 miles to the Pacific. Flanking the stream starting at Lake Towada is one of the prettiest hiking trails in the country, an 8-mile path shaded by maple, oak, and beech trees.

Hokkaido Travel Guide Get a Visit In Hokkaido

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:58:00 +0000

HOKKAIDO TRAVEL GUIDE :Hokkaido is the second largest, northernmost and least developed of Japan's four main islands.

Hokkaido's weather is harsh in winter with lots of snowfall, below zero temperatures and frozen seas, while in summer, it does not get as hot and humid as in the other parts of the country.

With its unspoiled nature, Hokkaido attracts many outdoor lovers, including skiers and snowboarders in the colder seasons and hikers, cyclists and campers from June to September.

Attractions

Cities

Sapporo	The largest city on the island of Hokkaido.
Hakodate	Southernmost city on Hokkaido.
Otaru	Harbor city near Sapporo with a canal.
Abashiri	Known for its prison and drift ice in winter.

Resorts

Niseko	Leading snow resort with lots of powder snow.
Furano	Town with beautiful lavender and flower fields.
Noboribetsu	Hokkaido's most famous hot spring resort.
Jozankei Onsen	Popular hot spring resort near Sapporo.

National Parks

Shiretoko	National park on an unspoiled peninsula.
Daisetsuzan	Hokkaido's largest and wildest national park.
Rishiri and Rebun	Small islands near Hokkaido's northern tip.
Akan National Park	National park with beautiful lakes.
Onuma Park	National park 20 kilometers north of Hakodate.
Lake Shikotsu	Picturesque caldera lake near Sapporo.
Lake Toya	Site of Mount Usu, an active volcano.
Kushiro Marshlands	Marshlands populated by Japanese cranes

Comfortable Accommodations in Tokyo at Reasonable Rates

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:55:00 +0000

Comfortable Accommodations in Tokyo in a Cheap Price:New visitors to Tokyo and Japan have understandable concerns when it comes to finding a hotel. Can I find a hotel in my budget? Will it be clean and safe? Will the staff speak English? Fortunately the JCHA (Japan City Hotel Association) exists to address these concerns and assist US and English speaking visitors in finding the right hotel to suit your needs.

The Kanto Branch of the association has many member hotels in the Tokyo area and many more throughout Japan. A wide variety of hotels and accommodations can provide suitable facilities for the single traveler, vacationing families, or business events complete with conference rooms. The association specializes in three-star class hotels which are surprisingly affordable. Though some five-star luxuries may be absent, you won't be sacrificing cleanliness, safety, or friendly service which can be found at any of their member hotels.

Founded in 1971, the JCHA aims at providing safe and comfortable accommodations at reasonable rates by helping reasonably priced hotels to improve their facilities and services. By helping them to offer better services and more conveniences, JCHA intends to contribute to developing tourism in Japan and consequently promoting international friendship.

Hotels in Tokyo - Take a Visit and know which Hotel is best for you

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:30:00 +0000

Hotels in Tokyo:It's not uncommon to hear that the Japanese make foreign visitors feel very welcome. This is not only witnessed in the hospitality of citizens but the business community as well. Case in point - The Japan Tourist Hotel Association, a non-profit organization. The association has many member hotels across Japan dedicated to providing foreign guests with a clean, friendly place to stay. All members subscribe to a set of standards provided to ensure reliable and qualified services for guests.

There are two basic types of lodging available:

* Ryokans - Japanese style hotels, sometimes called traditional inns. Ryokans vary from small, family-run inns to large Japanese style hotels.

* Western Style Hotels - Perhaps a more familiar environment. These hotels range from budget to luxury with the majority falling into the budget-business class.

We recommend looking for traditional Ryokan style inns. A hotel may be a nice place to sleep but a Ryokan can be a lesson in Japanese culture and a lot of fun. Turn your lodging into an experience you'll tell friends about when you return home.

There are more than member 70 hotels in Tokyo alone. A brochure from the association provides rates and many details on each. Much of this information can also be found on their website in English. Accommodations in the Tokyo area are listed by location and by price to help you find the right place quickly.

Within Tokyo separate listings are provided for the following locations: Nihonbashi, Yaesu, Kanda, Ochanomizu, Kamata, Haneda, Shiba, Shinagawa, Yotsuya, Shinanomachi, Hongo, Bunkyo, Shinjuku, Ogikubo, Ryogoku, Ueno, Asakusa, Sugamo, Otsuka, Tama, Tachikawa, Sagami-ko, Ohshima, and Hachijojima.

Visit the Tokyo Branch of The Japan Tourist Hotel Association on the web to learn more.

Day & Overnight Tours From Tokyo

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:03:00 +0000

Day & Overnight Tours From Tokyo - So you're staying in Tokyo and there's plenty to see and and do. Wish you had someone to show you around? Someone who will show you the sights and have you back in the evening -or- take you on an overnight adventure and really get away from the city. Good news, you do. That someone is JALPAK and no one knows Tokyo and the surrounding area better.

These tours are affordable and we stand by what we always say - You can see more in one day, for less money, on a professional guided tour than if you tried to do it yourself. Tours with JALPAK start at under $50 for an afternoon or under $100 for a full day of adventure with discounts for children available. Prices are subject to change so be sure to contact JALPAK for accurate information. One thing we like about JALPAK's brochure and website information is prices published in US dollars, no guesswork or calculators required.

If a day excursion from Tokyo is what you seek then think about the Kamakura Walking Tour. See the great Buddha at the Hase Kannon Temple and more on this walk. On the Nikko - World Heritage tour visit the Toshogu Shrine, a beautiful structure built in the 17th century as a mausoleum for the 1st Shogun. Other day tours include; Okutama Walking & Sake Tour, Mt. Fuji & Hakone Tour, Full Day Edo Park Tour, Tokyo Night Life Tour, Kabuki Night Tour, and of course there are more tours of Tokyo City itself.

Overnight tours from Tokyo include a Mt. Fuji & Hakone Tour where, aside from seeing the great mountain, you'll get a boat cruise on Lake Hakone and a soak in an onsen (natural hot spring). How about a Shinkansen Tour where you'll visit Hakone and Kyoto on the famous bullet train.

Tour packages include more than we have mentioned here and may vary due to weather or seasonal changes. Be sure to visit JALPAK on the web to get all the details.

World Heritage Tours from Tokyo

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:54:00 +0000

World Heritage Tours from Tokyo - World Heritage sites are those designated by *UNESCO to have cultural and natural heritage considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. Japan has many locations designated as World Heritage sites and many can be found in or near Tokyo. Sunrise Tours can show you more than you imagined possible.

Some of the tours and World Heritage sites on them are; Nikko Tour where you'll see the Yomeimon Gate and Toshogu Shrine, Free Plan Kyoto Tour where you'll see the Ryoanji Temple and Daigoji Temple, and the Free Plan Hiroshima Tour where you'll see the A-bomb Dome and the Itsukushima Shrine. Other World Heritage sites you can reach from Tokyo with Sunrise Tours include; Kiyomizu Temple, Todaiji Temple and the Great Buddha, Himeji Castle, Kasuga Shrine, Golden Pavilion, and Shirakawago.

Sunrise Tours publishes a 153 page glossy brochure for 2005 with enough information to keep you reading and planning for days. It's packed with photos of many tour destinations, hotels, and local maps of key urban areas. It's really more than a brochure, it's a travel guide. Their website is also top-notch and worth bookmarking as Japan reference source. You'll find photos of each location mentioned on this page there as well. The default language is English but prices are published in Yen so you'll need to convert them manually.

Sunrise Tours are operated by JTB Corporation, a respected name worldwide in the Japan travel industry. A full service travel agency, they are capable of handling any of the above mentioned tours or your complete vacation.

Tours of Tokyo - Culture, Highlights, Old & New

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:10:00 +0000

Tours of Tokyo - Culture, Highlights, Old & New--
Even if you plan on showing yourself around Tokyo, take our advice and choose at least one packaged tour from an experienced tour company. You'll see more in less time and for less money than if you tried to do it all on your own. Kintetsu International provides many tours around Japan including Tokyo.

Some tours and sights of Tokyo you can see include:

* Highlights of the Capital Tour - Tokyo Tower, Meiji Shrine, Akasaka Guest House, National Diet Building, Imperial Palace East Garden, Ginza Shopping District.

* Culture Tour of Tokyo Tour - Ginza Shopping District, Imperial Palace, Tasaki Pearl Gallery, Sumida River Cruise, Asakusa Kannon Temple, Nakamise Shopping Street, Kappabashi, Ueno and Akihabara.

* Tokyo Old & New in One Day Tour - Tokyo Tower, Meiji Shrine, Akasaka Guest House, National Diet Building, Imperial Palace East Garden, Ginza Shopping District, Kushiage lunch at Ginza Isomura, Tasaki Pearl Gallery, Sumida River Cruise, Asakusa Kannon Temple, Nakamise Shopping Street, Kappabashi, Ueno and Akihabara.

Kintetsu is more than just a package tour provider. Established in 1974, Kintetsu is a full-service travel company providing a wide range of travel products and services. With over 250 employees and seven offices located in major cities throughout the United States, their specialties include: corporate travel management, group travel, meetings and incentives, discount travel to Japan and Asia, leisure travel, and worldwide hotel reservations.

Visit Kintetsu International on the web to learn more.

TRAVEL TOKYO: Cruising On Tokyo Bay & The Sumida Rive

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:10:00 +0000

Cruising On Tokyo Bay & The Sumida River--
Looking for a unique view of Tokyo? How about a view of the city from Tokyo Bay and the Sumida River which feeds into it. Tokyo Cruise Ship Company owns and operates over a dozen ships on various routes around the city.

Newly constructed Water Bus “Himiko” (pictured right) produced by Mr. Leiji Matsumoto, one of the best renowned Japanese cartoonists, now runs from Asakusa to Odaiba Seaside Park, to Hinode Pier and then back to Asakusa. “Himiko” is a completely unique water bus with its streamline shaped body with 3D windows. Mr. Matsumoto designed based on its concepts, “the image of teardrop” and “the ship appealing to children.” During the daytime the futuristic ship runs through old Edo and modern Tokyo while enjoying 360-degree panoramic view. At night the floor panels are lit up and emphasize the ship’s sophisticated design. “Himiko” is named after Queen Himiko who was the first recognized independent lady in Japanese history.

While their core business is daily transportation for Tokyo's citizens, Tokyo Cruise Ship Company offers a number of scenic tours and friendly service for US and English-speaking tourists. You can even charter one of their ships for a private cruise.

Some of the cruise lines to choose from:

* Museum of Maritime Science, Shinagawa Aquarium Line - Operates from the Hinode Pier to The Museum of Maritime Science to Ooi Seaside Park and finally to Shinigawa Aquarium which offers an underwater walk through a 22 meter long tunnel and a variety of sea life.

* Tokyo Big Sight, Palette Town Line - Operates from Hinode Pier to Tokyo Big Site (Ariake) to Palette Town. If shopping is on your list of things to do, this line includes VenusFort, a fashionable shopping mall designed for women shoppers. VenusFort is located in Palette Town, a futuristic commercial district also containing the "Mega Web" car pavilion.

* Tokyo Sealife Park Line - Operates from Hinode Pier to Tokyo Big Sight (Ariake) to Palette Town to Tokyo Sealife Park. See penguins, bluefin tuna, a bird sanctuary, and a beach on the bay all just one train ride away from Tokyo Disneyland.

* Odaiba Line - Operates from Hinode Pier to Harumi to Odaiba Seaside Park. However you get there, don't miss Odaiba Seaside park. A futuristic spot with cafes, refined restaurants, and amusement halls packed with advanced technologies all await on waterfront property.

* Sumida River Line - Operates from Asakusa to Hamarikyu Gardens to Hinode Pier. A great tour when Tokyo's cherry blossoms are in bloom. Boating from Asakusa to Hinode Pier also reveals views of twelve unique bridges on the way.

Ask your travel agent about Tokyo Cruise Ship Company or visit them on the web to learn more.

Tokyo Travel And What Is The Best Time For Travel in Tokyo

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:55:00 +0000

Tokyo is one of most beautiful city of this world and it's capital city of Japan.Many people from allover the world comes in every year for make a travel in here.but some country people can't came here and missing this beauty for some visa problem they can't came to see this city.see the visa information here for visit Tokyo today.

TOKYO, the first city that comes to mind when you think of Japan. While Japan offers a diverse range of climates and settings, it is this thriving and dense city which sets the tone for which Japan is known. With Narita Airport nearby (the international travel hub for Japan), Tokyo will likely be the first and last place you see regardless of your final destination.

Stay in Tokyo for under $50 US per night or find deals on luxury hotels. Take a guided tour and see more sites in one day, for less money, than you could ever do on your own. It's all right here. Don't look to discount travel websites for these deals. We've hand picked the best Japan travel specialists, capable of servicing US and English speaking visitors, to make your trip to Tokyo a trip worth remembering.

Best time For Travel Tokyo:

Spring (March-May)

Plum blossoms start blooming at the end of February. You can visit plum festivals in parks and gardens. See Japanese Plum Festivals

Sakura or cherry blossoms bloom in March and April on the main land in Japan. Viewing the pretty sakura flowers is a main reason for many travelers to visit Japan. See Japanese Cherry Blossom Links

There is a popular Japanese vacation season called Golden week (around April 29 to around May 5.) I recommend avoiding traveling to Japan in this season if you can.

Summer (June-August)

June and the beginning of July is the Japanese rainy season called Tsuyu. If you don't like rain avoid this time. I think it can be a cool and nice time to visit Japan. But it really does rain everyday! In Hokkaido, there is no rainy season, so you don't have to worry about the rain.

July and August are usually very hot and humid on the mainland in Japan. If you are visiting Hokkaido, these months are the best, because the weather is cool and dry there.

O-bon festival time (August 13-16) is another Japanese vacation season. I recommend avoiding this time if you can. However, Tokyo tends to be less crowded since many people go back to their home towns.

Fall (September-November)

There are many regional festivals are held in the fall in Japan. There are more opportunities for you to see festivals at this time.

Fall foliage is the best at the end of October and the beginning of November. See Autumn in Japan.

Winter (December - February)

Winter in Japan is cold, but it's not so bad. In Tokyo, the temperature hardly drops below 33F. January and February is a good time for skiing. There are many good ski resorts in Hokkaido and the north region on Honshu island.

New Year's is a holiday for Japanese people. It's like Christmas for Western countries. Highways, airlines, and trains are extremely crowded around December 28 -29 to January 3-4. I recommend avoiding this period if you can.New Year Of Japan

Gomoku - Japanese Board Game

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:02:00 +0000

Gomoku - Japanese Board Game:Gomoku, also written Go-Moku (lit. "five points") is a Japanese board game traditionally played with Go pieces and board (black and white stones on a 19x19 line board). The stones are placed on the intersections of the board, with Black playing first. The winner is the first player to get an unbroken row of five stones, either orthogonally or diagonally.

A moment's consideration will reveal that having a row of four of your stones, with blank spaces at each end, is a winning condition; no matter which end your opponent blocks, you will win by placing a stone at the other end.

The next step before that, obviously, is having an open row of three stones; this must be blocked, or it will develop into the open row of four.

The next step is to form two open rows of three, which share a common stone, which when placed, wins the game: your opponent can't block the formation of an open row of four stones.

Gomoku is played with many slight variations to the rules. A common variant is to require a row of exactly five stones for a win, longer rows (so-called over-lines) not counting. This variant is called standard gomoku, as opposed to free-style gomoku. The game is also now commonly played on a 15x15 board instead of the traditional 19x19. Another rule often used is the "rule of three and three", which says that you cannot form two open three-in-a-rows in the same move, even if such a move is required to block your opponent from winning. Sometimes, the restriction on over-lines or "rule of three and three" is only applied to black, who has the first move.

Careful computer analysis by L. Victor Allis has shown that, at least on a 15x15 board, Black wins with perfect play. This applies whether or not over-lines are considered as wins, but it assumes that the rule of three and three is not used.

The game of renju is a variant played on a 15x15 board with a number of additional rules designed to make the game fairer. Ninuki-renju is a variant which adds capturing to the game; it was published in the

USA

in a slightly simplified form under the name Pente.

Daijiro Kato - Japanese Motorcycle Racer

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:22:00 +0000

Professional Baseball League in

Japan

:The Professional Baseball League in

Japan

is called "Puro Yakyu".

It consists of two leagues, the Central League and the Pacific League. The teams in the Central League are the Yomiuri Giants, the Chunichi Dragons, the Yakuruto Swallows, the Hiroshima Carp, the Hanshin Tigers, and the Yokohama BayStars. The teams in the Pacific League are the Kintetsu Buffaloes, the Seibu Lions, the Nihonhamu Fighters, the Chiba Lotte Marines, the Orix Blue Wave, and the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks.

The season starts in April and ends in October with three all star games in July. The two leagues play through a regular season that consists of 140 games. The best teams from each league play in the "Nihon Series." In the 2002 season, Yomiuri Giants, which consists of Hideki Matsui, Kazuhiro Kiyohara , and Koji Uehara, won the Central League regular season. The Seibu Lions, which consists of Kazuo Matsui, Alex Cabrera, and Daisuke Matsuzaka, won the Pacific League regular season. And the Yomiuri Giants won the 2002 Nihon Series. Tomohiro Nioka won the Nihon Series MVP.

Japanese Famous and Most Popular Person

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:36:00 +0000

JAPANESE POPULAR PEOPLE OR PERSON: Here in bellow is a list of Japanese most popular and famous person's.

Fujimura Shinichi - Japanese Archeologist & Fraud
Esaki Leona - Japanese Physicist & Nobel Prize Winner
Jokichi Takamine - Japanese Chemist
Goro Shimura - Japanese-American Mathematician
Jiro Watanabe - Japanese Former Boxer
Kamato Hongo - World's Oldest Living Person
Kanichi Asakawa - Japanese Historian
Kanjuro Shibata XX - Bowmaker and Kyudo Teacher
Kawabata Yasunari - Japanese Novelist
Kazuo Miyagawa - Japanese Cinematographer
Kazuo Umezu - Famous Author of Japanese Horror Manga
Kenzaburo Oe - Japanese Writer
Keio University - Japan's Oldest Institution of Higher Education
Kimono - Japanese Traditional Women's Garment
Kitano Takeshi - Japanese Actor, Author, Poet, Painter and Filmmaker
Kiyoshi Atsumi - Japanese Film Actor
Kobayashi Masaki - Japanese Director
Kogo Noda - Japanese Screenwriter
Kon Ichikawa - Japanese Film Director
Masatoshi Koshiba - Japanese Physicist
Mikio Sato - Japanese Mathematician
Mitoyo Kawate - Oldest Person in the World
Motoori Norinaga - Japanese Scholar
Naoko Takeuchi - Japanese manga artist
Natsume Soseki - pen-name of Natsume Kinnosuke, a Japanese novelist
Nichiren Daishonin - Buddhist monk in 13th century Japan
Oda Sakunosuke - Japanese author
Ryoji Noyori - recipient of Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Ryuichi Abe - professor of Japanese religions and Buddhism
Sen no Rikyu - Japanese tea ceremony influential figure
Shibasaburo Kitasato - Japanese physician and bacteriologist
Shigechiyo Izumi - oldest living man in the world
Shoko Asahara - founder of Japanese Aum Shinrikyo cult
Shunryu Suzuki - Japanese Zen master of the Soto school
Sin-Itiro Tomonaga - Japanese physicist
Takao Doi - Japanese astronaut
Takeru Kobayashi - world's record holder for hotdog eating
Takuma Sato - Japanese automobile racing driver
Tange Kenzo - Japanese architect
Terada Torahiko - Japanese physicist and author
Yoshihiro Asai - wrestler known as Ultimo Dragon
Yoshihiro Tajiri - Japanese professional wrestler
Yukawa Hideki - first Japanese to win Nobel prize
Yutaka Taniyama - Japanese mathematician
Yukichi Chuganji - world's oldest documented man

Two Major Day Of Japan - Shichigosan and White Day(Valentine's Day)

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 02:09:00 +0000

Shichigosan - traditional festival day in

Japan

for children:

Shichigosan is a traditional festival day in

Japan

for children aged three, five and seven. It is on the fifteenth of November. Children who are aged three, five and seven will go to a shrine to drive out evil spirits. Old Japanese thought that on the age of odd number years, which is up to thirteen, something important would happen to the child. Today, boys who are aged three and five, girls who are aged three and seven will dress up in kimono and have fun. They will eat chitoseame, which is a kind of candy, and wish they would have a long happy life.

White Day - Japanese version of Valentine's Day:

In

Japan

, White Day is celebrated on March 14, one month after Valentine's Day. On White Day, men who received chocolate on Valentine's Day return the favor and give gifts to the women who gave them chocolate on Valentine's Day.

Omisoka - Japanese tradition on December 31

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:50:00 +0000

Omisoka is on December 31, which is the last day of the year. It is an important day in the Japanese tradition, because it is the day before the new year's day, which is the most important holiday throughout the year.

Usually, people spend the day busily because there are lots of preparations to do for the next day. Also, it is common to clean the whole house on this day, in order to see the new year fresh.

At the very end of the day, usually around 11 o'clock at night, it is common to have "toshikoshi-soba," which is a kind of Japanese noodle. It is a tradition to eat soba to see the old year out and the new year.

There are many things to do on Omisoka, and it is a busy day for Japanese people. But it is an important day to end the year and to prepare to meet the new year.

Japanese New Year Day Postcards

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:37:00 +0000

New Years Day Postcard:Japanese have a custom of sending New Years Day postcards to their friends and relatives. It is similar to the European custom of sending Christmas cards. Instead of sending Christmas cards, Japanese people send these postcards and post them so that they arrive on the 1st of January. The end of December and the beginning of January are the most busiest times for the post office.

It is customary not to send postcards when you have had sorrowful tidings during the year. In this case, you are expected to send a simple postcard instead to tell your friends and relatives that you will not be expecting to receive any joyful New Years cards from them. It is important to respect the dead in Japan.

Although these New Years postcard has become a traditional custom now, this custom used to be started to give your friends and relatives faraway tidings of yourself. In an exaggerated expression, it could be said that this custom was made to tell people you do not meet often that you are alive and well.

Most of the postcards have the Chinese zodiac sign of the new year as their design. Japanese people have a cycle of 12 years. Each year is represented by an animal.

Mouse, Cow, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Bird, Dog, Boar

The animals listed above are the animals that represent each year. The order cannot be moved. For example Year 2002 is Horse and Year 2003 will be Sheep. Those animals cannot be missed from the New Years Card design.

Pocket Money : On New Years Day, Japanese people have a custom of giving pocket money to children. It is given in small decorated envelopes and is called otoshidama. The amount of money given depends on the age of the child.

Mochi : Another custom of the Japanese is making rice cakes. Boiled mochigome (glutinous rice) is put in to a wooden shallow bucket like container and patted with water while another person hits it with a large wooden hammer. By mashing the rice, the rice gets sticky and forms a sticky white dumpling. This is made before New Years Day and eaten during the beginning of January.

Japanese New Year And Yew Year Food

noreply@blogger.com (forex) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:48:00 +0000

Japanese New Year:
In ancient time, Japanese New Year was the same as Chinese or Korean New Year. Today, January 1st is New Years Day for

Japan

. It is one of the most important festivals of the whole year. New Years Day is a traditional festival which has been celebrated for centuries. That is why there are many small customs that are still carried on in many families.

Traditional Japanese New Years Food:

Japanese people eat a special selection of dishes on New Years Day called osechi. Some of the popular food included in osechi are miso soup with mochi (sticky rice cakes) and vegetable(ozouni), sweetly boiled seaweed wrapped tuna fish (kobumaki), jellied fish paste (kamaboko), mashed sweet potato with marron (kurikinton) and black beans (kuromame). Many of the dishes are sweet and raw fishes are often eaten as well. The table for New Years Day is one of the joys for many Japanese.