Japanese fireworks Fireworks festivals (or hanabi taikai) in Japan are usually summer events. There are hundreds of events during the season, with some notably larger than others. The most popular fireworks shows draw huge crowds and people travel from far to view them. In this blog by Murahara sensei, she focuses on a fireworks show in Kagoshima city that was held out of season. Find out more b...
Blogs edited and submitted by Chiho Kamioka
JOI Support staff and manager.
Japanese fireworks Fireworks festivals (or hanabi taikai) in Japan are usually summer events. There are hundreds of events during the season, with some notably larger than others. The most popular fireworks shows draw huge crowds and people travel from far to view them. In this blog by Murahara sensei, she focuses on a fireworks show in Kagoshima city that was held out of season. Find out more b...
Japanese Sumo Sumo (or 相撲 in Japanese ) is a wrestling bout in which the wrestlers (or rikishi) try to push one another out of a round arena (or dohyō) or make another wrestler fall down in the ring. The sport is considered as the national sport of Japan, and there are many foreign rikishi in recent years competing professionally in Japan. This interesting blog by Kinoi sensei, a professional J...
Foreign festivals in Japan There are reportedly over 200,000 festivals held in Japan each year. The peak seasons for these are usually in the summer months, and during the autumn harvest season. Many of the festivals have religious or spiritual roots and are often associated with local shrines. Which is why it is not surprising that Japanese people love their festivals and often go out to celeb...
Ancient Japanese constellations The Japanese were a sea-faring and farming race from times of old. They used the stars to navigate the seas and understand the seasons better. There are old Japanese names for the constellations although they are less known and less used now as the more universal Western names are used more. In this blog by JOI professional teacher Mizuno sensei, she explains som...
Kyoto tourism Kyoto was once the capital city of Japan. It is a beautiful and historical city filled with splendid temples and interesting shrines. It was one of the top tourist destinations in the world this year and is growing in popularity. Here in this Japanese language blog, Kamiyama sensei introduces one of the top sight-seeing spots in Kyoto. Read this and listen to natural Japanese too....