First Day of Spring




According to the Japanese traditional calendar, Feb 4 is the day spring begins. (Please click Read More)

It is in fact still cold and will get colder until the end of the month, spring in Japanese traditional calendar starts Feb 4. One seasonal word is required for traditional poetry Haiku or Tanka, and the poets start using spring words from this day.

The day before the start of spring is called Setsubun (border of seasons), and there are several popular rituals. One of the most popular rituals is to eat big sushi rolls. You eat up one big roll of sushi facing the lucky direction of the year (this year east-north-east) silently wishing good luck and health of the coming year.

Masayo and I tried to practice the ritual this year again, but we found it difficult to finish up one big roll without speaking. We had a bite facing ENE, and cut two rolls to share like below.



The top photo is an example of the worst way of practicing this ritual.

Posted: (水) - 2 4, 2004 at 10:12 PM          

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