Kagami Biraki: Opening or Breaking the New Year’s Mochi
Kagami Biraki / 鏡開き is a Shinto custom celebrated annually on the 11th of January and a literal translation of the Japanese term is “Opening…
Ceremony
Kyoto Shrine Kicks Off New Year with Match of “Kemari” Ball Game Dating from 7th Century
The ancient sport of Kemari On Saturday, January 4th, 2020, spectators assembled at the UNESCO World Heritage-designated Shimogamo Jinja 下鴨神社 shrine in Kyoto to witness…
Wedding Hall In Japan To Offer Final Fantasy XIV-themed Wedding Ceremonies
If you’re a Final Fantasy fan, and particularly a Final Fantasy XIV fan who is looking to tie the knot, a service in Japan supervised…
Every Year Has A Character: Japan Chooses Its “Kanji of the Year” 2017
For the last 23 years, people in Japan have turned on the evening news on December 12 (Kanji Day) to learn which “kanji of the…
Japanese Graduation Ceremony Rocked By Awesome Mad Max Procession
In recent years, several Japanese universities have garnered a reputation for some entertaining antics during their graduation ceremonies (卒業式, sotsugyo-shiki). As they aren’t strictly a…