節分 Setsubun is celebrated throughout Japan near the start of the lunar year, this is around the first week of February. The most common custom for Setsubun in Japan is…

カラオケ Karaoke is one of the most popular pass times in Japan. It is also very popular outside of Japan. The word Karaoke is made up of two words. The word “Kara” meaning…

アイヌ Ainu are the indigenous peoples that live on the northern island of Japan, Hokkaido. They are ethnically and culturally different from the main Japanese population.  In fact the Ainu people are very…

花見 April is the time for Hanami! Hanami is when the Japanese People go out to enjoy Sakura! Sakura are Japanese Cherry blossoms. When they bloom they don’t last very long, so…

獅子舞 Shishimai is the Japanese Lion Dance. This Lion dance came from China many year ago and the Japanese have developed their own style. There are many different kinds of Shishimai dance in…

太鼓台 Taikodai are the floats that carry Japanese drums called taiko. The taiko drums are put inside the taikodai and are carried around. Big Taikodai can be carried by about 150 people. The bigger Taikodai are just over 5 meters high and…