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Setsubun: Casting Out Demons for Good Fortune in Japan
Every year at the beginning of February in Japan, people celebrate setsubun (節分), a day to cast out demons in order to bring in good luck for the year. This tradition is particularly…
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Gift Giving in Japan: Uchiiwai (内祝い)
A while back, I wrote an article about my recommendations for Japanese gifts for babies, and at the end, I mentioned a very important point — if you’re a parent-to-be or parent who…
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Undoukai (Sports Day) at a Japanese Daycare
Last month, my daughter (Baby A) had her very first Sports Day (運動会 ・ undoukai) at daycare! Sports Day is an event held by schools in Japan, usually in the spring or fall,…
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First Birthday Traditions in Japan: Isshou Mochi and Erabitori
In July this year, my daughter turned one! Where has the time gone?! I can’t believe a year ago I was recovering from a C-section with a tiny new person in my life…
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Hinamatsuri (Girls Festival): A Day to Celebrate Girls in Japan
In late February last year, my husband and I found out that we were going to have a baby girl. I remember being especially excited because around that time of year there were…
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Baby’s First New Year’s in Japan
Ever since my husband and I moved back to Japan, we have spent every New Year’s at his hometown in Hiroshima. It’s something I always look forward to and this year was especially…
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Baby Traditions in Japan: Omiyamairi and Okuizome
Two weeks ago, my in-laws made the journey to Tokyo for my daughter’s omiyamairi and okuizome. Omiyamairi (お宮参り) is a Japanese tradition in which newborns visit a Shinto shrine for the first time. This…
