Hokuriku Galore - Our February newsletter arrives!
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・J A P A N・
The march to spring continues!
 

2024 rolls on! There's not too much cold left to endure before temperatures start rising properly, and trips to the park become more common. Soon enough the weather will be permitting us to have picnics under all the beautiful trees and flowers, enjoying everything that spring has to offer. However, it is still technically winter, and there is much to take in from this wonderful season. 

 

In Japan, ski resorts were filled to the brim with eager snow enthusiasts. As Japan is known for having some of the best snow in the world, it's no surprise that so many people are out and about enjoying the winter wonder. January 8 was Coming of Age Day, where people all across the country head to shrines and temples to celebrate growing up. The January Sumo Tournament also saw Yokozuna Terunofuji take his 9th tournament after a playoff win over Kotonowaka. Charms such as omamori, even daruma were also handed back in to shrines and temples for ceremonial burnings, signaling the new year. Many people also purchase new charms and talismans for good luck for the next year!

 

Festivals also dotted the landscape - In Nara there was the Wasakusa Yamayaki Festival, characterised by flame and fireworks, in Tochigi the Ashikaga Flower Park Illumination lit up the area, and in Shizuoka, the Atami Plum Blossom Festival showcased some of the beauty of the blossoms of spring. 

 

Be on the lookout for director Hirokazu Kore-eda's new film 'MONSTER' out in March!

 

For this month we have even more amazing places to see, from Fukui to Sapporo, we've got you covered!
: N O W
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Learn about some of the magical things you can see and do in Hokkaido's capital of Sapporo!
Read an interview with Robin and Mariko of Mymizu and learn about water and sustainability!
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Travel to Fukui Prefecture and learn about this wonderful area, full of nature and famous for dinosaurs!
: L A T E R
See massive walls of snow as you travel through the beautiful Japanese Alps!
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Participate in our Instagram giveaway by 8th March for a chance of one of 3 copies of Views from Japan by Ben Richards!
Niigata Prefecture in Hokuriku offers travelers some beautiful experiences and opportunties! 
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Chills of winter
but
hints of spring
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The flowers are getting ready to bloom!

Spring is slowly approaching, with every day getting slightly longer the buds on the trees are starting to slowly open up, you may have even seem some blossoms around the city! 

 

What better way to introduce a new Japanese word section, the Kigo Corner! Kigo are essentially 'seasonal words', used commonly within Japanese poetry such as haiku and renga. There are a huge amount of words to use, if you've attempted to make a haiku you may have run into them before. Kigo can get very specific, even down to words that are only used during specific months.

 

Thus our word for this month is 春めく. Pronounced 'harumeku', this kigo means 'to show signs of spring'. A very fitting word for this time of the season! You may have noticed certain flowers and plants outside on your walks or commutes that have slowly started to bloom. The temperatures are also not as bone-chilling as they have been, and with the sun setting after 5:00 for the first time in months, there is a lot to look forward to for spring and summer.  

 

Let's try making a haiku using the kigo 春めく! Haikus are traditionally created using a 17 mora (or syllable) 5-7-5 combination, with an assortment of punctuation, or 'kireji'.

 

Our first line will contain our kigo - 春めくや (harumeku ya)

The we move on to a line with 7 mora - 桜は早く (sakura ha hayaku)

And lastly a line with 5 mora - 咲けるかな (sakeru kana)

 

Completed, our haiku reads as -

 

春めくや

桜は早く

咲けるかな

 

The fresh signs of spring,

Will the cherry blossom trees,

Flower this early?

 

Haiku writing can be a fulfilling and fun experience, give it a try if you have not before!

 
Here's some highlights of what we've learned over the past few months:
1) The Hokuriku region is filled to the brim with things to do, from the Dinosaur Museum in Fukui Prefecture to spectactular Sado Island in Niigata, you'll definitely want to extend your stay!
2) Sapporo offers some amazing year round things to do, from hiking to classic Hokkaido skiing.
Japan in the UK
There's plenty of Japan related exhibitions, releases, and writing currently happening and coming up in the UK - Let's take a look at some!
  • Hirokazu Kore-eda,director of Broker and Shoplifters, has a new film releasing in cinemas on March 15, a story about a mother who worries about her son's strange behaviour, entitled 'MONSTER'
  • The Tristain Hoare Gallery is currently hosting an exhibition entitled 'Apocalypse Now', featuring the artwork of multiple Japanese artists. Located at 6 Fitzroy Square, with free admission, it is a highly recommended spot!
  • The Japan set TV shows 'Shogun' and the second season of 'Tokyo Vice' are slated for releases on February 27 and February 8
  • The Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme began on February 2nd and runs until March 31st, this is a great opportunity to check out some Japanese cinema!
  • Learn about the amazing skiing in Japan with an article from Johnny Richards at Fall Line Skiing
  • Hayao Miyazaki's new Studio Ghibli film 'The Boy and the Heron' won the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Animated Film award!
  • For those keen on learning more about Studio Ghibli and their films, the podcast Ghibliotheque by Michael Leader and Jake Cunningham is a perfect source to use! They were recently in Japan, exploring Universal Studios Japan 
Read on below for more:
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Find out more about upcoming spring festivals in Japan!
That’s it from us for this month!
Keep up with all this and much, much more by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
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