UPDATE | October 1, 2022
The season has turned to autumn. This time, I would like to introduce autumn events and foods in Japan. Some are unique to Japan, while others may be the same as your country. Please read while comparing.
“The hot summer ended before we knew it, and the season has completely turned to autumn.
In Japan, it has long been called "Autumn for sports," "Autumn for reading," and "Autumn for appetite."
The climate is comfortable, and it is the perfect season for exercising, studying, and going out.
This time, I would like to introduce autumn events in Japan along with "autumn taste".
It is an event to enjoy looking at the full moon on August 15th of the lunar calendar (from mid-September to the end of September of the solar calendar). ) is also called. It was introduced from China in the Heian period (794-1185) and spread among aristocrats as an event to enjoy poetry while drinking alcohol. After that, in the Edo period (Edojidai), moon viewing began to be held as a festival to give thanks for the harvest.
The Japanese pampas grass has long been believed to ward off evil spirits, so it is often displayed in homes during the moon viewing season.
Since the shape resembles the full moon, people started preparing dumplings, taro, and grapes as offerings for moon viewing.
Since ancient times, it has been said that rabbits live on the moon, and they often appear in folk tales.
In recent years, this kind of moon-viewing custom has gradually faded away, but even now Japanese confectionery shops and supermarkets sell various types of moon-viewing dango, so you can easily enjoy moon-viewing.
The Tsukimi Burger, which is sold for a limited time only at fast food restaurants, is also popular.
The custom of viewing the moon has changed with the times, but I hope that the custom of enjoying the beautiful full moon will continue into the future.
*About the calendar
In Japan, the calendar was changed in the Meiji era, and the calendar currently in use is called the new calendar, and the one used before that is called the old calendar.
[PR]
Over the past few years, Halloween has become established as an “autumn event in Japan.”
Unlike Halloween as a harvest festival held in Europe and the United States, Halloween in Japan is mainly about enjoying costumes.
From around mid-September, Halloween-related goods and costume goods will start to line up in the streets, and the summer will change to autumn at once.
On October 31st, the day of Halloween, cities such as Tokyo and Osaka become very lively. Not only in the shops, but also in the city, young people in cosplay are overflowing with fun.
Recently, it has been introduced overseas as "Japanese Halloween," and it seems to be spreading as one of the new Japanese cultures.
In the past, I used to go to parties with my friends on a theme and cosplay. I'm usually too embarrassed to do it, but on this day I can enjoy being a different person.
Japan has long taken in things from overseas and developed them into its own culture. From now on, Halloween will become a more popular event like Christmas.
Many schools hold sports festivals and cultural festivals in autumn because of the comfortable and stable climate.
At the sports day, various events such as dance and relay are held, and the students practice hard for this day. On that day, the whole family, including fathers, mothers, grandparents, and grandparents, goes to school and eats homemade lunches to support the children.
During the cultural festival, food and game stalls, choral and theatrical performances, and painting exhibitions are held at schools. We will decide what to do in each class and create it ourselves from scratch. The thing that left the biggest impression on me when I was a student was when I was in high school, when the whole class organized a fashion show.
In the case of university cultural festivals, many of them are open to the general public, and full-fledged stalls and live music performances are held every year, attracting many people.
When you walk near a school or university, you will be able to hear the scenery of dance practice and the singing voices of the choir at the sports day, which is unique to autumn in Japan.
There is an "excursion" as an autumn event in Japanese schools. The school teacher will take the lead and everyone will go to the destination together. It is common to enjoy mountain climbing, autumn leaves hiking, and visit farms to experience picking vegetables and fruits.
I liked digging potatoes and picking grapes. Digging potatoes with your own hands in the field allows you to feel the smell of the soil and appreciate the food and farmers. You can take home the potatoes that you have harvested and use them in various dishes, such as boiling, grilling, and making tempura.
In addition, grape picking has become very popular in recent years as an activity not only for children but also for adults. There is also an all-you-can-eat plan with various types of grapes, such as Kyoho grapes and Muscat grapes, and the reason for its popularity is that you can eat as much freshly picked grapes as you like.
In addition, you can taste fresh fruits and vegetables unique to this season, such as chestnut picking, pear picking, persimmon picking, and mushroom picking.
Matsutake
Matsutake mushrooms make me want to eat them every fall. Although it is a kind of mushroom, it is said to be a high-class ingredient because it is very difficult to cultivate. It has a very nice aroma, and when grilled over charcoal or cooked with rice, the aroma spreads even more.
Pacific saury
It is said that the word sanma came to be written because it is a sword-shaped fish that can be caught in autumn. A whole saury grilled with salt is traditionally eaten with grated daikon radish and soy sauce.
white rice
The white rice that has just been harvested in the autumn of that year is called “Shinmai”, and there are many kinds of it in supermarkets. Rice is indispensable for Japanese people, but the new rice in autumn is especially special. Freshly cooked rice goes well with any side dish and stimulates your appetite.
How was it?
We hope that you will enjoy “Autumn in Japan,” including not only traditional things, but also newly introduced events and customs.
When you visit Japan in the fall, please enjoy the tastes of autumn and experience Japanese life and food culture.
A freelance Japanese teacher and local guide from Osaka. I fell in love with Kyoto in 2020 and moved to 2021. Currently, while teaching Japanese mainly in private lessons, he plans and manages writing, Chinese-Japanese translation proofreading, and online experiences.
[PR]
[PR]
