Monthly Archive for May, 2013

On our street, I noticed this really cool looking Japanese restaurant nearly immediately after we moved in to the area. It’s an old fashion, wooden-made restaurant that serves traditional Japanese food in a set that usually consists of some sashimi, a few tempura, pickles, a bowl of rice and a miso soup (obviously). The other day, as I walked by the restaurant, I saw a lady in yukata (sort of kimono), watering the plants in old fashion style and I thought to myself it was such a cool contrast with the rest of the street where you can find mobile phone shops, convenient stores, drug stores, arcades, hairdressers, etc.

Here’s the photo of the restaurant:

On May 5th, it’s kodomo no hi (Children’s day) in Japan, a day to respect children’s personalities and to celebrate their happiness. It was originally a day for boys only, but now it is for children; however most of the kodomo no hi traditions are followed for boys only, girls being also celebrated for the hinamatsuri (Doll’s day) in March.

Before this day, families raise the carp-shaped flags in their garden, one for each son; carp represent strength (legends state that carps can swim up waterfalls), and success in life. This flag is called koinobori (carp streamer); it is made of several carps: the black carp at the top represents the father, the red carp represents the mother, and the last carp, generally a blue one, represents the son, with an additional carp added for each subsequent son.

As I was walking in my area, in front of a tatami shop, I found this lovely carp streamer.