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Japan’s Golden Week Celebration
After enjoying Japan's cherry blossom period, there is another holiday to be celebrated on the last week of April to the first week of May. It's called Golden Week. But what is Golden Week? What is the origin of this holiday? How do we celebrate it? Read on to have an insight into this long holiday season. What is Golden Week? Golden Week is the period between April 29th to May 5th. That's exactly 7 days! Let me tell you the names of each non-working holiday. First is Showa Day (Showa no Hi), followed by Constitution Memorial Day (Kenpo Kinenbi), Greenery Day (Midori no Hi), and finally Children's Day (Kodomo no Hi). Showa Day (April 29th) Showa Day celebrates the…
11 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Everyday
April has been a wonderful month with different flowers all over Japan. Before we move on to the next month, let's look back at one of the most important events happening in April and that was Earth Day. This day includes a wide range of activities worldwide to create awareness about environmental protection. Issues include reducing carbon footprint, tree planting, recycling, and other relevant activities. You don't need to have a higher educational background to do your part in conserving our planet. A little bit of lifestyle change in our daily lives can help save Mother Earth. To give you some ideas, read on and I'm sure you will enjoy doing these activities for the sake of the next generation.…
How I Started My Capsule Wardrobe
During the past five years pre-pandemic, there was a trend in minimalism and simple living. The idea of following this philosophy is to achieve a work-life balance, sustainability, frugality, and financial freedom. I am following minimalism right now and still sticking to this habit in the years to come. I've seen the benefits of minimalism, mentally and physically. I've never felt so much free and calm compared to before I knew about this movement. Reorganizing my clothes and closet To start practicing minimalism, I started the area in my closet because that was the most cluttered part of the house that affects my mind. I took off all my clothes including those ill-fitted and not worn for many years. At first, it's really hard to…
8 SIMPLE WAYS TO ENJOY LIFE THIS YEAR 2023
Hello, my dear readers! This is my first post this year 2023 and I was a little bit absent from blogging for a few weeks. I took time off online and just enjoy the moment around family and friends and just traveled nearby to explore some hidden gems in town. Most people would love to have their New Year's resolutions but I don't believe in those things, but rather have an affirmation to myself of what I would love to do this year. I make a list of my goals this year (simplified and realistic goals) and I will check it off once I accomplished them. Do you do the same method of goal-setting as me? I would like to…
The Origins of Christmas Customs
Christmas is coming and while several countries celebrate this holiday season, the traditions and customs may differ from one another. Some countries celebrate Christmas because of religious beliefs but others celebrate in a more secular way, out of merry-making festivities and parties. Christmas as a Christian Holiday Christians celebrate the holiday as the birth of Jesus Christ. Although there is no concrete evidence that Christ was born on December 25, they celebrate it with church masses/services, prayers, lighting of the candles on advent wreaths, and setting up nativity figurines at homes. At midnight on December 24th, a feast is held to welcome the 25th day which is believed to be the birth of Jesus. The next morning is celebrated by…
MY PERSONAL BATTLE WITH COVID-19
Fall of 2022. Just three 3 years after the coronavirus pandemic shocked the world and it finally reaches my body. After my 3rd booster shot, I believe it will protect me from the contagious disease but it's still making its way to me. Everybody has a different experience with coronavirus. And let me tell you my story. Enjoying the fall season and how it started It was at the peak of the autumn foliage season when everybody is outdoors enjoying the beauty of colored leaves. Like everybody else, I was mostly outdoors to catch the changing of the season. I was attending a school PTA meeting and observing how my daughter performed in her class in high school. The…
The Soaring Inflation: 5 Ways to Live with Less
Recently, the news is filled with not-so-good information. One of them is the rapid increase of daily commodities and goods worldwide. Although this is not a new problem, it hits vulnerable populations in low-income countries. Here in Japan, food and fuel prices increased and most people thought about how to live frugally, making ends meet during these hard times. It is the only way to survive after the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Photo by Konstantin Evdokimov on Unsplash We are all forced to live with less because of the economic crisis that threatened our livelihood. Some people thought how hard it is to adjust but learning the art of living frugally will make things easier. 1. Learn to…
OFF THE BEATEN PATH SERIES: Fishing in Okawado Fishing Site, Mashiko, Tochigi
Have you ever tried your hand at fishing? It must be so fun. But if you haven't tried it before, it's time to give it a try. Fishing is a fun activity for the whole family, especially for children. Okawado Fishing Pond We discovered a fishing site deep in the countryside of Tochigi, Japan. Located at the foot of Mt. Amamaki, this beautiful place is popular among families with young children especially during summer when the leaves are green or turning red during autumn. At the entrance, you will be asked how many people are joining for fishing. Then the receptionist hands you a bamboo fishing rod and a small plate of feed for the rainbow trout (nijimasu) that cost…
Earth Day 2022: Not just a one-day celebration
As I opened my Chrome browser the other day, I came to realize that it was Earth Day. I may be late for writing a blog post about this special day, but for me, it is the most relevant and timeless topic to talk about. We as inhabitants of this planet might be different in some aspects of life such as ethnicity, race, culture, social-economic status, and religion but we have something in common as Earthlings. We are all interconnected no matter the geographic location we are living in. To preserve this planet is not only a one-day awareness and celebration. For me, we should change our lifestyle to preserve Mother Earth. And live sustainably for the years to come.…
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT JAPAN’S CHERRY BLOSSOMS SEASON
Spring season has finally arrived in the Northern hemisphere. Just like me, people got very excited about the floral season. But in Japan, there is a fifth season that is enjoyed by both locals and foreign visitors. It is called the cherry blossoms (sakura) season. It is so popular in the country and all over the world that people looked forward to this event. In fact, there are numerous reasons behind this very special season. Let's find out more. 4 REASONS THAT CHERRY BLOSSOMS ARE CELEBRATED History and cultural significance. Hanami (flower viewing) has a very interesting history. It dates back to Nara Period around the 8th Century when it was plum (ume) blossoms that people admired in the beginning.…