Friday, January 8, 2010

My Shogatsu Experience

Eventhough Japan is technologically advanced, Japanese people still did not forget the tradition and the culture they inherited from their predecessors. They fasten great importance to their traditon and custom. One is the Shogatsu* , Japan`s most important holiday . Shogatsu or Japanese New Year is celebrated in the first three days of January where families spend the days together going to shrines or attending services in the temple for their Kamisama*.
.
It`s a new "new year experience" for me. Here in Izumi city, people celebrated the new year`s day peacefully. No firecrackers and fireworks were lit. Totally different from the way I used to.

The omochi doll.

I was amazed by this human-like image displayed in our office. It looks funny but this one is very important to them. This is what they call the omochi* doll. Inside of it is the pounded smooth, sticky rice dumpling called *mochi or omochi. My moderator told me that this omochi will be eaten on the 15th of January. (I don`t know what`s with the date errr...maybe it`s part of the company`s tradition). Japanese displays omochi dolls in their houses and offices during Shogatsu for they believe it will bring them goodluck and give them good strength throughout the year.

The Shimenawa.

We also hung our office door with Shimenawa*. This one acts as a ward against bad karma and evil spirits (according to Shinto beliefs).


As part ot the company`s tradition, we went to Otori *Shrine last week. This shrine is located at Kansai City in Osaka which is 45 minutes drive from Izumi City. Most businessmen visited the place to pray for abundance. They first ring the bell for them to get noticed by the god, then throw coins to the box, clap twice, gently bow the head (act of reverence) and solemnly pray.



These are the monks residing the shrine. I don`t have any idea what they`re doing.



This monk just finished the ritual.





After our Otori praying, we went to Kaiten Sushi* restaurant for lunch (my favorite part hehehe). It`s a kind of restaurant where the plates with sushi and other foods are placed on a running conveyor that winds through the restaurant passing every table and counter seat. After one complete rotation, if the food is still on the conveyor, it will be thrown away. You may also have special orders if you don`t like the food served on the moving conveyor belt.



If you want to place special order, just select anything you want from the electronic menu list. Press the button and your order will arrive in less than a minute.


The food on a running conveyor.



Three of us consumed this much haha!

We paid the bill based on the number and type of plates we consumed. One plate costs 100-350 yen. Ippai! Ippai!

Please grab me, meow! I mean rawwwr! hehehe

That was my one- of- a kind Shogatsu experience. It was awesome. I just can`t imagine how the year quickly passed by and another came in. And because it`s new year, I want to confer the " Jag`s Tiger Buddies Award `10" to the following blog sites. I personally took the picture from the temple garden to start a good friendship with you in 2010.

Listed in no particular order:

......................Written Feelings................
AL-KAPON
An Expat's Proverbial Tell...
Ang Kwento at Kwenta ng Layp
Angel's Coffee Cup
braggies
DONSTER
DRAKE'S ROOM
Dunge0n LordCM
enjoi life.. : )
Etcetera Etcetera
Euroangel Graffiti
Felmar's Missionary Journey
fiel-kun's thoughts...
filtHyrOom
Glenn as an Amateur Photogr...
Gusto ko lang Magsulat ;-)
I'll be remembering you
joice.isgreat.org/
Jologs Na Yuppie
kaRoger.
kornchops
libreng potatochips
Life Moto
Llama's Journal
LOVENashy Boy: Cheers to 2...
Man and food
manik makina
Mokong™ (Anu'ng Nasa Isip Ko!)
Moments to Remember
More Than Words
My Euro Travel and Adventure
naglalagab-BLOG!
naks naman
Passionate Star
pictures and more
PLACES, PEOPLE, EVENTS, GOO...
Pluma Ni Jepoy
Renz Taburada
Soloden.Com
stories from a bored night ...
sulatkamayko
Superjaid
tear.heart [gravity for fal...
The Journey of the Prodigal...
Thoughtsmoto - Ka-Blogs ng ...
Tinta de Filipinas
topexpress
Travel and Living
twinsanity
Wattudu Yanie?
Why me?
TIMESCAPADES


*Shogatsu- Japanese new year.
* Kamisama- Japanese term for god.
* Omochi - combined words for okii and chiisai which means big and small.
*Shimenawa- are lengths of braided rice straw rope used for ritual purification in the Shinto religion.
*Otori- from the word okii which means big and tori which means bird.
*Kaiten- conveyor.
*Ippai- expressing full stomach.

91 comments:

Arvin U. de la Peña said...

thanks for the award.......i appreciate it..

Jag said...

douittashimahite! ur welcome bosing!

glentot said...

Hala nakakatakot yung mga dolls parang may mangkukulam factor...

Jag said...

haha ako nmn natawa at first nung d ko p nalaman ang totoong symbol nyan hehe...

EngrMoks said...

wahhh! natuwa naman ako at napasama ako sa award na ito..salamat JAG!!!

fiel-kun said...

waah! gusto ko din maexperience of Shogatsu jan ^__^v

Wow, thanks again for touring us sa beautiful and rich culture ng Japan. Astig talaga tumira jan :)

And Arigatou Gozaimasu sa kawaii Tiger Buddies Award. I really appreciated it parekoy!!! grab ko na siya hehe!!!

Jag said...

@ Anonymous: Yeah life here is interesting. That`s all I can understand in your message...gomen ne chinese kanji wa yomimasen hehehe...

Jag said...

@ Mokong™: Xempre kasama ka hehehe...

Jag said...

fiel-kun: hehehe habang nandirito ako I`ll try to share my explorations hehehe...

Dozo Fiel-kun dozo! hehehe

Anonymous said...

naku. salamat sa award. pwedeng pakipadala dito sa Pilipinas? hahahaha.
pagkain ba yung tiger(o pusa?) na nasa picture? hahaha.

well, salamat at binibigyan mo kami ng glimpse sa Japanese culture. :D

at, napansin ko lang, hindi ka na nag-jijijiji. namimiss ko na yung tawa mong yun! hahaha.

Jag said...

parekoy pusa nmn tlga ung tiger hehehe...mukha bang pagkain ung litrato? jijiji... gusto mo ipapaprint ko tas kainin mo? lol jijiji...

ano bang meron sa jijiji ko at tila aliw n aliw ka? uy!namiss niya so cheezy! hahaha! lolz!

Enhenyero said...

I would like to thank Singtel for the broadband connection, if not I might not be blogging regularly. I would like to thank my blog for the key to meet friends in blogosphere. Because of this I got this Tiger Buddies Award, thank you Jag.

Jejejeje napaspeech tuloy ako.

Anonymous said...

akala ko kasi ganun ang tiger sa japan parekoy! hahahaha :)))))

so hindi siya pagkain? mukha kasi siyang puto na pinagsama-sama eh. hahaha. kelan ka uuwi dito? PASALUBONG!hahaha.

oo. naadik na ako sa jijiji mo eh. ang arte kasi. pwede namang hihihi. bakit jijiji pa. pero okay lang. naaaliw ako sa jijiji mo.
hahahaha.

Jag said...

♫ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♫ ayu ♫ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♫: pramis yan ha learn to forgve hehehe...so ikaw nmn ngaun ang hindi pinapatawd? lol hehehe...

for xur pg nagawi ka dito d k mhihirapang mag adjust hehehe...

Jag said...

@ I AM ENHENYERO, AND THIS IS MY BLOGSPOT: haha ng dahil sa singtel hehehe...salamat sa maigsing speech parekoy hehe...

Jag said...

@ karoger: gutom lng yan pre jijiji...heto singko ipambili mo ng puto haha..

kung kelan ako uuwi? uhmmm...ABANGAN.

Anonymous said...

wala ng mabibili yang singko mo dito sa Pilipinas! hahahaha. sayo na lang yan. pero saan nga gawa yung pusang yun? sa bato, puto, kanini o ano? haha.

abangan? hmmmmmmm. ano ka, tv show? hahaha.

Don said...

Yaya, salamat sa award!!! jijijjiji

Jag said...

@ karoger: wahaha wala n bang tiglimampiso n puto? geez! o xa gawin ko n ng sampu jijiji...

gawa xa sa bulaklak. tingnan mo ng maigi hehehe...sa garden ko nga piniktyuran yan eh jijiji...

ABANGAN. hahaha un lng jijiji...

Anonymous said...

ay oo nga. bulaklak. hahaha. bakit, bawal bang magkaroon ng pagkain sa garden??!!! :)
nung unang tingin ko nga parang ensaymada eh.
uuuuyyyy. namiss niya ang ensaymada. gusto mo dalhan kita? hahaha.

halla. ginawa na nating chatbox tong comment thread mo! hahaha :)

Jag said...

@ karoger: ang garden, halaman ang itinatanim hindi puto o ano mang pgkain hahaha!

Sure ppadala k ng ensaymada? Gusto ko ung sa Goldilocks ha jijiji...nang iinggit k lng pre eh porket walang gnun nun dito hayz!

oo nga hndi b maxadong halata n ngiging chatroom n ito? jijiji...

Jag said...

@ donster: douittashimashite!

Anonymous said...

pwedeng magsorry? hahaha. di ba minsan sa garden, may garden party? malay ko ba kung mahilig ang mga Japs sa garden na may foods. hahaha.

wala ako sa goldilocks ngayon eh. tsk. nasa mcdo ako. eh may mcdo din mana dyan. pero walang kanin di ba?

okay. chatroom na ito :)

Jag said...

@ karoger:bwahaha adik! palusot k p ha! jiji...o xa isipin mo n lng pgkain yun at hindi bulaklak hahah! or pwede din kainin mo ung bulaklak lol.

tinatanong mko kung gusto ko ng ensaymada tas bglang naging mcdo at dhil my mcdo dito kya d u n mgppdala? adik hahaha! oo walang knin sa mcdo dito mahal daw ang bigas dito eh jijijiji...

Anonymous said...

hindi ako nagpapalusot ah. at FYI: masarap kumain ng flower! hahahaha.

anyways. tama na muna ang comment ko. pinoproblema ko pa tong thesis ko. ang kulet mo kasi eh. hahaha.

sige. salamat ulit sa award. akala ko makakain, hindi naman pala. tsk! hahaha.

Jag said...

@ karoger: ako p ngayon ang mkulet adik! hahaha! xa xa gawin mo n yang thesis mo...

Unknown said...

Hello jag, first of all, i would love to say that you are my friend in this blog world. And i am happy that there was one time i checked your blog, that makes me learned something about life. And with that, i always follow you, your post and all. Second, i would love to tell you that your capability in writing new entry for your blog inspired me so damn well! So i am awake that i need to post most of those amazing things that happens to me. Well, i cannot deny the fact that i have bad things to post too, but hope i can carry it. lol! Third, is that you gave me this award and i am so happy for your award. Now i can boast that my blog got something special! and that is you. THANK YOU SO MUCH! GOD BLESS US!

Jepoy said...

Oi Salamat naman sa bingay mo. I'm so tats. Na takot ako dun sa doll na alala ko ung vudoo doll ng lola ko na panakot sakin pag ayaw kong kumain ng gulay nung bata palang ako.

Anonymous said...

tol salamat sa award. Alam mo ba na isa sa bansang pangarap ko din marating ay ang bansa ng mga hapon?

Sige ganito nlnag tol... naiisip mo ba ang naiisip ko?

"OPERATION BIG SWAP!"

ahahahaha. Japan swap Canada :P

Looking forward to know and be one of your friends bro!

Kudos! Domo Arigato

More Than Words said...

Hey Jag! Thanks for the award! That's a great picture! It's nice to read about Japans tradition.

And that sushi place sounds awesome! Wow, they throw the food after one rotation???

Jag said...

@ tim: yey! im so glad about it! thank you! i am more inspired hehehe...now we`re officially blog buddies hehehe...

Jag said...

@ jepoy: hahaha parehas kau ng impression ni glentot. mgkaibigan nga keu jijiji...

Jag said...

@ tope: paano yan pre swap tayo? hahaha! now n!joke!

now we`re officially blog pals ok? hehehe...

Douittashimashite!

Jag said...

@ Alicia: Thanks too!

Yeah, they throw it after one complete rotation because it`s no longer fresh.

eden said...

Hi Jag! I was just excited when I read your msge and wondered what have you got for me..lolz. Now, I am here claiming it..hehehe..

I enjoyed reading this post. It is always nice to know other country's interesting tradition and culture.

thanks for the award. I would definitely grab it. Love that beautiful tiger looking flower arrangement. Thanks for the thought. Let you know when it is posted.

have a nice day

Jag said...

@ eden: Thank you too! Your country is also interesting...and i really enjoyed your photography...

Take care friend!

Glenn said...

こんにちは ^^.
can u read it kuya? hehe
MARAMING SALAMAT! kakagulat naman un at sinama mo ako. :]salamat~

ありがとう

Jag said...

Konnichiwa! hehehe... you`re welcome buddy!

mr.nightcrawler said...

at ang daming friends ni pareng jag! haha. at dahil nag-meow na siya, iga-grab ko na siya. salamat ng marami parekoy. we'll talk soon :P

Jag said...

@ mr.nightcrawler:ur welcs parekoy! Alam ko busy ka kaya tuloy mo lng yang gngawa mo hehehe...

Jag said...

♫ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♫ ayu ♫ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♫: butit bati na keo weeee!

douittashimashite!

Fr. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD said...

no firecrackers...haha parang dabaw lang...

salamat sa award jag!!!

hmmm...magkakilala pala kayo personally ni donster no?

Arvin U. de la Peña said...

muli salamat sa award..

Jag said...

Fr. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD: oo parang davao lng hehehe...yep Fad`z mgkakilala kmi nun hehehe paano mo nlman? mgkakilala din kau personally?

Jag said...

@ Arvin U. de la Peña: walang anuman bosing...

Fr. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD said...

di kami magkakilala personally. pero bidang bida ka sa kwento niya, hehe. nang-iimbeta sa mansion niya...

Jag said...

@ Fr. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD: ahaha okies kya pla hehehe...may common friend kc kmi hanggang sa naging friends n din kmi hehehe...

twinsanity said...

thanks for the award JAG! :)

wow! i wonder if hindi ba masisira yung stick rice dumpling na nasa loob ng omochi doll? hehe..

monks' clothes are so classic. Parang katulad ng nakikita ko sa koreanovela. LOL.

wee! it looks delicious! california maki nga lang kinakain ko. hehe.. daming plates to think na 3 lang kayo. lol. :)

MJ said...

WOW! I wish I could experience
Shogatzu before I´m 40...that´s looks really really yummy...just love japanesse dishes...
15 January, for the good health..
I think....?
hehehe! next time you should talk to the monk what are they doing....?

Thanks for the beuatiful award. pssst!
that porcelain is dazzling...
wanna own one of those one day...

A striking post Jag!

Greeting from Sweden...

MJ said...

grab it and post it on saturday eve...

Have a nice day and thanks for sharing
this really interesting culture...

Jag said...

@ twinsanity: Ur welcome!

My expiration din yung omochi...

Nkakamangha nga kac upto now may mkikita k pa ring mga tao n ngsusuot ng tradional dress nila hehehe...



@ Me:Naku madam punta na kau dito can afford nmn kayo magbakasyon dito eh hehehe...Bka nga yan ang dahilan kaya sa 15 hehehe...mahilig pla kau sa mga kubyertos magkakasundo kau ng nanay ko hehe...Salamat din ng marami lalo na sa friendship...

Ingatz!

-Parts- said...

Artistic talaga tong mga hapon! Nice! =)

Happy Weekend!

Jag said...

@ Parts:Yeah...and I like Japanese arts. hehehe...happy weekend!

Rouselle said...

Awesome! Thanks much! Ü

Admin said...

Naks naman!

Ganda naman ng display... Ang gandang tradition niyan....

I love it!

Jag said...

@ ayu: hehe heto umuulan n ng nyebe hehehe...binabalinguyngoy...

@ Angel: ur welcome buddy...

Jag said...

@ Mangyan Adventurer: yes indeed. try mo din gumala dito minsan...

MJ said...

Dont worry were actually planning to visit kyot when were going to visit leyte within 3 yrs from now. hopefully nandyan ka pa...para ikaw na tour guide namin...hehehe!

have a nice wekend...

Xprosaic said...

Ahahahahahhah paaward award pa ah... jejejejej... tenks tenks!

Jag said...

@ I am Xprosaic: xempers yaya hehehe...espesyal kaya yan jijii...


@ Me: Oh that`s good! Pero ang tagal p nun hehehe...sana nga andito p ako nun hehehe...

DRAKE said...

Salamat sa award Jag, heto nakabalik n uli ako sa disyerto!

Inperness sikat na sikat na ang blog mo!

Ingat

Jag said...

Woah! At nagbalik ka hehehe...musta n parekoy? Ayos n ayos ung mga kwento ng tropang glen at jepoy nyahahaha...

ingat din hehehe...

Jag said...

@ ayu: ngeek hindi din masaya...kakatamad kumilos...masakit din sa balat ang lamig hayz!

Glenn said...

hey jag~ look at this blog. May something na para sau http://blaggista.blogspot.com

Jag said...

@ Glenn Kun: ok i`ll check it...

Jag said...

@ ayu: naku wala n ung mga sinulat ko. nsa notebook ko lng kc cnusulat dati at nawala n ata...mlaking advantage sau ang pgbblog kc nkocompile mo mga compositions mo dito jijiji...oo nmn tao lng din kmi may puso`t damdamin hehehe...

21 n kaya ako matanda n kaya un. joke jijiji.

gege said...

yeeeeeeeeee!
SALAMAT sa AWARD!
sorri ngayun lang ulit naka bisita...
weeeeeeeeee!
ang artistic, ang effort.
colorful!
haha!
(ay, napagod ako mag-scroll... daming koment!)
hehe.

God bless kuya!

Life Moto said...

nice experience you have there Jag. thanks for sharing this traditions. also the friends award. see you around. hAVE A NICE WEEKEND

Reagan D said...

whoooaaa, astiig, salamat!
sana sa next batch ng pics mo, kami naman yung andyan sa japan. hehe

Jag said...

@ gege: hehehe nung mkita ko ung blaklak n tiger n yan naisip ko tlgang ipang award yan jijiji...

same here God bless to you!




@ life moto: yeah, at dahil dito ntuto akong bgyang halga ang mga kganapan sa buhay dito sa Japan...kya bina-blog ko n lng hehehe...

tnx!

Jag said...

@ manik_reigun: oo nga para mas masaya hehehe...ur welcs buddy...




@ ayu: at hindi ako nklusot sau wahahaha...

active ako sa school paper nmin nung nsa elementarya, HS at college oha oha kinarir ko tlga hehehe....ung sa college pla sa yearbook pla un jijiji...

Jag said...

@ ayu: oo wag k ng sumali sa school paper n yan delikado nga pag gnagabi k n nng uwi dahil dun...at strict pla paents mo ijiji...ung windstruck parang sequel xa ng sassy girl panoorin mo nkakatawa hehehe...

at may award n nmn ako astig! hehehe...

Jag said...

hindi pla, ung windstrck ay nkklungkot pla un hehehe...sassy girl ung funny heheh...

sunny said...

quickie visit! ganda naman dyan!

taga-bundok said...

ワッくん!あなたに幸せな新年を!

Jag said...

総層。。。あけましてお目でとございます!

Renz said...

Jag salamat sa award mo..ngayon ko lang nakita toh..tnx so much.. Highly appreciated. :D grab q ha..visit ka lang para makita mo :D

Anonymous said...

awooo! buti pa ang mga patay. nagpaparamdam! hahahaha. :)

-Parts- said...

Happy weekend! =)

Jules said...

grabe kakainggit ka jag! :D weeeeeeeeee! :D

Jules
Soloden.Com
Travel and Living

Fr. Felmar Castrodes Fiel, SVD said...

congrats!!! nominated ka rin pala sa 100 most handsome pinoy bloggers ni laboyboy...

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