Japanese learning

This year is Tiger year…today our Japanese lecturer Mizoi Sensei teach us about their Japanese New Year…1/1/2010 is their big day…

２００９－うし (ushi)house
２０１０－とら(tora) tiger
２０１１－うさぎ(usagi)rabbit
２０１２－りゅう(ryuu)dragon

にほん　の　おしょうがつ (Japanese New Year)

おおみそか(New Year’s Eve)
At midnight, temples all around Japan begin to ring giant bells. According to Buddhist teaching, human beings have 108 worldly desires. All these desires can be removed by striking a bell for 108 times.

としこしそば(buckwheat noodles)
そば(noodles) >> ながい > >>long life
Soba noodles symbolize long life. While listening to the sound of the bells, people eat year crossing noodles, wishing for their own good health in the coming year.

おしょうがつ(New Year)
In the Japanese calendar, the beginning of the year represents the most important event. Families, relatives and friends get together to celebrate the new year.

はつもうで(The First Visit of the year to Shrine or Temple)
On New Year’s Day, people visit to shrines to pray for happiness and good health.

おせちりょり(Special New Year Dishes)
えぴ(shrimp)=Long life
まめ(beans)=Healthy
かずのこ(Herring roe)=Prosperity


おしょうがつ　の　かざり(New Year’s Decoration)
Kadomatsu is basically made of bamboo and pine branches. It symbolizes longevity and prosperity.
Shimekazari is kind of sacred straw festoon hung on the entrance of each house to exorcise evil spirits from houses.
Kagamimochi consists of 2-layer rounded rice cakes and Japanese orange on top. It is displayed at the worship place of a family. This practice is intended to bring happiness to the family in the new year.

おしょうがつ　の　あいさつ(Greeting)
ねんまつ(the end of the year)
[よいおとしを]yoiotoshi wo nenmatsu

しんねん(New Year)
[しんねん　あけまして　おめでとうございます]shinen akemashite omedetougazainasu


p/s: actually all in Japanese words…but I lazy to type all…so I just type the important key only…if you wanna learn to read…pls link to = hiragana