Shichi - Go -San ( seven - five - three )

Shichi-Go-San is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Far east.

For three and seven year-old girls and three and five year-old boys, held annually on November 15.

Shichi-Go-San is said to have originated in the Heian Period (794-1185) amongst court nobles,

who would celebrate the passage of their children into middle childhood.

The children wear the kimono which was various colors.

Chitose Ame, literally "thousand year candy", is given to children on Shichi-Go-San.

It is long, thin, red and white candy, which symbolizes healthy growth and longevity. A girl has it.

The behind boy wears a white Tabi and Hakama.

Here is Tomioka Hachiman Shrine, downtown area of Tokyo.

" Autumn " Japanese-Calligraphy ( Semi-cursive script )

" 秋 " ( shū,or aki ). It is translated in autumn.

This character is written by Kanzi, Semi-cursive script.

Etymology :　Semantic

秋 ⇒　禾 (grain)　+ 束 (bind)

The meaning harvests the crops, and bundle it up.

Autumn is the season of the blessing.

The abundant leads people to the joy.

Good fortune Meteor shower

　Please light up this darkness.

　The time goes by.

　Ah, this moment...

　Yours.

　And, ours.

　The future...

　The pure comes over from the everlasting distance.

　And, leave for faraway.

　The life...

　夕飯や　 花火聞ゆる　 川開

　　 正岡 　子規　　　　　 (1867 – 1902)

　supper time　　fireworks sound　　river festival

　　　Masaoka 　Shiki 　 (1867 – 1902)

In Japan, fireworks have a history of about 600 years. They are made by special craftsmen.

" Summer " Japanese calligraphy

 　 

" 夏 " (ka, natsu). It is translated as summer.

This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

Etymology :　Hieroglyph

The figure which the man attaches a big mask, and dance.

Then it came to gradually express the size of the person.

It has the meaning of the state that force is prosperous.

" The summer "

It is the season when it is good for a festival.

Human sturdiness may be expressed there.

I seem to hear human heart beating. . .

You don't have to come to Japan, a remote, far east part of the world, to see these fireworks displays.

And these places are remote within Japan. It takes effort to get there.

" Girls ' Day , March 3rd" Japanese Doll Festival

　　　The Japanese Doll Festival ( Hinamatsuri ), or Girls' Day, is held on March 3.

　　　A set of ornamental dolls ( hina-ningyō ) representing the Emperor, attendants, and musicians in traditional court dress of the Heian period.

　　　The custom of displaying dolls began about 1200 years ago.　

　　　The official decoration consists of five steps.

　　　Each position is selected as each role.

　　　I show respect for Lady in the whole world.

　　　Era when the talent of all women was utilized has come.

　　　And the world will become more peaceful if the status of women worldwide improves.

The introduction to the English version of Hinamatsuri, as introduced on Japan's national broadcaster NHK.

・The Hina doll, escorted by spring - The 72 Pentads of Yamato
・Hina Dolls: In Prayer for Healthy, Happy Children - Core Kyoto mini
・Doll Revival - Zero Waste Life

" Congratulations " Japanese calligraphy

　　　" 寿 " (ju, or kotobuki).

　　　It is translated as congratulations, felicitation, celebration, greetings, etc.

　　　This character is written by Kanzi, Semi-cursive script.

　　　This character is very famous as "寿司 (su-shi)".

　　　There are the words called "寿命 life (whole duration of a being) " elsewhere, too.

In the silver world, hot spring " Onsen "

 

There is one hot spring inn in the other side of the way of this cliff.

　We walk to there.

　Innumerable hot spring (Onsen) spread through the whole country.

　Because I was born in a south area, I like Onsens of the winter.

　There is an outdoor bath in the other side of this hut.

　Here is Semboku, Akita Prefecture.

　It is a " nyūtō onnsenn village " in Towada-Hachimantai National Park.
Welcome to the forest of the beech.

　The heart of a mountain is dotted with hot spring inns.

　In this magoroku-onsen, color is white.

　The hot spring of Akita especially has the atmosphere of the old good Far East.

　Paradise in the intense cold.

　The onsen in the snow scene may let a person rebear.

I like this hot spring village the most.

Can you reach the deepest mountain hot spring in Japan?

Even deeper and more deeper....

" Snow " Japanese calligraphy

 

" 雪 " ( setsu, or yuki ). It is translated as snow.

This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

The original character is "䨮"

Etymology :　 雨 ( rain ) + 彗 ( broomstick )

The original meaning is sweeping the ground.

The person who devised a kanji is a poet, surely.

『 これがまあ　つひの栖か　雪五尺 』

小林一茶  ( 1763 - 1828 )

『 This is, well　my final home　1.5m of snow 』

Kobayashi Issa ( 1763 - 1828 )

『 馬をさえ　ながむる雪の　朝哉(あしたかな) 』

松尾芭蕉  ( 1644 - 1694 ) 

『 Even that horse　watching the snow　early this morning 』

Matsuo Bashō ( 1644 - 1694 )

Drift ice From the Sea of Okhotsk

Now, my front 1 n.m (about 1.8 km) is Russian territorial waters.

The aim of the coast guardianship may be locked on my forehead.

I am at the Abashiri offing the place of about 2 n.m, Hokkaidō.

Drift ice flows through here every year from the Sea of Okhotsk.

The water which flowed from the Amur River lowers salinity of the seawater.

Salt was drained by the process when it was frozen.

It occurs in about the end from the middle of January.

It comes alongside the pier from the end of January to about the beginning of February.

The sea is completely covered with drift ice until about the end of March and cannot navigate the ship.

The seal does child care on drift ice with a few natural enemies.

Birds such as White-tailed Eagle or Ezo red fox are carried on drift ice, and come over from the Siberia to East Hokkaido.

Photo plankton sticks to drift ice.

When it is spring, the photo plankton multiplies at a stretch.

Animal plankton increases to bait in this and does the fishing ground of the Sea of Okhotsk wealthily.

It is the working of the west Pacific from the winter to the spring.

" Flow " Japanese calligraphy , slight sorrow.

 

" 流 " (ryū, or nagareru). It is translated as flow, circulate, drift, etc.

This character is written by Kanzi, Regular script.

Etymology :　

氵 (water) + 㐬 〔 川 (stream, river)　+ 子 (child, son, daughter) 〕

It looks like it exiles a child to the river.

The etymology of a cruel aspect may express ancient life.

The Oriental countries were very poor livings till World War II was over. 

The people did execute of the child whom they cannot bring up by oneself. 

It is to have gone unwillingly so that they live.

When " Kokeshi ( traditional wooden doll )" of Tohoku region of the Far East 

was made to condole with such children, 

it is said. Kokeshi slightly looks sorrowful.

Child (ko), extinction (keshi)

Thanks to you all and your works, sincerely

 

Here is over Chita Peninsula, Aichi Prefecture.

　　　This is the place to catch a beautiful sunset, at straight seashore.

　　　I thank to all friends who visited my pocket-size the Far East space.

　　　All your works are wonderful.

　　　I respect them heartily, and was always impressed by them.

I dedicate a lot of thanks to many Friends all over the world.

Heartwarming New Year greetings of all of you.

I am honored your encouragement.

"　Once-in-a-lifetime encounter　"

Treasure every encounter, for it will never recur...

" 一　期　一　会 "

ichi 　go 　ichi 　e

I pray for you and yours happiness.
And, Peace of the earth.

Happy New Year 2024 !!

What kind of kanji/calligraphy do you want?

Please tell me in your native language, and write it in the comments section.

Maybe I can accommodate your request.

Don't you think it's a good idea?

In Japan, it has been said since ancient times that seeing Mt. Fuji during New Year's Day brings good luck.

I wish you good luck.

From the Far East, Japan.

01.01.2024　00:00 JST 　　ruma