Winter is cold and often filled with snow and short days, but it is also filled with the warmth of loved ones and illuminations that light up the night.  While you can view some illuminations throughout the year, autumn and winter are the main seasons you will see them.  We all love illuminations, but does anyone know the history of illuminations in Japan?  If you’re like me and the answer to that question is ‘No’, let’s dive into the history together.

Jinjitsu no Sekku (Human Day or Mankind Day), also known as Nanakusa no Sekku (The Seven Herbs Festival), is one of Japan’s five seasonal festivals.  Every year on January 7th, after the hustle and bustle of the New Year, this day serves as a reminder to slow down and prioritize health. While Jinjitsu no Sekku has been celebrated since the Nara period, did you know that its roots can be traced back to China?

子持山学園は、1952年子持山麓の長尾村（現渋川市）に設立された児童養護施設です。男女別縦割りグループの小舎制養育を通じて、子どもたちと職員が家族のような日常を共にしています。

As the days grow shorter and the year nears its end, Japan welcomes the winter solstice, or 冬至 (Tōji). This is a time to prepare for the cold, reflect on the past year, and look forward to the return of spring. Though the shortest day may feel shrouded in darkness, Tōji is a celebration of warmth, renewal, and the hope that light will come again.

ジャパンハートは、「医療の届かないところに医療を届ける」を理念に国内外で活動する日本発祥の国際医療NGOです。

One tradition stands out at the end of the year. It is Oseibo, the custom of giving year-end gifts. These gifts go to family, colleagues, and bosses. They carry a message of thanks and respect.

“The Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri is the annual festival of Wakamiya, a sub-shrine located within the grounds of Kasuga Taisha Shrine” (Nara City Tourism Association).  This festival began with a prayer by the regent Fujiwara no Tadamichi in 1136.  His prayer was for peace and prosperity to spread throughout the country, for bountiful harvests, and happiness for all people, and that prayer remains at the heart of the festival today.  

日本財団は、地方自治体が主催するボートレースの売上金をもとに、国内外の社会課題解決に取り組むNPOの事業への資金助成をする民間の団体です。活動資金の助成をするだけでなく、新たな社会課題を見つけ、解決のためのモデルを作る、調査と実践の機能を持つ世界でもユニークな財団です。「いいことは、みんなでやろう」を合言葉に、寄付やボランティア文化の醸成も進めています。