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ニュース/ News
Tanabata - The Star Festival
Japan has a way of transforming its seasons into something meaningful. A change in weather, a flower blooming, or even a clear night sky can become part of a larger tradition. This is something I have noticed more since being in Japan. Festivals are not just events here. They often feel connected to nature, memory, folklore, and everyday life. Tanabata (七夕祭り) is one of the clearest examples of this.
Noah Whiteley
7月7日読了時間: 9分
Chubu Walkathon 2026
Formerly known as the Nagoya Walkathon and International Charity Festival, the Chubu Walkathon has been showing that you can have fun while helping people since 1992*. Held annually on a Sunday in May, this year's walkathon takes place on May 24, 2026.
April Dykes
5月24日読了時間: 2分
Sanno Festival: Takayama City’s Spring Festival
Takayama Festival (高山祭) has been one of the oldest running festivals in Japan. The festival offers a unique experience of Japanese culture with its articulated performance of puppet dolls during the day and a parade of intricately designed festival floats that goes through the night. Along with Gion Festival in Kyoto and the Chichibu Yomatsuri in Saitama, it is known as one of the three most beautiful festivals in the country.
Narelle Katsumoto
4月9日読了時間: 6分
Celebrating New Beginnings with Kagami Biraki
Laughter, cheers, and the clinking of small wooden cups follow. That’s the joyful tradition that is Kagami Biraki (鏡開き).
It’s a ceremonial event you might see at weddings, business gatherings, sports events, and festivals.
Narelle Katsumoto
1月27日読了時間: 4分
The Night Demons Run for Blessings: Nara’s Oni Hashiri 陀々堂の鬼走り
Every year on January 14th, the grounds of Nenbutsu-ji Temple (念仏寺) in Nara Prefecture come alive with fire, sound, and ancient ritual during Oni Hashiri. Directly translated as “demon run,” the demons of Oni Hashiri represent ancestral spirits who return to the human world at the start of the year.
Narelle Katsumoto
1月14日読了時間: 3分
Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks Festival: Be Captivated in Japan’s Fireworks Capital
Missed seeing summer’s fireworks displays? Don’t worry! Summer isn’t the only time you get to witness a vibrant spectacle in the sky. One of Japan’s biggest firework festivals takes place in the heart of Autumn: the Nagano Ebisuko Fireworks Festival in the Chubu region. Known for its competitive displays, this event lights up the autumn night sky with over 15,000 fireworks synced to melodic music. Some even say its stunning show outshines those of the summer.
Narelle Katsumoto
2025年11月25日読了時間: 3分
Tori no Ichi: May the Rooster Grant You Good Health and Prosperous Business
Every autumn across the Kanto region, a lively festival called Tori no Ichi fills the air with cheers, lantern lights, and laughter. People come to wish for good health and successful business in the year ahead. Dating back to the Edo period, this celebration was originally seen as the first event to welcome the New Year.
Narelle Katsumoto
2025年11月18日読了時間: 3分
Halloween with a Japanese Touch: from Theme Park Parades to Street Parties in Shibuya
Japan, like many other countries, celebrates this wonderful spooky event. But just as every nation adds its own flair to this Irish-origin holiday, Japan has thoroughly adapted and curated its own unique version of the ghostly tradition. Festivities now start as early as the beginning of October and climax on the 31st.
Narelle Katsumoto
2025年10月31日読了時間: 5分
ギビングチューズデー ジャパンの最新ニュースをお届けします。
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