October 14th Is Railroads Day In Japan, Do You Like Trains?

Today, October 14th is a memorial day for Japanese railroad since it is the day the first railroad business of Japan began services 144 years ago. It was fifth year of Japanese first modern government, Meiji Government, which was established after Tokugawa Shogunate government collapsed and Samurai era was ended. 

At that time, trains run only between Shinbashi in Tokyo and Yokohama in Kanagawa prefecture and the distance was only 18 miles (29 km). However, now train lines are covering all over Japan and it has been the most common means for traveling. It's still much faster than cars' travel and easier than getting on airplanes. Also since Japanese expressway is all toll roads, train fees are not too expensive travel expenses compared with it.

In addition, the popularity of train lines is not because of only practical reasons. There are many railroads/trains lovers in Japan. Therefore every time when there is a new train line opened people rush to there. Moreover some of them are really into railroad/train business deeply like railroad-mania, or train-mania and they tend to travel to enjoy train lines than to get on trains to travel to their destinations. Somehow railroads/trains attract people a lot in Japan. 

The model trains toy shown in the photos is also not only for kids. There are very real train models and some train lovers enjoy making dioramas with them. I don't know when it began but nowadays the maniac-type fans of railroads/trains are called "Tetsu" among people. Funnily, the meaning of the name based on the direct translation would be "Irons", because the Japanese word for "railroad" is "Tetsu-dou (iron-road)".

Back to the original topic, in 1922, October 14th was set up as "Railroads' Memorial Day" initially, then the name was changed to "Railroads Day" in 1994. Apparently, every year before and after Trains' Day, special events and festivals related to railroads/trains take place here and there, also at museums of railroads/trains. If you are interested in Japanese railroad/train fan's world, you can take a look at it in these places!

ShichiFukujin (Seven Good Luck Gods) Includes 'A Red Dot'

I introduced an international gods group called "Shichifukujin (Seven Good Luck Gods)" in my previous post on the October 2nd. The Shichifukujin gods are very popular and many Shinto shrines and Buddhism temples all over Japan worship them separately.

In the Shichifukujin Gods, only "Benzaiten" is a goddess. In Japanese language, there is an idiom to express this situation. When people see only woman in a group she is called "Kouitten (a red dot)" in the group. So we can say "Benzaiten" goddess is "Kouitten (a red dot)" in the gods group.

The origin of the idiom is an ancient Chinese poetry and it was telling about only red flower blooming in a green bush and it is standing out. Then the word turned to be used for the situation that there is only woman/girl in a group. 

Unfortunately there is no antonym of the idiom for a man in a women's group. Perhaps we should create a new idiom like "only green dot for the opposite situation?

The shrine in the lower photos is a "Benzaiten Shrine" inside of Yakuo-in Temple on Mt. Takao in Tokyo. It is inconspicuous and located in backside of temple buildings, so it would be a kind of off-the-beaten-track place on the temple ground. When you have a chance to visit Mt. Takao Yakuo-in Temple, please check the hidden "A red dot of Shichifukujin" shrine!

There Is An International Gods Group loved By People

I have introduced about Japanese Shinto several times in my previous posts and explained that Japanese Shinto is a religion based on nature worship, which says that there are countless gods and goddess for everything in nature. These many gods and goddess are colloquially called “Eight Million Gods”.

It seems like the “Eight Million Gods” can really include everything because Japanese people have worshiped so many different things, people and gods at Shinto shrines in history. Actually until Japanese first modern government made a law to separate Shinto gods and Buddhism clearly, people had mixed Shinto and Buddhism and Buddhism statues were often worshiped at shrines. 

With the concept of “Eight Million Gods”, probably it wasn't strange to do. In fact not only Buddha and Buddhism guardians but also some of other foreign gods have been taken in Shinto shrines. Then, people even made a new gods group for wishing a good luck. 

It is a team of seven gods including six foreign gods and a Japanese god, and named "Shichifukujin (7 good luck gods)". The members of the "Shichifukujin (7 good luck gods)" are Fukurokuju (Taoism god from China), Juroujin (Taoism god from China), Ebisu (Japnanese god), Daikokuten (Hinduism god from India), Hotei (Buddhism monk from China), Bisyamonten (Hinduism god from India), and Benzaiten (Hinduism goddess from India). So, it's an international gods' group established in Japan and it is said that it was created in the 14-16 century.

Nobody knows how it started, but apparently the idea came from a famous Chinese subject for a drawing, "The Seven Wise Men In a Bamboo Forest". In some areas, people added one more god and made it "Eight good luck gods" since eight is a lucky number in Japan. 

By the way, for the most common design of "Shichifukujin" would be a "fortune ship set" that the seven gods are riding on a ship together as you can see in the red box in the photos above. However, to worship "Shichifukujin", usually the statues are placed separately in different shrines and temples and people can enjoy going on a pilgrimage all seven gods to make a wish for a good luck. It's been a popular activity called "Shichifukjin Meguri (The seven good luck gods pilgrimage).

When you search the word "Shichifukujin", you would be able to find many places to enjoy the pilgrimage of seven gods. It would be a nice walk trip especially in this fall season!

There Is A Traditional Second Birth Celebration At 60 Years Old In Japan

I introduced some photos about celebration items and costumes in my previous post on September 21st. In Japanese culture actually there are many more traditional celebration events for lifetime. I'll show the summary list below.

7 days after a baby birth: A celebration for official announcement of the baby's name.
Around 1 month after a baby birth: A celebration to take the baby to a shrine/temple for the first time.
100 days after a baby birth: Having a celebration party to wish the baby will have abundant food for his/her lifetime.
3 years old (for girls): A celebration called "Shichi-go-san" to with the children's healthy growth.
5 years old (for boys):A celebration called "Shichi-go-san" to with the children's healthy growth.
7 years old (for girls):A celebration called "Shichi-go-san" to with the children's healthy growth.
60 years old:A celebration called "Kanreki".
70 years old:A celebration for a longevity called "Koki".
77 years old:A celebration for a longevity called "Kiju".
80 years old:A celebration for a longevity called "Sanju".
88 years old:A celebration for a longevity called "Beiju"
90 years old:A celebration for a longevity called "Sotsyju".
99 years old:A celebration for a longevity called "Hakuju"
100 years old:A celebration for a longevity called "Hyakuju".

As you can see, after 60 years old there are many events to celebrate longevity. However, it is no wonder because reaching these ages would have been really impressive in old days. Then 60 years old is the turning point for the frequent celebrations.

Actually, 60 years old is a special age in Asian culture which is considered as the period of starting over. There are two old cyclical systems to count years called "Jikkan" and "Junishi". These were invented in China and have spread in Asian countries including Japan.

The "Junishi" cycle system is often translated "The 12 animal zodiac signs" in English and using twelve different animals to count 12 years as one cycle. It's still very common and everybody know own animal of their birth year in Japan. On the other hand, "Jikkan" is not well-known anymore, but it is also a cycle system of years. This one is using 5 basic elements such as fire, water, soil, wood, and gold.

In old days, people counted years combining these two cycles as in "Year of wood mice", "Year of fire ox" and so on. Then, at 60 years old people will have the original combination of these two cycles when they were born. Thus 60 years old became the age people finished one big cycle and start over the next cycle, just like the second birth of the life. It would be a good timing to have celebration. 

Traditionally, people celebrate "Kanreki (60-year-old celebration)" wearing a red traditional type of vest and a special red cap as you can see in the upper middle illustration. Regarding the color, red is a special color in Japanese culture as I introduced on the September 21st and that's why most costumes for celebrations in the photos above are including red color. About the style, This kind of vest had been a common outer wear in old time and the special style cap is just like the cap which one of the Japanese gods of good fortune, "Daikoku-ten", is wearing as you can see in the upper left hand side photo.

However, the typical "Kanreki (60-year-old celebration)" style seems like kind of outdated. In fact many people are not interested in wearing it nowadays since both of the items are not very fancy nor practical. Apparently, when people turn 60, most of them now choose other red items such as red T-shirts, red sweater, or red cardigan to celebrate the event. It would be a good change for this traditional custom.

How about wearing a nice red clothes and having a celebration when you turn 60 years old?

Red Is A Special Color In Japanese Culture

I introduced traditional rouge made from a flower called Benibana (Red-flower) in my previous post on the September 20th. Actually red color has been a special color in Japanese culture since ancient times. 

Ancient Japanese people believed that red color can protect people against evil and disease, then it was used at celebration ceremonies and critical junctures of life such as new year celebrations, weddings, childbirths, and so on. 

Regarding the traditional cosmetic rouge which I have introduced was not only for lip colors but also used for eyeliners and eye-shadows, and blushers. Probably people wished to avoid bad lucks by wearing red color at events. In addition, red color has also been used a lot for structures of Japanese Shinto shrines and Buddhism temples as you can see in the photo on the lower left hand side.

After modern times, I guess people are not so believing in the power of red color but still using it for celebration time and important turning points of life as a traditional custom. So you would find red color often at ceremonies. Moreover the color combination of  "red and white" has been the most common color set for celebration. Thus, when people hear/see "red and white", it would automatically brings some happy image of celebrations. 

One more thing, actually Japanese word for "baby" is "Aka-go", "Aka-chan" or "Aka-nbou", and the first part of them "Aka" means "Red". With direct translation, the meaning of these words are "Red-child", "Red-chan", and "Red-bou". (The "chan" and "bou" are words to be attached when people call a person or a creature with friendly feeling.) 

In general most people call babies "Aka-chan (Red-chan)".  It might sound funny but to put it in extreme saying Japanese people are calling babies "Red"!

So, red is really a special color for Japanese people!

Isn't Sweet-potato The Translation Of Satsuma-imo In Japan?

In my previous posts on September 11th, 13th and 15th, I introduced a Japanese seasonal event “Otsukimi(Moon Viewng)” which celebrates beautiful “Autumn Moon”. The event was originally for giving thanks for the harvesting since fall is the biggest harvesting time. Every fall people look forward to having newly harvested rice, seasonal mushrooms, chestnuts, and many of other seasonal produce. Thus Japanese call autumn “the season of  good appetite”.

Satsuma-Imo(Asian Sweet Potatoes) is one of the typical fall produce in Japan and piles of Satsuma-Imo can be seen all supermarkets as in the left hand side photo.

Actually I introduced this prodice with Japanese name on purpose, because there is a confusing fact in Japan. 

Somehow the English word for Satsuma-Imo, "Sweet potatoes” is a name of one kind of sweets in Japan. This sweets “SWEETPOTATO”, is made of Satsuma-Imo, but it is mashed up and mixed with sugar, cream and butter then baked, shown in the right hand side photo.

When asked about "Sweetpotato" in Japan, Japanese would automatically think of the sweets and not the produce Satsuma-Imo. So if you ask where you can buy "Sweetpotato", people would introduce some cake shops or sweets shops nearby.

*To read my previous post about Otsukimi event, please click the link below!

     September 11th, A Traditional Seasonal Event Of Autumn, OTSUKIMI Is Coming Soon!

     September 13th, About Otsukimi Event; Can You See A Rabbit On The Full Moon?

     September 15th, The Truth Of The Connection Between Otsukimi Day And The Full Moon Day Of Mid Autumn

A Traditional Japanese Sweet That Can Be Served In Two Ways

 

These are a traditional Japanese sweets called "Shiratama-Azuki”. Shiratama means one kind of plain rice cakes which have small round-shape as shown in the photos. Azuki means red beans, so "Shiratama Azuki" is a dessert of Shiratama rice cakes with sweet mashed red beans (Anko).

Shiratama Azuki has an interesting feature. It can be served with hot temperature and cold temperature. It's similar to the situation which apple pies can be served as both of a hot dessert and a cold dessert. Regarding Shiratama Azuki, people tend to order cold one in summer and hot one in winter.

I'm showing both version in the photos above. For the cold version in the left hand side photo, Shiratama rice cakes are on top of chilled syrup style of mashed red beans. People scoop the rice cakes and sweet red beans sauce together to eat it. 

On the other hand, for the hot version in the right hand side photo, many small rice cakes are soaked in hot water. people pick those warm rice cakes up from the hot water and eat them with the sweetened mashed red beans on the small dish. The yellow powder beside the mashed red beans is sweet soy beans powder called Kinako and it is an additional topping.

Now the temperature is getting cooler day by day, and under nice fall weather either version would be nice depending on your mood of the moment!