Local traditions and culture in Japan

it is a traditional meal in Japan. The preparation of dishes takes place during the days preceding the New Year and these dishes are eaten during the first 3 days of January in principle for breakfast. Originally these dishes were prepared to offer food when family or friends came to visit for the new year.
each ingredients has a specific meaning:
for example
KOBUMAKI (algae = kobu) origin of the word: Yorokobu= be happy
Kuromame (black beans) origin of the word: MAME =punctuality, attendance
ect ...
these dishes require long preparation and more and more Japanese are buying pre-prepared dishes.

Japan is situated in northeastern Asia between the North Pacific and the Sea of Japan. The area of Japan is 377,873 square kilometers, nearly equivalent to Germany and Switzerland combined or slightly smaller than California. Japan consists of four major islands, surrounded by more than 4,000 smaller islands.

jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/about/overview/index.html

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If you travel in the provinces of Japan, like Ibaraki, you will notice that the local people say: "Itadikimasu!" when they start to eat. They also say this at home.

My brother brought me to this local restaurant where you squat on the floor to eat! First, we removed our shoes. Then squat facing the square table. The floor below is covered with straw mat. There are huge square pillows provided to sit down.

The waitress came in and said "Ohayo, Gozaimasu!" and nodded her head while she bowed down as she re-arranged our shoes nicely. Then she gave us the menu. I glanced at the menu with colorful pictures and just pointed the soup that I wanted to it. Since I can't read Japanese, I asked my brother to translate the menu for me.

The waitress took orders and later on served us! Then my brothers said the word, "Itadikimasu!"

The food was excellent but it was too much for me. The soup was served in a large bowl with wooden spoon. It was really nice.

If you needed extra napkins, you have to ask the waitress. Or if you needed some water.

Also, Japan allows smoking. At this restaurant where we ate, although the restaurant was crowded at lunchtime and saw a lot of working class people come and go, people smoke!

Smoking is allowed in restaurants in Japan. So, when you go to a restaurant, make sure to take a table away from most customers. Believe me, they are heavy smokers!

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If you are eating with a Japanese national (who has not travelled abroad and not familiar with your culture), make sure not to mix your food. This is the reason why the Japanese have different plates for everything. Don't mix your rice with your teriyaki or your noodles. Whatever you are eating, eat them separately. It is very rude to mix your food!

When my nephews started going to school (he was born and raised in the Philippines), he mixed his soup with his rice and stir them. Most of his school mates were disturbed because they learned it from their parents that this is a rude way of eating. Some of the children went to the teacher and told her that my nephew was not eating his food correctly.

A day later, my sister was called in the principal's office. She was told to teach my nephew how to eat correctly. They advised my sister that the proper way to eat is not to mix your food!

Well because somebody always asks, here are the facts. 20 years old to buy Alcohol and Tobacco. I'm not sure how much it's enforced cause I saw A LOT of younger folks smoking. Anybody know. Can anybody help me out? My friend and fellow traveler Nixca316 adds the following in April 2011, "anyone can get beer & cigarettes in vending machines til the y2K yet now rule is no liquor or tobacco if you're not 20 yet & you can't buy those stuff in "proper" establishments, but you can still buy beer anywhere, but they are strict about D.U.I."

A bento is a Japanese lunchbox. There are a wide variety of types and styles and I am often shocked by the amount of time and effort that have gone into them.

When I was a kid I got a cheese sandwich, an apple, fruit juice pack and maybe a carton of raisins or something. Sometimes mum would "spice up" the lunch box with a peanut butter sandwich or a small packet of crisps. Bentos in Japan are nothing like that! I have included a link to a page of Japanese bento photos - so you can get an idea of a school kids lunchbox.

Bentos are also sold in 7-11s and supermarkets. These are very different from the school lunch box, but they often make for a convenient and cheap meal. If you get to try a homemade bento then consider yourself very lucky, otherwise pop into a convenience store and see which bento takes your fancy.

Nanpa Jikan.
Roppongi Station, waiting for the first train in the morning.
(5:08 am). We were not alone. So many people there. The two gentlemen depicted here are engage in nanpa, one of the edge technologies created in Japan.
Stonefree translates for Christian.Lafont. The phrases can not be reproduced here, but if you are interested in details, Iwill do my best. Drop me two lines with your credit card number.

List of Holidays
January
1 NEW YEAR'S DAY
15 COMING OF AGE DAY*

February
11 NATIONAL FOUNDATION DAY

March
20or21 VERNAL EQUINOX**

April
29 GREENERY DAY

May
3 CONSTITUTION DAY
4 (N/A national holiday)
5 CHILDREN'S DAY

June
N/A

July
20 MARINE DAY*

August
N/A

September
15 RESPECT FOR THE AGED DAY
23or24 AUTUMNAL EQUINOX**

October
10 HEALTH - SPORTS DAY*

November
3 CULTURE DAY
23 LABOUR THANKSGIVING DAY

December
23 EMPEROR'S BIRTHDAY

note: If a holiday falls on a Sunday, it may be observed on the following Monday.

* The day off will be observed on the Monday of the week containing this day. ("Happy Monday" system)
** Vernal Equinox and Autumnal Equinox will change about one day with a calendar every year.