GETTING READY FOR THE YEAR OF THE TIGER

GETTING READY FOR THE YEAR OF THE TIGER

According to Japanese tradition, each year reflects the character of a diffent sign of the Chinese zodiac and with the coming new year (only two months away) in the village of Oroshi-cho, Toki-shi (Toki city) in the Mino district, production at the Hozan Gama or Hozan kiln is in full swing making ornaments for the coming Year of the Tiger (2010). This year they are using a different and quite unique method of producing over twenty different kinds of cute and exclusive ceramic tigers. The process involves making sheets of clay (just as one would roll out sheets of cookie dough for cutting). Then the sheets are folded in the same way as origami, placed in the kiln, dried, glazed, and “fired” again – totally different from typical ceramic processes.

According to the head of the ceramic factory, Ito Hitoshi (56) they have immediate plans to produce and ship over 6000 ceramic tigers by the middle of this month. “It is said that oriental zodiac items invite good luck and good fortune for the new year, and we are hoping 2010 is a happy and good year for Japan’s economy and its people and we will continue to create more tigers with this exact feeling in mind.”

IT'S OTUKIMI! MOON VIEWING DAY IN GIFU!

IT'S OTUKIMI! MOON VIEWING DAY IN GIFU!

It's Otokimi or Moon Viewing Day in Gifu! Tonight everyone will be outside, looking up at the full moon to see the bunny making rice cakes in the moon.

Moon Viewing or Otukimi is done in a rather quiet manner. It's a custom introduced to Japan from China during the Nara and Heian Periods, (710 - 1185). Traditionally, susuki (pampas grass not a motorcycle) or other autumn flowres are decorated in a vace and dango (dumplings) and stoimo (taro potatoes) are offered to the moon on an alter. People look up at the moon, enjoying the beauty quetly. It is also a way of celebrating the autumn harvest.

Suzuki

Otukimi no Wagashi (Moon Viewing Cake

Ebi Senbei - rice cakes with a bit of shrimp! Oishii desu yo!

If you have the time, please go out for at least a few minutes tonight and enjoy nature and the view, even if you don't have all these great treats. See if you can see the bunny! Oh! That's for kids? Well, try to be a kid for just a few minutes - it's probably something we should do more of.