節分 What is setsubun? Setsubun in Hakata! You should go to Kushida Shrine.

「　節　分　」
とにかく節分に櫛田神社に行ってみんしゃい!
Setsubun is a kind of festival which shows the end of winter. Setsubun actually signifies "the parting of the seasons;" especially nowadays it falls on about February 3, the day before the first day of spring. On the evening of this day, people cry, "Out with the ogre! In with the happiness!" while scattering roasted soy beans inside and outside their homes. To pray for good health for that year, there is also the custom of eating only the number of soy beans as one's age. At temples and shrines, too, bean scattering is practiced on a grand scale.
Recently it has been becoming popular to eat a special sushi roll,lucky direction roll called eho-maki all over Japan. On that day we must be facing the good luck direction and also must be eating that sushi without saying a word.
On that day, in Hakata, Kushida Shrine hold the big setsubun festival and invited celebrities scatter roasted soy beans for the attendance visited the holy place, Kushida Shrine. And it's famous for the main shrine gate decorated by a big otafuku mask in this season. You can go through its mouth and come into the shrine.　
Anyway you should go to Kushida Shrine on that day.

The Golden Era again In Fukuoka 柳田悠岐が福岡の黄金時代の扉を再び開ける！

1953年8月29日、中西太氏が平和台球場で推定160メートルの場外ホームランを打ち、その年にトリプル・スリーを成し遂げます。
また、その年より西鉄ライオンズの黄金時代が始まりました。歴史は繰り返されるといいますが、ソフトバンクホークスの柳田悠岐選手になぜか運命的な当時の福岡のノスタルジーのようなものを感じました。ルックスは違いますが中西太氏と柳田悠岐選手の二人には何かしら共通するものがあるのではと思います。

The advent of the repeated historical golden era in Fukuoka, Yanagita opened the door again.

Yokohama Stadium scoreboard was directly attacked by the huge 150 meter homerun. The blast hit by Yuki Yanagita who belongs to Softbank Hawks stormed on the screen board. The huge homerun move not only me but also old Nishitetsu Lions fans to tear.

In Hakata, we have been waiting for the appearance of the bold hero like Futoshi Nakanishi. He was a well-known baseball slugger of Nishitetsu Lions as a super star in 1950’s. Yanagita is a handsome guy who is loved by young ladies, on the contrary Nakanishi was a lovely chubby guy who was popular among young boys. But both of them are really bold, have excellent physical abilities, and are good sports.

Futoshi Nakanishi had set a record for the NPB longest home run at Heiwadai Stadium on August 29, 1953. The huge 160 meter home run out of the ballpark was hit from Giichi Hayashi, Daiei Stars’ pitcher. Also he was the third NPB player that achieved triple three(Ave.300-30HR-30stolen bases) in the same year. The Golden Era of Nishitetsu Lions began with these incidents since the same year, 1953.

I used to live in Sakurazaka near Heiwadai Baseball Stadium when I was an elementary school pupil. From late 1960’s to early 1970's I was looking forward to watching baseball games at Heiwadai and eating maruten udon at a stall behind the back screen. In those days, Nishitetsu Lions had been declined after the Black Fog affair. But I never forget that young players, such as Higashio, Higashida, Takenouchi, Motoi, and Umeda were struggling to regain honor after the players concerned with the affair were expelled from NPB. And most of Lions’ fans hoped that Lions would get better like the Golden Era during 1950’s.

Now I’m sure that Yanagita must be the player who opened the Golden Era’s door like Futoshi Nakanishi.

PS:昭和40年代、当時の福岡、博多の野球を愛した少年達、ファンが、黒い霧事件でどれだけ失望し、落胆したか。今、ソフトバンクホークスの柳田選手が再び福岡の栄光を取り戻す扉を開けてくれようとしています。西鉄ライオンズのオールドファンは、過去の事件を乗り越えた喜び、福岡で強いプロ野球チームを持てた喜び、見れる喜びがあると思います。



copyright(C)2015 Y.Matsumura Sophia All Right Reserved

七夕 Tanabata Festival In Hakata

Tanabata Festival In Hakata

Tanabata is the Weaver Star Festival, which occurs on July 7. The Chinese legend, which has it that Altair(the Cowherd Star) and Vega(the Weaver Star) were split apart by the two banks of the River of Heaven(the Milky Way) and come together once a year on this night, has aligned with Japanese belief. Originally a festival carried out among the Court nobility, it has since the Edo Era(1603-1867) become established among the people at large.

On the night of the 6th, people write their wishes or poems on strips of poetry paper in various color. And hung them on leafy bamboo; then on the night of the 7th, they are put out in the garden. These are attractive enough to be called summer Christmas trees. In recent years, cities like Sendai and Hiratsuka attract sightseers by decorating their shopping street arcades with these tanabata decorations on a large-scale. And In Hakata, Kami-kawabata Arcade has the similar decorations from July 20 to August 20.

博多上川端商店街に、山笠の追い山が終わった7月20日ぐらいから8月20日ごろまで仙台などで見られる美しい七夕飾りがアーケードの中に飾られています。

お正月と博多雑煮＆博多栗はい箸 Oshogatsu In Hakata

「　なして祝箸は、博多栗はい箸とね 。Part 1」
博多弁で、うまくいかない、予定通りいかないことをよく「まんぐりの狂うたばい。」と言います。また、逆にうまくいくことを「まんぐりのよかごたー。」と言います。これらの表現から博多栗はい箸に、万事繰り合わせがよいと栗が言葉遊びで掛けられているといわれています。正月より１年間都合よくいくことを願いをこめて雑煮やお節を栗の枝を削った祝箸で食べるようです。昔の博多商人の家々では１年のやりくりがうまくいくようにと願いをこめられていたようです。
また、祝箸の両側が尖っているのは、片方は人が食べる部分で、もう片方は、同時に神様が食事をされる部分とされています。博多祝箸は、正月の三日間または１週間は何度も洗われ使われるのが習慣となっています。

「　なして栗はい箸は、はいてつくとね 。Part 2」
博多栗はい箸の、はいという言葉が気にかかる方が、多いのではと思います。一説では、栗の枝が堅く、餅を延べるのに最適だったので、この延べるという行為が変化したしたのではないか。また、このはい箸は、正月に使われる前に煮沸消毒された後、数日間神棚に供え、清められることから拝するが変化した説などがあります。はっきりしたことが分からないようです。ご存知の方はおしえてくんしゃい。


「　お正月　」
Although oshogatsu means January, we generally celebrate it for the first 3 days or the first week of January. Oshogatsu is the most important days for the Japanese. Schools and businesses close for one to two weeks, and many people who live away from their families return home to spend this time with their families. To prepare for oshogatsu, a general house cleaning is done, and New Year's pines and bamboos, screwed straw festoon and round mirror-shaped rice cakes are set out. On New Year's Eve, bells speeding the old year are rung at temples and the New Year is welcomed by eating year-crossing noodles. On New Year's Day, many wear Japanese-style garments and people go for the first temple or shrine visit of the New Year and pray for health and happiness in the new year. Oshogatsu is also enjoyed by reading New Year's cards called nengajo and by children receiving New Year's gift called otoshidama from their parents.

「　雑煮　 zoni　」
On New Year’s Day morning, almost Japanese eat a special soup which is called zoni such as Americans eat turkey with cranberry sauce or gravy on Thanksgiving Day. It seems that they are similar traditional days which are for families gathered at their hometowns to eat special meals at the same tables and thank gods or God through eating both the dishes. The Japanese dish“zoni”isn't just a kind of typical soup but has a holy meaning by eating it. Japanese believe that the New Year’s gods stay in mochi (rice cake) in zoni. It is served as a part of course dishes called “osechi“.

「　博多雑煮　 Hakata-zoni　」
We’ll introduce zoni which is eaten in Hakata (central part of Fukuoka City) now.
Known as lavish, Hakata zoni features yakiago (grilled and sun-dried flying fish) as the soup stock, shiitake mushroom and round mochi stewed till soft and eaten in a clear-soup style. The main ingredients are yellowtail, chicken, shiitake mushroom and taro but the essential item is “katsuo-na leaves”, which is said to be a native vegetable in Hakata since long ago. The name apparently derives from the katsuo-bushi (bonito flakes) flavor of the stalk. Though the main ingredients might vary depending on the household, it is only these katsuo-na leaves that are indispensable with Hakata zoni. And people in Hakata eat zoni and osechi with a pair of special chopsticks made of chestnut branches. They are called iwaibashi in Japanese.

Also people in Hakata have the original custom that is to give pretty big yellowtail from a newly-married groom to bride’s house as the New Year’s gift to show masculine groom to bride’s house.

なして梨も柿も放生会？～ In Hakata fall begins with hojoya.

博多の秋といえば、「　梨も柿も放生会　」と合言葉、決まり文句のように博多っ子は、幼少期からすりこまれています。夏休みの楽しみが終わてしまい、私の子供時代の秋最初の楽しみは箱崎宮のこの放生会でした。

「　Hojoya Festival　放生会　～　なして梨も柿も放生会　」

In Hakata (the central part of Fukuoka City) fall really begins with Hojoya Festival.
Also, Hojoya is one of three major festivals in Hakata. This fall festival of Hakozaki-gu Shrine in Hakata eastward is held every year from the 12th to 18th of September.
The approach of the shrine stretching along 1 kilometer becomes filled every day and night with about 700 stalls and steady stream of visitors.

Hojoya is called Hojoe in other places of Japan. Hojoe is originally a shrine or a temple ritual to pay respect to everything alive and prohibit killing. Many people also visit the shrine on this occasion to give thanks to the rich harvest of fall and pray for traffic safety and business success. In Hakata, it is generally called Hojoya.

And here is the most famous dialect-proverb for Hojoya: Not only pears but also persimmons are in Hojoya. It is very hard for people living in other parts of Japan to understand the meaning of this set phrase. Both pears and persimmons were major fall fruits in those days. So we can guess that there was a full set or everything rich of fall in Hojoya then. Anyway you must go and see Hojoya. That must be the meaning!

博多祇園山笠 In Hakata summer begins with Gion Yamakasa.

「Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival            博多の暑い夏は、山笠 で始まります」 ～ソフィア学院便り 7月号より

On July 15 early morning in Hakata(the central part of Fukuoka City), the finale of the festival called "oiyama " is coming. Strong men wearing loinclothes (or shimekomi) and shortcoats (or mizuhappi) are carrying the beautiful wooden floats  called yamakasa, which are huge 1-ton floats decorated gallantly for this festival are racing along the downtown street and alley, a 5km course at full speed.Long ago the old town of Hakata was divided into seven parts which are called " nagare " in the local language. Each nagare or team has its own float decorated with the original statue such as a historical great man. Seven nagare or seven teams have their own traditions and pride, this final race " oiyama " is held among seven teams and one extra team to stake their honor.This festival is said to originate from the legend that the founder of Shotenji Temple scattered sacred water on the street to get rid of plague. Come the 1st of July, the town of Hakata becomes filled with a festive mood, with floats over 10 meters high exhibited at over a dozen spots around the town.

 

PS: We can't go and see the decorated gorgeous float called kazariyama again at IMS this early summer.

正月に食べた地元博多雑煮と栗はい箸

「　博多雑煮　Hakata zoni　 」  ソフィア学院便り1,2月号のバックナンバー

On New Year’s Day morning, almost Japanese eat a special soup which is called zoni such as Americans eat turkey with cranberry sauce or gravy on Thanksgiving Day. It seems that they are similar traditional days which  are for families gathered at their hometowns to eat special meals at the same tables and thank gods or God through eating both the dishes. The Japanese dish“zoni”isn't just a kind of typical soup but has a holy meaning by eating it.  Japanese say that the New Year’s gods stay in mochi (rice cake) in zoni. It is served as a part of course dishes called “osechi“.

We’ll introduce zoni which is eaten in Hakata (central part of Fukuoka  City) now.
Known as lavish, Hakata zoni features yakiago (grilled and sun-dried flying  fish) as the soup stock, shiitake mushroom and round mochi stewed till soft and eaten in a clear-soup style. The main ingredients are yellowtail, chicken, shiitake mushroom and taro but the essential item is “katsuo-na leaves”, which is said to be a native vegetable in Hakata since long ago. The name apparently derives from the katsuo-bushi (bonito flakes) flavor of the stalk.

Though the main ingredients might vary depending on the household,  it is only these katsuo-na leaves that are indispensable with Hakata zoni.   And people in Hakata eat zoni and osechi with a pair of special chopsticks made of chestnut branches. They are called iwaibashi in Japanese.

Also people in Hakata have the original custom that is to give pretty big yellowtail from a newly-married groom to bride’s house as the New Year’s gift to show masculine groom to bride’s house.

「　なして祝箸は、博多栗はい箸とね 。Part 1」

博多弁で、うまくいかない、予定通りいかないことをよく「まんぐりの狂うたばい。」と言います。また、逆にうまくいくことを「まんぐりのよかごたー。」と言います。これらの表現から博多栗はい箸に、万事繰り合わせがよいと栗が言葉遊びで掛けられているといわれています。正月より１年間都合よくいくことを願いをこめて雑煮やお節を栗の枝を削った祝箸で食べるようです。昔の博多商人の家々では１年のやりくりがうまくいくようにと願いをこめられていたようです。
また、祝箸の両側が尖っているのは、片方は人が食べる部分で、もう片方は、同時に神様が食事をされる部分とされています。博多祝箸は、正月の三日間または１週間は何度も洗われ使われるのが習慣となっています。 

「　なして栗はい箸は、はいてつくとね 。Part 2」

博多栗はい箸の、はいという言葉が気にかかる方が、多いのではと思います。一説では、栗の枝が堅く、餅を延べるのに最適だったので、この延べるという行為が変化したしたのではないか。また、このはい箸は、正月に使われる前に煮沸消毒された後、数日間神棚に供え、清められることから拝するが変化した説などがあります。はっきりしたことが分からないようです。ご存知の方はご教授ください。

ホワイトデイは博多からやったとね！アイディア（愛 dear でぃあ）White Day is from Hakata.

博多商人のアイディア（愛　dear　でぃあ）は、バレンタインデイを超えた！？

バレンタインデイは、古代ローマ時代の聖人バレンタインを由来として歴史もありますが、1か月後そのお返しはとして
男子が、女子により良い贈り物を送る習慣ホワイトデイは、40年前に博多の老舗菓子店、石村萬盛堂が、発案したマシュマロデイ
が起源となり、その後ホワイトデイという名前に代わり、日本中に広がった歴史があります。

" White Day is from Hakata, Japan! "
Well-known Valentine's Day comes from ancient Rome, but only a few people in Japan probably know that White Day is from modern Hakata, Japan.

White Day has been becoming more popular in Japan for several decades. On the Valentine's Day all guys who are given something nice or chocolate by their girl friends unconditionally have to return something better after one month, on March 14 in Japan.

Such a unique custom which has become firmly established among the Japanese was produced by a Hakata great merchant running a confectionery " Ishimura-Manseido " in 1977. In those days it seemed it was called Marshmallow Day.

On that background I'm sure that Hakata merchants have had own their traditional wisdom since ancient Azuchi-Momoyama period.