Oh Pinteresting Wednesday - Living in Japan Series - Summers

Gosh there is so much I want to share with you all, I'm stressed to do it all, eck! There are so many wonderful things about the seasons in Japan from the cherry blossoms in the spring to the New Years celebrations in the winter. But because we are in summer, I picked summer and the things that the Japanese do to celebrate summer. One reason I loved summer so much was because of all the festivals held around Tokyo and the whole country. The first festival that I love is the Chinese lantern  Hozuki Ichi plant festival.




A few days later then the Morning glory or Iriya Asagao Ichi festival is held to sell the plants.




One of my favorite things about the Japanese summers (if you asked for my top dislike was the humidity, blech!) was the month of August, which is O-bon season, meaning you return to your hometown and pay respects to those who have passed on before you. Along with that are lots of parades, wearing of the summer yukata (robes) and fireworks or hanabi! Watching the hanabi is such a major event in August, you wear your yukata, get a bunch of friends, grab your obento (boxed dinner) and get on an extremely packed train to wherever the hanabi are being lit off at. Then afterwards you get back to the extremely packed station, wait in an enormous line for your ticket and wait for your train. But guess what the Japanese nor I would wish it was any different, after all it is summer and it is O-bon time. Here are a few Japanese items that I found that remind me of my summers spent there which I am posting at my Oh Pinteresting Wednesday




google

and linking it up over at The Vintage Apple.
Here are my pins for this Wednesday!

The wind chimes, watermelon and shaved ice are very common throughout the summer
Source: google.com via Meg on Pinterest


This is a yukata, or summer kimono with the morning glory flower
Source: google.com via Meg on Pinterest


The hanabi or fireworks!
Source: google.com via Meg on Pinterest


Of course ramune, which is a fizzy drink similar to 7-Up with a marble sealing the top of the bottle, you unwrap the green top, press the marble down to start drinking. The saying goes if you can get the marble out of the bottle without breaking the bottle you will have extremely good luck!
Source: google.com via Meg on Pinterest


Part of the major summer celebrations include tons of men wearing the shrine on their backs through the streets
Source: google.com via Meg on Pinterest

Women then follow the men carrying the shrine and they dance in their summer kimonos, the dances are done in a straight line moving forward with simple hand motions

Source: google.com via Meg on Pinterest
Food vendors set up at the festivals to sell the popular summer foods

Source: google.com via Meg on Pinterest


 This is the typical summer kimono which is lightweight and wearing the sandals with socks is not done in the summer, only the winter or colder times

Source: google.com via Meg on Pinterest


One meal you must eat during the summer, typically which the Japanese consider the hottest day of the year which is July 20. It is barbequed eel over a bowl of rice, called unagi. The unagi is believed to help give your body sustenance to endure the summer humidity. It is barbequed over and basted in a teriyaki sauce, yum!
Some of you might like this unagi too!



36 comments:

Ruthie Hart said...

all the colors are so pretty!

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

I think I have tried unagi at a sushi place once and I loved it! Im pretty sure thats what I ate :) Have a wonderful Wednesday pretty girl!

Simply Camylla said...

I love how rich japanese culture is!I love the colors and prints they use!!

Rebekah said...

The festivals sound just amazing to see. Haha, when you first said unagi, I pictured Ross!

Aubrey {All Things Bright and Beautiful} said...

I absolutely love fireworks and it would be pretty awesome to have this experience...especially with all the traditional garb (c: I've always thought kimonos are absolutely stunning, all those bright and saturated colors make me weak in the knees!

Rachel said...

Absolutely beautiful! I want to try to get a marble out of these bottles! Ha! :) And I love parades! I think (other than my blonde Swedish hair) I'd fit in quite nicely! ;)

BeckyJo606 said...

I love unagi!! I am so glad you did this post--so interesting! And, I love that you pinned some great things that go along with it! So fun!

Unknown said...

This post was awesome--as usual. :)

Simply LKJ said...

Sounds as if summer would be a wonderful time to visit Japan...and we'd feel right at home with the humidity!

Chaos and Coffee said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE the Friends reference. Summer in Japan sounds amazing!!

birdie to be said...

Great post again! That firework picture is beautiful and I love the kimonos!

Jenna @ LaFemmeLaFanciful.com said...

Gosh- such beautiful pictures of summertime in Japan. I love hearing about all of the different Japanese traditions though I think I'd pass on the eel ;) I imagine it has an interesting texture!

Anonymous said...

oh my, how cool! i bet japanese summers are just incredible!

Michelle said...

I love unagi! It's so cool that you lived there. Thanks for sharing all of this!

Aimee said...

really cool and interesting post. o-bon season sounds like a neat time of year!

Katie said...

How interesting!!! I can't even imagine what it would be like to live in another country!

Bird Bug Pug said...

so amazing! thank you for sharing! i'm living in australia right now and we definitely have japan on our travel list, unfortunately with the radiation that has leaked over the country from the nuclear meltdown i don't know if that dream will come true. i guess i'll just have to stick with learning a few japanese words here and there from my dog groomer at work!

thanks for stopping by my blog! i'm following yours now!

Ashley said...

I love your posts about Japan! The culture seems so interesting. I wish I could see the cherry blossoms- the closest I've been is the festival in DC :) Such pretty pins, too! I died laughing at Ross's UNAGI. So funny!

h said...

Oh man, different country, but when I was in Hong Kong, it was 9am and I remember thinking, "This is the hottest I've ever been at 9am." The humidity in southeast Asia is...impressive.

Holly said...

Hahah I love that 'Friends' episode :) But I've had unagi before and I don't like it..blah!!

Chelsea @ two twenty one said...

Summer in Japan sounds (and looks) amazing! I love the kimono and Friends reference!

Allison said...

I love all the festivals, parades and colors! Did you wear kimonos when you lived there???

Hannah {Culture Connoisseur} said...

I am loving these posts.. KEEP THEM COMING! So cool to learn about the festivals and the o-bon celebration.

The picture of Ross at the end cracked me up.

What was your most difficult "culture shock" or cultural transition moving back to the states?

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

You must be having such an amazing time...long lines and all! : )

Jen @ redsolesandredwine said...

OK, this posting is AWESOME! Such a great story and images. I love Japan and the food, but some of the things you shared people are scared of. Love, <3 this!

www.redsolesandredwine.com

bridechic said...

This whole post is stunning! Very inspiring . . .

Kellie Collis said...

How lovely! The flowers are gorgeous! Have a wonderful day, Kellie xx

{The Perfect Palette} said...

summer in japan sounds life changing

xo, chrissy
The Perfect Palette

Mrs Amber Apple said...

Japan sounds lovely!

Danielle said...

I love hearing about Japan through your eyes. It only makes me want to go there 10 times more than before! I can't wait to learn more!

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Mallory said...

Oooh! Loving all the Japan pics. Love the flowers!
You including Ross in the post - HILARIOUS! I'm dying laughing.

Lia Joy said...

Ahhh!! I was reading this post and got down to the BBQ eel/unagi part... And before I scrolled down to see good ol' Ross Geller, I was thinking of Friends...

"... Ahhh salmon skin roll..." LOVE IT! :)

I am loving reading your posts about Japan. My husbands best friend is in the marines and he's been living in Japan off and on for the past 4 years.

Unknown said...

This is very interesting to me! O-bon season sounds really neat. I think kimonos are so pretty!

Kristin said...

How much longer are you in Japan for?

www.StarHughes.com said...

Wow I didn't realize you were LIVING in Japan!!!! How neat!!!! That is amazing!!!