Who is spinning and drying @ Yobuko, port town in Kyushu

March 27, 2007 - 7:04 pm by akko@hakata in Travel  

Who do you think they are, dancing and spinning more beautifully than figure skaters under the sky?!

They are squid, caught in Yobuko.
These are dried squid you can take as good souvenier, but the best way to enjoy squid is, to eat it raw!

Doesn’t this look delicious ?!
Yes, Yobuko is `squid town’, so popular with fresh, [...]

Hinamatsuri (Hina Doll Festival) in Hita, where Edo merchants’ life still exist

March 2, 2007 - 9:08 am by akko@hakata in Travel  

Hita is a place which flourished in Edo period (Samurai Time), about 200-300 years ago.
It was actually the center of Kyushu, culturally, economically and politically,
and still protects and cherishes its tradition, just the way it was.

Hinamatsuri (Hina Doll Festival) i(Feb.15-Mar.31) is the event you can enjoy the most beautiful season of Hita, by [...]

HAKATA, bean-scattering ceremony @Kushida Shrine

February 23, 2007 - 11:08 am by akko@hakata in Travel  

Feb.3 is the day we celebrate the coming of spring.
Many shrines and temples hold soybean-throwing ceremonies around Japan every year, and Kushida Shrine, the most popular local shrine in Hakata, is no exception !

People are having exciting time, trying to catch as many sweets as possible. This year, they threw not only sweets but also [...]

What Does this Mean?!

August 23, 2006 - 5:06 pm by gambit_2001nz in Culture  

So, I’m fairly new to Japan, and slowly ( but surely ) trying to learn the language.
I have quite a few Japanese friends that try and teach me Japanese, and they do a fairly good job most of the time.
Anyway, many of the Japanese words that I have been learning have an English equivalent which [...]