New Year’s Bonfire R…

Around the middle of January communities across Japan will be setting up dondo yaki, New Year's bonfires, at local Shinto shrines. Local people will bring the new years decorations from their homes to be burned on the fire. The decorations are usually made from paper, straw, or pine branche…

Year of the Tiger

Happy New Year everyone, and welcome to the Year of the Tiger! The Chinese zodiac calendar was adopted in Japan in the 4th century. According to the 12 year cycle the year 2022 is the Year of the Tiger. Tigers in Japan There are currently no native species of tigers in Japan, the only tige…