Culture Day

Thursday, 03 November is Cultural Day (bunkano-hi)- one Japan's national holidays. This began as a celebration of Emperor Meiji's birthday and was sustained as Culture Day when he passed away. It is also the day the Japanese Constitution was officially announced in 1946.

Today, 03 Nov. is a day for the promotion of culture and the love for freedom and peace. The Order of Culture Awards is held in the Imperial Palace and the Emperor presents honours to people who are outstanding contributors to Japanese culture and society.

Here is a picture of a fish tank located in our local shopping mall's food court- a place we frequent as a meeting spot in Mizonokuchi.

To celebrate Culture Day, Stephen & I are planning to attend the "White Heron Dance" an old tradition which is performed at the Sensoji Temple in Taito-ku. Later that afternoon, we will attend the Tokyo Jidai Matsuri (Jidai meaning era in Japanese), where 1,600 participants clad in costume representing the historical epochs of Tokyo, will parade around the precinct of Sensoji Temple in Taito-ku- beginning from the Niten-mon Gate behind the temple.

-rebekah