Hiragana Tables

SeiOn (Basic Characters) DakuOn (Combination 1 – voiced consonant)

YoOn (Combination 2 – contracted sound)

Katakana Tables
SeiOn (Basic Characters) DakuOn (Combination 1 – voiced consonant)

YoOn (Combination 2 – contracted sound)

Retrieved from: http://www.coscom.co.jp/hiragana-katakana/kanatable.html

List of Japan Festivals
January Festivals Uchiwa Maki
Oidematsuri Mikawa Okaeri Matsuri
O-shogatsu Kirishima Nanohana Flower Walk Aioi Peiron Festival
Horan Enya Soga no Kasayaki
Nishikata Mizukake Festival April Festivals
Tokiwa Hachimangu Toshina Hono June Festivals
Dainichi-do Bugaku Miyako Odori
Usokae Onisube Onbashira Festival Takigi Noh Performance
Katsube no Himatsuri Obasama Festival Kaiko Kinenbi (Yokohama Port
Hatsu-ichi Ose Matsuri Opening Festival) Dontsuku
Toka Ebisu Tonbansan Matsuri Festival
Hatsuichi Go'o Taisai Matsuri Enshu Hamakita Hiryu Matsuri
Sagicho Saga Dai Nenbutsu Kyogen Rice Planting Festival
Daikoku Festival Beppu Hot Spring Festival Agata Festival
Dondo-sai Nagashi Bina Izawanomiya Otaue Matsuri
Doya Doya Kanamara Festival Sapporo Festival of Hokkaido
Toshi-ya Matsuyama Haru Matsuri Shrine
Nozawa Dosojin Himatsuri Zen Nihon Chindon Concours Chagu-Chagu Umakko (Horse
Matobakai Himesama douche Festival)
Tokuwa no Tenjinsai Hoyoke Taisai Festival Aoba Matsuri
Jyogyodo Hatsuka Yasai Kambutsue Matsuri Yasaka Shrine Festival
Sugamo Togenuki Jizo Taisai Asanogawa Enyukai Itoman Hare
Usokae Shinji Oh-chamori Sanno Festival
Sounkyo Ice Festival Flower Arrangement Festival Gotanshin Sai
Takayama Spring Festival Aizen Festival
February Festivals Hikiyama Matsuri
Hojo-e Matsuri July Festivals
Shiretoko Fantasia 2003 Ushibuka Haiya Matsuri
Kaki Matsuri Okoshi Daiko Festival Tokyo Summer Festival
Otaru Snow Light Path Festival Oiran Dochu Shounan Hiratsuka Tanabata Matsuri
Abashiri Okhotsk Drift Ice Festival Negi-no-mai Iriya no Asagao-ichi
Setsubun Festival Fuji (Wisteria) Matsuri Shiman Rokusen-nichi
Takisanji Oni Festival Nagasaki Tall Ships Festival Danjiri Festival
Ushikae Shinji Togyu Taikai Kuki Tennosama Chochin (Lantern)
Yuki no Carnival Kyokusui-no-utage Festival
Matsushima Kaki Matsuri Arita Ceramics Fair Kiyoku Chochin (Lantern) Festival
Onda Matsuri Ueno Natsu Matsuri (Ueno Summer
Sapporo Yukimatsuri May Festivals Festival)
Yuki Toro Matsuri Hakata Gion Yamagasa
Kigen Matsuri Yotaka Matsuri Gion Matsuri
Sominsai Nembutsu Kyogen Nankai Jinja Natsu no Reitaisai
Hatsu Uma Festival Kakeuma Shinji / Fukakusa Matsuri Shiogama Minato Matsuri
Kariwano Otsunahiki Nozaka Mairi Kokura Gion Taiko
Hadaka Matsuri Fujiwara Festival Samukawa Jinja Hamaorisai
Dondo Festival Kamogawa Odori Samukawa Jinja Hamaorisai
Godai Rikison Ninno-e Shinsen-en Kyogen Yamaguchi Gion Festival
Baikasai Yokohama Port Festival Osorezan Taisai
Some-no-Komichi Festival Odawara Hojo Godai Matsuri Nagasaki Peiron Senshukan
Inari Kanko-sai Festival Uchiwa Matsuri
March Festivals Kamezaki Shiohi Matsuri Kurosaki Gion Matsuri
Togyu Taikai Sapporo Summer Festival
Awashima Jinja Grand Festival Hiroshima Flower Festival Aizu Tajima Gion Matsuri
Todai-ji Shunie Shio no Michi Festival Warei Shrine Summer Festival
Water-drawing Ceremony Iba no Sakakudashi Matsuri Soma Nomaoi
Konomiya Hadaka Festival Sagami Giant Kite Festival Honmyo-ji Tonshae
Hina Matsuri Yamakage Shrine Festival Kangensai (Music Festival)
Hina Matsuri Takigi Noh Performance Otaru Tide Festival
Shimabara Hatsuichi Matsuno-o Kanko-sai Festival Sanjo Hokkai Heso Festival
Takaosan Hiwatari Matsuri Matsuri Tanukidani Fudoin Fire Festival
Shiogama Jinja Hote Festival Aoi Festival Sumiyoshi Matsuri
Honensai Festival Sanja Matsuri Hachinohe Sansha Taisai
Hatsuuma Taisai Mifune Boat Festival Yokohama Summer Night Festival
August Festivals Tono Matsuri Inoko Festival
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri Gion Odori
PL Founder's Festival Fireworks Art Tsurugaoka-hachimangu Reitasai Karatsu Kunchi
Nagaoka Festival Yachi Donga Festival Ohara Festival
Sansa Matsuri Yoshitsune Festival Betchya Festival
Ueno Natsu Matsuri (Ueno Summer Seiryu-e Festival Harvest Festival
Festival) Hagi Festival Awa Puppet Theatre
Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri Toyokuni Shrine Festival Shitenno-ji Wasso
Shimizu Minato Matsuri Furusato Hyappei Festival Hakone Daimyo Gyoretsu
Wasshoi Hyakuman Summer Festival Seimei Festival Kyokusui-no-En
Nebuta Matsuri Aizu Byakko Matsuri Ohitaki Festival
Matsue Suigo Matsuri Fire God Festival
Shiogama Port Festival Sukagawa Taim atsu
Kanto Matsuri Sendai Great Tug-of-War Momiji Festival
Hanakasa Matsuri Fukuro Matsuri Shichi-Go-San Festival
Peace Ceremony Comb Festival Ebisu-san Matsuri
Tanabata Festival Kokkeisetsu Hadakambo Festival
Kesencho Kenka Tanabata Asakusa Tori no Ichi
Niigata Festival October Festivals
Touki Matsuri
Anjin Festival Zuiki festival
Yassa Matsuri Nihonmatsu Lantern festival
Yosakoi Matsuri Otsu Festival
Awa Odori Festival Sawara festival
Osaka Castle Takigi-noh Arimatsu Festival December Festivals
Sanuki Takamatsu Festival Warai Festival
Yanai Goldfish Lantern Festival Nagasaki Kunchi Oshiroi Matsuri
Tetsuya Odori Festival Autumn Festival Chichibu Yomatsuri
Mantoro Lantern Lighting Dai Ginza Matsuri Morotabune Shinji
Shoro Nagashi Nagasaki Takata-no-Baba Yabusame Takata no Inoko
Mishima Summer Festival Naha Ohtsunahiki Festival Hata Festival
Yamaga Toro Konpira Matsuri Akibasan Gongen Hibuse Matsuri
Toro Nagashi Festival Sanuki Toyohama Chosa Matsuri Misogi Matsuri
Daimonji Bonfire Sawara-no-Taisai Aki Matsuri Sanpoji Daikon Festival
Hakone Daimonji Yaki Mibu Kyogen Akou Gishisai
Earth Celebration Nada Fighting Festival 47 Ronin Festival+
Sento Kuyo Hiraoka Matsuri Gishisai Festival
Toi Misaki Fire Festival Sennin Musha Gyoretsu Iwatsuta Shrine Fire Festival
Minami Kyushu Kagura Festival Niihama Drum Festival Akiba Taisai Hiwatari Shinji Festival
Gangara Fire Festival Shimabara Hot-Springs Matsuri Setagaya no Boro Ichi
Koenji Awa Odori Festival Funaoka Matsuri Akutai Cursing Festival
Usuki Stone Buddhas Fire Festival Yabusame Festival Akiba no Himatsuri
Kasagake Ritual Kasuga Wakamiya Festival
September Festivals Saigu Procession Izumi Kannon Daruma-ichi
Jidai Matsuri Asakusa Kannon Hagoita-ichi
Hassaku Oshi-tsuki Hi Matsuri (Kurama Fire Festival) Shimai Kobo
Kaze no Bon Ueno Tenjin Matsuri Shimai Tenjin
Hassaku-sai Edo Tenka Matsuri Festival Kotohira-gu Shukiku
Kitazawa Hachiman Festival Namahage
Karasu-zumo November Festivals Hagurosan Shoureisai
Seto Festival Mabuni Hi to Kane no Matsuri
Manto Festival Old Book Market
O Sannomiya Autumn Festival Special Autumn Opening of Kyoto Imperial
Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Festival Palace

Reference: Japan Tourist Info (2019) “Japanese Festivals “

From: https://www.japanvisitor.com/japanese-festivals
Hina Doll

Hina Matsuri, Japan’s annual girls day festival,

became a particularly popular celebration during the Edo
Period. As part of the festivities, girls are given a set of
ornamental dolls, which are put on display from February
through March 3 — a ritual believed to bring about good
health for the girls. The dolls, which are sometimes made
of materials as delicate as paper and clay, are believed to
ward off evil and are usually kept within the family for
generations.

The doll sets on display at the Zohiko

Uruishi Museum are exceptionally
preserved antique examples, and they
include not only the dolls but also
other paraphernalia, such as furniture
and musical instruments; till April 2.

Reference: Osaki, Tomohiro (2013, February) “Hina Dolls and Their Accessories “

From: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2013/02/07/arts/openings-outside-tokyo/hina-dolls-and-their-
accessories/#.XMQA-jAzbIU
Daruma Dolls
The Daruma is modeled after Bodhidharma, a monk accredited with the founding of Zen
Buddhism, who seems to have lived between the 5th and 6th centuries CE. His origins
are shrouded in mystery, and most of the accounts documenting his life are mixed with
legends, making the tracking of Bodhidharma’s pilgrimage from the “Western Regions”
(possibly central Asia) a very hard task.

During his travels he stopped for

a time in a Shaolin monastery in
China, founding the famous
homonymous martial art. He then
continued his journey until he
decided to settle in a cave and
meditate. This is where the
history of the Daruma (after
Bodhidharma’s Japanese name)
begins.
The monk became a wall-gazer.
He meditated, eyes to a wall, in a
seated position for nine years,
without breaks, and without closing his eyes, except once, after seven years. He was so
furious at himself for what he perceived as lack of discipline, that he sliced his own
eyelids off so to prevent himself from ever sleeping again. As the eyelids touched the
ground, they sprouted green tea plants. This legend is one of the reasons behind
Buddhist monks often drinking green tea to stay awake.

On top of self-mutilation, Bodhidharma also suffered the loss of his arms and legs
(according to some legends they fell off his body) as a consequence of his immobility for
nine years. Art and folklore depicting Bodhidharma show him almost exclusively
displaying these characteristics, which is why the Daruma dolls, in all its aspects,
symbolize Bodhidharma’s position and features.
In addition, everything about the Daruma’s design has deep roots and meaning, down to
the most minute details, making this doll much more than a simple household item.

Reference: Maurizi, Lucio (2018, july) “Japanese Daruma dolls – The true story behind the cute souvenir “

From: https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0002401/
Kokeshi Doll

Kokeshi are Japanese dolls from the Tohoku region in Northern Japan. These handmade
wooden dolls have a colorful history and controversial reputation.

They were traditionally made as guardians of children but later became popular
amongst Japanophiles and collectors. Kokeshi are thought to date back to the early 19th-
century and they were produced by kijishi, woodworkers at the Shinichi Shuraku, near
the Togatta Onsen in Zao.
According to other sources, it is said that they were originally sold to visitors in the
Tohoku region during the Edo Period (1600-1868). The origin of the name ‘kokeshi’ is
unclear; some historians suggest that the name is a combination of names given to the
dolls by their manufacturers.
The traditional kokeshi is painted in black, red, and yellow and covered with wax. They
are simple in shape with round heads and cylindrical limbless bodies and are made by
the model of Naruko style or Tsuchiyu style.

Reference: Georgievska, Marija (2017, January) “Kokeshi : the Japanese handmade wooden dolls with colorful history
and controversial reputation “

From: https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/01/19/kokeshi-the-japanese-handmade-wooden-dolls-with-a-colorful-
history-and-controversial-reputation/
Koi Nobori
"Koinobori", carp windsocks, carp streamers or carp banners, decorate the landscape of Japan
from April through early May, in honor of Children's Day (originally Boys' festival) on May 5.
In Japanese culture, the carp symbolizes courage and strength because of its ability to swim up a
waterfall. The Boys' Festival was an event, expressing hope that each boy in the family will grow
up healthy and strong like wild carps. During this festival, people set up a warrior doll or a yoroi
armor set in the house, and Koinobori, huge carp-shaped windsocks, outside the house.
Originally, the banners were used by
samurai warriors on the battlefield.
Whenever the ancient warriors were on
the battlefield, they wore full yoroi armor
and flew banners.
The banners were painted in various
colors and shapes. Some of them had carp
pictures on them. They became "carp
banners" at the beginning of the modern
age.
Since the carp's courage and strength is a
trait desired in boys, families traditionally
have flown koinobori from their homes to
honor their sons.
A typical koinobori set consists of, from the top of the pole down, a pair of arrow-spoked wheels
(yaguruma) with a ball-shaped spinning vane, top streamer (fukinagashi) that looks like a
windsock, a black koinobori and a red koinobori. If more children are in the household, an
additional blue, green and then purple or orange koinobori are added.
These carp sets are flown above the roofs of houses, with the biggest black koinobori for the
father, next biggest red for the mother, and ranging down to the smallest carp for the youngest
child.

Reference: Yokota , Takashi (2011, November) “Koinobori, History and customs in japan“

From: http://www.koinobori-japan.jp/koinobori.html