| Start: | Nov 15, '10 |
| Location: | Japan |
This celebrates children of these ages (who were once thought of be in danger of imminent misfortune). Parents dress their children aged 3 or 7 (for girls) and boys aged 5 in miniature versions of kimonos, haoris and hakamas and go to the Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Because the date is not a national holiday, most families pay their Shichi-go-san respects on the weekend just prior to or after November 15.
A good photo opportunity!
Photo below from wikipedia:
Thanks Cat.
ReplyDeleteHugs.
Parents generally buy chitose-ame (longevity candy) for the children.
ReplyDeleteChitose literally means a thousand years and is used to denote very long periods of time!
The candy is shaped like a stick and comes in a bag that carries illustrations of cranes and turtles -- two animals that are symbols of long life.
Chitose Ame is wrapped in a thin clear rice paper film that resembles plastic. This is edible. *yummy*
hi John,
ReplyDeletearen't these children kawaii :-)
In Japanese kawaii (可愛い?) (literally, "loveable" "cute" or "adorable") has become a prominent aspect of Japanese popular culture.
ReplyDeleteYes, they do look cute etc.
Hugs.
awwww...I wish I had a camera with good zoom lens at this stage...it would be great to take pictures of these little ones in their finery....and being all cute and adorable walking about..
ReplyDeletewill you be there for the festivals?...galeng if you planned your travel with these festivals...nice one TFS
ReplyDeleteif I get a Japanese visa, I will still be in Japan on this date, God willing :-)
ReplyDeletenope, na-timing lang po..I read somewhere that November is a good time to visit Japan..and with cheaper tickets I just bought impulsively..hehe...didn't know what festivals were on that month by that time as I had not researched...
tagal kumuha ng visa? is it more difficult than a US visa?
ReplyDeleteno, the visa is fine in terms of timing, may rush naman (like 3 days) although 5 to 7 days processing is good..also actually free ang processing if you go to the Japan Embassy...its only if you go thru agencies na may fee..like 1K or 2K Php and up..
ReplyDeletebut yes, its noted to be difficult to also get...
I'm hoping that last 2008 since may visa naman ako, sana naman no difficulties this time..last time kc may invite letter ako...e ngayon, don't want to ask my friend to give me an invite letter because I won't be going to Nagasaki (I think there is no more time unless I abandon Tokyo upwards)....e baka mabuking pa..kakahiya naman guluhin pa...
For short visits we here do not have to apply, a 30 day tourist visa is automatically issued at the airport (Or sea port) in Japan. for a 90 day tourist visa we apply to the Embassy in Copenhagen, we do not need written invitation from friends, such visas can be extendad to 6 months by applying to the Japanese authority on arrival or not less than x days in advance of expiration date. Similar rules apply to special visas like "Student exchange, temporary working agreements and so on."
ReplyDeleteJapanese citizens enjoy the same reciprical rights.
I think for first world countries, that kind of arrangement is expected.
ReplyDeleteDo you know for example that its really notoriously difficult here in the country in getting a US visa? So much so that even other foreigners are baffled why people get denied (they have secure jobs here, or good businesses or families even in the country).
Some even just get their visa by visiting US embassies in another countries and getting it there...hehe..
For us here, invitation letter for Japan visit is not necessary but can be done and is recommended by others to make the visa application "easier".
I've some friends who were able to go to Japan last month with just the usual form filled out, picture, certification etc. and itinerary etc.. - no invitation letter - hence I'm hoping to go that route instead of what I did last year (and last year I didn't have the ticket in my hand when I applied).
We have a very hard time getting a US visa no matter what. It seems like we're researched by the CIA, FBI, Interpol et al and when my son went there to assist in heath lectures at an American hospital they were treated like criminals to the point of even being arrested in California.
ReplyDeleteWTH? really?
ReplyDeletewhat in the world...its not as if you have a terrorist-sounding name or visage....*really puzzled*
P.S. correction "notoriously difficult* I missed writing the 2nd word
Exactly, Brian went with a team of nurses from one of our larger hospitals where he is employed, it was by invitation too. Me, I'm never going to visit, never wanted to anyway.
ReplyDeleteGrinning.
maybe its a case of mistaken identity...
ReplyDeletelike what happened here to a friend of mine..seems there was this "murderer' which we shall call John Doe...and coincidentally my friend's name was also John Doe though there were diff people *wink*
awww...Sanfo is one of my fave cities...actually, I told myself before..if I could visit Sanfo and NYC...am fine already with America..I can skip the other states there...ah..and also Hawaii..but that's because of a good friend there :-)
I doubt it as our family name is not very common in England.
ReplyDeleteI did however suddenly think, he has two passports, UK and DK, he may have been using the one he used when visiting Cuba with the same group of nurses a year earlier, so they were probably suspected of being Communist sympathisers or subversives.
LMAO.
oh dear..oh dear...*shakes head while smiling*
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of a wish: I wish I can buy a komono, kahit na second hand. There are a lot of slightly-used kimono stores.
ReplyDeletetry nyo po kaya pagawa dito..hehehe..joke lang...baka butterfly sleeves sa kimono labas..
ReplyDeletemy mom has a kimono or was it a yukata pala.......simple white with green leaves in the background...pinadala kc before sa wife of my dad's friend who was with ANA at that time...tapos with geta pa...maganda nga tingnan...e simple pa yon na design...what if..it was like those gorgeously colored ones...
Malay mo maka-tiyempo? Maganda na mura. But I guess also not. The sellers would definitely know the value of their kimonos.
ReplyDeletehmm..I know a have a list somewhere of the good flea markets and their schedules....
ReplyDeletehow are you cat? THANKS for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteKuya Rom!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteabah, I should ask you that question...at lumitaw ka ulit sa Multiply..hehehe!
oo naman and it's still my number one site!! hope you're doing fine as well..take care!! Kuya Rom
ReplyDeleteoh, di ka ba FBooker? :-)
ReplyDeletehope ok naman sa inyo dyan...here paulan-ulan every afternoon...*daming kagat ng lamok*
at one time yes!! i quit FB kasi very addicted and it has a little or no privacy...maybe someday i'll get back to it!! INGAT sa lamok..kuya rom
ReplyDeletethanks po ...hirap nga with dengue on the loose...
ReplyDeleteanyway, am trying out a few concoctions to spray around the room...we will see if tatalab...
di nga siguro mawawala lamook dito with the kind of weather we have...