Events:
Cherry Blossom Forecast 2024
https://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/
https://weathernews.jp/sakura/ (Japanese version only)  
https://tenki.jp/sakura/expectation/ (Japanese version only)
https://www.otenki.jp/sp/art/sakura/ (Japanese version only)

when and where to see cherry blossoms (Japanese version only):
https://hanami.walkerplus.com/
https://sp.jorudan.co.jp/hanami/
https://www.jalan.net/theme/sakura/

Saturday, September 24, 2022

The 69th Japan Traditional Kogei-Art Crafts- Exhibition

 The 69th Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition(日本伝統工芸展) is taking place at Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo from September 14 to 26. The exhibition will be hold from September 14, 2022 to March 14, 2023. The exhibition requires the applicants to create sophisticated design based on high degree of professional skill in Japanese traditional techniques.

See the Japan Kogei Association site for further information:
https://www.nihonkogeikai.or.jp/ (Japanese version only)


The Exhibition will travel through the following venues:

Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store, Tokyo
September 14-26, 2022
Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store:


Hoshigaoka Mitsukoshi, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
September 28- October 2, 2022
Hoshigaoka Mitsukoshi:
https://www.mitsukoshi.mistore.jp/hoshigaoka.html 


Kyoto Sangyo Kaikan Hall, Kyoto Prefecture
October 12-14, 2022
Kyoto Sangyo Kaikan Hall:
http://www.ksk.or.jp/ (Japanese version only)


Sapporo Mitsukoshi, Sapporo City, Hokkaido Prefecture
October 18-23, 2022
Sapporo Mitsukoshi:
https://www.mitsukoshi.mistore.jp/sapporo.html


Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecure
October 28-November 6, 2022
Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art:
https://www.ishibi.pref.ishikawa.jp/e_home/


The Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture
November 17-December 4, 2022
The Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art:
https://okayama-kenbi.info/


Shimane Art Museum, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture 
December 7-25, 2022
Shimane Art Museum:
https://www.shimane-art-museum.jp/en/


The Kagawa Museum, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture
January 2-16, 2023
The Kagawa Museum:


Mitsukoshi Sendai Store, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecure
January 20-25, 2023
Mitsukoshi Sendai Store:
https://www.mitsukoshi.mistore.jp/sendai.html


Mitsukoshi Fukuoka Store, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
February 1-6, 2023
Mitsukoshi Fukuoka Store:
  

Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
February 15-March 5, 2023
Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum:


Takashimaya Osaka Store, Osaka Prefecture
March 9-14, 2023
Takashimaya Osaka Store:



Thursday, January 13, 2022

Kanchu-mimai(winter greeting card)

 The period of mourning after the death of a parent lasts one year. So I didn't observe the New Year's festival and didn't send New Year's cards.

It's a custom for people in mourning period to send a mourning postcard at the end of the year. In general, receivers of the postcard don't send a New Year's card to the sender.


mourning postcard
"Since I am in mourning, I am not sending New Year cards this year"


Kanchu-mimai(寒中見舞い, a mid-winter greeting card) is mailed from Shokan(小寒, minor cold or moderate cold), the 23rd in 24 Solar Terms to the day before Risshun(立春, Spring commences), the first in the terms. Shokan is around January 5, and Risshun is around February 4.

Kanchu-mimai card


Usually we mail New Year's cards until January 7. The greeting card is used as a reply to a New Year's card after January 7. 

Kanchu-mimai card
a reply to a New Year's card


We also use the card as a substitute for New Year's cards in mourning period.

Kanchu-mimai card
a substitute for New Year's cards in mourning period



 For your information, Yokan-mimai(余寒見舞い) is mailed from Risshun to about the end of February in late winter. 

Yokan-mimai