Events:
Christmas and Winter Lights:
https://metropolisjapan.com/winter-illumination-guide/
https://illumi.walkerplus.com/ (Japanese version only)
https://www.fashion-press.net/news/124112 (Japanese version only)

2024 calendar (April - June) - updated 14 March 2024


★：national holidays
◆:the 24 solar terms in traditional East Asian lunisolar calendars


APRIL

1-30 April  Miyako Odori(都をどり,Cherry Dance), Kyoto
                  https://miyako-odori.jp/english/

 http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.com/2010/04/miyako-odori-and-azuma-odori.html
         Cherry Dance, geiko and maiko
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2012/04/cherry-dance.html
           It's hard for non-Kyotoites to understand Kyotoites.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2013/04/cherry-dance-and-kyotoite.html

7 April confectionery festival ( 菓子祭・全国銘菓奉献祭), Wakayama Prefecture
              It's a festival to pray for the prosperity of the confectionery industry, so it's lesser-known. Many confectioners from around the country dedicate confections to Kitsumoto Shrine dedicated to Tajimamori no Mikoto, the god of confectionery.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/04/confectionery-festival.html

7 April　Entrance ceremonies(入学式)
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.com/2010/04/entrance-ceremonies.html
8 April　Buddha's birthday festival(花まつり, Hana-matsuri)
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.com/2010/04/buddhas-birthday.html
14 April The 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2016/04/2016-kumamoto-earthquakes.html
14-15 April　The Spring Takayama Festival(高山日枝神社山王祭), Gifu Prefecture
 
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2013/04/the-spring-takayama-festival.html
19 April - 5 May  Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival(弘前さくらまつり), Aomori Prefecture
                          https://www.hirosakipark.jp/sakura/
　
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/04/hirosaki-cherry-blossom-festival.html
22 April  Shoryo-e(聖霊会, memorial service for Prince Shotoku), Shitenno-ji Temple
                 Gagaku(雅楽, ancient court music and dance) still survives in Japan.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/04/shoryo-e-memorial-service-for-prince.html
23 April  Imperial spring garden party, Akasaka Imperial Gardens, Tokyo
29 April -5 May Mibu Kyogen(壬生狂言), Kyoto 
                  It's a silent play to propagate Buddhism and has been held uninterruptedly since 1300.
29 April - 5 May Golden Week
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.com/2010/04/golden-week.html

29 April  Showa Day(昭和の日)★
                the birthday of the former Emperor

other posts:

ichihatsu(roof iris)
   Roof iris has often been confused with Florentine iris.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.com/2010/04/ichihatsuthe-roof-iris.html
Tree hunting
  Even now, nearly 70% of the land in Japan is mountains and forests. The Japanese cedar trees that a monk planted for use in next rebuilding on the site of the temple are 300 years old now.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/04/tree-hunting.html
bamboo shoot
   Bamboo shoots are seasonal food.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.com/2010/04/bamboo-shoot.html
Kabuki-za
   National Theatre of Japan is located next to... the Supreme Court of Japan.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/04/kabuki-za.html
The fifth-generation Kabuki-za Theater
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2013/04/the-fifth-generation-kabuki-za-theater.html
wisteria and azalea
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2013/04/azalea-festivals.html
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2013/04/wisteria-festivals.html
Rice is equal to parents
"For us Asians, rice is equal to our parents. " Rice played a vital role in feeding the Asian expanding population.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2016/05/rice-is-equal-to-parents.html

 --tsunami and radiation--
initiation ceremony
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/04/initiation-ceremony.html
people and pets in the affected areas
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/04/cherry-blossoms.html
strong aftershock , randoseru
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/04/strong-aftershock.html
one month has passed
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/04/one-month-has-passed.html
Sanriku Railway and "Night on the Galactic Railroad", a masterpiece of children's literature by Kenji Miyazawa
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/04/sanriku-railway-and-kenji-miyazawa.html
the 49th day after death , the movie "Black Rain"
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/04/49th-day-after-death.html

MAY

1 May　May Day(メーデー)
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.com/2010/05/may-day.html

        　Hachijuu-hachi-ya(八十八夜)
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.com/2010/05/hachijuu-hachi-ya-and-constitution.html
           Tea ceremony has a profound connection with Japanese-style confectionery.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2013/05/hachijuu-hachi-yathe-88th-day-of-spring.html
3 May  Constitution Memorial Day(憲法記念日)★
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.com/2010/05/hachijuu-hachi-ya-and-constitution.html
3-4 May  Hakata Dontaku (博多どんたく), Fukuoka Prefecture
               https://www.dontaku.fukunet.or.jp/

5 May  Rikka(立夏,the first day of summer)◆

date not yet determined (11-17 May in 2023) Kanda Festival(神田祭), Kanda Myoujin(神田明神), Tokyo
                    In the Edo Period, most commoners in Edo(old Tokyo) were the parishioners of Sanno Shrine or Kanda Myoujin. A major festival will be held in 2019. In 2020 a minor festival will be held. 
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2013/05/kanda-festival.html

11 May -15 Oct Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara River(長良川鵜飼開き), Gifu Prefecture
                         https://www.ukai-gifucity.jp/ukai/

            This festival appears in "The Tale of Genji". Hikaru Genji takes part in the Aoi Matsuri's parade. http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/05/aoi-matsuri-in-japanese-literature.html
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/05/aoi-matsuri.html
17-19 May  Asakusa Sanja Matsuri(浅草三社祭, Asakusa Sanja Ffestival), Tokyo
                   https://www.asakusajinja.jp/sanjamatsuri/

 http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/05/sanja-matsuri.html
                Funatogyo on the Sumida River
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2012/03/funatogyo-on-sumida-river.html
24-27 May Azuma Odori(東をどり), Tokyo
                  https://azuma-odori.net/

             Geisha in Shimbashi of Tokyo started the dance performance called the Azuma Odori.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.com/2010/04/miyako-odori-and-azuma-odori.html
               Many of pivotal members of the New Meiji Government  married geisha in the Meiji Period.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2013/05/azuma-odoridance-performance-by.html
date not yet determined (23 May in 2023) The season for Oze Marsh climbing starts(尾瀬山開き)
                 Chozo Hirano, his son and grandson struggled to stop development in Oze Marsh.
ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/05/oze-marsh.html
25-27 May The Soma Nomaoi(相馬野馬追), Fukushima Prefecture
In 2024,  the date will be changed from July to the last Saturday, Sunday and Monday of May due to fierce summer heat.
                 The descendants of samurai cavaliers become samurai once a year. The authentic cavalry battle of the age of civil wars is re-enacted.
 date not yet determined (29 May - 18 June in 2023)  Horikiri Katsushika Shobu (Iris) Festival (堀切葛飾菖蒲祭), Tokyo
                    Iris gardens
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/06/hanashobujapanese-water-iris.html

other posts:

unripe ume and loquat
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/05/unripe-ume-and-loquat.html
 this year's first catch of bonitos ,hototogisu
    The first catch of bonito was highly prized in the Edo Period.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/05/this-years-first-catch-of-bonitos.html
wisteria and azalea
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/05/wisteria-and-azalea.html
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2013/04/azalea-festivals.html
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2013/04/wisteria-festivals.html
kakitsubata (Rabbit-Ear Iris)
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/05/kakitsubata-rabbit-ear-iris.html
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2012/05/irises-and-eight-bridges.html
kodemari (reeves spirea) and traditional temari ball
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/05/kodemari-reeves-spirea.html
Roses
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/05/roses.html
Matsushima
      known as one of "the three most scenic spots in Japan"
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/05/mothers-day-and-matsushima.html
2012 annular solar eclipse, Tokyo Skytree opened

http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2012/05/annular-solar-eclipse-tokyo-skytree-and.html
         No Japanese ancient towers have collapsed in earthquakes.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/03/no-tower-in-japanese-temples-has-ever.html
--Bunraku--
What did a dead wife ask her surviving husband? --Uzuki no Iroage(卯月の潤色:Redyeing of Uzuki)
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/05/what-did-dead-wife-ask-her-surviving.html
Onnagoroshi Abura no Jigoku(女殺油地獄:Woman-Killer in Oil Hell)
   A 23-old man killed a woman in his neighborhood for the pittance of 200,000 yen.--This play is frequently performanced as one of his masterpiece and has been made into movies several times.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/05/woman-killer-in-oil-hell.html
Sonezaki-shinjuu(曽根崎心中: Love Suicides at Sonezaki)
    Japanese women's legs were wrapped with kimono. So this play must have shocked audience with the scene he was holding her legs.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/05/sonezaki-shinjuu.html
Shinjuu Yoigoushin(心中宵庚申:love suicides on the night of the day of koushin-machi)
   "If you were forced to get divorced a hundred or a thousand times, …"
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/05/shinjuu-yoigoushin.html
Shinpan Utazaimon(新版歌祭文) and Nozaki Mairi(野崎参り)
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/05/shinpan-utazaimon.html



JUNE

1 June　The sweetfish season opens(鮎漁解禁)
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/06/sweetfish.html
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2013/06/sweetfish-fishing-season-cormorant.html
              Super Cool Biz starts
                June 1st and October 1st were the days to change clothes.
               Ochugen(お中元) is a summer gift given to superiors, customers or relatives around mid-July.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/06/super-cool-biz.html


2 June　the anniversary of the opening of Yokohama port(横浜開港記念日)
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/06/yokohama1.html
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/06/yokohama2.html

7-17 June　Sanno Matsuri Festival(山王祭), Hie Shrine(日枝神社), Tokyo
　　　　　　
                       The Edo Shogunate drew on Taira no Masakado's dreadful power to contain evil spirits
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/06/sanno-matsuri-festival.html
8 June (second Saturday of June) 
             Chagu Chagu Umakko(チャグチャグ馬コ) , Iwate Prefecture
8, 9 June  Tohoku Kizuna Festival(東北絆まつり、former Tohoku Rokkon-sai), Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
                    https://tohoku-kizunamatsuri.jp/
　　　
six major festivals in Tohoku Region including the Aomori Nebuta Festival, the Akita Kanto Festival, The Sendai Tanabata Festival, the Yamagata Hanagasa Festival, the Morioka Sansa Odori Festival and the Fukushima Waraji Matsuri Festival.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/07/summer-festivals.html
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2012/05/annular-solar-eclipse-tokyo-skytree-and.html
10 June　Nyubai(入梅, the beginning of the rainy season)
                  Rainy season
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/06/rainy-season.html


21 June　The Summer Solstice (夏至)◆
30 June　Nagoshi no Harae(夏越の祓), Kyoto
                   The events to purify people from half-year's worth of sin had been held on the last days of the 6th month and the 12th month in the lunar calendar.

http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/06/nagoshi-no-harae.html

other posts:

Hanashoubu(花菖蒲, Japanese water iris)
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/06/hanashoubuiris-ensata-var.html
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/06/hanashobujapanese-water-iris.html
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2013/06/hanashobu.html
Hydrangea
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/06/hydrangeas1.html
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/06/hydrangea2.html
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/06/rainy-season-has-started.html
Satsuki (a type of azaleas)
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/06/satsuki.html
At a night of the rainy season
     some men including Genji talk together a lot on the women of their dreams---The Tale of Genji
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/06/at-night-in-rainy-season.html
Samidare(五月雨, rain falling in the 5th month in the lunar calendar)
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/06/summer-solstice.html
Hiraizumi and Basyo's haiku poems
   Hiraizumi(平泉) in Iwate Prefecture was registered as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/07/hiraizumi.html
HAYABUSA returns
   Asteroid Explorer "HAYABUSA"(MUSES-C)  came back to the earth.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/06/hayabusa-returns.html
Three months after tsunami
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2011/06/three-months-after-tsunami.html
riverside summer terraces and machiya in Kyoto
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2013/06/riverside-summer-terraces-and-machiya.html
Hotarugari( firefly-watching events)
Fireflies symbolized feelings of love, visible love, yearning heart. They were referred in literature such as Sei Shonagon's "The Pillow Book", Murasaki Shikibu's "The Tale of Genji.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.com/2018/07/hotarugari-firefly-watching-events.html


--Bunraku--
Ise-ondo Koi no Netaba(伊勢音頭恋寝刃)
    In the 1830s, 4.8 million people, which accounted for a sixth part of the total population in Japan, made pilgrimages to Ise Jingu Shrine. The journey to Ise must have left them with unforgettable memories that would last a lifetime.
http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/06/ise-ondo-koi-no-netaba.html
Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura (義経千本桜:Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees)
     Lingering farewell makes the drum lose its sound.

http://ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.blogspot.jp/2010/06/yoshitsune-and-thousand-cherry-trees.html



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