Shougatsu

Shougatsu: is the celebration of the Japanese New Year. It's traditionally celebrated from the 1st to the 7th of January. It is very much a FAMILY holiday. Which means that it's celebrated quietly at home with your family, unlike in the U.S. where people go out to party and make a lot of noise.

 

So, this mini "celebration" was put on later in the month for the Americans to see what they do to celebrate the New Year.

 

MOCHI POUNDING:

 

 

 

You wear these ceremonial jackets and pound rice to make rice cakes.

No, it's not the type of rice cakes your thinking about that is sold in stores in the U.S.

Mochi is soft & sweet.

 

 

 

 

MAKING SUSHI:

 

 

 

 

We learned how to correctly make sushi and got to enjoy the ones we made.

The kids even ate it & liked it!

 

 

 

 

CALLIGRAPHY:

 

 

Danny has been learning Japanese calligraphy in his Japanese class, so he was really good at it.

 

 

 

 

Sydney even gave it a try.

We had a lot of fun learning some new things about the Japanese culture.