[DEEP JAPAN] Happy New "令和 Reiwa" Era🗾

[YasumiKikuchi]

令和元年元日の鹽竈神社

At 0:00 am (GMT +9) on May 1, 2019, Japan has changed to a new era of "令和 Reiwa". Change is the first in 30 years.

The meaning is “People open up a bright future like a wonderful plum blossom that tells us the arrival of spring”. This is the poem of Japan’s oldest songbook.

Japan has the only emperor in the world⛩. Usually, era goes on while the emperor is alive. But this time in particular, the emperor retired while alive. In other words, it was a change that was originally accompanied by sadness, but it was the first celebration change in modern society🎊.

How did people feel the change of era? Happy New Era is more serious than New Year’s. However, many people were puzzled because we did not know the era change with the celebration🤔.

Our answer was to go to the shrine to receive the first day’s "御朱印 Goshuin". This is a certificate of praying at the Shrine or Temple and having received education from God.

[DEEP JAPAN] Did you know “御朱印 Goshuin”?

It is the most famous shrine in Miyagi of Tohoku, and it has been lined up for 4 hours​:open_mouth:! Astonishingly, it is said that it has been lined up for 10 hours in Tokyo’s Meiji Jingu​:astonished:!! After all many people thought that this activity was the best. The shrine is closely related to the emperor. Therefore, visiting a shrine at a milestone is instinctive for Japanese people​:shinto_shrine:.

[DEEP JAPAN] Why is New Year the most important day for Japanese people?

There are also couples who have been married on the first day of the new era💑.

By the way, some people have eaten Japanese Soba noodles like the New Year and have passed a new era🍜. Soba noodle means longevity. Japanese people think that fortune change will occur in the milestone, so we eat to pray for good fortune change🙏.

Also, since the new era name was announced one month ago, some companies succeeded in distributing the products of Reiwa.

For us, many were confused because everything was a special change. However, it is needless to say that everyone is happy when the happy new era comes​:slightly_smiling_face:.

#ConnectWritingChallenge

[YasumiKikuchi]

Thank you for always subscribing @TravellerG @asifMojtoba @Jesi @CilineR @davidhyno

[KarenVChin]

@YasumiKikuchi - Happy Reiwa Era!! This is a great recap of this very important historical moment in time for your country,

I have been watching on YouTube about the transition of this rare one time moment. Watched both the abdication and the coronation, and everything in between.

Japan has been celebrating for 10 days for this happy historic occasion. Have you been able to visit other parts of your country to compare celebrations? Or have you just staying in your city only?

Cheers,

Karen

[YasumiKikuchi]

Hello @KarenVChin
I’m glad you saw historical moments on YouTube!! I checked only Miyagi and Yamagata Tohoku🗾. To tell the truth, a 10 day holiday is a different reason from a celebration. There is such a long holiday because there are several national holidays “GW (Golden week)” every May. In order to prevent confusion from happening, it is said to have changed in GW. Therefore, many people celebrated at the tourist destination👏. Why did I not go sightseeing? Because I wanted to investigate this special day as a Local Guide, so I concentrated on the locals👀

[Jesi]

Hi @YasumiKikuchi ,

Great post, I’ve read so many news about how the emperor retired, but your post helped me understand what it truly meant.

As always, it’s awesome to learn about Japanese culture with your posts.

Happy New Reiwa Era!

[YasumiKikuchi]

Thank you as always @Jesi
I’m glad that my articles are useful!

[shantanu-kaizen]

Hello@Yasumikikuchi

Really nice pictures you have shared. They create interest about the place. Thank you and Best.

[YasumiKikuchi]

Hi @shantanu-kaizen

Thank you for your reply! This is a daily scene of Japan🗾

[YasumiKikuchi]

This is a proposal by @AdrianLunsong

Community Challenge: Writing Your Way to the Top!
Thanks for reading this #ConnectWritingChallenge post!! You can click here to find out more about the challenge and what it takes to make a great Connect post! And feel free to let me know what you think about my post! Do you like it? Do you think it makes for a great reading?

[AdrianLunsong]

Thanks as always @YasumiKikuchi !! Great to see you participate in the #ConnectWritingChallenge!! I love your posts!! They are always very informative and you include amazing photos that really capture the essence of your story!!

[KatyaL]

Hi @YasumiKikuchi ,

Thanks for the great post and for participating in the Community Challenge: Writing Your Way to the Top!
I liked your idea @AdrianLunsong for having this writing challenge!

[YasumiKikuchi]

Hello @KatyaL , thank you for your reply!

As I am an adult university student, I practice academic dissertation through Local Guide Connect activities. Therefore, suggestions for leveling up articles are useful to me​:pencil2:

[biancainviaggio]

@YasumiKikuchi I was lucky to be in your country on April 30th and May 1st and to share with you this important moment of new era and abdication of your emperor @KarenVChin I was deeply moved along with the Japanese people in front of the entrance of the imperial palace.

[YasumiKikuchi]

Hi @biancainviaggio

Wow! You were staying at a historical moment😃! It was a precious day we could hardly experience! I understand that you were the reason why @KarenVChin showed interest. You are familiar with Japan​:japan:

[KarenVChin]

@biancainviaggio - how exciting to be at the right place at the right time! Something to tell you grandchildren one day.

Thanks for tagging me. I’ve only able to watch this historical translation on YouTube. It’s amazing that I could watch on live stream - thanks Google = )

Did you buy any Reiwa commemorative souvenirs? Do share if you did.

Cheers,

Karen

[biancainviaggio]

Hi @KarenVChin thank for yr interest, yes it was a very special time to stay in Japan. On the occasion of the abdication and the new era (Reiwa) that means “order and harmony”, the Japanese people could enjoy an exceptional period of vacation. The subways and places to visit were very populated but everything took place with great harmony. I was also able to visit the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) together with a large number of Japanese. I bought some t-shirts with the inscription of the new era. The best gift I ever gave myself was the book “Shuincho” or the book of the red stamps that I chased after every visit to a Shinto or Buddhist temple. Those books are composed of a single page folded on itself with the name of the temple, the date of the visit and finally the red stamps! I also bought canvases with Japanese designs to frame.

[KarenVChin]

That is awesome @biancainviaggio ! You definitely have lasting, tangible memories. =)

Cheers,

Karen

[Giuseppe75]

Hello @YasumiKikuchi , reading your amazing post is always a big pleasure and your photos are always TOP. Thank you!!!

[Julien44]

Hi @YasumiKikuchi ,

Nicely written, beautiful pictures and full of discoveries. All is in for a great post. Congratulations!

Happy new Era

See you around

Jul

[YasumiKikuchi]

Hello @Giuseppe75

Thank you for your great praise to me​:smiley:!!