Sambata, 14 ianuarie Cercul „Prietenii Japoniei” a organizat prima intalnire din anul 2012, pe Calea Motilor, Nr.48. Fiind prima intalnire dupa Anul Nou si aflandu-ne intr-o perioada saturata de evenimente culturale in Japonia, nu puteam sa abordam o alta tema decat Oshougatsu, sarbatoarea trecerii dintre ani in Japonia.
In cadrul acestei intalniri, dupa ce fiecarui participant i s-a dat locul sa povesteasca ce a facut interesant de sarbatori, am discutat despre diverse aspecte ale Anului Nou in Japonia. Radu Nedisan si-a inceput prezentarea prin a intreba publicul daca stie ceva despre obiceiurile japonezilor la trecerea dintre ani. Publicul s-a aratat documentat, insa marea majoritate a informatiilor aduse in prezentare au fost noi.
Oshougatsu, in Japonia, o tara ne-crestina, este cea mai importanta sarbatoare din an. Acest lucru se reflecta in multe aspecte ale vietii japonezilor, cele 3 zile libere fiind folosite pentru a vizita cunostinte, prieteni si familii, pentru a arata dragostea pentru cei dragi, prin nengajou, felicitarile de Anul Nou japoneze, sau prin otoshi-dama, plicurile cu bani oferite copiilor. Acest lucru transforma Japonia din aceasta perioada intr-o tara foarte aglomerata, insa toata lumea are rabdare, si cele 4 miliarde de felicitari tiparite in fiecare an ajung la timp la casele oamenilor, precum si vizitatorii ajung la destinatiile lor. Japonezii isi rezolva toate problemele, isi incheie toate afacerile inainte de Oshougatsu, isi curata si caminele si le impodobesc cu ornamente de anul nou, iar joya no kane, cele 108 clopote ale Anului Nou curata sufletele japonezilor de cele 108 pacate, pentru a putea intra liberi si pentru a reinnoi in noul an.
Fiind vorba de japonezi, se gateste foarte mult, mancarea de sarbatori numindu-se osechi-ryouri, mancare aranjata in mod spectaculos in cutiile numite juubako.
Mancarea are atat functia de a umple burtile japonezilor, cat si functii spirituale, in aceste cutii existand multa simbolistica. Kuromame, de exemplu, boabele de soia negre, aduc sanatate in casa, mancarea de culoare galbena aduce prosperitate, culorile alb, roz si rosu fiind culori de sarbatoare si avand rol decorativ. Exista si cateva evenimente care au loc pana la mijlocul lunii ianuarie, cum ar fi kagami-biraki in 11 ianuarie, sau dondoyaki, in 14 ianuarie. Exista si cateva jocuri japoneze despre care a vorbit mai multe dra Minodora Buta, cum ar fi karuta, un joc cultural in care jucatorii trebuie sa cunoasca poeme si proverbe japoneze pentru a juca, hane-tsuki, un joc jucat de fete, care se aseamana cu bedmintonul si fukuwarai, un joc menit sa starneasca rasul, ceea ce se crede ca este aducator de noroc.
La finalul intalnirii participantii au fost invitati sa joace jocul fukuwarai, ceea ce a starnit multe rasete si a binedispus pe multa lume.
Acest lucru nu poate aduce decat noroc celor care au participat.
Am facut poze, am povestit iar apoi ne-am luat ramas bun, cu inca o experienta interesanta notata in cartea amintirilor.
*********English Version bellow:******
Saturday, 14th January, Japan’s Friends Club organized the first meeting of 2012, on Calea Motilor, No. 48. Since it was the first meeting after New Year’s and since we were in a period saturated with cultural events in Japan, we couldn’t have talked about something other than Oshougatsu, the New Year in Japan.
After each participant got the chance to talk about what they did interesting during the holidays, we talked about different aspects of the New Year in Japan. Radu Nedisan started his presentation by asking the public what they know about Japanese people’s customs during this period. The public showed a good level of documentation, however the greater majority of the information in the presentation was new.
Oshougatsu, in Japan, a non-Christian country, is the most important holiday in the year. This aspect can be observed in many aspects of the Japanese people’s lives, the 3 free days being uses to visit acquaintances, friends and families, to show their love for the important people in their lives, sending nengajou, Japanese New Year’s greeting cards, or by giving otoshi-dama to the children, money envelopes given to the children. These things transform the already busy Japan into an extremely busy country during this period, but nobody loses their patience, and all of the 4 billion greeting cards make it to their destinations in time and the visitors make it to their destinations. The Japanese solve their problems and finish their businesses before Oshougatsu. They also clean their houses and decorate them with specific ornaments, and joya no kane, the 108 New Year tolls cleanse the souls of the Japanese of their 108 sins, in order to set for the New Year anew and free.
Because we are talking about Japanese, a lot of food is cooked for the holiday, the dish being called osechi-ryouri, the food being presented in a beautiful way, arranged in boxes called juubako. The food has the purpose to both fill Japanese people’s bellies and they have spiritual value, the boxes being filled with symbolism. Kuromame, for instance, black soy beans bring health in the home, as well as yellow-coloured dishes bringing prosperity, while white, pink and red colours have a decorative purpose.
There are also some events that take place up until mid January, like kagami-biraki, on 11th January or dondoyaki, on 14th January. There exist a few Japanese games about which Ms. Minodora Buta elaborated, like karuta, a cultural game where the players have to recognize Japanese poems and sayings to play, hane-tsuki, a game played mostly by girls and which resembles badminton, and fukuwarai, a game intended to produce laughter, which is believed to be fortune-bringing.
At the end of the meeting, the participants were invited to play fukuwarai, which caused much laughter among the participants, which can’t bring but good luck to the participants. We took pictures, talked about various things and then we said goodbye, having another interesting experience to note in our book of memories.
