Japanese lion head is called "Shishigashira", which literally means a lion head. It is used in shishimai (Japanese lion dance) and often appears in Japanese festivals and new year's celebration with taiko and fue.
It is believed that a person's head that is bitten by this will become happy and wise because it eats evil spirits.
Shishigashira Adult Size
https://taiko-shop.com/collections/folk-performing-arts/products/shishigashira
Hichiriki is one of the wind instruments for the Japanese court music (gagaku). We uploaded some photos of it. The sounds of the hichiriki is the melody part of gagaku music. It has more Asian taste sounds than other wind instruments for the Japanese court music.
It attracted attention in last year to be introduced by Japanese famous TV show with the musician. He played the popular music with the hichiriki in the program and many Japanese people found how beautiful this traditional musical instrument sounds. It might require some practice to make sounds but it's interesting to play popular songs with this small traditional instrument.
Bamboo Hichiriki
https://taiko-shop.com/collections/gagaku/products/bamboo-hichiriki
Spring Clearance Sale has started!
There are lot of items discounted due to our dead-stock such as tabi shoes for children. You're lucky if there are your size in the sale.
Dear our valued customers,
Thank you for your continuous support.
Our biggest sale in the year, SPRING SALE has started now! A lot of items are discounted 5%-75%. Please take advantage of this!
As well as Halloween and Christmas, Japanese people celebrate and enjoy Valentine's day. Let me introduce Japanese style Valentine's day.
In Japanese style Valentine's day, female gives a chocolate to male with her love. Some women tell her love to their loved men to become a couple. It's called "本命チョコ Honmei Choko (true feeling chocolate)".
There are various meaning of chocolate. In Japanese style Valentine's day, female gives chocolates to her male co-worker, classmate, and family (father and brother), too. It's not for love but for thanks. It's called "義理チョコ Giri Choko (obligation chocolate)". In this custom, even unpopular male can get chocolates from female. Lately, woman enjoys giving chocolate to her friends each other. It's called "友チョコ Tomo Choko (friendship chocolate)".
Influenced by change of the social environment and common view, Valentine's day in Japan keeps on evolving. Let's have a look new types of chocolate. First, "世話チョコ Sewa Choco (thanks to kindness chocolate)" is a kind of the giri choko that doesn't include any meaning of love. Female gives kind people around her to say thank you. Next, "逆チョコ Gyaku Choco (male chocolate)" is a chocolate that male gives female. Although this style is popular in other countries like United States, it's rare in Japan yet. Finally, "自分チョコ Jibun Choco (treat myself chocolate)" is a chocolate that person gives chocolate to treat him/herself.
How was the Japanese Valentine's Day? It looks far from original meaning of the Valentine's day... But, it's wonderful custom to give gifts to familiar people to say thanks, isn't it?
Thank you for reading to this to the end.
