Thanksgiving in Japan

Sorry for the misleading title. There is no Thanksgiving in Japan. Well, not at least, at most folks homes. We have turkey around this time at my house every year, though.

I just received an email from my dear uncle who lives in North Carolina, USA. As older folks do, he told me of his ills and he also wished for us to have a good Thanksgiving.

Thanks uncle. I hope you and aunt have a healthy and happy holiday season.

Like I said, there is no Thanksgiving in Japan but we have a turkey. We had ours yesterday. We have it every year on 11/23 which is some sort of Japanese holiday. Japan has a lot of holidays. American people think they take it easy, and they do, but Japan has holidays all the time. 

Most foreigners, like me, know that the day is a holiday, but we have no idea what the holiday is. Japan has holidays for old people, working people, children, the emperor's birthday, first day of winter, perhaps summer and besides newspaper holidays, we have a holiday for newspapers (or at least, that's what I thought it was!) 春分　is Shunbun (Vernal equinox).　秋分is Shuubun  (Autumnal equinox). 新聞 is Shinbun (newspaper) so when I first heard "Shunbun no hi" (first day of spring) I thought people were saying "Shinbun no hi" (newspaper day).  Get it? Shunbun, Shuubun and Shinbun. They all sound the same! "Newspaper day? What a bizarre holiday!" I thought (Don't think I'm so stupid, many foreigners thing the same thing! Or is it just that all my friends are as dumb as I am?)

The problem with Japanese holidays is that everyone goes on vacation at the same time too. So, during holiday season, the best place to be is home. Hopefully one's home isn't so crowded (though, sometimes, two people can be a crowd!)

Japan doesn't have a Thanksgiving because the Japanese didn't wipe out a bunch of Indians and then try to cover their tracks by making a Holiday that looks like white man and the Indians were good old buddies. They weren't. In Japan there were no Indians but the Japanese also had their little expeditions in Okinawa several hundred years ago and in Ezo (now Hokkaido) a few hundred years ago... So if the Japanese did have a Thanksgiving, I suppose, instead of a turkey, they roast a fish or something. 

Also, space is a premium in Japanese homes so no one has a big oven like they do in the USA. We have an oven though. A 14 pound turkey is really about as big a turkey as our oven can take. So that's what I roast for the family every year.

I wrote back to my uncle and told him that I roast a turkey every year. I also mentioned that I do this because I want my children to recognize that there are some good things from America and nice traditions that I'd like them to know about. Christmas is celebrated all around the world.

Thanksgiving is, just about, the only tradition from America that I do want them to know about.

Thanksgiving is nice because there are no presents. You don't feel like you have to buy any presents for people you don't really like (so you wind up buying some junk or cologne at the last minute). Or some other occasions when you have to get together with people you don't like either.

Thanksgiving doesn't exist in Japan. But we get together and enjoy good food with family and friends...

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.

May the holiday season see you and yours healthy and prosperous.

-Mike

PS: We always eat and drink too much on 11/23 in Japan... Well, exactly speaking we eat too much on that day. I drink too much everyday!

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Triple Ten Thanksgiving - 10/10/10

Happy Thanksgiving!

May your giving of thanks include many positives in your life. And hey, even negatives deserve a thanks...when you have the ability to take something good from it. At times it may seem, as if there are far too many negatives in our life, but understanding the situation & the source can sometimes thrust us into the knowing, the acceptance & the lesson learned. My thanks are far too many to list here & my hope is that it's the same for you. May your Thanksgiving include friends, family, comforts & a hot meal, as not all of us are quite so fortunate.

Sun, Oct. 10
Once your belly is full & contentment follows, why not finish your evening up with George & The Strombo Show on CBC Radio 2

Mon, Oct. 11

Jonathan Safron Foer, a young American author with a recently published vegetarian minded book, 'Eating Animals.

Anthony Bourdain, also an American author, but most recognized as a chef with an opinionated outlook on food & cultures. Who, controversially, considers vegetarianism to be a "First World luxury."

Tues, Oct. 12

Margaret Trudeau has just published her 3rd memoir 'Changing My Mind' which has her reflecting life, through her late-diagnosed mental illness of Bi-Polar, in hopes of helping others.

Eliminated Battle of the Blades Pair....who are you betting on?

Wed, Oct. 13

Paul Anka will also be in town for the following night to perform a concert at Massey Hall. (Perhaps he'll write a theme song for George's newly renamed show!)

Thur, Oct. 14

Juliette Lewis - Having been banged up and sore from a hit-and-run this last Wed, I'm a-wondering if the interview will be from TIFF, or if it'll be a live taping? Regardless, hopefully she's on the mend.

Fri, Oct. 15

M.I.A. - Performer, songwriter, activist, philanthropist...a true individual in today's standards, is kicking off her Fall /\/\/\Y/\ (Maya) tour.

The XX - Performance by the exex.
British Tories had used one of their songs recently, at a political event, by this Indie band without their permission.
(I would consider that to be a 'double cross', wouldn't you?)...groan.

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