Embassy of Japan in Ottawa
255 Sussex Drive K1N 9E6 Ottawa, ON, Canada

Tokyo Disney has announced a big expansion at Tokyo DisneySea. This big expansion will include three more Disney animated franchises including Frozen, Tangled and Peter Pan! Once we can, are you excited to go to Tokyo Disney and check out this expansion?

Cherry blossoms are not only beautiful to look at, they can also be delicious. Cherry blossom leaves and flowers are edible, and are often incorporated into springtime desserts ice cream , pastries, mochi, dango etc. Have you ever tried any Sakura-flavoured desserts?

Types of Sakura Yamazakura Yamazakura, or mountain cherry, are quite similar to somei yoshino and are found growing in the wild. They are the oldest species of Sakura original to Japan. Photos: Cherry blossoms (Yamazakura) Toshihiro Gamo (Flickr); Yamazakura 8mitsu (Flickr)

The wisterias at Ashikaga Flower Park (Tochigi Pref.) have bloomed early. The park boasts over 350 wisteria trees, with one of the great trees having a wisteria shelf covering more than 1,000 square meters with about 80,000 individual flowers. The park also has a white wisteria tunnel. Have you ever visited Ashikaga Flower Park when the wisteria trees were in full bloom?

After being cancelled last year, Sakura City Tulip Festa in Chiba Pref. is back this year! The event features more than 300,000 tulips in 40 different varieties, all set against the backdrop of a Dutch windmill. Have you ever seen the tulips in Sakura City?

Types of Sakura Yaezakura Also known as double cherry blossoms, these sakura have between 10-50 petals per flower and come in numerous colour variations, from pure white to vivid pinks. Types of yaezakura include Fugenzou and Kanzan which have 40 to 50 petals and Kikuzakura (Chrysanthemum sakura) which resemble chrysanthemums and have as many as 80 to 130 petals! Photos: PhotoAC; Kiku-zakura Arashiyama (Wikimedia Commons)

Takehiko Inoue, the creator of the ‘Slam Dunk’ manga/anime series, has recently announced that there will be a ‘Slam Dunk’ movie. The popular manga was adapted into an anime TV series which ran between 1993 and 1996. Do you like ‘Slam Dunk’ and are you looking forward to the movie?

A confectionary is offering gorgeous cakes to start off the new year. All cakes are designed with traditional Japanese new year motifs in mind, either mimicking the look of some new year traditions (like kagami mochi) or featuring ingredients found in osechi ryori. There’s also a cake to celebrate the Year of the Ox. Would you like to have some of these delicious cakes?

ONLINE JAPAN LANDSCAPES PHOTO EXHIBITION 2021 2021 Enjoy, reminisce and look forward to travelling in Japan again in the future...... The Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver is accepting photo entries from Canadians and people from all over the world of landscapes taken in Japan that capture and convey Japan’s unique atmosphere. To enter just send us one of your memorable photos from Japan along with a brief description or the story behind it! Entry period: Thursday, December 24, 2020 to Sunday, January 31, 2021 Details on our website: https://www.vancouver.ca.emb-japan.go.jp//landscape_photo_ 1 202012242021131 https://www.vancouver.ca.emb-japan.go.jp//landscape_photo_

An online survey asked Pokémon fans for their favourite Pokémon types. Across Japan, the most popular type was water Pokémon types , followed by dragon and ghost. The survey also included a ranking of the most popular Pokémon types by prefecture check out the results in the link below! What’s your favourite Pokémon type?

At Inami train station, a small rural train station in Wakayama Prefecture, a bunch of adorable frogs crowd the waiting room. Frogs are considered auspicious in traditional folklore, and a sign that travellers will return home safely. What do you think of these adorable frogs in the waiting room?

A Japanese artist has put a fun and creative twist on traditional ukiyo-e woodblock prints. The artist has released a series of illustrations combining traditional Japanese food and adorable animals. His artwork plays on the names of Japanese food and Japanese food name puns. What do you think of his artwork?

https://www.mofa.go.jp/s_sa/sea1/page22e_000933.html

A recent survey of Japanese elementary schoolers asked them what their dream jobs were. Overall, pastry chef was the top choice, followed by police officer and pro soccer player . For boys, police officer and pro soccer player were the top choices while girls look forward to being pastry chefs and daycare/KG teachers . What was your dream job while you were in elementary school?

https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/s_sa/sea1/page22_003470.html

Now available! Watch our video about the new Program Guideline that outlines the Japan Foundation's 2021 fiscal year Grants and Programs. If you still have que...stions, you can also book a one one-on-one online consultation with a Japan Foundation, Toronto Program Officer (October 26 & 27). Deadline to book is Oct 23, 12 noon. https://jftor.org/event/online-consultations-grant-programs/ *Please note that as of 2020, all applications within Canada must be submitted to the Japan Foundation, Toronto and not the nearest Embassy or Consulate-General of Japan. More details > https://jftor.org/grants-and-programs/ Watch video https://youtu.be/kW1Wakpkvog #grants #JFToronto30

Kathy Shultz Advanced This is a Hana-isho Rising Form (Tateru-katachi) using cotton, gerbera and aspidistra. The elegant upright cotton is the Subject (Shu-shi) and the gerbera occupies the Object (Kyaku-shi) position, slanting forward about 45 degrees.... The Ohara School of Ikebana Virtual exhibition continues until November 29 on our website: https://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp/i/Virtual_Ohara_Ikebana.html

For Maple Monday this week we’re looking at Kuroyu Onsen located in Akita prefecture. Kuroyu onsen is a hot spring retreat nestled in the rolling hills of Towada Hachimantai National Park and is surrounded by forests that turn beautiful colours throughout the autumn months! A great place to relax and enjoy the colourful view while soaking in the mineral rich waters! Have you been to kuroyu onsen or visited Akita prefecture?... Bring a little Japan into your home! #japanathome #explorejapan Photo: Kuroyu Onsen Akita Prefecture JNTO #japan #akita #onsen #hotspring #autumnleaves #autumncolours #mapleleaf #nature #japanesenature #japanesemaple #relaxing

Rice terraces a characteristic part of Japan’s rural landscape. These terraced paddy fields are used to cultivate rice, effectively using a limited amount of land. These rice paddies can retain water and also provided a protected ecosystem for small animals. And they’re also beautiful! Have you ever seen rice terraces in Japan?

Japanese dolls come in all shapes and sizes and have different meanings and representing different figures (children, the Imperial court, warriors, fairy tale characters). Here are eight of the most amazing Japanese dolls including hina dolls for hinamatsuri, Kokeshi dolls and daruma. What are your favourite kinds of Japanese dolls? Do you own any Japanese dolls?

A Japanese matcha shop’s fall menu is an edible Japanese zen garden. The garden was painted using Mont Blanc cream, uji matcha, fresh fruit, Japanese chestnuts and warabimochi. Does this edible zen garden look appetizing to you?

Natto, fermented soybeans, is Japan’s most polarizing food some love it, others think it’s smelly and sticky. The legend holds that modern natto was discovered in the late 11th century/early 12th century by a warrior who carried off steaming soybeans in bags made from rice straw to feed his horses. Some days latter, the soybeans with the body heat of the horses became natto and some curious soldiers decided to try it Until the 20th century, people made natt by wrapping boiled soybeans in bundles of rice straw, a natural harbinger of the bacteria used to ferment soybeans. Read more about the history of natto below! Do you love or hate natto?

Photo 7 (Diane Eggleton) Colour of the wind Sparsely planted Autumn garden... Bash, Matsuo (1644-1694) Diane asks: Can you see the colour of the wind? In the natural background, the lofty pampas grass sways from side to side. In her autumn garden, the last hydrangea blossoms rest upon a structure of birch branches. The Sogetsu Ikebana virtual exhibition continues until Nov. 1 on our website: https://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp//Virtual_Sogetsu_Ikebana_20

Maple trees aren’t the only the only trees people pay attention to during Autumn in Japan, another favourite are Ginkgo trees! Ginkgo leaves turn bright yellow at the peak of the season adding a bright, colourful beauty to parks and rural landscapes around the country. You can tell a ginkgo tree by the distinct crescent or fan-like shape leaves often with a slit in the middle. The name of ginkgo trees in Japanese is actually icho and not ginkgo as they are known in English.... They can grown very large and live for many years, some of the oldest being 1000 years old or more! You might not find 1000 year old ginkgo trees here in Canada, but they are a popular tree in parks or lining city streets. Ginkgo trees also produce nuts called ginan or ginkgo nuts. These nuts can be harvested and are a popular ingredient in Japanese autumn dishes! Did you enjoy viewing the ginkgo trees in your neighbourhood this year? Bring a little Japan into your home! #japanathome #explorejapan Photos Autumnal leaves in Nara Park Kimihiko Nakamura (Licensed under CC BY 4.0) Ginkgo leaf J Lee via Unsplash A row of Ginkgo Trees Tenri City (Licensed under CC BY 4.0) Ginkgo Seed Aomorikuma via Wikipedia https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ #japan #gingko #ginkgotree #ginkgobnut #trees #autumncolors #autumnleaves #fall #fallcolors #fallscenery #traveljapan #japanesenature #nature

The Norikura Highlands in Nagano is a large plateau near Mount Norikuradake, one of the highest mountains in Japan. It is a popular spot for hiking, sports but also hot springs. Beautiful all year round, the fall colours are particularly great! Have you ever been to the Norikura Highlands? : Matsumoto city/JNTO

You can now experience some of Japan’s most beautiful natural landscapes and historic sites with these new VR videos from Japan Heritage. Have you visited any of the places featured in these VR videos?

This frightful Friday we’re looking at kaibyo or supernatural cats! Cats have a long history of association with the supernatural around the world and especially in Japan. It is said that if a cat lives too long it will develop powers and become a type of yokai known as a bakeneko or changing cat. Although cats don’t have to become a yokai in life to become a bakeneko. It was believed that if a cat and or its master are killed the cat will turn into a terrible bakene...ko ghost or demon to seek vengence! Sometimes a cat spirit will blend with that of their masters seeking revenge in their name. You can see the legacy of this kind of folklore in today’s J-horror films such as the ghost of the little boy from the Ju-On films (The Grudge) who may appear as himself or as his pet cat who was killed along with him. Many a ghost cat story follows a similar plot: A samurai clan has invaded and conquered the castle of a rival clan. The cat of the clan’s Lady or princess is either killed along with their master or licks the blood of the fallen, becoming empowered with the vengeful ghosts of those who were killed. The ghost cat then haunts the castle now occupied with the invaders, becoming a demon that may possess others and attack from the shadows, wreaking havoc. Make sure to always be nice to the cats you meet! Bring a little Japan into your home! #japanathome #explorejapan Images: 1. An Imaginary Scene of the Origin of the Cat Stone at Okazaki, from the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road - Utagawa Kuniyoshi 2. Samurai Fighting Monster Cat Toyokuni Utagawa 3. The Story of Nippondaemon and the Cat Utawagawa Kuniyoshi 4. The Cat Witch of Okabe Utawagaw Kuniyoshi 5. The Okazaki Cat Demon Utagawa Kuniyoshi #japan #cat #ghostcat #bakeneko #blackcat #ghosts #spooky #ghoststory #japaneseghost #yurei #spookyjapan #jhorror #kabuki #kwaidan #neko #yokai See more

Photo 6 (Leonora Duffield) They spoke no word, the host, the guest, and the white chrysanthemum... Ryota, Oshima (1718 -1787) The container used is a large stone transformed into a vase by a New Brunswick artist. The shadow of tree branches in the photo is intentional. It creates volume and depth to the arrangement. Leonora’s Ikebana learning was greatly influenced by Stella Coe, British author, and pioneer Sogetsu teacher throughout Europe and the Western world. Stella Coe’s book A practical and philosophical guide to Japanese flower arrangement published in 1984, includes a section showing Ikebana arrangements inspired by haiku poetry. The Sogetsu Ikebana virtual exhibition continues until Nov. 1 on our website: https://www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp//Virtual_Sogetsu_Ikebana_20

JOB OPPORTUNITY! The JET Desk at the Embassy of Japan is hiring a JET Assistant to help with the 2021 JET Programme. The application deadline is October 30. Apply now! #ottjobs

Rafute is Okinawan braised pork belly. It is slowly simmered in Awamori (Okinawan distilled liquor), black sugar and soy sauce. The slow cooking makes it very tender, surprisingly light and will melt in your mouth. It has been eaten in Okinawa since the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom (1429-1879), when it was Okinawan Royal Food. Have you ever had Rafute? What did you think?

The Studio Ghibli Museum showcases the work of one of the world’s famous animation studios, responsible for some of the most popular anime films. The museum was designed by Hayao Miyazaki, and features life-sized characters, sketches and illustration from Ghibli classics. Have you ever visited the Studio Ghibli Museum?

Japanese martial arts are famous and popular around the world. They have a long history and deep philosophy behind them. Some of the most famous martial arts emphasize philosophical aspects and use techniques such as locks, kicks, punches or throws rather than weapons to defeat opponents. Read more about jujutsu, judo, aikido, karate, sumo as well as those which use weapons like kendo and naginata. Do you practice any Japanese martial art? What have you learned through your study of Japanese martial arts?