It has been exactly three months since I landed in the Netherlands. I felt like time went slowly right after I started to live here but now I feel it past so quick when I look back.
“Ookini, kono deai ni kansha.”( I am thankful that I could meet you.) This is a part of lyric of a song for Japanese artist which I used to work with. This phrase popped into my head many many times in this year. I am lookking forward to meeting new people in the new year as well.
※ おおきに（ookini）：関西弁の「ありがとう」/ “Thank you” in Kansai dialect
Well, today is oomisoka. I am going to do “Oosouzi” from now.
※ 大掃除（おおそうじ/ oosouji）：年末にする大きい掃除。一年の汚れを取って、新しい気持ちで新しい年を迎える準備をする。 Cleaning and tidying up in the end of year. Getting rid of all the dirt and the dust of a past year and greeting the new year with a new fresh mind.
I had “kitsuke” of kimono to a friend of mine, Ms. S in the beginning of December. Her daughter’s school had a party at hotel for student’s parents, therefore she wanted to wear a Japanese traditional cloth. It was good opportunity to introduce one of Japanese cultures to other parents who were from many different countries.
※着付け（きつけ/ kitsuke）：人に着物を着せること To dress someone in kimono （Noun）
She has a kimono which was tailored in Japan, which had a delicate and stylish pattern on a dark purple silk. That was extremely beautiful. She also learned how to wear kimono by herself, however she gave me an opportunity to do that in Amsterdam.
There are many Japanese people who don’t know how to wear kimono, actually I can tell, “Most of Japanese people cannot wear kimono by themselves”. I used to be one of them until I learned it at a Kimono school.
Now, let me get back on the track. We could use a dressing room of spa at hotel and I did kitsuke there. She looked super elegant in kimono! Her friends who saw her said, “Beautiful!”, “Wonderful!”, “Gorgeous!” and more. I think many of them saw a real kimono for the first time. Her kimono was tailored just for herself and it suited her well. I was also impressive like them.
I know that an evening dress is gorgeous as well, however kimono has some classic and glamorous tastes with a very-Japanese-simbolic-style and it is different, I felt.
By the way, I made “kawari-obi” instead of “otaiko” for an obi-belt as her requested. To be hounest, this was my first challenge to make this shape, however, it was good that I could make it without any problem.
This was my first kitsuke after I came to the Netherlands. It was a special night for me since since I could feel she was happy in kimono and I could see how her friends reacted. Also I was very impressed by the beauty of kimono and a lady in kimono.
I am very appreciated it to Ms. S that I could have a great opportunity because of her. I learned a lot from this experience. It is also thankful that she allowed me to use her photos on my blog.
Sさん、本当にありがとうございました！
Thank you very much, Ms. S!
★着付けご依頼の詳細はコチラのページでご覧になれます。
You can check the detail about kitsuke on this page.
★おまけの写真 / Extra photos ホテルからの帰り道に撮りました。 I took these photos on my way home from hotel after kitsuke.
Today, I would like to introduce a couple of Japanese phrases which Japanese people often say as greetings in the end and beginning of the year.
★年末（ねんまつ）の挨拶: Greeting phrase for the end of the year. Used until 31 Dec.
–良いお年をお迎えください。（よい おとしを おむかえください。/ Yoi otoshi o omukaekudasai.) Hope you will have a good new year.
This a formal way to wish a happy new year until 31st Dec. The casual way is “良いお年を！（よい おとしを！ / Yoi otoshi o）”.
【Dialogue】 e.g. ) Usually, A and B say those phrases almost at the same time. Needless to say, please don’t forget to take a bow during saying these!
A: 今年もお世話になりました。来年もよろしくお願いします。 良いお年をお迎えください。 （ことしも おせわに なりました。らいねんも よろしく おねがいします。） Kotoshi mo osewani narimashita. Rainen mo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu. Yoi otoshi o omukaekudasai. Thank you for your kindnees this year as well. Thank you in advance for all your support for this coming year. Hope you will have a good new year.
B: こちらこそお世話になりました。来年もよろしくお願いします。 （こちらこそ おせわになりました。らいねんも よろしく おねがいします。） Kochirakoso osewani narimashita. Rainen mo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu. Thank you too.Thank you in advance for all your support for this coming year.
★年始（ねんし）の挨拶: Greeting phrase for the new year. Used from 1 Jan.
–明けましておめでとうございます。（あけまして おめでとう ございます。/ Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu.）: Happy new year.
—今年もよろしくお願いします。（ことしも よろしく おねがいします。 / Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.）: Thank you for all your support for this year in advance.
【Dialogue】 e.g. ) Usually, A and B say those phrases almost at the same time. Needless to say, please don’t forget to take a bow during saying these!
A: 明けましておめでとうございます。今年もよろしくお願いします。 （あけまして おめでとう ございます。ことしも よろしく おねがいします。） Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu. Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu. Happy New year. Thank you for all your support for this year in advance.
B: 明けましておめでとうございます。今年もよろしくお願いします。 （あけまして おめでとう ございます。ことしも よろしく おねがいします。） Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu. Kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu. Happy New year. Thank you for all your support for this year in advance.
There are some Japanese words and phrases which are difficult to translate to English and “Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.” is one of them. The good way to practice understanding the real meaning of this is seeing how Japanese people use this phrase, then copying and repeating to use it many times. Feel it and you can make it your own!
Merry Christmas! Today is a Christmas day. In Japan, the town will be a “Shogatsu-mood” right after Christmas.
By the way, I heard that European people usually spend time with their family on Christmas and spend time with their lovers or friends on nenmatsu-nenshi. Japanese people usually spend time with their lovers or friends on Christmas and spend time with their family on nenmatsu-nenshi. Of course it depends on each person, but basically it is opposite.
さて、今日は日本で年末年始に食べる特別な食べ物についていくつかご紹介したいと思います。
Anyway, I would like to introduce a couple of special Japanese cuisines for the nenmatsu-nenshi.
This is also eaten on shougatsu, which is a soup containing mocha rice cakes. The flavors of soup and ingredients are vary depending on the region. By the way, dashi of my family’s ozoni soup is “katsuo (bonito)”
Now, many shops are open during shougatsu in Japan, however, all shops were closed in old days. That was the reason why people had eaten osechi for three days. I remember when I was a little kid, the town was very very quiet and I loved that atmosphere. I feel sad to lose our old customs although it should be good that the world has become quite a convenient one.
For Japanese people, New Year’s celebration is the biggest event in the year. Family and relatives get together and spend time with. We prepare special dishes and have them with drinks.
