Japan in February
Solar terms this month: Start of Spring, Rainwater.
Events and customs
- Annual EventsEssential valentineバレンタインデーthe day women give chocolate, and the day men return it
- Food & DrinkEssential shabu-shabuしゃぶしゃぶbeef swished in hot broth
- Food & DrinkEssential sukiyakiすき焼きbeef simmered at the table
- Modern JapanEssential kafunsho花粉症hay fever, mostly from cedar pollen
- ClothingStandard hanten半纏the padded winter jacket worn at home
- Annual EventsStandard Sapporo Snow Festivalさっぽろ雪まつりthe February festival of giant snow sculptures in Sapporo
- Annual EventsStandard kanchu mimai寒中見舞いthe midwinter greeting card
- Annual EventsStandard kenkoku kinen no hi建国記念の日National Foundation Day, February 11th
- Annual EventsStandard setsubun節分the bean-throwing festival at the start of spring
- Annual EventsStandard tenno tanjobi天皇誕生日the Emperor's Birthday, a holiday whose date changes with the reign
- Food & DrinkStandard odenおでんa winter stew of fish cakes, daikon and eggs
- Food & DrinkStandard taiyakiたい焼きfish-shaped cake with bean paste
- Food & DrinkStandard ehomaki恵方巻the uncut sushi roll eaten facing a set direction at Setsubun
- Home & LivingStandard irori囲炉裏the open hearth sunk into the floor
- Home & LivingStandard gassho-zukuri and thatched roofs合掌造りと茅葺きthe steep thatched farmhouses of the snow country
- Home & LivingStandard heating appliances暖房器具how Japanese homes are heated
- Home & LivingStandard cold Japanese houses日本の家の寒さwhy homes are cold in winter
- Modern JapanStandard kakutei shinkoku確定申告filing your own tax return
- Seasons & NatureStandard sugi杉the Japanese cedar
- Seasons & NatureStandard yukikaki雪かきclearing snow as daily work
- Seasons & NatureStandard yukiguni雪国Japan's heavy snow regions
- Seasons & NatureStandard ume梅Japanese apricot blossom
- School LifeStandard juken受験the entrance exam system
- School LifeStandard graduation album卒業アルバムthe yearbook every class makes together before graduating
- ShintoStandard Tenmangu天満宮と学問の神shrines of the deity of learning
- Annual EventsAdvanced hatsuuma初午the February day for the fox shrines
- Annual EventsAdvanced hari kuyo針供養a memorial service for broken needles
- FolkloreAdvanced yuki-onna雪女the snow woman
- Work CultureAdvanced shunto春闘the spring wage round