By Mitsue Finch Uchida
☆ 日本語・多言語の人材紹介派遣はアクセスアポイントメントへご相談ください Access Appointments for Japanese speaking recruitment ☆
(Please scroll below for the English version)
お正月気分もどこへやら、2月が始まりましたね。お変わりございませんでしょうか。年頭に、個人的に今年は時間を有効に使おう!と決めたのですが、SNSを覗いていたら、あっという間に辺りは暗くなっている日々に反省しています。しかし陽も少しずつ長くなってきていますね。そして梅、椿が綺麗なピンク、白、赤と目と心をウキウキさせてくれる、春ももうすぐそこまでと思いたい2月ですね。
2月は日本では、節分、本来一家の主や年男・年女・厄年の人が豆をまくと言われていましたが、現在では一家の主が鬼役になって、家族が豆をまく家庭も多いのではないでしょうか。豆まきが終わると、歳の数+1粒の豆をいただきますが、年齢が進むとかなりの数を食べなくてはいけませんね…。そんな時に飲みたいのが福茶と言われるお茶です。豆まき用の福豆3粒・塩昆布・梅干を湯のみに入れてお湯を注いだもの。これをいただくと、歳の数の豆を食べなくても、同じご利益があるとされているそうですね。そして去年帰国した時にMUJIで大豆のお茶を購入したのですが、これが思いのほか香ばしくカフェインフリーでお美味しいお茶でした。英国での購入はまだですが、きっと流行すると思います。
また、節分といえば「恵方巻でしょ?」と。実はこれは比較的新しい風習で、関西地方が発祥で、諸説ありますが、大阪の商人が七福神にあやかって7種類の食材を使って太巻きを作り、歳徳神(としとくじん)がいらっしゃる方角を向き、無言で丸ごと一本食べると、無病息災や商売繁盛にご利益があるとして始めたといわれています。この風習は聞いてはいましたが実践したことが無く、コロナ禍に日系のレストランさんが揃ってこれを2月に宅配され、私もその恩恵にあずかり、とても美味しくて感激したものでした。その年のラッキーな方角を恵方神・正月様・歳神とも呼ばれているそうで、因みに2025年は「西南西」だそうですね。まだまだ寒さは続きますが、春まであともう少し!体調に気を付けながら頑張りましょう。個人的には2月の中旬よりインドへヨガとアーユルヴェーダの修行に行ってまいります。3月にはそのお話もさせてください。楽しみにお待ちくださいね~。
******ここでいつもの愚俳句/川柳******
歳の数 豆食べるにも 歳忘れ
恵方巻 鳥の名前と 覚えきや
如月の 雹ふる音に 白昼夢?
< 2月のイベント紹介 >
2月12日【水】20:00~ 日本人会二水会部オンライン講演会
講師:テート 小畠利子(Mrs)Talkin Image Ltd., Managing Director/founder
参加費:英国日本人会員 無料 / 非会員 3ポンド、
演題:英国流「自分に似合う」住まいの作り方
Zoom: 皆様のご自宅より参加いただけます)
<参加申し込み> こちらのリンクよりどうぞ(100名様まで)
☆ Access Appointments for Japanese speaking recruitment ☆
February has begun, and the New Year’s mood has disappeared. How are you doing all? I promised myslf at the beginning of the year, let’s use my time effectively, but when I looked at social media, I reflected on the days when it suddenly became dark… However, the day is getting longer little by little. And it’s February, when plums and camellias are beautiful pinks, whites, and reds that make your eyes and heart excited, and spring is just around the corner.
In Japan, February is Setsubun, and originally it was said that the head of the family, men, women, and people in less fortunate would throw soya beans, but now the head of the family plays the role of demon, and the family throws beans at him/her. I think there are many families who sow it. At the end of the bean-throwing, children are given 1 bean for their age, but as they get older, they have to eat a large number of beans such as 80 years old have to eat 80+1 beans. The tea you want to drink at times like this is called Fukucha. Three lucky beans for bean-throwing, salted kelp, and pickled plums are placed in a hot water cup and hot water is poured over. It is said that if you eat this, you will receive the same benefits even if you do not eat as many beans as your age. When I returned to Japan last year, I bought soybean tea at MUJI, and it was surprisingly fragrant, caffeine-free, and delicious. It has not been sold here in the UK yet, but I’m sure it will become a great hit and very popular.
Also, when you think of Setsubun, you think, “Ehomaki, right?” In fact, this is a relatively new custom, originating in the Kansai region, and although there are various theories, merchants in Osaka used seven kinds of ingredients to make futomaki(rolled sushi) in honor of the Seven Lucky Gods, facing the direction of Toshitokujin. It is said that eating a whole one without saying a word will bring you good health and prosperity in business. I had heard of this custom, but had never practiced it, and during the coronavirus pandemic, Japanese restaurants all delivered it to your home in February, and I also benefited from it, and I was very impressed by how delicious it was.
The lucky direction of the year is also called Ehogami, New Year’s God, and Toshigami, and by the way, the year 2025 is “West-Southwest”. It’s still cold, but spring is almost here! Let’s do our best while taking care of ourselves. Personally, I will be going to India to practice yoga and Ayurveda from mid-February. Please let me talk about that in March. Until then and see you!!
******Here is the usual haiku/senryu ******
Even though I eat beans, I forget how old I am(年の数 豆食べるも 歳忘れ)
Ehomaki Mistaken for the name of a bird (恵方巻 鳥の名前と覚えきや)
Daydreaming to the sound of Kisaragi’s hail?(如月の 雹の音に 白昼夢?)
< February Event information >
Japanese Association Nisui Club online seminar, Wednesday 12th February at 8pm
Title: How to create a home that suits you in the British style
Lecturer: Tate Toshiko Obata (Mrs.) Talkin Image Ltd., Managing Director/founder
Participation fee: British Japanese members: free, non-members: £3,
Online (Zoom), you can participate from your home
<Application for Participation> Please apply from the link here. (Up to 100 people)
☆ Access Appointments for Japanese speaking recruitment ☆