A Canadian New Year with a Japanese taste!

Hello everyone! A bit of a belated Happy New Year! I’m sure most of you saw my Facebook video message, but if not, here it is!

I also received a wonderful package from one of my long-time students, Masae! Many of you might know this Japanese tradition, but I’ll try my best to explain it!

Along with some wonderful chocolates and sweets, she sent me these items. At first I wasn’t sure what they were, or what to do with them, but she kindly explained each to me!

This top part is called a mizihiki, a type of good-luck charm.

This is a hane, which is kind of like the shuttlecock from badminton. It’s part of a game called hanetsuki, played with paddles.

This is a shishi, a kind of lion guardian, with a koma, a spinning top.

The shishi is part of the shishimai dance, a Japanese New Years tradition done to drive away evil spirits. I put the koma there because I thought it might look good as an umrella or parasol for him! What do you think?

I want to thank Masae again for such a thoughful gift! Now I can have a reminder of Japan on top of my desk at all times! Of course my focus is on English, but I never want to forget the time I had in Japan, and the wonderful students I met there! :)

Happy 2025, everyone! I’m looking forward to our lessons together!!