9月9日は五節句の一つである「重陽の節句」。またの名を「菊の節句」ともいいます。
陰陽思想では奇数は（縁起の良い）陽の数であり、陽数の最高の数が9です。このことから9月9日は、陽が重なる日であることから「重陽」と呼ばれます。

菊は不老長寿の象徴として尊ばれ、重陽の節句には、菊を飾ったり、菊酒をのんだりして、無病息災・不老長寿を祈ります。

Chrysanthemum Festival(Septebmer 9)

September 9 is known as choyo, literally double yang. Choyo is one of gosekku , the five seasonal festivals and also called as kiku no sekku , Chrysanthemum Festival.
According to the yin and yang thought, odd numbers are yang, and its extremity is nine. Therefore September 9 is 9.9 and double yang, double nine.
People used to decorate chrysanthemum and drink sake floating the petal of chrysanthemum to celebrate wishing the long life.

枯山水は、水を使わずに、砂で海や川を表し、岩で山や島、船、竜などを表現する庭園様式です。主に禅寺の庭にみられます。

Karesansui

Karesansui is the dry garden in which the oceans or rivers are represented by sand without using water. Rocks are used to symbolize mountains , islands, boats or dragons.
Karesansui gardens are seen mainly in Zen temples.

日本の伝統的な弦楽器です。木製で長さは約180cm、幅は約30cmあり、右手の親指、人差指、中指に爪を付けて弾きます。13本の弦が柱と呼ばれる駒の上に張ってあり、柱の位置で音の高さが決まります。江戸時代には琴の演奏は女性のたしなみとされていました。

Koto

Koto is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument, made of wood. It’s about 180 centimeters in length, about 30 centimeters in width, and it is played with plectrums attached to the thumb, index and middle fingers of the right hand. Thirteen strings are stretched over bridges and the pitch is detrained by the position of bridges.
In Edo Period, performing the koto was considered a necessary accomplishment for women.

漆器は、漆を塗った器のことです。日本の代表的伝統工芸品で、英語ではJapanとよばれます。漆を塗ると、器に美しい光沢が生まれるだけでなく、腐食や漆器から器を守る働きもあります。

Shikki

Shikki are containers coated with lacquer. This is one of the most famous traditional crafts of Japan and is called “Japan” in English. In addition to giving a beautifus gloss, coating containers with lacquer protects them from corrosives and moisture.

扇子はあおいで風を起こし、涼をとるのに使われるほか、日本舞踊や落語には欠かせない小道具でもあります。扇子を広げた形は、次第に栄えていくことを象徴する「末広がり」であるため、祝い事の小道具や、記念品に使われたりもします。

Folding fans(Sensu)

Sensu is used to create breezes and refreshment, sense are indispensable props for classical Japanese dance and for comic storytelling. Because the shape of the unfolded fan is “broadening toward end”, symbolizing rising prosperity, it is also used as prop for celebrations or as a memento.

浴衣は湯上がりや夏季に着る木綿の着物で、裏地はありません。振り袖など礼装の着物に対し、浴衣は普段着です。夏祭りや花火大会、盆踊りなどでは浴衣姿の人も多くみられ、夏の風物詩の１つになっています。また、日本の多くの旅館やホテルに浴衣が用意されています。

Yukata(Informal cotton kimono)

Yukata are cotton kimono without lining, which are worn after taking a bath and in the summertime. In contrast to ceremonial kimono, like the long-sleeved kimono. yukata are ordinary, unassuming clothing.
Lots of people in yukata are seen at summer festivals, fireworks displays, and the Bon Festival dance; yukata on such occasions constitute a poetic summer scene. In addition, yukata are set out in most inns and hotels.

7月13日から15日、または8月に行われる仏教行事の１つで、先祖の霊を供養するものです。このときに霊が戻ってくるといわれているため、霊が道に迷わないよう家の門口で迎え火をたいたり、室内にちょうちんをともしたりするほか、仏壇をきれいにし、野菜や果物などの供物を飾ります。そして盆が終わると霊を送り返します。これを精霊送りといい、送り火を門口でたき、供物を川や海に流します。

Bon Festival

Bon Festival is a Buddhist event occurring from the 13th to 15th of July or August to hold a memorial service for the spirits of ancestors. Because the spirits of the dead are said to return at this time, fires are lit at the entrances to homes so the spirits do not lose their way, and , in addition to lanterns being lit inside homes, the Buddhist home alters are tidied up and vegetables fruit are set out as offerings. And when bon is over, the spirits are sent on their way. This is called the escorting of the spirits and fires to send them on their way are lit at entrances of homes and offerings are floated on rivers and the ocean.

七夕は7月7日の夜、天の川に隔てられている牽牛星と織女星が、天帝の許しを得て年に一度会えるという中国の伝説からはじまった星を司る年中行事です。
もとは朝廷の貴族の間で行われていた祭でしたが、江戸時代から一般庶民の間に定着しました。6日の夜には、色とりどりの短冊に願い事を書いたり、歌を書いたりして笹につるし、7日の夜に庭先にだします。

Tanabata(July 7)

Tanabata is the Star Festival that occurs on July 7. It is based on the legend in which Altair and Vega, who are split apart on opposite sides of the Milky Way, are allowed to meet once a year on this night by the Emperor of the universe.
Originally a festival carried out among the Court nobility, it has since the Edo Period become established among the people at large.
On the night of the 6th, people write their wishes or poems on strips of poetry paper of various colors and hang them on bamboo grass; then, on the night of the 7th, they put them out in the garden.

畳は、日本在宅の床上に敷くもので、欧米で言えばじゅうたんのようなものに当たります。わらで作った厚床の上にい草などで織った畳表をつけたもので、一畳は約1.8×0.9m。畳の上は靴、スリッパなしで歩きます。

Tatami

Tatami are sturdy straw mats approximately 1.8×0.9 m in size and used for flooring in the traditional Japanese home, comparable to Western carpeting. They are made of thick layer of bundled straw covered with a woven rush covering, and shoes and slippers are removed before entering a tatami room.