| Japanese Year in Sync with the Seasons | | | | and this weeklong vacation is commonly called, |
| One of the first things I noticed, as a | | | | ‘Golden Week’. |
| schoolteacher in Japan, is that so many countries | | | | Summer begins in June, and so does the rainy |
| start their school year in a different month. I | | | | season, known as ‘Tsuyu’ in Japan. This |
| come from Australia, where the school year is | | | | is perfect for the rice fields. Rice seeds are |
| the same as the calendar year, and so the | | | | planted in special containers in April, and then the |
| students begin their classes in January. | | | | rice shoots are transplanted into rice fields in |
| Being in the southern hemisphere, Australia’s | | | | May. Then the rain arrives in June. |
| summer holidays start around the 15th of | | | | But by this time, almost every student at school |
| December and finish on January 26th, which is | | | | is looking forward to the summer vacation, which |
| Australia Day. (Summer itself doesn’t end | | | | starts in mid-July. The annual high school baseball |
| until March). The United States also begins their | | | | championship, held at Koushien Stadium in Osaka, |
| school year after summer vacation, which in | | | | is played during the summer vacation, and is |
| North America means that the students start | | | | extremely popular with students and adults alike. |
| their new school year in September. | | | | It is televised around the nation during August. |
| Japan is different again, with the new school year | | | | Many summer festivals are held all over Japan. |
| beginning in April. It doesn’t follow summer | | | | One of the most important of these is called, |
| vacation, but rather spring vacation. In a way, | | | | ‘Obon’, and this is a time that Japanese |
| this makes perfect sense, because Japan’s | | | | people travel to be with their families. |
| year is in perfect sync with the seasons. | | | | Companies allow workers time off for this |
| Spring is the time when nature starts its cycle all | | | | traditional holiday. It is a time for honoring |
| over again, after a cold snowy winter in which | | | | deceased relatives, cleaning their gravesites, and |
| ‘mother nature’ appears to hibernate; and | | | | enjoying a dance called ‘Bon Odori’. |
| just as the flowers once again begin to bloom, so | | | | In most local neighborhoods, one can smell the |
| does a new year. This is not just the case in | | | | wonderful scent of burning wood as families fire |
| schools and universities either, but also in the | | | | up their barbecues. It is a time for swimming, |
| work place. | | | | watching fireworks, and relaxing. Japan is |
| (A new year, with regard to schools and | | | | extremely humid during summer, and many |
| companies in Japan, should not be confused with | | | | people opt to stay inside and fan themselves to |
| the official “New Year Day” on January 1, | | | | stay cool. In fact, on the old Japanese calendar, |
| called ‘Oshogatsu’ in Japanese. | | | | July was known as ‘Fumizuki’ (literally |
| However, I was fascinated to learn that Japan | | | | ‘book month’), as it was a good time to |
| only adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1873, and | | | | stay indoors and read. |
| before this time, Japan used a | | | | Autumn is exceptionally beautiful, and many |
| ‘lunar-solar’ calendar similar to that of | | | | Japanese people go driving and hiking at this time |
| China). | | | | to see the gorgeous autumn leaves as they |
| Japanese companies have their recruitment drive | | | | change colors. The yellow, orange and red |
| (for students) in January, and advertise general | | | | leaves often make it appear as if the hillsides are |
| job vacancies in the media throughout February | | | | on fire. There are still many barbecues at this |
| and March. Most job interviews are held in | | | | time of the year, as families and groups of |
| March, and the welcome ceremony for new | | | | friends sit outside and observe the spectacle that |
| recruits is held at the start of April. Many | | | | nature provides. |
| companies hold ‘welcome parties’ for | | | | The rice is harvested at the beginning of autumn, |
| new employees outdoors, under the Cherry | | | | just before the annual typhoon season begins |
| Blossom trees (Sakura). This custom is known | | | | (usually in October in most places, depending on |
| as ‘Hanami’ (‘flower viewing’). | | | | the location). |
| It is often the duty of a new employee on that | | | | It still amazes me how quickly the seasons |
| day to reserve a good spot in the park, as many | | | | change, and winter always seems to take me by |
| companies hold parties at the same time, often | | | | surprise. Being an Australian who loves warm |
| on the same day, and the parks become | | | | weather, it is never a pleasant surprise. |
| crowded very quickly. They celebrate not just a | | | | However, for many people, it is a time to have |
| new year in the company, but also the arrival of | | | | fun enjoying winter sports. Skiing, snow boarding |
| spring after what has usually been a long, cold | | | | and ice-skating are all very popular in Japan. |
| winter. | | | | Then end of winter coincides with the end of the |
| The concept of ‘lifetime employment’ is | | | | school year, and the end of another year for |
| rapidly fading in Japan, and many positions are | | | | salaried workers. Towards the end of March, |
| now filled by workers on yearly contracts. | | | | many “Sayonara” parties are held for |
| However, even permanent employees can find | | | | employees who are leaving their companies, or |
| themselves in a new position come April, either | | | | being transferred to another location. |
| due to a promotion or a transfer; and yet this | | | | Many graduation parties are held for university |
| seems natural to most Japanese, coinciding as it | | | | students in March, and in April they will begin a |
| does with the start of a new seasonal year | | | | new life, at the same time as the new cherry |
| outside their windows. | | | | blossoms begin theirs, and their year, like so |
| In May there is a string of religious and traditional | | | | many other people in Japan, will remain tied to the |
| holidays, which coincide with the peak of spring, | | | | seasons. |