Jun Natsukawa in her picturebook "NatsuJun"

Jun Natsukawa in her picturebook "NatsuJun"

Her favorite baseball team is Yokohama Bay Stars

Jun Natsukawa on youtube "TOKYO VOYAGE part 3"

Jun Natsukawa on youtube "TOKYO VOYAGE part 3"

her own blog "NatsuJun Diary"

Japanese gravure idol collection

youtube:MEGUMI #1

Megami―MEGUMI写真集

posted with amazlet on 07.04.29

西田 幸樹
学習研究社 (2002/11)
売り上げランキング: 155368

Amazon.co.jp で詳細を見る

4/5 - April fifth

The day of Haircut
(Heakat no hi)

Tokyo goverment issued the law of banning haircut for woman in 1872.
Of course there's no such a low nowadays.

4/4 - April forth

The day of Bean-Jam Bun
(Anpan no hi)

On the day in 1875, purely Japanese style bun was presented to the Meiji Emperor.
It was Kimuraya made bean-jam buns(anpan).

4/3 - April third

Anniversary of Nihonbashi opening
(Nihon-bashi Kaitsu Kinen-bi)

On the day in 1911, Nihonbashi(Japan Bridge), one of the most famous bridges in Tokyo was replaced from wood bridge to stone bridge.

4/2 - April second

Anniversary of Five-hundred yen bill issue
(Gohyakuen-satsu Hakko Kinen-bi)

On the day in 1951, 500 yen bill which has a portrait of Tomomi Iwakura was issued.
After 500 yen coin is issued, you rarely see a 500 yen bill anylonger.

4/1 - April first

April Fool's Day
(Shigatsu Baka no hi)

It is said that you can tell white lie on the day.

In the Islamic sphere, this practice is banned.

3/31 - March thirtyfirst

The proclamation day of the Fundamental Law of Education / the School Education Law
(Kyoiku kihon hou/Gakko kyoikuhou koufu no hi)

On the day in 1947, the law for education was proclaimed and Japanese 6/3/3/4 system has started. 6-elementary shcool, 3-junior high shcool, 3-high shcool, 4-univesity.

3/30 - March thirtieth

National Stadiam Inauguration Anniversary
(Kokuritsu Kyogijo Rakusei Kinen-bi)

On the day in 1958, the constraction of National Kasumigaoka Athletic Stadium was completed.
In 1964, the stadium was used for opening/ending ceremonies of Tokyo Olimpic.

3/29 - March twentyninth

The day of Oshichi The Greengrocer
(Yaoya Oshichi no hi)

On the day in 1683, 18 year-old girl Oshichi who is the daughter of a greengrocer was excuted for arson.

3/28 - March twentyeighth

The day of chervil
(Mitsuba no hi)

3 is pronounced Mi, 2 is prounounced tsu, 8 is prounounced Ba. Let's put them together: MiTsuBa.

3/27 - March twentyseventh

The day of Cherry blossom
(Sakura no hi)

3 is pronounced Sa, 9 is prounounced Ku. Do Multiplication: 3 x 9 = 27. So, March twentyseventh is Sakura no hi.

3/26 - March twentysixth

The day of Katyusha song
(Katyusha no uta no hi)

On the day in 1914, Lev N. Tolstoi's Revival was played in Geijutsu-za first time.
The Katyusha song sung in the play became very popular at that time.
Katyusha is the common name for women in Rossia.

3/25 - March twentyfifth

Electricity anniversary
(Denki kinen bi)

On the day 1878, the first light was turned on in Japan.
Next year, first Japanese electric company was founded, and in 1890, Ichisuke Fujioka manufactured the first electric light in Japan.

3/24 - March twentyforth

Mannequin anniversary
(manekin kinen bi)

First Mannequin was used on the day 1928 in Japan, and it was not the doll but the real human.
The word "Mannequin" can be devided into two Japanese words; Mane - invite, Kin - money. Very attractive word.

3/23 - March twentythird

World Weather Day
(Sekai Kishoh no hi)

One of the World Day established by World Meteorological Organization (WMO) on 1960.
Japan joined WMO on 1953.

3/22 - March twentysecond

Memorial day of Broadcasting
(Housou kinen bi)

Japanese firts radio broadcast was started on the day 1925 by NHK (Nihon Housou Kyokai; Japan Broadcasting Corporation).

3/21 - March twentyfirst

The Spring Equinox day - national holiday
(Shunbun no hi )

Spring Equinox day fall on March twentieth or twentyfirst, depends on the year. It's national holiday.
In 2007, it's on March twentieth.

3/20 - March twentieth

Memorial day of Opening the Ueno Zoo
(Ueno Dohbutsuen kaikan kinen-bi)

On the day of 1882, Ueno-zoo; Japanese first modern zoo opened. On the day, Ueno zoo's admission is free.

3/19 - March nineteenth

The day of Music
(Ongaku no hi)

3 is pronounced Mi, 19 is prounounced Juhku. Joining them "Mijuhku" sounds similar to Music. So the day was established as the Music Day.

3/18 - March eighteenth

The day of spirit of a departed person
(Shouryou no hi)

Kakinomoto no hitomaro, Izumi shikibu, and Ono no komachi, very famouse three Japanese poets are said to be dead on the same day; March eighteenth incidentally.

3/17 - March seventeenth

Weekly Comic Magazine Day
(Manga-syuhkanshi no hi)

First two Japanese weekly comic magazine("Manga-syuhkanshi"); Shohnen-Magazine and Shohnen-Sunday, were published on the day in 1959.

3/16 - March sixteenth

Anniversary for National Park designation
(Kokuritsu Koen Shitei Kinen-bi)

On the day in 1934, First Japanese national parks are designated; Setonaikai, Unzen-Amakusa, Kirishima-Yaku. Now there are 28 national parks in Japan.

3/15 - March fifteenth

World Exposition day
(Bankoku-Haku no hi)

On the day in 1970, First Japanese World Exposition "Osaka Expo '70" was opened for public.

3/14 - March fourteenth

White day

White day is the day that men give back sweets to wemen for Valentine day's chocolate.
(In Japan, Valentine day is the day that woman tell her love to man; opposit to U.S.).

3/13 - March thirteenth

Memorial day of Seikan Tunnel Commencement
(Seikan Tonneru Kaigyo kinen-bi)

The Seikan Tunnel connects Aomori Prefecture on the Japanese island of Honshu and the island of Hokkaido, beneth the Tsugaru Strait. It's not for cars, but for trains.

3/12 - March twelfth

The day of Wallet
(Saifu no hi)

3 is pronounced Sa, 1 is prounounced I, 2 is pronounced Fu. Joining up them sound Saifu. In Japanese saying, to put shell snake into your wallet brings you money.

3/11 - March eleventh

The day of Panda Discovery
(Panda Hakken no hi)

On this day in 1896, a French missionary saw black and white bear fur at a folk dwelling in Sichuan, China. This discovery has made Panda world-famous.

3/10 - March tenth

Cactus day
(Saboten no hi)

3 is pronounced San, 10 is prounounced Ten(in English). Santen sounds sililar to Saboten, so another pan/rhyming again, March tenth was Cuctus(Saboten) day.

3/9 - March ninth

Memorial Stamp Anniversary
(Kinen Kitte Kinenbi)

On this day in 1894, first Japanese memorial stamp was issued by postal office, for celebrating Meiji Emperor's silver wedding anniversary.

3/8 - March eigth

The day of Bee
(Mitsu-bachi no hi)

3 is pronounced Mitsu, 8 is prounounced Bachi. So, March eighth was established as Bee day (and August third is Honey day).

3/7 - March seventh

Fire extinguish anniversary
(Sho-bo kinen-bi)

Fire defence was controlled by the Police Depertment till on this day of 1948 in Japan. The Fire Defense Agency established Fire extinguish anniversary two years later.

3/6 - March sixth

A round the world anniversary
(Sekai-isshu kinen-bi)

On this day In 1967, JAL, Japan Air Line, started operating a round the world route. At that time, JAL's flight attendant uniform was skyblue(designed by Hanae Mori).

3/5 - March fifth

The day of coral
(Sango no hi)

3 is pronounced San, 5 is prounounced Go. So, March fifth was established as Sango day by WWF, World Wide Fund for Nature.

3/4 - March forth

The day of sewing machine
(Mishin no hi)

3 is pronounced Mi, 4 is prounounced Shi. So, March forth was established as Mishin day. A Mishin is a sewing machine, when it first introduced to Japan, people thought machine was equal to Mishin.

3/3 - March third

The Doll's festival
(Hina-matsuri)

The day is for girls only. Dolls dressed with Kimono(traditional Japanese clothes) was displayed at houses in where the family with girl live.

3/2 - March second

The day of Japanese orphans left behind in China
(Chu-goku Zanryu-koji no hi)

On this day In 1981, 47 Japanese orphans left behind in China officially visit Japan to look for their biologic parents first time.

3/1 - March first

Bikini day

No, not that bikini. Japanse fishing boat, Dai-go Fukuryu-maru(Lucky Dragon #5), was exposed to fallout from nuclear testing at Bikini, Ocean Pacific in 1954.

2/28 - February twenty-eights

The day of biscuit
(bisucket no hi)

"Biscuit" in Japan basically means cookie. Not the pancake or bread. It was said Japanese first buscuit recipe was documented on this day of 1953.

2/27 - February twenty-seventh

The day of Shinsen-gumi

Special police force of the late shogunate period, named Shinsen-gumi, was founded on this day in 1862. Their original name at that time was Mibu-Gumi.

2/26 - February twenty-sixth

February 26 Incident
(Ni-niroku jiken)

In the early hours of 26 February 1936, coup d'etat was attempted by the Imperial Japanese Army. It took three days for get suppressed.

2/25 - February twenty-fifth

Afternoon Newspaper day
(Yukan day)

In Japan, there are 2types of Newspaper, One is called Chokan (morning paper) and the other Yukan (evening paper).
First Yukan was published on this day of 1969.

2/24 - February twenty-fourth

Gekko-Kamen day
(The Mask of Moonlight day)

On this day in 1958, one of the eariest Japanese TV hero program "Gekko-Kamen" was broadcasted.

2/23 - February twenty-third

FUJISAN day

In Japan, 2 is pronounced as "NI", "FU", or "JI", and 3 is pronounced as "SAN".So, 2/23 is considered as FU-JI-SAN.

2/22 - February twenty-second

Cat day

In Japan, 2 is pronounced as "NI". Sound of NI is considered similar to cats' mew. So, 2/22 is established as Cat day.

2/21 - February twenty-first

SOSEKI day

On this day In 1911, Education Ministry tried to give the literary honor to Japanese famous Author SOSEKI NATSUME. But he refused it.

2/20 - February twentieth

KABUKI day

In 1607, Japanese famous theatrical performance called "KABUKI" was presented to SHOGUN, IEYASU TOKUGAWA.

2/19 - February nineteenth

Professional wrestling day

In 1955, the first major pro-wresling match was held.
Japanese pro-wrestling was started by legendary wrestler "Rikidozan".