ハロウィーンの発祥は、2000年以上も前。ヨーロッパの古代ケルト人が行っていた祭礼「サウィン（Samhain）」が起源だといわれています。。サウィンは「夏の終わり」を意味し、秋の収穫を祝うとともに、悪霊を追い払う宗教的な行事として、古代ケルト人の暮らしに根づいていました。死者の魂が家族の元に戻ってくると考えられているため、当時から人々は、仮装や仮面をつけたり、ジャック・オー・ランタンというかぶで作ったランタンを家に置いたり、死者の魂から身を守ることをしていました。現在は、多くの国でハロウィーンが広まり、起源とは異なった楽しみ方をしています。例えば、ジャック・オー・ランタンをかぶではなく、比較的作りやすいかぼちゃで作ったり、子供が大人に「お菓子をくれないといたずらするよ」という意味である「Trick or Treat」を言って、お菓子をもらったり、といった風習になっています。
Hello everyone. It’s already October, and the temperature is gradually becoming more comfortable. What comes to your mind when you think of October? Many people think of Halloween, don’t they? In this article, I would like to introduce you to Halloween in Japan. Also, how do TIU students spend Halloween? I’ll show you the details (or how it looks) at the end of this article.
What is Halloween?
Halloween dates back more than 2,000 years. It is said to have originated from “Samhain,” a European Celtic festival. Samhain, which means “the end of summer,” was rooted in the lives of the ancient Celts as a religious event to celebrate the autumn harvest and drive away evil spirits. Because it was believed that the souls of the dead would return to their families, people began wearing costumes and masks, placing lanterns made of turnips called jack-o’-lanterns in their homes, and protecting themselves from the souls of the dead. Today, Halloween has spread to many countries and is celebrated in ways that are distinct from its origins. For example, instead of kabuto, Jack O’Lanterns are now made from pumpkins, which are relatively easy to make, and children say “Trick or Treat,” which means “give me candy or I will play tricks on you,” to adults to receive sweets.
Kiddy Land Harajuku is credited with being the first store in Japan to have taken part in Halloween in the 1970s. Later that year, in 1983, the same Kiddy Land Harajuku store hosted a Halloween parade to promote Halloween merchandise sales.
The “Disney Happy Halloween” costume event at Tokyo Disneyland in 1997 was the catalyst for the rapid rise in Halloween awareness. Halloween has since become an autumn tradition at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Since then, the word “Halloween” has been seen in a variety of places, with various stores selling Halloween-only packages of candy and Halloween costumes since late September. Because of the advancement of social networking services in recent years, it has also become a tradition for many people in Japan to dress up in costumes and gather in Shibuya. Every year, a large crowd gathers at the scramble crossing, and the event makes headlines. However, many people with bad manners have been seen in recent years, and this has become a problem.
Tradition dictates how Halloween is observed. In families throughout Ireland, children prepare costumes and games in advance of Halloween. On the day of the celebration, dinner is served with a traditional cake called a “barn black.” Various things are prepared inside and baked, and a person’s fortune is divined by what comes out when he or she cuts into and eats the cake. For example, if a ring comes out, it means that the person will get married within a year.
It also means “spending precious time with family,” a tradition that is kept alive by such events as the Halloween Parade. Halloween is a big event for Irish people.
On the other hand, in Japan, it is not only in Shibuya, but many stores around the country sell various Halloween packaged sweets and goods. As a result, many people exchange sweets with their friends at school, dress up in costumes at Halloween parties, and children receive candy from adults. These are different from the original Halloween celebrations in Ireland, where many Japanese spend their time eating lots of candy.
This October, SLI has hosted two Halloween-related events. Come dressed in your favorite costume to party and make new friends.
PA : Halloween Party with Peer Assistant Team
The Peer assistant team will host a Halloween party on Wednesday, October 26th at Building No.2 class room 231. You are all invited. Please see the poster below for more information.
EP: English Plaza Halloween Night
The English Plaza team will host a Halloween night on Friday, October 28th at the English Plaza building. You are all invited. Please see the poster below for more information.
This time we introduced Halloween in Japan. How do you spend Halloween in Japan? In Japan, people often exchange sweets with their friends, so why don’t we all bring our own sweets on the day of the event?
Writer: Saki N. Editor: Karen W. Translator: Ezekiel K
Hello everyone. How are you doing now that the summer heat wave is over and it’s getting cooler in the mornings and evenings? Now is the time of year when the sweet autumnal fragrance known as kinmokusei can be smelled near school gates and in the city streets. There is a tradition in Japan called “Autumn for Sports.” During this time of year, many sport meets and competitions take place in different parts of the country.
Origin of “Autumn of Sports”
First, I would like to explain how the term “Autumn of Sports” came to be. This origin is closely related to the “Tokyo Olympics” and “Sports Day.”
On October 10, 1964, the Tokyo Olympics were held. This is because, according to historical data, there was a very high likelihood that the weather in Japan would be pleasant on this day. After the Olympics, Sports Day, a national holiday, was established on October 10 to celebrate this day. (Sports Day is now observed during the second week of October.) Since the Tokyo Olympics and the foundation of Sports Day, several sports-related activities have been organized in September and October in various places, and this time period is said to have become widely known as “Sports Autumn.”
Next, we will discuss three benefits of exercising during Fall.
The first is to raise the internal body temperature. To increase body temperature, it is essential to exercise, increase muscle strength, and boost metabolism. When the body’s metabolism improves, immune cells are activated, making it less susceptible to illness.
The second goal is to combat obesity. When a person develops an exercise routine and gains muscle mass, their metabolism increases. As the basal metabolic rate increases, the amount of energy required for daily activities rises, and the body should adapt to a state where fat is burned more efficiently.
Thirdly, It reduces stress. Not only does exercise alleviate stress, but it also helps build a body and mind that are resistant to stress. Continued exercise provides a steady supply of serotonin and endorphins, which help stabilize the mind and are believed to alleviate stress and fatigue.
Without you even realizing it, stress can build up in your daily life due to things like homework and classes. In order to maintain your mental health, you should engage in moderate exercise. In addition, autumn mornings are chilly, so you may be reluctant to leave your futon or room. However, once you step outside, the warm sunlight and the sweet scent of the golden osmanthus will be awaiting you, so please try to move your body after a delicious autumn meal!
(Please note that the above information may vary from person to person.)
Last, we’ll talk about the facilities at TIU and two parks close to the university where you can enjoy autumn.
First, the second campus of Tokyo International University features a weightlifting field, a training room, basketball and volleyball courts, as well as tennis courts. In the training room, students can engage in basic exercises as well as advanced and functional ones. Physical education and club activities are also conducted on the basketball and volleyball courts. Physical education classes and official garden tennis club activities utilize a total of eight tennis courts, complete with lighting equipment. It is possible that many students who use Campus 1 are unaware of these facilities. Students who are interested are encouraged to enroll in classes and clubs.
Next, we will introduce parks within close proximity to the university
The first is Kawagoe Suijo Koen (Kawagoe Water Park). To get there, take a 15-minute walk from Nishi-Kawagoe Station on the JR Kawagoe Line, or take the Seibu Bus bound for Kasumino from Kawagoe Station or Hon-Kawagoe Station, and get off at “Suijo Koen Iriguchi” (10-minute walk to the park). The vast grounds of this park are its main draw. There are lawn areas, futsal and table tennis fields, walking trails, tennis courts, and other amenities. Visitors can also view the autumn leaves. Autumn leaves symbolize autumn in Japan, so after a picnic on the lawn, it would be nice to play sports or go for a walk while watching the leaves change color.
Second is the Kawagoe Exercise Park (Kwagoe Undo Koen). To get there, take a bus from Kawagoe Station on the JR Tobu-Tojo Line or Hon-Kawagoe Station on the Seibu-Shinjuku Line headed for Kawagoe Undo Koen. Get off at Towamu Koedo Hospital and walk 10 minutes toward Ageo Station West Exit. This park has a grassy area, tennis courts, and an athletic field. So, it would be fun to play tennis, go jogging, play badminton, or catch a ball in the square while being aware of your surroundings.
Thank you for reading this far. In this article, I introduced “Autumn for Sports.” Autumn is a lovely season, with warm sunshine and a light breeze. Please enjoy a healthy fall, both physically and mentally, by engaging in moderate exercise..
Writer: Karen W. Editor: Kurooto B. Translator: Juri A.
Hello, everyone. The weather has been so unstable that it starts to rain and clear up even during the day. Are you living comfortably? People recognize there are 4 seasons in Japan in general. However, did you know there was a concealed season “Tsuyu(梅雨)” from the end of spring to the beginning of summer? Tsuyu is just around the corner. It is getting time for you to enjoy the Japanese humid and gloomy weather, which is peculiar to this season. When this season approaches the end, then Japanese summer starts off finally. Until then, don’t you want to spend a humid and cloudy rainy season more comfortably even if it is only slightly? Some people who support it positively might say “Thanks for a rainy season to moisturize my throat!”, but this is an extremely minor case. I, the author of this article, had an interview with someone who has lived in Japan for a long time to have some tips for living a more comfortable life during Tsuyu in Japan. Therefore, I share some tips from them in this article.
In the first place, what season is Tsuyu like? Japan meteorological agency’s website gave specific information and definition of Tsuyu, so let’s go look at the truth about Tsuyu. “Tsuyu is a seasonal atmosphere that frequently emerges from clouds and rain during the season changing from spring to summer.” 『梅雨（つゆ）は春から盛夏への季節が移り変わる時期に雨や曇りの日が多く現れる季節現象です。』
(Reference) 高松地方気象台 梅雨 2022/05/27 15：33時点
https://www.jma-net.go.jp/takamatsu/3_bousai/shizengenshou/kishou/tsuyu/tsuyu_uryou.html The rainy season appearantly begins from about the end of May to the middle of June in all the prefectures except for Okinawa. There will be heavy rain as soon as the rainy season starts, so an umbrella and rain gear are likely to become your daily necessities to bring with.
The CG team collected questionnaires from the Instagram users who follow our official account @tiu_sli. What do other people do to prepare for the Rainy season?
I am going to share 5 ideas from the questionnaires in this article.
①Check a weather forecast
You need to check the weather forecast frequently because it tends to rain and change the weather during the day in Tsuyu. Even if you checked it in the morning and said no rain today, it can turn to rain out of the blue when you are on your way home. Therefore, to prevent getting wet by a sudden rain, catching up with the weather, and being ready with an umbrella and towel on hand would be perfect.
②Laundry
There is rarely a sunny day during Tsuyu and rain usually lasts for a week. However, you can not just simply ignore your pile of washing clothes. You can dry your laundry in the bath, which has a dehumidifier. In case you do not have it and drying with an air conditioner that can set up the timer is highly recommended. You have to be careful setting up the timer properly and turning on a cooler, otherwise, it would be half-dried and the electoral fee goes up.
③Hairstyle
A humid rainy season makes your hair frizzy and hard to tackle and style your hair. In this case, an iron and dryer help to come off the humidity on your head and style with hair oil. These methods make your hair even smoother. For those who have fringe hair and have a favorite hairstyle, your hairstyle would easily come off even if you concrete your hair with wax. Therefore, it is important to have a stressful hairstyle during Tsuyu.
Wearing a bandana and hats are recommended because it is easy to put your hair up and it looks fashionable.
④Going to Coffee
Rainy days make you feel gloomy to go out but it is boring to stay at your home. If you are so, then it would be good to go to a library and cafe where you can keep your rain out. Some shops have a special discount for only a rainy day and you can stay cozy and more comfortable than usual. This is recommended to refresh your mood.
⑤Changing the air
Humidity goes quite high during Tsuyu in any case so that makes you hesitate to open the window. However, the temperature goes up and that makes mold easily if you keep the window closed. Also, it is effective to take a humid away by putting the desiccant in the cabinet or leaving the ventilation far turn on.
Thank you for reading until the end. What is your memory of Tsuyu like? There would not be many sunny days and the damp weather so you may be feeling down. It would be my pleasure if any of the tips introduced in this article went practical and you could spend your rainy season comfortably. Await for the next upcoming article!
Writer: Karen W. Editor: Aika M. Translator: Trang D.
Hello everyone. How did you spend winter vacation? I’m on winter break for the first time in my university life, which lasts for three months, and I’ve been spending most of my time working part-time to save money for studying abroad. Recently, at my part-time job, I am getting in a lot of trouble due to my unprofessional attitudes towards customers and some other small mistakes in my work. If I continue to contain these frustrating emotions for too long, I’m afraid I’ll explode one day. I think it is normal for anyone to feel tired and bewildered like I do now, every now and again in their student life and daily life. So, it goes without saying, the important thing is to alleviate those negative feelings. To help you with that, this article will tell you some stress reduction methods.
What is stress?
To begin with, stress is a state of tension caused by external stimuli. External stimuli include environmental factors such as weather and noise, physical factors such as illness or lack of sleep, psychological factors like anxiety and worries, and social factors like poor relationships and busy work.
It is very important to detect your stress signs. When you are stressed, you may have some stress signs such as sleeping difficulty, stomachache, short temper, etc. If you are stressed, you may not even be able to sleep. These signs do not necessarily mean that you have any mental illness, but if you continue to be stressed out without realizing it or taking any action, you may end up in a worse mental condition.
First, it is a must to know your stress signs, and then monitor yourself from time to time to see if you are showing any of those signs. The sooner you become aware of your own stress, the sooner you can take care of yourself by taking a break or try changing your mood with different activities
Sadly, most of the time, I tend to miss my own stress signs and break down easily afterwards. So make sure we don’t overlook those stress signs, take the proper steps, and stop stressing ourselves out! In the next part, I will share with you how different people deal with stress, so let’s explore what methods they have been using!
Recommended stress relief methods
We conducted a survey of TIU students to find out what stress management tips or advice they have. I am sure that all of our readers will find these methods useful and easy to try. Please check out and give us your thoughts!
Case 1 – Crying
Crying out loud to relieve stress is a very effective way to reset your mind. Some people usually talk to someone about their feelings and start shedding tears after they have shared all of the accumulated negative feelings. This will help you sort out your feelings and sometimes you can get opinions from other people, with different viewpoints and angles you never expected you could get.
Others say that they induce tears by watching or reading something that moves them to tears. Some recommendations from my interviewee are ONE PIECE 冬島編、サヨナラメリー号編、マリンフォード頂上戦争編 (English name is not available). My top recommendation is a work called Anohana – The flower we saw that day.
Case 2 – Eating
When I got this answer, I thought, “I just need to eat a good meal then that’s fine?”. However, several people said that spending time having meals with good friends and loved ones is actually more important than having just a good meal. Also, some people feel refreshed when they can keep eating and drinking until they want to stop. I often eat as much as I want, and this time I feel better because I am taking better care of myself.
Case 3 – Enjoying entertainment
It is definitely a good idea to immerse yourself in your hobbies/ interests and “your talents” and just enjoy them. Listening to music, playing instruments such as piano or guitar, watching movies, cartoons or YouTube, reading manga or books, or playing games are all recommended. Not only is it important to spend time alone enjoying your hobbies, but it is also great if you could share your hobbies with someone else to double the fun. Additionally, some people choose to overcome their boredom by taking a bath, singing karaoke, or even surfing.
Case 4 – Spending time with a good friend.
When I heard about this method, I was surprised because I am the type of person who is always trying to cope with my stress by myself. However, when I listened to the stories from other extroverts that spend a lot of time working on their network, I realized that this is such good advice. They said that when they want to relieve stress, just being with good friends (friends or lovers) can reduce their stress and bring them more joy and motivation. Most of the respondents answered that regardless of what activities they do, as long as they can share time with their good friends then it is totally fine. And it dawned on me how important it is to interact with other people, rather than just enduring alone.
Case 5 – Exercise
People who exercise to relieve stress say that they tend to get carried away with working out, so they don’t need to think too much and forget about anything that bothers them. I also tried jogging to relieve stress a few times, and it did help me clear my head and feel way better.
Case 6 – Making time for yourself
On the other hand, when you are stressed about interpersonal relationships, it is better to be alone, and try the stress-reducing techniques introduced above. In addition, spending time in a place where you are close to nature (park, mountain, forest, ocean, river, etc.) is recommended, as it will make you feel refreshed. Besides, if you make time for self-reflection, you will be able to accept your feelings more honestly than before, and you will become more motivated to work harder.
Whether these methods are effective or not may vary from person to person and may not work for everyone, so you should be very careful in choosing which methods to try out. We really appreciate your understanding.
3. Before you get stressed out
Lastly, how to avoid stress? I have introduced some ways to relieve stress, but I have learned that it is important to be aware of your own stress signs and take care of your body and mind on a regular basis. When you feel stressed out, you may find that the effectiveness of the stress management practices you do depends on how you choose to face the problems. In fact, there is a theory that if you think that stress is bad for you, it will have a negative effect on your health, but on the other hand, if you think that you are just drained out and need more time to take care of yourself, there is almost no problem. In other words, stress can become heavier or lighter depending on how you perceive it and how you think about it. Therefore, when you feel stressed, it is a good time to reevaluate your lifestyle and mindset. We hope that after reading this article, you will have a better idea ofhow to deal with stress and make life more enjoyable.
Hello everyone. Did you read my last article on “Ohinasama” (Dolls’ Day)? This time, I would like to introduce “Children’s Day,” which falls on the last day of the Golden Week in May. What do you think of when you hear the word “Children’s Day”? Let’s take a look at what kind of event it is, focusing on its origin.
What is Children’s Day?
Children’s Day was originally called “Tango-no-Sekku,” an ancient event that has continued since the Nara period (710-794). The word “Tango” means the first horse day of the month and was not limited to the month of May. As mentioned in the article “Setsubun” on Japanese culture, it was believed in Japan that illness and misfortune were likely to occur at the change of seasons. Therefore, on “Tango-no-hi,” the day of the changing of the seasons, events were held to avoid illness and misfortune. On this day, there were customs of stacking yomogi herbs, bathing orchids, and drinking sake soaked in the iris, which was considered to ward off bad luck. In the Nara period (710-794), the imperial family and their subjects believed that these plants were thought to ward off illness and evil spirits. In addition to this, they used to perform yabusame (horseback archery, a ritual in which the archer shoots a bow while riding a horse) to exterminate bad demons that were believed to bring misfortune.
It is said that it was not until the Edo period (1603-1867) that people began to celebrate the coming of age of boys by decorating carp streamers and “Gogatsu Ningyo (warrior dolls),” as they do today. In the Heian period (794-1185), children played stone fighting with paper helmets decorated with irises. Later, during the Muromachi period (1336-1573), “blow torrents” were erected by attaching a cloth to bamboo poles in the samurai society. These things are considered to be the prototype of today’s “Tango-no Sekku,” but most of them are inherited from the Edo period when the development of doll art and “carp streamers” were started by the merchant class to wish for the healthy growth of their children. The ancient court customs of stacking yomogi herbs, bathing in orchids, and drinking sake soaked in irises to ward off bad luck gradually fell into disuse with the advent of the Kamakura period (samurai society), and thus the style of “Tango-no Sekku” has changed from that of today. Even though the custom changed with the arrival of the male-dominated samurai society, decorating iris leaves was still associated with “Shobu” (to take up arms), and it seems to have changed into an event to celebrate the growth of boys. During the Edo period (1603-1867), May 5 became an important holiday for the Tokugawa shogunate and was dedicated to celebrating the shogun. When a boy was born to the Shogun, a horse marker or banner was erected at the entrance of the Omote Palace of the castle to celebrate.
Generally, two major things are done at Dragon Boat Festival. First, carp streamers and Gogatsu dolls are decorated. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, these have been done since the Edo period (1603-1868).
Do you know what to do on “Tango-no Sekku,” a part of “Japanese culture”? Here, we would like to introduce how TIU students spend Tango-no Sekku.
Student A: “We eat Kashiwa Mochi (rice cake with sweet red bean paste) and decorate the Kabuto (Japanese warrior’s helmet) at home.”
Student B: “We go to my grandmother’s house and have a family BBQ.
Student C: “I will play with my family at the park because children should play outside energetically”
Student D: “I will take an iris bath to warm myself.
Thank you for reading this far, it seems that TIU students spend more time together with their families than decorating Kabuto and Koinobori (carp streamers). What kind of Children’s Day or “Tango no Sekku” do you spend time on? Have a good time!
EP: English Plaza Halloween Night
Times Of TIU 