Kodomo no Hi

 

Boys Day (Kodomo no Hi) was on May 5th. It is a Japanese holiday that features giant carp shaped streamers that are hung outside. It celebrates boys, while the holiday that celebrates girls is on May 3rd. Also known as Hana Matsuri.

I got a carp (koinobori) at the samurai exhibit (because it was just so cool!) and promptly decided to hang it up outside. Better late than never!

I think it's a charming touch to our neighborhood. What do you think?

Explore Japanese experiences in Denver!

We had lot's of fun in Denver on May 7th!

This time, we had a lot more delegates attend. A total of 8 delegates! 

First, we stopped at Domo to get some food, because it was lunch time, and that's what happens when you bring a whole bunch of teenagers on a car ride, you need to get food.

This is the ramen that I got. The servings were huge! All around the group, the feeling was unanimous, it is good. Really good.
Next up is the Denver Art Museum to see the Samurai Exhibit.

It was super cool. The armor was so intricately made, and had so many parts. It was really beautiful and fascinating to look at. The audio that we listened to made it all the more factual and gave us more insight into Japanese culture (even though it's been over a hundred years since the last samurai put his sword down, it's still a part of Japan culture.) Can you believe they started training boys to be samurai at the age of six?

After that we stopped by Sakura Square to get Asian snacks. Mainly rice crackers and ramune.

It was a fun day today and I feel that we've gotten closer as a group.

We're getting closer to the trip!

Above the Fold - The Art of Origami

On the 9th of April, a couple delegates (seen in the photo), along with the trip organizer, went to the origami exhibition at the Longmont museum.

It was a really pretty exhibit, the art was stunning and intricately folded. I myself wouldn't have the patience to make those works of art. From koi fish, to folded paper inside blown glass, to paper mache sea creatures hanging from the ceiling (you can see one in the background).

It was a nice experience and we got to learn a little more about the culture of Japan in preparation for the upcoming trip (which all of us are ecstatic for).

More updates to come as we get closer and closer to the trip! ^.^