Do you know “Lunar New Year” ?

It is also called “Chinese New Year”, and there still exist customs that celebrate this “old” new year in some areas such as China, Korea, and Viet Nam.
The fist date (1/1) varies depending on the year, and it is usually between 1/22 and 2/19 of solar calendar.
Here, in Japan, people used to use lunar calendar until Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1872 (Meiji era), though most of people do not even know about it anymore these days.

On 2/11, we attended New year party, or “Shinnenkai”(新年会) in Japanese. It was an assembly for those who are learning Kimono sewing from Ms. Tanabe, a “Kimono Meister”. (I have learned Kimono sewing for more than 12 years !)
When you hear about a new year party in February, you may ask “Why new year party in February ?”

Now, you have the answer !

We had a lunch course at “Ukai Toriyama“near Mt. Takao.

It has wonderful, beautiful, well-mended Japanese garden with small water falls, bridges, and water mills.

Look ! Water mill with its water frozen while wheeling !

The dish was not bad, but it did not make the attendees full, which was never cheap,,, but,,,taking the nice views and romms in independent traditional houses, which should require huge cost and manpower to maintain, into consideration, it’s OK (o_<)/

Ms. Tanabe, Kimono Meister, or , “Shisho”(師匠) in Japanese, has sewed Kimonos for 50 years. She has made more than 15000 Kimonos in her artisan life !

As this year marks 50 years anniversary for her, her students including myself, or “Deshi”(弟子) in Japanese, also celebrated her with her family.

In every “Shinnenkai”, “Deshi” have to wear their own-made Kimono !

Because of winter season, everybody wears coat outside.

Unfortunately, we missed to take pictures of their beautiful Kimono and Obi….

By the way, 2/11 is National Foundation Day for Japan.

Does this date have something todo with lunar new year…???