I’ve mentioned that Japanese would go to Hatsumode and New Year’s Sales (Hatsuuri:初売り) during New Year’s holiday. Are there any other activities for New Year’s holiday? This post introduces traditional Japanese games for New Year’s season. Contents1 5 Traditional Games for New Year’s Season What is Fukuwarai? What is Takoage?2 Summary Related Posts Related I pick 5 traditional games that Japanese play during New Year’s holiday. Do you know any of these? Fukuwarai (福笑い) literally means Lucky Laugh. Do Japanese laugh to be lucky? Fukuwarai is a game to place parts of a face. It’s similar to “Pin the tail on the Donkey.” Fukuwarai is played on the table, while Pin the tail on the Donkey is played on the wall. Blindfolded Fukuwarai players are to place parts of a face, such as eyes, nose and mouth on a blank face. Some of them try to make a perfect face, whereas others make a funny face. Popular faces for Fukuwarai are Okame and Hyottoko but you can also use different faces.

Japanese believe that laughing brings happiness and luck so Fukuwarai is a perfect game to laugh and play with others. Otedama uses small bean bags and the players juggle them. It’s believed that the first Otedama kind of game came from China during Nara period (710-794). You can start with 2 Otedama and increase to 3 if possible. Grandparents or parents usually teach grandchildren or children how to play Otedama. I can only play with 2 Otedama because the 3rd one always jumps somewhere. My grandmother made Otedama for me and I still have them! Some people would sing and juggle Otedama.These are usually used for display purpose. Hanetsuki is a game similar to badminton. Two players hold a wooden paddle, “Hagoita,” and hit the shuttlecock, called “Hane.” Old Japanese believed that Hanetsuki helped to get rid of bad luck. The famous Hagoita is not only used for Hanetsuki but also displayed in a restaurant or shop by the owners.

Hanetsuki is usually played by girls. Kendama is similar to cup-and-ball game and played to fit a ball into two cups or a spike. The first Kendama came to Japan during Edo era (1603-1863) and it was a game played by adults. There are various levels of difficulty and techniques depending on how to fit the ball into cups or a spike.jiro dreams of sushi full movie Kendama lovers practice hard to participate in competition.japanese restaurant dubai home delivery The other day I found Kendama in Canadian Tire, so you might have seen it if you are in Canada.yo sushi takeaway uk Takoage is a Japanese kite. where to buy sushi grade ahi tuna

It’s said that if you can make the tako or kite stay higher in the sky, your wish will come true. It was quite popular but the number of players decreased as utility poles have increased and people play in limited locations. I recommend you to play in a big park or levee if there is any in your neighbour.order sushi waterloo Japanese used to play those games before but now less people play those.jiro dreams of sushi where I hope they would at least play those games for New Year’s and inherit Japanese tradition to younger generations.yo sushi dubai contact number I’ve tried Fukuwarai, Otedama and Kendama. I should go buy Kendama in Canadian Tire, find my Otedama and make Fukuwarai by myself to enjoy New Year’s Day!

Thank you for visiting my blog. Any questions or opinions? Feel free to leave comment below. If you like this post, click and give me your power♫When it comes to the consumption of raw fish in Tokyo, you’re spoiled for choice. There are plenty of cheap places where you can get your sushi fix. We’re guessing you’re after the “real” experience—sushi that comes rolling by on a conveyor belt, or rocks up on a cute little bullet train or some such thing. Over the years, we’ve compiled a list of favorite (read: best budget) sushi restaurants in Tokyo that check these boxes. Arguably the tastiest and cheapest “kaiten” or conveyor belt sushi chain is Ganso Zushi. The shops have no frills, but will give you an authentic experience where you can see everyday Japanese cheapos popping in for a quick sushi dinner. Plates start at 108 yen, tax included. The branches are located all over Tokyo, so learn to recognize the four Japanese characters of their name – 元祖寿司 (for the curious this translates to something like “original sushi”, or “first sushi”).

And be sure to ask for their English menu—all shops should have one, but we’ve seen them being a bit shy about handing it out. As well as choosing things off the conveyor belt, you can also bark your order at the chef in the middle. New Video: Tokyo's Yokocho Learn about these hidden gems, grubby and delicious - drinking and eating like a local in Tokyo We love Genki Sushi. Don’t let the frowny face fool you, this kaiten sushi restaurant leaves customers with a smile on their face—you can binge on delicious sushi for ultra cheap! We’ve been to this restaurant in the heart of Shibuya and the suburbs of Ibaraki, and each time we’ve been happy with the quality and price. The salmon is always soft, the rice is the right blend of savory and salty, and their egg omelettes are (in our opinion) some of the best in Japan. Most of the plates cost 108 yen. Some of the locations have the conveyor belt; The places that don’t have a network of lines instead, where they send orders directly to the customers.

The plate stops in front of you, you grab your food, and press a button to send the plates back to the kitchen. Other locations have the sushi chefs in the middle, so you can just call out your order. Recommended Bars, Cafes and Restaurants You can also find this sushi chain in some other countries. Ever seen one outside of Japan? With a large store in the heart of Omotesando and others scattered around Tokyo, this sushi joint is famous for serving mixed plates and eye-popping combinations. Instead of the standard 108 yen, most of the sushi at this restaurant is in the region of 130 yen. There are also plates in the 200-, 300- and 500-yen range. Don’t worry about making a mistake—they have a very easy-to-understand, color-coded system with sample plates mounted on the wall. Heiroku’s specialty is mixed plates, with three to four different types of sushi on a single plate. We recommend their 4-piece tuna plate, so you can taste all the different textures and flavors that make Japanese tuna famous.

Sushi-Ro is one of the most beloved budget sushi chains in Tokyo, popular among college students and families with young children. With branches all throughout Japan (even in Hokkaido), Sushi-Ro has gotten the practice of getting you in, fed, billed, and out again down to an art. You can either choose your items from the conveyor belt or order from the screen in front of you. They have English, Chinese, and Korean language settings. Most plates cost 108 yen for two pieces of nigiri sushi. They have a couple of “specialty” items that run for a bit more and a delicious assortment of desserts. Basically, Sushi-Ro is a good, “safe”, cheap, and delicious dining option. Unlike many of the sushi spots in this article, Katsura is a stand-alone restaurant. It is located right in Tsukiji Fish Market—so you already know that you’re about to get some quality stuff. It’s a contender for the much coveted (and imaginary) Best Budget Sushi Tokyo award. A fair word of warning, though, don’t go here for dinner.

Your meal will easily be over 5,000 yen! Instead, take advantage of their weekday lunch menu. An ‘ichininmae’ (1 person) set of 9 pieces of nigiri sushi and one maki roll sushi is 950 yen. The 1.5 person set is 1,050 yen. Both are absolutely delicious. The only downside is that the restaurant is a little bit difficult to find, and there is no English menu. If you don’t speak Japanese, try to go with a friend who can, or just remember the 950 yen or 1,050 yen prices and point to them on the menu. This place punts itself as the “No. 1 conveyor belt sushi restaurant in Japan” and it’s definitely one of our top choices. There is often a queue snaking right outside the restaurant—but the wait is well worth it. It’s got a reputation for being one of the better quality budget sushi establishments. Most plates will set you back between 100-200 yen, and that includes not only your standard sushi dishes, but fried chicken, tempura, soups and more. You order on an iPad (don’t worry, there’s an English menu) and the food comes to you in a matter of minutes.

Look no further than Zanmai Sushi for quality and convenience. This sushi bar (sorry, no conveyor belts here!) chain offers fresh, high-quality sushi sets at over 40 branches throughout Tokyo. To keep things cheapo, we recommend the handmade lunch sets which go for 800-1,000 yen and come with soup, salad, and unlimited green tea. At 108 yen per plate for decent sushi, Uobei is another great kaiten sushi option. The atmosphere is pleasant, the grub is good, and the staff friendly enough to deal with crazy foreigners (like some of our writers—no names mentioned). Similar to Genki Sushi, at Uobei, you must personally order all your sushi. They don’t have a regular conveyor belt. This method saves money and gets you the freshest food. *For more on cheapo eats, our ebook has a complete guide on eating extreeeemely well on a budget (and not just sushi). Written by: Grace Buchele Mineta Filed under: Eating & Drinking Tokyo's Best Free Views Shinjuku Travel Guide For Beginners