Facts Of The Week
Prefecture: Kumamoto
Credits to Research Team: Cyril

Fujisaki-Hachimangu

It is interesting how the horse which is revered as a god in some places like Nikko, in Tochigi, is regarded as a delicacy in Kumamoto. The locals here are so proud of their basashi (horsemeat sashimi) that one cannot consider himself to have visited Kumamoto if he fails to tuck into this dish.

Aside from being savored as a signature dish, horses are also prominently featured in Kumamoto’s largest festival, Fujisaki-hachimangu (also known as Drunken Horse Festival) held in mid-September.

A parade showcasing horses decorated with attention-grabbing and garish stuff, it prominently features the dynamism and energy of Kumamoto City as local residents often pull together to form teams to take charge of a horse and guide it through the streets.

During the actual festival, different groups parade between the Fujisaki Hachimangu Shrine and Gokoku Shrine (near Kumamoto Castle.) The parade passes through the main part of the city, and there are thousands of spectators. The horses are decorated and dancers in extravagant uniforms play a big part, as do the musicians. Large drums and other instruments play incessantly in a samba-band style. What with the noise, the colours and the excitement in the air, participants and the crowd are both worked up into a fervour, not to mention to horses, which buck and pull at the ropes which hold them down.

The horse from each team will be pulled along by a group of burly men; this is followed by an energetic leader giving his loudest cheers and rallying his troupe of dancers and drummers to bring the already feverish atmosphere to new heights.

Taking place over several days, there is much preparation needed before the main event. Running up until the big day, groups practice taking the horses out on the street, and the ceremonial drums and bells can be heard at all hours of the day.

Some animal rights activists condemn the festival as being cruel to the horses involved, who are probably frightened by the noise. Whether or not the horses are still made to drink rice wine on the day of the festival (giving it the colloquial name of the ‘Drunken Horse Festival’) I do not know, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this practice continues to the present day.

Sometimes, the horses will suddenly quicken their pace and advance towards the crowd, but fret not, for the burly men will keep their horses under control. Also keep a lookout for foals, young horses, that will definitely steal your heart away!

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Festival_of_Fujisaki_Hachimangu_Shrine
https://kumanago.jp/en/events/detail/430000001380.html
https://uncoveringjapan.com/2015/09/09/festival-focus-fujisaki-hachimangu-kumamoto/

Christmas in Japan
Credit to Research Team: Irfan
Prefecture: Whole of Japan

Hello everyone, wishing you a Merry Christmas and may this festival bring abundant joy and happiness in your life! For this Fact of the Week, we will discover Christmas in Japan.

Christmas is not a national holiday in Japan. However, often schools are closed on Christmas Day. The Emperor’s birthday is a national holiday on the 23rd December and there’s also a New Year school break. So the holiday break often starts around the 23rd. But most businesses will treat the 25th as a ‘normal’ working day.

In Japan, it’s still not seen as a religious holiday or celebration as there aren’t many Christians in Japan. Christmas in known as more of a time to spread happiness and Christmas Eve is thought of as a romantic day, in which couples spend together and exchange presents. In many ways, it resembles Valentine’s Day celebrations in the UK and the USA.

Christmas lights, or “Illumination” as it’s called here, is a huge attraction during the festive season. Theme parks, shops and malls are lavished with pretty lights and themed decorations. The streets of posh areas like Omotesando, Ginza and Roppongi are absolutely stunning during this time of year too, and it’s a great opportunity to take a walk and soak up the atmosphere.

In the early 70s KFC ran a series of ads called “Kentucky for Christmas!” (Kurisumasu ni wa kentakki!) The campaign was so successful at capturing the country’s imagination that Christmas became synonymous with KFC. It’s so popular that people put in their reservations months in advance to avoid the (very) long lines.

Another Christmas tradition is to have scrumptious servings of strawberry shortcake. But if strawberries aren’t your thing, any cake will do, so long as it’s cake.

Hope you enjoy some information about celebrating Christmas in Japan!

References :
https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/japan.shtml
https://theculturetrip.com/asia/japan/articles/how-to-celebrate-christmas-in-japan/
http://wowsabi.co/5-things-christmas-japan-everyone-know/
https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/christmas-in-japan

Fact of the week: The Suicide Forest
Credit to Research Team: Mendel Lim
Prefecture: Yamanashi

Hello everyone, it’s the end of the term test week and the start of term break. Hope that you have done well for your subjects. For this week’s Fact of The Week, I will be sharing about Aokigahara, The Suicide Forest or commonly known as Jukai (Sea of Trees).

Picture of aokigahara suicide forest

Resting in shadows of Mount Fuji, one of the world’s most popular suicide location.

The Aokigahara Forest has long been considered a haunted place due to stories about earthbound spirits known as yurei who perish with a deep sadness or anger in the forest as well as the legends of people leaving seniors in isolated places, including these woods, to die during times of famine. Its reputation grew following the Japanese fiction book about a couple that goes there to commit suicide.

Since the 1950s, Japanese businessmen have wandered in, and at least 500 of them haven’t wandered out, at an increasing rate of between 10 and 30 per year. Recently these numbers have increased even more, with a record 78 suicides in 2002. In 2003, that record was beat with a number of 105 bodies discovered.

Due to the vastness of the forest, desperate visitors are unlikely to encounter anyone once inside the so-called “Sea of Trees”, so the police has worked on maintaining the place for foreigners and locals, they have found evidence in their cameras as the police members all use a body camera to caught whatever strange or dangerous encounter, this to maintain the security and safety of the people and to have recording if someone needs help for future evidence, they also have mounted signs reading “Your life is a precious gift from your parents,”(Rough translation) and “Your life matters!” (Japanese:あなたの人生は大切) on trees throughout.

This doesn’t deter determined people from committing suicide in this dense forest. Annually about 70 corpses are found by volunteers who clean the woods, but many are forever lost in the very thick woods. Japanese authorities discontinued publishing exact suicide numbers in order to avoid making the place even more popular.

Locals say they can easily spot the three types of visitors to the forest: trekkers interested in scenic vistas of Mount Fuji, the curious hoping for a glimpse of the macabre, and those souls who don’t plan on leaving.

This research isn’t About encouraging people to go there to commit suicide.

Sorcres:
https://www.wanderlustingk.com/travel-blog/aokigahara-foest-japan
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/aokigahara-suicide-forest

Fact of the week: Onsen Towns in Japan
Credit to Research Team: Haziq
Prefecture: Kagoshima, Hokkaido, Ehime

Hello everyone for this week’s FTW I will be writing about onsen towns. So, first things first what is an onsen town?

Basically, an onsen town is a hot spring town. Onsen towns like those found at Ibusuki Onsen in Kagoshima, Noboribetsu Onsen in Hokkaido and Dogo Onsen in Ehime are just some to name a few. Japan is home to hundreds of onsens, you don’t have to travel to an onsen town like the ones mentioned previously there are always onsens to be found in, you just need to where to find it. However as for today I will be covering 3 most popular onsen towns, looking at the brief history of each onsen as well as the uniqueness of each one.

IBUSUKI ONSEN

First up on the list is Ibusuki Onsen, 
located at Kagoshima found in the southern main island of Kyushu. Ibusuki has many resorts that uses naturally heated sand for their baths. However, the most famous bathing location in Ibusuki is the Saraku Sand Bath Hall, as it has one of the best views overlooking Kagoshima bay and Mount Kaimondake in the background. Customers are provided yukatas to wear before getting buried by staff members after which they will cover the entire body except the head. It is recommended to stay normally around 10 – 20 minutes as the baths have many benefits reliving problems such as neuralgia, rheumatism, asthma, gastrointestinal and other benefits for women. After the sand bath you can wash off at the normal hot spring bath which are available as well. It is a recommended visit during your next trip to Japan as it is one of the more unique baths in all of Japan, using sand instead of hot water.

NOBORIBETSU ONSEN

The next onsen town that we would be 
looking at is located at the northern most island of Japan, Hokkaido. Here we can find the most famous onsen town, Noboribetsu, this is because the town’s hot spring water comes down from the nearby volcano, Jiogokudani or more famously known as Hell Valley. The reason Jiogokudani is known as Hell Valley is because of the constant steam that is erupting up from under the ground due to the volcanic activity which can make it seem that you are actually in hell. Jiogokudani produces 9 different types of spring water that flows through the Noboribetsu town, this can make it smell like the town smells of rotten eggs due to the high sulphur content in the air which will be immediately noticeable upon arrival. Furthermore, the different minerals found in the hot spring provides benefits that are able to rejuvenate the body and mind, it is believed to be able to cure diseases and injuries.

DOGO ONSEN

The last onsen on our list is Dogo Onsen 
located in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture. Built in 1894, Dogo onsen consist of three levels and two wings one of which used to house the Imperial Family as guest within the east wing whenever they visied, however none of the Imperial Family members has ever returned to the onsen 
and the last Imperial Family member to 
visit was during 1950. The east wing which was previously closed to the public is now open, however you’re not allowed to bathe there as it mainly opened as a museum. The reason as to why the building has 2 different coloured roof titles is because of several renovations that the onsen underwent, you can see where the newer parts of the onsen is through the different coloured tiles gradually changing colour. Dogo Onsen’s architecture was said to have inspired Miyazaki’s anime film, Spirited Away, as he loved the design of it he wanted to include in the film as way to show love for the design of it. Although most onsens in Japan do not allow people with tattoos inside, Dogo Onsen is an exception to that as the onsesn is tattoo friendly. The surrounding cafes and restaurants boasts and amazing view of the onsen if you are ever hungry, furthermore you can wear the onsen yukata around Dogo Onsen to while you do your shopping and dining.

References
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4677.html
https://www.japantravel-centre.com/japan_guide/popular-onsen-towns/
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6750.html
http://www.noboribetsu-spa.jp/?page_id=900&lang=en
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C5%8Dgo_Onsen
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5502.html

Chika Aidoru
Facts Of The Week
Prefecture: Tokyo
Credits to Research Team: Swee Hng

Hi everyone~! Its week 5 since school started how are you all doing? Today I will share about the Japanese idol culture but I will be focussing more on underground idols otherwise known as “Chika Aidoru”.

1. Introduction to idols
In Japanese pop culture “idol” (アイ ドル pronounced Aidoru, adapted from the English word idol) is a term typically used to refer to young manufactured stars/starlets marketed to be admired for their cuteness. Idols play a wide range of roles as media personalities such as pop singers, panellists of variety programs, bit-part actors, models for magazines and advertisements. The most popular category is obviously idol singers. Most idol singers work across genres of Japanese pop music, usually in the genre that is most popular at the moment. Their songs typically do not require great singing skills as their popular appeal comes largely from the attractiveness of their public image. (Translation: Idols can’t sing 😉) The biggest idol concert festival is the Tokyo Idol Festival (TIF) which is held annually since 2010. In 2017, over 200 idol groups, about 1500 idols, performed and attracted more than 80,000 spectators.

2. Different tiers of idols
Do you know that there are a few tiers of idols? They are classified by their popularity in general.

1. Starting from the top, these idols have risen to become a group widely known around the nation with their sheer exposure to publicity and marketing strategies. They are known as kokumin-teki aidoru (national idols). Even non-idol fans are likely to recognize them. They dominate the idol scene and make their existence known beyond their own boundaries. Example of such idols: AKB48
2. Next, we have major idol groups who do not have as massive a fame as the national idols but are still highly popular and well-known even outside the industry. They attract enough attention to stand out as distinguished members of the idol industry. Example of such idols: SKE48, NMB48
3. On the lowest end, we have what is known as chika aidoru (underground idols). These group of idols are relatively less popular compared to the mainstream idols. They focus more on live performances and close interaction rather than a mass branding. Underground idols are smaller scale groups which perform in live houses where they can reach out to their fans by getting up close and personal with them. Example of such idols: BiSH, You’ll Melt More

3. More on chika aidoru

One must sign at a production office to become an underground idol which is where they will take lessons, do recordings, plan events etc. Chika aidoru rely on social media (mainly twitter) to update fans about their latest events, CD releases and how they are getting along with life generally. They do this with text updates and picture uploads on a daily basis. Their events consist of mini gigs: some as part of larger events in collaboration with other underground idols while others as solo events at smaller venues. Their events are usually held at small venues such as rental space venue Azito in Shinjuku and live music facility untilted in Ueno. These places can hold about 100 fans. The popularity of chika aidoru spreads through word of mouth by fans or when people check their social media. Unlike the other categories of idols, there is no mainstream media option to spread information of the chika aidoru. Chika aidoru earn money through 2 ways. One is event revenue and the other is the sales of goods such as CD releases, wristbands, cheki photos (Polaroids) etc. Even with the above streams of income, you may be surprised to find out that underground idols don’t earn much. Most of their income is used to pay for their lessons monthly. Its estimated to be roughly 20,000 – 40,000 yen (250-500 SGD). They also have to buy/make costumes for their events and performances.

4. Difference between mainstream idols and underground idols

1. The biggest difference would be their popularity. Mainstream idols can garner the attention of people from other countries that are not even in the idol scene whereas only a small group of people will know about certain underground idol groups. This is mainly due to how their popularity spreads.
2. Another difference would be their focus. Mainstream idols focus on a broader and more general audience. Underground idols focus on a smaller group of audience and more personal interaction with their fans. It is up to one to decide which is more favourable.
3. Their revenue is like night and day. Mainstream idols as much as 8 digits annually in yen whereas underground idols earn even less than a high schooler’s pocket money. This is why many underground idols have to take up other part time jobs to make up for it. Common examples include: bars, maid cafes and clubs. The human interaction helps the chika aidoru to promote themselves.  

5. Conclusion

There are rare cases in which underground idols made a major debut and became professionals. Take Momoiro Clover as an example. They were once underground idols that became major idols. (They changed their group name to Momoiro Clover Z after that) Another example would be Ono Erena. She was once an underground idol but is now in the nationally known idol group, AKB48. However, these cases are very rare. So what drives chika aidoru to do what they are doing? The answer to this would be their passion for singing and dancing and a small glimmer of hope that they can make it big. With that being said, we love all idols underground or not ❣

Thank you for reading my FTW, I had a lot of fun researching this. I hope you have learnt something about underground idols and idols in general. Have a blessed week ahead 😊

All pictures belong to their respective owners

Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_idol
https://tokyogirlsupdate.com/idol-hierarchy-201710134515.html
http://www.gurashii.com/japanese-underground-idols-introducing-chika-aidoru-culture/