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SynopsisThe wide variety of annual events in Japan can be attributed to the unique history that Japanese haveabsorbed Pan-Asian and western cultures for centuries and re-interpreted their own. This bookillustrates the colorful aspects and the origins of annual events.Many of the annual events in Japan have their origin in ancient philosophies or Buddhism via China,India and the other parts of Asia. Absorbing foreign traditions hungrily in the course of history, Japanesedeveloped unique court and popular cultures, religions, and way of life. Four chapters cover eachseason and give us numbers of customary, religious and indigenous events and things that ordinaryJapanese take part in.First Chapter, Spring is the time of family reunions. Shogatsu, meaning January, is a deity to whompeople pray for their families' well-being and good luck. The second chapter introduces how Japanesespent summer comfortably, "avoiding heat with a cool mind." Furin (wind-bells) let us know winds blew.Hanabi (fireworks) and other festivals walk us to the evening breeze. Autumn, the third chapter, is theharvest-time of the year and the markets are full of seasonal foods. The Forth chapter, Shiwasu is aJapanese name for December, implying people's busyness at this time of the year. New Year's Eve, likeThanksgiving, is devoted to remind us of our indebtedness to others and to express our appreciationand mutual wishes for well-being. Christmas Eve, Valentine's Day and Mother's day are equally popularevents for Japanese nowadays. In addition, This book covers the Japanese lifetime events@birth,school, starting a job, marriage@and we live these phases as lf we are advancing though a passage offour seasons.This is a beautifully illustrated, Introductory and comprehensive book for everybody who wants to learnabout the yearly scenes and history of Japanese annual events.
内容（「BOOK」データベースより）
四季折々、人生の節目、贈る心が暮らしを彩る。「季節の行事」「人生の行事」には先人の知恵が織り込まれている。心のひだが物に託されて行き交う―そんな情景を私たちは忘れたくない。
著者について
「現銀掛け値なし」—これは三越が1683年に掲げたスローガン。現在では当たり前になっている正札販売を世界で初めて実施し、富裕層だけのものだった呉服を、広く一般市民のものにした。創業以来、いつの時代も商品・サービスなどすべての面で「革新」を繰り返しながら、人々の豊かな生活を送るための手伝いをしてきた。1673年三井高利が江戸本町に呉服店「越後屋」を開業。1893年越後屋を「合名会社三井呉服店」に改組。1904年株式会社三越呉服店設立。「デパートメント宣言」を行い日本初の百貨店となる。1914年日本橋本店ルネッサンス式新館落成。ライオン像や日本初のエスカレーターを設置。1928年三越呉服店の商号を「三越」と改める。2003年三越、名古屋三越、千葉三越、鹿児島三越、福岡三越の5社新設合併で新「三越」が誕生。2004年百貨店100年を記念し日本橋本店新館オープン。
