Happy New Year! It's now 2022 (Reiwa 4).
I hope you are having a wonderful new year and enjoying your days to the fullest.
Starting this month, we will be publishing a monthly edition titled "Tsukiichi."
The first issue is "This Month's News - January."
We will introduce some stories related to January and some great recommended items.
The zodiac sign for 2022 is the tiger!
I'm sure there are many people who are "year of the tiger" this year, but do you know what the year of the tiger actually means?
"Tora" means "movement."
It represents the state of "movement" when spring arrives and flowers begin to sprout.
This not only represents the actual arrival of spring, but also symbolizes the end of the harsh winter season in life and daily life, and the start of movement towards the hopeful spring.
2022 is also known as the Year of the Five Yellow Tiger, which occurs once every 36 years, or once every three zodiac cycles. People born in this year are generally considered to have good luck, and many families are hoping to have children in the Year of the Tiger.
Also, when you hear the word tiger, many people probably immediately think of "tiger print."
When it comes to tiger print fashion, it's "oni"!
Do you know why demons wear tiger-striped pants?
It has a deep connection to the ancient belief of the "demon gate."
In Japan, directions have been represented by the twelve zodiac signs.
The northeast direction, which is considered the "demon gate," corresponds to "ushitora" in the Chinese zodiac.
The image of the fictional demon is based on the horns of the "Ushi" (cow) on its head, and the pattern of the pants is based on the image of the "Tora" (tiger). In other words, the combination of cow and tiger creates the image of an "Oni."
I'm surprised to learn that "tiger pants" has such a meaning.
Here are some tiger-themed items you'll want to get this year.
First dream of the year: "One Fuji, two hawks, three eggplants"
Have you had your first dream of the year yet?
Every year, on the morning of the 2nd, I'd be disappointed and say, "I don't remember," but it turns out it's not just limited to that day.
In recent years, it is often said to be "a dream seen on the night of New Year's Day (January 1st) to January 2nd, or on the night of January 2nd to January 3rd," but originally it was said to be "a dream seen on the night of the New Year (during January)," and it is said that this dream is used to predict one's fortune for the year.
Judging from the dreams you have had this month as a whole, it seems that even if you haven't had a good dream yet, there is still a chance.
It is said to be auspicious to have the phrase "One Fuji, two hawks, three eggplants" in your first dream of the year.
You've probably heard the term before, but what does it mean?
We can see that "First, Fuji" and "Second, Hawk" are lucky charms. So where did the third, "Eggplant," come from?
There are various theories, but the most popular one is that the phrase comes from the auspicious words Fuji ("safe"), hawk ("high"), and eggplant ("to achieve").
Ideally, all three would appear in your dreams, but it would be nice if even just one appeared.
I've heard that if you sleep with a picture or illustration of the dream you want to see under your pillow, you're more likely to have a dream! It might be worth giving it a try.
Here are some items with the auspicious motifs of Mt. Fuji, a hawk, and eggplant.
Are pine, bamboo, and plum lucky?
You probably often hear the phrase "Shochikubai" (pine, bamboo, and plum) at New Year's and other celebrations.
It's a typical item that is considered to be lucky.
Even a single pine tree brings to mind the "kadomatsu" (New Year's decorations), an indispensable feature of New Year's celebrations.
Why are these three plants considered lucky charms?
This is because pine trees are "long-lived" and "remain green even in winter without withering."
Bamboo is "hard to break and grows quickly."
Furthermore, its straight shape also represents the strength of unbending convictions.
The plum blossom, which "blooms even in the snowy cold," is a symbol of vitality.
It is said that the pine, bamboo, and plum were chosen because they have vitality even in the cold season. It is also said that the phrase "pine, bamboo, and plum" was born from the fact that pictures combining the three were popular themes in Chinese literati paintings known as the "Three Friends of Winter."
The "Shochikubai" featured in this article is no exception, but there was something that I was a little curious about, so I looked into it.
That is, Japanese people like to use the number "3" for everything, right?
For example, there are many words that use the number "3," such as "third time's a charm," "top three," "top three," "best three," and "big three."
Even numbers are said to be reminiscent of "breaking" or "separation" and are associated with negative images, so are not preferred at celebratory occasions, but odd numbers are said to be auspicious.
Furthermore, the number "3" can be pronounced as "full" or "full," making it popular among Japanese people who value the origins and meanings of words.
Taking this into consideration, it can be said that pine, bamboo, and plum are truly symbols of good fortune.
Enjoy winter with warm items.
It's January now, and the weather is getting colder day by day.
Until recently, I didn't like the cold and would think things like, "I wish spring would come soon" and "I don't need winter," but over the past few years, I've gradually begun to notice the good things about winter.
It's a season when the cold weather makes people hesitate to go outside, and reduced outings can make you feel depressed, but when I heard a friend say, "Winter is my favorite season," I began to discover the charms of winter one by one.
Of course, at first I just couldn't accept it and thought, "I wonder if this person does winter sports?", but it turned out that was not the case and he said, "I like cold places!"
Being a summer person, I was surprised and asked for more details...
They told me how cold it was, how their breath turned white, how refreshing the clear early morning air was, and how the sky was high and the stars were beautiful.
At first, I didn't really get it, but after hearing that from my friend, I started to pay attention to the wonderful things about winter. Now, I can't say I love it, but I can say that there are good things about winter too.
I still don't like the cold, so it's essential to dress warmly, but since this is a season with many events, I hope to enjoy it as much as possible.
How about some warm and cozy items to help you enjoy this winter to the fullest?
Introducing recommended items from The Ichi.
Add some winter fashion with hairpins.
How about adding a hairpin to your winter fashion?
In cold weather, I tend to avoid accessories because they feel cold when they come into direct contact with the skin...
Also, when you wear a scarf or snood in winter, it inevitably limits the fashion options around your face, right?
In such cases, I would recommend wearing a hairpin.
Unlike necklaces and bracelets, there aren't many surfaces that come into contact with the hair, so you don't have to worry about it getting cold, and it's great that you can easily create a stylish updo with just one piece.
There's another reason why we recommend it: at this time of year, people tend to wear voluminous fashion using knits and fur, so a "tied up" hairstyle that exposes the neck looks neat and lovely!
For example, if you use a hairpin, you can upgrade your usual bun hairstyle by simply twisting it around, even if you only use a hair tie.
It instantly makes you look more stylish and is perfect for going out or on a date!
Also, if you choose something with sparkly parts, it will be perfect for this time of year when the illuminations are shining brightly.
We would like to introduce some hairpins that are recommended for winter.
Finally
Did you enjoy the first episode of "Tsukiichi"?
We have introduced items related to the New Year as well as items that we recommend especially for winter.
We still have many more products that we couldn't mention here.
Please come and visit The Ichi shopping site.
We look forward to seeing you.