When you visit Japan, you can feel the season not only in the air but also in the seasonal decorations of the streets, trade districts, shops and other public places. Unlike my home country where decorations are mainly for the New Year, in Japan seasonal ornaments create a special mood of celebration throughout the year.
My first visit occurred during one September and I spotted decorative bunches of yellow, red and orange leaves on the trading street Nakamise Dori in Asakusa, flower compositions in shops and even wrapping paper with red momiji leaf prints.
During my visit to Sendai in late October the decorative theme was Halloween. Those orange pumpkin, black bat, white ghost and skull decorations were everywhere, a clear reminder of that American holiday tradition now in Japan and being so prevalent, I could feel the atmosphere of that holiday everywhere.
Most of my visits, however, have been in the spring when I can see wonderful sakura cherry blossom decorations. At the end of winter, as it slowly began to warm up, it was always nice to see sakura decorations in preparation for the season of blooming. In spring all purchases were wrapped with sakura printed papers and tied with tender green ribbons. Traditional Japanese sweets, wagashi, were made in the shapes of sakura blossoms or wrapped in sakura leaves.
Throughout April you will see large carps everywhere symbolising the male child holiday Kodomo-no-hi. They’re hung high and fluttering about as the wind blows. You will see carps decorating private houses, streets and many other places all over the country. In shops you will see samurai figurines and models of samurai armour. These are given to boys not as playthings but as keepsakes.
The entrance to that well known home of youth fashion, Takeshita Street in Harajuku, Tokyo, begins with a large street sign that changes according to the season as well as the fashions that are available. Creating the right mood for good commerce is important...
Myself, I enjoy seasonal decorations as it brings some ‘fresh air’ to everyday life.
