The Chinese New Year celebrations have seen increasing local participations in Japan, as the global influence of the most important traditional Chinese holiday expands.
The Chinese New Year's Day, or the Spring Festival, falls on Wednesday this year, ushering in a Year of the Snake. It was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in December last year.
Japan's largest Chinatown in central Yokohama might be the place with the strongest Spring Festival festive vibe in the country.
Home to more than 600 Chinese shops, including restaurants and supermarkets, the 160-year-old street has been decorated with red lanterns, couplets, and posters bearing the Chinese character of Fu (Good Fortune).
In addition, more than 50 lantern displays have been set up in the Chinatown and surrounding areas, 60 percent more than in the previous year. "The lanterns are so beautiful. I have also tasted many Chinese cuisine and sensed the charm of Chinese culture. I have been to China on business before. If I have the chance, I would like to travel to China during the Spring Festival in the future," said a local resident.
"Thanks to the Spring Festival activities, tourists would stay here longer. According to our statistics, the average per capita spending of tourists reached 3,000 to 3,500 Japanese yen (20 to 23 U.S. dollars) last year," said Andon Chiyuki, person in charge of the promotion of Spring Festival activities in Yokohama.
On the Chinese New Year's Eve, which fell on Tuesday this year, a Chinese school in Yokohama held a dumpling making activity and an art performance as part of their festival celebrations.
The dumpling making activity, which began at 9:00 in the morning, was attended by more than 600 students. They made over 9,000 Chinese dumplings in one hour.
"After returning home for family reunion, I will watch the Spring Festival Gala with my family members while eating Chinese dumplings," said a student.
The art performance featured folk music, Peking Opera and lion dances, all performed by students.
The lion dance team in the school has a history of more than 80 years. Some members of the team started learning lion dance in kindergarten. "What attracts me the most about lion dance is the ending pose. I will stick to it and hope to join a professional team in the future," said Sekiguchi Taraku, a member of the lion dance team.
The Spring Festival is the Chinese people's grandest traditional festival when people across the country return to their hometowns for Chinese New Year celebrations and family reunion.
The festival is now recognized in many parts of the world. Currently, nearly 20 countries around the world have designated the Spring Festival as a public holiday, with about one-fifth of the global population celebrating the Chinese New Year in various forms.
Japanese join local Chinese New Year celebrations
Japanese join local Chinese New Year celebrations
