Greetings from the Tokai region and Japan's Heartland. In this month's issue we will highlight events occurring in April in the Tokai region - Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Shizuoka Prefectures and Nagoya City. We hope that you will enjoy learning about fascinating historical and cultural aspects that are still part of everyday life in the “Heart of Japan”.

Spring has come to the Tokai Region! The air is fragrant with the lovely perfume of spring flowers in bloom, the days are longer, brighter, warmer and people walk with a slight spring to their step. Winter is rather short in most parts of the Tokai region and Japan but like most places in the world, spring is welcomed (and celebrated) with great fervor. This year, warm spring weather came about two weeks early…as such the cherry blossoms have come and gone! On April 1st, the first day of the new school and fiscal year, cherry blossoms were softly flittering in the breeze. As spring brings with it a wide variety of gorgeous flowers, there is no shortage of lovely floral blossoms to be enjoyed. Wisteria, azaleas and tulips also show their lovely faces in parks and gardens throughout the country. The fragrance they give off is light and heavenly. If you are in the area, be sure to take time out for a walk to a nearby park or historical site. I am sure you won't be disappointed.

Weather: Temperatures are unusually warm this year, already peaking at 26 C (76 F) in early April and dropping to lows of 7 C (44 F). Showers are also not unusual so if you are planning to visit, short sleeves, a light sweater/jacket and a folding umbrella are good items to have on hand.

Seasonal fresh foods: Biwa (loquats), peaches, grapes, strawberries, avocado, sweet potatoes, butterbur and bamboo shoots.

Handa City Spring Festival (Handa City, Aichi Prefecture) March 23 thru May 4 (every weekend and on national holidays)

An annual event, this spring festival celebrates the changing of seasons with weekly activities. Starting at the end of March through the beginning of May, the city of Handa comes alive with the sights and sounds of traditional Japanese festivals. Elaborately decorated floats, some with karakuri dolls, are pulled throughout the city and traditional music fills the air. Shi Shi (lion dog) dance performances are also held and even children get into the act and hoist mikoshi (portable shrines) through various areas of the city. With events being held every weekend, you can't miss out on the celebrations!

Basho’s “Okuhosoi-michi” (distant, narrow streets) (Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture) Late March to Early April

Encircled by three large rivers in the Tokai area, the Kiso, Nagara and Ibi rivers, the low wetlands of Ogaki city are blessed with many canals and waterways. In 1689, Basho Matsuo, a Haiku master during the Edo period, started his famous trip from Edo and finished in Ogaki five months later. Basho wrote essays about this trip and later published them as "Oku no hosomichi". A memorial hall commemorating Basho, the “Okuhosoi-michi musbu no Chi-Kinenkan”, is free to the public and exhibits a wide variety of items.

Yokkaichi Suizawa-cho Shin-cha Festival (Ashimita Shrine, Yokkaichi city, Mie Prefecture) April 29 (Holiday, Mon.)

The Suizawa-cho Shin-Cha (freshly harvested tea leaves made into tea) Festival will take place on April 29 at Ashimita Shrine outside of Yokkaichi city. A Shinto ritual in which 10 women dressed in old style ceremonial clothes dance as part of prayer offerings for an abundant and high quality tea harvest. The founding of Ashimita Shrine is said to have taken place in 476 A.D., making it a very ancient shrine. This yearly ritual has played an important role in the area and tea harvest for a long time, come participate in this unique event!

Wisteria (Fuji) Festival in Renge-ji-ike Park (Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture) April 27 to May 6

Named after the lovely flowering wisteria tree, (fuji in Japanese) Fujieda City, cannot help but celebrate its namesake. Every year many people flock to the centrally located park, Renge-ji-ike Koen, to enjoy wisteria. Throughout the year flowers of the season, the surrounding greenery and pond offer citizens a place to relax. During the wisteria festival various events are held on the park grounds. For flower enthusiasts this is heaven! Wisteria generally start to bloom in late April through early May, but as temperatures are warm this year the wisteria may bloom a little earlier.

Wisteria and Azaleas at Meijo Park near Nagoya Castle (Meijo Park, Nagoya City)

North of Nagoya Castle is an expansive park, Meijo Koen. In the spring the park is in full glory with cherry blossoms and then wisteria and azaleas. Purple, pink and white wisteria blossoms dangle down from trellises that wind throughout the grounds and up to the castle. It is truly a picturesque sight! On a warm spring day this is the perfect place to wander around and enjoy a leisurely afternoon.

This month's special feature: Mie Prefecture's Traditional Confectionaries

Currently, the Mie Prefectural Tourist Association is holding a campaign focusing on creating more tourist-friendly environments for people of all ages. From babies to senior citizens and families, Mie is making efforts to create enjoyable “barrier free” tourist attractions. As part of this campaign, this month our special feature is on Mie's varied confectionaries.

In its reverence for culture, tradition and history, Mie Prefecture also maintains many traditional Japanese sweets. Found throughout the prefecture, these well-loved confectionaries continue to tickle palates today. Why not try some of these scrumptious desserts when you visit Mie next.

Akafuku Mochi, Ise Area: a popular traditional sweet, soft mochi (pounded rice) is wrapped in a sweet bean paste. In April and May seasonal specialities go on sale, come early as they sell out quickly!

For more information on Mie Prefecture, please check out their site at: http://www.kankomie.or.jp/kanko/discover/index.html
Or our section on Mie at: http://www.j-heartland.com

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Newsletters are translated, composed and designed by Christine Sakamoto

(Clip art utilized for non-commercial purposes from: Komon-ya.net, Clip Arts of ancient Japan, Queen’s free world, Genei Sozai Koubou & Mashi-ushi-do. Copyright held by respective parties.)

Copyright (C) 2002 Tokai Association for Tourism Promotion (TATOP). All rights reserved.