The 22nd of February is known as "cat day" in Japan. That's because 22/2 can be read as ni ni ni (the Japanese word for 2) and that's supposed to resemble nyan nyan nyan and that's supposed to be the sound of a (Japanese) mewing cat. Hence, cat day.
It's also a good day to introduce you to Japan's three feline superstars: White Basket Cat, better known as Shiro; Hatchan and Maru. Here's my favourite, the amazing Zen-calm Shiro and friends:
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| This photo was taken at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto. Click to see a bigger version. |
It's also a good day to introduce you to Japan's three feline superstars: White Basket Cat, better known as Shiro; Hatchan and Maru. Here's my favourite, the amazing Zen-calm Shiro and friends:
Cuteness overload! :)
ReplyDeleteAll cats are awesome. One exception: Hello Kitty. ;)
DeleteMaru and Hatchan look fun ... but I ADMIRE the cool and collected Shiro! :)
ReplyDeleteImperturbable and admirable indeed! :D
DeleteI didn't know cat's day. As you know, cat is very popular in Japan. Many people treat them as their family. :)
ReplyDeleteI think every day should be cat's day! :)
DeleteI went to Fushimi Inari Taisha last September. It was mind boggling. I wonder how long it took to build?
ReplyDeleteI've been to Fushimi several times, but I've never written about it, because I find it very hard to describe the impact it has on me.
DeleteHow long it took? It was founded in 711, it was burned down completely in the Ōnin War in 1468, today they're still adding new torii ... perhaps we should simply say it's timeless?
It would have been the perfect day to visit the Cat Time Cafe in Osaka. I bet they were packed :)
ReplyDeleteJapan Australia
You're right! I forgot about the cat cafes! I wonder if they had a special Cat Day Lunch Set with milk and tuna cookies. ^^
DeleteI knew November First was Dog Day. But I did not know Cat Day.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about Dog Day. Why is it Dog Da ...
DeleteOh, I've just figured it out! One one one, ワンワンワン! That's cute! ^^ Thanks for telling me!
Lol, it would be fun to try to make up arbitrary days for everyday of the year, i.e. 2/24 ==> Two two four. Double Double Day! 2/25 ==> ni ni go. ==> Go to Ni. Okay, that's a stretch.
DeleteMe being me, I've just checked whether there isn't maybe a town called Ni in Japan. No, but there's a company called National Instruments, NI, in Minato. So tomorrow we go there? ^^
DeleteThis is a fun game!
PS: I've just noticed you write dates the American way. I do it the British way: 24/2, 25/2. My company uses the American way, which means I'm perpetually confused.
I never thought of that regarding my own 222.
ReplyDeleteAs I love cats, this is very nice to know.
That's an interesting name for the author of an interesting blog! PS: Can't travel with a cat, though, bit tricky.
DeleteI knew about Maru and Shiro, but not Hatchan, thanks for telling! Famous cats, oh my.
ReplyDeleteI also like (non-Japanese) Loki and Sparta:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xuov4GEg9c4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qit3ALTelOo The Mean Kitty song ^^
Thanks for making me start my Sunday morning with a big grin! "The Mean Kitty Song" is great! :D
DeleteWe have a day for everything! The word play with numbers is so much fun. But I could never remember the Goro-awase for certain events that happened in Japanese history, which is how we learn to remember it at school. I though it was hilarious when they changed the phrase "(1192)いいくに作ろう、鎌倉幕府" to "(1185)いいはこ作ろう、鎌倉幕府" after I'd graduated, not only does the goro-awase not make any sense anymore...how did we not know when Kamakura shogunate was established?
ReplyDeleteIs cat day in Japanese 猫の日
ReplyDeleteHello, Claudette! No, it's referred to as にゃんにゃんにゃんの日, nyan-nyan-nyan-no-hi.
DeleteI'm back to add that you should never listen to me. :D It's actually referred to as both にゃんにゃんにゃんの日 and 猫の日, whichever you prefer.
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