JAPANESE News Letter February 2015 Dear Students and Families, Konnichiwa! (Hello!) Ogenki desuka? (How are you?) In this season moderate or heavy snow is recorded throughout several locations in Japan.There is “Setubun” comes on either February 3 or 4, depending on the year. On the night of “Setsubun”, many households do “mame-maki”. (a bean-throwing ceremony.) They fill a “masu” (a wooden measuring cup) with roasted soybeans and throw the beans all about the room, shouting "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" (鬼はそと、福はうち)meaning "Out with the goblins（鬼）and in with fortune（福）!" They also open the windows and throw the beans outside. “Mame-maki” began as a New Year ceremony (in the traditional Japanese calendar) to drive out bad spirits and the seeds of misfortune, as well as to pray for the family's well-being and good business. In February, the first two weeks, we will focus on the “Animals” theme. In second two weeks we will focus on the “Colors/shapes” theme. Sincerely, Mrs. Akane Animals ぶた（豚）たぬき（狸）きつね（狐）ねこ（猫）ぞう（象）へび（蛇）りす（栗鼠）うし（牛） Pronunciation bu-ta ta-nu-ki ki-tu-ne ne-ko zo-u he-bi ri-su u-shi English pig Japanese Raccoon fox cat elephant snake squirrel cow Animals (Continued) Pronunciation English うさぎ（兎）とら（虎）とり（鳥）いぬ（犬） u-sa-gi to-ra to-ri i-nu rabbit tiger bird dog Colors/Shapes Pronunciation あか（赤）あお（青）きいろ（黄色）みどり（緑）くろ（黒）しろ（白）ちゃいろ（茶色）はいいろ（灰色）まる（丸）さんかく（三角）しかく（四角）ちょうほうけい（長方形）ひしがた（菱形） a-ka a-o ki-i-ro mi-do-ri ku-ro shi-ro cha-i-ro ha-i-i-ro ma-ru sa-n-ka-ku shi-ka-ku cho-u-ho-u-ke-i hi-shi-ga-ta English red blue yellow green black white brown gray circle triangle square rectangle diamond shape Basic Japanese cursive syllabary (Japanese alphabet) -- Pronunciation あかさたなはまやらわいきしちにひみうくすつぬふむゆりるをえけせてねへめれおこそとのほもよろん a i u e o ka ki ku ke ko sa shi su se so ta ti tu te to na ni nu ne no ha hi hu he ho ma mi mu me mo ya yu yo ra ri ru re ro wa wo n