TOKYO, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) — Amid the sounds of firecrackers and drums, a blue-and-white lion danced to the rhythm of the beat, gracefully transferring its head to work together with the engaged viewers in Japan’s Yokohama Chinatown.
With a pointy clang of the gong, the lion abruptly leapt up and snatched a pink envelope hanging from an archway, drawing an enthusiastic applause from the gang.
The conventional “cai qing”, which refers back to the act in the course of the lion dance the place the lion picks or takes choices which can be hung in entrance of outlets or at celebratory venues, is among the most charming performances in the course of the Spring Festival celebrations in Yokohama.
“The lion dance is not just a performance, it is also a way to pray for peace and prosperity. Shop owners prepare red envelopes in advance, hoping for a visit from the lion, as it is believed to bring good fortune and a thriving business in the coming year,” a lion dance staff member advised reporters on Wednesday.
The celebrations have drawn guests from in and out of doors town. Kurihara Moe, who traveled from Tokyo with associates, mentioned, “It’s so lively here, it feels just like being in China!”
Yokohama Chinatown’s Spring Festival celebration has a historical past of practically 40 years. Initially that includes dance performances on a particular stage, it has since grown into some of the consultant Chinese New Year celebrations in Japan, due to the growth of the native Chinese neighborhood and the rising affect of Chinese tradition.
This yr marks the primary Spring Festival because it was formally inscribed on UNESCO’s checklist of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, additional amplifying the festive environment.
The celebrations will proceed till the Lantern Festival, that includes greater than 50 occasion websites, making it the most important version up to now. Highlights embody Peking opera, face-changing performances, parades, and fireworks shows.
Food can be a vital a part of the festivities in Yokohama Chinatown. The streets had been lined with eating places providing a wide range of Chinese delicacies, from Sichuan and Shandong to Huaiyang and Cantonese dishes. The aroma of steamed soup dumplings, crispy spring rolls, and grilled skewers fills the air, engaging guests to indulge.
One notably standard stall focuses on panda-shaped meat buns. A bunch of younger Japanese ladies eagerly took images of their freshly purchased buns earlier than taking a chunk. “Pandas are such a symbol of China, and combining them with meat buns is so creative. They look so cute that we almost don’t want to eat them!” they mentioned.
Traditional customs reminiscent of lighting incense, providing paper cash, and drawing fortune sticks have been delivered to Japan by the native Chinese neighborhood.
Volunteers defined Chinese Lunar New Year traditions to vacationers, with many Japanese and Western guests becoming a member of in to expertise the genuine “flavor of the New Year.”
“I never expected to feel such a strong sense of home while celebrating abroad,” mentioned a Chinese customer attending the pageant along with his household. “The crowd and the festivities all remind me of home.”
Among the attendees was Nanpo Doichi, a Japanese fanatic of Chinese tradition, wearing conventional Hanfu. He proudly shared his social media account, stuffed with posts about Yokohama Chinatown’s customs and traditions.
“I want to introduce the food and lifestyle here to more people, so they can better understand Chinese culture,” he mentioned.