[For Seniors] February Trivia: Useful Knowledge

The health benefits of smiling! Stress improvement

[Doctor's Explanation] The Health Benefits of Smiling! 10 Advantages That Reduce Stress and Make You and Those Around You Happier [Depression Prevention]

A “smile” is a health practice I highly recommend for older adults.

It’s said that as we age, we tend to laugh less.

But that’s a real shame.

In fact, laughing has beneficial effects on both the body and mind, and simply keeping a smile on your face is said to have positive effects as well.

Many older adults are reportedly dealing with anxiety and stress, but a smile requires no preparation and can be adopted anytime.

Why not try consciously incorporating “laughter” into daily conversations or exercises, using some trivia about the benefits of laughing as a starting point? As the saying goes, “Good fortune comes to those who smile,” so please give it a try.

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Nakajima Junko

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The Fun History of Chocolate

It used to be taken as medicine!? The fascinating history of chocolate revealed through interviews

Chocolate is something you often see around Valentine’s Day.

Here, we’re sharing some fun facts about chocolate! Although chocolate is strongly associated with sweets, it was actually drunk in the past as a medicine for longevity.

In Central and South America, cacao was so valuable that it was used as currency and offered to the gods, so only people of high status could drink it.

The taste was said to be very bitter, so if you’re going to drink it, a sweet hot chocolate sounds nice.

Hot chocolate can even help with hay fever and relieve constipation!

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sasashina

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Why are soybeans used for Setsubun bean throwing?

[Seasonal Trivia] Why Are Soybeans Used for Setsubun Bean-Throwing? Is It True Some Regions Use Peanuts or Raw Beans? 7 Fun Facts About Setsubun Beans!!

Do you know why soybeans are used for bean-throwing on Setsubun? It’s actually because soybeans were seen as the largest and most vigorous among the five grains.

The five grains also include rice and wheat, but if you’re confronting evil spirits, using something larger rather than smaller does feel more reassuring.

In some regions, peanuts are used instead for reasons of hygiene and affordability.

Also, since it’s considered bad if any beans left uncollected sprout after the throwing, it’s common to use roasted beans; however, there are regions where raw beans are used based on the belief that sprouting is auspicious.

A handy bit of trivia to know for Setsubun, isn’t it?

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sasashina

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When eating an Ehomaki on Setsubun, what you must not do is talk.

When it comes to must-eat foods for Setsubun, ehomaki definitely tops the list.

It originally started as a culinary custom in the Kansai region, but is said to have spread nationwide after convenience store chains and supermarkets began selling it.

In fact, there’s something you shouldn’t do when eating ehomaki: talk.

Proper etiquette is to eat it silently while facing the year’s lucky direction for Setsubun.

On Setsubun, keep this custom in mind as you eat to invite good fortune.

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kojifumi

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It is considered best to perform Setsubun bean throwing at night.

Setsubun is a traditional Japanese event.

In households with children, there are many opportunities to do mamemaki (bean throwing).

Although it’s something we often do without much thought, do you know what time of day it’s considered best to perform mamemaki? The answer is “at night.” Since ancient times, it has been believed that oni (demons) come at midnight.

It was also recommended to do it at night when the whole family is gathered, to drive away worldly desires from the heart and welcome the new season in purity.

Today, however, holding it at midnight can cause noise issues and make cleaning difficult, so it is generally done in the early evening to nighttime.

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kojifumi

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Not only the first spring storm exists, but there are also the second and third.

Personally, I have the impression that strong gusts often blow in spring—how about you? The so-called “haru-ichiban” is something I vaguely think of as “a strong wind that blows in spring,” but borrowing the Japan Meteorological Agency’s wording, it’s defined as “a warm, somewhat strong southerly wind observed over a wide area between the beginning of spring (Risshun) and the spring equinox.” In fact, this haru-ichiban is sometimes followed by what people call haru-niban, haru-sanban, and so on.

However, these aren’t official JMA terms; they’re more at the level of expressions used on news programs.

I mean, if someone said “haru-gojuuban (spring number 50),” you’d be like… really?

What is a yokan-mimai (late-winter greeting)? How is it different from a kanchu-mimai (mid-winter greeting)?

[Late-Winter Greetings] What are late-winter greetings? How are they different from mid-winter greetings? Why send late-winter greetings? When should you send them? What should they include? How to draw pussy willow in a winter picture postcard & a thorough Q&A guide — A Peek at Wonderful Japanese Culture Series

February is a time when the cold eases and we begin to feel the arrival of spring.

Are you familiar with the custom of sending a yokan-mimai around this time? It’s a little different from a kanchu-mimai.

A yokan-mimai is a greeting sent when winter’s chill is nearing its end.

It’s given as the weather starts to feel springlike, to convey a warm concern for the health of family and friends.

While a kanchu-mimai is sent in the depths of midwinter, a yokan-mimai is sent when signs of spring are in the air.

It can be a nice opportunity, especially for older adults, to share their feelings with loved ones.