JANUARY 2000 QUESTIONS
- (James, U.S.A.)
What is Kodomo-no-Hi?
Kodomo-no-Hi is the Japanese name for Children's Day, which is a national
holiday celebrated on May 5. We have a page
on the topic in our Annual
Calendar section.
- (Joyce)
Are some people excluded from sumo wrestling?
Currently only men can become professional sumo
wrestlers. Every wrestler belongs to one of the more than 50 sumo
stables, and to be eligible for entry into a stable, candidates must
be at least 173 centimeters (about 5 feet 8 inches) tall, weigh at
least 75 kilograms (165 pounds), and be under 23 years old (or between
20 and 25 years, if one has performed fairly well in college- or adult-level
amateur tournaments).
- (Joy, U.S.A.)
What is the year 2000 in the Chinese zodiac? I have found it listed
as the year of the dragon and of the ox. Which is correct?
2000 is the year of the dragon. The 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac
are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster,
dog, and boar, in that order. So the most recent year of the ox was
1997.
- (Rob)
What is shoji used for?
A shoji is a sliding screen used for doors and windows in traditional
Japanese houses and rooms (many Western-style houses in Japan
have one or more Japanese-style rooms in them). It is covered with
thin, usually white paper glued onto a wooden lattice, allowing light
to pass through it.
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