こんにちは。

ジェニのピカピカ日本語へようこそ。

In Japan, the first dream you have in the New Year is called 初夢 "Hatsu-mu" and is said to predict the year ahead.

There are certain things that are said to bring good luck when dreamed in the first dream, the most famous of which are

富士山 Fuji, 鷹 a hawk, and 茄子 an eggplant.

Why is it good luck to dream of such things?

Fuji and hawks seem to be good luck somehow, but why eggplants, you may wonder.

There are many theories.

Fuji appears in our dreams, we will have a prosperous year. Some people believe that Fuji is a symbol of "safety" and "immortality.

The next two hawks are said to represent freedom of action as they soar high in the sky, and hawks are connected to "high" to suggest a year of high aspirations and high potential. The image of a hawk grasping its prey with its sharp talons also has the meaning of "seizing an opportunity.

Finally, the three eggplants. Eggplants are said to be a specialty of 駿河 Suruga, the territory of I徳川家康 Ieyasu Tokugawa, the founder of the Edo period, and were an expensive vegetable in those days. It is said to be a valuable and fruitful year.

Listen to the episode for details.

またね。

#Japanese #Nihongo #JapaneseStudy