Sunset over Lake Hakone.

Lake Hakone, located in the heart of a huge volcanic crater to southwest of Tokyo near Mt. Fuji, is one of Japan’s most treasured geographic jewels. With its natural hot springs, historic landmarks, annual festivals and fine hotels, Hakone is a popular vacation spot that draws visitors from all over the world.

Today, Hinamatsuri dolls are usually dressed in imperial style and represent members of the court and the imperial family. On Girls’ Day, in households with daughters, they are displayed on a red silk dais, while the daughters, dressed in formal kimono receive gifts from their families and go to the Shinto shrine to pray for health and longevity. Offerings of sake and sweet rice cakes are placed on the dais, where the dolls are displayed for approximately a month. The traditional meal for Hinamatsuri is chirashizushi, a bowl of white rice topped with sashimi.

Three 21-year-old women in kimono, all dressed up to celebrate Coming of Age Day.

Each year, on the 15th of January, Japan celebrates Seijin no Hi, Coming of Age Day. On this occasion, dressed in their most elaborate finery, especially dazzling formal kimono for young women and designer suits for young men, those who turned 20 years old during the previous year attend ceremonies at community civic centers to hear dignitaries offer their wisdom on the privileges and responsibilities of adult life.

Afterwards, the party continues into the evening at pubs and restaurants where they celebrate this rite of passage. At age 20, Japanese youths are allowed to vote, and also may legally drink alcohol.

Singapore’s Esplanade.

Known to most Singaporeans as “The Durian”, the Esplanade is an arts center located on six hectares of prime waterfront land by Marina Bay near the mouth of the Singapore River. Designed jointly by London-based Michael Wilford & Partners (MWP) and by DP Architects (DPA) of Singapore, the Esplanade opened in 2002.

Hagoita is a paddle used in Hanetsuki.

Hanetsuki is a kind of Japanese badminton game played with shuttlecocks called hane and decorative paddles called hagoita. During the Edo period, artisans created elaborate designs on the backs of the paddles with quilted silk, featuring Ukiyoe caricatures of popular Kabuki actors, and many merchants set up hagoita shops outside Sensoji Temple.

Since hagoita were especially popular among women collectors, it has since become a custom to give a hagoita as a gift to celebrate the birth of a girl. The game of hanetsuki is also a traditional celebration of spring.

Dragon Boat races are held throughout China and South East Asia, and has also become popular in other places in the world. In Hong Kong, Tuen Ng festival is a public holiday, with races held at many different places throughout the day.

Read more about it in Kathie Scrimgeour’s Dragons Across the Water.

The Khoo Kongsi was built around 1900, after a mysterious fire razed it to the ground in 1902; it took another four years to complete. During World War II, the Japanese destroyed the Khoo Kongsi completely, bringing heartache to its clansmen. A massive restoration project immediately after the war and in 1999 has turned the Khoo Kongsi into a striking mansion, right in the middle of Penang.

Here is a simple fried rice recipe to try: Yong Chow Chinese Fried Rice.

Ingredients:
Two bowls of rice
2 fresh eggs
2 cloves of garlic
2 cloves of shallot
200 grams chicken minced meat
200 grams frozen mixed vegetables
1 tablespoon cooking oil.

Ingredients B:
1 teaspoon powdered chicken stock
2 tablespoon soy sauce
salt and pepper to taste.

Method:
Heat cooking oil in frying pan. Fry shallots and garlic until fragrant. Add chicken and mixed vegetables. Keep stirring the ingredients until the chicken and vegetables are cooked. Push the ingredients to the side of the frying pan and put the rice in the middle. Stir well, and then add the eggs. When the eggs are cooked, add ingredients B and mix everything well.

Optional: If desired, add a sprig of spring onion and parsley leaves as garnishing.