Kyary pamyu pamyu: ponponpon

Popular culture, often referred to as pop culture, has been widespread in Western culture since the early to mid 20th century. Pop culture can be defined as the ideas, perceptions, and even media within a certain culture.

Pop culture emerged globally in the late 20th and early 21st century and it is everywhere. It has become especially widespread in Japan. The movement of pop culture has continued to rise since the 1980s and 90s, becoming one of the most sought after sources of entertainment alongside the United States. Japanese Pop Culture consists of film, television, pop music, and manga that is enjoyed worldwide. In Japan, pop culture is seen as an escape from the stress of life and work. More than 90% of Japanese men and women admit to spending at least 2 hours a day watching television. The manga industry is the largest comic industry in the world. Manga is loved and read by people of all ages and dozens of publications are released regularly. Japanese anime and arcade games have been the influences of companies including Nintendo and Sony.  JPop is another huge force in Japan.


Kyary pamyu pamyu started singing to cheer people up after the earthquake and tsunami. She comes from the very fashionable harajuku district. The song is called ponponpon.

Fujimini Island celebrates PRC National Day

When you think of the month of October, we think of autumn leaves falling and Halloween. But October is a very important month in China and for Chinese people around the world. 


The People's Republic of China's National Day was first celebrated in Tian'anmen Square on October 1, 1949. 300,000 people watched eagerly as the first People's Republic of China five-star flag was waved. 

In the past this day was celebrated with large political gatherings and speeches, parades, and banquets. This holiday is still very much alive and rejoiced today. As the economy has developed, a new way of celebrating has as well. 


Today, celebration of the national holiday lasts up to seven days. During this week, called a Golden Week, the people of China get time off from school and work. Many Chinese use this time for domestic and international travel. As this is such a popular week for travel, international flights fill up quickly and must be booked far in advanced. Fares almost triple during this time! 

Fujimini Island learns the Korean history of Kite Flying

In Korea, flying kites is one of the most popular folk games experienced during two of their major holidays - Chu'sok and Lunar New Year. The traditional Korean kite is made from bamboo and rice paper. In Korean history, kite flying is traced back to 637 AD during the reign of  Queen Chindok of Shilla. General Kim used the kite flying in the night skies to calm a restless and unhappy population.

Fujimini Island is a Moms Choice Award-winning picture book series teaching Asian culture and values.

Summer Fun: Go Fly a Kite

Have you ever built or flown a kite with your friends and family before? My kids and I love kites and the feeling of joy we have when we are running behind them watching them dip and fly in the sky. We went out and flew some kites over the holiday and felt inspired to research and understand kite flying. Do you ever wonder where this essential piece of your childhood came from? Kites were first created approximately 2800 years ago in China. 

The earliest known kites were flat and often rectangular. They were mostly made from bamboo and silk. Often times 

they were decorated with legendary figures and fitted with whistles to make musical sounds while flying.

Learn more about family-friendly Asian culture at Fujimini Island

Asian Holidays: Tet Doan Ngo

Asia is a place filled with celebration and deeply rooted tradition, especially during these warm summer months. July is a time of great festivities including the Food Festival in Singapore, the Arts Festival in Bali, the Kite Festival in Bali, and the Tet Doan Ngo Festival in Vietnam. Tet Doan Ngo is the middle year festival in Vietnam. It is held annually on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. This festival celebrates the prevention of disease and warding off unwanted evil spirits. On this day, also known as the day for "killing insects", everyone must get up early and eat fermented sticky rice and fruits. The worshipping is held at noon, the hour of Ngo. The fermented sticky rice, also known as Ruou nep, is what is eaten to exterminate any bugs or parasites within the body. To make Ruou nep sticky rice is boiled and cooled then left to ferment for 2-3 days. This turns it into a thick, sweet liquid ready for consumption by children and adults alike. 

Tet Doan Ngo is one of the most significant festivals of Vietnam and is greatly linked with Vietnamese 

tradition and culture. 

The World Celebrates in July

When tourism took off in 1965 in Bali, the Balinese decided they wanted tourism to exist solely through culture. The saying "tourism should be for Bali instead of Bali for tourism" stemmed from that very idea. The desire for cultural tourism brought about many holidays in festivals including The Bali Arts Festival and The Bali International Kite Festival. 

Like Independence Day in the United States, both these festivals take place in July. The Bali Arts Festival is a full month of daily performances, handicraft exhibitions, and other culture-heavy activities. This month is filled with spectacular sights and sounds of Balinese dance, music, and decorations. Throughout the villages of Bali music and dance groups compete in contests at the district level. From there the seka, or cultural groups, are selected and organized at the regency level to perform the Arts Festival, displaying the uniqueness of their villages and ancestors to a large audience. Many of the performances are held at the amphitheater which can hold up to 6,000 spectators, in a temple-like stage. Many schools for dance and music have been built since the creation of the Bali Arts Festival. 

Like the Bali Arts Festival, the Bali International Kite Festival stems from Balinese culture and the desire for cultural tourism. The Bali International Kite Festival is an annual kite festival held in July in the Padang Galak area, Sanur Beach, Bali. The event is a religious festival intended to send the Hindu Gods a message to create abundant harvests. The competition consists of 10 teams, each team competing for the best launch and longest flight time. There are 3 traditional kites, the Bebean, or fish-shaped kite, the Janggan, or bird-shaped kite, and the Pecukan, or leaf-shaped kite. Kites traditionally 5 meters in width and 10 meters in length are made and flown by teams from the villages of Denpasar. Red, white, and black are the traditional colors of this festival. Tourists flock from around the world to watch and participate in this fun filled festival! 

See spectacular pictures of the Bali International Kite Festival 

How The World Celebrates Children

I used to ask my mother on Mother's Day, "why isn't there a day to celebrate the children as well as the parents"?  Her response would always be "everyday is children's day" punctuated with a wink.  After all those years with "no REAL children's day", I discovered many countries around the world celebrate a children's day. 

For example, in Japan and Korea, May 5th is nationally known as Children's day. It is the day when families celebrate the happiness and growth of their children. Although it has been celebrated for hundreds of years, Children's Day became an official national holiday in 1948. On this day it is tradition for families with boys to hang large carpe-shaped streamers outside their home to symbolize strength and success. 

Other celebrations including bathing with iris leaves and root sprinkles and eating kashiwamochi, rice cakes wrapped in oak leaves and filled with bean paste. These activities are to ward off evil and encourage good health. Activities involving arts and theater are widely celebrated on this day. 

Kids Olympics is nationally celebrated and is participated in by both children and their parents. Even though not everywhere has a nationally acknowledged Children's day, hug your children today and tell you love them. Others celebrate Cinque de mayo; just think of how many people were celebrating last week! Were you?