In a breakthrough in the study of evolution of humans and their spread across the world, scientists from India and 10 other countries have found that it is the Indians who are the ancestors of Japanese, Chinese and all east Asians. According to the study, people from India moved to southeast Asia and east Asia. (New Kerara)
Check out more details here

September 23 is a Japanese national holiday called Shubunnohi (autumn equinox) It’s also the Buddhist higan period which people pray for the souls of their ancestors. During higan, we often make sweet rice balls. These rice balls are named ohagi which indicates an autumn flower, hagi (bush clover).

Do you know Japanese obon? In most regions of Japan, obon is celebrated from August 13th through 16th. Obon is a time for family gatherings, and we pray for our ancestors’ souls at home. There is an obon tradition to make tempura with summer vegetables and manju cakes in some regions. I prepare cold somen noodles and tempura for an obon meal every year.