Gong Xi Fa Cai

by Rebekah Chan

Pronounced ‘gong shee fa chai,’ this phrase is used to wish people of Chinesedecent prosperity for the  Chinese New Year. As the Chinese calendar followsthe lunar calendar, this year the holiday falls on February 14. If you’re not afan of Valentine’s Day, why not celebrate New Year’s all over again and headdown to Japan’s largest Chinatown in central Yokohama. As Yokohama wasone of the first Japanese ports to be opened to foreign trade in 1859, manyChinese traders settled there. Despite the fact that the number of Chinesein residence has greatly decreased, a large number of Chinese restaurantsand stores can still be found in Yokohama’s Chinatown. These include the Kanteibyo, a temple dedicated to the Chinese god of prosperity and good business that was constructed in 1873 by Chinese residents. This February 14 will see lion dances, parades and fireworks lighting up the streets.