2023 - Year of the Rabbit

According to the 12 year cycle of zodiacal animals, 2023 is the year of the rabbit. Cute rabbits have been popping up everywhere. 

Rabbits also appear in some Japanese proverbs, such as the ones below.

脱兎のごとし — Datto no gotoshi. “Like a fleeing rabbit” is a way of describing something extremely quick. It derives originally from advice from the ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu that one should first appear to be delicate like a girl to encourage carelessness, and then act as swiftly as a speeding rabbit before the enemy is ready to respond.

うさぎに祭文 — Usagi ni saimon. In this phrase, saimon are proclamations to the gods, and “to recite saimon to a rabbit,” which cannot understand such matters, means to talk to no purpose.

うさぎの糞 — Usagi no fun. This scatological proverb is based on a “rabbit’s excrement” being expelled in short droppings, thereby referring to an action that is interrupted rather than continuous.

2021 - The Year of the Ox

 

The twelve zodiac animals originally came from China, but are now a part of Japanese and maybe other Asian cultures.  This is the year of the ox, or sometimes people say the cow. People born in the year of the ox are said to be diligent, dependable, strong, and determined and to have an honest and conservative nature.  They are also said to be strongly patriotic and have ideals and ambitions for life. If you were born in the year of the ox, do you think this describes you?

The ox years are 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, and 2021. Famous people born in an ox year include Vincent Van Gogh, Walt Disney, Margaret Thatcher, and Barack Obama.