JAPANESE CULTURE

JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY

 The steps to the ceremony are quite simple:  clean the serving
bowls, boil a pot of water, serve a sweet treat to guests before the
tea, mix powdered bitter green tea (Matcha) and water to make a
frothy tea, serve the tea to guests. [ The flavors of the sweets and
bitter tea compliment each other.   This is a sign of harmony. ]
 Bow when you receive the cup of tea which is called a chawan.
 Take the chawan with your right hand and place it in the palm of your left
hand.
 Turn the chawan clockwise three times before you take a drink.
 When the tea is gone, make a loud slurp to tell the host that the tea was truly
enjoyed.
 Wipe the part of the chawan your lips touched with your right hand.
 Turn the chawan counterclockwise and return to the host.
IKEBANA
 Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is more than simply putting
flowers in a container. It is a disciplined art form in which the arrangement is a living
thing where nature and humanity are brought together. It is steeped in the philosophy
of developing a closeness with nature.
 As is true of all other arts, ikebana is creative expression within certain rules of
construction. Its materials are living branches, leaves, grasses, and blossoms. Its heart
is the beauty resulting from color combinations, natural shapes, graceful lines, and the
meaning latent in the total form of the arrangement. ikebana is, therefore, much more
than mere floral decoration.
 The growing appreciation of Japanese art and architecture in the West has extended to
the Japanese way with flowers. Ikebana is an art, in the same sense that painting and
sculpture are arts. It has a recorded history; it is backed up by articulate theories; and
it is concerned with creativity. In Japan, flower arrangements are used as decorations
on a level with paintings and other art objects.
UKIYO-E
 The brilliant and intimately appealing art of the Ukiyo-e woodblock print is
undoubtedly the most universally known of all Japanese arts. This particular style of
art flourished in Japan from the mid-seventeenth to the mid-nineteenth century.
 Japanese woodblock prints are often referred to as Ukiyo-e. The word Ukiyo-e was
originally Buddhist and meant "sad world". By the seventeenth century, however, the
meaning evolved to mean, "floating world." The world referred to be one of transient
pleasures and freedom from the cares and concerns of the world. The prints and
paintings that the merchants commissioned and bought, almost always depicted
aspects of a carefree existence, and were therefore called Ukiyo-e: 'pictures of the
floating world'.
 To understand the prints, and gain respect for the art, we must understand something
of the Ukiyo-e, or at least those aspects of it which the print-makers were especially
fond of depicting: the theatre, life in the pleasure quarters, and travel. In essence,
Ukiyo-e reveals much of the rich history of Japan.
HANAMI
 Hanami (flower viewing) is the Japanese traditional custom of
enjoying the beauty of flowers ,"flower" in this case almost always
meaning cherry blossoms (sakura). From late March to early May,
sakura bloom all over Japan.
 In modern-day Japan, hanami mostly consists of having an outdoor
party (Hanami Party) beneath the sakura during daytime or at night.
Hanami at night is called yozakura (night sakura).
BONSAI
 The Japanese refined and developed Bonsai techniques and evolved
the art form it is today. For the Japanese, bonsai represents a fusion
of strong ancient beliefs with the Eastern philosophies of the
harmony between man, the soul and nature.
 Bonsai are highly regarded as a symbol of Japanese culture and
ideals. Contrary to popular belief, bonsai are not tortured trees. A
bonsai may have areas of dead wood to give an impression of age.
There are several techniques available to the bonsai grower to
increase the apparent age.
 No longer exclusively an oriental art form, today bonsai is practiced
by thousands of people around the world, on every continent. The
art of bonsai is the art of imitating the spirit of nature. A bonsai
industry of considerable size exists in certain sections of Japan.
KIMONO
 A Japanese Kimono forms an important part of Japanese culture, Kimono's
are made for men and woman and are traditional garments within Japan.
 There are many different types of kimono styles, these vary depending on the
occasion, the different styles range from formal to very casual, Kimono's also
come in many different types of fabric, including silk, cotton and polyester.
 Kimonos are also worn in various sports including, Kendo and Sumo wrestling,
men's kimonos are a lot simpler than women's kimono's in designs and sleeve
lengths.
 Formal Kimono's are generally made from high quality silk, these tend to be
higher price than their cotton or polyester counterparts, silk kimono's are used a
lot in traditional weddings and can even change in style during the different
seasons.
 In today's modern Japan women are taught how to wear a kimono by attending
special kimono school that show the proper way to dress in a kimono,
traditionally this knowledge was passed down from mother to daughter, however
in modern Japan, kimonos are usually worn for special occasions only.
GEISHA
 Geisha are traditional Japanese artist-entertainers. The word Geiko is also
used to describe such persons. Geisha were very common in the 18th and
19th centuries, and are still in existence today, although their numbers are
dwindling. The first geisha were all male; as women began to take the role
they were known as onna geisha or maiko (woman artist). Geisha today
are exclusively female, aside from the Taikomochi (male geinsha).
Taikomochi are exceedingly rare. Geisha were traditionally trained from
young childhood. Geisha houses often bought young girls from poor
families, and took responsibility for raising and training them. During
their childhood, apprentice geisha worked first as maids, then as assistants
to the house's senior geisha as part of their training and to contribute to the
costs of their upkeep and education.
SHICHI-GO-SAN
 Shichi-go-san is a festival celebrated by parents on the fifteenth of
November in Japan, to mark the growth of their children as they
turn three, five and seven years of age.
 Shichi-go-san literally means “seven, five and three”. These ages are
considered critical in a child’s life. Particularly, at the age of seven,
a young girl celebrates wearing her first obi, while at the age of five
a young boy celebrates wearing his first hakama pants in public. The
age of three marks the first time whereby both boys and girls are
allowed to let their hair grow.
JAPANESE WEDDING

 Japanese weddings, although very expensive are very elegant and serene.
If you are choosing a Japanese theme for your wedding, think about ways
to achieve the authentic look at a fraction of the price.
 For a Japanese wedding theme begin with the bride’s attire. Traditionally,
a bride in Japan wears a white silk kimono, which can cost up to twenty
five thousand dollars to purchase. With a good seamstress, a kimono can
be made from white silk. A groom wears a haori on the top and a hakama
on the bottom, all in black. The bride will usually change into different
kimonos up to five times during the wedding day. Although not required,
some Japanese brides wear wigs as part of the tradition of the kimono
wedding dress. The wig is heavily decorated in artificial flowers, gold
combs and pearls. The wedding party will also dress in kimono’s, usually
in a color chosen by the bride.
KENDO
 Kendo originated from Kenjitsu, the actual form of sword fighting
used by the samurai until the Meiji period. Over the years, wooden
swords replaced real swords to reduce injury during training. By the
later half of the 18th century, the samurai class started to disappear
and the study of the sword became more of a mental discipline
rather than a practical fighting form. It was around this time that
modern kendo took form: the use of protective armour and a
bamboo sword (the shinai) were introduced to further reduce injury
to the participants and standard regulations for matches and practice
were established.
AIKIDO
 The name aikido is formed by the combination of three characters
in the Japanese language. Ai, which means joining; ki, which means
spirit and do, which means way. These three words actually
summarize the essence of aikido as a form of martial art-- the
joining of the spirit to find the way. It was only in the period from
1930s to the 40s that the name aikido was officially accepted as the
name of the martial arts form.
 Aikido uses techniques that do not damage or kill unlike other
forms of martial arts. The movements and skills being taught are
just meant to divert attention or immobilize people. This is perhaps
the reason why most people prefer aikido, because of it's focus on
peace and harmony as opposed to aggression and conflict. In fact,
aikido developer Morihei Ueshiba believes that to control
aggression without causing any injury is the art of peace.
JUDO
 Judo is a martial art that makes use of throws, strangles and joint locks.
There is no kicking or punching in Judo. Judo was originally developed
from Jujutsu and was accepted as an Olympic sport in 1966.
 The lethal techniques and strikes of Jujutsu have been removed from the
syllabus, and Judo’s founder Kano designed a syllabus that was meant to
aid in the physical fitness of the Japanese people as well as their
character development. As such, Judo was always designed more to be a
sport than a self-defense system.
 The black belt system, that pertains until today in many martial arts
(also see: Goju Ryu Karate Belt System) is said to have first developed
in Judo. Whereas in the West, great value is placed on the coveted
achievement of a black belt, Japanese instructors see the black belt as a
stage of the student when the real study of the martial art begins. Judo
Uniforms are typically made of heavy material to withstand the pulling
and grabbing associated with this martial art.
SUMO WRESTLING
 Sumo wrestling is the traditional national sport of Japan. Just as baseball and soccer
have become popular within Japan, the ancient traditions of Sumo wrestling are
gaining popularity outside of Japan. There are six Grand Sumo tournaments (basho)
held during the year, in each odd numbered month. Three are held in the capital of
Tokyo, and one each are held in the cities of Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka. There are
only seventy salaried professional sumo wrestlers in the two top divisions of Sumo,
with hundreds of men striving to break into these ranks.
 To enjoy the combat sport of Sumo Wrestling, there are only a few things to know.
Two men meet in a ring that is 4.55 meters across. They wear thick silk belts around
their waists. The object is to force your opponent out of this ring (dohyo) or to make
any part of his body (excepting the soles of the feet) touch the playing surface. There
is a referee and several judges watching the action to call the winner. These bouts are
very brief, averaging only a few seconds, although some exciting matchups can go on
for two or three minutes. The combatants cannot pull hair, gouge eyes, or strike with a
closed fist. Pushing, tripping, slapping and various body throws are commonly seen
in Sumo.
JAPANESE CUISINE
 Tempura, sukiyaki, sashimi, sushi – even the words used to describe the most basic of
Japanese dishes and Japanese cuisine are exotic and beautiful. Japanese cuisine is
easily one of the healthiest in the world, with its concentration on fresh fish, seafood,
rice and vegetables. The pungent sauces and delicate flavors of fresh foods
complement each other beautifully, and the methods of presentation turn even simple
meals into beautiful events.
 The Japanese have easily a dozen different names for rice, depending on how it is
prepared and what it is served with. The most common meal is a rice bowl, a bowl of
white rice served with various toppings or ingredients mixed in. So popular is it that
the Rice Bowl has even made its way into the world of Western convenience foods
alongside ramen noodles. Domburi is a bowl of rice topped with another food:
domburi tendon, for instance, is rice topped with tempura and domburi gyudon is rice
topped with beef. The Japanese adopted fried rice from the Chinese, and a century
ago, when curry was first introduced, developed Kare Raisu, curry rice. It is now such
a popular dish that there are many fast-food restaurants that serve several versions of
it in take-away bowls.
KOTO
 The koto is one of the most popular Japanese traditional musical
instruments. To many, the character of koto music is evocative of traditional
Japan with the attributes of the western harp, dulcimer and lute.
 Many Japanese legends refer to the origins of the koto. A popular one says
that the koto was formed in the shape of crouching dragon, a charmed and
mythical creature of ancient Japan and China.
 The koto was brought to Japan around the end of the 7th century by Chinese
and Korean musicians who came to play in the Japanese court orchestra,
gagaku. By the 15th century, solo repertoires for koto, sookyoku began to
emerge. In the early Edo period (around the 17th century), sookyoku was a
popular source of entertainment for the wealthy merchant classes.
BON-ODORI
 Bon-odori is a Japanese traditional summer dance festival. The
dance is very simple, you can learn within a few minutes practice!
It’s absolutely fun! ”Yukata is a Japanese informal summer kimono.
 During summer evenings everywhere in Japan, the local community
enjoys Bon-Odori (dance) in the near-by park or playground. This
tradition was originated when the farmers thanked the Rice Paddock
God for the good summer crop. The Dance movement is simple and
repetitive. Of course you can learn these dances at any age!
KABUKI
 Kabuki is a form of traditional Japanese theater. Kabuki theater is known
for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by its
performers.
 The kabuki stage features a projection called a hanamichi (literally, flowery
path), a walkway which extends into the audience and via which dramatic
entrances and exits are made. Kabuki stages and theaters have steadily
become more technologically sophisticated, and innovations including
revolving stages and trap doors, introduced during the 18th century, added
greatly to the staging of kabuki plays.
 In kabuki, as in some other Japanese performing arts, scenery changes are
sometimes made mid-scene, while the actors remain on stage and the
curtain stays open. Stage hands rush onto the stage adding and removing
props, backdrops and other scenery; these stage hands, always dressed
entirely in black, are traditionally considered "invisible."
MANEKI NEKO, JAPANESE LUCKY CAT
 Luck is loved by everyone, especially anyone who runs a business. This is even more
important to Japanese merchants because they are extremely superstitious. They often
place behind or in front of their stores some kinds of lucky charm, in the hope that
their business will run smoothly. The most popular kind of lucky charm in Japanese
stores is a figurine which has the shape of a cat waving its paw. That's the "Maneki
Neko".
 Maneki Neko is loved by everyone for its round face and lovely big eyes. That may
be the reason why it is chosen as a symbol of luck. It looks like a cat waving his paw
to greet the customers but actually, that's the gesture of a cat washing its face. The cat
often washes its face whenever it feels the rain is coming.
 Most people believe that it has different meanings when Maneki Neko waves its right
paw or left paw. If it's waving with the right paw, that means there will be more luck
and wealth to the merchant and if it's waving with the left paw, more customers will
come in. The higher it waves the paw, the more customers, wealth and luck will come
to the merchant.
JAPANESE ANIME

o Anime is the Japanese word for Animation. In Japan, the animation

industry is much more towards the forefront than it is in the United
States, and shows covering virtually every genre can be found in the
form of television shows, Original Animation Videos (OAVs or
OVAs) and feature films. Much like any other entertainment
medium, Japanese anime can range from the very silly to the very
serious, and is not necessarily intended for children or any specific
age group.
JAPANESE MANGA
 Manga consist of comics and print cartoons and conforming to the
style developed in Japan in the late 19th century.
 First of all, though an outsider might think Japan "stole" comics
from the West, this is not true. Japan has been making cartoon art
for a very long time (there are humorous ink drawings of animals
and caricatured people from hundreds of years ago, bearing striking
resemblances to modern manga). True, some aspects of Japanese
manga are taken from the West (Osamu Tezuka, the "father" of
modern manga, was influenced by Disney and Max Fleisher), but its
main features, such as simple lines and stylized features, are
distinctly Japanese. It may be that Chinese art had more influence
than Western. 
OFURO
 Ofuro are a traditional Japanese hot bath. Ofuro include private
baths, and public baths like those Ofuro found at Onsen.
 Taking a bath has always been an integral part of Japanese life.
 In the past, Japanese people enjoyed the daily ritual  with their
friends and neighbours in a public bath (the sento) or in a hot spring
bath (the onsen). It was not until the middle of this century that the
provision of a water supply made it possible for most people to have
a private ofuro, although the onsen and the sento remain popular for
many Japanese people.