In the Land of the Rising Sun, nature has a great place in Japanese culture; Plants, trees and flowers are almost sacred, and each month of the year is an opportunity to celebrate the blooming of a flower and its significance. To the extent that a whole symbolism language of flowers has been developed over the last […]
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TOP 8 Most Popular Sports in Japan!
When people think about sports in Japan, most of them often think about Sumo, Karate, Aikido or any other type of martial art. But even though Japan has spent much of its history isolated from the rest of the world, however, the country quickly adopted a wide number of sports which were introduced when it opened itself to other […]
Unknown Japanese Alcohols, Spirits and Alcoholic Drinks That You Should Taste!
The Land of the Rising Sun is full of cultural and gastronomic treasures. Beyond the Japanese gastronomy and its well-known dishes such as sushi or ramen, Japan also owns delicious and sometimes unknown alcohols referred to as “sake”. Indeed, in Japan, most Japanese people use the term sake (酒, lit. Alcohol) as a generic term for any alcoholic beverages. […]
Types of Kimono for Men and Women
One thing is for sure, in Japan, the most symbolic garment you can find is definitely the Japanese Kimono in all its splendor. However, did you know that there are many different types of Kimono worn on different occasions and at different times in a Japanese person’s life? Why do you ask? Well, the reason […]
What is a Geisha?
A Geisha (芸者, lit. “Person of art”), also known as Geiko (芸子) or Geigi (芸妓) depending of the region, is a Japanese woman who practices and masters the traditional Japanese arts such as dances, fanning, singing, playing instruments, ikebana (floral composition) and the art of conversation. The profession of Geisha, practiced at first by men called […]
What is a Hannya?
During the Feodal Japan era, Japanese relied heavily on the universe of Yokai to explain multiple aspects of their daily lives. That is the main reason why these monsters, spirits and ghosts became so popular in various arts such as literature, theater or music. However none was as feared as the Hannya, the Japanese female monster. The Hannya (般若の面, […]
Why do Japanese People wear Face Masks in Public?
Since the influenza A pandemic in 2009, the world seems to have discovered the possible use of the sanitary masks 😷. In Japan, it is since 2011 that we have seen a huge increase of Japanese people wearing masks following a possible nuclear contamination related to the Fukushima power plant. Previously (especially in the 1990s) we heard that in Japan, mainly […]
Meaning and Types of Japanese Masks
As you should know, Japanese masks own a very important place in Japanese Culture. From theatrical to religious and even festive, each Japanese Mask has a well-defined meaning and its usefulness. However, these traditional accessories still remain a mystery for many readers and Land of the Rising Sun enthusiasts who wonder what do Japanese masks mean and symbolize. Here is a little […]
What is a Tanuki?
Factious and benevolent, it exist in Japan a mysterious Yōkai called Tanuki that is full of surprises. But under its appearance of a cute raccoon dog with a bottle of sake and big scrotum, what hides behind this Tanuki that everybody is talking about? A Tanuki (タヌキ, 狸) or Japanese Raccoon Dog is an animal native to Asia and a Yokai from Japanese Folklore. The complete name of […]
What is a Tengu?
In the mysterious and elusive world of Japanese Yōkai figures, few creatures are as well known, feared and revered as the Tengu. Tengu (天狗, “Heavenly dog” or “Sky Dog”) is a mythical creature from Japanese Folklore and a Yokai from the class of Obake and Bakemono. The Tengu are represented with different forms in Japanese mythology such as a […]