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Author: RoYuMi
Wooden buildings become fashionable in the trend towards decarbonization
Turning heads in a commercial district in downtown Yokohama, the Port Plus building is constructed solely of neat wooden columns and beams instead of the standard steel and concrete. The 44-meter, 11-story Port Plus, located near the Kanagawa Prefectural Government Office, is the tallest fire-retardant architecture made entirely of wood in Japan. It was completed in… Read more
Work presumably by Hokusai found in near mint condition
Art curators and collectors are excited about the discovery of a previously unknown painting believed to be by the renowned ukiyo-e print artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849). The portrait has apparently been in the United States for a while. The discovery of a portrait of a woman under a cherry tree also seems perfectly timely, as… Read more
Rice with egg, Chinese chives and tomato recipe
The Japanese rolled egg omelet, known as tamagoyaki, is a classic dish that kids love. However, Hiromitsu Nozaki didn’t like him too much. The type served at home was hard in texture and sweet with sugar. Although eggs were so valuable back then that people brought them as gifts for the sick, he did not like the… Read more
Bamboo in Japanese culture
Bamboo is a very strong plant, which, due to its solid root structure, has been a symbol of prosperity in Japan since ancient times. For years, it was said to run to the bamboo forests in the event of an earthquake, because the strong root structure of the bamboo would hold the earth together. Simple and unadorned,… Read more
Tama 1947: Nissan’s first electric car
Electric vehicles are not a new idea. In postwar Japan, where oil was scarce but hydropower was relatively abundant, the government promoted research and development in this area. Nissan engineers rose to the challenge with the Tama electric vehicle. Launched in 1947, the Tama was Nissan’s first electric car. Mainly used by taxi companies, it… Read more
Custom of running in Japan
One serious runner told me that his interest really picked up after Naoko Takahashi won the Olympic marathon gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Games. But many trace current fashion back to the launch of the Tokyo Marathon in 2007. I was lucky enough to be a part of that event and to be one of… Read more
What was the sword chase in Japan?
In 1588, Toyotomi Hideyoshi , the second of the three unifiers of Japan, issued a decree. Thereafter, farmers were prohibited from carrying swords or other weapons. The swords would be reserved for the class only of samurai warriors . What was the “sword hunt” or katanagari what followed? Why did Hideyoshi take this drastic step? In 1588, the kampaku of Japan , Toyotomi Hideyoshi, issued the… Read more
Ninja Sword or Shinobi Gatana How unique are they?
Also known as Ninjato (忍者刀). The length of a normal Japanese sword is about 70 cm, but a Ninja sword is about 40 cm, which makes it very compact. Also, Ninja swords do not have the curvature of the blade, which is unique to Japanese swords. The short, flat shape of the ninja sword was created to… Read more
Why is the firefly (Hotaru) important in Japan?
In some cultures, the firefly may not have a positive reputation. But in Japan , where they are called “hotaru”, they are loved, a metaphor for passionate love in poetry since Man’you-shu (the 8th century anthology). Its eerie lights are also believed to be the altered form of the souls of soldiers who have died in war. It… Read more
Japanese city mixes up plan to recognize foreigners as citizens
A Japanese city is considering not including foreigners in its definition of citizens, officials said Wednesday, after receiving public comments opposing a possible revision of the ordinance to that end. The city of Kumamoto in southwestern Japan, which currently only defines its citizens as residents and people who study there, had planned to add the… Read more