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Author: RoYuMi
Deities or Kami of Shinto that you will find in Japan
The kami 神 are the spirits or divinities recognized in Shinto 神道, the religion that originated in Japan. There are eight million kami , a number that, in traditional Japanese culture, can be considered synonymous with infinity. In Japan, you will find these deities at shrines, monuments, and in popular culture everywhere. Here we present… Read more
A Universe of Flavors in a Gyokuro Bottle
You can find many varieties of green tea, such as sencha, matcha and hojicha. Its rich flavors and beautiful colors of gyokuro tea (high-grade green tea) continue to attract many enthusiasts. The umami of gyokuro is obtained by growing the plant in the shade when it is still very young. One of the most famous… Read more
Tōrō – Lanterns In The Temples And Shrines Of Japan
In Japan, Tōrō 灯籠 is a traditional lantern made of stone, wood, or metal. Like many other elements of traditional Japanese architecture, it originated in China, where it can still be found in Buddhist temples and Chinese gardens. They are not as common in Korea as they are in China or Japan and were originally… Read more
Japanese scientists plan to launch a satellite made of wood in 2023
Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry Co. have come together in a plan to send the world’s first wooden satellite into space in 2023, according to scientists at the university. The move is intended to not only launch new technology for commercial satellites, but also help protect the environment high above the Earth’s surface. The researchers… Read more
Giant Straw Creatures – Wara Art Annual Festival
If you visit Niigata Prefecture during the region’s annual rice harvest, you’re likely to find huge tarantulas, eagles, and dinosaur-like creatures stalking the landscape. The towering sculptures are part of the Wara Art Festival , a summer event that displays huge animals and mythical creations all made from straw left over from the rice harvest.… Read more
Soy Sauce, A Magical Elixir
Sixty-seven wooden barrels, linked by ropes made of bamboo, so high that they reach the ceiling. Kazuhiro Shibanuma cares for them with extreme care, as required of the leader (17th generation) of Shibanuma Soy Sauce, who have produced this species for more than 330 years in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki Prefecture. He tells us that these barrels… Read more
Higanbana – The Autumn Equinox Flower in Japan
After a long, hot summer, the arrival of the higanbana in mid-September heralds the beginning of autumn. The tall stems and spectacular bright red flowers seem to appear out of nowhere and appear around paddy fields mostly. The flowering season is short and lasts only 2-3 weeks, but if you happen to be in Japan… Read more
Japan’s centenarian count reaches record 86,500 and women make up 88% of them
The number of people aged 100 and over in Japan is estimated to have reached a record 86,510 and the number of men reaching the milestone topped 10,000 for the first time, data from the Health Ministry showed. The number of centenarians as of September 15 represents an increase of 6,060 from a year earlier,… Read more
Tsukimi – Contemplate the Autumn Full Moon
Tsukimi 月見 (also known as Otsukimi お月見 with honorific) literally means “moon watching” and is a Japanese festival in honor of the autumn moon. This celebration usually takes place towards the end of September or the beginning of October according to the modern solar calendar. Formerly it was celebrated on the 15th day of the… Read more
Google Doodle honors Tsujimura Michiyo, chemist and green tea researcher
Google Doodle pays tribute to Tsujimura Michiyo辻村みちよ, a Japanese chemist best known for her extensive research on green tea . He celebrates his 133rd birthday and in the Google Doodle we see her in her laboratory hard at work analyzing and extracting the chemical components of green tea. The letters in the word ” Google… Read more