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Category: Culture
7 Symbols of Japan and their Meaning
There are many symbols in Japan that are an important part of the thought and culture of its society and that are very important to learn and understand when you want to live in it. Today we present you 7 very representative and important symbols in Japan! The futatsudomoe (二つ巴) is a symbol that uses… Read more
The Pheasant – National Bird of Japan
You have probably thought that the national bird of Japan is the tsuru or the crested ibis , however the answer is the pheasant which is called Kijiキジin Japanese. This graceful bird is endemic to Japan (with the exception of Hokkaido) and features in many Japanese folk poems and stories. In Japan, many people claim… Read more
13 Experimental Shorts by Tezuka Osamu, Japan’s “Walt Disney”
Tezuka Osamu (1928-1989) is known as “the god of manga” in Japan. He created classics of Japanese animation for children and adults, in virtually every genre, from horror to romance to action. The amount of works Osamu accomplished in his lifetime is mind-boggling, with some estimates as high as 150,000 pages of manga. (You can… Read more
Nanbu Tekki – Metal Teapots from Japan
Nanbu Tekki, are iron teapots dating from the early 17th century, when the feudal lord of the Nanbu area, who ruled in the present city of Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, invited several chagama, or iron craftsmen, from Kyoto. After this, various craftsmen specializing in the production and forging of teapots were invited to Nanbu from all… Read more
Kendo – The Way of the Sword
Kendō (剣道, lit. ‘way of the sword’) is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu . Originally, it was mainly practiced by samurai. Today it is considered a discipline in which the mind and body face each other in a sporting challenge. The Japanese sword may have emerged around the Heian Era (794-1185) used… Read more
Tofu – Japan’s Super Food
Tofu is an ingredient or dish, very characteristic of Japanese cuisine, which to a certain extent encompasses its characteristics, it is unique, with a mild, nutritious flavor and easy combination with other ingredients. The number of dishes that can be prepared with tofu is limitless! The tofu is made based on a coagulation process of… Read more
What is Kabuki / JAPAN in Short
Kabuki (歌舞伎) is believed to have originated in the early Edo period, where Izumo no Okuni , a shrine maiden, developed a new style of dramatic dance and formed an all-female dance troupe in the Kyoto area. The dancers played both the female and male roles, representing comical situations from everyday life. The style became… Read more
Learn about traditional Japanese masks and their uses
Traditional Japanese masks (お面) are mostly decorative and can be found most easily at festivals and shrine events. Other masks are worn during certain Shinto dances or by Noh theater actors who wear them when performing a role on stage. Most of these masks are archetypes taken from myths, ancient dances and some that have… Read more
Izumo Taisha – The place where Shinto deities gather
Izumo Taisha Shrine (出雲大社) is located in the city of Izumo in Shimane Prefecture , an hour west of Matsue by train and is one of the most important shrines in Japan. There are no records of exactly when Izumo Taisha Shrine was built, although it is often considered the oldest shrine in Japan as… Read more
Tanabata 七夕 – Star Festival
Every year in Japan, the famous ” Tanabata ” (たなばたó七夕) is celebrated, a holiday that takes place on July 7 (the seventh day of the seventh month, in the lunar calendar, which is about a month before the Gregorian calendar) Some localities celebrate it on August 7, it is the case of the most famous… Read more