Japanese Culture

 JAPANESE CULTURE 

Japanese culture is a perfect amalgamation of a tradition dating back thousands of years with modern society, influenced by western culture. During the Edo era, Japanese culture and custom cultivated itself into a completely distinct culture in solitude. But after the fall of this era in 1868, Japan reversed strict isolation policy and adopted the cultural practice from all over the world i.e., western and other cultures, and mixed them with what was established during the Edo era.

You know what, Japanese culture puts heavy emphasis on participation, diligence, and performance in people's professional lives. 

Now, you think, you know about the basics of Japanese culture and custom. The balance between tradition, diversity with modernity is mesmerizing. Right? But this culture is much more than Sushi, Ninja, Comic, Robotics, or trade.  

Begin your journey of endless discovery into the culture of Japan with some interesting explanations. Here, you will know about Japanese religion, sports, food, drink, Geisha, manga & anime, Samurai, cherry blossom, and origami.

Religion

Shintoism and Buddhism are two main religions of Japan. Even though the state is separated from religion, a recent poll suggests that Shinto and Buddhism are practiced by 84% of the total population. Shintoism originated in japan while Buddhism is imported from China in the 6th Century. These two religions co-exist together, without contradiction.

Don't you think it's amazing how two cultures based on somehow different concepts exist together? Shintoism and Buddhism make a perfect concept as Shinto is based on the principle that every living thing in nature (e.g., trees, flowers, sound, rocks) contain Kami, or god while Buddhism is concerned with the soul and the afterlife.

Sports 

Sumo, judo, aikido, kendo and karate are traditional Japanese sports whereas baseball, soccer and rugby have been recently adopted from other cultures.

Sumo is a de facto national sport that is deeply rooted in Japanese culture with a history of over 1,500 years and originated from the Shinto religion. In this sport, two powerful individual attempts to pull, push and slap each other out of the ring, or onto any part of their body other than the soles of their supersize feet. Other sports like judo, aikido, kendo, baseball is also fascinating and interesting.

Food

Japan is a whole lot more than just Sushi. People are passionate and enthusiastic about food. Careful preparation and meticulous presentation are a crucial element of Japanese Cuisine. Japan is known for its local foods like sweets, fish, noodles, tofu, or seaweeds. 

You must know about sushi, how can one forget the mesmerizing smell from a bowl containing fresh fish, seaweed, and lightly-seasoned rice.

Aside from sushi, popular dishes include donburi (simmered fish, meat or vegetables served over rice), onigiri (small parcels of rice wrapped in dried seaweed), Kayu (a rice porridge), mochi (pounded rice cakes), and chazuke (cooked rice with green tea often served with salmon or cod roe). You will encounter varieties of the flavor of food while exploring Japanese culture and customs.

Drink 

You must be knowing about rituals that should be considered before taking a sip. That is never pouring a drink for yourself; your friend or host should do this for you and you, in turn, should keep your companions' glasses filled to the brim!

If you are tea connoisseurs, Japan should be your next travel destination. Japanese culture and custom give a special place to cha (tea) and countless varieties are ranging from classic green teas through to the more unusual mugicha (barley tea), sobacha (buckwheat tea), genmaicha (brown rice tea), umecha (powdered plum tea) and many more.

It is well worth watching a ceremony named "sado"(Japanese green tea ceremony). The strict etiquette, graceful movement, elegance in which the tea is prepared, poured, and consumed is an amazing sight to witness. Including all Japanese art, sado requires years of practice and perfection to master.

Festivals (Matsuri)

In Japan, there are more than 300,000 traditional "matsuri", and they are different from area to area. During spring and summer, celebrations for the gods of land and sea takes place. Generally, these festivals are sponsored by a local temple or shrine and are organized by the local people. Matsuri could be an event held in the local area in which dance competition or an art competition is common.

There are several matsuri celebrate in different parts of japan like Gion Matsuri; Awa Odori; Kanda Matsuri; Yuki Matsuri, snow festival; Nebuta Matsuri; kishiwada danjiri matsuri; Tenjin matsuri; Kochi yosakoi matsuri; Tanabata matsuri; Hakata dontaku matsuri and many more.

Art and Craft

Japanese artists evolved unique techniques, art, and craft that can't be exactly copied by anyone. You will be able to understand the basic of Japanese culture by understanding Shodo, Ukiyo-e, Manga, origami, and many other things:

Shodo – the Japanese art of calligraphy, mainly evolved at the temple and influenced by Japanese Buddhism.

Ukiyo-e – Genre of Japanese art, printed using a woodblock printing method, influenced by European artists.

Manga – A Japanese comic book, a vibrant and popular form of art and writing.

Origami – Japanese art of folding paper to create decorative art.

Japanese Fans – Also considered as cultural items as used widely in ritual, dance, and festival.

Conclusion 

Be Be careful, if you decide to delve deeper into this vast cultural, art and craft, cuisine, and food habits and etiquettes and greetings, and once you are in, it will be very difficult to find your way out of the Japanese culture. But, you are most welcomed towards renowned nation!!!