Japanese Culture

There are two main religions in Japan: Shintoism and Buddhism.

The Ninjas that often appear in Japanese period dramas were undercover fighters who were active from the Sengoku period to the Edo period.

Ameyoko is the name of a popular shopping street. It's about 400 meters long from JR Ueno Station to Okachimachi Station.

Copying Buddhist sutras is called shakyo and in Japan it typically refers to copying the Hannya Shingyo (The Great Heart of Wisdom Sutra).

For shops, kanban (signboards) are an important landmark. Other objects that serve the same purpose that Japanese people are familiar with are noren (shop curtains with emblems), nobori (flags), and chochin (lanterns).

Furoshiki are square cloths for storing, wrapping, and carrying items. They are also used to cover things that are important to protect from dust.

Gagaku is a traditional Japanese art form which combines singing and dancing elements from classical Japanese styles such as kagura (shinto music and dancing) with elements from the ancient Asian continent such as from China.

Origami is a traditional form of Japanese entertainment in which you make various shapes such as cranes, boats, and helmets by folding colored paper.

In contrast to the type of paper that originated in the West, there is also a type of paper made through a traditional Japanese manufacturing method called washi(Japanese paper).

Chopsticks are indispensable cutlery items when it comes to Japanese cuisine. They are used not only for eating, but also for cooking.

There is a range of yakatabune from small boats with a capacity of 10 people, to larger luxurious ships that can carry up to 100 people.

A yukata is a type of Japanese clothing that is worn in summer. It is a thin cotton kimono that is relatively easy to wear compared to a regular kimono.

Nohgaku is a Japanese traditional art that has been practiced since the Muromachi period — more than 600 years.

Shodo means the traditional Japanese art of calligraphy, in which kanji and kana letters are written using a brush and ink.

Japanese summer is not only hot but humid. For this reason, Japan has long had various tools and methods for cooling off in order to find comfort in the severe heat.

At one time in Japan, people ate nuts, fruit, and berries as snacks. It is said that this gave rise to what we now call confectionery.

Traditional Japanese houses are made of wood and their roofs are covered with tiles.

Tea leaves are made into green tea, black tea, oolong tea, and other types of tea by different processing methods. However, "tea" in Japan usually refers to green tea.

Rakugo is an art of humorous storytelling that has been around for 400 years, since the Edo period. It is performed in an entertainment hall known as a "yose".

Kimonos are Japan's traditional national dress.