New Year’s in Japan. By Saneyuki Owada Well, we are almost at the end of 2014. These days in Japan, such as 31st of December and New Year’s day are some of the most important days for Japanese people. It is quite a contrast to Western countries, I have heard Christmas is the most important […]
Category: Culture
Introduce Japanese culture both traditional and modern. We are happy that if this blog crate an opportunity of your new interest.
A Very Merry Fried Chicken Christmas
By Atsuka Fukaya You may have found the title of this article quite puzzling, which is no surprise. In how many countries would you find a combination of the words Christmas and fried chicken? ‘Surely, you mean turkey?’ is something you might be thinking. Well, I am afraid that I don’t mean that, because I […]
Overview of 2014 Culture – The Best of Japan!
Over the past year we have introduced a lot of Japanese culture, but the truth is that there is still so much more to introduce, and even we are learning something new sometimes! We have really enjoyed working hard to show the best of Japan, and in 2015 we aim to continue doing this. So […]
A Visual Guide to Japan – The Port City of Kobe
Kobe is a beautiful city located between mountains and the sea in central Japan, it is not far from Osaka and it is the sixth largest city in the country. Earliest records of settlements in this area point to Kobe being continually populated since the 2nd century, although it has mainly served as a port […]
Samurai Armour – Famous Armour which is both beautiful and functional
By Mike Sullivan When one visits Japan, and in particular goes to a castle, it is possible to enjoy the experience of wearing samurai armour. You might wonder what is so special about Japanese armour, most countries in the world have had the traditional of manufacturing armour for war such as that worn by European […]
A Visual Guide to Japan – Nara Temples and Shrines
Text and photos by Aya Murase Nara is a beautiful part of Japan which many tourists try to visit, one of the biggest attractions though is the deer! In today’s world it is not so normal to interact with wild animals, especially when it is in a park that also has temples and shrines, which […]
Oh-Chochin Matsuri (Giant Lantern Festival) – Aichi Prefecture
By Mike Sullivan This is a Japanese festival near Nagoya which is meant to protect people from evil spirits and also to pray for calm seas as well as for fishermen to get a large catch of fish. It is known as one of the brightest and most beautiful festivals due to the use of […]
Shogi – A Traditional Japanese Game with a History Covering 1000 Years
By Mike Sullivan. Shogi is a Japanese version of a kind of chess, if you are an avid fan of Japanese anime, manga or even film then you have most likely seen it being played. Although, it might not have been very clear how exactly one plays it! However, for foreigners it does help create […]
Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
By Weini Liao The Japanese tea ceremony, also called chado (way of tea) or chanoyu (hot water for tea) is a practice involving preparing and drinking Japanese green tea. The History of the Japanese Tea Ceremony In the 12th century, a Japanese priest Eisai brought the sutra and green tea from China to Japan and […]
Sumo Japanese National Sports
By Ramata Cisse Amongst the many traditions that continues to flourish in Japan, sumo wrestling has to be one of the most grandiose. The sheer size of the participants is enough to impress. And believe me, my brief encounter with these giants at the airport on my way back from Japan had me stunned. Still, […]
Maneki-neko
By Ramata Cisse A long long time ago, there lived a monk and his cat in a temple, called Goutokuji (豪徳寺). The monk was very poor, but still looked after his cat with the greatest care and always shared his meals. One day, a samurai found himself taking shelter from a storm underneath a tree […]
Japan Matsuri London 2014
Text and photos by Mike Sullivan One of the biggest Japanese festivals in the UK took place on Saturday 27th September 2014 at Trafalgar Square in the centre of London. The festival is made up of Japanese food, music, dance, and more. It started at 11 am and continued until 9 pm, throughout the day […]
A Visual Guide to Japan – Tokyo Sky Tree
Text and photos by Mike Sullivan Tokyo Skytree (東京スカイツリー Tōkyō Sukaitsurī) is the tallest building in Japan and is a broadcasting, restaurant, and observation tower. It reached its full height of 634.0 metres (2,080 ft) in March 2011. The tower opened to the public on 22 May 2012. The tower is part of a commercial […]
A Visual Guide to Japan – Osaka Castle
Text and photos by Mike Sullivan Osaka castle is a popular tourist spot, and is located in one of the biggest cities of Japan, its history spans over four centuries. The original castle was built in 1597 at the order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, after his death the castle was inherited by his son Toyotomi Hideyori. […]