Shimenawa is a sacred rope of rice straw. It separates a holy place from other unclean places and is considered a barrier against evil spirits.
Shimenawa is a sacred rope of rice straw. It separates a holy place from other unclean places and is considered a barrier against evil spirits.
Bento boxes with chopsticks Photo by kofookoo.de on Unsplash Bento is a tasty lunch box that every Japanese is familiar with. Everyone has his own favorite bento and memories with them. They use color and arrangement...
This Kamon represents the Japanese family name “Kato” Japan has a vast number of last names. Many of them originated around the 12th century and became official after the Meiji restoration in the 19th...
Maru-ni Agehacho The murder occurred in 1906. It is treated as one of the unsolved cases because the statute of limitations has passed. Renowned novelist Seicho Matsumoto wrote a story about it and added a...
Japanese warlords are known to have many family crests. They carry them for different occasions, and they often represent their bloodlines. However, many cases show that they are given by superiors or taken away from...
Shinto shrine gate in Nikko, Japan Shinto does not accept that human beings are born bad or impure; in fact, it states that humans are born pure and share in the divine soul. Badness, impurity, or sin come later in life...
Shinto rituals have survived in close connection with the lives of the Japanese people. They are strongly reflected in modern Japanese people’s lives and daily activities. Japanese people have passed down these...
Although Japan has more than 8,000 Shinto shrines, the original shrine buildings did not exist as we know them today. So, then, when and why were they built? And how did they develop? This article explains the origins...
Toro in the forest Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples have long been familiar to Japanese people as spiritual centers. They are places of faith and prayer and are frequently visited for festivals and annual events. The...
The Japanese honorific suffix is something you learn first and use every day when you learn Japanese. They can be confusing, but it’s easy to learn the basics. They reflect the Japanese culture, and knowing and...
Japanese surnames are known for their wide variety and origins. Many are derived from the names of places, geographic features, and occupations. Knowing their origin and history will make you more familiar with Japanese...
Image by rawpixel from Pixabay Japanese green tea has a wide variety, each with a unique flavor and taste. We’ve covered common types and the best time to drink them. We hope this will give you a hint of them and...
Photo by Christine Wehrmeier on Unsplash Sencha green tea is a type of green tea, as the name suggests, that isn’t fermented, and therefore, it keeps its fresh green color that is cultivated with a lot of sunlight...
Photo by The Creative Exchange on Unsplash Since you seek the best organic, we assume you know the difference between usual Japanese green tea powder and matcha powder. In case you don’t have a clear idea, let us...
Kamon: There’s a thousand-year tradition that the Japanese pass their family crests from generation to generation. The family crest is called “Kamon” in Japanese and can be seen everywhere in Japan...
We returned to Japan after two years of absence which is long enough for us to long for our families and friends. But we must admit what we’ve been missing the most, the food. We will share only the best...
Man in traditional Japanese shugendo outfit doing waterfall meditation in winter with ice and snow Shugendo can be translated into “The Way of Mastering the Force.” It is a religion that requires harsh and...
Tokonoma is the Japanese alcove that we can see in the reception rooms of traditional Japanese houses. It’s a focal point for the interior as it provides a sense of hospitality for the guests. Let’s look at...
Hamarikyu Garden in Tokyo, Japan Do you want to create a Japanese-style garden? Japanese gardens have a unique composition that makes us feel still and calm. What is it about them? Understanding the basics, design...
A woman in blue yukata with green sash sits on veranda Overview of Yukata Yukata is a traditional dress designed to spend comfortably in Japan’s hot, humid summer. For example, navy and white color combinations...
Japanese tea house, Chashitsu in Japanese, is where Chado, the tea ceremony takes place, which expresses Japanese sentimentality and aesthetics through the act of drinking tea. It is a rare place you can reflect...
creepy doll look scary in high contrast Onryo – Japanese spirits of grudge or ghosts, now popular thanks to films such as The Ring, The Grudge, or Dark Water. Is an Onryo only female with pitch-black long hair...
TOKYO, JAPAN – APR 12, 2019: Kabuki-cho Colorful Neon lights, Shinjuku Famous street Crowd people Nightclub Bar Restaurant Tokyo Japan nightlife Yakuza is Japanese mafia whose activities are permeated throughout...
Kyoto, JAPAN – Apr 2 2021: The statue of Japanese Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi Kukai in To-ji (Toji Temple) complex on a sunny day. Translation: Namu-daishi-henjou-kongo (convert to Henjou-kongo Daishi) Kukai –...
Scenery portrait of the posture of zen Buddhism monk in Japan, Kamakura Types of Buddhism developed in Japan: We have seen the early Japanese Buddhism was for the court elites and used as a tool to centralize the power...
Japanese Buddhism, a Buddhist monk at Mt. Koyasan steps up to the temple Japanese Buddhism #1 – In modern times, Japan’s most popular schools of Buddhism are Pure Land, Shingon, and Nichiren Buddhism which...
Japanese Onomatopoeia – What’s onomatopoeia? It’s the words which express the sound of things in general. The term came from France which has 600 Onomatopoeia, English has 1000 Onomatopoeia, and...
Japan Religion: Japanese native might have been asked this one question frequently when they go to other countries, “What do you believe?” Most of them would show you the confused face expression and...
Portrait of smiling confident woman Best Way to Learn Japanese – This article is for whom wants to learn Japanese, but doesn’t know where and how to start. We start with defining your goal, that’s the...
Kyoto, Japan – May 19, 2019: Young geisha in training, called a maiko, tunes her instrument prior to the performance in a traditional Japanese inn Geisha – Japanese traditional female entertainers boast its...
futuristic samurai standing on a building in cyberpunk city at rainy night, digital art style, illustration painting Real Ninja – usually they farmed the land in peacetime, yes, farming. The most important factor...
Prince Shotoku-taishi (Umayato), Portrait from Japan 5000 Yen 1957-1986 Banknotes. Prince Shotoku, autonym Umayado-no-Miko, was a regent under his aunt, Empress Suiko, who ruled Japan in the early 7th century. He...
Waterfall in the forest in Takachiho, Miyazaki, Japan Japanese Mythology – “kami” is a deity or deities in Japanese, and there is numerous kami in Shinto, Japan. There is no sharp distinction between...
Japanese chess, Shogi board Shogi Strategy – Shogi is Japanese chess, which is a two-player strategy board game belong to the same family as the Chess, Chaturanga of India, and Makruk of Thailand. Playing Shogi...
Ikebana – also known as “Kado”, the way of the flowers, is the art of traditional Japanese flower arrangement. It is more than a simple floral decoration but appreciated as a piece of art like a...
Japanese mask “Noh-men” Noh theatre – Japanese traditional musical drama, Noh, has been played for more than 600 years, which invites us today to experience the world of “Yugen” and “Myo”...
Traditional Japanese drummer Taiko is a Japanese drum which has played important roles on many occasions. Their size and shape range widely and the sound they make differ as well. Let’s take a look at the Taiko...
Pour sake into a transparent sake set Sake – Japanese alcoholic beverage (rice wine) made from fermented rice which has an effect of raising the body temperature, not like other alcoholic cousins. Let’s take...
Matsumoto castle against blue sky in Nagano city, Japan. Japanese Castle – Fortresses constructed mainly of wood and stone built which always incorporated the landscape into their defenses. It featured massive...
Soroban – a traditional abacus used in Japan, nowadays replaced by electric calculators Soroban is Japanese abacus which has been used for centuries for calculation. Even in this computer age, this ancient and...
Origami Art with Dynamic Sophistication Origami Art- Japanese paper folding works are widely popular around the world and its elaborate design is being updated vigorously. What is unique about it is to transform a flat...
Sakura – Cherry Blossom – is by far the iconic flower of Japanese spirit in comparison with other flowers or plants. Why? Japanese people find Sakura the most beautiful not just in its bloom, but also in its...
Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture, where the original scenery of Japan remains. It is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Satoyama is Japanese Mindscape of nature. Everyone has its own Mindscape of their hometown...
Tokyo, Japan – 15 March 2017: Omikuji (Paper Fortune) in a drawer at Senso ji. “Omikuji” is a strip of paper that predicts your fortune when you make a prayer to the gods and buddhas. Omikuji is a fortune slip you...
Sunrise and Mt. Fuji from Lake Motosu Oshogatsu: How Do Japanese Celebrate The New Year? Oshogatsu – the Japanese New Year: which is considered to be the most important holiday, has been celebrated with...
TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 10 2012: Paper lanterns and the stage of the Tsukiji Honganji Bon Odori Matsuri – the popular festival in Tokyo. Text on the lanterns are names of the festival sponsors. Bon Odori...
Japanese tea ceremony, a woman in kimono holding a tea cup Chado – “The Way of Tea” or “Chano-yu” aka the Japanese tea ceremony is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial...
Kyudo Japanese Archery Kyudo is Japanese Archery which is called “The Way of the Bow”. Among other martial arts, it possesses its unique characteristics in its sense of beauty. It is not a sport, but an art...
Young Miko at a Shinto shrine in Tokyo on a clear morning in Spring. A Miko is a shrine maiden or a supplementary priestess trained to perform sacred tasks in Japan. Miko are Japanese female shamans who have long been...
Close-up portrait of kendo fighter Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, which uses bamboo swords (shinai) and protective armor (bogu). Yes, that simple, but practicing it has a tremendous benefit on your life if...
The Mikoshi (portable shrine) of the festival in Kyoto Mikoshi – A divine portable shrine of Shinto, which is considered to be a vehicle for the deity which usually sits inside the shrine. A portable shrine comes...
Tsuji Miyamoto Musashi gold version The Book of 5 Rings: The author, Miyamoto Musashi was an unparalleled man in swordsmanship in his time. Musashi is well-known for his unique double-bladed style and the undefeated...
Bushido – What Bushido, “the way of Samurai”, meant when samurai class was born, was a simple enough ethic to survive and achieve military results. However, nowadays we can say it is the soul of Japan...
A Tengu in a forest. Tengu – is the legendary creature attached to the mountain or forest in Japan. They are known for its long nose and wings or beak and a sword. Its image has been changed, yet the core factor...
Celebration of Shichigosan. A 3-year-old girl. A traditional Japanese event. Shichi-Go-San – November 15th is a special day for children in Japan. 3 years old girls and boys, 5 years old boys and 7 years old girls...
Viewed from a hiking trail, a black and white photo of an old, weathered, sacred Shinto torii gate in a dense jungle rainforest on an island in Japan. Japanese Shrine Gate, Torii- Most shrines in Japan have one or more...
Sailor Fighter Fuchico on the edge of the cold brew coffee Fuchico, the Tiny Toy Can Make Your Desk the Wonderland Fuchico on the Edge – You may have seen a picture of teeny tiny girl figure in blue uniform with a...
The beautiful, white Bewick’s Swan flying in the winter sky of Japan Swan Incoming: When autumn deepens and hears the cry of swans, it’s a sign of the winter in Japan. If they fly low enough and there is no...
Do you believe ancient clans still exist in Japan today? Yes, they do, as their descendants are still alive today. Generations of respecting the value of family have allowed Japanese clan symbols, aka Kamon, to survive...
Through digging Japanese history, we believe we can find more beauty through exploring patterns, designs, and spirits backed by our curiosity. We share the thoughts and images for the better understanding of what the country with the world's largest history can offer. Enjoy exploring and discovering insights with us.
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