tagged w/ Japanese Culture
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Around the New Years, many Japanese head to shrines and temples to do hatsumode - New Years Prayer - for health and good luck for the new year. Meiji Shrine in Tokyo gets more than a million visitors over the New Years week.Around the New Years, many Japanese head to shrines and temples to do hatsumode - New... more
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Although Christmas is not an official holiday in Japan, it is observed in other ways.
On Christmas Eve and Christmas, one can find lines of Japanese standing outside of KFC for a little bit of the Colonel's Christmas Chicken.
Christmas Cake is a popular item which sells for about 30-50 bucks at convenience stores. It's also a term used to refer to women over 26.
For young couples, Christmas is a big date night and many of them go to love hotels.
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This is my second time uploading this damn thing because the stupid program logged me out when I hit the submit button and of course if didn't save the 6 minute video that I spent practically an hour uploading.Although Christmas is not an official holiday in Japan, it is observed in other ways.... more
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Here are some Holiday-related photos from Tokyo Decandance - a semi-monthly club event which is a melting pot of various subcultures in Japan. This is a photo montage of Tokyo Decadance's Christmas event. Plenty of interesting folks and some cuties in XMAS outfits.Here are some Holiday-related photos from Tokyo Decandance - a semi-monthly club event... more
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Every year on December 23 the Japanese Emperor, Akihito, gives a public address from the Imperial Palace. The Emperor rarely gives public speeches. His birthday and the New Year's Greeting on January 2 are generally the only time he does so.
The tradition of the Japanese emperors giving public speeches on birthdays and New Years only started after WWII. Before that they were seen as divine being descended from the native Japanese gods so they were often hidden from public view. Also for centuries they were shadowy figures while the real power was wielded by the Shogun, military general.
This year the Emperor cancelled his public address due to illness related to stress.Every year on December 23 the Japanese Emperor, Akihito, gives a public address from... more
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Japanese Emperor Akihito has cancelled his annual birthday public address due to illness. December 23 is his birthday and it's a national holiday in Japan. December 23 and January 2 are the only times when the general public can visit the Imperial Palace area which is normally closed all year.
"The emperor, who will turn 75 on December 23, is suffering from bleeding in the stomach due to inflammation that may have been caused by stress, the palace said last week. "Japanese Emperor Akihito has cancelled his annual birthday public address due to... more
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Here's my Cinefantastique Online review of the fantastic anime feature, THE SKY CRAWLERS.Here's my Cinefantastique Online review of the fantastic anime feature, THE SKY... more
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The Annual Hagoita Ichi Fair is held in Asakusa, Tokyo close to the New Year. Around the temple grounds of Senso-ji Temple dozens of market stalls are set up to display and sell their decorative hagoita. Hagoita in English is known as Battledore but this word doesn’t really help many people understand what a hagoita is either. It’s best to say that a hagoita is a wooden paddle or racket.
Hagoita were once used to play a type of badminton game but now are used solely for decorative purposes. They make popular New Years decorations and gifts.The Annual Hagoita Ichi Fair is held in Asakusa, Tokyo close to the New Year. Around... more
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Japan is one of those few countries which has beer vending machines on the streets for the thristy who cannot find a bar or store in their vicinity. I discovered a Draft Beer Vending Machine in a Tokyo poolhall so I tested it out. Taste was not to bad but it gave me a huge head of foam which is quite common anyway even with live servers.Japan is one of those few countries which has beer vending machines on the streets for... more
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December is a damn cold month to have a festival especially one at night and outdoors. Chichibu (2 hours north of Tokyo) defies the cold though and throws one hell of a good bash with huge decorative floats and fireworks. The festival has been going on since the 18th Century.December is a damn cold month to have a festival especially one at night and outdoors.... more
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The story of the 47 Ronin is one of Japan's most favorite stories which best illustrates the Japanese virtue of loyalty.
The lord of the 47 Ronin was forced to commit suicide for attacking a corrupt government official who had insulted him constantly. His lands were forfeit and his samurai retainers became ronin - unemployed samurai without a master. A group of them plotted revenge and successfully carried out their plans. They were heralded as paragons of samurai virtue. They too were forced to commit suicide but this was preferable to common execution and so they kept their honor intact.
Due to the story's impact on Japanese life and culture, some scholars say "...to know the story of the 47 Ronin is to know Japan."The story of the 47 Ronin is one of Japan's most favorite stories which best... more
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Yabusame is a Japanese Shinto ritual involving mounted archery. Archers ride at a full gallop and shoot at three targets set up at certain intervals. Hitting all three, an archer is considered to be very skillful. The ritual is purpose is to bring prosperity and peace.
The video is a complilation of Yabusame events I have been to over the last two years. There are two different schools of Yabusame - Ogasawara Ryu who perform at Asakusa (here 2007&2008) and Takeda Ryu who perform at Meiji Shrine (2006), Miura (2007), and Kamakura (Spring 2007 & Fall 2008)
The song is called "Gunslinger Man" and it fits with the old tradition of samurai on horseback using bows rather than spears and swords as they did later. The Yabusame costume looks rather cowboy-ish.
The music is by the Exotic Ones:
http://www.myspace.com/exoticones
This also a tribute to the memory of a firend of mine who passed away a few years ago:
Jack Hunter Dave, Jr who wrote and sung the song "Gunslinger Man."
http://my.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=87&subpageid=150399&ck=Yabusame is a Japanese Shinto ritual involving mounted archery. Archers ride at a full... more
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Here's a look into a Shinto ritual which uses mounted archery to attain blessings from the gods. Archers ride down a single track and shoot at 3 targets set up on the left at certain intervals. It may look like a sport but it is actually a religious ritual.
The bow once was the chief weapon of the samurai long before the sword. Early samurai referred to their profession as "The Way of the Horse and Bow."Here's a look into a Shinto ritual which uses mounted archery to attain blessings... more
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In the far north of Japan, the city of Sapporo boasts the first beer made in Japan. When Japan opened its borders to the world in the mid to late 19th Century, one of the first imports eagerly embraced was beer. Very soon Japan had it's own brewery up and running and the rest is delicious history. Kampai!In the far north of Japan, the city of Sapporo boasts the first beer made in Japan.... more
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Mt. Kurama in northern Kyoto comes alive with the fires of hundreds of torches some of them over 15 feet long requiring 4-5 men to carry them. It's a very old tradition going back to the late 8th Century. The torches are used to guide spirits through the human world to their own world so they don't stray and cause mischief. It's a great festival with lots of energy!Mt. Kurama in northern Kyoto comes alive with the fires of hundreds of torches some of... more
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I was in the Kansai/Nagoya area recently to take in a geisha performance in Kyoto and to tour a castle or two in the Nagoya area.
While I was there I met Maggie and her owner Gimmeabreakman from Youtube. Gimmeabreakman interviewed me on the controversial Tokyo Yamanote Halloween Train which caused quite a bit of furor on the internet. Internet denizens were either up in arms against it or that they missed it.
Here I discuss how overly-demonized the event is and how many people are just experiencing internet faux rage over something that they probably never heard before they saw it on youtube or some other forum
I was in the Kansai/Nagoya area recently to take in a geisha performance in Kyoto and... more
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In this fast-paced modern world of whizzing beeping flashing technology where people rush hurriedly about to keep up with these fast-changing times, it’s all too easy to forget the traditions and customs of earlier slower times. Japan’s efforts to keep a tenuous cultural link to its past is the national holiday known simply as Culture Day (Bunka-no-hi).
Culture Day (Nov. 3) was originally a holiday to celebrate the birth date of Emperor Meiji (1852-1912). After his death, his birthday was designated as Culture Day, a day in which cultural arts are honored.
Honoring Imperial birthdays is a relatively new tradition. For long centuries, the Emperor was a shadowy figure controlled by the military dictators known as Shogun and before them the regents and ministers of the Imperial court.
Emperor Meiji was the first emperor in a long, long time to emerge from the shadows to reclaim the power and dignity of the Imperial family. The Shogun government was abolished in 1868, and Japan began its advancement into the modern world.
Culture Day also marks the day when the post-war constitution was officially announced — Nov. 3, 1946.
Every year the Emperor awards individuals for their endeavors and accomplishments in the cultural arts or academic pursuits. The Order of Culture is one of the highest honors to be given from the Emperor. These awards are not limited to Japanese citizens, however. The American astronauts who first landed on the moon in 1969 received the Order of Culture.
All over Japan many cities and villages put together various art and cultural presentations such as historical re-enactments, parades, festivals, martial arts demonstration, etc. Quite a number of adults and children will wear kimonos and visit shrines and temples. Traditional Japanese weddings are popularly held on this day too.
Meiji Shrine which enshrines the spirit of Emperor Meiji, holds a number of events on Culture Day. Various martial arts are demonstrated using wooden and steel weapons. The mounted archery ritual known as Yabusame is performed as well. Yabusame involves an archer riding a fast horse along a narrow track while shooting arrows at two or three targets. In the past Yabusame was only performed by Samurai, but now women participate in the ritual as well. This shows that Culture Day is not some inflexible stuffy holiday designed to resist change but rather that it is adaptable to the changing times.
On the grounds where the old Shogun Castle once stood, a kendo competition was held this Culture Day at the Budokan Hall. This is where the Beatles played when they toured Japan back in their heyday. Kendo is a traditional martial arts based on the samurai fencing schools of the past in which the participants garbed in armor from head to waist fight with swords of bamboo.
Whatever its origins, a Culture Day holiday is a wonderful idea. The modern world needs such days to reflect on the cultures of the past by both learning from the mistakes of the past so as not to repeat them and keeping traditional arts alive to be passed down to future generations.In this fast-paced modern world of whizzing beeping flashing technology where people... more
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Part II of Kyoto's Jidai Matsuri - Festival of Ages. Get a glimpse of Japan and Kyoto's ancient past.Part II of Kyoto's Jidai Matsuri - Festival of Ages. Get a glimpse of Japan and... more
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Every year on October 22nd, Kyoto celebrates its long history with a historical procession of costumed participants. The parade goes backward in time from 1867 the last year Kyoto was the official capital to 794 when the city became the capital.
Every year on October 22nd, Kyoto celebrates its long history with a historical... more
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Fire on the Mountain
The Kurama-no-Himatsuri: a spectacle of fire, smoke and noise
Visitors to Kyoto will find themselves in for quite a treat if they are in the city on Oct. 22 because two great festivals are held that day.
At noon the Jidai Matsuri (Festival of Ages) is held in central Kyoto. It’s a two-hour long procession depicting the various fashions and famous people from Kyoto’s long history. In the evening, the place to go is up to the mountain temple of Mt. Kurama to see the Kurama-no-Himatsuri — the Fire Festival.
The whole mountaintop looks like it’s on fire from the constant stream of torch-bearing participants going to and fro from the temple. The torches range in size from simple handheld torches to gargantuan ones that require three to four people to carry.
The festival’s origins go back over a thousand years to the late 8th century when the Emperor would send torch bearers from his palace all the way up to the temple. The purpose of this ancient rite is to guide the spirits of departed souls and gods along their way through the human world by the light of pine torches.
For the families around the temple this is a time to set out their heirlooms for display. Visitors can see suits of samurai armor, colorful folding screens, and exquisite ceramic dishes.
The festival begins with young boys in kimonos carrying small pine torches. After them come teenage boys carrying slightly larger ones together in groups of two or three. Older boys and men dressed in loincloths, colorful half-shirts and headbands carry even larger torches. Then around 8 p.m. come the really big torches — measuring five to six meters in length — which sometimes requires four stout men to carry.
As fire and smoke fill the air, the torch bearers chant “sai-rei, sai-ryo!” which means simply “festival, good festival!” Taiko drummers help to get the festivities “fired” up with a rhythmic booming of Taiko drums accompanied by the jangling clangor of metal being beaten to a lively beat.
Even for visitors, things can get a little hectic with all this fire about. Sometimes these large torches are turned around and visitors have to move out of the way or duck to avoid being singed by huge flames. Burning braziers on tripods dot the way along the festival route and the unwary can accidentally bump into these sending a cascade of blazing sparks all around.
The Kurama-no-Himatsuri is an exciting and lively festival with just a hint of danger to make it interesting. It’s definitely worth seeing even with the throngs of people and the smell of smoke that will cling to your clothes.Fire on the Mountain
The Kurama-no-Himatsuri: a spectacle of fire, smoke and noise... more
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With all the election news and finacial crisis, it's now time for something on a lighter note - Hello Kitty Samurai!
I was visiting Hikone which lies an hour north of Kyoto when I chanced upon a unusual figure in samurai armor. What struck me immediately as odd was that it didn’t have the typical scowl I had usually come to associate with statues and the like depicting samurai. On closer inspection I realized it was Japan’s official tourism ambassador, Hello Kitty, all decked out like a samurai warrior of bygone ages.
Hikone was home to Ii clan. The land was given to their first lord Ii Naomasa whose scowling visage can be seen frozen in bronze outside of the train station.
Naomasa served Tokugawa Ieyasu who became Shogun or military ruler over all of Japan in 1603. Naomasa fought in numerous battles and was wounded scores of times. His men were famous for painting their armor red. They were known as the Red Devils and the sight of them brought out screams of terror from their enemies.
Now the Red Devils are tastefully emasculated with this lovely recreation of them in Hello Kitty dolls and the sight of them brings out squeals of delight from Japanese schoolgirls.With all the election news and finacial crisis, it's now time for something on a... more
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