Unique aspects of culture
Japan has many unique and cool aspects of its culture. There are many different foods, sports, clothing, music, architecture, and entertainment.
Food
Music
Shomyo is a traditional type of Japanese music and is one of the oldest known forms along with Gagaku. Shomyo is a type of Buddhist chanting and there are two levels which are ryokyoku and rikkyoku. Ryokyoku is the easy version and rikkyoku is the more advanced kind. Shomyo is used mainly in the Tendai and Shingon sects which are two of the major schools of Buddhism.
Gagaku is an ancient imperial court music and can include dancing. Gagaku started around the 7th century and is performed at the Imperial Court in Kyoto and has been performed there for several centuries. It is said to be "elegant music" and there is a form called kiniburi no utamai which is a form of native Shinto religious music.
Biwa is an instrument that is often used in Japanese music, especially for storytelling. The biwa is the preferred instrument of Benten who is the goddess of music in Buddhism. The biwa has adapted and has had new forms introduced for hundreds of years, and all of the changes has made it one of the most popular instruments to use in Japan. The biwa was introduced to Japan in the 7th century and it has evolved from the Chinese pipa.
Taiko is a name for a Japanese percussion drum. Taiko can come in many different shapes and sizes and can be played in different genres. Traditional taiko music is played in large groups called kumi-daiko. The origin of taiko is uncertain but it is thought to have begun around the 7th century. Taiko has had many influences from China but the music has maintained its Japanese style. In the past taiko were used in battle to intimidate enemies and for communication.
Ryukoka is a form of adopted Western classical music. and used to be very popular, but it has died down over the years. Ichiro Fujiyama was an influential ryukoka singer and his music became popular during World War II.
J-pop is an abbreviation for Japanese pop that entered the musical stream in the 1990's. J-pop is modern and has been influenced from many different places and other bands/artists such as The Beatles. It is similar to pop music in the U.S. because it has adopted many different ideas and features.
Sports
Sumo is a full contact wrestling sport common in Japan. The wrestlers are called rikishi an the goal is to force your opponent out of a ring or to make them touch the ground with anything other than their feet (falling). Japan is the only country where the sport is practiced professionally, and the sport contains many ritual elements.
Judo is a sport that originated in Japan and it currently an Olympic sport. Judo was created in 1882 by combining jujitsu and mental discipline. The competitive element of judo is where the goal is to throw or takedown and opponent to the ground and immobilize them or subdue them with a pin. An opponent can also be made to submit with a joint lock or a choke. Judo means "gentle way".
Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art and it means "sword way". Kendo uses bamboo swords and protective armor, and is widely pracitved in Japan. Kendo combines martial art values with sport-like physical activity. Kendo is a way to apply discipline through the application of the katana. The armor used is called bogu.
Baseball is probably the most popular sport in Japan and professional baseball is very well developed and there are twelve teams that are sponsored by major corporations. Baseball was introduced to Japan in 1872 by Horace Wilson who was an English professor at a school in Tokyo. According to Japan's National Tourism Organization baseball is so popular in Japan that people are surprised that Americans consider it their national sport.
Clothing
Architecture
Japanese architecture has traditionally been made up of wooden structures, slightly elevated off the ground with tiled or thatched roofs. Sliding doors were common and could even take place of walls, people sat on cushions, and both tables and chairs were not popular.
Asuka and Nara period
During the Asuka and Nara period architecture was deeply impacted by the introduction of Buddhism. Temples became the centers of worship and tomb burials were becoming outlawed. Some of the earliest structures that still exist in Japan are Buddhist temples that were established at this time. These buildings were made from wood and some were known to be tall. The pagoda (Buddhist temple) pictured above is located in Nara, Nara in the Kansai region of Japan and was originally built in 730.
Heian Period
Buddhist temples were mainly used for exploration of architecture due to the large amount being built, but during the Heian period, heavy materials such as stone, mortar, and clay were abandoned and pine, and larch wood became the main use for structure, and cedar wood was used for interior finishing. Brick roofing became more popular and the "hidden roof" came in to use, which is a Japanese drainage solution. Larger buildings were created and more columns had to be used to support the size. The building pictured above was built at Uji, Kyoto in 1053. It is called Phoenix Hall and was registered as a Japan National Treasure.
Azuchi-Momoyama period
The Azuchi-Moyama period was just after a civil war, so there were many new rulers that wanted to build castles to show a symbol of their power. This period allowed to the rise of castle architecture, which were usually made with stone and the castle was surrounded by moats. The interiors of the castles were usually dark and decorated by artists. The picture above is Matsumoto Castle and it was built in 1504 at Matsumoto, Nagano.
Colonial architecture
in the 1800's and early 1900's colonial authorities built many public buildings such as museums, banks, and hotels. Due to these large scale projects many different kinds of preservation methods started to come into use such as choosing materials that would last long. The picture above is the Imperial Hotel located in Tokyo. It was constructed beginning in the late 1800's and was supposed to be service to the large amount of Western visitors. in 1922, while still under construction a earthquake struck Tokyo, but because of the preservation methods used, the building stayed intact while many other buildings fell.
Modern Architecture
Modern architecture in Japan consists of tall skyscrapers that are built for companies and corporations to be located. Modern architecture has been influenced by Western culture, especially by other buildings in large cities. The tower in the picture above is the Tokyo Tower in Tokyo, and it was completed in 1958. It is a communications/observation tower that is 1,092 feet tall. It is the second tallest structure in Japan and it resembles the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
Entertainment
Languages in Japan
Japonic language is language spoken on the main islands of Japan and also in the Ryuktu Islands. The common ancestral language is referred to as Proto-Japonic. The origin of Japonic languages is fuzzy, but scholars believe that it was mainly influenced from southern Korea language especially Gaya.
Ryukyan languages are languages that are members of Japonic language and are spoken on the Ryukyan Islands. Ryukyan languages are considered to be dialects of Japanese and the number of speakers of this language is unknown.
Ainu language is spoken by members of the Ainu ethnic group on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The last speaker of Ainu died in 1994, but efforts are being made to revive it.
Japan is made up of many dialects and forms of the language that include, Hichiku, Satsagu, Unpaku, Hokkaido, Honichi, Chugoku, Shikoku, North/South Tohoku, East/West Canto, Kansai, Gifu-Aichi, Negano-Yamana, Echigo, Hokuriki, and smaller others.
Okinawan Japanese is the Japanese language that is spoken by people that live on the Okinawa Prefecture. This language was influenced by the Ryukyan Islands languages. It is also influenced by American English because of the US administration after the Battle of Okinawa. Okinawan language is considered a dialect of Japanese.
Japanese is spoken by about 125 million people. It is primarily spoken in Japan, but it is also seen all around the world especially Korea and China. Japanese language is said to have evolved from languages and dialects brought to Japan from settlers coming from continental Asia and Pacific Islands in the 2nd century.
Japanese language overtook the language from the Jamon which were the people in prehistoric Japan as early as 12,000 BC. The Jamon was a hunter-gatherer culture that was known for their sedentism.
Ryukyan languages are languages that are members of Japonic language and are spoken on the Ryukyan Islands. Ryukyan languages are considered to be dialects of Japanese and the number of speakers of this language is unknown.
Ainu language is spoken by members of the Ainu ethnic group on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The last speaker of Ainu died in 1994, but efforts are being made to revive it.
Japan is made up of many dialects and forms of the language that include, Hichiku, Satsagu, Unpaku, Hokkaido, Honichi, Chugoku, Shikoku, North/South Tohoku, East/West Canto, Kansai, Gifu-Aichi, Negano-Yamana, Echigo, Hokuriki, and smaller others.
Okinawan Japanese is the Japanese language that is spoken by people that live on the Okinawa Prefecture. This language was influenced by the Ryukyan Islands languages. It is also influenced by American English because of the US administration after the Battle of Okinawa. Okinawan language is considered a dialect of Japanese.
Japanese is spoken by about 125 million people. It is primarily spoken in Japan, but it is also seen all around the world especially Korea and China. Japanese language is said to have evolved from languages and dialects brought to Japan from settlers coming from continental Asia and Pacific Islands in the 2nd century.
Japanese language overtook the language from the Jamon which were the people in prehistoric Japan as early as 12,000 BC. The Jamon was a hunter-gatherer culture that was known for their sedentism.
Religion in Japan
Ethnic/Culture groups
98.5% of Japans population is ethnic Japanese, but there are other groups like Koreans, Chinese, and other smaller groups.
Koreans in Japan are the second largest minority ethnic group in Japan, and there are around 900,000 of them. Most of the Koreans in Japan are referred to as Zainichi, and they are permanent Korean residents living in Japan that can trace their roots back to Korea under Japanese rule. Regions where Koreans are prominent include large cities like Tokyo, and also Osaka. The Zainichi group was made to distinguish the from the large wave of Korean migrants who came in around the 1980's
Chinese in Japan are the third largest minority ethnic group in Japan, there are a little less than 700,000 Chinese people in Japan. Regions that have significant Chinese populations are Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, and other large cities. Chinese has affected the culture in Japan, due to Chinese restaurants, and the large amount of Chinese schools.
Japanese-Filipino is a ethnic group in Japan that consists of a little over 200,000 people. It is Japan's third largest foreign community along with Brazilians.
Okinawans are Japans largest minority group and there are around 1.3 million living in Okinanwa, and around 300,000 living in other areas of Japan. Okinawan people are known for their long life and methods of living.
The Ainu are indigenous people of Japan that make up a small population. The Ainu are also prominent in Russia, and in Japan they are usually located in Hokkaido, and northeastern Honshu.
The Ryukyan people are the indigenous people to the Ryukyu Islands.
Buddhist monks are also in Japan and they make up a small population, but it is far from the amount in China.
Koreans in Japan are the second largest minority ethnic group in Japan, and there are around 900,000 of them. Most of the Koreans in Japan are referred to as Zainichi, and they are permanent Korean residents living in Japan that can trace their roots back to Korea under Japanese rule. Regions where Koreans are prominent include large cities like Tokyo, and also Osaka. The Zainichi group was made to distinguish the from the large wave of Korean migrants who came in around the 1980's
Chinese in Japan are the third largest minority ethnic group in Japan, there are a little less than 700,000 Chinese people in Japan. Regions that have significant Chinese populations are Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, and other large cities. Chinese has affected the culture in Japan, due to Chinese restaurants, and the large amount of Chinese schools.
Japanese-Filipino is a ethnic group in Japan that consists of a little over 200,000 people. It is Japan's third largest foreign community along with Brazilians.
Okinawans are Japans largest minority group and there are around 1.3 million living in Okinanwa, and around 300,000 living in other areas of Japan. Okinawan people are known for their long life and methods of living.
The Ainu are indigenous people of Japan that make up a small population. The Ainu are also prominent in Russia, and in Japan they are usually located in Hokkaido, and northeastern Honshu.
The Ryukyan people are the indigenous people to the Ryukyu Islands.
Buddhist monks are also in Japan and they make up a small population, but it is far from the amount in China.