From sushi restaurants to your local Chinese take-out, soy sauce is a mandatory part of any Japanese, Chinese, and even Korean meal. If you don’t normally eat out, you probably have a bottle of Kikkoman in your pantry, or at … Continue reading How Cultural Influences Impacted the Spread and Growth of Soy Sauce in China and Japan
The Heian period, spanning from 794 to 1185, is a period Japanese history praised for its influence on the arts. The catalyst for this period would occur when Emperor Kanmu declared Heian, now known as the city of Kyoto, as the … Continue reading Anthropology: The Heian Period of Japan and Its Rich Cultural Significance
Harajuku, a district in Shibuya, Tokyo. The area is approximately around the Harajuku station, between Shinjuku and Shibuya on the Yamanote Line. However, the name carries more than just a geological meaning. Harajuku fashion is probably the most eye-catching scene … Continue reading Harajuku Fashion: The Most Eye-Catching Style of Clothing in Japan
Japan’s bustling cities and beautiful culture have captured the hearts of many travelers. However, just as with any other location, Japan suffers from its unique problems that arise from the country’s cultural dogma. This is very clear when addressing mental … Continue reading Mental Illness in Japan and its Cultural Causes
Ikebana is the Japanese art of arranging flowers. A tradition born during the ancient period and thriving since then, ikebana is also known as kadō (way of flowers.) The tradition started as floral offerings on altars. Later, the tokonoma (alcove) … Continue reading Anthropology: Ikebana Is the Japanese Art of Flower Arrangement
The first few times I saw sumo wrestling on television was either in Takeshi’s Castle or movies. In the movies, the hero would stumble into the sumo ring while being chased or chasing someone. What followed was that the hero … Continue reading Anthropology: The World of Sumo Wrestling in Japan and Its Significance
Haiku, or the art of the short poem, is a form of Japanese poetry that has been and continues to be a pivotal part of Japanese culture. Interestingly enough, the Haiku is considered to be the world’s shortest poem, containing … Continue reading Haiku: The Art of the Short Poem and Its Cultural Significance
The Japanese tea ceremony is one of the most ancient and time-honoured traditions of Japan. With its roots in the principles of Zen Buddhism, the tea ceremony is known as chadō, which means ‘the way of tea’, while the art … Continue reading Anthropology: The Japanese Tea Ceremony
Through their dedication and self-sacrifice, noblemen led the way of the ancient samurai while mastering their weapons and minds and preserving their art form. The samurai were around for almost a millennium in Feudal Japan. They followed orders and showed the … Continue reading The History of Samurai in Feudal Japan