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The Geography and Geology of Japan
Japan is located in East Asia; a series of integrated islands (Archipelago) surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan. It is situated east of Russia, China and the Koreas.
Because of its location, Japan unfortunately receives more than it’s fair-share of natural disasters. Typhoons occur regularly throughout August and September and because it sits on the boundaries of at least 4 tectonic plates (Eurasian Plate, Philippine Sea Plate, Pacific Plate, and North American Plate), it is prone to earthquakes; which in addition cause tsunamis. [Read more...]
The Holy Mountains
Mount Fuji
Standing over 3,776 metres high – it is no wonder that this vast volcano is a sacred monument in Japan. It is one of the three holy mountains of Japan – along with Mount Tate and Mount Haku and is thought to be over 600,000 years old.
The mountain is situated on the border of Yamanashi and Shiziuoka, 60 miles South-West of Toyko, in the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. It is surrounded by 5 lakes and as a volcano has been inactive for the past 300 years; having last erupted in 1707. [Read more...]
Japanese Performing Arts
Performing arts are an important part of Japanese culture – these have emerged through the centuries and are still as popular today as they were hundreds of years ago.
Below we explore some of the most well-known:
Kabuki
Kabuki has been part of the Japanese culture since the early 1600’s and is a traditional art; combining music, dance and drama on the stage with elegant and dramatic costumes to compliment the stories it tells. It was originally performed only by females; inspired by a woman called “Izumo no Okuni”. However, due to the nature of some of the dancing styles being considered “too suggestive” it was banned for a while by the Government. Moving towards the 17th Century, Kabuki became popular once more but this time only men were allowed to perform. This is still the case today. [Read more...]
Martial Arts
It is widely thought that China and Japan are where the ancient martial arts were developed, but little is really know as fact. We do know that in 1532 Japan founded the takenouchi-ryu martial art system where jujitsu was taught, and over the next 700 years these namely self-defence arts were studied and practiced by the famous Samurai warriors. Most martial arts were unarmed combat. There were over 700 different forms of jujitsu systems by the mid 1800’s.
We explore briefly below some of the most well-known: [Read more...]
The Geisha
Another famous culture in Japan is that of the Geisha. Common misconception makes many believe that these girls were in fact part of the prostitution trade, but this really was not the case. The word “Geisha” means quite literally “Artist”.
Geisha girls are recognisable by their costume – with brightly coloured kimonos and obi’s, white painted faces, and their sleek black hair tied up in the traditional Shimada hairstyle. Combs and pins are used to decorate the hair and kimonos change according to season and the type of event the Geisha is attending. The kimono’s are intricately embroidered and can take 2-3 years to make. [Read more...]
Tea Culture in Japan
Green tea
Tea originated from China over 5,000 years ago and was brought back to Japan by a priest around 805-806. It was enjoyed only by the religious and rich communities and was even used as a currency. In the 12th Century a Buddhist monk named Eisai introduced the drink to the wider community and by the 16th Century it was wide-spread throughout Japan.
Green tea was the original tea with other teas coming much later. The Sencha (unfermented green tea), Matcha (from shade-grown leaves) and Bancha tea (made from seasoned, older leaves) were all developed in Japan. [Read more...]
Japan and Religion
Through the centuries, a variety of religions have been introduced to Japanese society. Although religion is not a central part of the Japanese way of life (many modern-day Japanese view themselves as atheist), there are two main predominant religions; Buddhism and Shinto.
Shinto
Shinto was the native inhabitants first religion – looking upon their gods (or Kami’s as they are called) as spiritual beings existing within nature; the weather, trees, rivers. Understanding that not everything is perfect and that good and evil do exist, Shinto literally means “the way of the Gods”. [Read more...]
Japanese Food
The Japanese as a nation have always used fresh, simple ingredients to form their daily diet, realising the benefits in health from natural food products and shying away from artificial flavourings. The people of Japan see food as an integral part to their well-being.
In 300 BC the cultivation of rice was introduced by the settlers from the Korean Peninsula who established paddy fields and an agricultural system in the fertile plains of Japan. It is the short-grain rice which is grown in Japan but not just as a food source – it is also used to make a variety of other products such as paper, fuel and wine. [Read more...]
A Brief History of Japan
Japan has such a long history spanning thousands of years. It is thought that the first inhabitants of the islands were fisherman and hunter/gatherers – this early stage in Japan’s history was known as the Jomon period.
In 300 BC invaders came from the Korean Peninsula, (the start of the Yayoi period) and slowly cultivated the land, introducing agriculture, iron and the evolution of social classes. The islands became a united country around 300-538 BC in the Kofun period where the central power was developed on the Kinai plain. [Read more...]