Japanese Culture and Traditions– category –
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Japanese Culture and Traditions: We Would Be Caught Dead Eating Rice Cakes, Mochi
Rice cakes: It’s called “mochi” in Japanese, made by pounding rice. Have you ever eaten mochi? If yes and you’re still alive, you’re blessed. Do you know how many people have lost their lives by choking on mochi in Japan? It’s 300 averag... -
Why Nature Loves Hexagons: Snowflakes, Hexagonal Flowers Blooming in Hokkaido
Human aging starts from emotion. I heard it was common knowledge especially among psychiatrists. It’s not only about the loss of a grip on our emotions. With the aging of the forebrain, we will lose emotion-driven qualities such as willi... -
Japanese Culture and Traditions: Factory Tours for School Educational Trips
【Our general impression on the sea of trees in the foot of Mt. Fuji】 Even if you have not been to Japan before, I believe many of you have heard the name of the highest and most beautiful mountain in Japan. Yes, it’s Mt. Fuji, or Fujiy... -
Japanese Anime x Japanese Traditional Crafts
【Japanese anime is not only for kids】 When first learning what the words "TGI Fridays" stand for, I was so glad to know many people even outside Japan have hard time surviving weekdays. At the same time, a question came up in my mind: ... -
Japanese Culture and Traditions: Japanese Fireworks Festival
【Japanese summer ends with fireworks festivals】 Fireworks festivals tell the end of summer in Japan. Of course, almost all of them had been canceled for the past two years because of the COVID, but they are back this year (2022)! In my... -
Japanese Flower Etiquette: How to Choose Flowers
I rarely buy flowers. It’s only on Mother’s Day, though I forget even that sometimes. Probably that’s because I don’t really know what flowers I should buy. On Mother’s Day, it’s easy because flower shops offer a wide variety of Mother’s Day bouquet options. In addition, there’s a mental wall in us, I guess. In fact, I’ve never seen anyone who is waiting for his/her date with a flower bouquet, and so I believe it only happens in the movies. In other words, that may be because of Richard Gere in “Pretty Woman” or “Shall We Dance?” Flower gifting becomes a mission impossible for us ordinary people, based on my fully biased opinion.[...] -
Japanese Culture and Traditions: Company Entrance Ceremony by Japanese Companies
【Japanese-style job hunting: New graduates start all together】 All the schools (elementary, junior-high, high, and college & university) start from April to next-year March in Japan. March is the season of graduation. As this may s... -
High-context Culture: Do You Know the Meaning of Silence in Japan?
【Arrival: Cognitive difference between humans and aliens】 Have you watched the Hollywood movie titled “Arrival” (2016)? Simply put, it’s a science fiction depicting the contact with aliens. I know it may sound same old, but it’s comple... -
Japan Tips from Locals: The Role of Japanese Giant Hornets in the Ecosystem
A Japanese giant hornet is sucking nectar from a tree. -
Japanese Culture and Traditions: Not Crazy Rich! High Class in Japan
【First encounter with a high society in Japan】 A noble class still exists in Japan. I learned the surprising fact when I worked for the prefectural government in Nagoya (the fourth biggest city in Japan and TOYOTA’s home ground) about ...