japanese culture– tag –

Let me tell you the first rule of Hot-spring club: Bathe three times at least. Averagely, we Japanese people bathe three times for a stay of one night: Soon after check-in, before going to bed, and soon after getting up next morning. Accordingly, we can enjoy a sunset, night sky, and sunrise in an open-air bath.

Kyoto is the ancient capital of Japan and so good to touch the core essence of Japanese culture and tradition, while it may be the place to remember the memory of their school trips for many Japanese people. I guess this is why Kyoto is popular and always packed with many visitors from home and abroad.

A wooden ball pit is quite common in Japan, but our product is unique and different from others. The wooden balls are made of high-quality hardwood (wood waste produced in making our furniture), and their shape is round but deformed. The balls are more beautiful (shiny) and durable than those made of ordinary softwood.

Why Japanese people sit on the floor not on a chair or a sofa? It's for making full use of a limited space in a house smaller than the global standard. Even if you live in a huge house, it's not that bad to stay on the floor for more relax. Let me share one of the Japanese wisdoms of life.

What would you do if the world ends tomorrow? An Italian would answer "I would spend the day with a lover." A Japanese would say "I have to finish my work quickly." This is a popular ethnic joke. The general images of the Italian and Japanese sharply contrast like this, but they have something in common, funnily enough.

Did you know that Kendo was not a sport but a way of life? In the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Shohei Ohno, winning a gold medal in the 73 kg competition of Judo, has reminded me of the fact that Judo was not a sport before. He never raised his fist or even smiled after winning matches in order to show his respect and consideration to opponents.

The main purpose of building castles is the same in Japan and European countries: Defense against enemies, but there are many differences in material, structure, etc. between them. They arise from the difference in the characters of the wars between Japan and European countries.

Samurai governed Japan for about 700 years, from 1185 to 1867. The age of samurai is divided into some periods. According to a popular theory, samurais in the first period (the Kamakura period, from 1185 to 1333) are believed to be strongest and bravest. It is said that "You look like a Kamakura samurai" was the best praising words for samurais even in the last days of the samurai age.

The most popular sport in Japan is still baseball. Every summer, the Japan national high school baseball championship takes place by the teams going through the elimination tournaments held in all the 47 prefectures. Hokkaido representative teams were always weak and lost in the first round of the championship in most cases.

Sakura, cherry blossom is one of the Japanese national flowers. Japanese people are a kind of addicted to sakura. It's not only flowers in full bloom but also flower petals falling and disclored on the buddles that touch our heartstrings. We discover beauty even in ruined things.