Japan+Culture


 * Homepage || Geography || Culture || Questions || Classroom Activities || Teacher's Page ||

Japanese Culture toc  The Japanese culture is very unique and diverse. The Jomon people first settled in Japan dating back to 10,000BC. Japan is known for its contemporary pop culture and its traditional arts. On this page, we will learn a little about religions in Japan, the different ethnic groups in Japan, the language spoken in Japan, Japan's educational system, Japanese family structure, Japanese jobs, Japanese food and music, Japan's holiday and festivals, Japanese architecture, Japan's performing arts, and lastly, Japan's sports. Japan has had a blend of traditional Asian influences as well as a more modern Western-influenced culture.

Religions

 * Shintoism - 83.9%
 * Buddhism - 71.4%
 * Christianity - 2%
 * Other - 7.8%
 * note: total adherents exceeds 100% because many people practice both Shintoism and Buddhism. (CIA:TheWorldFactBook, 2011)

Ethnic groups
(cia.gov, 2011)
 * Japanese - 98.5%
 * Koreans - 0.5%
 * Chinese - 0.4%
 * Others - 0.6%

Languages:
Japan's national language is Japanese. In Japan, there are 15 different recognized languages. The two major language spoken in Japan are Japonic and Ainu languages. Although Japan has one main spoken language, it has three written languages: //hiragana//, //katakana//, and //kanji//. 0.5% of Koreans and 0.4% of Chinese people living in Japan speak their native languages. Many Japanese people speak a couple different languages and Japanese students learn English as a second language in school. The English language is Japan's main foreign language. The Japanese language is and is becoming more and more popular around the world. (Wikipedia.com, 2011)

Educational system
The schooling system in Japan is segmented along the lines of 6-3-3-4. Students spend six years in the elementary school, three years of middle school, three years of high school, and four years of University (college). School's in Japan consist of three terms: a summer, winter, and spring which is followed by a vacation period. Each school year begins in April and ends in March of the following year. The Japanese educational system models the American and European educational systems. The elementary school curriculum covers Japanese, social studies, mathematics, science, music, arts and handicrafts, homemaking and physical education. More than 90% of all students graduate from high school and around 40% graduate from University or Junior college. 100% of all Japanese students finish elementary school and there is a 100% literacy rate for elementary students; Japan has the highest literacy rate in the world since the Edo period. Many other countries admire Japan's educational system and have studied the system closely to try and mimic it. (education-in-japan.info, 2007). *What is the same or different about your school and school's in Japan?



Family structure [[image:1920sfamily29.jpg width="643" height="410" align="left" caption="Traditional Japanese family"]]
Kazoku is the Japanese word for family. The Japanese family structure is similar to one of the United States. Most Japanese families consist of a mother, father, and children (today most Japanese families consist of one or two children). Historically speaking, women could not own or control property or select spouses. At the end of World War II, the allied occupation forces established a new family ideology based on equal rights. Thus, women from that point on were able to choose who they wanted to marry and their parents did not have to force them through an arranged marriage. However, the oldest son in a Japanese family succeeds to the headship of his family and must live with his parents after marriage. If the older son is not available or able to become the headship, the younger son will, and finally, the daughter. During the 1980's, the Japanese family structure started to diverge from those in the United States. Japan has a very strong sense of family and will remain that way forever.(wikipedia.com)

Typical Japanese jobs
Just like here in the United States, Japan offers a multitude of diverse jobs and careers. Think of any job here and I can almost promise you that Japan has it too! From physicians, educators, construction workers, businessmen/women, farmers, retail personnel, and so on, Japan has it all. Japan's ten most popular job occupations are: (myfatpocket.com, 2011)
 * 1) adult filmmaker
 * 2) teacher
 * 3) fishermen
 * 4) yakuza (members of organized crime syndicates)
 * 5) manga writers
 * 6) models
 * 7) reality tv stars
 * 8) physical therapists
 * 9) engineers
 * 10) chefs

Typical food of Japan
A typical Japanese meal consists of a bowl of rice (gohan), a bowl of miso soup (miso shiru), pickled vegetables (tsukemono), and fish or meat. A substitution of rice could be a type of noodle such as udon, soba, and ramen. Some famous Japanese dishes are:

**Sushi**- Raw seafood (usually tuna, prawns or squid) is placed upon a ball of rice laced with vinegar and is served with cucumber, pickled radish, and cooked egg. **Domburi** - A bowl of rice topped with tempura, egg and chicken, tonkatsu, and beef. **Onigiri** - Rice balls made of cooked rice wrapped in nori seaweed. They are lightly salted and often contain an additional item of food in the center such as umeboshi (pickled Japanese plum), tuna, or salmon. **Fried Rice** - A stir fry that consists of rice, peas, egg, Japanese leek, carrots, and pork. **Chazuke** - A dish consisted of rice, green tea, salmon, and tarako (cod roe). **Kayu**- watery, soft cooked rice that resembles oatmeal. It is a suitable dish for using left over rice and is often served to sick people because it can be digested easily. (japan-guide.com, 2008)

Japanese music
There are many different types of Japanese music. Much like the United States, people in Japan listen to several different types of music (even American music). Some of the very traditional and widely known music of Japan are listed below. media type="youtube" key="otqATK1zF6o" height="250" width="448" align="right"

**Gagaku**:This is the oldest type of Japanese traditional music. In the past this was played during court in China and Korea.

**Biwagaku**:This type of music is played with a kind of guitar with four strings called the Biwa.

**Nohgaku**: This type of music consists of a chorus, the Hayashi flute, the Tsuzumi drum, and other instruments during Noh performances.

**Sokyoku**: This type of music is played with a type of Zither with 13 strings called a Koto.

**Shakuhachi**: This type of music is played with a bamboo flute that is approximately 55 cm long, it is called the shakuhachi.

**Shamisenongaku**:This type of music is played with a kind of guitar with only three strings, it is called the shamisen,

**Minyo**: are Japanese folk songs. (japan-guide.com, 2008)

Japan's Holiday's and Festivals
January 1 - **New Years** Second Monday of January - **Coming of Age** February 3 - **Beginning of Spring** February 11 - **National Foundation Day** February 14 - **Valentine's Day** March 3 - **Doll's Festival** March 14 - **White Daymedia type="youtube" key="7kQQcc0_SZM" height="315" width="560"** Around March 20 - **Equinox Day** April 29 - **Showa Day** May 3 - **Constitution Day** May 4 - **Greenery Day** May 5 - **Children's Day** July/August 7 - **Star Festival** July/Ausust 13-15 - **Obonmedia type="youtube" key="6yFQ59SbZUE" height="315" width="560"** Third Monday of September - **Respect for the Aged Day** Around September 23 - **Autumn Equinox Day** November 15 - **Seven-Five-Three** November 23 - La**bour Thanksgiving Day** December 24-25 - **Christmas** December 31 - **New Year's Eve** (This information was received from www.japan-guide.com)
 * For Japan this is the most important holiday. Homes and entrance gates are decorated with ornaments made of pine, bamboo, and plum trees. It is tradition to visit a shrine or temple of this day.
 * When men and women turn 20, this day is celebrated. Twenty is the age considered as the beginning of adulthood. Turning 20 years old also is the legal age for voting, drinking, and smoking.
 * This is not a national holiday but it is celebrated at shrines and temples nationwide. This is a ritual where people throw roasted beans around their houses and at temples and shrines around the country. When throwing the beans, you are supposed to shout "Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!" ("Devils out, happiness in"). Afterwards you should pick up and eat the number of beans, which corresponds to your age.
 * This is a national holiday that celebrates the first Japanese emperor who was crowned.
 * Japanese women give chocolate to men on this day. One month later, men return the favors.
 * This is a girl's holiday where families wish their daughters/sisters a successful and happy life. Dolls are displayed in the house with peach blossoms. (Bad fortune is transferred to the dolls and removed).
 * This is the opposite of Valentine's day; men give cakes or chocolate to the women.
 * Graves are visited during the week of the Equinox Day.
 * The birthday of former Emperor Showa. Before 2007, April 29 was known as Greenery Day.
 * This national holiday honors the new constitution that was made after the war.
 * Until 2006, Greenery Day was celebrated on April 29, the former Emperor Showa's birthday, due to the emperor's love for plants and nature. It is now celebrated on May 4 and is part of the Golden Week.
 * This is the Boy's Festival . Families pray for the health and future success of their sons by hanging up carp streamers and displaying samurai dolls, both symbolizing strength, power and success in life.
 * During this festival, people write their wishes down on a piece of paper and hang the piece of paper on a specially erected bamboo tree, hoping that their wishes will become true.
 * A festival in order to commemorate deceased ancestors. Traditionally, lanterns are hung in front of houses to guide the ancestors' spirits, obon dances (bon odori) are performed, graves are visited and food offerings are made at house altars and temples.
 * This is a national holiday that celebrates and respects the elderly and their life longevity.
 * During this holiday, graves are visited during the week of Autumn Equinox Day.
 * Girls of age three and seven and boys of age three and five are celebrated on Shichigosan, and it is prayed for their good health and growth.
 * This is a national holiday that honors people in the labor force.
 * This celebration came to Japan through Europeans in the 16th century. People in Japan eat a special Christmas meal and exchange gifts with friends and family.
 * Japanese visit temples and shrines at midnight where the temple bells are rung repeatedly.

Japanese architecture


One of Japan's most spectacular and surviving castles. The Himeji was never destroyed throughout any wars or natural disasters and still remains in its original form.Click here for more about Japanese traditional architecture!

**Japanese Modern culture**



**Japanese Gardens**



= Traditions/Performing Arts =

Theater
Japan has many traditional and unique forms of performing arts that include kabuki, noh, kyogen, and bunruka. Kabuki is a form of classical theater that evolved in the seventeenth century. The performers are dressed in flashy costumes, wear intense make-up, and use technology and mechanical devices in order to create special effects on stage. The plays symbolize the Medieval and Edo periods from the past and all the actors are males (even those playing female roles). Noh is Japan's oldest form of musical theater. Noh performances tell a story through dialogue, singing, musical accompaniment, and dance. The lead or main actor in a Noh performance wears a wooden mask and dresses in a colorful costume or embroidered silk. The purpose of the mask is to depict a ghost, young boy, old women/man, a divine figure, and etc. Kyogen is a classical comic theater that is performed with stylized actions and lines. Kyogen performance are staged between Noh performances. Bunraku is a type of puppet theater that is performed with an accompaniment of music and narrative singing. Bunraku is one of the world's most refined puppet theater performances. (kidswebjapan.org, 2011)



Tea ceremony
Tea ceremonies (sado or chado) are part of Japan's traditional culture. Tea ceremony is a highly structured way to prepare green tea. During tea ceremony the tea is made and served in a particular way. Tea ceremony requires a wide range of knowledge and sensitivity. Sado is known to explore the purpose of life and encourages an appreciation of nature. (kidswebjapan.org)



Anime
Japanese anime (animated shows) originated in the 1960's in Japan and have spread to places all over the world. Anime can be both hand-drawn or computer-animated. Anime is animated cartoons that are used in television series, films, video games, commercials and internet sites. Some famous series consist of Astro Boy, Doraemon, Sailor Moon, and Dragonball Z. (wikipedia.com, 2011)

= Sports =

Baseball is one of the most popular spectator sports in Japan. Japan has six professional baseball teams in the Central League and six in the Pacific League; all together Japan has twelve professional baseball teams! At the end of the 140 games that each team plays, the two top teams play in the Japan Series. School children also play baseball in amateur leagues through little league or school baseball clubs. Japan also has a National High-School Baseball Championship, which is held twice a year. Soccer is also very popular in Japan and is becoming more popular every year. In fact, many Japanese players have gone over seas to join the top European leagues. Martial arts is also very popular in Japan. There are several different types of martial arts that are famous in Japan, these include judo, kendo, karate-do, and aikido. In judo, the key to overcoming an opponent is taking advantage of their strengths. Judo is considered an Olympic event beginning in 1964. Kendo is Japanese fencing which includes bamboo swords and protective gear. Kendo has gained much attention over seas. Karate-do is a type of martial arts that only involves hands and feet and no protective gear is worn. Karate-do was originated in China and spread to Japan. Sumo wrestling is Japan's national sport in which the opponents wear there hair like an ancient warrior, wear only a special silk belt, and fight with only their bare hands. In school, the two most popular boy sports are soccer and baseball while the two most popular girl sports are tennis and volleyball.Think about the sports here in America, what are the similarities and differences? (kidswebjapan.org)