Japanese Japanese CultureCulture

By Grace WilliamsonBy Grace Williamson

““Shinto” means “The Way of the Gods”.Shinto” means “The Way of the Gods”.

ShintoismShintoism

““ 神道”の意味は、“神の道”です。神道”の意味は、“神の道”です。

Shintoism is based upon various beliefs:Shintoism is based upon various beliefs:

• Kami (Kami ( かみかみ ) – the belief of spirits within objects such as animals, plants, ) – the belief of spirits within objects such as animals, plants, rocks, rivers, mountains, thunder, wind, trees, the Sun etc.rocks, rivers, mountains, thunder, wind, trees, the Sun etc.

•Polytheism – The belief of more than one deity (gods or goddesses)Polytheism – The belief of more than one deity (gods or goddesses)

•Animism – Similar to Kami, the belief of spirits in rivers, plants etc.Animism – Similar to Kami, the belief of spirits in rivers, plants etc.

•Ritual purity – the cleansing of the body and soul with a purification ritual.Ritual purity – the cleansing of the body and soul with a purification ritual.

•Matsuri (Matsuri ( まつり）まつり） - Traditional festivals- Traditional festivals

•Mythology – the belief of ancient mythology, for example; how Japan was Mythology – the belief of ancient mythology, for example; how Japan was created by gods.created by gods.

The Four Forms Of ShintoThe Four Forms Of Shinto““ 神道” 神道” has been divided into four different forms:has been divided into four different forms:

•こしつしんとう　こしつしんとう　– – Imperial House ShintoImperial House Shinto

•しゅはしんとう しゅはしんとう – – Sectarian ShintoSectarian Shinto

•民族神道 民族神道 – – Folk ShintoFolk Shinto

•神社神道 神社神道 – – Shrine ShintoShrine Shinto

これは、ふじ山これは、ふじ山の神道の神社での神道の神社です。す。

民族神道では、民族神道では、いろいろな道いろいろな道の儀式がありの儀式があります。ます。In Folk shinto there In Folk shinto there are various rites of are various rites of passage.passage.

Shinto Rights Of PassageShinto Rights Of Passage1.1. ““ はつみやもうではつみやもうで” ” is when a new-born baby is when a new-born baby

first visits the local shrine, and so the deity first visits the local shrine, and so the deity recognises it as a member of the community.recognises it as a member of the community.

2.2. ““ しちごさん” しちごさん” is when boys in their fifth year, is when boys in their fifth year, and girls in their third and seventh year, visit a and girls in their third and seventh year, visit a shrine to report their healthy growth and receive shrine to report their healthy growth and receive a blessing.a blessing.

3.3. ““ せいじんのひ”　せいじんのひ”　 is the Coming-Of-Age festival is the Coming-Of-Age festival held on the second Monday in January. It held on the second Monday in January. It celebrates Japanese citizens becoming aged 20, celebrates Japanese citizens becoming aged 20, and often the youths visit shrines to receive a and often the youths visit shrines to receive a blessing.blessing.

4.4. ““ けっこんしき” けっこんしき” is the Traditional Marriage is the Traditional Marriage Ceremony. The couple go to a shrine to report to Ceremony. The couple go to a shrine to report to their ancestors that they have been married, and their ancestors that they have been married, and are welcomed into the community as new are welcomed into the community as new members.members. しちごさんしちごさん

FestivalsFestivalsIn Japan, there are various festivals in order to celebrate various things.In Japan, there are various festivals in order to celebrate various things.

Some are on fixed days:Some are on fixed days:

• せいじんのひせいじんのひ (Coming Of Age) – 2(Coming Of Age) – 2ndnd Monday in JanuaryMonday in January

• ひなまつりひなまつり (Doll Festival) – 3(Doll Festival) – 3rdrd March March

• たなばたたなばた (Star Festival) – 7(Star Festival) – 7thth July July

Some take place over multiple days:Some take place over multiple days:

•せつぶんせつぶん – – Division of seasonsDivision of seasons

•えんにちえんにち – – Temple days related to Kami Temple days related to Kami and/or Buddhaand/or Buddha

Some festivals are celebrated in other cultures:Some festivals are celebrated in other cultures:

•Valentine’s DayValentine’s Day

•ChristmasChristmas

•New YearNew Year

FashionFashionTraditional Japanese-style clothing includes Traditional Japanese-style clothing includes きもきものの , , ゆかたゆかた , and wearing , and wearing かたな かたな swords for swords for display purposes.display purposes.

Kimonos Kimonos from from 19381938

Kimonos are Kimonos are worn for worn for weddings, and weddings, and are very are very extravagantextravagant

YAMANBA!YAMANBA!‘‘ やまんば’ やまんば’ is derived from ‘is derived from ‘ やまーうば’やまーうば’ which is the name of a which is the name of a

mountain hag in Japanese folklore. The fashion trend is very tanned skin, mountain hag in Japanese folklore. The fashion trend is very tanned skin, incredibly bright pastel coloured make up and blonde hair.incredibly bright pastel coloured make up and blonde hair.Some even dye their hair in bright coloursSome even dye their hair in bright colours

This fashion is a very extreme fashion in Japan; many people who This fashion is a very extreme fashion in Japan; many people who follow it do not look Japanese. They are like caricatures of blonde follow it do not look Japanese. They are like caricatures of blonde Caucasian women.Caucasian women.

GanguroGanguroThe The がんぐろがんぐろ fashion also follows the trend of fashion also follows the trend of light hair and tanned skin, but it much less extreme light hair and tanned skin, but it much less extreme than than やまんばやまんば ..

The clothes are generally mini skirts, platform The clothes are generally mini skirts, platform boots, and sometimes lots of rings, bracelets and boots, and sometimes lots of rings, bracelets and necklaces.necklaces.

It peaked around the year 2000, and is still popular It peaked around the year 2000, and is still popular today.today.

KogyaruKogyaru‘‘ こぎゃる’こぎゃる’ is the least extreme of the three fashions.is the least extreme of the three fashions.

In this trend, the girls dye their hair to light browns and In this trend, the girls dye their hair to light browns and blondes, but do not tan or wear over-the-top make-up.blondes, but do not tan or wear over-the-top make-up.

The clothes are miniskirts and platform shoes, in nice The clothes are miniskirts and platform shoes, in nice light colours.light colours.

食べ物！食べ物！In Japan, the common staple foods are rice, bread and noodles. Also, because In Japan, the common staple foods are rice, bread and noodles. Also, because Japan is an island country, they eat a lot of sea food.Japan is an island country, they eat a lot of sea food.

‘‘ おにぎりおにぎり’ ’ Rice ballsRice balls

‘‘ うどんうどん’ ’ noodlesnoodles

Japanese breadJapanese bread

魚と肉魚と肉‘‘ てんぷら’ てんぷら’ is fried fritters, is fried fritters, commonly made with shrimp or commonly made with shrimp or prawns, but also made with squid, prawns, but also made with squid, pepper, sweet potato, lotus root pepper, sweet potato, lotus root and onion. Only the freshest fish and onion. Only the freshest fish and vegetables are used. A special and vegetables are used. A special sauce ten-tsuyu is used as a dip. sauce ten-tsuyu is used as a dip.

YakitoriYakitori Often eaten with sake in a bar is Often eaten with sake in a bar is やきやきとりとり . This is similar to a shish kebab . This is similar to a shish kebab and is generally made from chicken and is generally made from chicken and grilled on bamboo skewers over and grilled on bamboo skewers over charcoal. As the meat is grilled, it is charcoal. As the meat is grilled, it is dipped into a sweetened soy-based dipped into a sweetened soy-based source to give it a very Japanese source to give it a very Japanese

flavour. flavour.

Shabu ShabuShabu Shabu しゃぶしゃぶしゃぶしゃぶ is a typical example of is a typical example of

such a dish and is particularly suitable for such a dish and is particularly suitable for a large gathering. At the centre of the a large gathering. At the centre of the

table is a large pot of simmering stock. table is a large pot of simmering stock. The guests are invited to dip slices of beef The guests are invited to dip slices of beef and vegetable in the stock to cook them. and vegetable in the stock to cook them.

The cooked food is then dipped into a The cooked food is then dipped into a choice of sauces. When all the meat and choice of sauces. When all the meat and

vegetables have been cooked, the vegetables have been cooked, the enriched stock is served as soupenriched stock is served as soup

How To Make Rice BallsHow To Make Rice Balls• Put half a cup of cooked steamed rice into a rice bowl.Put half a cup of cooked steamed rice into a rice bowl.

• Make a small dent in the middle of the rice and gently push the filling in.Make a small dent in the middle of the rice and gently push the filling in.

• Wet your hands, and rub some salt into them. Hold the rice in the rice bowl between your palms. Wet your hands, and rub some salt into them. Hold the rice in the rice bowl between your palms. Form the rice into a round or a triangle, by pressing lightly with your both palms. Roll the rice ball Form the rice into a round or a triangle, by pressing lightly with your both palms. Roll the rice ball on your hands a few times, pressing lightly. on your hands a few times, pressing lightly.

• Wrap the rice bowl in a strip of ‘Wrap the rice bowl in a strip of ‘ のり’のり’ seaweed.seaweed.

Food ArtFood ArtIn Japan, the presentation of food is very In Japan, the presentation of food is very important. All meals are set out in a precise important. All meals are set out in a precise way, and often rice meals are made into way, and often rice meals are made into cute shapes.cute shapes.

とてもかわいい！とてもかわいい！

Japanese PaintingJapanese PaintingThe style of painting in Japan has changed over the The style of painting in Japan has changed over the eras; from eras; from やまとーえやまとーえ in the in the へいあんへいあん and and かまくらかまくら eras to the eras to the すいぼくが　すいぼくが　 ink paintings in the ink paintings in the むろまちむろまち era, to the era, to the ようがようが western-style paintings in the western-style paintings in the めいじめいじ era.era.

やまとーえやまとーえ style (8style (8thth century)century) 。。 These often These often show stories or the show stories or the beauty of nature.beauty of nature.

すいぼくがすいぼくが (14(14thth century)century) 。。 This is also This is also called ‘called ‘ すみえ’すみえ’ and is and is done using an ink stick.done using an ink stick.

ようがようが style (19style (19thth century)century). These are . These are created in oil, water-created in oil, water-colour and acrylic colour and acrylic paints.paints.

Japanese PoetryJapanese PoetryIn ancient times, Japanese poetry was written in Chinese, but in In ancient times, Japanese poetry was written in Chinese, but in the 19the 19thth century a new trend came, and since them there have century a new trend came, and since them there have been been たんかたんか , , はいくはいく and and しし poetry.poetry.

たんかたんか consists of five units, usually split into 5 lines when translated into consists of five units, usually split into 5 lines when translated into romanised languages, and follows the romanised languages, and follows the moramora pattern 5-7-5-7-7. This form is much pattern 5-7-5-7-7. This form is much older than Haiku. older than Haiku. In ancient times poems of this form were called In ancient times poems of this form were called はんかはんか (“reverse poem”), since the (“reverse poem”), since the 5-7-5-7-7 form derived from the conclusion (5-7-5-7-7 form derived from the conclusion (envoienvoi) of a ) of a ちょうかちょうか . . Sometimes a Sometimes a ちょうかちょうか had two envois.had two envois.The The ちょうかちょうか belowbelow is followed by an envoi, written by Okura: is followed by an envoi, written by Okura:

銀も 銀も Shirogane mo Shirogane mo What are they to me,What are they to me,金も玉も 金も玉も Kogane mo tama mo Kogane mo tama mo Silver, or gold, or jewels?Silver, or gold, or jewels?何せんに 何せんに Nanisen ni  Nanisen ni   How could they everHow could they everまされる宝 まされる宝 Masareru takara Masareru takara Equal the greater treasureEqual the greater treasure子にしかめやも 子にしかめやも Koni shikame yamo Koni shikame yamo That is a child? They can notThat is a child? They can not

Japanese PoetryJapanese Poetryはいく はいく poetry is similar to poetry is similar to たんか たんか poetry, but has less lines. The moraspoetry, but has less lines. The moras have the structure 5-7-5. have the structure 5-7-5. はいく はいく generally contain a generally contain a きご きご (seasonal (seasonal reference) and a reference) and a きれじ きれじ (which the English equivalent is a punctuation (which the English equivalent is a punctuation mark). They were originally called mark). They were originally called ほっかほっか , but at the end of the 19th century , but at the end of the 19th century It was changed to its current name by It was changed to its current name by まさおか　しき。まさおか　しき。

古池や古池や Furuike yaFuruike ya Old pond…Old pond…

蛙　飛込む蛙　飛込む Kawazu tobikomuKawazu tobikomu A frog leaps inA frog leaps in

水の音水の音 Mizu no otoMizu no oto Water’s sound.Water’s sound.

このはいくは‘このはいくは‘ばしょうばしょう’によってかかれまし’によってかかれました。た。　　　　

折り紙！折り紙！Origami comes from the Origami comes from the words ‘words ‘ おる’おる’ meaning “to meaning “to fold” and ‘fold” and ‘ かみ’ かみ’ meaning meaning “paper”.“paper”.

The paper used is The paper used is usually square, very usually square, very fine and has intricate fine and has intricate designs on one side.designs on one side.

The goal of this art is to The goal of this art is to create a representation of create a representation of an object using geometric an object using geometric folds, without using glue folds, without using glue or cutting.or cutting.

Examples Of NetsExamples Of Nets

かえるかえる りゅりゅうう

ありがとう

ありがとう

　

ございま

　

ございま

す！す！