Culture– category –

Have you ever noticed that Japan seems to really value cats in their pop culture and designs? From Hello Kitty to Maneki Neko, Japan has made cats icons in many ways, representing different elements of Japanese culture.

Ikebana is the Japanese way in which flowers are arranged and brought to life. Today, it is a form of art that is embraced by modern art and design. Ikebana is more than just a simple arrangement of flowers, as it takes on a more spiritual and artistic meaning to those who practice it.

Christmas is a holiday that is cherished by many countries around the globe. In Japan, Christmas Eve is celebrated with more enthusiasm than Christmas day, and is considered a holiday for lovers.

The culture of toilets is not something you traditionally hear anyone talking about, especially in the United States, but in Japan toilets and personal hygiene in general are extremely important both in public and private spaces.

In Japanese culture, the stigma of eating alone that we experience is not a thing. Rather than feeling embarrassed or lonely while eating alone in public, Japanese people value solo dining, as it allows them quality alone time to enjoy their food!

Japanese artwork often involves the natural world in a beautiful and meaningful way. From museum walls in Japan to posters taped on an American college student’s wall- these pieces have made a lasting impact on the world’s appreciation of art and Japanese culture.

In Japan, ringing in the New Year is all about unique celebrations and traditions that help you prepare for what the upcoming year will bring. Here are some staple custom for celebrating New Year in japan.

Folktales are something we hear as children and continue to stick with us our entire lives, until it is time to tell them to the next generation. This is true for all countries and cultures, including Japan.

When looking at Japan’s top 5 as of the month of October, you can find a mix of international musical influences as well as some Japanese rising stars- from BTS to Fujii Kaze. Here is my opinion on some of the most popular songs in Japan.

In the United States, a lot of the magical films of our childhood were from Disney, but in Japan’s children Studio Ghibli is where imagination gets its wings. Here are three great Studio Ghibli movies that are a must-watch!

Even in the world, the meanings of numbers change from country to country, and the impressions of numbers in a country often are deeply influenced by the culture of that country. This is also true in Japan.

What would you do if bugs were in your house? To the Japanese, spiders are considered very good things and should never be killed. Here is why spiders should not be killed, and when they should not be killed.

Today, about 14% of Hawaii’s population has Japanese ancestry. This makes this ethnic group the second largest in Hawaii. This is due in part to the 900 Japanese immigrants that arrived in Hawaii on February 8, 1885. These immigrants cam...

When visiting another country, it's best to have a basic understanding of how their government systems function. The Japanese government is a dominant-party bicameral parliamentary constitutional monarchy. This means that it has a democr...

Saint Patrick's day in Japan is celebrated with a lot of excitement! Despite being far away from Ireland, Japan’s economic ties to Ireland have led to an enthusiasm for Irish culture. In many ways this holiday is a combination of the two...

The Japanese government is a dominant-party bicameral parliamentary constitutional monarchy. This government consists of multiple branches of government and the sharing of power between many different people. These people and positions a...

Every New Year in Japan, thousands of people line up to buy "lucky bags" called "fukubukuro". A lucky bag is a bag filled with everything from clothing to food that the store sells, and the items are secret.

Manga is Japan’s style of comics or graphic novels. This style was developed in the late 19th century in Japan, although elements of it predate artistic elements found in the 12th century. Within Japan, manga refers to comics and cartoon...

There tends to be some confusion between what martial arts are from Japan and which come from China. Yet, there is a fundamental difference between these styles of martial arts, influenced by their respective origin countries.

Every year in Japan, those who turn twenty get to experience a day decided by them! Seijin Shiki, sometimes called adult’s day, is a holiday in Japan where the coming of age into adulthood is celebrated.