Japanese Tradition- Beauty of Cherry Blossoms to Kimono

Japan (Japanese: 日本, [ɲihoɴ], also known as Nippon or Nihon is a land of samurai. Japanese society has always been rich in diversity, hiragana, and hard-working people. Japan has over 125 million inhabitants and is the 11th most populous country in the world.

About three-fourths of the country’s terrain is mountainous. Thats is the overview of Japan but in this blog post, we will discuss the Tradition of Japan and why people must visit Japan in their lives. Japanese people are always known for their hard work, it is one of the reasons why Japan is so rich in culture and heritage.

Japanese tradition and its significance

The traditions of any country evolve with time, and many cultures are extinct in the world. When we talk about Japan, South Korea has its own unique culture and is famous worldwide. Japanese culture emphasizes respect, harmony, and natural beauty.

Japan’s culture has changed a lot over time, from the Jōmon period to modern times. Japanese people are the offspring of the original Jōmon inhabitants. Origin if the Japanes culture originated from the Yayoi people who arrived in Japan from 1000 BCE to 300 CE. They mixed with the Jōmon people who were already there. Most Japanese people today have 80% Yayoi and 20% Jōmon ancestry.

Also, Multi Chinese dynasty influenced Japan. Japanese culture was influenced from ancient times to the Middle Ages. When we talk about modern culture, Japanese traditions are also influenced by Western Countries.

Historical Background of Japanese Tradition

When we read the history of Japan, their society and culture evolved with time. History mentions Japan has a unique and distinctive culture that developed through selective adaptation of foreign influences, especially from China and the West.

Some historical background of Japanese tradition based on:

1. Japan First’s capital was Nara which was established in 710 and the Imperial dynasty began. In this period, Buddhism was introduced from China. It became important in Japanese culture.
2. During the Heian period (794-1185), Japanese tradition flourished most. The Japanese imperial produced art, poetry, and prose. The world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji, was written by a court lady named Murasaki Shikibu around 1002.
3. In the late 12th century, the Feudal era started in Japan. And new warrior class was introduced in Japan which was known as samurai warrior.
4. From 1639 to 1853, Japan closed itself off from foreign trade and influence during the isolation period. This was done to preserve the stability and order of the feudal system, as well as to protect Japan from Western colonization.
5. Japan’s modernization period began in 1868 When the Meiji Restoration restored the emperor’s power. It led to open Japan to Westernization.
6. After World War II, in 1945, Japan was occupied by the United States. Japan adopted a pacifist constitution and a democratic system. Japan experienced rapid economic growth and social change, becoming one of the world’s most prosperous and influential nations.

What Is Japanese Traditional Clothing

1. Kimono

It is the national Dress of Japan. Kimono was influenced by the Chinese court in the Nara Period. The word “kimono” means ‘thing to wear on the shoulders’

2. Yukata

It is also another traditional dress in Japan. It is a cultural garment of Japanese society. A yukata (浴衣, lit. ’bathrobe’) is an unlined cotton summer kimono, worn on special occasions such as summer festivals.

The Yukata means “Bathing cloth”. It is indigo and white in color and features multicolored designs.

3. Happi coat

The happi coat is another form of traditional clothing. It is typically decorated with a family crest. Mostly it is blue in color, with red and black in design.

Japanese Traditional Wedding Dress

The elegance and beauty is full-on Wedding dresses when Japanese girls wear wedding dresses.

The bride wears a white wedding kimono called “uchikake” with a big white headdress. The headdress is bulky and hides the bride’s “horns” as a symbol of submission. The groom wears a formal black kimono called “montsuki” with his family’s symbol embroidered in white.

Japanese Tradition Tea

In Japanese culture, Tea has its own importance. So the Tea ceremony is performed in a unique way and it its has own value.

Tea ceremony, Japanese chadō or sadō (“way of tea”) or cha-no-yu (“hot-water tea”), is a ritualistic tradition of Japan. It is the practice that involves preparing tea, serving, and drinking green tea in a ceremonial manner. It is based on the principles of Zen Buddhism and that is why this is very famous worldwide.

 It started in China as a habit of Zen Buddhist monks and spread to Japan in the 8th century CE. It is a highly valuable region in Japan.

The host of the tea ceremony is called “teishu” and is a tea master who needs years of training to learn the art of tea preparation.

Festivals and Celebrations

The Japanese festivals are most famous not only in the USA but also in European countries due to their unique way of celebration.

1. Cherry Blossom Festival

Cherry Blossom Festival is very popular in Japan, also known as hanami in Japanese. Japanese people wear important dress during this festival and perform their rituals.

It is held during the spring. The most popular kinds of trees are the Japanese cherry tree, and sakura, which can be found all over the country. These special trees are also called Yoshino trees or “yedoensis“.

2. Tanabata

It is celebrated during the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi. Orihime represent stars Vega and Hikoboshi represent Altair.

The festival started in China during the Qixi Festival and was brought to Japan by Empress Kōken in 755. The celebration takes place on different days from July to August. During this period, people hung colorful papers called tanzaku on bamboo branches.

What Are What Are Japanese Traditional Food

The main part of Japanese cuisine is ingredients, the people of Japan use fresh ingredients for their cuisine.

1. Sushi

Sushi is a Japanese dish made of rice, raw fish, seafood, or vegetables. Sushi is a dish of vinegared rice topped or wrapped with raw fish, seafood, or vegetables. It is one of the most famous Japanese foods in the world and has many variations and styles.

2. Tempura and Ramen

Tempura is a dish of deep-fried fish, seafood, or vegetables. Ramen is a dish of wheat noodles in a rich broth with various toppings.

Other famous dishes of Japan are:

• Soba is a dish of thin buckwheat noodles that can be eaten hot or cold.
• Udon is a dish of thick wheat noodles that can be eaten hot or cold with different sauces or broths.
• Miso soup is a soup made from dashi and miso with various ingredients.
• Onigiri are rice balls filled with different ingredients and are a common snack or lunch item in Japan.
• Yakitori are skewers of grilled chicken seasoned with salt or sauce.
• Oden is a winter dish of various ingredients simmered in a broth and sold at convenience stores or street stalls in Japan.

What Are Japanese Traditions For Christmas

Chrismas is not Japan’s traditional festival but the popularity of Christmas increasing in Japan. Some special Christmas traditions in Japan include:

Romantic Christmas: People in Japan spend Christmas with their partners, making it a romantic time. Christmas Eve is like Valentine’s Day, with many couples going on dates.

Winter Illuminations: Japanese illumination displays during the Christmas season are amazing and can be seen all over Japan.

Kentucky for Christmas: Eating KFC on Christmas Day has become a tradition in Japan. The fast-food chain even has special Christmas-themed meals and promotions.

Christmas Markets: Many cities in Japan now have Christmas markets, like those in Europe.

Christmas Cake: A traditional Japanese Christmas cake is a sponge cake with strawberries and whipped cream.