Monday, May 17, 2010

Things Japanese People Do in Their Free Time

*Sumo

Sumo is a combat sport where two Rikishis or Sumo wrestlers fight in the dohyo ring utilizing various winning techniques (Kimarite). This sport is widely acknowledged internationally as a typical national Japanese sport with a long history. Intensive sparring bouts of power or tremendous throws attract everyone from children to seniors and this sport still retains a deep-rooted popularity today. Sumo has an official ranking list called "Banzuke" that shows the comparative strength of Rikishis, and the higher ranks are called Makuuchi and Rikishis with ability in Makuuchi join the San-yaku (Komusubi, Sekiwake, Ozeki) or three highest ranks below Yokozuna. At the top, there is Yokozuna. Official grand Sumo tournaments are held 6 times a year. Each tournament lasts 15 days, and the Rikishi gaining the most wins takes first prize. The results of the grand Sumo tournament greatly affect their ranking in the "Banzuke" for the next tournament.





*Fugi Rook Festival





Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2007, the Fuji Rock Festival is the largest rock music festival in Japan where nearly 100,000 people congregate every year. The venue has been set at the Naeba Ski Resort since 1999, and the schedule has been revised to a total of 3 days and more stages have been added since then. Big-name headliners perform at the festival each year, so this event gets a lot of attention from overseas media as well. Although it is called a rock festival, a wide range of artists perform there, from grand old names of rock music to up-and-coming new faces, from jazz to techno musicians. The real thrill of this festival is that you can enjoy the music at your leisure in the grandeur of nature. Moreover, other attractions such as food booths and massage tents are set up for your pleasure.


*Tokyo International Film Festival

One of the 12 largest film festivals in the world, the Tokyo International Film Festival started in 1985 under the authorization of the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) formed by 24 countries. This film festival has made a significant contribution to Japan's film industry and culture as the only authorized international film festival with tradition and prestige.

Kyoto



Kyoto was Japan's capital and the emperor's residence from 794 until 1868. It is now the country's seventh largest city with a population of 1.4 million people and a modern face.

Over the centuries, Kyoto was destroyed by many wars and fires, but due to its historic value, the city was dropped from the list of target cities for the atomic bomb and spared from air raids during World War II. Countless temples, shrines and other historically priceless structures survive in the city today.

Nijo Castle (Nijojo)



The palace building, now known as Ninomaru ("secondary castle"), was completed in 1603 and enlarged by Ieyasu's grandson Iemitsu. It survives in its original form and is famous for its Momoyama architecture, decorated sliding doors and floors that squeak like nightingales when someone walks on them (a security measure against intruders).

Nishiki Market



Nishiki Market is a narrow, shopping street, lined by more than one hundred shops. Various kinds of fresh and processed foods including many Kyoto specialties, such as pickles, Japanese sweets, dried food, sushi, and fresh seafood and vegetables are sold.

Ginkakuji



Ginkakuji, the Silver Pavilion, is a Zen temple at the foot of Kyoto's Higashiyama ("eastern mountains"). The temple is formally known as Tozan Jishoji.

In 1482, shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa built his retirement villa on the grounds of today's temple. A few years later, the Silver Pavilion, modeled after Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion), was constructed. Plans to cover the pavilion in silver were never realized. The villa was converted into a Zen temple after Yoshimasa's death in 1490.

Osaka



Osaka is Japan's third largest and second most important city. It has been the economic powerhouse of the Kansai region for many centuries.

Osaka was formerly known as Naniwa. Before the Nara Period, when the capital used to be moved with the reign of each new emperor, Naniwa was once Japan's capital city, the first one ever known.

In the 16th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi chose Osaka as the location for his castle, and the city may have become Japan's capital if Tokugawa Ieyasu had not terminated the Toyotomi lineage after Hideyoshi's death and moved his government to distant Edo (Tokyo)

The Osaka Bay Area



The Osaka Bay Area is a collection of young city districts on man-made waterfront islands and peninsulas, built to accommodate Osaka's sprawling growth. The districts host a variety of tourist attractions, such as museums, theme parks, observatories and shopping centers. Osaka's domestic and international port facilities are also found in the area.

The National Art of Osaka



The National Art Museum of Osaka occupies two underground floors on Nakanoshima Island in central Osaka. The museum focuses on Japanese and foreign contemporary art, with exhibitions from the museum collection as well as rotating special exhibitions.

The museum's current building was opened in 2007 and was designed to represent the growth and shape of a bamboo plant. The facility was formerly housed in the Expo Museum of Fine Arts, built for the Osaka Expo in 1970.

The Umeda Building



The Umeda Sky Building is a spectacular high rise building in the Kita district of Osaka, near Osaka and Umeda Stations. It is also known as the "New Umeda City".
The 173 meter tall building consists of two main towers which are connected with each other by the "Floating Garden Observatory" on the 39th floor. The observatory offers a great view of the city for a 700 yen admission fee.

shitennoji temple



Shitennoji is the oldest state temple in Japan. It was founded in 593 by Prince Shotoku, who supported the introduction of Buddhism to Japan. Although the temple's buildings burned down several times throughout the centuries, they were always carefully reconstructed to reflect the original 6th century design.

Shitennoji's many impressive buildings include a five-storied pagoda and the Golden Hall in which Prince Shotoku is enshrined. There is also a turtle pond and the garden of Gokuraku-jodo, which represents the Buddhist paradise. A treasure house exhibits paintings, sculptures, scriptures and other valuable belongings of the temple.

Minami



Minami ("South") is one of Osaka's two major city centers. It is the city's most famous shopping and entertainment district, and is located around Namba Station. The other major city center is Kita ("North") which is located around Osaka and Umeda Stations.

Osaka Aquarium



Osaka Aquarium, also known as Kaiyukan, is located in the Tempozan Harbor Village of Osaka's bay area, and is one of Japan's most spectacular aquariums. It introduces various forms of life inhabiting the Pacific Rim in a well organized and impressive way.

Tokyo


-Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Tower
Tokyo is Japan's capital and the country's largest city.

Imperial Palace




Tokyo Imperial Palace, the residence of Japan's Imperial Family, stands on the former site of Edo Castle. The outer moats can be reached in a five minute walk from Tokyo Station.

Marunouchi Building (Marubiru)


Opened in 2002 just in front of Tokyo Station, the Marubiru is Marunouchi's new landmark. Shops and restaurants are located on the floors B1 to 6 as well as on the two top floors 35 and 36, while office and business space occupies the floors in between.

Tokyo station


Tokyo Station is one of Japan's busiest railway stations and the terminal of multiple shinkansen lines. The red brick building on the station's Marunouchi side was originally constructed in the Meiji Period. The station includes an art gallery, hotel and department store.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Japan's religion-Shinto

1.History
Shinto is an ancient Japanese religion. Starting about 500 BCE (or earlier) it was originally "an amorphous mix of nature worship, fertility cults, divination techniques, hero worship, and shamanism." 4 Its name was derived from the Chinese words "shin tao" ("The Way of the Gods") in the 8th Century CE. At that time:
The Yamato dynasty consolidated its rule over most of Japan.
Divine origins were ascribed to the imperial family.
Shinto established itself as an official religion of Japan, along with Buddhism.
The complete separation of Japanese religion from politics did not occur until just after World War II. The Emperor was forced by the American army to renounce his divinity at that time.
Unlike most other religions, Shinto has no real founder, no written scripts "godures, no body of religious law, and only a very loosely-organized priesthood.

2.Shinto belief

Shinto believes animisim so people think that all of nature have spirit. Kami(神) is the Japanese word for the spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith. Although the word is sometimes translated as "god" or "deity,"

3.Special events
-Setsubun


Setsubun (節分, Bean-Throwing Festival or Bean-Throwing Ceremony) is the day before the beginning of each season in Japan.[1][2] The name literally means "seasonal division", but usually the term refers to the spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun (立春) celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the Spring Festival (春祭, haru matsuri?). In its association with the Lunar New Year, Spring Setsubun can be and was previously thought of as a sort of New Year's Eve, and so was accompanied by a special ritual to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come. This special ritual is called mamemaki (豆撒き, lit. bean throwing).
-Shichi-go-san Shichi-Go-San (七五三, seven-five-three) is a traditional rite of passage and festival day in Japan for three and seven year-old girls and three and five year-old boys, held annually on November 15. As Shichi-Go-San is not a national holiday, it is generally observed on the nearest weekend.

4.Shinto Shrines
People visit shrines in order to pay respect to the kami or to pray for good fortune. Shrines are also visited during special events such as New Year, setsubun, shichigosan and other festivals. New born babies are traditionally brought to a shrine a few days after birth, and many couples hold their wedding ceremonies there.
The following structures and objects can be typically found at a shrine:

-Torii

One or more torii gates mark the approach and entrance to a shrine. They come in various colors and are made of various materials. Most torii, however are made of wood, and many are painted orange and black.

-Komainu
Komainu are a pair of guardian dogs or lions, often found on each side of a shrine's entrance. In the case of Inari Shrines, they are foxes (see picture) rather than dogs.

-Purification trough
Found near the entrance, the water of these fountains is used for purification. You are supposed to clean your hands and mouth before approaching the main hall. More details

-Main and offering hall
Depending on the shrine's architecture style, the main hall (honden) and offering hall (haiden) are two separate buildings or combined into one building. The main hall's innermost chamber contains the shrine's sacred object, while visitors make their prayers and offerings at the offering hall. More details

-Stage


Stages for bugaku dance or noh theater performances can be found at some shrines.

-Ema
Shrine visitors write their wishes on these wooden plates and then leave them at the shrine in the hope that their wishes come true. Most people wish for good health, success in business, passing entrance exams, love or wealth.

-Omikuji
Omikuji are fortune telling paper slips found at many shrines and temples. Randomly drawn, they contain predictions ranging from daikichi ("great good luck") to daikyo ("great bad luck"). By tying the piece of paper around a tree's branch, good fortune will come true or bad fortune can be averted.

-Shimenawa
A shimenawa is a straw rope with white zigzag paper strips (gohei). It marks the boundary to something sacred and can be found on torii gates, around sacred trees and stones, etc. A rope similar to the shimenawa is also worn by yokozuna, the highest ranked sumo wrestlers, during ritual ceremonies.


5.How to visit shirie
Behave calmly and respectfully. You are not supposed to visit a shrine if you are sick, have an open wound or are morning because these are considered causes of impurity.

At the purification fountain near the shrine's entrance, take one of the ladles provided, fill it with fresh water and rinse both hands. Then transfer some water into your cupped hand, rinse your mouth and spit the water beside the fountain. You are not supposed to transfer the water directly from the ladle into your mouth or swallow the water. You will notice that quite a few visitors skip the mouth rinsing part or the purification ritual altogether.

At the offering hall, throw a coin into the offering box, bow deeply twice, clap your hands twice, bow deeply once more and pray for a few seconds. If there is some type of gong, use it before praying in order to get the kami's attention.


6.Japanese animation teaches about Shinto

-My neighbor Totoro

My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ, Tonari no Totoro), is a 1988 Japanese cartoon movie written and direactted by Studio Ghibli. In the movie the film follows the two young daughters of a professor and their interactions with friendly wood spirits in postwar rural Japan.
Hayao Miyazaki grew up in Japan so he learned a lot of things about Shinto. Hayao's animation teaches animism and the viewer watches that kami is important Japanese life. You can find several sprits in his animation.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Japanese manufacturing industry



Japan's major export industries include automobiles, consumer electronics (see Japanese consumer electronics industry), computers, semiconductors, and iron and steel. Not to mention copper as a very much used metal. Additional key industries in Japan's economy are petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, bioindustry, shipbuilding, aerospace, textiles, and processed foods.Japanese manufacturing industry is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels.

Japan flower


This is cherry blossom flower - the symbol of Japan. Japanese call it "Sacura."Sacura means the beauty of death.

Japanese



Japanese is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan. Japanese call their language "Nihongo." It is a member of the Japonic (or Japanese-Ryukyuan) language family. The Japanese language is written with a combination of three scripts: Chinese characters called kanji (漢字), and two syllabic scripts made up of modified Chinese characters, hiragana (ひらがな or 平仮名) and katakana (カタカナ or 片仮名). The Latin alphabet, rōmaji (ローマ字), is also often used in modern Japanese, especially for company names and logos, advertising, and when entering Japanese text into a computer.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Japan flag

This is national flag of Japan. Japan's flag consists of white background and a red circle in the middle. The white represents honesty and purity. The red circle represents the sun. Japan's name translates to "the land of rising sun."

Japan Geography

Japan is located in Estern Asia. It's an island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Korea. North Japan's climait is very different south. Japan's summer is hot and humid but winter is mild. They have rainy season from June to July.