Traditional Dances in Japan

Traditional Dances in Japan

In Japan, there are several forms of traditional dances but the most common forms are 'Bon Odori' and 'Mai'. Bon is a very popular festival of Japan that is celebrated every summer in all the prefectures of Japan including the urban areas. During the festival of Bon, Japanese people dance Odori, which grew out of Kaburi Drama in the Edo period. Odori is a simple dance for which you don't need to be a Japanese to dance Odori. It is generally oriented more towards the sentiments of males rather than females.

Bon Odori Japanese Traditional Dance

Mai is a traditional Japanese Dance that originated in the Western parts of Japan and it is traditionally performed at the houses of people rather than performing on the stage. Over the period, the traditional Japanese Dances have evolved into different forms including the modern versions that fuse the traditional dance with rock beats. Mai dance is generally influenced by the elegance and royalties associated with the Imperial Culture and Traditions. Kabuki, Noh Mai, Nihon Buyo, and Bon Odori are the most popular traditional dances of Japan.

NAPCO Ceramic

NAPCO Ceramic

NAPCO Ceramics from Japan were extremely prolific in the late 50s and early 60s. People all over the world loved NAPCO Ceramics especially the figurines and vintage items for Christmas and Holidays gifts. Apart from the common adorable figurines and collectibles, NAPCO was also specialized in manufacturing cute looking bone China miniature ceramics. National Potteries or NAPCO Ceramic Japan is the most famous name for Porcelain Ceramics and Antique Pottery kitchenware items, vintage products and other collectibles.I know many people who like to buy NAPCO Ceramic online; however, I have also come across several people that have been cheated, as the pictures displayed on the site are original while the products delivered are not genuine I mean, do not contain the original trademark of NAPCO Ceramic Japan or the products might be defective with scratch marks or cracks. In fact, nowadays, with the growing interest of people to have more and more antique ceramic products in their living room cabinets, many vintage shops have started organizing sales of NAPCO Ceramics from Japan.

NAPCO Ceramic

Facts about Japan

Facts about Japan

Japan, the Land of Rising Sun, lies in the Pacific Ocean. Japan is an Island Country with four major islands comprising more than 97% of the total land area of about 377,000 square kilometers. Politically, Japan follows Parliamentary Democracy with Constitutional Monarchy. The national language of Japan is Japanese with several regional variations in the dialects over the eastern and western Japan.

Japan flag Rising Sun

The population of  World's second largest economy Japan is 128 million people with Tokyo, the largest and capital city having a population of 30 million people. The currency of Japan is Yen. Japan is a major economic power of the world and it is the third largest nation in Purchasing Power Parity. In the G* group, Japan is the only Asian Country and currently Japan is the Non-Permanent Member in UN Security Council. Japan ranks tenth in the index of living standards and has the highest life expectancy in the entire world. Moreover, Japan has the third lowest Infant Morality Rate in the world.

Tokyo by night

Made in Japan

Made in Japan

Made in Japan is a tag behind every product that one likes to buy. Such is the popularity of Made in Japan or Made from Japan labels all over the world that it proves Japan's technological superiority and capabilities especially after the WWII. Nowadays, the world consumers seek goods manufactured in Japan and look for the label 'Made in Japan', be it a household consumable good or a giant industrial machinery, or equipments and its parts, electrical and electronic goods and many other products including the latest products in renewable energy such as solar or wind energy.

Besides the technological advances in automobiles and industrial sectors, Japan has also become a reputed name in the biomedical appliances and solar appliances. Besides the traditional use of Made in Japan, there is also an album by the name of 'Made in Japan', which was released by the English Rock Band Deep Purple in the year 1972 during their first tour to Japan. When you search the Internet for Made in Japan, you would end up with millions of results ranging from the common electronic goods to automobiles and its parts, Golf, cameras and many other gadgets.

Japan Celebrities

Japan Celebrities

Do you know that Japanese people keep a sort of photo book of their most favorite celebrities and fashion idols? Well, it is similar to what you have in the form of Celebrity Calendar in the westernized versions. Like any other country, the list of Japan Celebrities is an endless one that comprises of hundreds of film personalities, sports icon, political stars and many other top ranking leaders from various sectors.

Hiroshi, Matsumoto Hitoshi, Sakai Masaaki and Tashiro Masashi are some of the greatest comedian celebrities from Japan. On the realm of Japanese models, Ebihara Yuri, Josh Snow, Kanata Hongo, Yamada Yu, May J, and Fujiwara Norika are some of the top ranking models from Japan. Matsudaira Ken, Ishihara Yujiro, Watanabe ken, Seto Koji, and Fujiwara Tatsuya are few of the most popular Japanese Film Actors whereas on the forefront of Japanese Actresses, Aya Ueto, Ito Misaki, Koyuki and Yonekura Ryoko are the most loved names. There are many bloggers that run several gamuts about the hot Japan celebrity gossips but many of the celebrities share many common things such as fashion statements and culture.

Japan Celebritie Misaki Ito

Japan Celebritie Ebihara Yuri

Japan Celebritie Ken Watanabe

Japan Art

Japan Art

Apart from the world famous Japanese Ceramics and Potteries, Japan Art also encompasses a vast varieties of art styles including wooden and bronze sculptures, ink painting on silk and paper, Japan Anime (cartoons), and many other forms of folk music and architecture. Japan has a pretty long history and civilization dating back to centuries and along with it comes its myriads of art in tons of forms on hundreds of media.

Most of the early age Japan Art is associated with Buddhism; however, later on, starting from early ninth century, Japan started evolving its own art and developed indigenous forms of traditional Japanese Art and Paintings. Until a pretty long period, Japanese used to write with brushes instead of using pens and that is why, Japan has always been a leading nation in developing unique and aesthetic paintings. Woodblock prints, sculptures and Japanese Pottery remain as the most popular forms of Art in Japan. NAPCO Ceramic is a classic example of Japan Art. Nowadays, Japan being the second largest economy of the world, you can also find various modern forms of arts in Japan.

Japan Art

Unseen Japan

Unseen Japan

When you talk of Unseen Japan, it might mean to imply the largest portal that has collection of tons of pictures and DVD of Japanese Pornography. However, we do not intend to cover Unseen Japan from the point of view of pornography. We will talk about the unseen places and information about Japan. Japan is a country that has excelled to the status of super economic power because of integrated and harmonious culture which is far different from the westernized culture.


Japanese martial arts is one thing that can be termed as an unseen or overlooked traditions of art in Japan. Generally the tourists are attracted to the most published items of tourist attractions, which normally include the modern culture and heritage of Japan that come across when they travel by Bullet Trains in Japan. However, there are many unseen explorations in Japan that remain out of the tourist itineraries due to some or the other reasons. Zen Rock Gardens, Japanese Ryoanji Temples, some historical places, Kasturia Imperial Villa, and Japanese Palaces are few of the most unseen places where the tourists can relive the golden glories of Japanese traditions and the true colors of Japan.

Unseen Japan

Japan Religion

Japan Religion
In Japan, 99% of the population observe Buddhism or Shinto Religion. From the rest of the population, about 0.7% follow Christian religion and others comprise of mixed religion including Korean, Chinese and Filipino. Japanese government allows freedom of religion to all the people and that is why, you might come across Christians, Islams and Sikhs besides the Koreans and Chinese.

Shintoism or Buddhism is is the most commonly followed religion in Japan and in fact, Japan is the only major country where there are millions of Shinto people. Nachi Shrine or Temple is the most ancient place of worship for the Japanese Shinto people. Few of the original Shinto shrines were used to worship Sun, Rocks, Trees and many other things in the nature. People wanting to visit Shinto shrines are required to perform an act of purification before visiting these shrines. Apart from Shintoism and Buddhism, Japan is also witnessing the arrival of new religions such as Soka Gakkai, which is nothing but a Buddhist Sect that preaches the main motto of peace, culture and education.

Japanese temple

Japanese Customs and Traditions

Japanese Customs and Traditions


Japan is one of the few countries where some of the traditions and customs are followed rigidly in order to fulfill the expectations of social behavior. In westernized culture, you come across what is commonly known as Etiquette while in Japan, they have certain standard traditions such as Bowing, specialized use of chopsticks, gift-giving and hospitality. Some of the conventions, traditions and customs are restricted specific regions and thus it may not be followed all throughout Japan.

Many customs have also changed over historical traditions and some conventions have also entered into Japan from the Western Cultures. When it comes to family traditions and customs, Japanese follow more or less customs similar to many other Asian countries such as India, Indonesia and Thailand. In some part of Japan, it is as good as mandatory to conform to the region and religion specific customs and behaviors. Japanese are generally rigid about their customs and traditions and therefore they expect their visitors to follow the same until they are in the Land of Rising Sun.

Chopsticks

Naked Festival Entices Thousands To Ohara

Japanese men throw mikoshi (portable shrines) before carrying it into the sea during the Ohara Hadaka (naked) Festival on September 23, 2008 in Isumi City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The Ohara Hadaka Festival is celebrated by naked adult males to wish for the abundant crop and the prosperity of the year.

Japan Fun Facts

Japan Fun Facts

1. In Japan a watermelon costs around 250 - 300 USD and a musk-melon costs around 100 USD.
2. If you want to buy a Coca-Cola can from a vending machine, it would cost more than a dollar.
3. It is considered inappropriate behavior in Japan to blow your nose in public or tear gift wrappings, although you can smoke almost in every public place.
4. Japan has the longest reigning monarchy in the world.
5. They are the largest consumer of timber imported from the Amazon rain forests.
6. Japan has a high rate of smokers, with almost 60% of the population indulging in smoking.
7. The Japanese language incorporates four different forms of writing.
8. English happens to be the only foreign language taught in Japanese schools.
9. Rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner along with tea for lunches and dinners is a common Japanese diet habit.
10. There is a vending machine almost in every corner of its cities, where you can get beer, cigarettes, newspapers and cold drinks
11. Over 90% of the Japanese population buys a comic-magazine daily. Manga (Japanese animation) is more than 80% Of Japan's Book sales.
12. On 'Respect for the Aged Day' - one of the Japanese national holidays, Tobacco companies give away free cigarettes to the elderly outside Tokyo subway stations.
13. Noh, a traditional and popular Japanese theatre can last up to eight hours.
14. Here's a piece of piece of fun facts about Japan - Toilet seats in Tokyo are heated, and can also wash and dry.
15. Every year around Cherry blossom flower festival the weather forecasts on Television and Radio include reports on the advance of the Sakura zensen - the Cherry Blossom trees front.
16. Male kabuki actors play the roles of females. Women were forbidden to act in Kabuki Theatre, and this tradition still goes on today.
17. Here's one of the strangest facts about Japan - Some Japanese numbers are considered to be lucky or unlucky. 3, 5, and 7 are lucky numbers, 4 and 9 are unlucky.
18. The emergency room masks people wear in the streets are not due to a terrible disease that has spread in Tokyo. They are worn in order to protect other people from a virus or a slight cold.
19. The Japanese kanji writing system includes almost 2,000 Kanji characters in everyday use.
20. Sumo is the national sport in Japan. Most Rikishi (Sumo professional wrestlers) weigh an average of 160 kg, and up to 250 kg.
21. Tokyo teens wear costumes every Sunday. It is called Cosplay, and you can see them in Harajuku.
22. One of the most important Japan facts for a tourist - Japanese drive on the left, just like in England. So look in the right direction when crossing the street.

These are probably not all true facts, but they sound good!

Coming-of-Age Day in Tokyo

Japanese twenty-year-olds, dressed in traditional kimonos, attend the annual Coming-of-Age Day ceremony at Toshimaen Amusement Park on January 12, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. 1.33 million youth celebrate their passage into adulthood on the day while they become eligible to drink alcohol, smoke and vote at the age of 20.

Cooking Toys flourish In Popularity Amongst Japanese Families

Pastry chef Dai Kitatoki and singer Maya Sakura show Japanese toy maker Takara Tomy's cooking toys in which children can easily make Taiyaki, the popular Japanese traditional fish-shaped pancake filled with beam jam, during the Cooking Toy Studio opening event at Kiddy Land Harajuku on April 30, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Cooking toys, such as pasta machines, ice-cream machines and doughnut machines are becoming increasingly popular with Japanese famalies.

Literacy rates in japan

Japan Literacy rate
The Japanese authorities claims literacy rate in Japan is 99% for Japanese more than 15 years old,but that's ca be very prejudiced. Most Japanese can not understand or spell every kanji (characters). Basically, since the writing system is more complex, and because children learn it from kindergarten forward, more people have more exposure to it and there's more of a motivation for learning it that in the rest of the world.Educating normally starts before grade one in preschool education (yochien) and is free and mandatory for elementary and junior high (grades 1-9). More than 99 pct of elementary school aged minors attend school. Most students who complete junior high go on on to high school (grades 10-12). More or less third of high school graduates and so go on for higher education. Most high schools and universities accept students on the base of difficult entrance exam. Rivalry to get in the best high schools and universities is merciless since Japan’s most honored jobs usually go to graduates of elite universities.

Facts about japan:Japan Shinkansen train

Japan Shinkansen bullet trains

Japan train network is without doubt the finest s in the world,particularly the fastest Japan Shinkansen train or Japanese Bullet Train that links the major Japanese cities.
Japan's fast Bullet trains are named Shinkansen and are controlled by the Japan Railways.Japan train network allows traveling at a maximum speed of 270km/h.Shinkansen trains use independent rails and platforms separated from all other trains. All Shinkansen routes start out and finish at Tokyo's main stations.
The Shinkansen trains are the most favorite form of transport in Japan.Shinkansen train today has turn in to one of the most typical part of Japan's super modern rail transportation system.
Since the 1964 when Shinkansen trains went in operation the Shinkansen have registered no fatal accidents.

Japan Shinkansen bullet train