Japanese Culture

Japan: From Traditional Practices to Modern Cultural Innovations

Japan, an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean, has intriguing contrasts and harmonious contradictions. The country is an amazing mix of ancient customs, culture, and state-of-the-art technology. Japan has a strong culture that mixes its history and old customs with new ideas and the ability to overcome challenges to create a successful modern society. This article explores this fascinating duality, the

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Kawaii Culture: The Power of Cuteness

Kawaii culture is a Japanese aesthetic centered around the appeal of cuteness, characterized by childlike, charming qualities and playful elements. Japan, known for its cultural phenomena that touch every corner of the globe, has given the world another captivating phenomenon known as Kawaii culture. The word ‘Kawaii’ (可愛い or かわいい) means ‘cute’ or ‘lovable.’ It was originally used to describe

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Otaku Culture: Influences and Impact on Japanese Society and Beyond

Otaku culture refers to a dedicated and enthusiastic following of various aspects of Japanese pop culture, primarily focused on anime, manga, video games, and related media. It characterizes individuals deeply invested in these hobbies, often with extensive knowledge and collections. Japan has been a hotspot for cultural phenomena that transcend geographic and linguistic barriers. The Otaku culture is among the

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Japanese Origami: The Art of Paper Folding

Origami (折り紙), the beautiful and delicate Japanese paper folding art, is to create beautiful shapes and models. This ancient and time-honored art possesses a rich, vibrant, and somewhat mysterious history transcending time and borders. The word Origami has two parts, ‘Ori‘ (折り), meaning to fold, and ‘Kami‘ (紙), meaning paper. However, Kami here becomes ‘Gami‘ because of the Rendaku phenomenon.

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Japanese Pottery, Ceramics & Porcelain: History and Styles

Japan has a long and rich history in traditional arts and crafts, characterized by precision, minimalism, and deep respect for materials and their natural characteristics. This history includes the time-honored tradition of famous Japanese pottery, ceramic, and porcelain craft. Japanese pottery and ceramics have a long history, distinct aesthetics, and remarkable craftsmanship. As one of the oldest arts in Japan,

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Japanese Culture and Traditions: The Whats and Whys

Because of the big contrast, Japanese culture has always fascinated many foreigners, especially Westerners. This article aims to dive deeper and understand various aspects of Japan’s unique culture. Culture and traditions change over time. The only difference between the two is that culture, the root of any society, changes very slowly, but changes in traditions are comparatively faster. The same

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Mastering the Art of Gift Giving in Japan

Giving gifts is a common practice in many cultures. It’s a way to show your appreciation to someone in a platonic or romantic way. Offering gifts can also help establish or maintain professional relationships for years. However, Gift-giving in Japan is a crucial part of the culture. The art of gift-giving in Japan on the surface appears easy, but there’s

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Business Cards in Japan: How to Properly Exchange Your Business Card

Business cards, known as meishi (名刺), are fundamental to good business relations and professional etiquette in Japan. As you may expect, the exchange of business cards, meishi kokan (名刺交換), is a very delicate process with set guidelines that need to be respected. Business cards are significant in Japanese work culture, and Japanese people are very sensitive about your respect for

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What do Japanese people like to do for Relaxation and Entertainment?

When you decide to live and work in Japan, you will find the people are very hardworking. So how do people enjoy themselves, and what do they do for relaxation and entertainment? I am Japanese, raised in America, having moved back to Tokyo twenty years ago. Growing up, I returned almost every summer to visit relatives and friends and developed

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