Hiroko Matsuyama
Japanese warlords are known to have many family crests. They carry them for different occasions, and they often represent their bloodlines. However, many cases show that they are given by superiors or taken away from...
Shintoism Essential Value: Impurity and Purification Rituals
Shinto shrine gate in Nikko, Japan Shinto does not accept that human beings are born bad or impure; in fact, it states that humans are born pure and share in the divine soul. Badness, impurity, or sin come later in life...
Shinto Rituals: Practices and Celebrations
Shinto rituals have survived in close connection with the lives of the Japanese people. They are strongly reflected in modern Japanese people’s lives and daily activities. Japanese people have passed down these...
Shinto Shrine History with Inseparable Partner, Buddhism
Although Japan has more than 8,000 Shinto shrines, the original shrine buildings did not exist as we know them today. So, then, when and why were they built? And how did they develop? This article explains the origins...
The Difference between Shinto Shrine and Buddhist Temple
Toro in the forest Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples have long been familiar to Japanese people as spiritual centers. They are places of faith and prayer and are frequently visited for festivals and annual events. The...
13 Types of Shinto Shrines: Different Deities, Beliefs and Blessings
Torii Gate of Suwa Shrine in Nishi-Waseda, Tokyo, Japan There are 13 types of Shinto shrines in Japan, each with a different belief system and deities. A deeper understanding of many types of Shinto Shrines gives you...
Significance of Selecting Japanese Family Crests aka Kamon
‘Mu’ Kamon Kamon, Japanese family crests, were first painted on palanquins, clothing, and camp curtains to mark the family name. The kamon on camp curtains and other items was clearly structured and easily...
Origins of the Japanese Family Crest: Court Nobles and Samurai
There are various theories about the origin of Japanese family crests. But since the origins of crests differ between court nobles and samurai families, let us begin with the origin of the crests of court nobles. Table...
Japanese Honorific Suffix: “San”, “Sama”, “Kun”, and “Chan”
The Japanese honorific suffix is something you learn first and use every day when you learn Japanese. They can be confusing, but it’s easy to learn the basics. They reflect the Japanese culture, and knowing and...
Japanese Surnames: Top 10 Ranking, Origin, and its Meanings
Japanese surnames are known for their wide variety and origins. Many are derived from the names of places, geographic features, and occupations. Knowing their origin and history will make you more familiar with Japanese...
Bancha – Extra Japanese Green Tea: Benefits and Where to Buy
Bancha is something Japanese grab for a break to relax or drink over a meal. This “extra” Japanese green tea would be ideal for any casual setting. Japanese Green Tea: 13 Types, Benefits, and When to Drink...
Japanese Green Tea: 13 Types, Benefits, and When to Drink
Image by rawpixel from Pixabay Japanese green tea has a wide variety, each with a unique flavor and taste. We’ve covered common types and the best time to drink them. We hope this will give you a hint of them and...
Sencha Green Tea Benefits/Side Effects and Where You Can Buy
Photo by Christine Wehrmeier on Unsplash Sencha green tea is a type of green tea, as the name suggests, that isn’t fermented, and therefore, it keeps its fresh green color that is cultivated with a lot of sunlight...
Organic Matcha 7 Tea Benefits and Where You Can Buy
Photo by The Creative Exchange on Unsplash Since you seek the best organic, we assume you know the difference between usual Japanese green tea powder and matcha powder. In case you don’t have a clear idea, let us...
Matcha Tea Set: Best Starter Kit and How to Prepare Matcha
Image by dungthuyvunguyen from Pixabay We assume you are a matcha lover and want to make a cup of matcha yourself. We’re glad to share the tools that make up a matcha tea set and the techniques you need to start...
7 Health Benefits of Genmaicha and When to Drink
Genmaicha is a hybrid of brown rice and Japanese green tea, so to speak. To give you a little more detail, it’s a Japanese tea mixed with roasted steamed brown rice and Japanese green tea (Bancha or Sencha). This...
Where to Buy Best Matcha? 5 Established Matcha Stores in Japan
Where to buy best matcha, you wonder? I assume you must be a lover. So am I. There are not a few Japanese tea stores in Tokyo and Kyoto, where you can buy matcha, but not many stores have English speaking clerks. The...
400+ Simple Japanese Words
Simple Japanese words you see in this post assure you to have a smooth conversation with Japanese natives. We’ve listed them up by categories, so you can easily find the suitable words for each situation you would...
