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This Kamon represents the Japanese family name “Kato” Japan has a vast number of last names. It originated around the 12th century and became official after the Meiji restoration in the 19th century. Many of...

Maru-ni Agehacho The murder occurred in 1906. It is treated as one of the unsolved cases because the statute of limitations for the murder has passed. Renowned novelist, Seicho Matsumoto wrote a story out of it and...

Japanese warlords are known to have many family crests. They carry them for different occasions. It often times represents their bloodlines. However, many cases show they are given by superiors or taken away from...

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 are known for their wide varieties and origins. Many of them are derived from the name of places, geographic features, and occupations. Knowing their origin and history of them makes you feel more...

Man in traditional Japanese shugendo outfit doing waterfall meditation in winter with ice and snow Shugendo, can be translated into “The way of Mastering the Force”. It is a form of religion which requires a...

Tokonoma is the Japanese alcove that we can see in the reception rooms of the traditional Japanese houes. It’s taken as a focal point for the interior as it provides the sense of hospitality for the guests...

Hamarikyu Garden in Tokyo, Japan Do you want to create a Japanese style garden? Japanese garden has a unique set of compositions, which makes us feel still and calm. What is it about them? Understanding the basics, its...

A woman in blue yukata with green sash sits on veranda Overview of Yukata Yukata is a traditional dress designed to spend comfortably in the hot, humid summer in Japan. For example, navy and white color combinations are...

Japanese tea house, Chashitsu in Japanese, is where Chado, the tea ceremony takes place, which expresses Japanese sentimentality and aesthetics through the act of drinking tea. It is a rare place you can reflect...

creepy doll look scary in high contrast Onryo – Japanese spirits of grudge or ghost, now popular thanks to the films such as The Ring, The Grudge or Dark Water. Is an Onryo only female who has pitch-black long...

TOKYO, JAPAN – APR 12, 2019: Kabuki-cho Colorful Neon lights, Shinjuku Famous street Crowd people Nightclub Bar Restaurant Tokyo Japan nightlife Yakuza is Japanese mafia whose activities are permeated throughout...

Scenery portrait of the posture of zen Buddhism monk in Japan, Kamakura Types of Buddhism developed in Japan: We have seen the early Japanese Buddhism was for the court elites and used as a tool to centralize the power...

Japanese Buddhism, a Buddhist monk at Mt. Koyasan steps up to the temple Japanese Buddhism #1 – In modern times, Japan’s most popular schools of Buddhism are Pure Land, Shingon, and Nichiren Buddhism which...

Japanese Onomatopoeia – What’s onomatopoeia? It’s the words which express the sound of things in general. The term came from France which has 600 Onomatopoeia, English has 1000 Onomatopoeia, and...

Portrait of smiling confident woman Best Way to Learn Japanese – This article is for whom wants to learn Japanese, but doesn’t know where and how to start. We start with defining your goal, that’s the...

Kyoto, Japan – May 19, 2019: Young geisha in training, called a maiko, tunes her instrument prior to the performance in a traditional Japanese inn Geisha – Japanese traditional female entertainers boast its...

futuristic samurai standing on a building in cyberpunk city at rainy night, digital art style, illustration painting Real Ninja – usually they farmed the land in peacetime, yes, farming. The most important factor...

Japanese chess, Shogi board Shogi Strategy – Shogi is Japanese chess, which is a two-player strategy board game belong to the same family as the Chess, Chaturanga of India, and Makruk of Thailand. Playing Shogi...

Ikebana – also known as “Kado”, the way of the flowers, is the art of traditional Japanese flower arrangement. It is more than a simple floral decoration but appreciated as a piece of art like a...

Japanese mask “Noh-men” Noh theatre – Japanese traditional musical drama, Noh, has been played for more than 600 years, which invites us today to experience the world of “Yugen” and “Myo”...

Traditional Japanese drummer Taiko is a Japanese drum which has played important roles on many occasions. Their size and shape range widely and the sound they make differ as well. Let’s take a look at the Taiko...

Matsumoto castle against blue sky in Nagano city, Japan. Japanese Castle – Fortresses constructed mainly of wood and stone built which always incorporated the landscape into their defenses. It featured massive...

Soroban – a traditional abacus used in Japan, nowadays replaced by electric calculators Soroban is Japanese abacus which has been used for centuries for calculation. Even in this computer age, this ancient and...

Origami Art with Dynamic Sophistication Origami Art- Japanese paper folding works are widely popular around the world and its elaborate design is being updated vigorously. What is unique about it is to transform a flat...

Sakura – Cherry Blossom – is by far the iconic flower of Japanese spirit in comparison with other flowers or plants. Why? Japanese people find Sakura the most beautiful not just in its bloom, but also in its...

Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture, where the original scenery of Japan remains. It is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Satoyama is Japanese Mindscape of nature. Everyone has its own Mindscape of their hometown...

Sunrise and Mt. Fuji from Lake Motosu Oshogatsu: How Do Japanese Celebrate The New Year? Oshogatsu – the Japanese New Year: which is considered to be the most important holiday, has been celebrated with...

TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 10 2012: Paper lanterns and the stage of the Tsukiji Honganji Bon Odori Matsuri – the popular festival in Tokyo. Text on the lanterns are names of the festival sponsors. Bon Odori...

Kyudo Japanese Archery Kyudo is Japanese Archery which is called “The Way of the Bow”. Among other martial arts, it possesses its unique characteristics in its sense of beauty. It is not a sport, but an art...

Close-up portrait of kendo fighter Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, which uses bamboo swords (shinai) and protective armor (bogu). Yes, that simple, but practicing it has a tremendous benefit on your life if...

The Mikoshi (portable shrine) of the festival in Kyoto Mikoshi – A divine portable shrine of Shinto, which is considered to be a vehicle for the deity which usually sits inside the shrine. A portable shrine comes...

Bushido – What Bushido, “the way of Samurai”, meant when samurai class was born, was a simple enough ethic to survive and achieve military results. However, nowadays we can say it is the soul of Japan...

A Tengu in a forest. Tengu – is the legendary creature attached to the mountain or forest in Japan. They are known for its long nose and wings or beak and a sword. Its image has been changed, yet the core factor...

Celebration of Shichigosan. A 3-year-old girl. A traditional Japanese event. Shichi-Go-San – November 15th is a special day for children in Japan. 3 years old girls and boys, 5 years old boys and 7 years old girls...