Japanese Culture Facts

Japan, also referred to as Nippon, is an island nation situated in the Pacific Ocean in eastern Asia. The archipelago consists of approximately 6800 big and small islands, prominent ones being Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. One of the major economic powers of the world today, Japan has come a long way after experiencing one of the worst human induced disasters, in form of the atomic bomb. All this while, however, the island nation didn't quite compromise in terms of cultural heritage, which is still rich and well rooted.

Festivals
It is said, that at any given point of time, at least one festival is being celebrated in some or the other part of Japan. Some of the most popular festivals of Japan include Aomori Nebuta Festival, held in August, and Doll Festival and Sakura Festival, both of which are held in March. The Sakura festival is the Japanese way of celebrating the blossoming of cherry plants. February is like the festive month for Japan with numerous festivals lined up to celebrate winter. Lake Shikotsu Ice Festival, Lake Towada Snow Festival and Sapporo Snow Festival, all of which are held in February are some of the famous and more popular Japanese festivals.

Food
Japanese cuisine is no doubt one of the most prominent aspect of the Japanese culture and facts. Over a period, Japanese cuisine has experienced a remarkable growth, spanning various parts of the world, including the European and American nations. Mouth-watering sushi, teriyaki and tempura are some of the most popular dishes native to Japan. Japanese cuisine emphasizes on the concept of seasonality of food, wherein some special dishes are prepared at a particular time of the year.

Clothing
The first thing that comes to our mind when we think about Japanese clothing is the people wearing traditional full length flowing robes, referred to as kimonos. This traditional wear has some of the most unusual facts about the Japanese culture associated with it. For instance, a kimono worn by a married lady, i.e. tomesode, differs from a kimono worn by a unmarried girl, furisode. Another common piece of clothing used extensively in Japan is happi, a straight sleeved coat normally imprinted with the family crest.

Interesting Facts About Japan

• Japanese tend to have rice for their breakfast, lunch, as well as dinner.
• An ancient Japanese art of paper folding, origami has become a popular component of art and crafts across the world.
• Yet another gift from Japan to the world is the Manga, a non-animated cartoon series which traces its origin to Japan.

Even though the population of the island nation is very less, the values followed by Japanese people are strong pillars of their rich culture. Family life is yet another important cultural attribute of this culture. Although family roles may have changed, the roots of a traditional Japanese family still prevail. In fact, a Japanese saying, translated as, 'Even if a family doesn't live together, the parents and grandparents should live close enough to carry over a bowl of hot soup from one house to another' speaks in volumes for the cultural values inculcated in people in Japan.