CULTURE
Fasion
Fashion is a very important part of Japanese culture. Since ancient Japan was very isolated, the Japanese had a very original style of clothing. The Kimono is one part of Japanese fashion that is unique to Japan. Back in ancient Japan, only the rich (mostly princesses) wore kimonos. These started out as "Jyunihitoe". Jyunihitoe was a style where the Japanese wore twelve layers of kimonos and had long hair that sometimes reached their heels or even longer. As time went on, other citizens started to wear kimonos as well except these were much simpler and less beautiful. They only had one layer and and hair was worn in a traditional way called "Nihongami", which means Japanese hair. But to do the hairstyle, they still had to have very long hair. When they turned 20, the Japanese would wear a kimono that is very beautiful with long sleeves called "Furisode". When people married, they had to cut the sleeves very short. Unlike the women's kimonos, men wear very simple kimonos that were black, dark blue, or other dark colors.
As the country started to trade and therefore started to connect with the world, people started to wear what we Americans wear today, such as a t-shirt and jeans. People still wore kimonos for special occasions but now a days, not that many people even know how to wear a kimono. So the Japanese invented the "Yukata" which is an easy version of the kimono. The patterns and the prints became more modern with colors like pink and light blue. People wear them for events like "Tanabata" which is a Japanese star festival in July. Yukatas are made very thin so that people can wear them during the summer (the original twelve layers made early Kimonos very warm).
Another part of fashion that is important to Japan is the school uniform. Almost every preschool, sometimes elementary school, middle school, and high schools have uniforms. Better schools have prettier uniforms and schools that are not as good might only have a white t-shirt with a navy skirt and navy sweatpants.
As the country started to trade and therefore started to connect with the world, people started to wear what we Americans wear today, such as a t-shirt and jeans. People still wore kimonos for special occasions but now a days, not that many people even know how to wear a kimono. So the Japanese invented the "Yukata" which is an easy version of the kimono. The patterns and the prints became more modern with colors like pink and light blue. People wear them for events like "Tanabata" which is a Japanese star festival in July. Yukatas are made very thin so that people can wear them during the summer (the original twelve layers made early Kimonos very warm).
Another part of fashion that is important to Japan is the school uniform. Almost every preschool, sometimes elementary school, middle school, and high schools have uniforms. Better schools have prettier uniforms and schools that are not as good might only have a white t-shirt with a navy skirt and navy sweatpants.
Food
Food is another very important part of culture in Japan. Just like in fashion, the Japanese have their own original way of making and eating food. Back in ancient Japan, the rich ate white rice, fried or steamed fish, miso soup, and pickled vegetables. People sometimes had one or two pieces of seaweed with the rice. In modern times, people still eat rice, miso soup, fish, and pickled vegetables but have also started to eat meat, junk food, and more "American" foods. In Japan, rice balls and sushi are still an important part of a Japanese diet. The ancient Japanese invented rice balls so that people can eat while working and not have to sit at the table and eat with chopsticks.
On New Year's day, Japanese still eat a special dinner called " Osechi". It comes in three boxes that are top of one other. Inside, there are steamed sweet chestnuts, fried fish, pickled Japanese plum, fish cake, sweet beans, and other food to fill all three boxes.
In modern times, at elementary school, students do not have to bring their own lunches. The school serves delicious lunches to every student and their teachers. The meal is different each day. One day it may be noodles, rice, milk, fish, and yogurt, then the next day, it could be black tea, curry and rice, and pickled vegetables. But when the students are in middle school, everyone has to bring their own lunch. Those lunches are brought in a special case called "Bento Box". People try to make their lunches pretty and sometimes they make "Character Bento" which are bentos with anime, or even singers made out of food.
On New Year's day, Japanese still eat a special dinner called " Osechi". It comes in three boxes that are top of one other. Inside, there are steamed sweet chestnuts, fried fish, pickled Japanese plum, fish cake, sweet beans, and other food to fill all three boxes.
In modern times, at elementary school, students do not have to bring their own lunches. The school serves delicious lunches to every student and their teachers. The meal is different each day. One day it may be noodles, rice, milk, fish, and yogurt, then the next day, it could be black tea, curry and rice, and pickled vegetables. But when the students are in middle school, everyone has to bring their own lunch. Those lunches are brought in a special case called "Bento Box". People try to make their lunches pretty and sometimes they make "Character Bento" which are bentos with anime, or even singers made out of food.
Depachika
On the topic of food "Depachika" or "Department chika" translated means "The Department Store Basement". But it's not just a basement. Depachika is a unique and fascinating part of Japanese culture and the Japanese are very proud of it.
Depachika is like a huge basement where they sell food. But not only do they sell food, they have free samples in almost every store. The stores are not exactly individual like they are in the malls in USA. Each store has at least one shelf filled with food and some stores share a kitchen to make food. What did you imagine when you heard the word "samples"? You might have imagined some small amount of food that isn't that good. Not quite. The food they give out at Depachika is delicious and is more than just one cracker or a tiny cup of juice. They have sushi, sweets, bentos, rice balls, drinks, and more. Even if you tried to eat all the samples, you couldn't. Depachika is huge. If you were to try enough samples you wouldn't be able to eat any dinner. But if you start eating there everyday and someone notices, you might get caught. So be careful!
Depachika is like a huge basement where they sell food. But not only do they sell food, they have free samples in almost every store. The stores are not exactly individual like they are in the malls in USA. Each store has at least one shelf filled with food and some stores share a kitchen to make food. What did you imagine when you heard the word "samples"? You might have imagined some small amount of food that isn't that good. Not quite. The food they give out at Depachika is delicious and is more than just one cracker or a tiny cup of juice. They have sushi, sweets, bentos, rice balls, drinks, and more. Even if you tried to eat all the samples, you couldn't. Depachika is huge. If you were to try enough samples you wouldn't be able to eat any dinner. But if you start eating there everyday and someone notices, you might get caught. So be careful!
Music
Japan also has original music. In 2012, Johnny Kitagawa, the president and the founder of the Johnny & Associates, got to be in the Guiness Book of World Records for the very first time. Johnny Kitagawa produced a very successful Japanese band.
In Johnny & Associates, Arashi is the most popular band. Arashi was a group formed on September 15, 1999 in Hawaii. It is made up of 5 men: Satoshi Ohno (the leader), Sho Sakurai, Masaki Aiba, Kazunari Ninomiya, and Jun Matsumoto. After their 18th single, "Love so Sweet", Arashi started to become popular. When "Love so Sweet" became the opening song for the very high rating drama "Hana Yori Dango", the single made it to the one of the top five best selling singles in Japan and the group's first single to exceed 400,000 copies sold overall in nearly seven years. After the success, Arashi became more popular by earning more and more achievements and records. First, they became the first band to be in the top two ranking on the Oricon singles yearly chart for 3 years in a row, topped the 2009 Oricon singles, album and music DVD yearly charts, and became the third artist in Oricon history to monopolize the top three best-selling singles of the year. In 2010, all six of Arashi's singles ranked within the top ten of the Oricon singles yearly chart, and their million-selling studio album "Boku no Miteiru Fuukei" was named the best-selling album of the year in Japan. They were also the first group to be the moderator for "Kouhaku" which is a music TV show that is performed every year on the night of 12/31 ( 5 hours ), for 2 years in a row. Also, they have their concerts at "Tokyo Kokuritsu". That is where the Tokyo Olympics are held, biggest stage in Japan, and only one person or group can have a concert there and only once a year. Arashi has been doing their concerts there for 4 years in a row, and they have already planned their next concert there for 2012.
Last year, they have accepted to be the supporters and the moderators for the NTV's 27th annual telethon 24-hour television.
In Johnny & Associates, Arashi is the most popular band. Arashi was a group formed on September 15, 1999 in Hawaii. It is made up of 5 men: Satoshi Ohno (the leader), Sho Sakurai, Masaki Aiba, Kazunari Ninomiya, and Jun Matsumoto. After their 18th single, "Love so Sweet", Arashi started to become popular. When "Love so Sweet" became the opening song for the very high rating drama "Hana Yori Dango", the single made it to the one of the top five best selling singles in Japan and the group's first single to exceed 400,000 copies sold overall in nearly seven years. After the success, Arashi became more popular by earning more and more achievements and records. First, they became the first band to be in the top two ranking on the Oricon singles yearly chart for 3 years in a row, topped the 2009 Oricon singles, album and music DVD yearly charts, and became the third artist in Oricon history to monopolize the top three best-selling singles of the year. In 2010, all six of Arashi's singles ranked within the top ten of the Oricon singles yearly chart, and their million-selling studio album "Boku no Miteiru Fuukei" was named the best-selling album of the year in Japan. They were also the first group to be the moderator for "Kouhaku" which is a music TV show that is performed every year on the night of 12/31 ( 5 hours ), for 2 years in a row. Also, they have their concerts at "Tokyo Kokuritsu". That is where the Tokyo Olympics are held, biggest stage in Japan, and only one person or group can have a concert there and only once a year. Arashi has been doing their concerts there for 4 years in a row, and they have already planned their next concert there for 2012.
Last year, they have accepted to be the supporters and the moderators for the NTV's 27th annual telethon 24-hour television.
Here are a couple Arashi music videos:
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