Japanese culture

I remember learning in elementary school that the word “japan” originated from a passage in Marco Polo’s “The Book of Eastern Views”. However, what surprised me when I read the book was that Marco Polo never actually came to Japan. And as the title of the book, “Memoirs,” suggests, he was describing Japan based on […]

Would you like to travel to the most prestigious shrine in Japan? If you were to go, which would you prefer to visit, Ise Jingu Shrine or Izumo Taisha Shrine? Many foreigners have never been to either shrine and would like to visit both, but it is difficult to say which one. These two shrines

While the way of thinking differs greatly from country to country, there are also rules unique to Japan in job hunting. In particular, there are unusual rules for interviews, which have a major impact on whether or not you will be hired. Many companies place great importance on business etiquette, and this is also true

For those born outside of Japan, when a friend asks, “What is your blood type?” When asked, “What is your blood type? and your friend asks you, “Why are you asking me that?” you may be surprised. However, most people in Japan know their blood type, and in some cases, people casually talk about their

Have you ever seen mysterious masks when you came to Japan? Perhaps you have seen a mask called “Hyottoko”. By any chance, “Hyottoko” and “Okame” have been popular as lucky charms for a long time. Perhaps the reason for their popularity is their expressions that make you laugh unintentionally. However, the origin of their faces

Have you ever heard of the term teru teru bozu? Children don’t make them anymore, so you may not have the chance to see the real thing. Teru teru teru bozu” refers to small dolls made by children to wish for good weather. Most Japanese people remember making teru teru bozu several times in their

If you ask Japanese people, “What are the characteristics of Japan?” many may answer, “A peaceful and beautiful country,” but many may also answer, “A country with four seasons. As the name implies, there are four seasons, spring, summer, fall, and winter, and they change throughout the year. Those who have moved to Japan may

If you spend summers in Japan, you have probably heard of the day called “Sea Day (Umi no hi)”. Well, when is the day of the sea? In 2022, it is Monday, July 18. However, this date does not necessarily appear immediately without confirmation. On this page, we will look at the origin of Marine

We Japanese have been familiar with Daruma-san since childhood through games such as “Niramekko” and “Daruma-san Koronda. Daruma-san has a charming appearance, and it is understandable that he is popular as a lucky charm for the New Year. They are also popular as objects to express wishes. However, Daruma-san comes in many different colors and

Have you ever spent Children’s Day in Japan? In my case, I was impressed by samurai armor more than anything else. When Japanese people were children, they were very afraid of these samurai’s faces. They don’t even like to approach them, especially at night, and there are even children who always wonder if they can’t