Festivals in Japan (Matsuri)

There are numerous festivals (matsuri) in Japan since, almost every shrine celebrates one of its own. Most festivals are held to celebrate the historical events or the shrine's deity. Some of them are celebrated for several days. An important fact about the festivals is local shrine's kami (god) is carried through the town and  it is the only time of the year kami leaves the shrine. Every matsuri has its own characteristics. While some of them are calm and silent, others can be energetic and noisy.

I will emphasize on the most famous and important festivals.

Aoi Matsuri

Aoi matsuri's main atraction is a large parade of over 500 people are dressed in the aristocratic style of the Herian Period.

Gion Matsuri

The highlight of this festival is the parade of the floats on July 17. It is one of the most famous festivals in Japan.

Tenjin Matsuri

It is a festival that featuring a lavish procession not only through the streets, but also on boats on the river that is accompanied by a firework display.

Sanja Matsuri

It is the festival of Asakusa Shrine, Sanja Matsuri is one of Tokyo's three big festivals. Mikoshi is carried through the Asakusa streets.

Nebuta Matsuri 

It features festival floats with huge latterns. The festival attracs several millon visitors every year.

Religion in Japan

There are two major religions in Japan. First one is Shinto which is as old as Japanese culture, and second one is Buddhism which is imported from the mainland in sixth century. Since then, two religions have been co-existing harmoniously and most of the Japanese consider themselves Buddhist or Shintoist or both.

Firstly, I want to mention about Shinto religion. Shinto means ''the way of the gods'' and it remains Japans' major religion alongside Buddhism. It does not have founder or sacred scripture. I think it is deeply rooted in Japanese people and their culture. In Shinto gods are called ''Kami'' and they are sacred spirits which can take form into wind, rain, mountain and so on. They believe when people die they will be Kami and they are revered by their families. The kami of extraordinary people are even enshirined at some shrines.

In Shinto, there are no absolutes and right or wrong, because they believe nobody is perfect. It is an optimistic faith. They believe people are fundemantally good and evil is believed to be caused by evil spirits. Most Shinto ritiuals are done to keep away evil spirits. Today, people seek support from Stinto by praying at home or shrines to be safety, for good health, for success and so on.

Buddhism was imported Japan by China and Korea, however it did not spread among people since its complex theories. There were also a few initial conflics with Shinto, but soon they were able to co-exist.

There are a lot of forms of Buddhism, but the most common one is Zen. There are also Zen schools established in twelfth century named Rinzai and Soto. According to Zen, one can achieve self enlighenment with trough meditation and discipline. At present, Zen enjoy a greater popularity overseas than within Japan.

Japanese Traditional Martial Arts

If we are talking about Japan, it is necessary to talk about martial arts. There is an enourmous variety of Japanese martial arts. It is a way of life which indicates physical, self-improvement and a lot of practise. The historical origin of martial arts originates from warrior traditions of samurai. The history of Japanese martial arts has an considerable importance to the culture as it forms the tradional substructure. The word ''martial'' means fighting, it was a skill rather than a sport during that period and it helped people to protect themselves from combating attack.  

Most of the martial arts were imported from China and they were gradually modified by the Japanese. Archery and sword fighting were the main two arts and some of them became rituals in Zen Buddhism. I will talk about most important Japanese arts, they are generally categorized into five fightings: Karate, Aikido, Juijutsu, Judo and Kendo.

 

Karate is the most popular martial art and invented by Funakoshi. Karate means empty hand. Funakoshi impressed the emperor of Japan by showing his skills and started teaching it. He opened a dojo (training hall) in Tokyo. After this Karate gained popularity inside and outside of Japan. 

Aikido is another popular martial art in Japan. It is a self defensive art. Ai means ''harmony'', Ki means ''source of energy'' and do means ''the way''. Three of them means it is a way of keeping harmony in the body. Aikido has a religious influence as the Japanese believe it is the way of saving people from danger or devil.

Juijutsu means gentle art which is an ancient art. Ironically, it is based on throwing techniques of the body to attack enemy.  

Additional to these, Kendo and Judo has an importance to them. Kendo is an martial art which utilizes words. It is a fencing martial art and requires a lot of skill and discipline.It differs from Judo which is unarmed  combative art. The rules of it are very complicated, but it is very popular martial art globally.

Kendo

Judo

It can not be denied that Japanese martial arts is a powerful weapon for common people to self-defense and for Japanese culture it has a huge importance.

Japanese Food Culture

Today, Japanese food is recognized as the one of the world's most healthiest cuisines. As they use rice and abudant marine products at it's mainstream, traditional Japanese diet is impressingly low in cholestrol, fat and calories and high in fiber. That's why the Japanese have highest longevity rate.

During the development of Japan, the Chinise contributed soy sauce, tea, chopsticks and imperal rule which Japanese people influenced later. They also influenced Korea in Buddhism which later became the official religion. For the next 1200 years meat was officially forbidden in Japan. Then in the sixteen century, the Westerns introduced fried foods and the Japanese enjoyed this type of cooking. Tobacco, sugar, and corn were also brought by the traders.

In 1600s Japan's shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu closed the ports and expunded foreigners as he feared the Europens would spark great wars.This was an isolation period, jowever Japan's culture became more rooted. Buddhism and Shinto religions emphasize on the seasons and this was reflected in the foods. Meals feature in five flavors and colours, respectively being, sweet, spicy, salty, bitter and sour; and yellow, black, white, green and red. In Meiji period, a New Year's fest had been designed to embrace the Western world, it was in European in detail and for the first time in over a thousand years, the people publicly ate meat.

 

In Japan, food and dishes are considered to be a type of art. Although there are no marvlling seasons held before the eating, the Japanese people really enjoy the artistic sense and display of the meals so much. More beautiful the food looks, more delicious is it thought to be.

I want to give some exaples of Japanese cuisine which is more familiar and appreciated around the world.

Sukiyaki

Tempura

Sushi

Sashimi

Ramen

Dango (Japanese dumpling made from rice flour)

Sake (an alcholic beverage made from femented rice)

Eating Japanese food is an experience to be enjoyed and remembered fondly for the rest of your life. Having Japan's unique food culture added to the UNESCO list is an excellent way to express how their cuisine is delicious and sufficient.

Japanese Mythology

Japanese mythology includes a vast number of gods, godesses and spirits. Most of the stories concern the creation of the world, foundation of the islands and the activities of deites, humans, animals, spirits and magical creatures. While some myths describe characters and events associated with particular places in Japan, other are set in legandary locations such as heavens or the underworld. Since there are a lot of stories in the mythology, I will just write about the most important and attractive two stories that I am interested in.
To start with, there was a chaotic mass, an ill defined egg, and full of seeds. Gradually, the finer parts became heaven (yang), and the heavier parts became earth (yin). Finally, the most important creator deities, the god Izanagi and the goddess Izanami appeared. They began to procreate the islands that now make up Japan as well as many of the god and goddesses.

Izanagi and Izanami

While giving birth to the fire god Kagutsuchi, Izanami was badly burned. As she lay dying, she produced more gods and goddesses. Other deities emerged from the tears of her husband. When Izanami died, she went to the land of darkness and death. Izanagi followed her and tried to get her back. As her body had already started to decay, she told her husband that she could not leave there. Izanagi could not resist looking at his beloved wife one last time.When he lit a torch and saw her rotting corpse, he fled in terror. Angry that Izanagi had seen her, Izanami sent spirits to chase him. Izanagi managed to escape, and sealed off the passage to Yomi-tsu Kuni with a huge boulder. Izanami remained there and ruled over the dead.

Feeling unclean as he contcacted with dead, Izanagi decided to bathe in a stream to purify himself. As he undressed, gods and goddesses emerged from his discarded clothes. Others came forth while he washed. Susano came  from his nose, Tsukiyomi emerged from his right eye and Amaterasu appeared from his left eye. Izanagi devided the world among these three deities. He gave Susano to control oceans, assigned Tsukyomi the realm of the night and made Amaterasu the ruler of the sun and the heavens.

Probably, the best known deity in Japan mythology is the sun goddess Amaterasu whom I like most in the myth. She said to be the ancestor of the imperial family. She brings light into the world and is responsible for fertility. Her shrine at Ise is the most important shrine in Japan.

  

The sun goddess Amaterasu 

The storm and sea god Susano

The last story that i want to talk about is between Amaterasu and her brother Susano. Susano was unhappy about his sharing the world and caused a lot of destruction. He banished to Yomi-tsu Kuni, he asked to go to the heaven to see his sister the sun goddess one last time. Amaterasu became concerned that he might be planning to take over her lands. They agreed to contest to prove their power. If Susano won, he could stay in heaven forever, but if he lost, he would have to leave. Amaterasu asked for her brother's sword which she broke into three pieces and chewed in her mouth. When she spit out the pieces, they turned into three goddess. Susano then took a string of five star shaped beads which Amaterasu gave him. He put the beads in his mouth, chewed them and spit out five gods. Susano claimed victory as he had produced five gods. However, Amaterasu pointed out that he created these gods from her possessions which proved that she was actually greater than his. Susano refused to acknowledge defeat and Amaterasu allowed him to stay in heaven.
While in heaven Susano began doing things that offended his sister and violated important taboos. He destroyed rice fields, made loud noises and dirtied the floors of her palace. Finally, Susano killed one of the horses in heaven, skinned it and hurled it into the wall where Amaterasu was weaving cloth. This so angered Amaterasu that she hid in a cave and refused to come out. When the sun goddess concealed herself, the world was plunged into darkness, plants stopped growing and all activities came to halt. Desperate for Amaterasu's return, gods gathered to discuss ways to get her back to heaven. A wise god named Omori-kane proposed a solution. The gods hung a mirror on the branches of a tree outside the cave. Then they had a young goddess named Ama no Uzume dance to music while they laughed loudly. Amaterasu heard the noice and wondered what was happening. Opening the door to cave a little, she asked why gods were so happy. They told that they were celebrating because they found a goddess superior to her. Curious at who this goddess might be, Amaterasu opened the door wider to look and saw her own image in the mirror. When she paused to look at her reflection, a god hiding nearby pulled her completely out of the cave. Another god then blocked the cave with a magic rope. After Amaterasu emerged from the cave, her ligth shone once again, and life returned to normal. To punish Susano for his actions, the gods banished him from heaven.       

Sakura- Hanami

Sakura with the other name of its, cherry blossom is a national flower of Japan which has a significant value for the Japanese as it represents the end of the winter and begining of a new life and season of spring. They celebrate the event every year in spring.
Hanami means looking at the flowers, but it is used for a unique flower, ''sakura''; in particular. It is unique for Japanese people and for their culture as it only in full bloom for few days. It is a very beautiful moment, but also sad and melancholic, too, since they fall from the trees. It makes feel a little gloomy as it reminds that all life must come to an end.

However, it is not a depressing experience. The Japanese are doing this to have a good time. They eat, drink, sing song, tell stories, laugh and enjoy, if even just for a few hours. When the sakura are full bloom, they display fireworks which make people have a smile in their face. Every year, weather services and media closely follow the event and indicates the opening of the first blossoms and this shows that they really care about this event so much. 

  

There are over one hundred cherry tree variates in Japan,but far the most popular cherry tree is Somei Yoshino. Most of them are ligth pink to white blossoms, but there are also dark pink, yellow or green ones.

    

Somei Yoshino cultivated during Edo Period. It is slightly pink and almost white.

Today, Japanese people continue the tradition of Hanami gathering in great numbers whenever the flowering trees found. They take part in the processional walks through the parks. This is a form of retreat for contemplating and renewing their spirits. ''Dead bodies are buried under the chery trees'' is a popular saying about Hanami.

 

Hanami has become popular outside of Japan, as well such as United States, Taiwan, Korea, China, The Philippines and Georgia. It is also popular in several Europian countries, for example; Finland. In Macon, Georgia there is a festival called International Cherry Blossom Festival.

The Japanese Tea Ceremony

The Japanese Tea Ceremony also known as chanoyu,chado or sado is a traditional choreographic ritual of preparing and serving Japanese green tea called Matcha. The tea has a bitter taste, so it is generally served with traditional Japanese sweets to balance it.

The Tea Ceremony is an art form cuts through all Japanese culture since it embraces many art forms such as architecture, gardening, ceremics, textiles, Japanese calligraphy, flower arragements and Japanese cuisine, plus sculptring of ashes and building of a beautiful fire.

Tea Ceremony came about when Japan adapted both Chinese pratices of drinking powdered tea and Zen Buddhist beliefs. In 1500s, Sen No Rikkyu incorporated the ideas of simplicity and that each meeting should be special and unique. It became more than just drinking tea, it is a spiritual experience that embodies harmony, respect, purity, and tranqulity.

The study of Tea Ceremony takes many years to learn and lasts a lifetime. Even to participate a guest in a formal Tea Ceremony requires a lot of knowledge including gestures, phrases expected from them, and a proper way to take the tea and sweets from host.

In Japan, many choose to take classes or join clubs at dedicated tea schools, collages or universities. There are schools teaching methods of preparing and enjoying tea. 

There are significant rules in making Tea Ceremony. Host should wear kimono while guest wear kimono or subdued formal wear. If the tea is to be served in a seperate house, guests should wait in a garden shelter until summoned by the host.

Performing this ceremony requires a lot of actings. Even the utensils that you are going to use is significant. First of all, each utensil- including the tea bowl, whisk, and tea scoop is ritually cleaned using prescribed motions. The utensils are placed in a precise arrangement according to the ritual being performed. When the ritual cleaning and preparation of utensils are completed, the host should place measured amount of hot water, then whisk the tea using precise,prescribed movements. The bowl is served to the guest of honor (shoukyaku)- first guest, by the host or assistant. The host and guest bow together after which the guest slowly sips. When finished, the guest then slowly turns the bowl in his hands. The guest then returns the bowl to the host who ceremonially repeat this process with each guest. After this process, host purifies the utansils once again, bows, and leaves the room just as he or she entered (traditionally, backing out). The guest then remain a few moments to absorb the peaceful atmosphere, each leaving just as they entered.

Japanese Tea Ceremony is very different form our ways to serve tea and holding formal British style tea parties. I think the symbolosim and traditions of the tea ceremony leaves much to be appriciated. I had a chance of experience a tea ceremony with a Japanese friend of mine. In reality it is not something that can be described, it must be experienced.