Archive for 'Culture'
Flowers in Japan Posted by Ginny on Sep 20, 2011
Depending on the season, you can see some beautiful flowers in Japan. For example, Sakura (桜) or cherry blossoms bloom in late March and early April. My favorite place to see cherry blossoms is in Shinobazu no Ike (不忍池) or Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Kōen or Ueno Park (上野公園). Cherry blossoms have a symbolic significance…
Kyoto Posted by Ginny on Sep 15, 2011
Kyoto (京都) is a beautiful city with strong links to traditional Japanese architecture and culture. When people think of Kyoto, the image of Pontochō (先斗町) is probably one of the first images that spark the imagination. Pontochō is a well-known geisha district where traditional Japanese theatre, dance and song are still alive and entertaining the…
Japanese Sculpture Posted by Ginny on Sep 12, 2011
Although Japanese paintings get a lot of international attention, Japanese sculptures are also quite amazing and should get the reverence that Japanese paintings get. For example, one of the more famous sculptors in Japan is Tankei (湛慶). The most famous sculpture by Tankei is the sculpture in a temple called Sanjusangendō (三十三間堂). The sculpture is…
Traditional Japanese Arts Posted by Ginny on Sep 9, 2011
If you’re ever in the mood to pick up a new hobby, what not try making a hobby out of a traditional Japanese art? There are many varieties of traditional Japanese art, but probably one of the most famous is Ikebana (生け花), which is an artform that involves flower arrangement. There are many styles of…
Japanese Festivals in September Posted by Ginny on Sep 3, 2011
Some people think that once the summer season comes to a close the festival seasons will stop, but the festival season is never really over in Japan. In fact it is of my opinion that the really interesting festivals start in September. For instance the Furusato Hyappei Festival (ふるさと百餅祭り) is a festival that occurs in…
Sports Arenas of Japan Posted by Ginny on Aug 22, 2011
Spectator sports are a huge pastime in Japan and its only natural that there will be some spectacular sports arenas to accommodate all the fans. The Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム) is a famous baseball stadium that also hosts an entertainment complex that includes an amusement park, restaurants, souvenir shops, game centers and a horse race betting…
Historic Monuments and Sites of Hiraizumi Posted by Ginny on Aug 15, 2011
This year several historic monuments and sites of Hiraizumi were declared World Heritage Sites in Japan. One of the sites chosen as a World Heritage site was Chūsonji (中尊寺) of Chūson Temple. One of the best rooms of the the Chūson Temple is the Konjikidō (金色堂), which means ‘Golden Hall’ in English. The Golden Hall…