Archive for 'Culture'
Japanese Directors Posted by Ginny on Aug 30, 2010
The Japanese film industry and its film directors are a force to be reckoned with. These directors have received critical acclaim and a place in film history as great directors. Hideo Nakata (中田秀夫) is responsible for directing Ring (リング) and Dark Water (仄暗い水の底から). His movies have been so popular, they’ve been remade for English…
The Nine Tailed Fox Posted by Ginny on Aug 25, 2010
The kyūbi no kitsune (九尾の狐) is a legendary nine tailed fox prevalent in Japanese folktales and plays. Stories about the nine tailed fox go way back in Japan’s oral telling history. Interestingly, it’s still used in modern times. If you’ve watched the anime Naruto (ナルトー), the kyūbi no yōko (九尾の妖狐) or nine tailed demon fox…
Traditional Japanese Theater Posted by Ginny on Aug 22, 2010
Traditional Japanese theater is elaborate, interesting, and a feast for the eyes. I would recommend seeing at least one traditional Japanese performance out of the three main forms of traditional Japanese theater. Nō (能) is a type of theater where actors usually wear a mask that depicts an emotion or expression. The actors perform with…
Japanese Martial Arts Posted by Ginny on Aug 19, 2010
Karate (からて) is often the most widely known Japanese martial arts form, but there are also many other Japanese martial art forms that are widely appreciated as well. Jūdo (じゅうどう) is a martial art form used to immobilize an opponent by locking their joints or grappling them to the ground. Kendo (けんどう,) is a study of…
Top Five Japanese Castles Posted by Ginny on Aug 13, 2010
If I could give a description of Japan, one of the things I would say is, “Japan is the land of castles”. One such example is Himeji jō (姫路城,) or Himeji Castle. The castle is located in Hyōgo Prefecture (兵庫県,) and is one of the largest castles in Japan. At the center of the…
Japanese Instruments Posted by Ginny on Aug 7, 2010
Way before guitars and violins were introduced to Japan, Japanese music was dominated by traditional Japanese stringed instruments such as these: A Koto (箏) is a 13 stringed instrument made of wood. The koto has 13 bridges, which can be moved around to change the sound. A Shamisen (三味線) is a three stringed instrument played…
August Festivals Posted by Ginny on Aug 1, 2010
Before the summer comes to an end, here are some Japanese festivals that take place in August : The Nebuta Festival (ねぶた祭り) is a large lantern float festival that is said to have originated from a fedual lord’s desire to make his army seem larger and intimidating Yoshida No Hi Matsuri (吉田の火祭り) is known for…