Omizutori (お水取り) or the Torch Festival is a Buddhist religious rite. It is celebrated every year in the Nigatsu-do of the Todai-ji temple, in Nara, Japan. It is considered one of the oldest and most important religious events in the country, dating back over a thousand years. The event takes place during the month of …
Hina Matsuri is a holiday celebrated in Japan every year on March 3. It is also called the “Doll Festival”. Why this name? Due to the tradition of displaying porcelain dolls called hina-ningyō. This holiday is celebrated to honor young girls and wish them a happy and prosperous life. The tradition of Hina Matsuri dates …
In Japan, Setsubun is a traditional festival celebrated on February 3. It marks the transition from winter to spring according to the ancient agricultural lunar calendar of Chinese origin. This festivity has deep meaning. Indeed, it combines ancestral rituals, symbols and community spirit. Historical Origins of the Setsubun Festival The origin of Setsubun dates back …
Setsubun and mame-maki, the national spring festival in Japan Read More »
Christmas is a festive time for many cultures around the world, and Japan is no exception. Although the country is not traditionally Christian, the celebration of Christmas has become increasingly popular over the years, with a mixed influence of Japanese and Western culture. In this article, we will explore how the Japanese celebrate Christmas, what …
At the heart of Japanese culture lies a period imbued with spirituality and commemoration: the Obon. This annual celebration, also known as the “Day of the Dead”, is a time of reflection, religious rituals and family gatherings. This article delves into the heart of Obon in Japan, exploring its origins, cultural and religious significance, and …
Obon in Japan: Tradition, Meaning and Celebrations Read More »
Showa Day, Shōwa no Hi (昭和の日) is a holiday celebrated in Japan on 29 April to commemorate the birthday of Emperor Hirohito, who ruled Japan from 1926 to 1989 as Emperor Showa. The holiday was established in 2007 as an official public holiday to honour Emperor Showa and his long and important contribution to Japanese …
Kabuki is a form of traditional Japanese theater that originated in the early 17th century. Kabuki is famous for its elaborate costumes, dramatic make-up, spectacular scenes and haunting music. In this article, we will explore the history and characters of kabuki. History of Kabuki Kabuki was created by a woman named Okuni in the early …
Akira Yoshizawa was a pioneer in the world of origami. His passion for this art, his technical innovations and his vision of origami as an art in itself have left a lasting mark in this community. His contribution to origami is still celebrated and appreciated today, more than 15 years after his death.
Hideyo Noguchi (野口 英世) was a Japanese physician and scientist born November 9, 1876. Noguchi is known for his contributions to syphilis research and also worked on yellow fever. Noguchi began his medical career in Japan, but soon joined the Rockefeller Institute for Tropical Medicine in New York in 1914. At that time, his work …
Hideyo Noguchi: the discoverer of the agent of syphilis Read More »
Ryūnosuke Akutagawa (芥川龍之介, Akutagawa Ryūnosuke, March 1, 1892 – July 24, 1927) was a renowned Japanese writer, considered one of the founders of modern Japanese short stories. He was born in 1892 in Tokyo and died aged 35 in 1927. Akutagawa started writing at a young age and quickly gained a reputation as a talented …
Ryūnosuke Akutagawa: Father of New Japanese Modernism Read More »
