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New Year's in Japan I J-Life International

New Year's in Japan

by Merchandising Dept
In Japanese, New Years is known as shōgatsu  正月, and it is the most important holiday of the year in Japan.  Many of the traditional holiday celebr...
Japanese Culture
Rohatsu I J-Life International

Rohatsu

by Merchandising Dept
What is Rohatsu? Rohatsu is the celebration of the day the Buddha reached enlightenment according to the Zen Buddhist Tradition.  This day is also ...
Japanese Culture
Labor Thanksgiving Day I J-Life International

Labor Thanksgiving Day

by Merchandising Dept
Labor Thanksgiving Day is a Japanese holiday that celebrates labor, production, and is meant as a time for citizens to give thanks.  It is called K...
Japanese Culture
Halloween in Japan I J-Life International

Halloween in Japan

by Merchandising Dept
Halloween is, surprisingly, widely celebrated in Japan.  Despite not being a traditional Japanese holiday it has been broadly accepted and celebrat...
Japanese Culture
Six Elements of Japanese Architecture I J-Life International

Six Elements of Japanese Architecture

by Merchandising Dept
1. Wood One of the principal elements of Japanese architecture is the use of wood.  Wood is by far the most common material used.  The use of wood ...
Japanese Culture
Autumnal Equinox Day I J-Life International

Autumnal Equinox Day 秋分の日

by Merchandising Dept
The Autumnal Equinox is the day the sun crosses over the equator from the northern hemisphere to the southern.  On this day the sun rises exactly i...
Japanese Culture
Respect For The Age Day I J-Life International

Respect For The Age Day

by Merchandising Dept
Respect For The Age Day, 敬老の日, Keirō no Hi,  is a national public holiday in Japan that is meant to honor and respect the nation’s older citizens. ...
Japanese Culture
Kadō "Way of Flowers" I J-Life International

Kadō "Way of Flowers"

by Merchandising Dept
Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement.  The word translates to “arranging flowers” or “making flowers alive”.  This practice is also ca...
Japanese Culture
Our Favorite Traditional Japanese Dishes I J-Life International

Our Favorite Traditional Japanese Dishes

by Merchandising Dept
In Japanese the traditional cuisine is called Washoku 和食とは.  It roughly translates to harmony (or Japan) with/ in food.  The traditional cuisine is...
Japanese Culture
History of Futons I J-Life International

History of Futons

by Merchandising Dept
Futons have been used in western culture (particularly the United States) for several decades.  However, the entire idea behind the “futon” began i...
Japanese Culture
Mountain Day I J-Life International

Mountain Day

by Merchandising Dept
Mountain Day is a Japanese Public Holiday that was established in 2016.  It is the youngest public holiday that the country celebrates.  Traditiona...
Japanese Culture
Japan vs. the West: Kitchens I J-Life International

Japanese vs. Western Kitchens

by Merchandising Dept
Japanese kitchens are central to the home.  In Japanese the kitchen is called the kamado.  Not only is this space important for food preparation bu...
Japanese Culture