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Incense in Japan I J-Life International

A Brief History of Japanese Incense

Incense is an important aspect of Japanese culture that dates back nearly 1,500 years.  Greater Japan was introduced to incense by Zen Buddhists, w...
Vernal Equinox Day I J-Life International

Vernal Equinox Day: Celebrating the Arrival of Spring in Japan

The Vernal Equinox, also known as Shunbun no Hi (春分の日), is a celebration of the March equinox which astrologically marks the beginning of spring in...
National Foundation Day I J-Life International

National Foundation Day

What is National Foundation Day? National Foundation Day ((建国記念の日), or “Kenkoku Kinen no Hi”, is an annual Japanese public holiday that celebrates ...
Obon Festival: The Buddhist Holiday Dedicated to Celebrating Ancestors

Obon Festival: The Buddhist Holiday Dedicated to Celebrating Ancestors

What is Obon? Obon Festival (お盆), or “Bon” as it is also known, is a 3-day lantern festival celebrated annually in mid-August across Japan that is ...
3 Reasons Why Japan Loves Cats

3 Reasons Why Japan Loves Cats

If you go anywhere in urban Japan or consume Japanese media, you may have noticed the frequency in which cats (猫; neko) appear. From cat-human hybr...
The History of 7 Common Traditional Japanese Fabric Patterns

The History of 7 Common Traditional Japanese Fabric Patterns

Founded in 660 BC and ranked as having the third highest GDP in the world, Japan is one of the oldest and most prosperous modern nations. After ove...
Ocean Day: Japan's Celebration of its Maritime Heritage

Ocean Day: Japan's Celebration of its Maritime Heritage

Ocean Day is a Japanese national holiday dedicated to showing gratitude for the ocean and acknowledging the role it has played in the island nation...
Everything You Need to Know About Norens: the Traditional Japanese Room Divider and Curtain

Everything You Need to Know About Norens: the Traditional Japanese Room Divider and Curtain

You may have noticed, perhaps while traveling or in different forms of media, Japanese homes and businesses often have vertically slit fabric curta...
Sanja Matsuri: The Biggest Annual Festival in Tokyo

Sanja Matsuri: The Biggest Annual Festival in Tokyo

What is Sanja Matsuri? Annually, during the 3rd weekend of May, Tokyo becomes host to one of the largest festivals the Japanese capital city puts o...
History of the Bonsai Tree

History of the Bonsai Tree

The Japanese bonsai tree (盆栽) has become a recognizable image around the world. They conjure up images of finely manicured miniature Zen gardens, a...
Showa Day in Japan: An Observance of Emperor Hirohito's Birthday

Showa Day in Japan: An Observance of Emperor Hirohito's Birthday

Considered the oldest standing monarchy in the world, Japan has had a long line of celebrated emperors that began in approximately 660 BC with the ...
Elements of Traditional Japanese Dining and How to Set a Japanese Table

Elements of Traditional Japanese Dining and How to Set a Japanese Table

The Japanese have long been known for their outstanding attention towards detail in all aspects in their lives and culture. From personal appearanc...