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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
Buddhism in Japan I J-Life International

Buddhism in Japan

by Merchandising Dept
According to tradition the founder of Buddhism, Siddartha, was born in 563 BCE in what is now considered to be southern Nepal.  He was a prince who...
Japanese Culture
What's in a Tatami Mat? I J-Life International

What's in a Tatami Mat?

by Merchandising Dept
Tatami mats are the traditional flooring used in Japan.  Originally, tatami was only used amongst the rich and upper class but during the Muromachi...
J-Life Products Tatami Mat
Three Reasons You Need To Be Using Chopsticks I J-Life Internattional

Three Reasons You Need To Be Using Chopsticks

by Merchandising Dept
Lowers Glycemic Index (GI) of Food One of the biggest health benefits of using chopsticks is that it lowers the Glycemic Index of the food we eat. ...
Japanese Culture
Traditional Japanese Home I J-Life International

The Traditional Japanese Home

by Merchandising Dept
Japanese homes are built in a very different manner than those in the West.  They are built to allow for airflow due to the high temperatures in th...
Japanese Culture
Kōdō 香道, "Way of Fragrance"

Kōdō 香道, "Way of Fragrance"

by Merchandising Dept
Incense was first introduced to Japan through the spread of Buddhism.  After it’s initial arrival, incense culture in Japan quickly flourished.  It...
Japanese Culture