Japan

Cherry Blossom (Sakura)In Japan, cherry blossoms symbolize clouds due to their nature of blooming en masse, besides being an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life, an aspect of Japanese cultural tradition that is often associated with Buddhistic influence.

"Hanami" (Flower viewing)

Hanami ("flower viewing") is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers, "flower" in this case almost always meaning cherry blossoms ("sakura"). From the end of March to early May, sakura blooms all over Japan.

Kimono

A traditional wedding kimono

The kimono is a Japanese traditional garment. The word "kimono", which literally means "a thing to wear"

The pattern of the kimono can determine in which season it should be worn. For example, a pattern with butterflies or cherry blossoms would be worn in spring. Watery designs are common during the summer. A popular autumn motif is the russet leaf of the Japanese maple; for winter, designs may include bamboo, pine trees and plum blossoms.

Kimonos are traditionally made from a single bolt of fabric called a tan. The finished kimono consists of four main strips of fabric—two panels covering the body and two panels forming the sleeves—with additional smaller strips forming the narrow front panels and collar.

A pair of geta

Split-toe socks (tabi)

Kimono is generally worn with traditional footwear (especially geta) and split-toe socks (tabi).

Geishasfemale entertainers who act as hostesses and whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music, dance and games..

Apprentice geishas are called maik

The shamisen

The shakuhachi

SamuraiSamurai were the military nobility of medieval and early-modern Japan. The samurai followed a set of rules that came to be known as bushidō. While the samurai numbered less than 10% of Japan's population, their teachings can still be found today in both everyday life and in modern Japanese martial arts.

Japanese Swords

tachi

uchigatana katana

Japanese swords are the weapons that have come to be synonymous with the samurai. Ancient Japanese swords were with a straight blade, by the late 900s curved tachi appeared, followed by the uchigatana and ultimately the katana. Smaller commonly known companion swords are the wakizashi and the tantō. Wearing a long sword (katana) or (tachi) together with a smaller sword such as a wakizashi or tantō became the symbol of the samurai, this combination of swords is referred to as a daishō (literally "big and small").

Japanese sword

wakizashi

tantō