Kon’nichiwa! Kon’nichiwa! Welcome to Japanese Culture Welcome to Japanese Culture

FactsFacts

127, 817, 277 People (slightly less than the 127, 817, 277 People (slightly less than the USA)USA)

99% speak Japanese99% speak Japanese Elders speak Ainu (dying language)Elders speak Ainu (dying language)

Full Religious FreedomFull Religious Freedom Most actually aren’t religiousMost actually aren’t religious Mostly Buddhism/ ShintoMostly Buddhism/ Shinto

Japan

CuisineCuisine

Based on-Based on- Rice/noodlesRice/noodles FishFish VegetablesVegetables TofuTofu

BentoBento Boxed dishBoxed dish Originally for Originally for

picnicspicnics

Bento

Udon

Soba

GovernmentGovernment

Unitary Parliamentary Unitary Parliamentary DemocracyDemocracy

Constitutional monarchyConstitutional monarchy

Emperor (top)Emperor (top)

AkihitoAkihito

Prime Minister (bottom)Prime Minister (bottom)

YoshihikoYoshihiko

Members of the United Members of the United Nations (granted in 1956)Nations (granted in 1956)

Unique CustomsUnique Customs

BowingBowing

Boys Boys hands at sideshands at sides

Girls Girls Hands in lapHands in lap

Longer + deeper = more Longer + deeper = more respectrespect

On one’s knees = most On one’s knees = most respectfulrespectful

VisitingVisiting

Considered an honor to Considered an honor to be invited overbe invited over

Remove shoes before Remove shoes before enteringentering

FashionFashion• Most wear same Most wear same

clothing clothing

• Always little variation in Always little variation in clothes- same styleclothes- same style

• Some crazy and wild Some crazy and wild designs designs

• TraditionalTraditional• KimonoKimono

KimonoKimono

Change to Change to match the match the seasonseason

Wraps around Wraps around the bodythe body

Different Different styles have styles have varying varying significancesignificance

Both men and Both men and WomenWomen

Different stylesDifferent styles Furisode- long sleves/ unmarried/ patternedFurisode- long sleves/ unmarried/ patterned Hōmongi- when at events/Hōmongi- when at events/ Iromuji- single color/ tea ceremony/ Iromuji- single color/ tea ceremony/ Komon- small repeated pattern/ casualKomon- small repeated pattern/ casual

Edo komon- tiny doted patternsEdo komon- tiny doted patterns

Mofuku- mourning/all black (women) /mostly Mofuku- mourning/all black (women) /mostly (men)(men)

TomesodeTomesode Irotomesode- single colored/ patterned below waist/ Irotomesode- single colored/ patterned below waist/

marriedmarried

Kurotomesode- black/ patterened below waist/ formal Kurotomesode- black/ patterened below waist/ formal marriedmarried

Uchikake- highly formal/ bridal/ trail on groundUchikake- highly formal/ bridal/ trail on ground Susohiki / Hikizuri- geisha/ dancers/ long and Susohiki / Hikizuri- geisha/ dancers/ long and

formalformal

Arigatou! Arigatou!