Culture & Traditions– category –
Seasonal customs, architecture, light, food craft and the arts of everyday life, explored through their histories and the people who sustain and reinterpret them.
-
Why Mount Fuji Became a Symbol of Japan
Sacred shrines, Hokusai’s Great Wave and three real views reveal the stories behind Japan’s most familiar mountain. -
Watching Sumo: The Moments Before the Match
Discover what to watch before a sumo bout: salt, shiko, the face-off and ring ceremonies, with simple rules and practical tips for a first visit. -
Goshuin in Japan: A Journey Recorded in Ink and Red Seals
Discover the meaning of goshuin, how to use a goshuincho, and the etiquette for receiving shrine and temple seals in Japan, including paper versions. -
Omikuji in Japan: How to Read, Keep or Tie a Paper Fortune
Learn how to draw and read omikuji in Japan, what daikichi and kyo mean, and when to tie a paper fortune or take it home. -
Omamori in Japan: The Small Charms People Carry with Them
What are omamori in Japan? Learn how to choose a Japanese amulet, carry it respectfully and understand the custom of returning or renewing it. -
Ema in Japan: The Wishes Written on Wooden Prayer Plaques
What are ema in Japan? Learn the meaning of wooden prayer plaques, what people write on them and how visitors can take part at a shrine or temple. -
Tatami: The Floor That Shapes a Japanese Room
Discover Japanese tatami mats: woven rushes, skilled fitting, futon bedding and surface renewal, plus the ways this traditional floor adapts to modern life. -
Maneki Neko: Why Japan’s Lucky Cats Raise One Paw
Discover Japan’s maneki neko: the meaning of each raised paw, Gōtokuji’s temple story, and the ceramic cats made in the pottery towns of Seto and Tokoname. -
Furoshiki: Japan’s Wrapping Cloth for Gifts and Everyday Life
What is furoshiki? Discover Japan’s reusable wrapping cloth, its uses for gifts and bento, how materials differ and whether the recipient keeps it. -
Why Are Japan’s Manhole Covers So Beautiful?
Discover the local stories behind Japan’s decorative manhole covers, from Matsumoto’s temari and Himeji’s orchids to Yokohama’s harbor and manhole cards.
