JAPANESE FESTIVALS BACKGROUND
Japan has an abundance of local festivals
Festivals in Japan are connected with shrines
and temples throughout the country. Most are
held on an annual basis on a particular set
date. Japan’s festival often celebrate the
changing of the seasons, special historical
events or are connected with fertility or
prayers to the God’s for good health. Most
festivals in Japan are colorful, lively and joyous
affairs often involving a procession with
participants in period dress carrying through
the streets a special, decorated palanquin
containing the local Shinto floats, exhibitions
of martial arts such as archery and horse
riding, music, dancing and quantities of food
and drink served from street stalls.
TANABATA FESTIVAL”STAR FESTIVAL”
Tanabata is also known as star festival, takes
place on the 7th day of the 7th month of the
year. One popular Tanabata custom is to write
one’s wishes on a piece of paper, and hang that
piece of paper on a specially erected bamboo
tree, in the hope that the wishes become true.
Colorful Tanabata festivals are held across
Japan in early July and August.
Sapporo Snow Festival
The Sapporo Snow Festival is the most famous
winter festival in Japan and attracts people
from all over the world. This Festival lasts about
a week and begins about early February. More
than 300 large snow statues are exhibited and
the two biggest sites are in Sapporo and
Hokkaido. The statues are illuminated with
colorful lights at night making the views even
more incredible.
Aomori Nebuta Festival
The Aomoro Nebuta Festival is one of the most
famous festivals in Japan and is known as
Japan’s fire festival. It is held from August 2 to
August 7 every year. Over 20 Nebuta floats are
pulled by people in the streets of Aomori City.
Also, Aomori citizens and audiences participate
in the festival as dancers called Haneto.
Cherry Blossom Festival
Cherry blossoms can be viewed from January
to June in different regions in Japan. There are
hundreds of Cherry blossom held during this
time.
Setsubun- Mame Maki
February 3rd is called Setsubun in Japan. It’s not
a national holiday, but Setsubun Mame Maki
(bean throwing) festivals are held on the day.
Traditionally, people throw roasted soy beans
at home, shouting “oni wa so to” (get out
demons) and “fu ku wa uchi” (come in
happiness). This beans are called fuku mame
(fuku beans). It is said that people keep their
health and happiness, when they pick up and
eat fuku mame a number equal to their ages.
Kyoto Geon Festival
The ancient Capital of Japan. Kyoto is taken
back in time during the Gion Festival, by
Yasaka Shrine. The Gion Festival is one of the
biggest festivals in Japan and begins July 1st
and lasts until July 31st. At this time, there are
many street vendors with games and Japanese
festival food. It is said that the summer of
Kyoto begins with the Gion Matsuri.
Obon Festival
The 13th through 16th of August is called Obon in
Japan. Obon is a Buddhist event and one of the
most important traditions for Japanese people.
It is the period of praying for the repose of the
soul’s of one’s ancestors. People believe that
their ancestors’ spirits come back to their
homes to be reunited with their family during
Obon.
SHINZEN SHIKI TSUNOKAKOSHI

-Traditional Japanese wedding

customs(shinzen shiki) involve an elaborate
ceremony held at Shinto Shrine. Japanese
serves to hide the brides horns of jealousy; It
weddings are becoming increasingly
also symbolizes the brides intention to become
extravagant. However, in some cases, younger
a gentle and obedient wife.
generations choose to abandon the formal
ways by having a “no host party” for a UCHIHAKE
wedding. In this situation, the guests primarily
consist of the couple’s friends who pay for
attendance fee.

THE CLOTHES

WATABOSHI is a white hood

-Uchihake is an ornate wedding coat with a

long trail, which Japanese bride wear during
the wedding ceremony. It is worn like a robe
without obi over another Kimono. “Uchihake”
is usually heavily brocaded or embroidered
with the motifs of congratulations such as
cranes, pines, flowing water and a bounty of
flowers. The bottom of Uchihake is padded to
trail along the floor. You can imagine the bride
in this Uchihake walking quietly into the
solemn wedding ceremony.
SEKIHAN traditional Japanese weddings. In the Japanese
language Kazunoko refers to herring roe. This is
dried under the sun and is normally pickled in
Kosher salt. Rose which is used in this recipe is
very small and has a unique texture.

DATEMAKI

Sekihan is a red azuki beans rice .

KOMBU
This is another very popular dish which is served
in Japanese weddings. This is a Japanese rolled
omelet which is loved during weddings. It is
made from dashi soup stock and hanpen which
is white fish cake.

JAPANESE SUSHI CAKES

Kombu or Kelp is a very traditional Japanese

food which is made from broccoli, squashes,
fresh ginger, garlic, mushrooms, kombu and
carrots. It is a very delicate sea food flavored
clear soup which is a must during weddings.

KAZUNOKO

Weddings are said to be incomplete, until there

is a wedding cake. This is made from smoked
salmon, sushi rice, eggs along with other
ingredients.

Kazunoko is a symbol of fertility in Japan which

is the main reason why this dish is served in
EXTENDED FAMILY

Several generations living and working

together on the land

NUCLEAR FAMILY

father works, mother at home, and

approximately two (2) children for
middle/upper class

MULTIPLE FAMILY PATTERNS

no one model to follow in society to

gain acceptance

(divorced, re-married, married without kids, gay

or lesbian)

RESPECT FOR ELDERS

Knowledge of status

Differences in vocabulary

WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Traditional view of motherhood

KABUKI the ability to show different emotions by facing
the audience at different angles.

KYOGEN

Kabuki is a stylized types of Japanese dance-

drama in which all roles are traditionally played
by male actors. It historically evolved in
pleasure districts and plays ran all night
surrounded by food and drink. Kabuki actors
take the stage names of their teacher who is
Kyogen is type of traditional comedy that
often their father or grandfather. They are first
features stock characters such as master and
expected to live up to the heights of their
servant. It’s heavy in slapstick and satire.
teachers career in terms of spirit, style and skill.
Although it is performed using an archaic
It can take decades before an actor earns the
version of Japanese language, it is designed to
right to use his teachers stage name.
be easy to understand with exaggerated
NOH speech, facial expressions and movements.

Noh is a type of traditional dance-drama

performed in masks. All Noh plays are
performed by just five schools that have passed
their traditions down for centuries using the
Lemoto system. Noh masks are crafted from
wood and are remarkably advanced. Some have
BUNRAKU stand in a strict order based on their status
within the club as they wait. This is an
interesting spectacle as its unusual to see
hundreds of people lining up in a perfectly
straight line.

GEISHA DANCES

Bunraku is traditional Japanese puppet theatre

featuring complex puppets with hundreds of
moving parts. Each puppet requires three
highly-trained puppeteers to operate. Some
puppets have the ability to transform from
human to supernatural forms such as demons
before the audiences eyes.

TAKARAZUKA REVIEW
There are two major Geisha performances each
Spring on Kyoto known as the Miyako Odori and
Kamogawa Odori. Both have been held since
the 1870’s and were founded as a way to
revitalize Kyoto’s economy after the capital the
Japan officially moved to Tokyo. . They both
represent elegant performance and a rare
chance to see Kyoto’s Geisha at their best.

A number of all female theatre troops founded

in 1914 by a powerful Japanese industrialist.
The Takarazuka Review is a unique theatre
company who perform Western style musicals
with melodramatic plots. They sell around 2.5
million tickets a year and have an extensive fan
base. Audiences are usually more than 90
percent female. After each performance,
Takarazuka fan clubs wait outside the theatre to
see the actresses as they depart. Members
Japanese literature is one of the major THE TALE OF GENJI
literatures of the world comparable to English
literature in age in variety.

Japanese literature is one of the major bodies of

Oriental Literature. It is less voluminous than
Chinese Literature but comparable to Arabic,
Persian and Indian Literature. It covers the
period from the fifth century A.D to the
present.

Poems and odes to the Gods were composed in

the early Japanese Language before the art of
writing was known in Japan. Only fragments of
this Literature have survived, but these are
thought to have been extensive. During the first
centuries of writing in Japan, the spoken
language and written language were identical.

Written by Japanese writer Murasaki Shikibu

in the 11th century, is generally regarded as the
earliest novel in any culture and as the
greatest masterpiece of Japanese literature. In
this scene from the novel. Prince Genji is
visiting with his favorite wife. Murasaki, while
watching his housemaids, whom he has sent
outside to build a snowman. The novel is
remarkable for its detailed depiction of the
refined culture of Heian-period Japan.
VARIOUS SPORTS OR SKILL, MAINLY OF
JAPANESE ORIGIN, THAT ORIGINATED AS
FORMS OF SELF-DEFENSE OR ATTACK, SUCH AS
JUDO, KARATE AND KENDO.
THE USAGE OF THE TERM BUDO TO MEAN
MARTIAL ARTS IS A MODERN 0NE AND
HISTORICALLY THE TERM MEANT A WAY OF LIFE
ENCOMPASSING PHYSICAL, SPIRITUAL AND
MORAL DIMENSIONS WITH A FOCUS OF SELF-
IMPROVEMENT, FULFILLMENT OF PERSONAL
GROWTH
POPULAR CULTURE Worship of Kami spirits.

Japanese popular culture includes Japanese Translated as “ The Way of the Gods”.
cinema, cuisine, television programs, anime,
Shrine dedicated to a specific Kami.
manga and music, all of which retain older
artistic and literary traditions, and many of their Practices that show their beliefs.
themes and styles of presentation can be traced
to traditional art forms. Contemporary forms of CONFUCIANISM
popular culture, much like the traditional forms, Moral, social, political, and religious thought.
are not only forms of entertainment but also
aspects to distinguish contemporary Japan from Championed familial loyalty.
the rest of the modern world. There is a large Ancestor worship.
industry of music, films, and the products of a
huge comic book industry, among other forms Respect of elders.
of entertainment. Game centers, bowling alleys,
No specific God.
and karaoke parlors are well-known hangout
places for teens while older people may play Did not believe in after life.
shogi or go in specialized parlors.
DOMO ARIGATO !!!

Religious beliefs in Japan

BUDDHISM

More to do with after life.

Means “Teaching of the Awaken One”

A significant religious and cultural force.

Originally started in India.

SHINTOISM

Native Religion.
Religious beliefs in Japan

BUDDHISM

More to do with after life.

Means “Teaching of the Awaken One”

A significant religious and cultural force.

Originally started in India.

SHINTOISM

Native Religion.

Worship of Kami spirits.

Translated as “ The Way of the Gods”.

Shrine dedicated to a specific Kami.

Practices that show their beliefs.

CONFUCIANISM

Moral, social, political, and religious thought.

Championed familial loyalty.

Ancestor worship.

Respect of elders.

No specific God.

Did not believe in after life.