Japanese Culture and Tradition
Japanese culture and
tradition is complex and beautiful. This blog will highlight some of the things
to know for traveling to or doing business in Japan.
Japan,
pronounced in Japanese as “Nippon” or “Nihon”, is a Pacific Ocean island nation
off the coast of mainland Asia. It is comprised of approximately 6,900 islands.
The most prominent and populous islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku and
Kyushu, making up 97% of the country. Within these islands, there are 47
prefectures with a total population of 127 million (11th in the world).
73% of
the country is mountainous, however, a majority of people live on the
coastlines, making it one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
Language
The national language is
Japanese, which is the primary spoken language across the country. Old
Japanese, or “Kanbun”, originated from China and the earliest Japanese text,
the “Kojiki,” was written in the early 8th century and was written primarily in
ancient Chinese characters. Modern Japanese developed during the Edo period,
between 1603 and 1868.
Modern Japanese consists
of three alphabets:
- Kanji (logographic Chinese
characters)
- Hiragana (a phonetic Japanese
alphabet)
- Katakana (a phonetic alphabet
used for foreign words)
The development and
widespread use of Katakana is illustrative of Japan’s recent adoption of
Western cultures, ideas and words.
Japanese Culture
Early Japanese culture
was heavily influenced by China. During the Edo era, Japan exercised a strict
isolationist policy, closing its doors to all relationships with the outside
world. This cultivated a distinct Japanese culture.
After the fall of that
era in 1868, Japan reversed this practice, adopting cultural practices from all
over the world and mixing them with what was established during the Edo era.
Over the years, Western culture has influenced all aspects of Japanese culture
including art, lifestyle and food.
Religion
There are two main
religions in Japan: Shinto and Buddhism. Shinto is a Japanese religion, while
Buddhism was imported in the 6th century from China. A recent poll found that
39% of Japanese people identify as Buddhist, 3.9% as Shinto and 2.3% as
Christian.
Celebrations
In Japan, the largest
holiday is the New Year’s celebration. During spring and summer, celebrations
for the gods of the land and sea, or Matsuri, take place. Each town holds its
own Matsuri, and these celebrations are widely attended by all.
Sports
Sports play a
significant role in Japanese culture. Sumo, judo and karate are traditional
Japanese sports and baseball, soccer and rugby have been adopted from other
cultures.
Sumo is the national
sport of Japan and to this day is primarily practiced only in Japan. Modern
sumo was formed during the Edo era and little has changed since. Baseball is
the most-watched sport in the country. It was first introduced to the country
in 1872 and has grown in popularity ever since.
Family Structure
The traditional family
unit in Japan is called “Kazoku,” comprising of a mother, father and their
children. Traditionally, the Kazoku often live with their elderly parents.
However, more recently, three generation household numbers have fallen in favor
of more modern arrangements.
Cuisine
Across the nation, the
Japanese are primarily fish eaters. Japan is the number one fish importer in
the world, consuming around 12% of the world’s caught fish.
The most well-known
Japanese dish is probably sushi, a dish that includes fresh fish, seaweed and
lightly-seasoned rice. Japanese also eat beef, poultry and pork as part of
their daily diets.
Conclusion
Japan is a nation shaped
by its rapid transition from isolationism to globalism. Japanese culture and
tradition represents a fusion of old world culture with newer Western
practices.
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