24 facts to know about Japan before you’re

50!

Hello, are you ready to take a trip?

Well, if so then come with Abby Medema and

McKenna Messling on a tour of Japan!

We will be passing the monuments, clothing stores,

and learning about traditions, religions, and foods!

Chapter 1: Traditions

The Star Festival is about love

between 2 stars. It is celebrated on

July 7th. The 2 stars are Weaving

Star (girl) and the Herd Star (boy).

The Cherry Blossom Festival is

celebrated on March 27th of this

year. It is about their national

flower, it even has its own song.

On May 5th, it is Children’s Day,

but used to be called Boy’s day! It

has been celebrated longer than 50

years.

Some or most of their traditional

music is Gagaku, Biwagaku,

Nohgaku, Sokyoku, Shakuhach,

Shamisenongaku, and Minyo.

Doll’s Festival is celebrated on

March 3rd every year. Doll’s festival

is where girl’s and single woman

display their dolls and ornaments to

represent imperial family. Is also

called Girl’s Festival.

Culture Day is celebrated on

November 3rd each year. It is about

a day for promotion of culture and

the love of freedom and peace!

Chapter: 2

A common food that most

Japanese people like is sushi. There

are many different kinds of sushi.

Japanese people eat lots of

vegetables with almost every meal.

Some of the vegetables they eat are

ninjin (carrots), tomato, pinman

(green pepper), and horenso

(spinach).

Sometimes when they eat they

have tea. One of the kinds often

they have is kocha (black tea).

Wuhe honey is used to make kocha.

They also sometimes have a tea

ceremony.

Kocha is british black tea. Kocha is

served during meal times. A tea

ceremony is a way to prepare tea.

Now the tea ceremony is a

Japanese hobby. Some people take

the tea ceremony very seriously, so

they take lessons.

Tea ceremonies are held in

traditional Japanese rooms such as

a private house.

Basically, the tea is first prepared

by the host, then drank by the

guest.

One of the most important tools

of a ceremony is: a bamboo brush

for preparation.

(Japan Church)

Chapter 3

The 2 religions (Shintoism & Buddhism) have co-excised together since the sixth centaury! Zen Buddhism emphasizes with self discipline

and meditation. 94.6% of Japanese people say that they

believe in both of these religions.

(Japan Religious Statue)

Propaganda and preaching are not common in Shintoism, but are in Buddhism. “Shinto Gods” are also called Kami, they are

scared spirits which take the form of things and concepts in important life, such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, rivers, and fertility. Today about one to two million Japanese people are Christians (about 1% of Japan’s population).

Chapter: 4

One of the very heavy dresses

that is worn is called the juni-hinto.

The juni-hinto is a twelve layer

dress worn by the women.

Each layer of the dress is a

different color.

The kimono is a very popular out-

fit worn Japan.

Tabi-split toe socks are worn with

the kimono.

The furisode is mainly worn by

young, unmarried women. Its

sleeves reach all the way down to

the floor.

Another out-fit that they wear is

the uchikake which is a wedding

dress.

Thank you for traveling with us!