Japanese history includes alternating periods of isolation and revolutionary influences from the rest of the world. As early as the Jomon period from about 14000BC to 300 BC, Japan had a hunter-gatherer lifestyle; wooden stilt houses, pit dwelling, and agriculture. Weaving was still unknown and the ancient Japanese clothing consisted of fur. However, some of the world’s oldest pottery is found in Japan, along with daggers, jade, combs made form shell and clay figures.
The period thereafter to 250 BC saw the influx of new practices like weaving, rice sowing, iron and bronze making influenced by china and Korea. Chinese travelers describe the men ‘with braided hair, tattooing and women with large, single-piece clothing.’ Initially ancient Japanese clothing consisted of single piece clothing. The ancient and classical Japan begins from the middle of the 3rd century to 710. An advanced agricultural and militaristic culture defines this period. By 645, Japan rapidly adopted Chinese practices and reorganized its penal code.
The peak period of ancient Japan and its imperial court is from 794 to 1185. Art, poetry, literature and trade expeditions continued with vigor. Warlords and powerful regional families ruled ancient Japan from 1185 to 1333 and the emperor was just a figure head. By the Japanese Middle Ages, Portugal had introduced firearms by a chance landing of their ship at Japanese coast; samurai charging ranks were cut down; trade with Netherlands, England and Spain had opened up new avenues. Several missionaries had entered Japan as well.
Distinct features of the lifestyle, ancient Japanese clothing and women is difficult to decipher for the simple reason that it is super-imposed by the Chinese culture. Ancient Japan readily adopted other cultures and practices and most of its own culture is lost among these adaptations.
Ancient Japanese clothing was mostly unisex, with differences being in colors, length and sleeves. A Kimono tied with an Obi or a sash around the waist was the general clothing and with the advent of western clothing are now mostly worn at home or special occasions. Women’s obi in ancient Japanese clothing would mostly be elaborate and decorative. Some would be as long as 4meters and tied as a flower or a butterfly. Though a Yukata means a ‘bath clothing’, these were often worn in the summers as morning and evening gowns. Ancient Japanese clothing consisted of mena and women wearing Haori or narrow paneled jacket for special occasions such as marriages and feasts. These are worn over a kimono and tied with strings at the ****** level.
The most interesting piece of ancient Japanese clothing is the ju-ni-hitoe or the ‘twelve layers’ adorned by ladies at the imperial court. It is multi-layered and very heavy and worn on a daily basis for centuries! The only change would be the thickness of the fabric and the number of layers depending on the season. Princesses still wear these on weddings.
Since the Japanese people don’t wear footwear inside their homes, tabi is still worn. These are split -toe socks woven out of non-stretch materials with thick soles. Clogs have been worn for centuries in ancient Japan and were known as Geta. These were made of wood with two straps and were unisexual. Zori was footwear made of softer materials like straw and fabric with a flat sole.
Ancient Japanese clothes, culture and footwear are slowly regaining their popularity with the western world. There is an honest curiosity in knowing more, wearing kimonos or using silk fabrics with beautiful floral prints from the ‘land of the rising sun’.
By: Christopher Schwebius
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Filed under Arts And Entertainment by on Nov 20th, 2010. 
Since the creation of Japanese animation movies, the world has learned to fall in love with them and since many are in Japanese, you will see that people have gotten used to reading the subtitles and still enjoy watching these movies. Animated movies in Japan began in 1917, and since have gone on to make more than just movies but animated cartoon series.
Some of these Japanese animation movies would be suitable for little children, however since a growing majority of adult viewers started watching the movies make more mature and with more mature scenes that little children could not watch. However they also started creating more family oriented movies that the whole family and not just kids or adults could watch.
Since the movies were animated it was easier for the creators of the Japanese animation movies to be creative and go all out with art and the drawings. You could find that the movie was very imaginative and full of fantasy. It was easier for the movie director to make a story work because it was animated and all the olden Japanese stories of vampires and all other creatures were easily created and made for entertaining movies. Another key figure in Japanese animation would be the samurai and his sword. Many of the movies featured samurai warriors and the funny thing was that they were warriors of the past in the future is actually quite interesting to watch.
Many of the animation was like a work of art and the work of Japanese calligraphy and Japanese painting also came into play in creating most of the qualities of the animation style. If you are looking for animated Japanese movies then you can always get them from the internet and they are quite interesting to watch.
By: Peter Gitundu
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Filed under Arts And Entertainment by on Nov 20th, 2010.
You cannot but be impressed by Japanese tattoos. The intricate detail and stunning colours set Japanese tattoos apart, placing them in a league of their own. They are thought of, by many, to be the pinnacle of tattoo art.
Japanese tattoos are complicated and very detailed. Often they extend over large portions of the body, for example the entire back of the wearer. Getting a Japanese tattoo is long and often painful process, but one that is worth the effort for the rich clarity and detail of the scenes. The tattoos are truly works of art, not some horrid piece of ink slapped on in a drunken haze on holiday as are too many tattoos these days.
The history of Japanese tattoos as an artform is interesting. In the early 1600s, tattoos were worn proudly by Japanese people. The tattoos would be shown off and were much admired. A stark contrast to today where very often, tattoos are regarded by large portions of society as something to cover up and hide, especially in corporate contexts. There is one “corporation” though, that still encourages tattoos; the Yakuza.
The Yakuza are basically the Japanese mafia. A strictly organised criminal society, that has spread its influence throughout Japanese society – politics, media, you name it, the Yakuza will have infiltrated it. And with them, the Yakuza have brought their tattoos more and more into the mainstream. Japanese Yakuza tattoos, also called irezume are often still hand-poked – in other words, they are created without the aid of electric tattoo needles, making the actual tattoos more expensive and more painful to have done, not to mention slower – in fact some of the larger more intricate tattoos have been known to take years to complete.
By: Baz VonDemHagen
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Filed under Arts And Entertainment by on Nov 20th, 2010.
Delicate and decidedly feminine, the cherry blossom tattoo has taken off it the world of body art. More and more women are embracing this trend and accentuating themselves with the ultimate symbol of beauty and grace. Before any sort of body artwork is done, you should carefully consider all your options. Make sure this is something you’ll enjoy for the rest of your life and make sure the tattoo says something about you personally.
When it comes to cherry blossom tattoos, there are two schools of thought. Both Chinese and Japanese cultures acknowledge the cherry blossom in different ways and it carries with it two different meanings for each. The Chinese see the cherry blossom as a symbol of power and love. It also speaks to the power of femininity. This is the perfect tattoo for a woman asserting her independence. Perhaps it can symbolize a fresh start after a divorce or after a particularly damaging relationship. It can help you reclaim your lost inner power and peace.
In Japanese culture the cherry blossom symbolizes the brevity of life. You see, this flower only blooms for a short period of time. It encourages everyone to appreciate what little time they have on this Earth and it promotes gratitude for what they are given. As a tattoo, this symbol could remind you that all things pass in time and that bad situations won’t last forever. It can be comforting especially in times of grief or other hardship. It’s definitely something you can look at and cherish forever – no matter how old you get.
If you’ve explored the different meanings of the cherry blossom tattoo and feel it’s a good fit for both your personality and aesthetic tastes, you should explore the next step. If you want your tattoo done properly and beautifully, you need to do your research. Find a tattoo artist that is familiar with Japanese and Chinese artwork. They should know things like the fact that you usually won’t ever find a cherry blossom by itself in traditional art. This knowledge will go a long way in creating and maintaining the authenticity of your tattoo. Also make sure that the artist has done plenty of Asian-inspired tattoos over the course of his or her career. Don’t be afraid to ask to see sample of their work. Duplicating Japanese or Chinese artwork is a painstaking task that cannot be done well by just anyone.
Deciding to get a tattoo is a monumental decision. It’s something that will stay with you for the rest of your life. It should not be undertaken lightly or on a whim. Don’t be in a rush to get your cherry blossom tattoo. After all, you have all the time in the world to enjoy it once you do get it! Make sure you thoroughly understand the history and symbolism behind the cherry blossom and be sure to find a tattoo artist dedicated to creating authentic Asian artwork. If you do your research, you’ll end up with a cherry blossom tattoo unlike any other and it will speak to you personally for the rest of your life.
By: Marie Wilson
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Read more on Cherry Blossom Tattoo Designs – The True Meaning…
Filed under Arts And Entertainment by on Nov 18th, 2010.
While many people are familiar with Native American and African hand weaved baskets, Japanese baskets are not so well known. These beautiful handcrafted baskets that are constructed of bamboo have long been Japanese tradition.
The art of Japanese basket weaving dates back to the Jomon period, which dated from 10,000 B.C.E (Before the Christian Era) to 300 B.C.E. These early baskets were used as tools and were very basic in design. Later, during the Yayoi period that extended from 300 B.C.E. to A.D. 300, baskets began to have intricate designs that showed that the people had begun to appreciate basket weaving as an art form. From the nineteenth century on, Japanese artisans have used traditional Japanese weaving methods combined with certain western techniques to weave baskets that can truly be called their own.
The Japanese have two names for baskets-hanakago which means “flower basket” and hanaire which means “flower container.” These people utilize these bamboo containers in the traditional tea ceremony as well as the art of flower arranging, which is an integral part of the Japanese culture.
As mentioned earlier, Japanese baskets are woven mainly from bamboo, a species of grass that is hollow on the inside but also unbelievably strong. In Japan, this grass serves a variety of purposes. It is used as a building material and can also be eaten. It also has a mystical quality about it. Japanese tradition states that the bamboo tree will only flower once in its lifetime and that this occurrence only happens once every hundred years.
In reality, the climate found in Japan as well as in Southeast Asia is ideal for this type of grass. It is also one of the fastest growing plants in the world, one plant recorded as growing 47.6 inches in one day. It can also reach an astounding thirty to sixty feet in height. The Japanese tradition holds true with some of species of these plants, with one plant living over one hundred and twenty years and being recorded as flowering only once during that period.
Due to its vast availability, the Japanese have used this plant for everything from musical instruments to utensils. Many Japanese basket weavers prefer to use bamboo taken from another item, such as old rafters and roofs. Because of the smoke from the fires and stoves in these old buildings, the bamboo that is reused is a deep burgundy color, eliminating the necessity of dyeing that is associated with the use of fresh bamboo.
The art of basket weaving is often passed down through family members, although a master basket weaver may also accept novices into his household. These students spend years studying under the master before they even touch a strand of bamboo. When they are finally allowed to weave, they are usually taught to imitate the Chinese style basket first. After the novices become comfortable with their technique, the master will allow them to begin to work with the Japanese design. Today, there are many modern basket weavers that teach their craft in a more contemporary manner, even though these artists will admit that the traditional manner is much more educational and rewarding.
Japanese weavers today do not need to face the challenges that their Native American counterparts do as far as seeking the materials that they need. Bamboo is still readily available which should ensure the survival of traditional Japanese basket weaving for many years to come.
By: Beverly Sugarman
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Filed under Arts And Entertainment by on Nov 18th, 2010.
When we, as Japanese hear the term, Japanese Anime Cartoon, we get this funny feeling. Perhaps, it is the cartoon part that is not wrapping the anime part in the right way. Since we only used the terms like Manga and Anime, perhaps the new term, Cartoon, is not something we are used to.However, there are so many factors as to why this term give us this special feelings.
I know that this is just an expression that is different, not the subject itself, but when you say Japanese Cartoon, it sounds less animated in the sense, which I have to apologize if that offend someone. On the contrary, if you say Japanese Animation, that could mean, it is created in a rich form of art. That is probably not an impression that more of Americans or Europeans are getting toward Japanese Animation Cartoons.
By definitions, the difference between Anime and Cartoon are as follows. The anime, coming from animation, points out to all the Japanese animations as oppose to Cartoon being the topical satire comics.
Therefore, there are still Cartoons out there that are also Japanese Anime, and I suppose we call them Japanese Anime Cartoons. So, I should not even make any difference in that matter, but that is just a definition. The real feeling towards those words in terminology is somewhat different from Japanese perspective.
Anime and Cartoon are two separate things. I know this sounds a little strange for some people who are not used to the cultural differences. But, the little difference like this could make a huge difference in the large picture.
I am sure there are terms in English that are so close but they are in slightly in different meanings. So for instance, if Dragon Ball is playing on Cartoon Network, it looks and sounds kind of funny. However, something like PowerPuffGirls being Cartoon is more suitable from our perspective.
Japan’s anime like Inuyasha or Bleach are the great unleashed animation cartoons. This is due to the fact that they are not only good and fun to read comics, but sometimes, they can represent our Japanese culture in further degree and can be an animation after all.
I know some people in the states do not understand what I am talking about, but those of you who are getting what I mean, please keep in mind that next time you are getting pictures, images, or wallpapers of characters from galleries, Japanese seldom refer them to as Japanese Anime Cartoon. We prefer to use the term, Japanese Anime, Manga, or Animations. Think of the term Cartoon only applies to the animation made by non-Japanese creators. Well, at the end, what we call them does not really matter, but the quality of the Anime or Cartoon is what counts.
By: Erika Ishikawa
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Filed under Arts And Entertainment by on Nov 18th, 2010.
It is interesting to learn that there was only one Empress in 3000 years of Chinese History. Instead, Japan had 10 Empresses in its history. Women in China look more liberated than Japan, today. On the other hand, Japanese women are noted to be holding and quiet. It may not be true in these days, but world impression about Japanese women is obedient. It appears that the Samurai Regime is to be blamed for putting Japanese women in obedient positions. Especially, Tokugawa Edo Shogun Government determined that women should be behind the political and social scenes.
In older days than Samurai government, established in 1492, Japanese women were more liberal and freely appeared often in politics. The very first Ruler of Japan was a woman, Himiko. Among above 10 Empresses, 8 Empresses were in between 6th and 8th Century. This Empress name is “Komyo Empress”. She played a vital role in Buddhism became national religion in Japan.
Buddhism is interesting religion. Siddhartha Gautama started Buddhism in India between 6th and 4th Century BC. After severe training, Siddhartha became Buddha, Awaken One, started to teach and lead people. For some reason, Buddhism did not become major in India, its original place. In India, according to their national survey, 2001, the largest religion is Hinduism, 80.5%. The second largest religion is Islam, 13.4%. Christianity has the third position of 2.3% of population of India. The Buddhist population is only 0.8% in the survey above.
The Buddhism became extremely popular in China between 5th and 7th Century. The Japanese Imperial Government in 8th Century decided Buddhism to be its national religion. Empress Komyo was pious Buddhist. She became an Empress in 724. She was the wife of Emperor Shomu. Emperor Shomu introduced Buddhism to be against existing aristocrats’ local religion. The local religion, Shitoism, became too dominant to intervene government in many ways. Later, Buddhism became major religious authority in Japan centered on its concept of “Love, Equality, and Unlimited Mercy”.
In 8th and 9th Centuries, Japan built world heritage status historical monuments. Todaiji Temple is one of them. Yakushiji Temple is another. Daibutsu “Big Statue of Buddha” in Nara represents all the Buddhism monuments built during this period.
Empress Komyo stayed to be consort of Japanese Emperor Shomu. She was, however, known as the central promoter of Buddhism. She was the one who planned and implemented building of all the Nara Period Buddhism monuments, including Todaiji, Yakushiji, and Daibutsu. She built the first Japanese national hospital, Seyakuin. Japanese mythology tells Empress Komyo involved herself in treatments of patients. She did not limit the function of this national hospital just to Emperor family or aristocrats. Anybody sick despite their social class could use this hospital.
One day, Empress Komyo was engaging in patient’s treatment, in the national hospital. An old man with Hansen’s disease came to her. Empress Komyo tried to clean his body, but she could not clean all pus from his wounds. Empress Komyo started to **** his pus with her mouth for cleaning. Suddenly the old leper changed his appearance. He was one of Buddha’s messengers, Nyo-Rai. Nyo-Rai told her Buddhism would protect her country and people so that her people would enjoy prosperity. Buddhism became the national religion with Empress Komyo’s success.
By: Shaw Funami
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Filed under Arts And Entertainment by on Nov 17th, 2010.
Japanese dragons are a combination of Indian, Chinese and Korean myths and legends, both in their appearance and their significance. They are primarily understood as manifestations of water gods, whether the water is rain, a river, or the sea. Japanese dragons are different than European dragons mostly due to their lack of wings, though they share the same long, snakelike bodies of the dragons from European lore.
You can tell whether a dragon is Japanese, Chinese or Korean by how many toes it has on its feet. Chinese dragons have five toes, whereas Korean ones have four toes and Japanese dragons have only three toes. In Chinese mythology dragons represent wisdom and power. There are nine kinds of Chinese dragons, and each has a domain or a characteristic assigned to it — there are celestial, spiritual, earth, underworld, horned, winged, coiling and yellow dragons, and the king.
Japanese dragons mean different things to different people, and tattoo culture in the modern United States seems to be morphing away from what dragons represented in traditional Japanese texts, like the Kojiki and Nihongi that were written all the way back in 7th and 8th century Japan and earlier. For instance, in modern tattoo parlors, the dragon Ryu is a Buddhist image of faith, and is considered an immortal. There is a dragon god Ryujin, also called Watatsumi in ancient Japanese myths, but he was not so much an embodiment of faith so much as the ruler of the oceans. He was also able to change into human form when he chose to, and there are no references in modern tattoo lore or meanings or artist’s renderings of these creatures becoming human.
Dragon colors are very important for the meaning of a tattoo. Dragons in this tradition come in black, red, white, blue and yellow. The colors are tied to one of the four directions (North, South, East and West), and to the behaviors of the dragon. Black dragons represent the North, for example, and create storms when they fight. Red dragons also create storms when they fight, but they represent the West. Blue dragons hail from the East and are a manifestation of the season Spring. White dragons belong to the South, and represent mourning, death or famine and the eastern dragon god O Goncho. Yellow dragons are actually meant to be gold dragons and represent the dragon Kinryu. They are linked to no particular direction and are almost always invisible, until the single perfect moment, in which they briefly show themselves.
There are also a number of names and qualities embodied with different dragon tattoos now. For example, the dragon Fuku Riu is for good luck. He is usually shown flying up and is supposed to be in a pose of liveliness and strength. According to our dragon lore, any dragon flying into the sky mean ascension or success.
By: Pamella Neely
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Read more on Tattoo Designs – Japanese Dragons and What They Mean…
Filed under Arts And Entertainment by on Nov 16th, 2010.
There has been a phenomenal growth of traditional Japanese tattoo designs in the past few years. It used to be that tattoos were relegated to the Yakuza or Japanese gangs and the criminals in the society. Just the site of a tattoo used to and still can strike fear into people. However, Japan is a rapidly changing country and they are starting to see the value in tattoos and more and more people have a deep respect for them. For most tattoo artists and tattoo enthusiasts alike Japanese designs have always been sought after. Here are some Japanese tattoo meanings and design ideas to help give you a guide of some possibilities if you are interested in getting such a design.
Cherry Blossom Tattoos
For the Japanese the cherry blossom is seen to represent life itself. The flower is a thing of great beauty. It is strong in that is pushes itself and blooms in harsh conditions and climates and often comes out when the snow is first melting. Yet it is paradoxically fragile at the same time. It is fragile because it will only last a few days and then it will fall from the tree and land in the snow. The Japanese view this as a representation of life itself. Life should be lived to extreme beauty and everyday should be lived to it’s fullest. Yet one must always be aware of the possibility of death and therefore with the eventuality of death live life even more fully. This is a great tattoo and a symbol that is laden with powerful reminders and a great guide to how each individual should live their life.
Koi Fish Tattoos
Koi fish are probably the second most powerful symbol in tattoo designs in general but also fro the Japanese. Koi fish can been seen in front of almost every temple throughout Japan. The myth states that the Koi fish swim back up stream against the current to eventually read a bridge or a gate. If they can make it to the gate they are turned into dragons and magically fly away to start a new life. The symbolism behind this design is one of perseverance which is a very deep and important concept for the Japanese. In fact they have many more words to describe perseverance, effort and sticking with something in the language then we do in English.
Hannya Masks
Hannya masks are scary looking and demonic masks. The mask comes from the famous Kabuki plays in Japan and it depicts a women who has been consumed with rage over a lover or someone that has not returned her love. There are different variations as each Kabuki play has a different interpretation. At any rate these masks represent a jealous women. However, they have been widely used in Japanese tattoos and also here in the west. When they are used in tattoo in it is believed that they will ward of evil spirits and bring good luck to the person wearing it. Japanese will also sometimes but these up for display high in the room of their house to ward off evil spirits.
Samurai
Samurai of course lived by the code of Bushido. There is not enough room here to full explain the code of Bushido but it deals with living life to the fullest, being prepared to die in service and being loyal and strong. The concepts of Bushido are pretty much at the heart of all Japanese values and morals and also what is taught to most young kids over and over again through stories. You could say the code of Bushido is the heart of the Japanese culture and beliefs. Samurai’s and samurai tattoos of course are the best symbol of these beliefs.
By: Chris Ryerson
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Read more on Popular Japanese Tattoo Meanings, Symbolism and Designs…
Filed under Arts And Entertainment by on Nov 16th, 2010.
There are three types of Japanese symbols to choose from when considering a Japanese style tattoo. Kanji is by far the most popular of these three Japanese symbols, especially if you are looking for a unique and stylish tattoo design. Every individual Kanji symbol represents an idea or meaning and there are literally thousands of Kanji ideographs up to some estimates of 40,000 so it makes sense to go to a specialist to give you a proper translation and purchase a stencil before you commit to your tattoo.
The other two Japanese symbol types are called Hiragana and Katakana. Hiragana is used as an everyday writing style script and used in media and print such as magazines and newspapers it has a much more rounded appearance than Kanji symbols and some people refer to these Hiragana symbols as cursive, so when searching for a Hiragana tattoo remember it may be referred to as a cursive tattoo. It is possible to mix these styles so that you have writing (Hiragana) and your Kanji (idea or meaning) in one sentence.
Katakana symbols are mainly used to write non Japanese names i.e. the translation of non Japanese words and have a more angular and sharp appearance than Hiragana symbols. Hiragana and Katakana are know together as Kana and there are approximately 46 symbols for each set of Hiragana and Katakana these symbols were originally based on the Kanji symbols developed in the 9th century and have been modified since this time to produce the symbols you see today.
Because the Japanese writing style is tremendously complex it is exceptionally important that you get a 100% accurate Japanese symbol translation for your Kanji tattoos or you may well end up with a cursive tattoo that has a completely different meaning than you intended.
By: Gary Simpkins
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Read more on Japanese Kanji Symbol Translation For Your Tattoo…
Filed under Arts And Entertainment by on Nov 14th, 2010.