Why Kyoto? To North Americans, Asian culture and history is not as familiar as the European equivalent. This is completely understandable. North America was settled by Europeans. (Respective of native cultures and peoples, European norms, values, and beliefs are the overwhelming majority in today’s North America.) High schools often require western civilization studies or world …
The Necessity of Being On Time All cultures have their own, idiosyncratic societal norms. The unwritten rules enabling a civil and collaborative society. Above all else, the Japanese are polite and considerate to others. As a people, they collectively place the convenience of others above their own. No where is that more noticeable than Japan’s …
The Battle of Two Religions and their Messengers Japan’s faith structure primarily consists of the indigenous Shinto faith and imported Buddhism. Shinto can trace its history beyond 10,000 b.c.e., with millions of individual deities co-existing in the physical world. Buddhism, as a natural-law faith, came from China (via Korea) in 552 c.e. When Buddhism arrived …
Read more “The Battle of Two Religions and their Messengers”
Thousands of Years of History Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, and the Indus Valley rank among the oldest human civilizations. Japan isn’t quite that old, but is absolutely unique in the world’s historic cultures. While Japan benefits from China’s proximity (borrowing their architecture, written language, and even food preparation techniques), it has a distinct culture of its …
One Country, Two Power Grids Modern industrial Japan is oddly unique. Two, incompatible power grids deliver energy to the nation, effectively dividing the country into east and west. When the country opened its borders to the industrial world in the 1860s, two competing infrastructures descended on the country, with Europe focusing on Tokyo in the …
In Japan, “bathing” is not washing A key cultural difference between Japan and the West is in the relationship with hot water and bodies. More than 27,000 onsen (hot springs) dot Japan, with nearly all harvested for bath water. Yes, bathing is a serious business in Japan. Along with this vast national resource, generations of …
Oshōgatsu In Japan, the New Year festival is the biggest holiday of the year. Steeped in tradition and national values, the holiday includes gift giving, eating traditional foods, drinking nihonshu (sake), and prayer. In 1873, the holiday was moved to the Gregorian calendar used by the West, setting Oshōgatsu to January 1st. Prior to that, …