I need some help w/ Jap's Clture

[wobblebreak]

In my English subj. I was assigned to report and have a lil exhibit about Japanese culture..

And uhh..the problem is.... I don't have any idea about Japanese culture and stuffs...huhuh

[Dreams]

Do you have some specific questions?

[Snowy]

woah.... racist title >.>

[Aoi Sakuraba]

No It's not. The term Jap is not racist unless you use it in a specific manner. The title is not racist.

Anyway Wobble feel free to PM me any questions you might have, I'll be glad to help.

[Snowy]

I am seriously beginning to doubt you are even Japanese :/

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/jap


You may have that opinion, but the majority of the world finds it offensive.

Please find any reputable website to back up your statement.

*SN - *beginning lol

[Aoi Sakuraba]

No they don't snowy, and really you shouldn't open your mouth about things you have no clue about.

[Snowy]

Give one website that backs up your statement..


Give one that backs up ANY, ANY of your statements.


Because all of them lead to you not having a clue and lying about your identity.

[Dreams]

This thread is not about Aoi's identity, it's about Japanese culture.
And I highly doubt the title of thread was meant to be racist.

If you guys have problems with each other, deal with it via PMs and keep it off the board.

[Snowy]

I apologize for changing the subject,
and I am sorry for assuming it was ment as a racist title, just pointing out that it is one.



What era were you looking to focus on for your report and exhibit?

[Yuki~]

I can help you ^^
Just tell what you want and I see what can i help you ^_^

[wobblebreak]

OooOOppsszz.... Sorry for the title..I certainly have no clue..

well...our teacher's instruction is kinda broad...
so, maybe..ahmmm.. you could just tell me what's the coolest thing in Japanese culture..
I mean anything about the Japanese culture.. ^^,

[Dreams]

Okay, I'll just ramble for a while then, but I'll try not to get too detailed. <.< But that is an impossibility for me. (And yes, I have books that I'm taking some of this from.)

You'll find Japan's background a bit more interesting if you look at the influences it took from China, and the influences it imposed upon Korea (who also borrowed from China). You can find many similarities in the traditions, architecture, and language of the three countries. It was around 500 AD when Japan began to adopt Chinese culture, incorporating things like foreign art, music, religion (Buddhism, etc) into the country. Building on this, Japan created its own unique culture.

The Heian (794-1185) and Edo/Tokugawa (1600-1868) periods are two of the most famous in Japanese history. The feudal age was toward the end of the Heian period - the emperor's absolute power had declined because of the influence that certain rich families had over the imperial court and the throne. Into the feudal age, the authority of the government declined further, and local high-ranking officials took control of the countryside with groups of warriors known as samurai. The noblemen sought to fight against the aristocrats for their own piece of authority in the court. Eventually, the Minamoto clan came out victorious, and its heir was appointed military chief to the emperor, aka shogun. This basic structure continued on into the Edo period - samurai serving the daimyo (feudal lords), with a shogun appointed to protect the emperor. Japan's economy prospered greatly in the Edo period, as well did the population. This was perhaps due to the fact that the government imposed severe restrictions on foreign trade and travel, allowing Japan's culture to develop. Much of what we know of traditional Japanese culture was developed in the Edo period.

In the 1850s, the Meiji Restoration occurred - all power was restored to the emperor, and the final shogun resigned. Feudal lords retired, and Japan was reopened to foreign trade and travel, signing treaties with the USA and eventually, other countries. Of course, this didn't happen without great upheavel, but it was the beginning of modern Japan.

Japan has some neat mythology. There's many gods and goddesses, and all kinds of tales about them. The two main deities, Izanami and Izanagi, are credited with having created Japan itself, and then spawning many children - two of the most famous being Susa-no-oh (male; a troublemaker) and his sister Amaterasu (the sun goddess). Amaterasu's grandson, Ninigi, was supposedly the first ruler of Japan. And thus, Ninigi's grandson became the first emperor. There are also tales about foxes, who are able to do things like shapeshift into beautiful women and seduce men, or possess the body of an unborn child (in Japanese mythology, it's believed that a baby does not have a soul until it's born, hence the body is empty prior to this).

Shintoism is the traditional Japanese religion, in which it is believed that everything - every person, animal, tree, rock, etc - has a spirit. There are still shinto shrines that stand around Japan today. Buddhism, after the influence of Chinese culture, also had a great impact on the country. Besides the basic principles of the philosophy, this is also the root of the belief in rebirth, ghosts, and different levels of hell in the afterlife. Obeisance to ancestors is also a part of the traditional beliefs - lighting incense or candles at the ancestral altar, or offering them food or money to use in the afterlife so they may be happy with their living relatives and grant their prayers.

Noh theatre is also quite famous. A production is performed on a simple stage, often against a scenic backdrop. The actors wear masks, and despite the mask's expressionlessness, it is the actor's job to bring the mask to life through singing, dancing and music. A full performance can take around six hours. Kabuki, on the other hand, is much more elaborate than noh. Performers on the stage combine elements from noh theatre with stylized acting and dialogue, as well as elements of acrobats and puppets, etc.

Poetry (waka) is the oldest form of literature in Japan. The most well-known, of course, is the haiku with its 5-7-5 syllable pattern written in 3 lines. One of the most famous books in Japanese history is the Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji), which is a 54-chapter fictional story about the life of Prince Genji. (You can get a copy of it in English if you ever want. Other Japanese arts include origami (paper folding), ikebana (flower arranging), sword making (nihonto), calligraphy (shodo), ceramics, painting, etc. Traditionally, brides also had to be trained in chanoyu (tea ceremony).

Whew, I think I'm gonna die and there's so much more to talk about... holidays, houses, clothing, food, business.

[wobblebreak]

wow,,.. amazing..

Japan is totally amazing...Supah cool..
I wish I could go there someday.,.
Though, I've been there but just up to the airport..hehe

Thanks... Thanks, .. all my sincere thanks.. love ya.

[Yuki~]

When you go there, you'll see it's so much more perfect than you thought!
I wanna go back there somedaaay! I miss there a lot!