Kimono

The kimono is the national costume of Japan. Originally the word "kimono" literally meant "thing to wear" (ki "wearing" and mono "thing") but now has come to denote a particular type of traditional full-length Japanese garment. The standard plural of the word kimono in English is kimonos, but the unmarked Japanese plural kimono is also sometimes found.
Kimonos are T-shaped, straight-lined robes that fall to the ankle, with collars and wide, full-length sleeves. Kimonos are wrapped around the body, always with the left side over the right (except when dressing the dead for burial) and secured by a wide belt called an obi, which is usually tied at the back. Kimonos are generally worn with traditional footwear (especially zōri or geta) and split-toe socks (tabi).
Today, kimonos are most often worn by women, and on special occasions. Traditionally, unmarried women wore a style of kimono called furisode, which have floor-length sleeves, on special occasions. A few older women and even fewer men still wear the kimono on a daily basis. Men wear the kimono most often at weddings, tea ceremonies, and other very special or very formal occasions. Professional sumo wrestlers are often seen in the kimono because they are required to wear traditional Japanese dress whenever appearing in public. They commonly wear the kind of casual Japanese attire that is referred to as yukata, which is of plain unlined cotton. Read More.....

Susuharai

The other preparation to welcome New Year is susuharai (cleaning house tradition). They prepare traditional cold food named osechi-ryori and motchit-suki (rice cake). This activity has a purpose to free housewife from cooking assignment in three days of New Year. There is also toshi-koshi-soba, a plate of Japanese noodle to close year that has ended. Sometimes some people go to visit nearest temple in the night, while the others wait until the sun rises. In the house, all of people in family will clap their hand in front of kamidana (shelf that there is a little temple and offering). Some people get out to watch the first sunrise (hatsu-hinode), while the others just go to temple in the first 2 or 3 days in that year (hatsumode). Children receive money named otoshidama. For women, they wear kimono and play certain shuttlecock (hanetsuki). For men, they play card and dice. Read More.....

Kadomatsu

The end of year and the start of New Year is a very important time for Japanese. When they get closer to the end of year, people come to bonenkai (end year party that everything bad from last year will be forgotten by drinking sake until they get drunk). When New Year comes, people hold shinenkai (New Year party). They chant their hope for this year, pray for their health and do toast. About one month before New Year, people make kadomatsu (door accessory that is made from pine) on the left and right their house door. Kadomatsu is a point to welcome Kami (God) that is believed God will bring happiness. Because of the business of modern people, nowadays kadomatsu only sets in the last week of December. In the village, koshogatsu (little new year) is held until 15 January and sometimes until February. Read More.....

Namahage

In some villages when New Year, costumed man called Namahage visits to each house to see if children do good behavior. Then the parents will give some food to Namahage if they want to leave their house to go to the other house Read More.....

Dharuma

On the January 5th, Japanese hold New Year festival. There are so many little shops on the side of street; they sell dharuma doll and many New Year charms. Dharuma doll has different shape because they believe that every year if you can buy bigger dharuma, your happiness and luck will be increasing. But, if you forget to buy dharuma, you will get bad luck in next year. Many students buy special charm that will help them to increase their mark in school. Read More.....

Kumo Gassen (Spider Fighting)

In Japan, kumo gassen is one of big events. Japan has this tradition since 415 years ago. This event is held in little town Kajiki. Every June, a big number of people both adult and children come to Kajiki to fight their spiders. They have searched many strong spiders and kept those spiders until they are ready to get involved in the competition. Commonly, those spiders are picked up from forest around Kajiki, but there are some spiders that came from outside. That spider must be picked up very carefully; otherwise they will get angry and don’t want to eat anything for some days. They are given insects for their food such as bug, grasshopper and cricket. Sometimes the owners spray shochu (a kind of alcoholic drink) to their spider to give them extra strength.
The rules of kumo gassen are like the other animal fighting. The difference between kumo gassen and other animal fighting is just the battle field. The battle field of kumo gassen is only a wood stick. Two spiders put on the both pole with the hand of referee in the middle of them to separate them. When the hand of umpire doesn’t separate them anymore it means that the battle starts. There’re some conditions that decide the winner spider in this battle. If one of the spiders succeeds to wrap up the backside of the enemy with his net or bite the backside of the enemy, it means that spider wins the battle. Because the movement of spider is fast so the referee must also be meticulous and has many experiences. Read More.....

Geisha

Geisha is a Japanese woman who is trained men with conversation, dancing and singing. Geisha puts on white thick make up, red cherry lips and three layers kimono but doesn’t wear accessories like a usual woman. The hair of geisha is knotted like a peach which is divided into two parts (Japanese: Momoware). Geisha usually works in Ochaya (tea shop).One of the requirement to be geisha, she must be broad-minded because she must be able to communicate with her guests. She is hoped that the guests feel comfortable in her place. It is the reasons that geisha should be an artistic person.
However, most of people think that geisha is a prostitute (Japanese: Yujo). It happened during World War II. American soldiers called geisha a prostitute because they couldn’t differentiate between yujo and geisha. Yujo is same with a prostitute. She trains men with her sex appeal and usually has a sex with her guests. It’s characterized from the using of obi (belt) and accessories. A yujo usually fastens the obi to the front because it makes her easier to wear and to lose her kimono without any help from the other. And also uses many accessories in her hair. While a geisha fastens the obi to the back and only uses simple accessories. So, geisha is not similar with yujo. Read More.....