Destination Japan
Japanese Art and Culture
Japan is home to a rich diversity of tangible, intangible and national cultural heritage. Historically, the country has been subject to invasions of new and alien ideas, followed by long periods of minimal contact with the outside world. Over periods of time, the Japanese have developed the ability to absorb, imitate and assimilate elements of foreign culture that complement their own aesthetic preferences. This cultural heritage ranges from tangible, such as aesthetically beautiful temples, to intangible heritage, such as the tea ceremony, or even the ancient combat art of Sumo wrestling. Here are some of the cultural icons of Japan:
Sumo
Although this sport may appear to be a powerful full-contact clash between two large wrestlers, Sumo preserves a host of ancient cultural traditions. Sumo originated in Japan and it is the only country in the world where it is practiced professionally. Although the simple aim is to force an opponent out of the ring (dohyō); or force an opponent to touch the ground with any part of his body other than the bottom of his feet, the bout is preceded by important rituals. On mounting the dohyō the wrestler performs a number of formal acts derived from Shinto practice. He claps his hands and performs the leg-stomping shiko exercise to drive evil spirits away. Stepping out of the ring into their corners, each wrestler is given a ladleful of water to rinse out their mouths and a paper tissue to dry their lips. Then both adversaries step back into the ring, face each other, clap their hands and then spread their hands wide to show that they have no weapons. Returning to their corners they each pick up a handful of salt which they toss onto the ring to purify it ahead of the almighty clash between the world’s heaviest combatants.
Japanese tea ceremony
This is an important ceremony that dates back over 1,000 years when Zen monks used powdered green tea in religious ceremonies. Although tea drinking was originally for medicinal reasons, by the 13th century, when the Kamakura Shogunate military dictatorship ruled the nation, tea and the luxuries associated with it became a kind of status symbol among the ruling classes. Tea tasting parties became popular in which recipients could win prizes for guessing the best quality tea. Today’s tea ceremonies have developed their own aesthetic process in which the principles of harmony, respect, purity and tranquility are manifest in the serving of the tea. The elaborate ritual follows a precise choreographed procedure that involves the server preparing a cup of tea for the first guest through a series of movements and actions, including the cleansing of each utensil to represent the “purity” aspect of the ceremony. For Japanese people in modern times, the tea ceremony represents a pathway to achieving wabi, a state of mind in which a person is calm and content. To achieve this, the form and grace of the tea ceremony is paramount.
Karaoke
Meaning “empty orchestra” in Japanese, different theories abound as to who invented karaoke but one claim is the karaoke-style machine was invented by Japanese musician Daisuke Inoue in Kobe in 1971. It has always been traditional to provide musical entertainment at Japanese social functions and Daisuke Inoue is said to have capitalized on this trend by designing a device that allowed revelers to sing along to popular backing tracks of famous songs. This form of entertainment has evolved and today’s karaoke bars in Japan feature karaoke jockeys who manage the music for a venue and “karamovies” in which singers can superimpose themselves onto famous movies to replace their favourite movie stars. Most Japanese singers have a favourite song that shows off the best of their vocal abilities and this is known in Japanese as jūhachiban. Once the potent rice-based spirit sake has been consumed, everyone will sound good!
Geisha
Geisha are one of the most iconic images of Japan and the term means a “person of the arts”. Wearing elaborate colourful kimonos and wooden sandals, or socks indoors, with heavily made-up faces, these ladies are professional entertainers who attend to guests during meals, tea ceremonies, or other social occasions. To become a geisha, the apprentice has to be trained in various high-brow Japanese arts, such as dance, music, literature and poetry, as well as the art of communication, hence they have a high social status. Their role is to make guests feel at ease with conversation, drinking games and dance performances. They can be found in several Japanese cities, but the former capital of Kyoto remains the best and most prestigious place to experience the geisha at work, who are known in the local dialect as geiko. Geiko dinners have always been known as exclusive and expensive high-class events, but due to changes in society and the economic downturn, the regulations are now less restrictive and it is possible for tourists with a sufficient budget to experience this rich cultural experience.
Japanese Gardens
In Japanese culture, garden-making is a form of high art, intimately related to the arts of calligraphy and ink painting. Since the end of the 19th Century, Japanese gardens have also been adapted to Western settings. One common characteristic is the ability of the garden designers to create a harmonious design, with the best that nature has to offer, in a limited space. Gardens in the traditional Japanese style appear in parks, on castle grounds, and in front of shrines and temples. Iconic features include stone lanterns, rocks, ponds and rolling hedges. Many of the principles that influence garden design come from religion. Shintoism, Taoism and Buddhism all stress the contemplation and re-creation of nature as part of the process of achieving and understanding enlightenment. Jisho-ji Garden and Nijo Castle Ninomaru Garden in Kyoto and Hamarikyu Gardens in Tokyo are worth visiting to witness this exquisite form of landscape architecture.
Traditional Japanese Bath Houses
Bathing means much more than just cleansing oneself in Japan and it is an important part of the daily routine that has important cultural connotations. For centuries, spiritual pursuits of purity, hygiene and ritual purification were an important part of Japanese culture and bathing was done communally. To this day, bathing is still a major Japanese indulgence and passion. Baths are for relaxation and contemplation and not just cleansing the body. Therefore, the body must be cleaned and scrubbed before entering the bathtub, known as a furo. In homes with small tubs, each family member bathes one-by-one, in order of seniority, traditionally starting with the oldest male or the oldest person in the household. Onsen, translated into English as hot spring, are baths that by definition use naturally hot water from geo-thermally-heated springs.
Calligraphy
Otherwise known as Sho, calligraphy is one of the unique arts of the Far East. Successful calligraphy relies on the shape and position of the characters drawn, the gradation of the ink and the force of the brushstroke. Unlike the strokes of Roman letters, the strokes of Japanese characters have to be drawn in the correct order, not arbitrarily. Japanese calligraphy shares its roots with Chinese calligraphy and many of its techniques and principles are very similar. This ancient practice has a very strong following today and is even a subject on the school’s curriculum. Some universities even have specialist departments of calligraphic study. Tourists will get many opportunities to view this beautiful art that has been preserved from the past for posterity.
Performing Arts
The performing arts in Japan date back hundreds of years but are still practiced in theatres across the country. Noh is a minimalist dance drama in which a masked actor performs very stylized moves accompanied by instrumental music. Kyogen is a popular form of drama and involves comedic plays known for its down-to-earth humour. Kabuki is a form of theatre performed by adult males who largely portray female roles. Fans of puppet theatre may enjoy a Bunraku performance, in which large puppets are manipulated to the accompaniment of narrators and stringed instruments.
Traditional clothing
The kimono is the traditional dress of Japan and is worn mainly on formal occasions. It is sometimes accused of being an impractical form of dress, but it has the advantage of giving the wearer a graceful and elegant appearance. There are various different types of kimono for use at different occasions. Women’s kimono include the furisodé and tomesodé for formal wear. Men’s kimono include the montsuki hakama for ceremonial occasions and the haori for less formal social occasions. There is also the yukata, worn by both sexes as informal attire at home, or for attending local festivals.
