Japanese culture, explained in English · 1,300 topics以上
Japan Culture NaviExplain Japan
in English.
Every topic comes with a one-line answer, a 30-second explanation, a short speech, the questions people actually ask, and the phrases you need.
Today in Japan
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All ›- 祭 Annual Events New Year, Setsubun, hanami, Obon and the festivals that mark the Japanese year. 101
- 食 Food & Drink Sushi, ramen, dashi and the manners of the Japanese table. 143
- 芸 Arts Kabuki, noh, rakugo, tea ceremony, flower arranging and calligraphy. 92
- 神 Shinto Torii gates, how to pray, omamori charms, ema plaques and shrine visits. 78
- 寺 Buddhism Temples, graves, Obon, memorial services and Zen meditation. 79
- 武 Martial Arts Sumo, judo, kendo, karate and the etiquette that frames them. 76
- 居 Home & Living Tatami, sliding doors, the genkan entryway, kotatsu and wooden architecture. 83
- 礼 Manners Bowing, taking off shoes, business cards, seating order and chopstick taboos. 84
- 心 Concepts Wabi-sabi, amae, honne and tatemae: Japanese ideas with no exact English equivalent. 102
- 匠 Crafts Lacquerware, ceramics, washi paper, swords, origami and the craftsman tradition. 79
- 衣 Clothing Kimono, yukata, obi sashes, geta sandals and when Japanese people wear them. 79
- 湯 Onsen & Bath How to use an onsen, public baths, the tattoo question and bathing etiquette. 77
- 季 Seasons & Nature The four seasons, the 24 solar terms, the 72 micro-seasons, rainy season and autumn leaves. 83
- 遊 Pop Culture Anime, manga, idols, games, otaku culture and cosplay. 78
- 生 Life Events Shichi-go-san, weddings, funerals, seasonal gifts and New Year cards. 96
- 学 School Life Club activities, students cleaning the school, school lunch, uniforms and exams. 80
- 職 Work Culture Overtime, otsukaresama, business cards, after-work drinking and lifetime employment. 89
- 史 History Samurai, the Edo period, national isolation, the Meiji Restoration and postwar Japan. 123
- 妖 Folklore Yokai, lucky charms, maneki-neko, daruma dolls and unlucky years. 79
- 今 Modern Japan Convenience stores, vending machines, bullet trains, sorting trash and crowded trains. 168
- 名 Places Mt. Fuji, Kinkaku-ji, Asakusa, Skytree: the places people actually ask about. 85
Japan in November
Calendar- shabu-shabubeef swished in hot broth
- sukiyakibeef simmered at the table
- koyoautumn leaves, and going to look at them
- gojiraGodzilla, the giant monster from Japanese films that began in 1954
- honbashothe six official grand sumo tournaments held each year
- shichigosan no haregithe special outfit children wear for the Shichi-Go-San ceremony
- mashiko yakirustic, thick-walled pottery from Mashiko in Tochigi Prefecture
- kinro kansha no hiLabor Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd
- tori no ichithe November rake market for good business
- bunka no hiCulture Day, November 3rd
What people actually ask
All questions- geisha and maikoprofessional entertainers trained in dance, music and hosting
- nihon teienthe traditional garden
- haikuthe seventeen-syllable poem
- ukiyo-ewoodblock prints
- bonsaitrees grown in trays
- wadaikoJapanese drums and the ensembles that play them
- okyoBuddhist sutras chanted by monks
- ohakamairivisiting the family grave
- gojunotothe five-storied pagoda
- gasshoputting the hands together
Commonly misunderstood
MoreAbout this site
Japan Culture Navi is a bilingual dictionary of Japanese culture. It was built for Japanese learners of English who need to explain their own country, so every topic is written twice: once in natural English and once in Japanese. That also makes it a useful place to look things up if you are visiting Japan and want more than a one-line definition.