Study Abroad (337) — page 4 | Japan Culture Navi

ClothingStandard shiromuku白無垢the all-white kimono a bride wears at a traditional Japanese wedding

ClothingStandard hanten半纏the padded winter jacket worn at home

ClothingStandard haramaki腹巻きa stretchy band of cloth worn around the belly to keep it warm

ConceptsStandard uchi and sotoウチとソトinside group and outside group

ConceptsStandard shitsukeしつけbringing up a child to behave considerately

ConceptsStandard enryo遠慮holding back out of consideration

ConceptsStandard ki ga kiku気が利くnoticing what's needed and acting on it without being asked

ConceptsStandard kuki wo yomu空気を読むreading the room

ConceptsStandard hara hachibunme腹八分目eating to eighty percent full

ConceptsStandard hogen方言the regional dialects of Japanese

ConceptsStandard honne and tatemae本音と建前true feelings and public face

CraftsStandard kyusu急須a small Japanese teapot with a side handle

CraftsStandard mizuhiki水引decorative cord on gift envelopes

Annual EventsStandard dondo yakiどんど焼きthe mid-January bonfire for New Year decorations

Annual EventsStandard koromogae衣替えthe seasonal switch between summer and winter clothing

Annual EventsStandard kanchu mimai寒中見舞いthe midwinter greeting card

Annual EventsStandard kagami biraki鏡開きbreaking open the New Year rice cakes

Annual EventsStandard keiro no hi敬老の日the September holiday honoring older people

Annual EventsStandard goyo osame御用納めと仕事始めthe last and first working days of the year

Annual EventsStandard tanabata七夕the star festival

Annual EventsStandard kakizome書き初めthe first calligraphy of the year

Annual EventsStandard shoryo uma精霊馬the cucumber horse and eggplant cow made for Obon

Annual EventsStandard setsubun節分the bean-throwing festival at the start of spring

Annual EventsStandard toji冬至the shortest day, with a yuzu bath and pumpkin

Annual EventsStandard toji to yuzuyu冬至とゆず湯the winter solstice and citrus baths

Annual EventsStandard kashiwamochi and chimaki柏餅とちまきthe two sweets eaten on Children's Day, east and west

FolkloreStandard kushami wa dareka no uwasaくしゃみは誰かの噂the belief that sneezing means someone is talking about you

FolkloreStandard ketsuekigata seikaku shindan血液型性格診断judging character by blood type

FolkloreStandard kitamakura北枕sleeping with your head to the north, a direction linked with death

FolkloreStandard yoru ni tsume o kitte wa ikenai夜に爪を切ってはいけないthe superstition that you should not cut your nails at night

FolkloreStandard yoru no kuchibue夜の口笛the superstition that whistling at night calls snakes

FolkloreStandard kaminarisama to oheso雷様とおへそthe saying that the thunder god will steal your belly button if you leave it uncovered

FolkloreStandard reikyusha o mitara oyayubi o kakusu霊柩車を見たら親指を隠すthe superstition that you should tuck your thumbs into your fists when a hearse goes by

Food & DrinkStandard odenおでんa winter stew of fish cakes, daikon and eggs

Food & DrinkStandard sashisusesoさしすせそthe order in which the five basic seasonings go into a Japanese dish

Food & DrinkStandard somenそうめんvery thin cold noodles

Food & DrinkStandard taiyakiたい焼きfish-shaped cake with bean paste

Food & DrinkStandard dorayakiどら焼きtwo small pancakes with sweet red bean paste between them

Food & DrinkStandard sekihan赤飯red rice steamed with azuki beans

Food & DrinkStandard dagashi駄菓子the cheap sweets children buy with their own money

Food & DrinkStandard dango団子rice flour dumplings on a skewer

Food & DrinkStandard chawanmushi茶碗蒸しsavory steamed egg custard

Food & DrinkStandard tsukemono漬物Japanese pickles served alongside rice

Food & DrinkStandard umeboshi梅干しsalted pickled plums

Food & DrinkStandard mugicha麦茶cold barley tea

Food & DrinkStandard meika to miyagegashi銘菓と土産菓子the local sweets people buy as souvenirs

Food & DrinkStandard tamago kake gohan卵かけご飯raw egg over hot rice

Home & LivingStandard wan eru di ke1LDKhow Japanese floor plans are labeled

Home & LivingStandard chabudaiちゃぶ台a low folding dining table

Home & LivingStandard yunitto basuユニットバスthe Japanese bathroom layout

Home & LivingStandard hikkoshi no tetsuzuki引っ越しの手続きwhat you must file when you move

Home & LivingStandard amado雨戸sliding storm shutters

Home & LivingStandard oshiire押し入れthe deep sliding-door closet

Home & LivingStandard katori senko蚊取り線香mosquito coil

Home & LivingStandard sotoboshi外干しdrying laundry and futons outdoors

Home & LivingStandard kagi to bohan鍵と防犯how Japanese homes are secured

Home & LivingStandard tataki玄関のたたきthe sunken entryway floor where shoes come off

Home & LivingStandard shuno to katazuke収納と片づけliving well in a small space

Home & LivingStandard danbo kigu暖房器具how Japanese homes are heated

Home & LivingStandard nihon no ie no samusa日本の家の寒さwhy homes are cold in winter