Tatami (straw mat) Traditional Japanese rooms have, as a floor-covering, tatami mats. They are made of straw and rush. Since a tatami mat is always of a designated size (roughly 6 by 3 feet), it also serves as a unit of measurement for the size of a room. Rooms that have 4 .5, 6, or…

Tea ceremony. Sado, which is also called chado or cha-no-yu, is the traditionally ritualized way of preparing, serving, and drinking matcha (powdered green tea stirred in hot water). Tea drinking, introduced from China, was first practiced only by Buddhist priests, and then by samurai warriors in the early days. Later it gradually spread among common…

Geisha A lady who professionally provides entertainment and lighthearted company at a feast. Around the end of the seventeenth century, geisha girls came on the scene, replacing an first-class of “courtesans” who were skillful in such arts as music and dancing. Geisha no longer carries the sexual implication which is often suggested by the English…

Washi (Japanese traditional paper ) “WA” meaning is “Japan” and “shi”meaning is “paper”.Washi has a long history(about 1400 years) in Japan. The Shosoin (National Treasure temple’s warehouse) has a 1200-year-old book. Washi is made from the fiber of the tree and that making in the traditional handmade. It is used for the door called a…

HINOMARU The symbol designating the rising sun. A red circle against a white background symbolizing the rising sun, also represents the Japanese national flag. It was officially selected as the Japanese national emblem by the Meiji Government in 1870. This symbol is very popular in Japan.

KODOMO-NO-HI こどもの日 Kodomo no hi (Tango no sekku) Children’s Day. It falls on May 5, and is one of the most popularly celebrated national holidays. Although it is called Children’s Day, it is actually celebrated as the Boys’ Festival. (The Girls’ Festival is March 3, which is called Hinamatsuri) It is also a seasonal festival…

Bonsai A potted dwarf tree as distinguished from potted plants in general. While the charm of a potted flower or a foliage plant lies in its own beauty, that of bonsai is said to consist in the natural atmosphere it creates. Bonsai culture dates back to the Heian period , and it became the fashion…

Oni an ogre. The most commonly found image of Oni is a human like figure with a horned head and an ugly red face. A loincloth of a tiger’s skin covers its naked body. The Oni are rather familiar beings in the life of Japanese people, and often appear in folktales, legends, and proverbs as…