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About the Traditional Dress Worn by a Japanese Geisha
The Japanese geisha, or "artisans," exist to entertain. Essential to the job is the geisha's ability to ascertain her customers' preferences and keep them happy. Geishas study for years to display a...
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Japanese Funeral Customs
For the Japanese, a Shinto wedding and a Buddhist funeral are the custom; nine in ten Japanese funerals are Buddhist in nature. Buddhism beliefs influence the Japanese funeral customs, as do space...
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16th Century Japanese Social Systems
Japanese history is rich with societal changes over the course of centuries. Sixteenth-century Japan is considered a particularly shifting time in Japanese culture because of several factors. European...
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Geisha Face Paint
The makeup of a geisha -- a traditional female entertainer in Japan -- dates back to the Heian Era, 794-1185 AD. The cosmetics used are a special form of makeup that's made in Japan and isn't produced...
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How to Make Japanese Armor
One of the fiercest classes of Japanese warrior was the samurai. These warriors were a highly trained group taught to live and fight by the code of Bushido. The armor worn by a samurai warrior...
View ArticleHow to Tie the Tsuka-Ito
Sword fighting has an extensive lineage in Japanese culture. Tsuka-ito is the name for the intricate hilt-wrapping seen on many Japanese swords. Tsuka-ito is a traditional practice that adds both...
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Different Japanese Dialects
Japan is a conglomeration of three large islands and many smaller isles. Honshu is the central island, where Tokyo and Mount Fuji are located. To the north there is Hokkaido island, while at the...
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How to Tie a Girl's Obi
The obi is the thick, belt-like sash that keeps a kimono tightly wrapped across your body. The obi hold both men's and women's kimonos together. The reason an unmarried female's obi is so thick is that...
View ArticleHow to Fold a Hakama
The hakama is one of the most important parts of Japanese martial arts attire. As a garment worn by the samurai, the hakama has a long tradition and is closely tied to etiquette. Martial arts stresses...
View ArticleHow to Tie a Japanese Loincloth
A loincloth, known as a "fundoshi" in Japanese, is a traditional Japanese undergarment. It consists of a long strip of cotton cloth one shaku by six shaku, or about 14 inches by 8 feet. Although...
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Traditional Tsuka Wrap Colors
Tsukamaki is the Japanese art of wrapping a samurai sword handle. The "ito" is the wrapping itself, and the full name for the art form is "tsuka ito maki." The standard, or traditional, "ito" colors...
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How to Tie a Darari Obi
Japanese kimonos feature an accessory known as an obi, or sash. Men wear narrow obi, while women wear wider, often ornate obi that do more than merely hold a kimono together. An obi's material, size,...
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About Early Japanese Architecture
Japanese architecture has seen many changes over the course of several thousand years. The way buildings were constructed was affected by several things, including religion, geography, climate,...
View ArticleThe Japanese Method of Polishing Mud
Children have been making mud balls for centuries, but Japanese children have elevated this play form to an art form. Hikura dorodango is a method of forming small balls using mud and water and...
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Types of Japanese Scarves
Japanese scarves range from the simple design and function of Tenugui head scarves to the elaborately detailed, highly stylized Maru Obi. Made from a variety of fabrics, including silk, cotton and...
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How to Display Your Kimono to Prevent It From Getting Dirty
Displaying the elaborate pattern of an antique, handmade or highly decorative kimono is like showing off a piece of artwork. Doing it properly means protecting it from exposure to moths in a wardrobe...
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Fitting a Kimono
In Japanese, kimono means "item to wear." While most kimonos are the same size, the color, material, cut and accessories convey different, discreet messages about the wearer. In fact, a kimono that is...
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Japanese Art Festivals
Major metropolitan areas in Japan and throughout the world honor the Land of the Rising Sun culture by hosting art festivals showcasing Japanese artwork. While these festivals feature works by Japanese...
View ArticleThe Japanese Art of Origami
Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, is a beautiful and complex art form that possesses great cultural significance for the Japanese. While a number of different techniques are used, most...
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What Is Torii Arch?
The literal interpretation of the Japanese word "torii" means "bird perch" in English. Torii arches, also known as torii gates, are erected in places of spiritual significance or in areas where Shinto...
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