Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Each spring, two neighbouring countries become wreathed in cherry blossom. While the flowers may look similar, the meanings they carry – and the ways they’re experienced – tell very different stories. Japan: The quiet weight of tradition In Japan, cherry blossom (sakura) is not just a seasonal […]
Festivals & Events
Beyond the cherry blossoms: what’s blooming in Japan’s flower gardens
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! With a calendar that’s filled with events and festivals celebrating the distinct natural phenomena of spring, summer, autumn and winter, there’s no country that embraces its seasons quite like Japan. Case in point? Springtime – a season that’s become a symbol of Japan itself, with its dusting […]
Cradle to the grave – birth, marriage and death in Japan
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Every culture has rituals and ceremonies that mark the key stages of life – usually birth, marriage, and death. In many cases, these rituals have a religious significance. The baby of Catholic parents, for example, will probably be baptised in church. At a Jewish wedding the groom […]
The Circle of Life – Rituals, Celebrations and Festivals in Japan
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Seasons and cycles Living in Japan, I’ve been flabbergasted a number of times when someone has asked, in all seriousness, if my home country of England has the same cycle of four seasons as Japan. It’s something the Japanese hold as unique and prized. While politely pointing […]
The Rituals of Childhood
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! You are struck by ritual and tradition everywhere in Japan – from the moment you step off the plane to the ground crew bowing your arrival. What may seem quite different, or even quaint at the time, is actually just a continuation of values and traditions instilled […]
Dolls, emperors and snacks: Exploring the Japanese festival of Hinamatsuri
Like this post? Help us by sharing it! Hinamatsuri is a beautiful Japanese tradition, steeped in history Like this post? Help us by sharing it!