Literature instrument beliefs Dishes wedding tradition fesrivals shamisen yasuka

Early works of Japanese literature were heavily influenced by cultural contact with China and Chinese literature, often written in Classical Chinese. Indian literature also had an influence through the diffusion of Buddhism in Japan. Eventually, Japanese literature developed into a separate style in its own right as Japanese writers began writing their own works about Japan, although the influence of Chinese literature and Classical Chinese remained until the end of the Edo period. Since Japan reopened its ports to Western trading and diplomacy in the 19th century, Western and Eastern literature have strongly affected each other and continue to do so.
The shamisen (also called the sangen), a three-string lute with a fret-less fingerboard (about 38 inches long in Jiuta style), is one of the main instruments used in many Japanese musical traditions. Its construction is elegant and refined, consisting of a long narrow wooden neck, a resonating wooden box covered both sides with animal skin, and a set of woven silk strings stretched over a water buffalo horn, tortoiseshell or wooden bridge. The sound, percussive in nature, is produced by plucking strings with the sharp edge of a large plectrum made of ivory, tortoiseshell or wood, called a bachi. The 'thwacking' sound quality forms the backbone of ensemble compositions, providing a foil for the other instruments to weave their melodies around. The shamisen is believed to have been imported into Japan from the Ryky Islands in the mid-16th. century. It found its way into many genres of music including folk and popular music as well as the art music of the Edo period (1603-1868). During this period, music for the jiuta shamisen evolved into ensemble music with koto and shakuhachi (Sankyoku). The shamisen is found in almost every genre of Japanese performance, from Kabuki and sankyoku to storytelling, Bunraku puppet theater, Nihonbuyodance and the many folk music genres.

Most, if not all, countries have customs and beliefs that make them distinct as a people. These include superstitions, of which the Japanese have many. A lot of these superstitions may sound familiar and could be variations of our own, while others may verge on the bizarre. You might come across some of these of common Japanese superstitions during your stay in Japan for the KCP program: If you hiccup a hundred times in a row, you will die. If you dont eat all your rice during meals, you will go blind. Hide your bellybutton when it is thundering, or else the god of thunder will eat it. Do not whistle at night unless you want a snake or a ghost to pay you a visit. A broken geta (Japanese wooden footwear) means bad luck.
Japanese cuisine offers a great variety of dishes and regional specialties. Some of the most popular Japanese and Japanized dishes are listed below. They are categorized below into rice dishes, seafood dishes, noodle dishes, nabe dishes, meat dishes, soya bean dishes, yoshoku dishes and other dishes. Please note that some dishes may fit into multiple categories, but are liJapanese Wedding Day The Japanese bride-to-be is painted pure white from head to toe, visibly declaring her maiden status to the gods. The bride wears a white kimono and an elaborate headpiece covered with many ornaments to invite good luck to the happy couple. A white hood is attached to the kimono, which the bride wears like a veil to hide her 'horns of jealousy' from the groom's mother, who will now become the head of the family. Japanese grooms wear black kimonos to their wedding ceremony. While the bride and groom exchange their wedding vows, their families face each other, instead of the couple getting married. Central to the traditional Japanese marriage ceremony is the ritual of drinking nine cups of sake, after which newlyweds are considered united. Families and guests also drink sake, to symbolize the bonding of the couple as well as of the two families. The father of the groom, and of the bride, then introduce their respective family members.sted only one

Japanese festivals are traditional festive occasions. Some festivals have their roots in Chinese festivals but have undergone dramatic changes as they mixed with local customs.