Traditional Japanese Clothing Almost everyone is familiar with the traditional Japanese clothing item, i.e. the kimono.

In the past kimono was a blanket term used to define all types of clothing. However, its contemporary definition is that of a long garment worn by men, women, and children. In fact, the types of kimonos worn vary based on occasion, marital status, and even the season. Here's a look into three types of kimonos worn by Japanese women. Tomesode: This is the kimono of a married women and can be distinguished by the fact that its patterns are not prominent above the waistline. Furisode: This is the kimono belonging to unmarried women and is distinguished by its extremely long sleeves. Such kimonos are worn by unmarried girls only on very formal occasions to indicate that they are of age and available for marriage. Uchikake: The uchikake is a special kimono worn by Japanese brides. It is made of silk and is much longer than the regular kimono. This is a characteristic trait of the bridal kimono and just like in the western culture where there are designated bridesmaids to carry the train of the bride, there are assistants required to help the bride walk in the uchikake. Apart from these specific kimonos, it is interesting to note that the patterns of kimonos vary based on the prevalent season. Those in fall are less brighter than those of spring, while those of winter are made in heavier fabrics such as flannel. A popular type of kimono worn in summer is known as yukata, made of cotton. It is a casual kimono worn at most summer events in Japan. Kimonos worn by men and women can be differentiated by the colors they wear. Men wear lighter, neutral colors while women wear brighter colors and prints. One more element that sets these kimonos apart is the obi, a sash worn around the kimono at the waist. The obi worn by men is thin while that worn by women is much wider. In today's day and time, kimonos are not worn regularly, but primarily on special occasions. However, men and women do wear kimonos while entertaining guests at home.

Japanese Festivals Japanese festivals revolve primarily around celebrations with family though there are certain occasions where men and women come together to celebrate. Some of the popular festivals celebrated in Japan are as follows: New Year's Day: New year's day is the most widely celebrated festival in Japan and is a complete family affair. People travel to visit their families during this time and all shops are shut to celebrate this time of the year. A lot of families also travel abroad at this time of the year as part of their yearly vacation, though the holiday period is only three days. Families also visit shrines to pray for health, wealth and overall well-being. Coming of Age Day - Seijin No Hi: This is another widely celebrated festival in Japan that falls on the second Monday of every January, where all young adults who have come of age, i.e. turned 20 that year, come together. Young women are dressed in extravagant kimonos that cost several thousand yen. They go with their families to Shinto shrines and pray for their well-being. This is a very popular festival and one of those rare occasions where you will see so many young girls dressed in their traditional outfits. Valentine's Day: Just like in most parts of the world, Valentine's day is celebrated in Japan with great fervor. However, the Japanese Valentine's day is a little twisted because here, only women are expected to profess their love for men by giving them gifts, mainly chocolate. There is another occasion where men do the same for women (White day - March 14). Valentine's day in Japan is symbolic of a deep commitment and not something that is celebrated for the heck of it. However, on this day women also gift the other men in their lives such as friends and male members of their families. Girl's Day - Hina Matsuri: Popularly known as the doll festival, Hina Matsuri falls on March 3 each year. On this day parents of girls display dolls of an ancient Imperial couple in their houses, and in some cases, dolls of the couple's courtesans and other servants along with peach blossoms and rice cakes are displayed at multiple levels to make one huge display. These dolls are displayed to take away bad luck from the girls of the house so that good fortune prevails. At the end of the day, i.e. midnight, the dolls should be put

back into their boxes, else it is believed that the daughters of the house may never get married. Cherry Blossom Viewing - Hanami: The viewing of blooming flowers(sakura) of cherry blossom trees is an ancient practice that continues with the same amount of popularity to this day from the months of February to April each year. The duration however, varies from region to region depending on when these flowers bloom. Trees are planted across parks and people are known to enjoy tea ceremonies and picnics under these trees to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The sakura disappear weeks after they bloom and fall to the ground, that is symbolic of the ancient belief of the fleeting nature of youth and life in general. Golden Week: The golden week is so called because three public holidays tend to fall in the same week and are sometimes clubbed with a weekend that turns out to be one long vacation for everyone. This week falls between April 29 and May 5, and the public holidays it encompasses includes Green Day, which falls on April 29, Constitution day, which falls on May 3, and Children's Day (primarily celebrated by boys), which falls on May 5. Star Festival - Tanabata Matsuri: This festival is celebrated based on a legend about two lovers having been separated by the Milky Way, who are allowed to meet only on one specific day in the 7th month based on the lunar calendar. Since the lunar calendar is different from the regular calendar that we follow, this festival falls on different dates between July and August. July 7 however, is the day when the festivities first begin. People celebrate this day by writing different types of wishes on small paper pieces and hanging them on bamboo. This bamboo is then burned once the festival ends, that is on the next day. This festival is celebrated on a large scale across the country. Seven-Five-Three - Shichi-Go-San: This is a festival specifically held for children aged 3, 5 and 7 and marks the coming of age of children into middle childhood. To be a little more specific, this festival is important for girls who are 3 and 7 years of age, and boys who are 3 and 5 years of age. Observed on the weekend closest to November 15, this festival sees children dressed in elaborate kimonos who then visit various shrines in their city. Children are given what is known as Chitose Ame, a long red and white candy as a symbol of good health and a long life.

 Christmas - Meri Kurisumasu: Japan hardly has a Christian population, yet Christmas is as popular in the country as is any other festival. However, the essence behind the celebration of Christmas is completely different. There is no turkey and no going to church. All that is followed is the ritual of gift-giving and celebrating with a dinner. It is not a family occasion (as is New Year's Day), yet it is celebrated with beautiful decorations. Christmas is not a holiday in Japan but parties are still organized to celebrate this day.

Religion in Japan Religion is not predominant in Japan, but there are followers of the two prominent religions in this country, i.e. Shinto and Buddhism. In today's day and time, the beliefs, faiths and rituals overlap with each other's and it is difficult to identify one religion from another. Shinto is a belief in the fact that a superpower resides in all the elements of nature rather than one single god. There are specific sites that have been developed into shrines, dedicated to sun worship and the like. Each site is associated with a deity known as kami. Buddhism in Japan came from Chinese influence, and is far more popular in the country. There are several Buddhist temples and in some cases, these are built alongside Shinto shrines. The Japanese are not found to be a very religious lot, with them visiting these places of worship primarily on the aforementioned festivals. Other religions that exist in minority in the country include Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. Recently new religions have been founded based on certain specific tenets of Shinto and Buddhism. One such religion is Soka Gakkai, a form of Buddhism. Japanese Food Though synonymous with Japanese food, sushi is not the only food that makes up for the vast cuisine that this country has to offer. Yes, sushi and sashimi and other types of raw seafood dominate Japanese cuisine, but there is also a huge variety in vegetarian food that foreigners are usually unaware of. However, this vegetarian food usually contains meat stock, so if you are a pure vegetarian, finding the right kind of

food is going to be a little difficult. An example of a well-known and largely consumed type of vegetarian food in Japan is natto or fermented soy, the taste and smell of which can be a little too strong if one is not used to eating it regularly. Rice is a common ingredient in most food preparations, as are noodles of various types such as thick wheat noodles and buckwheat noodles. Meals have three courses along with a soup. These meals may be consumed raw, grilled, steamed, boiled or pan-fried. A recent development in Japanese cuisine is the rising popularity of processed food as compared to traditional Japanese food. However, Japanese food continues to be popular in different parts of the world, though authentic Japanese cuisine is yet to be deeply ventured into. Here's a look into some very interesting facts about Japanese food for you to learn more about this unique cuisine type.

When speaking of Japanese food in general, one more aspect that must be explored is the Japanese tea ceremony, yet another unique ritual that contributes to the identity of this country. It is an elaborate cultural event and specific tea rooms are dedicated for this ritual to be carried out. Of course, now it is also conducted in the open in events such as the cherry blossom viewing. It is an elaborate manner of preparing and presentingmatcha or powdered green tea, and this ceremony is known as chanoyu. The tea is prepared in the presence of guests and as per traditional formal rituals, one bowl of tea is passed around a maximum of five guests. Each guest takes a few sips and wipes clean the rim of the bowl before passing on the tea. There is a specific technique by which the kettle is held and the tea is scooped. Variations in the types of tea also exist. There is thick tea and thin tea, and each of these has its own set of accompaniments. Tea ceremonies are of several types, formal and informal, and can last for several days together. It is important to note the person who prepares and the guests who drink the tea should be clearly aware of the specific manner of doing so. For instance, guests should be familiar with certain phrases that should be said after taking the first sip of tea. In short, there is a protocol that needs to be followed in order to engage in a proper tea ceremony.

Greetings Almost everyone is aware that the Japanese way of greeting is bowing. It is such an integral and vital part of Japanese etiquette, that employees of various companies are trained to bow in the right manner. The reason why bows are so important are because they express reverence for the opposite person. As such, the practice of bowing while greeting should not be taken lightly. Bows are informal and formal. While the general norm for men is to maintain the hands at their sides and bend forward from the waist, for girls it is the same with the hands placed on the lap, with the eyes looking down. Formal bows are deeper than informal bows. A bow is returned with a bow and should normally last only up to 2-3 seconds. Shaking hands, sometimes in combination with a bow, has now become a common practice in Japan, especially with outsiders and tourists. As a tourist, if you are applying this greeting, ensure you bend to the left and not straight, to avoid knocking down the opposite person. Any greeting should portray a dynamism, else it is considered rude. While speaking to superiors and customers, there are very important rules of politeness that are followed. The Japanese are a cooperative lot, and do not believe in individualism, but conformity. They believe in universal good rather than individual gain. They are never forthright about their opinions, and are rather diplomatic in putting forth any point of view. The Art of Eating and Drinking In Japan, dining requires the knowledge of several customs. It is common to say 'grace' as it is in the western culture, before beginning a meal. This includes thanking the person who prepared the meal. Knowing how to use chopsticks is necessary. In Japanese restaurants, a rolled hand towel is given to customers to wipe hands. Wiping the face or neck with the same towel is not well received. Picking food from the plate while leaving

out certain ingredients is rude. Passing food from one pair of chopsticks to another is taboo. Any food to be passed should be placed in the plate of the person taking it. It is necessary that you clear your plate completely while eating. Slurping is not thought of as uncouth, and is in fact a gesture that shows you are relishing the soup or noodles. Additional and optional ingredients such as soy sauce are taken separately in a small bowl, and pouring too much sauce in the bowl implies greed and wastefulness. Japanese food, including sushi, is dipped in soy sauce before eating, if required. After the meal, a humble thank you is announced in the Japanese language, while joining both hands together. Learning how to use chopsticks before heading to Japan is a wise thing to do, and will be well appreciated among the Japanese people. While making payments, placing money in the hands is avoided, and is placed in a tray that is placed near the cashier. In case, money is to be placed directly in the hands, it should be given and received with both hands as a form of politeness.