Culture
Japan could be said to be a country of yokai (ghosts). Often called goblins in English, yokai are much more varied than that poor translation suggests. These folklore beasties, like European fairies, can be scary, weird and benign. We often think of them in the summer when scary Obon season comes, but they’re present for all seasons, including the fall harvest season and winter’s dead cold. In this article, we’ll be talking about the Japanese yokai of spring. Spring yokai tends towards natural phenomena, like plants and animals. After all, spring is when the natural world comes alive again aft...
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Some of the scariest Japanese urban legends, like those in this bone-chilling list, are intertwined with reality. Whether from cautionary tales, mysterious occurrences or eerie happenings, these legends possess a disturbing semblance of truth. More than just Japanese ghosts and monsters, urban legends’ creepiness, strangeness and unnerving plausibility leave an indelible mark of fear on those who dare to delve into their depths. 1. The Cow HeadThe legend of Gozu, the Cow Head, instills fear in all who dare to hear its complete tale. The story is believed to bring dire consequences to those who...
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Japan is renowned for its rich cultural heritage that includes numerous Buddha statues, each with its own unique history and cultural significance. Among these, the Nara Todaiji Temple, Kamakura Daibutsu, and the Great Buddha of Takaoka are considered the most significant. The Great Buddha of Takaoka, located in Toyama Prefecture, is one of the most impressive Buddha statues in Japan. This statue is made of bronze and stands over 15 meters tall, weighing an incredible 65 tons. It is known for its intricate details, exceptional craftsmanship, and remarkable preservation, making it a true master...
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One of Tokyo’s most important shrines, whose existence dates back to the Kamakura period, is located on a small hilltop of Nagatacho. Despite being at the heart of one of the world’s busiest cities, the surrounding greenery fills this Shinto shrine with peace and tranquility. It has a special connection to the Tokugawa clan. When Lord Ieyasu Tokugawa made Edo Castle his residence, Hie jinja (shrine) was revered as the “protector of the Tokugawa family.” Home to one of Tokyo’s biggest festivalsThe enshrined deity of Hie shrine is called Oyamakui no Kami (the guardian and protector of the city o...
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When you hear the word yokai(strange apparition), the first thing that might pop into your head is a turtle-looking kappa or the shapeshifting kitsune fox. Many of the creatures, ghosts and ghoulies you’ve heard of in Japan can fall under the umbrella term yokai. In Japanese (妖怪), yokai refers to something strange, mysterious or unexplained. Before contact with China, the Japanese yokai were formless and obtuse, much like Japanese gods, demons and assorted deities. However, yokai grew popular during the Edo period when Toriyama Sekien wrote his book Night Procession of One Hundred Demons, whic...
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Tucked away in the forests of Mount Koshio, Oharano Shrine is a green retreat less than an hour away from Kyoto Station. Also known as Kyoto Kasuga, the shrine is a small piece of Nara in a Kyoto mountain suburb. The 83,000 square meter forest property offers gentle walking trails and a peaceful respite from the regular Kyoto crowds. A Branch of Nara’s Famous Kasuga TaishaIn 784 AD the then Emperor, Kanmu, moved the capital from Nara to Nagaoka-kyo. There, his Empress consort, Fujiwara no Otomuro, established Oharano Shrine. It was a place to worship her clan’s deities, enshrined at Kasuga Tai...
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When thinking of Japanese art and artists, our minds tend to follow the usual suspects, such as Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, Hokusai’s views of Fuji, the writings of Haruki Murakami and collections of Haiku poetry. However, Japan’s artistic traditions have been shaped by many artists that have yet to receive as much international attention. Here are five Japanese artists you probably haven’t heard of and where to start if you want to know more. 1. Sion SonoSuicide Club, Love Exposure and Why Don’t you Play in Hell? are niche but successful movies made by the brashest auteur to ever come from Japa...
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Since Chinese immigrants first modified their noodles for Japanese locals in Yokohama Chinatown in the early 20th century, ramen has spread throughout Japan, with each area changing it to suit local tastes. This has given us the basic soups of shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt), miso and tonkotsu (pork bones), plus all manner of variations, from toppings to the consistency of the noodles themselves, While local varieties have become popular nationwide, like Tokyo’s shoyu, Sapporo’s miso and Fukuoka’s tonkotsu “Hakata ramen,” there’s a lot more out there. And while you might find a shop serving reg...
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Despite being cute, relatively unassuming animals, rabbits and hares are found in the myths and tales of a surprising number of countries. From the ancient Greek tales of the foolish hare losing a race to a tortoise because of its arrogance to the cunning trickster rabbits of Native American culture, the carrot-munching creatures are found throughout the world’s cultures and lore. Of course, Japan is no exception; in these isles, the lovable furballs symbolize longevity, good luck and prosperity. In this, the year of the rabbit, GaijinPot goes down the rabbit hole and looks at five ways that t...
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At portent times such as the new year, Japanese people often wait in long lines at shrines to draw a special kind of fortune known as an omikuji (御神籤). In the past before significant events, lots would be drawn to determine whether the venture would be blessed by the spirits. The final part of the word, kuji meaning a lottery, is apt as omikuji involves drawing a numbered stick from a container. The number refers to the fortune you will be given and how much luck you will receive. These days, other styles also exist, ranging from the relatively common pulling a folded piece of paper from a con...
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