Japan Favorites: Week 1

So I am going to start a post called "Japan Favorites", once a week. I will fill the post with all sorts of things that I like ranging from Pictures, Videos, and other media/gadgets all about Japan! So .... Let's Go !!

This Week's Theme: Japanese Tradition

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A Matcha Tea set. "Matcha" is the native green tea that is grown and harvested in Japan. The tea has a strong, bitter, grassy, earthy, ancient flavor as it is brewed strong. Traditional Matcha is made with only hot water; no additives like sugar, milk, honey, etc. The tea leaves are harvested and ground into an extremely fine powder - using a stone grind by hand. This lively tea has a soothing smell that is sure to tame your senses and put your mind in tune with nature. Matcha is the traditional tea used in Japanese tea ceremonies!

A beautiful photo of a traditional tea ceremony. Though Japan has become modernized in some parts, it still and will always hold onto its ancient traditions - like tea ceremonies. You can see the attire that is worn; Kimono. The tea house where the ceremony takes place, has a wooden 'hole' in the floor where an iron pot called a "Tetsubin" is placed and used to make hot water. There are several components required to make a tea ceremony, a true tea ceremony. Look Below For The Video!

Notice the long handled cup that is used to transfer the hot water, to the bowl full of Matcha. There is a long scoop that is used to make perfect measurements of Matcha. A distinct bamboo whisk is used to whisk the Matcha and water together, to finish preparing the tea. The bowls are even very critical for drinking Matcha! Take care to enjoy this beatiful, ancient, and intriguing tradition!

Here is the finished product: ready to drink Matcha !! I order pure, high grade Matcha straight from Japan about once a month or so (the amount will last me a little while), and truly, it is a wonderful tea to have! Not to mention the extraordinary health benefits that Japanese Matcha has on the body! OH, Wonderful Wonderful !! (^_^)



 

 These two women are dressed as traditional Miko. A Miko is a Shinto priestess who was trained to take a daily life to keeping after a Shinto shrine. Her duties would include knowing sacred cleansings and purifications to the shrine, as well as the sacred Kagura dance (which was also performed in the shrine). Miko are still present in today's Japan!

Of course, here is the ever-so elegant and beautiful symbol of Japan: Geisha. A Geisha would partake in many actions and duties, and was indeed a symbol of Japan. She would apply her own facial paint and makeup, while a talented trained person would updo her hair into the traditional Geisha style. She wears a layering of Kimonos witha specially picked out Obi (the band/bow that goes around the waist of a Kimono), making for a truly Beautiful woman.

A stunning and beautiful art of putting on the paint and makeup!

A Hina Matsuri doll display. Hina Matsuri is a tradition also called the "Girl's Day Festival", which celebrates all young girls and ladies in Japan. The girls make Matsuri dolls and place them in their homes on the day of Hina Matsuri. Public festival displays are welcomed to be viewed by everyone. The dolls are beautifully crafted and are made and dressed with real, ancient materials!



Musha Jinji is a traditional style of Archery in Japan. There are many different styles of archery, this is just one of those 'many'! Mostly men participate in Musha Jinji.

O-Mato Taiki is another style of archery. This is an all women's archery, and they truly make it a gorgeous art!

Setsubun Festival is one that takes place in a shrine, this one in particular is the Yasaka Shrine. After traditional music and dance is shown on the stage in the shrine grounds, Fuku Mame beans (fortune beans) are thrown and showered onto the crowd as of course, a wish of good fortune (^_^)

Here is the Gagaku dance that is performed in the Setsubun festival. The traditional outfit is kept in pristine condition and passed down for each dancer to wear, while performing this beautiful dance.

Here is one of my favorite traditional dances: the Geisha/Maiko dance. Take time to enjoy, in my own opinion, the most Beautiful dance in the world.

The Japanese Onsen. An Onsen is a natural hot water spring that allows for the ultimate relaxation, bath, and tranquility. There are natural hot springs located everywhere in Japan, some are isolated to the public, and are therefore created into Onsens! Some Onsens offer an indoor bath, a place to stay the night, and plenty of delicious traditional Japanese food!
Hot springs have been used by the Japanese since very early in history. Just think about the fuedal periods (like the Edo period), where the shinobi (ninja), Samurai, and Soldiers would come to a hot spring or Onsen to relax their beaten and tensed muscles and scrub off that beautiful hard work of the day! Hot springs are the God-sent natural bath of Japan for sure!




These are just a scratch on the surface of Japanese traditions !! I hope you've enjoyed this gorgeous, small selection of the mystical traditions of Japan. I hope to have made your eyes see Japan perhaps, a bit differently today! (^_^)