Running Title: THE CULTURE OF JAPAN
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Student Name: Abdulla Mohammed Sultan
ID: s200214452
Section: 7AM
Prepared for: Susan Bainbridge
Course Name and Code: Culture Diversity – N205
Name of the Assessment: Project One
Due Date: 31 Oct 2013
THE CULTURE OF JAPAN
Table of contacts
Introduction ……………………………………………………………. 3
Language ………………………………………………………………… 3
Literature ……………………………………………………………….. 3
Music ……………………………………………………………………. 3
The Arts ………………………………………………………………… 3 , 4
Performing arts ………………………………………………………….. 4
Architecture ………………………………………………………………. 4
Cuisine …………………………………………………………………… 4
Sports and Martial arts …………………………………………………. 4 , 5
Popular culture ………………………………………………………….. 5
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THE CULTURE OF JAPAN
Introduction
Japan has had a long and extensive culture that has lasted for greater than 500 years. In this period
of time, Japanese culture has grow to be rich, varied and complex, and the depth of the Japanese
culture can be seen even today.
Japan has been isolated from the rest of the world for long periods of time in history, and therefore
the culture of Japan is almost completely original, and bears very little influences from other
cultures. On the other hand, Japan is contact with China effect the technologies and systems into
Japanese culture, such that Japanese culture can be said to have some large aspects of it, derived
from, yet also very different from Chinese culture.
For example, the Japanese received the art of paper manufacture from the Chinese, as the kanji
which are the ideograms that were adopted from the Chinese, but which later evolved significantly
in Japanese culture to the way they are pronounced and read today.
Language
The official language of Japan is Japanese, which is actually not one language but three. The first,
hiragana is the Japanese alphabet, used for names and new words. The second alphabet, called the
katakana is almost exactly like the hiragana but is only used for foreign words and names. The third,
the kanji is not an alphabet, but a pictographic representation of ideas. Altogether, Japanese is one
of the more difficult languages for foreigners to learn. old adult is expected to know more than 3000
kanji characters). This has also make the culture of Japan a side from the rest of the world.
Literature
The two greatest influences of Japanese literature have been Chinese and India. The Chinese
influence is a direct result of the close proximity of Japan to China, the Indian influence came about
to the transfer of Buddhism into Japan.
Music
The music of Japan includes both traditional forms of music, as more modern ones.
Traditional Japanese music is very different from Western music. as it not follow a set meter
of timing, rather it focuses on the pauses between breaths. On other hand, modern Japanese
music is extremely popular and also contributes to the large karaoke culture present in Japan
today.
The Arts
The Japanese has always been great artists, and this reputation of theirs is a result of their
dedication to the arts. Painting, sculpture and calligraphy have enjoyed thousands of years of
popular in Japan. The Japanese approach to art is slow, calculated, precise and methodical.
To illustrate, in Japanese calligraphy, it is not uncommon for the artist to write each character
over a hundred times, until the Japanese aesthetic concept of “perfection” is achieved. The
Japanese attention to detail is almost unparalleled in world cultures. However, the unique
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THE CULTURE OF JAPAN
aspect of Japanese art is the magical of beauty and utility that is a hallmark of the Japanese
culture.
Other traditional popular arts have included ukiyo-e which is the Japanese art of woodblock
printing as a means of mass production of art. Also, popular until today is the Japanese art of
flower arrangement, which is the art focussing on values such as beauty, harmony, simplicity
etc.
Performing arts
Japan also has had a strong culture of the stage and performing arts. The four traditionally run
types of theatre are noh, kabuki, bunkrau and kyogen. The bunkrau is a form of Japanese
puppet theatre, which is highly popular.
Architecture
While Japanese architecture was initially influenced by Chinese building design, over time, it
developed into it’s own style. Japan has traditionally had a scarcity of resources, hence the
Japanese ideology is to use renewable materials, and to create modular, efficient, multi-use
buildings, with the most intelligent use of space possible. Japanese traditional architecture has
developed in line with the Japanese skill of joinery and carpentry and there are hundred year
old wood structures in Japan today that were build without the use of adhesives or nails to
join the wood. Horyu-ji is the oldest wood structure in the world, and it in Japan.
Cuisine
Japanese cuisine is famous all over the world for it’s complexity and refined nature. The
Japanese view eating as a ritual, and all rituals are opportunities for art and beauty. Therefore,
in the Japanese cuisine, the appearance, setting, emotion and story behind food is as
important (if not more) than the taste of the food itself. The basic Japanese diet consists of
rice, seafood, and fresh or pickled vegetables. Food is a communal affair, and servings are
usually small but numerous. Like the Chinese, Japanese food also uses chopsticks, not only to
eat, but to cook and serve as well.
The healthy Japanese diet is believed to be the reason that Japan has the highest number of
people more than a 100 years old, and even these centurions are healthy and well.
Sports and Martial arts
Japan has had a long history of wars and it have played an important role in the formation of
Japanese culture. The Samurai was the most important social class in Japan, and these
warring feudal lords have shaped the very fabric of Japanese morality and value systems.
They also lead to the development of a highly skilled and trained martial art culture, with
dozens of different schools and styles, both armed and unarmed.
Due to American influence, baseball, basketball and football are also very popular in Japan.
The Japanese craze for baseball sometimes seems to exceed the American love for the sport.
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THE CULTURE OF JAPAN
Popular culture
Today, it is hard to find any aspect of life that is not affected by Japanese popular culture.
From books, and movies, to the highly popular animated series (anime) and comic books
(manga) Japanese new culture. Japanese cuisine is also extremely popular and the Japanese
love for videogames and electronics now almost everywhere.
Conclusion
All in all, Japan has had a long and extensive culture and it is famous every where and a lot of
people would like to know a out it. The new culture which I am writing about the anime is now
interesting around the world. Japan has famous culture.
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