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Clothes:

https://www.familysearch.org/en/blog/japanese-fashion-clothing-kimono

https://kidadl.com/fun-facts/curious-kimono-facts-revealed-about-traditional-japanese-clothing

Music:
https://kidadl.com/fun-facts/mind-blowing-facts-about-japanese-music-for-kids
https://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/koto/koto01.html
https://kids.kiddle.co/J-Pop

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From the traditional kimono to Tokyo street style, Japanese fashion has a long history of unique and beautiful clothing. How has fashion changed in Japan? And what do Japanese people typically wear?

Traditional Japanese Clothing-Wafuku

Traditional Japanese clothing, or wafuku, often consists of intricate robes called kimonos worn with a sash called an obi and sandals, either zōri or geta. Can you picture elegant kimonos? Try using Picture My Heritage to see how you would look in traditional Japanese styles.

There's more to traditional Japanese fashion. Variations serve different needs, but most traditional clothing is based around kimonos.

Kimono

A kimono is a multi-layered dress that fold across the front of the body like robes. It is typically floor- or ankle-length and has wide sleeves. Different styles vary in layers, materials, accessories, and more.

The kimono is the most famous and widespread traditional clothing in Japan. It rose to prominence in the Heian period (AD 794-1193) and has survived as the main dress for both men and women ever since-a whopping 1,000 years. Kimono were so accepted as the main form of fashion that the name, kimono, literally means "thing to wear."

With its elegance and versatility, it's no wonder the kimono has survived so long. Today, the kimono is still known as the national dress of Japan. They can reflect symbolism that indicates social class, history, and heritage.

What Is the Difference between Kimono and Yukata?

A yukata is a casual version of the traditional kimono. Where the kimono is often made with silks and satins, the yukata is made with lightweight cotton or polyester and fewer layers. It's easier to wear in warm weather, and it often incorporates brighter colors. Plus, it's significantly cheaper than a kimono.

What Is a Hakama?

Where the yukata is considered casual attire in Japan, the hakama is a formal option. It's a type of full-length skirt worn over kimonos by both men and women. The skirt is usually wide and pleated.

What Is an Obi?

An obi is a type of belt or sash worn with most traditional Japanese clothing, but particularly kimonos. It's wrapped around the waist and tied in the back. Most modern obi are too ornate and thick to function as belts. Instead, kimonos have internal ties.

There are many different styles of Obi, differing in width, length, material, pattern, and style of knot. Tying an obi is such an art form that the practice was traditionally passed down by mothers and today is taught in classes.

What Are Zōri?

Zōri are a type of sandal or thong similar to the modern flip-flop. They're typically made with cloth straps and a base of straw, wood, or leather. Tabi, toed socks, are traditionally worn with zōri. They're now worn with both kimonos and the more popular Western clothing.

What Are Geta?

Geta are traditional Japanese sandals often made with a wooden platform and cloth straps. They differ from the similar zōri in that geta are raised on two wooden slats. Originally, geta made it easier to walk on dirt roads without tripping or getting dirty. Today, they're often worn as an accessory for yukata.

When Do Japanese People Wear Traditional Clothing?

Over time, traditional Japanese styles became less practical, losing their appeal to the more relaxed and accessible Western fashions. Today, Japanese people don't typically wear traditional clothing in daily life. Instead, kimono or yukata are often reserved for ceremonies or special events.

Western Clothing in Japan-Yōfuku

Western styles, called yōfuku, started creeping into Japanese fashion in the 1850s. At first, only men wore Western clothing for business. As time went on, Western clothing became more and more common in other settings. After World War II, Western fashion spread as the main attire throughout Japan.

Since then, Japan has developed a style all its own, particularly starting in the '80s and '90s, when a style known as "Japanese street style" popped up.

Japanese Street Style

Japanese street style is known for being bold and cutting edge. While there's no single definition of Japanese street style, there are some defining trends. Loose, overfitted clothing in muted colors is fairly typical.

Generally, it's all about silhouettes and mixing things up-layers, vintage, designer, and more. Some common accessories include stylish sneakers and belt bags (similar to fanny packs in function, but not in appearance).

Alternative Japanese Fashions

While mainstream fashion in Japan is fairly conservative, other, more striking styles are famous as well. These are some of the more common alternative trends:

Harajuku: Harajuku, named after the Harajuku district of Shibuya in Tokyo where the style originated, mixes Western clothing and traditional Japanese clothing with uniquely bright and colorful styles. It first developed as a form of rebellion against strict social norms. Bright colors, bold designs, and multiple layers are common.

Lolita: Childlike or doll-like features characterize Lolita fashion. The trend fits into the larger kawaii (meaning 'cute') culture, which is a culture centered around cuteness.

Kogal: Japanese school uniforms serve as the inspiration for kogal. The term is a contraction of "kōkōsei," which means "high school student", and "gyaru", or "Gal". Short skirts, jackets, loose socks, scarves, and boots make up the typical look.

Japanese Culture: Discover and Share

Do you have Japanese heritage? Do you have memories or experiences with these fashion trends? Try using FamilySearch Memories to discover and share memories of your heritage and connect on a personal level with your ancestry.

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From the traditional kimono to Tokyo street style, Japanese fashion has a long history of unique and beautiful clothing. How has fashion changed in Japan? And what do Japanese people typically wear? Traditional Japanese clothing, or wafuku, often consists of intricate robes called kimonos worn with a sash called an obi and sandals, either zōri or geta.

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Links for Features of the Natural Environment 

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Links for Features of the Natural Environment 

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Moutains:
https://kids.kiddle.co/Mount_Fuji

https://traveltriangle.com/blog/mountains-in-japan/

Rivers:
https://livejapan.com/en/article-a9000068/
https://kids.kiddle.co/List_of_rivers_of_Japan

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Mount Fuji (富士山, Fuji-san) is the tallest mountain in Japan, at 3,776 metres (12,388 ft) high. It is also a volcano. It is on the border between Shizuoka Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefecture. Mount Fuji is a famous cultural icon of Japan, as a lot of people have painted it and taken photographs of it. It became the 13th UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan on June 22, 2013. The last time it erupted was from 1707 to 1708.

Active volcano

Mount Fuji is officially classified as an active volcano, but some describe Fuji as dormant or inactive.

The last major event was the Hōei eruption of Mount Fuji which started on December 16, 1707 (Hōei 4, 23rd day of the 11th month) and ended about January 1, 1708 ( Hōei 4, 9th day of the 12th month) during the Edo period. Cinders and ash from Fuji fell like rain in Izu Province, Kai Province, Sagami Province, and Musashi Province.

The mountain is thought to be named after Fuchi, the Buddhist fire goddess. The mountain is sacred in the Shinto religion and at the bottom of the mountain are shrines to the goddess Konohananosakuya-hime (コノハナノサクヤヒメ）).

Many people climb Mt. Fuji every year. The official climbing season is in the summer: July 25 to August 25. There are three mountain-climbing routes on the Shizuoka side of Mt. Fuji. There is a post office on the top of Mt. Fuji which is open only in summer. The post office was built in 1909 and is the highest post office in Japan.

Mountain in art

In 2009, Mount Fuji was recognized as one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan which best show contemporary Japan and its culture in the Heisei period.

Related pages

Images for kids

Geological cross-section of Fuji volcano. Key: N2 = Tertiary sedimentary rocks; αN2 = Tertiary volcanic rocks; αQ1 = Komitake volcano; α-δQ1 = Ashitaka volcano; βQ2 = Older Fuji volcano; αβQ2 = Younger Fuji volcano.

A view of Mount Fuji from the Taisekiji temple as depicted by the woodblock artist Katsushika Hokusai. The one hundred views of Mount Fuji. From the Elizabeth Joan Tanney estate, c. 1834.

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Mount Fuji (富士山, Fuji-san) is the tallest mountain in Japan, at 3,776 metres (12,388 ft) high. It is also a volcano. It is on the border between Shizuoka Prefecture and Yamanashi Prefecture. Mount Fuji is a famous cultural icon of Japan, as a lot of people have painted it and taken photographs of it.

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Links for Japanese Sports and Past Times

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Links for Japanese Sports and Past Times

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https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/japan-for-kids

https://livejapan.com/en/article-a0000417/

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A girl practicing karate-do, a martial art that hones both physical and spiritual strength (JKF)

Children practicing kendo, Japanese fencing using bamboo swords (Tokyo Metropolitan Government)

Many different sports are played in Japan. Traditional martial arts like judo and kendo are popular, as are sports imported from overseas, such as baseball and soccer (football). Many Japanese go to the sea for surfing and scuba diving in the summer, while skiing and snowboarding are popular winter pursuits.

Major Sports

Baseball is one of the most popular spectator sports in Japan. There are 12 professional baseball teams, six in the Central League and six in the Pacific League. The teams in each league play about 140 games each during the season, at the end of which the two league winners meet in the Japan Series.

Amateur baseball is also popular, and many schoolchildren play the game through local Little Leagues or school baseball clubs. The National High-School Baseball Championship, which is held twice a year, is fought out among schools that have survived tough qualifying rounds to represent their prefectures.

Since Japan's own professional soccer league, J. League, was founded in 1993, soccer has won more and more fans in Japan. The 2002 FIFA World Cup was cohosted by Japan and the Republic of Korea, and this has greatly increased the popularity of soccer. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Japan made it to the Round of 16. Many Japanese players have joined overseas teams and play in the top European leagues. Japan also has women's soccer leagues, in which most of the players are amateurs. In 2011, the Japanese women's national team won the FIFA Women's World Cup held in Germany and in the 2012 London Olympics, the team won the silver medal. This has helped raise the profile of women's soccer in Japan and increased the player population.

Children practicing judo, which has been an Olympic sport since the 1964 Tokyo Games (Kodokan)

Martial Arts

Traditional martial arts, such as judo, kendo, karate-do, and aikido, thrive in modern Japan thanks to the devotion of those who practice them.
In judo, which literally means "the gentle way," the key to overcoming an opponent lies in taking advantage of their strength. Now popular all over the world, judo has firmly established itself as an official Olympic event since its first inclusion in the Games in 1964. Following in the footsteps of judo, kendo (Japanese fencing) has also succeeded in attracting a loyal overseas following in recent years. Kendo competitors wear armor-like protective gear and use bamboo swords to attack and defend. Karate is said to have been born from the intermingling of martial arts " te" from the Ryukyu Kingdom (now Okinawa) and kempo martial arts from China. Karate competitors do not wear any kind of protection and fight using only their hands and feet.

Sumo

Sumo, Japan's national sport, has a history spanning more than 1,500 years. As it used to be held as a way of giving thanks for harvests, sumo still involves many rituals. Rikishi (sumo wrestlers), whose hair is styled like that of ancient warriors, wear only a special silk belt and fight using only their bare hands. Most weigh between 100 and 200 kilograms. They fight in the 4.5-meter wide dohyo (ring) until one either leaves the ring or touches the ground with any part of his body other than the soles of his feet. While the rules are simple, the techniques are not, and there are more than 80 ways to win. Professional sumo tournaments take place six times a year and last 15 days each. Sumo has attracted attention outside Japan through exhibition tours to various countries and the success of wrestlers from overseas.

Olympic Games

Amateur sport also thrives in Japan, which always sends strong teams to the Olympic Games. A team of 338 Japanese athletes competed in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and 113 took part in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. The Olympics have been held in Japan three times: Tokyo hosted the Summer Games in 1964 - the first Olympics ever to be held in Asia - while the Winter Games were hosted by Sapporo in 1972 and by Nagano in 1998. And it has been decided that Japan will host the games for the 4th time, with the 2021 Summer Olympics to be held in Tokyo.

Popular Children's Sports

Japanese children play a variety of sports through clubs at school or near where they live. Soccer (football) and baseball are two of the most popular sports among boys, while many girls enjoy playing tennis or dancing. Swimming is popular with both boys and girls.

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Many different sports are played in Japan. Traditional martial arts like judo and kendo are popular, as are sports imported from overseas, such as baseball and soccer (football). Many Japanese go to the sea for surfing and scuba diving in the summer, while skiing and snowboarding are popular winter pursuits.

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Links for Religion and Japanese Celebrations 

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Links for Religion and Japanese Celebrations 

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https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Shinto/390088

https://gowithguide.com/blog/japanese-buddhism-facts-k-3963

https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Buddhism/352887#:~:text=Beliefs%20and%20Practices&text=Buddhism%20is%20based%20on%20the,be%20free%20of%20these%20desires.

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Religion - Culture - Explore Japan - Kids Web Japan - Web Japan

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Christianity has also taken root in Japan; a Jesuit missionary from Spain, Francisco de Xavier, introduced the religion to Japan in the sixteenth century. The country's feudal rulers banned Christianity during the Edo period (1603-1867), but it made a comeback during the Meiji era (1868-1912).

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Food:
https://www.healthyfoodtribe.com/japanese-food-facts/

Farming/ Agriculture:
https://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/economy/index.html

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Japanese cuisine encompasses the regional and traditional foods of Japan, which have developed through centuries of social and economic changes. The traditional cuisine of Japan is based on rice with miso soup and other dishes; there is an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. Side dishes often consist of fish, pickled vegetables, and vegetables cooked in broth. Seafood is common, often grilled, but also served raw as sashimi or in sushi. Seafood and vegetables are also deep-fried in a light batter, as tempura. Apart from rice, staples include noodles, such as soba and udon. Japan also has many simmered dishes such as fish products in broth called oden, or beef in sukiyaki and nikujaga.

Dishes inspired by foreign food in particular Chinese food like ramen, fried dumplings, and gyōza-as well as foods like spaghetti, curry, and hamburgers have become adopted with variants for Japanese tastes and ingredients. Historically, the Japanese shunned meat, but with the modernization of Japan in the 1880s, meat-based dishes such as tonkatsu and yakiniku have become common. Japanese cuisine, particularly sushi, has become popular throughout the world. In 2011, Japan overtook France in number of Michelin-starred restaurants and has maintained the title since.

Soya beans are a very important ingredient in Japanese cooking; it is used in soya sauce, miso and tofu. Soya milk is also used as a drink. One example of a dish with soya beans in it, is tofu. Tofu is made from pressing soybeans into cubes and then boiling them. Tofu is often in soups and stews. Deep fried tofu is also used in many popular Japanese dishes, for example as kitsune udon and inari sushi. Soya beans also have omega 3 fatty acids, that can also be found in salmon.

Noodles (like in most Asian foods) are used often in Japanese foods. The dishes usually come originally from China; nevertheless they have reached a unique development in Japan.

Ramen (egg noodles with soup, vegetables and meat or fish)

Udon (Thick noodles with soup that can be with tofu, meat or vegetables. For the hot dish, noodles and soup are usually served together in the same bowl. For the cold dish, noodles and soup are usually served in different dishes)

Soba (Thin noodles with soy-sause-based soup. In hot dishes, noodles and soup are usually served together in the same bowl. For cold dishes, the noodles and soup are usually served in different bowls)

Yakisoba (Stir fry vegetables and/or meat with egg noodles and a soy based sauce)

Sōmen (Very thin white noodles made of wheat flour)

Sōmin champurū (Okinawan very thin noodles that are stirred and fried with green onions and pork meat)

Japan is surrounded by the ocean so there is a rich variety of seafood which is an important part of Japanese cooking.

Sushi (cooked rice with raw fish, vegetables or other seafood)

Sashimi (sliced raw fish)

Yakizakana (cooked whole fish)

Asari no miso shiru (miso soup with small mussels called "asari")

Japanese people did not eat meat until the Europeans first came. Fish was the most common food.

Yakiniku (fried slices of beef with a sweet and spicy sauce- originally Korean)

Nikujaga (beef, potatoes and usually carrots cooked in mentsuyu - a soy sauce based sauce)

Yakitori (bits of chicken staked with soy based sauce)

Shabu shabu is meat (or other protein-based food) and vegetables boiled in a simple broth flavored with seaweed and/or fish. Each piece of meat is put in the broth for a short time.

Wasabi is Japanese horseradish. It is often a green paste used with sashimi and sushi. Wasabi is also used with many other Japanese foods. Wasabi is sold as a paste or in powder form. Wasabi powder has to be mixed with water to be turned into a paste. Wasabi has a strong, very spicy (hot) taste.

Sashimi is very thinly cut raw seafood. Many different kinds of fresh fish and other seafood are served raw in Japanese dishes. Sashimi is one of them. It is almost the same as sushi, but it has no vinegar rice. When the slices of fish are put on small pieces of rice they are called "Nigiri Sushi". Sashimi is artistically arranged and put on the plate on top of shredded daikon and shiso leaves. The fish pieces are dipped into soya sauce before being eaten.

Seaweed has been a very important part of Japanese dishes for a long time. Today, many different types of seaweed are used in soups, seasonings and other forms of Japanese cooking. These are the three seaweeds used the most:

Kombu (large type of seaweed)

Wakame (sold in dried form, and then put in water before people use it in their foods)

Nori (thin, dried seaweed sheets, used in sushi)

Traditional Japanese sweets are known as wagashi. Ingredients such as red bean paste and mochi are used. More modern-day tastes includes green tea ice cream, a very popular flavor. Almost all manufacturers produce a version of it. Kakigōri is a shaved ice dessert flavored with syrup or condensed milk. It is usually sold and eaten at summer festivals. A dessert very popular among the children in Japan are dorayaki. They are sweet pancakes filled with a sweet red bean paste. They are mostly eaten at room temperature but are also considered very delicious hot.

Images for kids

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Japanese cuisine encompasses the regional and traditional foods of Japan, which have developed through centuries of social and economic changes. The traditional cuisine of Japan is based on rice with miso soup and other dishes; there is an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. Side dishes often consist of fish, pickled vegetables, and vegetables cooked in broth.