# data[].attributes.body
Japanese traditions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Japanese Traditions for Kids

Our Japan for Kids page will show 12 interesting Japanese traditions which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

Do you remember some of the Japanese national Symbols? The national flag of Japan includes the red circle of the rising sun, the national flower of Japan are cherry blossoms and the koi is recognised by many as the national fish. You will find the national symbols in many of the traditional culture and art forms of Japan.

In case you have not seen our 'Japan Facts for Kids' yet, please see our facts about Japan as they provide a good introduction. Click here to read.

Now let's start with some fun Japanese traditions and we are sure there are some you might have come across already.

1. Origami | Japan for Kids

Origami is the traditional way of folding paper. The word ' origami' originates from the Japanese terms ' ori' meaning 'folding' and ' gami' meaning 'paper'. One of the best known creations of the traditional Japanese origami is the paper crane.

Paper folding traditions emerged in China already in the 10th century, however, the Japanese developed the origami tradition further as an entertainment art from the 16th century.

The traditional origami technique uses two-coloured paper squares. Origami paper is usually white on one side and coloured or patterned on the other side. The origami paper is lighter than normal copy paper and comes in various sizes.

The traditional Japanese origami designers use special washi paper that is tougher than commonly used paper as it is made from wood or bark. Easy origami include the bunny, fish, boat or the easy hat origami. See some great and easy-to-do examples here.

2. Sudoku | Japan for Kids

Sudoku are logic games and number puzzles with 9x9 grids in 3x3 boxes that we all believe were invented in Japan.

However, number place games or 'magic square' games were already popular in the 19th century in France.

The Sudoku game as you will probably know it, was first published in Japan in 1984. However, the US-American puzzle inventor Howard Garns had initially started developing these number puzzles. His logic number game led to the development of the modern sudoku game in 1979.

The name ' s oduko' originates from the Japanese language and is an abbreviation of a longer term meaning 'numbers must remain single'.

3. Sushi | Japan for Kids

Sushi are seasoned rice bites or skilfully crafted rice rolls that usually contain raw fish slices. The most traditional sushi types are n igiri. Nigiri includes raw fish, seafood or vegetables which is based on a oval shaped bed of sushi rice. Maki rolls which are rice rolls with raw fish, seafood, vegetable or even fruit are also very popular.

Sushi is typically eaten with wasabi, a green and very spicy radish paste, pickled ginger and soy sauce.

The pink coloured pickled ginger is usually eaten to lessen the spiciness of the wasabi and to clean your palate to allow for a fresh taste of the special flavour of your next sushi bite. Sushi is usually eaten with chopsticks, however some sushi such as nigiri can be eaten by hand.

Sushi is often said to originate from Chinese seafarers, however, eating sushi is commonly referred to as Japanese tradition. The word ' sushi' mean 'sour or seasoned rice' in Japanese. The Japanese name for 'raw fish' is ' sashimi'.

4. Pokémon | Japan for Kids

Pokémon belongs to the Japanese pop culture just like sushi to the Japanese cuisine.

These Japanese fantasy creatures or pocket monsters with special abilities are known worldwide since the late 1990s. They are very popular in Japan. There are various video games, movies, toys and trading cards that feature the now more than 800 characters of the Pokémon universe.

The yellow coloured pocket monster called 'Pikachu' is one of the most well-known characters and the mascot of the Pokémon company.

There are more than twenty Pokémon films and the Pokémon characters are also used in manga and anime series. Pikachu is one of the main and most loved animated characters in Japanese pop culture.

The Japanese word ' pokémon' means 'pocket monster'.

Manga are Japanese cartoons or comics. Manga include also graphic novels which are story books consisting of comics. There are manga with all kind of different content. Among the popular manga themes are action, science-fiction, romance, sports and animal manga.

Most of the Japanese comics or cartoons are designed and printed only in black and white although there are more and more colourful manga are published now as well. If you love manga, you should definitely visit the International Manga museum in Kyoto. Read more here.

The word ' manga' originates from the Japanese and means 'pictures' and in the Japanese language refers to all different kinds of cartoons, comics, and animations.

Very popular manga characters and stories will sometimes be made into anime.

6. Anime | Japan for Kids

Anime are Japanese animation films made from either hand-drawn or computer-designed animations.

In Japan entertaining action animés such as Pokémon are popular since the 1990s. These include animal anime such as Chi's Sweet Home or Doraemon. Some of the characters of Doraemon you can see below.

The first animated film clips in Japan we shown already in 1917. Today anime can include all kinds of animation of science fiction, fantasy stories as well as animal and sports anime such as Haikyuu. In this popular Japanese sports animation a small boy who wants to become a famous volley ball player is the main character.

The word ' anime' originates from the word 'animations' and in Japanese the word 'anime' refers to all kinds of animations and animated media, not only those created in Japan.

7. Samurai | Japan for Kids

Japanese warriors were among the most wealthy and most respected people in the Japanese society in medieval times. Samurai belonged to the military and were high ranking officers who were allowed to even wear two swords.

Kusunoki Masashigewho lived in the 13th century is remembered in Japan as the ideal samurai for his loyalty, courage and virtue.

The influence of the samurai heritage can also be seen in Japanese art and culture. S amurai were often not only fighters but also painters, writers or philosophers and were ranked at the top of the Japanese society as they were among the most educated Japanese during the Edo period (1603-1867).

The word ' samurai' means 'those who accompany the noble men'. However, in Japan samurai are referred to as b ushi which means 'warrior'.

Female fighters existed as well, the were called ' onna-bugeisha'. These woman warriors were usually spouses of the warriors but they also were powerful and could train and fight.

8. Geisha | Japan for Kids

Geishas are women who perform the traditional Japanese arts. Geishas are well respected in Japan as they can entertain, perform tea ceremonies, can dance, sing or recite poetry.

A geisha traditionally wears a kimono, decorative hair pieces and traditionally also a white painted face. The faces were usually painted white as geishas usually work at night and thus their faces could be recognised more easily in the darkness.

Today there are still geishas and the profession is one which a young woman has to train for, the apprentice geisha is called maiko.

Gion with its townhouses is known as the district in Kyoto where one can still watch how the young geishas learn the traditional dances and play the traditional instruments or how a traditional Japanese tea ceremony is celebrated.

9. Tea Ceremony | Japan for Kids

Tea ceremonies were more commonly celebrated in Japan around the 12th century after Buddhist monks had introduced this ancient tradition in Japan when coming back from their travels to China.

The traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony involves a specific preparation and presentation of tea. The tea used in this ceremony is green tea, made usually with stone ground and powdered tea leaves and is called matcha.

Special traditional tea utensils are used during the preparation of the thick tea and thin tea.

The Japanese tea ceremony follows a special ritual during which the host and visitors sit on a tatami mat on the floor of the tea room.

This ceremony traditionally includes wearing a kimono or formal wear. Sometimes light dishes are served during a tea ceremony. A traditional tea ceremony can take several hours.

10. Ikebana | Japanese Traditions

The art of flower arranging is an considered an art form in Japan.

Leafy greens, mosses, branches and flower stems are used as well as flowerhead and blossoms in making the perfect piece.

The first flower arranging school was established in the 7th century. Buddhists left flower offerings at their shrines and at altars, but today the tradition includes creating decorative pieces for homes.

The word ' ikebana' originates from the Japanese ' ikeru' meaning 'to arrange flowers and be alive' and ' hana' meaning 'flower'.

11. Karate | Japan for Kids

Karate is a popular Asian martial arts that spread throughout Japan and the world since the 1920s. This kind of martial arts was practised in Japan as early as the 14th century as it was brought to the Japanese island of Okinawa by visitors from China.

Karate includes several fighting styles and today is practised as self-development, self-defence or combat sport.

Gichin Funakoshi is usually seen as the father of karate as he developed the Shotokan-karate style which is popular around the world.

Karate uniforms are called ' karategi' and are white and loose fitting. The skills level and dan ranks are demonstrated with belts worn in various colours. Usually beginners start with a white belt and dedicated and highly skilled martial artists don a 'black belt'.

The word ' karate' means 'empty hand' or 'China hand' and refers to the martial arts coming from China. The Japanese word ' te' means 'hand'.

Among other popular martial arts coming from Japan are Judo, Jujutso and Aikido.

12. Omiyage | Japan for Kids

Souvenir giving is traditional in Japan, so remember to take a gift for your colleague, teacher or friend when coming back from a trip abroad. Little beautifully wrapped boxes with gifts called omiyage are given to family, friends and even colleagues and teachers as presents.

The souvenirs are usually typical for the region or country the person visited. Therefore visits to local gift shops are important for many Japanese tourists.

The word ' omiyage' means 'souvenir' in English.

Typical souvenirs are sweets, cookies and chocolates as well as local traditional delicacies.

Popular Pages

Useful Resources

Find more Japan for Kids resources for further research here:

Madelyn Collins. "10 Kid-Friendly Anime You Won't Have To Turn Off In Front Of Your Parents." Comic Book Resources. 25 March 2020. Last accessed 1 March 2022

Roka Akor Restaurants. "A Simple Guide To Eating Sushi for Beginners." . 2 November 2018. Last accessed 1 March 2022

Japan National Tourism Organisation. "Gion - Kyoto Attractions." Japan Travel. Last accessed 1 March 2022

Japan Objects. "The Art of Samurai." Japan Objects. Updated September 2019. Last accessed 1 March 2022

Japan Guide. "Tea Ceremony." Japan Guide. Last accessed 1 March 2022

"Five Things You Need To Know About Omiyage." Guidable. Last accessed 1 March 2022

Ikebana International. "Ikebana - Chapter Activities." . Last accessed 1 March 2022

We hope you enjoyed reading our page about Japanese traditions in Japan for Kids. Please bookmark our site as we update and expand our pages regularly. Mata ne as the Japanese say or 'see you again'. :-)
comPicture credits on this page: Images by Shutterstock.com
Competition 2023 closed

Watch this space
Competition 2024 will be announced in February

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Japan for Kids | Traditions & Culture | Geography | Japan Facts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our Japan for Kids page will introduce children to popular Japanese words and explain fascinating Japanese traditions such as manga, origami, samurai and so much more

# data[].attributes.location_name
Japan, Osaka, Joto Ward, Shiginonishi, 2 Chome−1−21 Japanese culture precious wood

# data[].attributes.body
Learn about Japanese culture from National Geographic for Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
People first came to Japan about 30,000 years ago. At the time, the main islands were connected to Siberia and Korea by bridges of dry land, so people crossed on foot. The first society, called the Jomon culture, arose about 12,000 years ago. Around the same time, the Ainu people arrived by boat from Siberia.

The Jomon and Ainu survived for thousands of years, hunting, fishing, and gathering plants. In 300 B.C., the Yayoi people came to Honshu Island from Korea and China. They were skilled weavers, tool makers, and farmers who began cultivating rice in flooded paddy fields.

In 660 B.C., Japan's first emperor, Jimmu Tenno, came to power. Emperors controlled Japan until the 12th century A.D., when military rulers, called shoguns, took control and ruled by might.

Europeans first arrived in Japan in 1543, bringing guns and Christianity. In 1635, the ruling shogun closed Japan to foreigners and forbade Japanese to travel abroad. This isolation lasted more than 200 years. In 1868, the shoguns were overthrown and emperors returned. This was a time of great change and modernization for Japan.

During World War I (1914-1917), Japan fought on the side of the U.S. But on December 7, 1941, Japan bombed the United States navy fleet at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and the U.S. entered World War II. From 1941-1945, Japan's military leaders fought against the U.S. and the allied forces. In August 1945, the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing about 115,000 people. Japan surrendered a few days later.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Japan is an archipelago, or string of islands, on the eastern edge of Asia.

# data[].attributes.body
Learn about Japanese cuisine or food

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
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

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
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.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Japanese Ramen Noodle Lab Q, 2 Chome-１-3 Kita 1 Jōnishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

# data[].attributes.body
Learn about Japanese cuisine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Best Language Learning App for Kids - Fun Language Learning for Kids!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Japanese Food

Unlike most other countries, Japanese food must be beautifully displayed as well as tasty so Japanese cooks take great care in arranging food on the table. Rice, the primary dish, is prepared in many different ways. The Japanese eat rice cakes, rice crackers, and mix rice in various dishes with red beans, fish, and vegetables. Rice is often formed into balls, filled with fish, meat or a vegetable and then wrapped in dried seaweed. Called onigiri, they're popular for lunches and snacks. Rice is also made into wine called sake.

The next most important foods are noodles and pickled dishes. Noodle dishes are eaten for lunches and snacks. Japanese love pickled foods and they eat pickles at every meal. Also important are soybeans. Tofu, soybean curd, is used in many different ways including making donuts and ice cream. Miso, a paste for flavoring soup and marinating fish, is made from soy beans and rice. Soy is also made into a sauce.

A common breakfast in Japan is a bowl of rice, a bowl of miso soup, a pickled vegetable and a side dish of fish. Dinners are similar to breakfast but have three side dishes. Each side dish needs to be cooked a different way. Two foods unique to Japanese cuisine are sashimi and sushi. Both are made from raw seafood. But sashimi is eaten dipped in soy sauce and sushi is combined with rice.

Japan's traditional beverage is green tea which may be served hot or cold. It is also canned and sold in stores like soft drinks are in the west.read more

Japanese Clothes

The traditional Japanese garment is the kimono which is worn by both men and women. However, in modern Japan kimonos are usually reserved for special occasions although one may see elderly women wearing them. Younger men and women prefer western dress as it is less expensive and more comfortable.

A kimono is fastened with a long, wide sash called an obi.The obi is wrapped around the waist and tied in the back. Young girls and single women wear a special type of kimono called a furisode which has long sleeves, is made from colorful fabric and tied with a brightly colored obi. An informal kimono called a yukata is worn at the beach, and at hot springs. Young women and girls often wear gaily colored yukatas to summer festivals.

Plain, black kimonos are worn for funerals by both men and women. Although today black suits are also acceptable. Brides in traditional weddings wear intricately embroidered white kimonos with ornate headpieces. The groom's kimono is made of black silk embellished with the family crest.

Kimonos are worn with flat thonged sandals called zoris or wooden plat formed sandals called getas. Zoris may be made from rice straw or lacquered wood. Getas are always constructed of wood with two slats of wood fastened to the underneath part of the sole, one near the heel and the other near the arch. The 4 to 5 centimeters high slats keep the geta soles from touching the ground. Zoris are for formal wear while getas are worn with yukatas.read more

Japanese Festivals and Holidays

The two most important holiday celebrations in Japan are New Year's and Bon Obon. New Year preparations begin in mid-December when everyone cleans and decorates their houses, offices and buildings in anticipation of a visit fromToshigami, the god who brings the blessings of the New Year. Businesses send New Year's cards to their customers and individuals send them to everyone they know. These are taken to the post office in December to be held for delivery on January 1. People also exchange gifts and give money to children. During the last part of December forget-the-year parties (bounenkai) are hosted. However, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are spent quietly with the family. On New Year's Eve they listen to the 108 tolls of the temple bells which cleanse us of all sins and bring new life. While Westerners stay up until midnight, Japanese get up early to see the first sunrise. They also eat noodles to bring good fortune in the coming year. New Year's Day includes a visit to a shrine and a special family dinner.

Obon is the Festival for the Dead usually celebrated in mid-August. It is a Japanese belief that the spirits of the deceased relatives come back to earth to visit their living families during this time. Houses are cleaned in preparation for the visits. Lanterns are hung in front of houses to welcome and guide the spirits. Families also visit the graves, where they pray and place offerings of flowers, food and drink. Community dances called Bon Odori are held. Here people erect a high wooden structure (yagura) which houses the musicians. The dancers dance in a circle around the yagura. When Obon ends, the people place floating lanterns in various bodies of water to guide the spirits back home.read more

Famous Japanese Stories

A famous story is about a god called Okuninushi who had eighty brothers. They all wanted to marry the same princess and undertook a journey to visit her. The brothers encountered a rabbit without fur and in pain. They told the rabbit it could get well by bathing in salt water but this only worsened the pain. When Okuninushi met the rabbit, he told it to bathe in clear water. When this was successful, the rabbit, who was actually a god, rewarded Okuninushi by letting him marry the princess. Another popular children's story is about a parrot that rewards his kind master with a prosperous life but punishes the mean wife after she cut the sparrow's tongue.

Japanese Children's Games

Japanese children love to play kendema and it is encouraged in elementary school as a means of developing eye hand coordination. Kendema is played with a ball on a string that is attached to a stick and three cups. The object of the game is to toss the ball into the air and catch it either on the end of the stick or in one of the cups.

Teenagers love to play board games such as go and shogi. Both are similar to chess but more complex. Unlike chess, there is no good computer program for Go. However, various organizations have offered high monetary prizes to the first player who develops a program that will defeat a champion.read more

Communication in Japan

The spoken language contains honorific endings that show respect. The type of respect depends upon one's age, gender and social status. Employees must show respect to a supervisor, younger people must speak respectfully to their elders and women need to be more polite than men. There is also a neutral language to use with strangers when you don't know their social status.

Bowing is another way of showing respect. When Japanese people are introduced they bow instead of shaking hands. At the beginning of classes in school, all students stand and bow to the teacher who bows in return but the students must bow lower.read more

Japanese Values

In Japanese society the group is more important than the individual. Harmony is an important value so the Japanese do not like confrontations. Japan has a hierarchal culture which means that everyone has a place and must respect those who are above them. For instance, a student in tenth grade in a Japanese school would address eleventh and twelfth grade students as senpai. Students in ninth grade and below would be kohai.

Japan Fun Facts

Japanese teenagers have been creating their own words and the new Japanese dictionaries contain five pages of these. This mostly involves shortening words or phrases. For instance kimochi ga warui which means disagreeable has been shortened to kimoi. And using the name of a business can mean inviting a friend to go there. For example, dotoru would be an invitation to visit a Doutour coffee shop, deniru takes you to Denny's and makuru to McDonald'sread more

Famous Places in Japan

Mt. Fuji or Fujiyama is one of the most popular destinations in Japan for both Japanese and tourists. Japanese refer to Fujiyama as The Holy Mountain and its name indicates everlasting life.

Kyoto is a city noted for its historical sites. Over fifteen of these have been classified as UNESCO World Heritage sites. If you ever visit Kyoto, make sure to experience Japanese culture at Ninja & Samurai museum: mai-ko.com.com

Kamakura, a town close to Tokyo, is the home of the famous Great Buddha, a 44 foot high bronze statue weighing 100 tons. At one time it sat in a wooden temple however when a massive tsunami ravaged Kamakura in 1945 the temple washed out into the ocean so now the statue sits out in the open air.

Important Note: This article was written by a person who is familiar with Japanese culture based on his or her personal anecdotal observations. Additionally, there are quite a few generalizations to make the article easier to understand for the children. Dino Lingo does not accept any responsibility for errors, omissions or subjectivity in the content of this post.

We are wondering what you know about Japanese culture...Why don't you tell us what you know by leaving a comment below? (make sure your comment is written in a language that can be understood by small children).

Online Japanese lessons for kids: dinolingo.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Japanese Culture for Children- fun facts, food, music, language, Nihongo 日本: Japanese Culture interesting Facts - Best Language Learning App for Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Japanese Food Unlike most other countries, Japanese food must be beautifully displayed as well as tasty so Japanese cooks take great care in arranging food on the table. Rice, the primary dish, is prepared in many different ways.

# data[].attributes.body
Learn about Japanese festivals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Best Language Learning App for Kids - Fun Language Learning for Kids!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Japanese Food

Unlike most other countries, Japanese food must be beautifully displayed as well as tasty so Japanese cooks take great care in arranging food on the table. Rice, the primary dish, is prepared in many different ways. The Japanese eat rice cakes, rice crackers, and mix rice in various dishes with red beans, fish, and vegetables. Rice is often formed into balls, filled with fish, meat or a vegetable and then wrapped in dried seaweed. Called onigiri, they're popular for lunches and snacks. Rice is also made into wine called sake.

The next most important foods are noodles and pickled dishes. Noodle dishes are eaten for lunches and snacks. Japanese love pickled foods and they eat pickles at every meal. Also important are soybeans. Tofu, soybean curd, is used in many different ways including making donuts and ice cream. Miso, a paste for flavoring soup and marinating fish, is made from soy beans and rice. Soy is also made into a sauce.

A common breakfast in Japan is a bowl of rice, a bowl of miso soup, a pickled vegetable and a side dish of fish. Dinners are similar to breakfast but have three side dishes. Each side dish needs to be cooked a different way. Two foods unique to Japanese cuisine are sashimi and sushi. Both are made from raw seafood. But sashimi is eaten dipped in soy sauce and sushi is combined with rice.

Japan's traditional beverage is green tea which may be served hot or cold. It is also canned and sold in stores like soft drinks are in the west.read more

Japanese Clothes

The traditional Japanese garment is the kimono which is worn by both men and women. However, in modern Japan kimonos are usually reserved for special occasions although one may see elderly women wearing them. Younger men and women prefer western dress as it is less expensive and more comfortable.

A kimono is fastened with a long, wide sash called an obi.The obi is wrapped around the waist and tied in the back. Young girls and single women wear a special type of kimono called a furisode which has long sleeves, is made from colorful fabric and tied with a brightly colored obi. An informal kimono called a yukata is worn at the beach, and at hot springs. Young women and girls often wear gaily colored yukatas to summer festivals.

Plain, black kimonos are worn for funerals by both men and women. Although today black suits are also acceptable. Brides in traditional weddings wear intricately embroidered white kimonos with ornate headpieces. The groom's kimono is made of black silk embellished with the family crest.

Kimonos are worn with flat thonged sandals called zoris or wooden plat formed sandals called getas. Zoris may be made from rice straw or lacquered wood. Getas are always constructed of wood with two slats of wood fastened to the underneath part of the sole, one near the heel and the other near the arch. The 4 to 5 centimeters high slats keep the geta soles from touching the ground. Zoris are for formal wear while getas are worn with yukatas.read more

Japanese Festivals and Holidays

The two most important holiday celebrations in Japan are New Year's and Bon Obon. New Year preparations begin in mid-December when everyone cleans and decorates their houses, offices and buildings in anticipation of a visit fromToshigami, the god who brings the blessings of the New Year. Businesses send New Year's cards to their customers and individuals send them to everyone they know. These are taken to the post office in December to be held for delivery on January 1. People also exchange gifts and give money to children. During the last part of December forget-the-year parties (bounenkai) are hosted. However, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are spent quietly with the family. On New Year's Eve they listen to the 108 tolls of the temple bells which cleanse us of all sins and bring new life. While Westerners stay up until midnight, Japanese get up early to see the first sunrise. They also eat noodles to bring good fortune in the coming year. New Year's Day includes a visit to a shrine and a special family dinner.

Obon is the Festival for the Dead usually celebrated in mid-August. It is a Japanese belief that the spirits of the deceased relatives come back to earth to visit their living families during this time. Houses are cleaned in preparation for the visits. Lanterns are hung in front of houses to welcome and guide the spirits. Families also visit the graves, where they pray and place offerings of flowers, food and drink. Community dances called Bon Odori are held. Here people erect a high wooden structure (yagura) which houses the musicians. The dancers dance in a circle around the yagura. When Obon ends, the people place floating lanterns in various bodies of water to guide the spirits back home.read more

Famous Japanese Stories

A famous story is about a god called Okuninushi who had eighty brothers. They all wanted to marry the same princess and undertook a journey to visit her. The brothers encountered a rabbit without fur and in pain. They told the rabbit it could get well by bathing in salt water but this only worsened the pain. When Okuninushi met the rabbit, he told it to bathe in clear water. When this was successful, the rabbit, who was actually a god, rewarded Okuninushi by letting him marry the princess. Another popular children's story is about a parrot that rewards his kind master with a prosperous life but punishes the mean wife after she cut the sparrow's tongue.

Japanese Children's Games

Japanese children love to play kendema and it is encouraged in elementary school as a means of developing eye hand coordination. Kendema is played with a ball on a string that is attached to a stick and three cups. The object of the game is to toss the ball into the air and catch it either on the end of the stick or in one of the cups.

Teenagers love to play board games such as go and shogi. Both are similar to chess but more complex. Unlike chess, there is no good computer program for Go. However, various organizations have offered high monetary prizes to the first player who develops a program that will defeat a champion.read more

Communication in Japan

The spoken language contains honorific endings that show respect. The type of respect depends upon one's age, gender and social status. Employees must show respect to a supervisor, younger people must speak respectfully to their elders and women need to be more polite than men. There is also a neutral language to use with strangers when you don't know their social status.

Bowing is another way of showing respect. When Japanese people are introduced they bow instead of shaking hands. At the beginning of classes in school, all students stand and bow to the teacher who bows in return but the students must bow lower.read more

Japanese Values

In Japanese society the group is more important than the individual. Harmony is an important value so the Japanese do not like confrontations. Japan has a hierarchal culture which means that everyone has a place and must respect those who are above them. For instance, a student in tenth grade in a Japanese school would address eleventh and twelfth grade students as senpai. Students in ninth grade and below would be kohai.

Japan Fun Facts

Japanese teenagers have been creating their own words and the new Japanese dictionaries contain five pages of these. This mostly involves shortening words or phrases. For instance kimochi ga warui which means disagreeable has been shortened to kimoi. And using the name of a business can mean inviting a friend to go there. For example, dotoru would be an invitation to visit a Doutour coffee shop, deniru takes you to Denny's and makuru to McDonald'sread more

Famous Places in Japan

Mt. Fuji or Fujiyama is one of the most popular destinations in Japan for both Japanese and tourists. Japanese refer to Fujiyama as The Holy Mountain and its name indicates everlasting life.

Kyoto is a city noted for its historical sites. Over fifteen of these have been classified as UNESCO World Heritage sites. If you ever visit Kyoto, make sure to experience Japanese culture at Ninja & Samurai museum: mai-ko.com.com

Kamakura, a town close to Tokyo, is the home of the famous Great Buddha, a 44 foot high bronze statue weighing 100 tons. At one time it sat in a wooden temple however when a massive tsunami ravaged Kamakura in 1945 the temple washed out into the ocean so now the statue sits out in the open air.

Important Note: This article was written by a person who is familiar with Japanese culture based on his or her personal anecdotal observations. Additionally, there are quite a few generalizations to make the article easier to understand for the children. Dino Lingo does not accept any responsibility for errors, omissions or subjectivity in the content of this post.

We are wondering what you know about Japanese culture...Why don't you tell us what you know by leaving a comment below? (make sure your comment is written in a language that can be understood by small children).

Online Japanese lessons for kids: dinolingo.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Japanese Culture for Children- fun facts, food, music, language, Nihongo 日本: Japanese Culture interesting Facts - Best Language Learning App for Kids

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Japanese Food Unlike most other countries, Japanese food must be beautifully displayed as well as tasty so Japanese cooks take great care in arranging food on the table. Rice, the primary dish, is prepared in many different ways.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Japanese Tea ceremony -wasako-, 2 Chome-18-15 Kaminarimon, Taito City, Tokyo, Japan

# data[].attributes.body
Learn about the Japanese tea ceremony.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Japanese tea ceremony (called cha-no-yu, chado, or sado) is a special way of making green tea ( matcha 抹茶). It is called the Way of Tea. It is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered tea. People who study the tea ceremony have to learn about different kinds of tea. They also have to learn about kimono ( Japanese clothes), flowers, and many other things. It takes much practice to learn the tea ceremony.

Tea came to Japan from China in about 900 CE. Tea became very popular in Japan, and Japanese people started to grow tea in Japan.

In the 12th century, matcha ( green tea powder), became popular. This tea comes from the same plant as black tea.

By the 16th century, all people in Japan, rich people and poor people, liked drinking tea. A man called Sen no Rikyu started teaching the ceremony. Many years have passed, but people still make tea the same way that Sen no Rikyu taught. To tell the truth, there are some schools. Each school ( omote-senke, ura-senke, etc.) has told a little different way.

Materials needed

People need many different things for a tea ceremony:

Tea scoop (called chashaku ). A scoop is a kind of spoon. Tea scoops are made from bamboo. They are used to put tea into the tea bowl. Large scoops are used to put tea into the tea caddy.

Tea caddy (called natsume or cha-ire ). A tea caddy is a special container that people put green tea powder in. There are two kinds of tea caddies: natsume and cha-ire. Natsume are short and have a flat lid and a round bottom. They are made of wood. Sometimes natsume is called cha-ki. Cha-ire are tall and thin, and are made of ceramic. Natsume and cha-ire are used in different ceremonies. Making weak tea (called usu-cha) needs natsume, and making strong tea (called koi-cha) needs cha-ire.

Napkin (called fukusa ). A fukusa is a special square cloth made out of silk. It is used to symbolically purify the tea scoop and tea caddy.

Tea ceremony

People do the tea ceremony in a special tea room or a special building called a cha-shitsu. Most people wear kimonos.

When people go into the tea room they take off their shoes and sit on special floor mat called tatami.

Cha-shitsu often are very small. The guests (the people who go to the tea ceremony) sometimes eat food and drink special Japanese wine called sake. Before they drink the matcha (green tea) they eat something sweet.

The host (the person who does the tea ceremony) symbolically purifies the tea bowl and the other tea things. Then he or she puts some green tea powder into the tea bowl. The host mixes the tea with hot water. He mixes it with a whisk. The guests drink tea from the bowl.

When everyone has finished drinking tea, the host cleans everything and puts them away. Then the guests leave.

A tea ceremony can take from about twenty minutes to about four hours.

Related pages

English books about the ceremony

Okakura Kakuzo. The Book of Tea. Tokyo, Japan: Tuttle, 1977.

Tanaka, S. The Tea Ceremony. New York: Harmony Books, 1977.

Morgan Pitelka, ed. Japanese Tea Culture: Art, History, and Practice. London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2003.

Sadler, A.L. Cha-No-Yu: The Japanese Tea Ceremony. Tokyo: Tuttle, 1962.

Freeman, Michael. New Zen: the tea-ceremony room in modern Japanese architecture. London, 8 Books, 2007

Images for kids

An open tea house serving matcha ( ippuku issen , right) and a peddler selling extracts ( senjimono-uri left), illustration from Shichiju-ichiban shokunin utaawase , Muromachi period; Ippuku issen's monk clothing depicts the relationship between matcha culture, tea offerings, and Buddhism

Guests may be allowed after the serving of the tea ( otemae) to take a closer look at the objects in the room ( Nishiki-e by Mizuno Toshikata)

Interior view of a large tea room with tatami and tokonoma, in which the tokonoma is a hanging scroll, flower arrangement (not chabana style), and incense burner

Tea ceremony performed by Genshitsu Sen, 15th Grand Master of the Urasenke school

A set of sencha utensils, Sasashima ware, Maki Bokusai, Edo period, 18th-19th century

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Japanese tea ceremony (called cha-no-yu, chado, or sado) is a special way of making green tea ( matcha 抹茶). It is called the Way of Tea. It is a Japanese cultural activity involving the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha, powdered tea. People who study the tea ceremony have to learn about different kinds of tea.

# data[].attributes.location_name
Japanese Art, 大文字町 Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan

# data[].attributes.location_name
Japanese Art, 大文字町 Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan

# data[].attributes.body
Learn about Japanese origami