The Great Wave

BRIEF GLOSSARY OF SOME JAPANESE CULTURAL TERMS

ANIME and MANGA

Manga (漫画) are comics created in the Japanese language, conforming to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century. They have a long and complex pre-history in earlier Japanese art.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure-Famous Manga Comic

Anime (アニメ) are Japanese animated productions featuring hand-drawn or computer animation. In other languages, the term is defined as animation from Japan or as a Japanese-disseminated animation style often characterized by colorful graphics, vibrant characters and fantastic themes.

BONSAI

Bonsai (盆栽) or plantings in tray, from bon ( tray or low-sided pot) and sai  (planting) is a Japanese art form using miniature trees grown in containers. The purposes of bonsai are primarily contemplation (for the viewer) and the pleasant exercise of effort and ingenuity (for the grower).

GEISHA

Geisha (芸者 ), geiko (芸子) or geigi (芸妓) are traditional Japanese female entertainers who act as hostesses and whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music, dance, games and conversation, mainly to entertain male customers.

HANAMI (VIEWING CHERRY BLOSSOMS)

Hanami (花見, or "flower viewing") is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the transient beauty of flowers; "flower" in this case almost always meaning cherry blossoms ("sakura") From the end of March to early May, sakura bloom all over Japan. The forecast for the blooming of the flowers is keenly watched and documented each year.

IKEBANA

Ikebana (生け花) is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is a disciplined art form in which nature and humanity are brought together. Ikebana often emphasizes areas of the plant, such as its stems and leaves, and draws emphasis toward shape, line, and form.

NINJA

A Ninja (忍者) or Shinobi (忍び) was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan. The functions of the ninja included espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and open combat in certain situations. Their covert methods of waging war contrasted the ninja with the samurai, who observed strict rules about honor and combat.

MAIKO

Maiko (舞妓) is an apprentice Geiko (not exactly same as geisha) in Kyoto, western Japan. Their jobs consist of performing songs, dances, and playing the shamisen (three-stringed Japanese instrument) for visitors during feasts.

MATCHA TEA

Matcha (抹茶) is finely milled or fine powder green tea. The Japanese tea ceremony centers on the preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha.

RELIGIONS

In Japan, less than 40% of the people identify with an organized religion although a much larger number participate in the rituals of worship at mainly Shinto shrines and private altars.

Buddhism (仏教) first arrived in Japan in the 6th century from the kingdom of Bakje in Korea. Many sects of Buddhism exist stemming from the original life and teachings of the Buddha.

Shinto (神道), is the indigenous religion of the Japanese people. It is defined as an action-centered religion, focused on ritual practices to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present-day Japan and its ancient roots.

SAMURAI

Samurai (侍) were the military nobility of medieval and early-modern Japan. In Japanese, they are usually referred to as bushi (武士) or buke (武家). They are closely associated with the middle and upper echelons of the warrior class. While the samurai numbered less than 10% of Japan's population their teachings can still be found today in both everyday life and in modern Japanese martial arts.

SUMO

Sumo is a Japanese style of wrestling and Japan's national sport. The rules are simple: the wrestler who first exits the ring or touches the ground with any part of his body besides the soles of his feet loses. Matches take place on an elevated ring (dohyo), which is made of clay and covered in a layer of sand. A contest usually lasts only a few seconds, but in rare cases can take a minute or more.

SUSHI and SASHIMI

What is the difference? Good article here. 

Sushi: vinegared rice mixed with other ingredients

Sashimi: thinly sliced and usually raw fish

Sashimi

Sushi

TEA CEREMONY

The Japanese tea ceremony is the sparse, stylized ceremonial preparation and serving of matcha, powdered green tea. Zen Buddhist practice was a primary influence in the development of the Japanese tea ceremony.

TRADITIONAL THEATRE

Noh (能) is a musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. It is often based on tales from traditional literature with a supernatural being transformed into human form as a hero narrating a story. Noh integrates masks, costumes and various props in a dance-based performance, requiring highly trained actors and musicians.

Kabuki   (歌舞伎) is highly melodramatic but strictly historical, combining form, color and sound into one of the world's great theatrical traditions. The actors are all male, and also play female roles.

Bunraku (文楽), is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theatre, founded in Osaka in 1684. Performers include puppeteers, chanters, and musicians.

WABI SABI

Wabi-sabi (侘寂) represents a comprehensive Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection, derived from Buddhist teaching recognizing impermanence, suffering, and emptiness. Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, asperity (roughness or irregularity), simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty, intimacy, and appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes.