Particularity of Japanese the society through its tradition and modernity.

Tokyo’s High-Tech Cemetery

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Tokyo is an extremely overcrowded place, the land is expensive and a grave site for a funeral urn can cost up to USD100,000 in Tokyo.
But the architect Kiyoshi Takeyama and the Toyota Group’s electronic division have found a clever solution: the Shinjuku Rurikoin Byakurengedo. A multi-story charnel house located in the heart of the famous Tokyo shopping district, Shinjuku with its bars, neon billboards, hostess clubs, salarymen crowds, love hotels, shiny skyscrapers, packed crossings – and now a temple and cemetery.Shinjuku Rurikoin Byakurengedo
It uses advanced automated warehouse technology  to store and allow access to the remains of the deceased. The family of the deceased has access to an “electronic tombstone” with ID card. A door opens automatically to reveal an ersatz gravestone with the name and photograph of the deceased person.

We will not ask you if this system tempts you in case you leave this world …but you can just visit and pray.

http://www.byakurengedo.net/ (Japanese only)

Japan drives on the Left?

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Japan has long been a closed country with no trading with the outside. However with the Meiji era (1868-1912) and the beginning of Japan’s modernization policy led by the Emperor Meiji, the country opened up to outside influences and experienced rapid modernization. It was at this time that Japan called UK to assist in its industrial development. England then provides technical and industrial expertise to the Japanese, including in the automotive domain. And as everybody knows of English drive on the left! So the Japanese followed.

According to many people in Japan, the origin of driving on the left would simply find its origin and history … with the samurai. The samurai wore their swords on the left side, so they could easily unsheathe it with the right hand. If two warriors crossed on a road or in an alley, and they had walked on the right, their swords would have rattled, which could be seen as an assault or a provocation.

WRONG.

Because the Romans marched on the left side of the road, it being to draw a sword tethered to your left side, safely, to attack an oncoming army.

Ai ni Kotaeru White Day – Answer Love on White Day

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Valentine’s Day is celebrated on two different dates in Japan, Valentine’s Day and White Day (Howaito dē). The first is for men, the second for women and they do not offer cards but chocolate instead. These two days are only for commercial purposes and chocolates companies make more than half of their annual sales during these two events.
On White Day (March 14) men are supposed to give return gifts to women who gifted them chocolates on Valentine’s Day. If they received Giri-choco “courtesy chocolate”, they give white chocolates, while if they received Honmei-choco “true feeling chocolate”, men offer lingerie (preferably white) or jewellery instead, but has to be “sanbai gaeshi” or “triple return“. The gift that man will offer must be at least triple what he received.
For teenagers, the young do not offer chocolate to their valentine, but a white ribbon. If the girl tied it to her hair or her wrist, this confirms that the feelings are mutual and that she is his valentine.
No worry if you are single, the Black Day, next month on April 14, you will all gather together and eat Jajangmyeon or black noodles…but in Korea.

Japanese Omiyage Culture

The Omiyage literally means “earth product”, and this is a typical gift from a region that is brought back to friends, family and coworkers, after returning home from a trip. It is much more than souvenirs, the Omiyage is a regional specialty such as sweets, cake, snacks or traditional crafts and is serious business if one returns home or office with nothing brought from a trip.
In Japan, Omiyage is an institution. At all stations, tourist spots, there are Omiyages shops, with beautifully wrapped and colorful boxes.
On your next trip after visiting the various shrines and temples of the place you will be, your trip will be completed after a pit-stop at an Omiyage shop so you can pick out gifts for your family, friends or coworkers.
Our favorites are the Tokyo Banana, Maccha in Kyoto, any Glico products in Osaka, the Akafuku Mochi in Ise, the Kobe Pudding and the Shiroi Koibito in Sapporo.
And of course, really popular right now with tourists and Japanese people alike, the Kit-kat.

Katsuura Big Hina Matsuri – Dolls Festival

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There are plenty exhibitions of traditional dolls throughout Japan, but Katsuura Hina Matsuri in Chiba is by far the biggest Hina dolls display in Japan.
The Doll’s Festival is celebrated on March 3 and its origin dates back to the Heian period (794-1185). It was thought that the dolls were able to absorb the misfortune of men. At that time, the lords were offering dolls representing little girls to the imperial family, especially the princesses, to free them from their misfortunes. It was a  Shinto ritual purification.
Now democratized, all Japanese girls put on their best display dolls representing the Emperor, Empress and the court, and invite their friends to admire them, drinking tea and eating cakes. For the occasion, they wear a long-sleeved kimono and receive gifts from their parents and their friends. During the day, they go with their parents to the local shrine to pray the gods.

Access: https://goo.gl/ijy894

100 Years of Japanese Beauty

Cut Channel continues its world tour of the evolution of beauty worldwide. After China or India, it is now the turn of Japan.

Unable to escape the Kawaï of the 2010s, here is a century of hairstyles in the Land of the rising sun. From the pretty hair bun of the 20s hrough the famous Geisha hairstyles, beauty has evolved during this century.