My year long exchange to Nagasaki, Japan! Where I will be experiencing a brand new culture, everything is unfamiliar but amazing. Japanese food, history, traditions, temples/shrines, dorm life, shiba inu's, trends, school, onsens.. so much :}
The Cute'ness that is Japan, is a mastered art. I feel safe generalizing when I say that EVERYTHING in Japan can and will be altered so that it will make all the young school girls squeal "Kawaiiii!" School supplies and clothing are one thing, but Japan has turned food, manholes, cookware, non-cute things, and even poop into unbearable cute versions of themselves.
Japan's cute culture influences everything and everyone. On buses I would see lots of different types of people, male and female, old and young, and clipped to their phones and backpacks/bags/purses would be cute little figurines of one piece characters, or mini stuffed animals, bells, or a Shinto and/or Buddhism piece that had been cute-a-fied. The cute culture of Japan is so strong of a movement that most Japanese people have to participate in. Every tourist shop in each prefecture had an abundance of cute phone charms, snacks & sweets, stationary and just about anything else you could think of. There were stores at the malls dedicated to only selling EXTREMELY cute things.
To be cute is all that matters in Japan. Woman in America want to be seen as beautiful and mature; however in this cute culture in Japan, being cute is everything. Most girls at my college in Japan would all dress in the same skirt, tights, and blouse if it meant they were cute. Compliments were only valid if they had 'kawaii' or 'amai' in them. I always overheard young men sayin
g to one another 'me-chya kawaii ne!!' (Super cute!) when checking girls out on tv, mags, or at school. Cute cute cute.
Japanese celebrities?! Goodie! Everyone secretly stalks the untalented, yet beautiful disasters of the spotlight, and Japan is definitely in when it comes to pumping out good looking young people for the sake of money. Though, not all the celebrities on my list will be actual people; as Japan is the mecca of animation, it wouldn't be complete without some of their animated heroes. Japan idolizes some pretty odd beings(as maybe the rest of world thinks of our Paris Hiltons, and Charlie Scheens) But it I guess it all comes down to our cultural differences.
AKB48 is the worlds largest Girl group with an astounding 158 members. I assume it started at 48... Originated in Akihabara in Tokyo, where they got their name, were instantly popular. A group of young, pretty women, all in matching outfits singing cute songs. This is Japan. AKB48 merch, advertisements, and music! is hard to miss. The youngest member is 13 and the oldest is in her mid-twenties. Member's last long, as the group is afraid they will grow old and frail within a year so they have to send them off to a retirement home after a few shows. Actually that's not completely true.
Here's one of their most famous songs "Heavy rotation" just watched it, pretty scandalous for Japan!
Now for not only a Japanese celebrity but the first "Anime Ambassador" of Japan. Doraemon! The great and powerful time traveling cat. This funny looking feline is pretty much Japans mascot. Not very cute(astonishing!) but none the less, hes extremely popular. He was created back in 1969, so not only is he not cute but hes old! His purpose in life(in his anime/manga) is traveling back in time and teaching a young boy by the name of Nobi life lessons. Doraemon has won countless awards, has a manga, anime, movie, modeling contracts/sponsorships, charity organizations, and even a musical. As you see, he has a major following and represents for Japan. Respect him because he has no ears.
Next up is someone you could recognize, this little fella spawns form the most popular anime in Japan, and because he is the only fairly cute thing in it, has succeeded in becoming the most loved character. I'm talking about One Pieces very own, Chopper! These animated characters in Japan gain so much popularity its incredible! Every child loves chopper because hes cute, and adults love him because hes cute, and badass. Because hes apart of a pirate team in one piece, he needs to be able to kick some ass and he proves quite worthy. When hes not busy being cute, he can transform into a big beast form of himself and is pretty strong. Tony Tony Chopper, the moose to rule them all.
I should try to add in more actual human-being celebrities, but its hard. Japan really has a thing for these animated critters. Hentai. So the next celebs are not crazy popular like chopper, doreamon, or AKB48 but non the less deserve a spot on this list for their neatness. Golden Bomber is a punk rock comedy band that actually doesn't really play music. None of them can play any instruments, they just "air" play and other people play for them. I'm serious. These guys are known for being so un-Japanese and doing the most outrageous things. They just wanted to be popular...
Seijin no hi, coming of age day in Japan is celebrated on the second monday of January. This day celebrates all the young people who turned 20 that year. In Japan, turning 20 is when one becomse an adult. At the age of 20, Japanese can vote, drink, and smoke.
The coming of age day in Japan is a national holiday and is celebrated all over Japan. Young peopleare encouraged to become self-reliant adults with the coming of this holiday. Usually for this celebration, there is a large gathering of all the young people and their families and the mayor will give a traditional speech. However, in recent years these traditions have been breaking in the sense that the young people are very disruptive during the speeches and sometimes go outside to blow off fireworks instead.
The young women get very dolled up for this event. Kimono's(furisode), up-do hair styles, and lots of make up. While the young men usually wear suits; though, the more 'yankee' (a.k.a. punks) will wear their kimonos as well.
Before the age of consent was decided on back in 1876, boys became adults at the age of 15 and their forelocks would be cut. The woman would become adults at 13 or so and their teeth were then dyed black. However now the age of legal adulthood is 20 and they party instead of downgrade their looks.
Some beautiful young ladies in their furisode's! which are the kimono's but different in that their designs are more intricate and the sleeves long and the furry thing.
The men in suits which is most common, and sometimes in their kimono's :)
Setsubun's is celebrated on February 3, or 4 which is the beginning of the spring, according to the Japanese lunar calender. Meaning, 'seasonal division' setsubun is a special holiday in Japan that is widely celebrated.
Before I explain the demons and the beans and the burning of shit I must say that I participated in setsubun in Nagasaki, Japan. Holidays in other parts of Japan differ sometimes and some of the things I did in Nagasaki may not happen in Honshu or Hokkaido.
Setsubun is the time of year that you buy some beans, give your kids demon masks, and pelt them with beans. Back in the day, people would throw beans at demons to drive them away and with the evil spirits gone, good fortune would come your way.
However, these evil spirits can be driven away with loud noises like the taiko drums, and from the smoke of burning wood.
"Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!"
Demon's out! Happiness in!
As you yell this and throw around the beans, afterwards you are supposed to eat as many beans as your age. However, I didn't see anyone do this :/ but that could be another case of Japan half-assing their culture.
A bunch of monks set up this and prayed for the demons to vacate the premises.
While they're asking the demons to leave people take it upon themselves to burn items in their house that may bring bad spirits in or if they missed trash day.
海の日 umi no hi, sea day is a national holiday in Japan celebrated every third monday of July. Umi no Hi is celebrating the return of the Meiji Emperors return from Hokkaido, also this day was named to give appreciation to the ocean for everything it provides people and because Japan is an island nation the sea is very representative of them. Locals take this day to go to the ocean usually, since its celebrated in July the beaches are bomb and the weather in humid as hell! In some places in Japan umi no hi is celebrated by rowing boats decorated with lanterns and paper kite fish into the ocean.
There are many aspects to Japan's culture that make the Japanese respectful of the environment. Holidays like Ocean Day reflect the morals and mentally of Japan as a nation; having a day that apperciates the ocean for providing food, surrounding their country, and for fun.
and/or Buddhism piece that had been cute-a-fied. The cute culture of Japan is so strong of a movement that most Japanese people have to participate in. Every tourist shop in each prefecture had an abundance of cute phone charms, snacks & sweets, stationary and just about anything else you could think of. There were stores at the malls dedicated to only selling EXTREMELY cute things.
