Tin, or "suzu", came to Japan over 1000 years ago and has been used in traditional crafts ever since. It was originally used in tea canisters as it is a material highly resistant to humidity. It was later used for alcohol storage, and today is still a common material for tea leaf boxes as well as beer and wine mugs.
Also known as "cloisonne", Shippō is a traditional craft that lays a high-gloss coat of enamel over metalwork of gold, silver, or copper. The enamel is then fired at high temperature. The techniques used in the production of this craft are said to have passed into Japan from the Middle East around the 7th century via the Silk Road. A piece unearthed in Nara Prefecture from an ancient tomb (Kengoshizuka Tomb) is the oldest example of this work. The word "Shippō", meaning "Seven Treasures", is thought to come from Buddhist scriptures and refer to the beauty of the materials used.
The Kishiwada Danjiri Festival, is typical of Japanese traditional festivals. It takes place in the city of Kishiwada in Osaka Prefecture every autumn in September and October. The term "danjiri" refers to the festival floats that are seen parading through the city streets. These floats are heaved through the streets and back to the shrine, where a ceremony, typically a prayer for safety, is offered.
"The Mukōjima district is quite special in the way that the kenban and geisha work together as a tightly-knit organization," says Mr. Hakii. "It is due to this special relationship that both worlds are able to reinforce each other. We can handle sudden requests for our geisha, and alternately we actively promote them when a new reservation comes into our ryōtei. Working in this way also helps keep the costs down for our customers."
The Center for the Advancement of Working Women hosted the "Craftswomen's Exhibition" (kurashi wo irodoru takumi no onna-tachi ten 暮らしを彩る匠の女たち展), an event centered around the women in Japan who are involved in the production of traditional crafts. Among the 5,000 people involved in the production of official traditional crafts in over 210 areas of Japan, nearly 10% are women. This exhibition featured works of the "Takumi Group", a volunteer group of 17 women, as well as discussions and hands-on events. The purpose of this event was to provide a fun and interesting atmosphere in which people can get an idea of what traditional crafts in Japan are, especially those without much previous experience. The event provided the opportunity to hear an explanation about crafts by the actual artisans themselves, and perhaps provided an insight into the special warmth and gentleness of a women's approach to traditional crafts.
The Kagoshima Arena in Kagoshima prefecture was host to the "National Traditional Crafts Festival" from Nov. 8-11, 2007. In addition to being able to buy traditional crafts of all different kinds, there were also various "hands-on experiences" allowing people to know what it's like to create these works of art. The hall was alive with people, thanks mostly to the local media that carried a notification of the event. People lined the halls waiting to purchase items, many of which were on sale for reasonable prices, and also gathered to hear stories from the artisans.
Probably the most distinct geographic symbol of Japan, Mt. Fuji requires no special introduction to conjure up an image. Rising 3,776m (12,388ft) in height, the peak soars above the surrounding areas, and has inspired poetry and art in Japan for centuries. It is typically at its most majestic in the winter months, when the skies are clearest and the mountain is covered in a blanket of snow.
The Gion Festival of the Yasaka 八坂 shrine in Kyoto is, along with the Tenjin Festival in Osaka and the Kanda Festival in Tokyo, one of the three largest festivals in Japan. It takes place all throughout the month of July, but reaches its crescendo during the yamaboko junkō 山鉾巡行, or parade of floats on the 17th. It is also referred to as a "Moving Museum", due to the extreme cultural and historic value of the floats that parade through the streets as well as the precious family heirlooms of old Kyoto houses that are put on display during this time. The festival originally served as a purification ritual to drive away disease and disaster.
The Tenjin Festival takes place at the Ōkawa River in Osaka city on July 24-25th. It is one of the largest festivals in Japan and is said to have been celebrated for more than 1000 years since the Heian Period. On the 24th you will see large boats being vigorously rowed down the river, often with beautiful lanterns attached that glow on the water. The main festivities are held on the 25th, when more than 100 boats are launched with elaborate decorations such as large drums that keep the rhythm of the parade or dolls which are meant to welcome the gods home. There are also many activities on the land as well, including the "mikoshi" miniature shrines, various floats, and parades that wind their way down the streets to the place where the boats land, four kilometers away. The festivities are wrapped up with fireworks that are launched along the banks that night.
Tanabata is a festival that takes place among the stars and is rooted in Chinese tradition. It generally takes place on July 7th, as it is supposed to take place on the seventh day of the seventh month. However, as the seventh month of the old lunar calendar more closely aligns with August, there are still some areas in which it is celebrated on August 7th. Other celebrations in Japan such as the Doll Festival (March 3rd) or Children's Day (May 5th) follow a similar pattern of viewing a day with the same number as its month as being auspicious.
