Traditional culture in Japan

[Japanese traditional crafts: Japanese fabric flower(tsumami saiku)- KYOTO KAORIYA

What is Japanese traditional fabric flower(tsumami saiku)? Tsumami saiku is a traditional Japanese fabric flower craft in which small square strips are folded and glued together to form flowers, butterflies, and other shapes on a base paper. Japanese fabric flower(tsumami saiku) is made of thin plain-weave silk or chirimen cloth called habutae, which is used for the lining of kimono. The glue used in tsumi-zaiku is made from wheat-based Shofu-zushi or rice glue (Hime-zushi), which is cooked in a kettle using a traditional method. Historically, the craft originated in the early Edo period (1603-1868), and combs, hairpins, and kusudama made of this paste became very popular in the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868). After the Meiji period (1868-1912), the art of tsumami-e (knob prints) went through several ups and downs, but today, tsumami-e with an artistic touch is still […]

【Traditional dyed products】What is Yuzen? About Yuzen Techniques and Characteristics by Production Area

What is Yuzen? Those who are familiar with kimono have heard of yuzen at least once. Yuzen is a dyeing method for patterns when dyeing cloth using rice, which has been indispensable to the Japanese people since ancient times. The name “yuzen” is said to have originated in the Edo period (1603-1867) from a Kyoto fan painter (Miyazaki Yuzenzai), who applied the then popular fan painting style to the pattern of kosode, and the dyeing process became widespread. The characteristics of the patterns are known as curvilinear and simplified animals, plants, vessels, and landscapes, etc. Natural dyes were used as raw materials for the colors, but in recent years chemical dyes have been used. The technique of preventing dyeing by gluing, which is said to be the most distinctive feature of yuzen dyeing, prevents neighboring colors from mixing by placing […]

What is the difference between Omotesenya, Urasenya and Mushanokoji styles?

Sado is a traditional Japanese culture. It is not simply about making tea, but also has “wabi-sabi” in its depth, and you can learn about the aesthetic sense and customs unique to Japan. One of the biggest concerns for those who want to start Sado is “which styles to join. In order to choose a style, you must first learn about the different styles. In this article, we will introduce three representative styles of Sado. We hope you will find it helpful in choosing a style. What are the “three senya” schools, Omotesenya, Urasenya, and Mushanokoji Senya? There are three representative styles of Sado, known as the “San-senke. ●Omotesenya ●Urasenya ●Mushanokoji Senya Mushanokoji Senke These three styles were originally created by Sen no Rikyu, but they were divided into three different schools in later generations, and their emphasis, manners, and […]

What is Kimono? Types of Kimono (Japanese Clothing)

What is kimono? The word kimono( Japanese clothes) was originally created in the Meiji period (1868-1912) to describe Japanese clothing as opposed to Western clothing. The word “kimono” As western clothes permeated Japanese culture over time, the word “kimono” began to be used to refer to Japanese clothing and kimonos, rather than the general clothing that was originally meant to be worn. In the course of time, it came to refer to clothing used for kimonos such as haori and kimonos for kimono, etc. Main Classifications of Clothing Clothing in general can be classified into three main categories, which are explained in detail below. Hangover type Hangover type garments are those that are wrapped or hung on the body without being cut or sewn. Kanto-i style This type of garment is made by cutting holes or slits in the cloth […]

What is Japanese Embroidery? History and Techniques of Japanese Embroidery

What is Japanese Embroidery? Japanese embroidery is an embroidery technique that has been practiced in Japan since ancient times. The patterns on kimono and other garments are created using the advanced techniques cultivated in Japanese embroidery. Japanese embroidery makes kimonos look luxurious and gives “meaning to wear” by designing lucky charms. In this article, we will introduce such Japanese embroidery. History of Japanese Embroidery The history of Japanese embroidery is said to be long, beginning around the 5th century when it was introduced from the continent along with Buddhism. Later, as time went by, embroidery, which had previously been used mostly for embroidering Buddhist statues for religious purposes, came to be widely used for clothing decoration, and Japanese original techniques were created one after another. Most of the techniques used today were perfected by artisans from the Momoyama to Edo […]

What is Chanoyu? The relationship with the tea ceremony and its general manners.

What is Chanoyu? The relationship with the tea ceremony and its general manners. What is Chanoyu? Chanoyu, sometimes called “chanoyu” overseas, is one of the representative manners of Japanese culture. Many people learn chanoyu in order to understand the spirit of hospitality and manners, and tea ceremony classes and casual tea ceremonies are held all over town. This article introduces the characteristics and history of chanoyu for those who would like to study it or for beginners. In the latter half of the article, an overview of the manners of tea ceremony is also introduced. What is chanoyu? “Chanoyu” is the modern term for a tea ceremony or tea party. The owner of the tea house prepares matcha (powdered green tea) and serves it to his or her guests, who all enjoy the tea. As the chanoyu culture spread and […]

Thorough explanation of Wagasa’s history, types, and production process

What is Wagasa? It is not clear when it was introduced to Japan, but it began to be seen in the Heian period (794-1185), when paper manufacturing technology was improved and bamboo craftsmanship was introduced, and it is still being produced today. Although the structure to open and close the umbrella is the same as that of the Western style umbrellas that are now mainstream, the materials used are different, and there are also differences in the way they are used and managed. While Western-style umbrellas are made of cotton, silk, nylon, polyester, etc., Wagasa umbrellas are made of bamboo for the shaft and the bone, and oiled paper treated with persimmon tannin or linseed oil is used for the umbrella cloth to make it waterproof. Wagasa history Wagasa, invented in ancient China, was used by nobles to ward off […]

What is the difference between flower arrangement and ikebana?

Kado is one of the traditional cultures of Japan. Many people may think that Kado = ikebana , but in fact, Kado and ikebana are very similar and different. In this article, we will explain the differences between Kado and Ikebana, their origins, their respective images, and how to learn them. In the latter part of the article, we also discuss the difference between Kado and Ikebana and flower arrangement, which has become popular in recent years as a way to learn flower arranging. Please read to the end and take this opportunity to understand the differences between ikebana and kado. What is Kado? Kado is one of the three Japanese traditional cultural traditions, together with Sado (tea ceremony) and Shodo (calligraphy). It is said that the origin of Kado dates back to the Sui and Tang Dynasties in China, […]

History of Kado and Ikebana Explained

In Japan, there has been a concept of “Do” since ancient times, as in the words “Budo” and “Geido”. This is not only a simple system of techniques, but also a culture that combines spiritual cultivation and respect for civility, and sublimates it into a philosophy. Of the many “Do”, flower arranging is the main focus of “Kado”. Also known as ikebana, ikebana is a culture that embodies the spirit of hospitality unique to Japanese culture, and is much loved by many. In this article, we will give an overview of the history of Kado and Ikebana. Origins of kado The act of “picking flowers and offering them to others” has been identified as a very old example in the present human species, Homo sapiens. Traces of this practice can be found in Israeli cemetery sites dating back to 12,000 […]

Basic Ikebana Arrangement Techniques for beginners enjoy

Ikebana, a Japanese traditional culture, may have a strong image of being a formal and difficult art to learn. However, if you have a basic knowledge of ikebana, you can create ikebana works that can be used to entertain guests at home or to decorate family events. In this article, we will introduce basic knowledge of ikebana that even beginners can try. The Basics of Ikebana Ikebana is a Japanese traditional culture in which flowers and plants are arranged in vessels to create works of art. Ikebana is created by arranging as few flowers and plants as possible to create a work that makes the most of the space. The basic principle of ikebana is to carefully observe the flowers and plants, and to use not only the flowers but also the branches and leaves to create a work of […]