2. Japan
is an island nation in East Asia.
The characters that make up Japan’s
name mean "sun-origin", which is
why Japan is often referred to as the
Land of the Rising Sun.
Japan has a total of 6,852 islands .
The four largest islands are Honshu,
Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku.
3. Traditional Japanese
Clothing
Kimono
A kimono is a full-length robe made
of silk, worn by both men and
women. While men have a simple
black or brown-colored kimono, there
are different designs of this for
women. Furisode for unmarried
women. Tomesode for married
women. Uchikake is a special
kimono worn by Japanese brides. It is
made of silk and is much longer than
the regular kimono. The footwear of
Japanese people is called Zori
sandals are flat and thonged Japanese
sandals made of rice straw or other
plant fibers. Zori sandals
5. Japan
Apart from these specific kimonos, it is interesting to
note that the patterns of kimonos vary based on the
prevalent season. Those in fall are less brighter than
those of spring, while those of winter are made in
heavier fabrics. A popular type of kimono worn in
summer is known as yukata, made of cotton.
6. More about Japanese Crafts
Hinamatsuri dolls They can
be made of many materials but
the classic hina doll has a
pyramidal body of elaborate,
many-layered textiles stuffed
with straw and/or wood blocks,
carved wood hands, carved
head and human or silk hair. A
full set comprises at least 15
dolls, representing specific
characters, with many
accessories.
7. More about Japanese Crafts
Daruma dolls are spherical dolls
with red bodies and white faces
without pupils. They represent
Bodhidharma, an East Indian who
founded Zen about 1500 years
ago; according to legend, he
removed his own eyelids to
prevent sleep from breaking his
concentration, and his limbs
withered after prolonged
meditation. Daruma dolls are
charms to bring good fortune,
continued prosperity, and fortitude
to accomplish goals. Usually
daruma dolls are purchased
without eyes.
8. More about Japanese Crafts
Kokeshi dolls have been made for 150
years.They were originally made as toys
for children of farmers. They have no arms
or legs, but a large head and cylindrical
body, representing little girls. From a
simple toy, it has now become a famous
Japanese craft, and now an established
souvenir for tourists.
9. More about Japanese Crafts
Ikebana is the Japanese art of
flower arrangement. It is more
than simply putting flowers in a
container. It is a disciplined art
form in which the arrangement
is a living thing where nature
and humanity are brought
together. One tries to represent
the three elements sky, earth,
and mankind in a well balanced
relation.
10. More about Japanese Crafts
The structure of a Japanese flower arrangement is based on
a scalene triangle.
Heaven
Man
earth
11. More about Japanese Crafts
Origami is a traditional
Japanese art of paper folding. It
has since evolved into a modern
art form. The goal of this art is
to transform a flat sheet of
paper into a finished sculpture
through folding and sculpting
techniques, and as such the use
of cuts or glue are not
considered to be origami.
