Just like Christmas, Valentine’s Day is another Western holiday that made its way to Japan. In Japan, just like other countries, Valentine’s Day also takes place on February 14th, but there is a big difference in how it is celebrated. And then there is White Day, celebrated exactly a month later on March 14th. Both holidays have copious amounts of chocolate in common, but what exactly is White Day? And what’s its relation to Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day in Japan While the history of Valentine’s Day in the US and Europe goes back to a pagan festival that was celebrated almost 2000 years ago, the lover’s day is relatively new […] …continue reading

    

As his pseudonym 我流切紙人 garyūkirigaminin (literally, “self-styled paper-cutter”) indicates, Japanese paper artist Toshiaki Kawasaki 川﨑利昭 (@garyukirigami) takes a unique approach to the art of paper-cutting. Instead of making flat paper cutouts, many of his intricate paper artworks look more like sculptures, combining paper-cutting with origami to create three-dimensional, colorful, and realistic works inspired by the beautiful specimens of flora and fauna found in the Natural Kingdom and imbued with his own artistic sensibilities.

Another way in which the creations of this self-styled paper artist distinguish themselves from that of other paper artists is in their size. Although some of his works are true to scale, others are miniatures, reproducing creatures in astonishing detail at unbelievably tiny dimensions.

Kawasaki has been commissioned by aquariums and other institutions for his delicate and realistic paper creations. As an event producer and organizer, he has also planned various exhibitions and workshops.

Let’s take a look at some of his work:

Goldfish

In one of Kawasaki’s oft-employed techniques, he combines the colorful markings of the living creature while also revealing its skeletal structure, in an interesting miniature specimen-like hybrid fashioned in kiri-origami (a combination of paper-cutting and origami). Here is a gorgeous group of colorful and translucent goldfish created in this technique. It’s truly hard to imagine that they’re made of paper. You can admire more of them on his blog here.

Kawasaki has also created works in this style inspired by giant oarfish, coelacanth and Ocean sunfish, lionfish, and more.

Signal crayfish

These Signal crayfish are examples of his realistic works (in contrast to his works designed to look like displayed specimens). As you can see, the attention to detail is remarkable. Incidentally, Signal crayfish are his favorite crustaceans.

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Yamabushi (literally one who prostrates himself on the mountain) are mountain monks whose life philosophy is based on their close relationship with nature. They can be found in the mountains of Dewa Sanzan, in Yamagata prefecture.

Let’s find out more about these mysterious mountain hermits!

History of Yamabushi and Shugendo

Shintoism had been the main religion in Japan until the 6th century when Buddhism was introduced in the country from the Korean peninsula. At that time, religion was a useful tool to maintain a strong central power and the advent of Buddhism had the potential to challenge that balance of power. The emperor of Japan was Shintoist and believed to be a direct descendant of the Shinto goddess Amaterasu.

Buddhism was finally allowed and the two spiritualities lived in harmony in Japan. In the 8th century, Shugendo was born from a fusion between Shinto and esoteric Buddhism. The main pillar of this life philosophy is the strong relationship between man and nature.

Shugendo practitioners are called Yamabushi. At the beginning, they practiced their religion in solitude but then they started to gather around mountainous areas, the most famous of which is Dewa Sanzan in Yamagata.

Dewa Sanzan – The 3 Sacred Mountains of Dewa

Dewa Sanzan means “the 3 mountains of Dewa”. It is a sacred place composed of 3 mountains:

• Mount Haguro or Haguro-san,
• Mount Gassan,
• Mount Yudono or Yudono-san.

It was Prince Hachiko, the son of Emperor Sushun, who first made the Dewa Sanzan mountains a religious site back in 593.

Over the years, these mountains have become a popular pilgrimage site and the …continue reading

    

Who doesn’t think of geisha when it comes to Japanese culture? These versatile artists who contribute significantly to the preservation of Japanese traditions and customs are usually associated with the city of Kyoto and the Gion district in particular where unique styles of traditional dance are taught.

But geisha can actually be found all over Japan. We’re meeting the geisha from Niigata today. They are usually referred to as geigi and can be quite different from the geisha you would meet in other Japanese regions.

Geigi culture has developed in the Furumachi district of Niigata and these outstanding artists have a fascinating history. Let’s take a look at some of its most interesting bits!

The History Behind Niigata’s Furumachi Geigi

The history of geigi is intimately linked to the economic development of Niigata. Located along the seacoast in the Tohoku region, such a strategic spot has established Niigata as an important port city on the Kitamaebune trade route.

During the Edo period, Niigata was just as vast and prosperous as other major Japanese cities such as Osaka and Tokyo. Many wealthy merchants were staying in Niigata for business and were searching for fancy and sophisticated experiences. This lead to some restaurants integrating geisha shows as part of their services, especially in the Furumachi district.

Niigata’s geigi have been around for more than 200 years and are now considered an integral part of the region’s cultural heritage.

Lunch at Ikinariya Ryotei

We decided to go to the Ikinariya Ryotei to meet Niigata’s geigi. Ryotei are traditional restaurants that usually accept new customers by referral …continue reading