Cultural+Characteristics

The culture of Tokyoites is very different, yet similar to those of the western world. They are very unique because even when the Japanese globalize and adopt the rest of the world's values, they still maintain their native customs. Many aspects of their culture can be traced to different hearths around the world, but they still preserve traditional traits. Some facets of Tokyo culture are: celebrations, education, cuisine, fashion, sports, and traditions. > clean. Toshikosh soba (buckwheat noodles) are commonly served because it represents longevity. Families usually play traditional games such as Hanetsuki (badminton), Takoage (kit e flying), or Karuta (a card game). Visits to the temple are also customary, the most famous temple being the Tokyo Meiji Shrine. This temple attracts several millions of people over the three day period. To bring togetherness and harmony, many Japanese people make cards and personally sign them, sending them all over to family, friends, and co-workers.
 * Celebration:**
 * **New Years:** On January 1st of every year, the Japanese hurriedly prepare for the coming of a new year. It is rare to see any of the shops open or anything exciting on television. Unlike people in North[[image:Meiji_Shrine.jpg width="198" height="171" align="right" caption="This is the Meiji Shrine."]] America who bulk up during Christmas time, Tokyoites rapidly prepare for everything leading up to New Years. This celebration is very important because it offers a "fresh start", and many "year-forgetting parties" are thrown. Tokyoites, as well as many Japanese try to finish all their duties by the end of the year so that they start the new year fresh. Pine, bamboo, and plum trees decorate the outside of many homes, and each family member pitches in to help
 * **Coming of Age Day:** On the second Monday of January, all adolescents that turn twenty years old Seijin No Hi (the native name). In Japan, when one turns twe[[image:Coming_of_Age_Day.jpg width="195" height="166" align="left" caption="These are people wearing their robes for their 20th birthday."]]nty, it represents the coming of age. This is the age where people can legally smoke, drink, and vote. The celebrations extend through each town, and is a national holiday. The men and women now wear formal dresses to represent their start of adulthood.
 * **National Foundation** **Day (February 11):**Historians trace back the first crowning of the Japanese emperor around 660 BC.
 * **Golden Week:** Golden week is a national 4-day period of holidays that fall within one week. April 29th is Showa Day (Showa no hi), and it commemorates the late Emperor Showa. On May 3rd is[[image:Golden_Week.jpg width="204" height="140" align="right" caption="These are carp decorations for the Boys' Festival."]]Constitution Day (Kenpo kinebi) which was established in 1947 when the new war constitution was put into action. May 4th is Greenery Day (Midori no hi) which used to be celebrated during Showa Day, but is now celebrated by honoring nature and the environment. The last day is Children's Day (Kodomo no hi) which is celebrated on the 5th. It is celebrated for the young boys during a special festival (Girl's Festival is on the 3rd of March), where carp streamers and samurai dolls are on display. It represents strength, power, and success.


 * Education:** The Japanese school system is slightly different to that of traditional western structures. Children start elementary school at six years of age, and stay in primary school until they are twelve years old. Junior high school starts at age twelve and lasts until they are fifteen and in the 9th grade. After completing the 9th grade, sixteen year-olds can either decide to go onto high school or to find employment. If they chose to continue their education, they would be in high school for three years from fifteen to eighteen years old. Because resources in Tokyo are limited, they have depended on the technological industry. There are many technical colleges in Tokyo to provide a five-year plan for those who want to further their understanding in technology. Some places renowned universities would be the University of Tokyo and Tokyo Institute of Technology.


 * Cuisine:** The Japanese diet is one of the healthiest in the world. Only 3% of their population is obese compared to the 35% in the United States. This is correlated to what they eat and how they prepare their food. The Japanese eat smaller portions and "eat with their eyes". This means that they prepare healthy foods, but in a manner where everything is in modera[[image:SUSHI.jpg width="289" height="225" align="right" caption="This is sushi. Its hearth is in Japan, but this recipe has diffused throughout the world. One example of this is the sushi bars in America."]]tion and is appealing to the eye. In this way, they are able to eat less, yet feel more satisfied because they "want to savor every bite". Because of intensive subsistence agriculture and wet rice cultivation, a big portion of the Japanese diet contains rice. A regular day calls for six servings of rice paired with steamed veggies and fish. The Japanese only make up about 2% of the world's population, yet they eat about 10% of the world's fish. Because they eat fish, they refrain from eating red meat. It is not a taboo, but more of a cultural preference. Along with that, they consume many soy-based products. With every meal, there is also always a soy-based dish like miso soup (fermented soy) or tofu. This makes up for the protein loss of not eating beef. One popular dish in Tokyo is soba (buckwheat noodle).The best establishment in Tokyo is the places in Asukusa region, where a third-generation proprietor, Hiroshi Hotta, hand kneads all the noodles. Agglomeration is also seen because one of the best drinks with soba is sake, and Namiki Yakusoba of Japan partners with Hiroshi to serve sake with his soba. Other specialty foods include: bentou (boxed lunches), curry, fugu (pufferfish), kaiseki (season-based meals ), nabemono (stew served in its pot), oden (fish cakes), okonomiyaki (meat filled pancakes), sushi and sashimi (raw fish-based food), tempura (battered and deep-fried), tonkatsu (breaded and pork cutlet), unagi (eel), and yakitori (grilled chicken on skewers).

Ganguro girls tend to accessorize with many hair pins, phone charms, stickers, and many artificial body modifications (eyelashes, circle contacts).
 * Fashion:** Tokyo is home to such a wide array of different types of fashion. Many are traditional while others are westernized or radical.
 * **Traditional:** A traditional Japanese garment is a silk-spun kimono, which has large sleeves reaching all the way down to the heels. It is tied with an obi, or a sash, and it is accessorized with many different things. Kimonos are generally worn on special occasions like weddings, graduations, or big festivals. However, an informal kimono, or a yukata, is worn because it is lighter and provides more mobility. These are worn during town festivals or fireworks display.
 * **Kogal:**An example of hierarchical diffusion in fashion would be the "Kogal" look. It is when young Japanese girls try to look like pop idols with very short shorts, platform heels, and excessive make up. They also try to depict their wealth by buying all the latest designer brands or whatever is shown in commercials. Usually, Kogal girls have the trendiest cellphones or the one that just hit the marketing line. The name "Kogal" came from a misderived notion that the girls were prostitutes.
 * **Ganguro:** A trend that started in the late 1900s to early 2000s, this unique look sprung from the hearths of Shibuya and Ikebukuro districts of Tokyo. The look basically calls for a deep tan, bleached hair, and gaudy fashion. Going into extremes,
 * **Gothic Lolita:** Becoming a subculture in 1997 to 1998, the Victorian-era inspired look has become a hot spot for many young Japanese women. Classic lolita is traditional, light-colored, and mature, while sweet lolita is childish and pastel-based. Hierarchical diffusion once again spreads the look of Gothic Lolita because many Japanese idols were responsible for starting the look. Mana, the frontman of popular band, Malice Mizer, inspired the look after many shows. Coining the term "Elegant Gothic Lolita" and "Elegant Gothic Aristocrat" to describe his fashion, his style has laid the foundation of the scene. Gothic Lolita has diffused to the west, where popular singer Courtney Love collaborated with Americas Tokyopop to create a line of new Lolita fashion.
 * **Street:** Japanese street fashion is the calling of mixing traditional clothing with contemporary styles. Many people create a hybrid between what is popular and a do-it-yourself look. Abercrombie and Fitch, an American brand, has actually made its way into Tokyo street fashion. It is said that this type of fashion has made a cultural difference to Korea, China, and Taiwan.


 * Sports:**
 * **Sumo Wrestling:**This Japanese sport has been practiced since ancient times. The root of this sport was to entertain Shinto gods. The basic rule of wrestling is that any part of sumo, besides the sole of his feet, that tou[[image:baseball.jpg width="264" height="240" align="right"]]ches the ground makes him the loser. Strict schedules are maintained by the trainers and coaches, where every aspect of life is controlled. Sumo wrestlers live on camp grounds, called stables. Since there is no weight class, people who are small can face people many times their size. Six tournaments are held annually, 3 of which are in Japan. Each tournament is 15 days each.
 * **Baseball:** Baseball is the most popular sport in Japan. The United States introduced this sport, Yakyu (Japanese baseball), to the Japanese during the Meiji period. There are two leagues of baseball: the Central League and the Pacific League, each compromised of six teams. There are many smaller high school and university teams that have the rigor of many professional leagues. The games are often broadcasted and many enjoy watching them. Many Japanese players who are successful in Japan also enjoy fame in America. Media coverage makes it especially easy for those who cannot attend games to watch. Unlike Americans who only cheer when intense things are going on, the Japanese are very enthusiastic. There are cheer teams, chants, and many decorative costumes to increase morale.


 * Tradition:**
 * **Tea Ceremony:** The infamous Tea Ceremony of Japan is a local tradition done as meditation to detach themselves from reality to attain inner peace. The ceremony consists of a tea whisk and a special green tea powder called Macha. The host mixes the powder and turns the tea into a thick paste that is drunk by everyone from the same cup. This cermony is very simple and is sometimes preformed daily.
 * **Ikebana:** This is the art of arranging flowers, leaves, and stems exactly as one wants to. Over 15 million Japanese people practice it, over which are young women. There are over 3,000 schools in Japan dedicated to this art, and 60,000 instructors world wide. It is said that a Buddhist priest, Ikenobo Senkei created it in the 15th century. The arrangement of flowers is to reflect the beauty of nature, and seven branches depict hills, waterfalls, and valleys. This formal arrangement takes 3 to 5 years to learn, but only the most fundamental steps.