As the
wrestlers approach the ring clad only in loincloths, two assistants
– one in front and one behind - accompany them. The
wrestlers bow to each other, clap their hands to attract the
gods, stamp their feet to drive out evil spirits and sprinkle
salt to purify the wrestling ring. After performing the opening
rituals, the contest begins. The winner is the wrestler who
is able to make his opponent to touch the ground with some
part of his body other than the soles of his feet.
Sumo wrestlers
are generally between 20-35 years in age and weigh several
hundred pounds. Part of their training regimen includes eating
very large amounts of food and going to bed right after eating
to help them gain mass, as well as adhering to strict exercise
programs.
Other
sports that are popular in Japan are baseball, soccer,
swimming and golf. Various Martial Arts are also popular.
Food
Western
style food is becoming very popular among the young people
of Japan and often families will serve two different meals:
one for the young people such as pasta, hamburgers and pizza
and another for the older members of the family that enjoy
the traditional Japanese cuisine. Japanese people eat small
meals frequently throughout the day. Bento lunches,
which are boxed lunches made at home or bought from shops
all over Japan, are very popular. Traditional bento include
rice, pickles, grilled fish or meat and vegetables.
In
Japan the appearance of the meal is very important. Food and
dishes are considered to be an art and meals are carefully
arranged on beautiful plates and bowls. In Japan, you say
"itadakimasu" ("I gratefully receive")
before starting to eat, and "gochisosama"
("Thank you for the meal") after finishing.
The traditional
Japanese cuisine offers a large variety of dishes and regional
specialties. Japanese food is normally very healthy. With
rice and an abundance of fish and seafood, the traditional
Japanese diet is low in cholesterol, fat and calories, and
high in fiber. Some of the foods of Japan are: rice, noodles,
vegetables, tofu, miso, soybean paste, soy sauce, and meat.
Fish is an important part of the Japanese cuisine. Many different
kinds of fish are eaten raw with sauces and rice. Sushi
is a popular Japanese food, which has now also become very
popular in the west. Fish is also fried, grilled and baked.
Fugu (blow fish) is a fish that contains deadly poison
in the organs but despite the risk, fugu dishes remain special
feasts in Japan.
The use
of knives, forks and spoons are increasing in popularity,
however, the tapered chopstick known as “hashi”
is still the most popular way of eating.
To try
some Japanese recipes, click here.
Arts
and Hobbies
Hobbies
are an important aspect of the Japanese life style. The Japanese
believe having a hobby is a way for a person to gain a sense
of individuality.
Tea
Ceremony - Sado is the Japanese tea ceremony.
The ceremony consists of many rituals that have to be learned
by heart and almost each hand movement is prescribed. The
custom has been strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism. The tea,
a bitter matcha green tea made of powdered tea leaves, is
first prepared by the host and then served to the guests.
Through tea, recognition is given that every human encounter
is a singular occasion which can and will never recur again
exactly, therefore every aspect of tea must be savored for
what it gives the participants.
The ceremony takes place in a room designed and designated
for tea. It is called the cha-shitsu. Usually this
room is within the tea house, located away from the residence
and surrounded by a carefully designed garden. When the guests
are summoned they purify themselves at the tsukubai (Crouching
Basin) and enter the teahouse through a small nijiriguchi
or "kneeling-in" entrance, about 2 1/2 feet square.
This door is intended to bring about humility to all who enter
and it points to the reality that all are equal in tea.
The tea
ceremony starts with the host bringing the tea utensils into
the room then offering the guests special sweets. The host
prepares the tea following a precise and intricate sequence
of movement. The host puts a little powdered tea in a bowl
and pours water on that has been heated over a charcoal brazier.
The tea is whipped to a froth with a bamboo whisk and then
passed from hand to hand. The bowls are valued for their heat-retaining
properties and the way in which they fit the hand as well
as their appearance. The various utensils (the tea bowl, tea
caddy, water container, boxes, plates, and iron tea kettle)
are carefully selected by a tea master and are often quite
old. The tea drinking is followed by a discussion and appreciation
of the qualities of the utensils.
The artistic
disciplines of the tea ceremony can be studied for years as
students learn different levels of achievement. The tea ceremony
is a popular hobby and many children join a school club to
learn it.
Ikebana
- Ikebana
is the art of arranging cut flowers in vases and other containers.
It usually requires 3 – 5 years to acquire the technical
and expressive skills. Japanese people have a strong appreciation
for nature.
Bonsai
- Bonsai is the art of creating miniature scenery
with potted dwarf trees. These trees are carefully shaped
to produce beautiful shapes of twisted branches. This art
originated in Zen Buddhism. Bonsai is viewed as a hobby that
allows a greater understanding and connection with nature
and a way to enhance gardens.
Origami
– is the art of folding a single sheet of paper
into shapes such as birds, animals, flowers and other objects.
A popular project is to make a long chain of paper cranes.
These are presented to someone to bring them good luck or
recovery from an illness. There is an old Japanese legend
that the gods granting the wishes of sick people who folded
a thousand cranes because it was believed that cranes lived
for a thousand years. After the USA dropped an atomic bomb
in Hiroshima during the second World War, a little girl who
developed radiation sickness believed she would be cured if
she could fold 1000 cranes. Although she died after folding
964 cranes, each year children honour Sadako Sasaki’s
memory by sending thousands of the cranes to the Peace Memorial
Park in Hiroshima. They are sent with the wish that nuclear
weapons will never again harm the world.
Calligraphy
– an art form of writing Japanese language that has
been studied for over three thousand years. Calligraphy is
written with line pictures called characters. Each character
must be formed in a set pattern of strokes. Japanese calligraphy
attempts to bring words to life, and endow them with character.
Styles are highly individualistic, differing from person to
person. The characters must be written only once and there
is no altering, touching up, or adding to them afterwards.
Theatre
- Noh – actors wear elaborate masks
& costumes, but do not speak
Kabuki – male actors who dance and sing as
well as act
Bunraku – very large puppets are the characters.
Each puppet requires 3 operators.
Music
- Traditional Japanese music is called Hogaku.
There are many types of music played with a variety of instruments
from flutes to drums to stringed implements. Music is very
important in the different theatre styles, especially Noh,
where there is no dialogue. For a selection of Japanese music,
check out the following albums:
Lullaby
for the Moon:
Japanese
Music for Koto and Shakuhachi, Various Artists
The Art of Japanese Bamboo Flute & Koto
Yamata Ensemble
Most
homes also have a laundry balcony where laundry is dried outside
and bedding frequently aired. Kotatsu, low tables
containing a heating element and a blanket covering to keep
legs warm, are common for eating. Many homes now also have
dining tables similar to the ones found in the West. Futons
are common in Japanese homes for sleeping. 
