Japanese Culture and Traditions

Japanese culture and traditions are part of what makes Japanese Buddhism so compeling.  Through the years I have been writing this site, I realized that people are also interested in Japanese culture.   I thought I would make this section to introduce the most common traditions and some that are less known but would be nice to know.

Japanese culture and traditions are part of what make Japan unique.  Some customs are inspired from Chinese culture and others are totally unique to Japan.

There are  different festivals and holidays all through the year that are interesting.

• Ennichi: temple fair (holy days related to Kami and/or Buddha)
• Japanese Cultural Festival
• Hanami: Flower Viewing (late March to early April)
• Hinamatsuri: Doll Festival (March 3)
• New Year (正月 Shōgatsu) (January 1st to 3rd)
• Ōmisoka: New Year's Eve (December 31)
• Seijin Shiki: Coming of Age Day (second Monday of January)
• Shichi-Go-San: festival day for children aged three, five and seven (November 15)   
• Setsubun: division of season (beginning of each of the four seasons) (Feb. 3 )    
• Tanabata: star festival (July 7)

Then there are the daily Japanese culture and traditions that are part of day-to-day life.

• The Bath ritual (and the onsens!)
• take off your shoes when entering a house

Finally there are the special events, little-known traditions or just strange Japanese culture and traditions .  Here is a list of them:

• The giant pink penis festival (Kanamara Matsuri)
• The try-not-to-die Onbashira-matsuri
• The Naked festival

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