You can tell spring has arrived when its cherry blossoms bloom. It’s only January, but some sakura trees are already 50-percent in full bloom in Japan. Each year, the sakura bloom on different dates depending […]
Tag: Japanese cultures
Traditional Japanese sitting style seiza will be recognized as punishment under new law
A welfare ministry panel said on December 3, that forcing children to sit for long periods of time in the formal Japanese seiza style will be recognized as a morally unacceptable form of punishment under a new […]
Nishimonai Bon Odori: The mystical, elegant folk dance for the spirits of the departed | Travel to Japan from Canada
The Nishimonai Bon Odori festival (西馬音内盆踊り), held on August 16-18 in the town of Ugo, located in the southeast of Akita prefecture is one of the three major Bon festivals in Japan, designated as a […]
Ariana Grande’s tattoo: has accusations of cultural appropriation gone too far?
Although cultural appropriation has become an often-discussed topic in western media today, it is a term Japanese people are not too familiar with at all. Cultural appropriation, the adoption of elements of one culture by […]
The Cultural Dimensions of Packaging in Japan(Feb.27)
Packaging, the wrapping of goods and materials, indeed “wrapping” even in its widest sense, is integral to human exchange and interaction. There are of course direct functional reasons for both personal and commercial packaging: physical […]
Wagashi Master Junichi Mitsubori in Toronto Interview Part 2/2
Junichi Mitsubori, the founder and master of Kado, or the way of wagashi, continues to promote the beauty of wagashi across both Japan and the world. In April, he began touring around North America, starting […]
Wagashi Master Junichi Mitsubori in Toronto Press Conference Report & Interview Part 1/2
On April 12, a press conference was held featuring the wagashi artist, Junichi Mitsubori, at Gusta Cooking Studio in Markham. Following his victory in a cooking competition, Mr. Mitsubori has made numerous appearances on TV […]
Special Interview Miss International Canada 2017 and Miss Visit Japan Tourism Ambassador: Marta Magdalena Stepien
Marta Magdalena Stepien is the representative of Canada for the Miss International Beauty Pageant of 2017. On top of that, she is a student in biomedical engineering technology with a 3.95 GPA. Following the Miss […]
“To create a place where Japanese Canadians can be proud of their roots and their cultural heritage.” Gary Kawaguchi Interview | Past, Present and Future of Japanese Canadian Community
2017 was a significant year for many as it marked 150 years of Canada’s history and 50 years since new immigrants came to Toronto. Along with the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC), we bring to […]
[STORIES] Wataru Yonezawa: Awaodori Performer/Producer
Do you think awa-odori is being something cool? Wataru Yonezawa is the performer and producer of Takarabune that is the Japanese traditional dance “awa-odori” troupe. First of all, if you ask me what’s the fascination […]