Posted
on November 3, 2015
Today
is Culture Day in Japan.
It's
a day to promote the arts: music, painting, drama, dance, literature!
It's a day to contemplate or enjoy other aspects of culture, as well
– good food, traditional clothing, religious practices.
It's also a day
to reward those who have succeeded in the worlds of art, science, or
scholarship.
Apparently,
there are art exhibits, cultural festivals, parades, and award
ceremonies.
It
wasn't always Culture Day...
On
this date in the late 1800s and early 1900s, starting in 1868, the
people of Japan celebrated the birthday of the Meiji emperor.
However, in 1912 the emperor died, and the nation got a new ruler
with a different birthday; the holiday called “the Emperor's
Birthday” was celebrated on that other date.
The
Meiji emperor was considered so great, however, that his birthday was
restored as a new holiday in 1927.
World
War II was a time of horrible deeds and horrific losses. When the war
was finally over, the post-war constitution was announced on this
date in 1946. In 1948, the holiday celebrating the Meiji emperor was
ended, and Culture Day was begun.
Japanese food is often as decorative
as it is delicious!
- In my family, perhaps the most important aspect of Japanese culture is the building-without-nails of Japanese carpentry, because my son-in-law learned the traditions of Japanese joinery and started a business of fine, hand-made furniture following in those traditions. Check out this video about Japanese carpentry...
Another aspect of Japanese culture of particular personal interest is anime and manga. I teach drawing and sometimes talk about these popular animated / comic drawing styles. Check out this tutorial.
For more on Japan's Culture Day, check out this earlier post.
Also
on this date:
Plan ahead:
Check
out my Pinterest boards for:
And
here are my Pinterest boards for:
