Japanese tradition

• 07/27/2010
• 02/28/2021

Japanese Paper Art

One remarkable characteristic of the traditional Japanese living is that paper is used for various purposes. For example, to keep out sunlight from the house, Japanese housings use Shoji(???絖?), which is made of wooden frame and paper, instead of using curtains made of cloth.? Shoji is also used as room dividers and doors. Shoji is made of Japanese paper, Washi (???膣?). Compared to western paper, the fiber used to make Washi is much longer.? This makes Washi tough, and makes its life span long. Washi was also used as Fusuma (茱?, sliding door which divide rooms), Byobu (絮馺?, folding screen), etc. Fusuma. Byobu. Wonder why Washi was used so heavily? For the Japanese climate is hot and humid, it was important to build houses in which people can enjoy comfortable lives since ancient times. Washi was used for housing because it modulates humidity, and the material was plentiful. Washi is not only used for housing. Surprisingly, it was even used to make umbrellas!? The surface is coated with Kakishibu (??炊??, fermented juice of date plum) and oil, which repels water. Today, Washi is not only used in the traditional way, but also used as modern art.? Various goods such as […]

• 07/13/2010
• 02/28/2021

Chopsticks Manners

Sushi, Tempura, Wasabi…Today, many Japanese foods are known worldwide. Many foreigners enjoy Japanese food, and some even mastered how to eat with chopsticks, not forks and knives. Learning how to use chopsticks in good manners is quite difficult, but well, if you are to enjoy Japanese food in the Japanese way, practice makes perfect 🙂 1 Hold the upper chopstick with the index finger, the middle finger, and the thumb, in the same way with holding a pencil. 2 Put the other chopstick between the bottom of the thumb and the tip of the ring finger. 3 Move the upper chopstick only when you pick up food. The correct and incorrect way to hold chopsticks Below are some taboos in the Japanese manner. Waving chopsticks above food dishes. Sticking chopsticks into food instead of picking them up. Picking up a cup/bowl with the hand that is holding your chopsticks. Sucking chopsticks. Sticking chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice. Passing food from your chopsticks to somebody else’s chopsticks. Now, an advanced technique. This is the formal way to pick up chopsticks, but don’t bother doing it at casual restaurants or at home. 1 Pick up chopsticks by the thumb, the […]