The culture
Japanese culture encompasses traditions, values, and beliefs rooted deep within Japanese society’s history. Much of Japan’s cultural practices were heavily influenced by Confucianism and Buddhism – two of the world’s oldest religions – while these two are among the oldest religious ideologies in existence today.
Japanese culture is characterised by a strong moral code and sense of restraint and respect for others, which can be seen through their greeting of strangers or responses to everyday situations.
Japanese are used to greeting each person who enters their home with „Jing Yu Keigo?” as an informal way of greeting, showing that you are more than just another random visitor.
Japanese people pay respect to their ancestors by keeping ancestral tablets and altars in their homes, recording posthumous names of family members who have passed away – an integral part of Japanese tradition culture.
As part of their religious practices during the Kamakura Period (+1185-1333) and Muromachi Period (+1392-1568), many upper-class Japanese families began placing ancestral tablets into butsudan, similar to shrines, placed near either their main entrance or attic of homes.
Butsudans are an iconic way of honoring Japanese ancestors and have become a vital symbol of Japanese culture over time. These tablet-shaped memorials have long been kept inside Japanese homes throughout its history.
Japan is home to various religious practices beyond butsudan, including Shinto, Budha and Buddhist temples. These practices have become part of its culture; people continue to incorporate these practices into daily lives.
As a result of their religious practices, Japanese people have developed unique beliefs and rituals which align with cultural practices, which can be observed at many different points throughout the year.
Although religion plays an integral part of Japanese culture, they do not adopt it as the mainstay of daily life due to a more relaxed approach towards manifesting religion or beliefs. Therefore it is commonplace to see Japanese people expressing their spiritual beliefs through cultural symbols like lotuses flowers.
The people
Japan is home to an extremely diverse population. People of various races and religions live here and all have their own distinct ways of looking at things and doing business. People living here work hard for their community; they take great pride in making Japan an even better place than it already is – not forgetting being kind and generous individuals themselves!