Fortresses of breathtaking beauty

Many people say that much of modern-day Japan exists because of its samurai roots. The samurai may no longer exist but a symbol of their power and strength does: castles.

Estimates vary in the number of castles still standing today in Japan. But almost every major city or area of the country has its own castle. Even with those castles that are “belittled” for being relatively recent reproductions, one must not forget that to re-create such structures is an incredible feat in itself, for which they are to be admired.

Many of Japan’s most striking castles were originally built during the “Sengoku Jidai (Warring States Period)” when the whole country was in chaos and fiefdoms needed to defend themselves. The ruler of Japan during the end of the 16^th century, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, is widely regarded as a master castle designer. One of his greatest masterpieces is Osaka Castle, which known throughout the land as being impenetrable when it was first built. The reproduced version of this castle is a striking structure that has an observation deck 50 metres above ground, which offers a panoramic view of Osaka City and the mountains in the distance. Inside you can find many historical artifacts on display, including real swords.

But many castle aficionados will agree that one of Japan’s most beautiful castles has to be Kumamoto Castle in Kyushu, along with Matsumoto Castle and Himeji Castle. Designated a national treasure by the Japanese government, Kumamoto Castle still retains many of its original buildings. By far its most impressive feature is its exquisitely curved stone walls known as “musha gaeshi (warrior repelling)” that are some of the highest to be found in any castle in Japan. The castle grounds stretch for a few kilometres in any direction, show what a domineering presence it once was.

If you are interested in experiencing traditional Japan, no trip would be complete without a visit to a Japanese castle. Unique Japan Tours is happy to help arrange this for you. We look forward to hearing from you!!

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Giving goes a long way in Japan

                                    Immaculately wrapped gifts are the norm in Japan

Anytime a Japanese person goes abroad, he or she will go armed with a long shopping list – not of things for themselves but those for their loved ones, friends, work colleagues, bosses, people in their hobby group. The list is sometimes longer than their arms, if you know what I mean.

In some ways the Japanese have perfected the art of giving gifts. If you have ever been to a Japanese department store, just as you are being asked to make a purchase the person on the cash register will always ask you, “Is this item for yourself or a present for someone?” In the case of the latter, it means that the store assistant will meticulously wrap the item and even ask you if you would like “a free ribbon” to go with it. Have you encountered such service anywhere else in the world?

In addition to incorporating the times of year that people in the West traditionally give gifts – Valentine’s Day, birthdays, Christmas Day, etc. – there are two times of year that gifts are traditionally given in Japan. “O-seibo” (year-end gift) and “O-chugen” (mid-year gift) are given as a form of greeting. Recipients will generally be people who have helped you out recently, such as work colleagues or relatives.

At these times of year department stores will often set up whole sections of their stores dedicated to promoting these gifts. The items on sale are usually something functional but a bit “luxurious” – something that you would not usually buy yourself. Sets of luxury branded towels or $100 melons are just some of the things on offer. 

                                               Too pretty to eat?

Although it is generally older people who still send such presents, it is perhaps because they know the value of keeping good relations.

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Celebrating O-bon in style

Traditionally, Japanese people like to take their holidays on mass. One of the biggest holidays of the year is O-bon or the Festival of Bon, which normally falls around mid-August of each year.

A Japanese Buddhist custom held in honour the spirits of one’s ancestors, O-bon has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years. Lasting for around three days, it is customary for people to take time off from work to celebrate the festival. This is done by returning to your ancestral family place, and then visiting and cleaning your ancestors’ graves. During this time the spirits of the ancestors are believed to revisit the altars.

One of the most fun aspects of O-bon is its accompanying dance, Bon Odori.  Said to have began around the 15^th century as public entertainment, over the centuries its religious significance has faded into the background so that now the dance is associated with summer.

Each region in Japan will perform the dance slightly differently, creating its own distinctive regional twist. Usually what happens is that people – usually women wearing yukata (summer kimono) – will line up in a circle around a high wooden scaffold called a yagura especially made for the festival. The dancers will then proceed to move either clockwise or anti-clockwise around the yagura, or sometimes close to it and further away. Sometimes they sing while swinging their arms in the air – all of which is done in unison. Traditional Japanese music often plays in the background, which adds to the overall fun!

One of the biggest and most popular Bon Odori in the whole of Japan is the Tokushima Awa Odori that takes place on the island of Shikoku. Unique Japan Tours offers a trip to see the Awa Odori as part of its fabulous Lost in Japan Small Group Tour. However, please be careful if you do decide to go: You will be so excited that you won’t be able to stop yourself from joining in the festivities!!

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A theatrical workout for the senses

Take kabuki and remove from it the gorgeously colourful costumes, entrancing music and fantastical stories and what you are left with, in its bare essence, is a living, breathing traditional art form.

Any visitor to Japan that goes to watch a kabuki show is blown away with how dramatic it is. Perhaps this is because this genre of theatre fulfils all the fantasies that non-Japanese people have about historical Japan. Even if this is not the case, nobody can deny that it is beauty in motion.

The individual kanji (Chinese characters) that make up kabuki mean sing, dance and skill. Little wonder that all kabuki actors start their training at the age of around five with nihon buyo (traditional Japanese dance) lessons. This is also due to the fact that the origins of kabuki can be traced back to the early years of the Edo Period (1603-1867) to a shrine maiden in Kyoto called Okuni, who excelled at Buddhist folk dances. In the beginning women took most of the roles but they were soon forbidden on the grounds that their participation corrupted the public (i.e. male) morals. From then on only men were allowed to play the roles, even those of women.

Actors normally specialize in playing either male or female roles. It is surprising to even the Japanese that men playing women, known as onnagata actors, can sometimes appear even more feminine than actual women. But playing a woman is not for the faint-hearted. Dressing up as say a princess can be quite the workout, as costumes can wear around 20 kilograms.

You will be glad to know that watching kabuki is not so tiring – though there is a strong chance that it will get your heart racing! Kabuki performances are held in Tokyo during August and September 2012, and in Kyoto during September 2012. Unique Japan Tours is happy to arrange buying tickets to a performance of kabuki, so please let us know if you would like to go.

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