Colors of Japan
Japan is an archipelago, or a group of islands, about 100 miles east of theAsian mainland. The ancient Japanese knew about China and Korea, but they did not know of any land east of their islands. They believed theirs was the first land awakened by the rising sun. The Japanese call their land Nippon, meaning “Land of the Rising Sun.� The Europeans learned of Japan from the Chinese, who mispronounced the name as Zipango. Japan consists of thousands of islands, many of which are too small for people to live. Most people live on four islands: Honshu is the largest, and and most populated island. Shikoku and Kyushu are smaller islands south of Honshu, and Hokkaido is north of Honshu. Japan is smaller than California, but because of the shape of the nation, it experiences almost as many climates as the United States.
5
SEASONS
CULTURE
spring summer autumn winter
temples p8 shrines p10 sculptures p12 clothing p14
INDEX
CUISINE
Colors of Japan
sushi tempura ramen sake green tea
p18 p20 p22 p24 p26
p30 p32 p34 p36
DESIGN
DESTINATIONS
graphic p50 packaging p54 origami p56
byodo-in p68 sky tree p70 okinawa p72
ART
TECHNOLOGY
calligraphy p40 ikebana p42 paintings p44 gardens p46
bullet train p60 humanoid p62 cars p64
7
Colors of Japan
C U LT U R E Japan has a fascinating and multifaceted culture; on the one hand it is steeped in the deepest of traditions dating back thousands of years, on the other it is a society in a continual state of rapid flux, with continually shifting fads and fashions and technological development that constantly pushes back the boundaries of the possible. This is part of what makes it such a fascinating country to visit. Let’s talk about the various cultural beliefs of the Japanese!
9
Colors of Japan
TEMPLES Japanese Temples are Buddhist Temples located in Japan. There are some very old Japanese Temple which were established over 1,200 years ago. Today some of these very old wooden temple buildings still survive, however many have been destroyed by lightning, fire, earthquakes, storms or war and have been rebuilt over the years. Still many of these rebuilt temple buildings are hundres of years old. Many of these very old Japanese Temples are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. All of the Japanese Temples that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites are listed below and marked with a yellow background.
11
Colors of Japan
SHRINES Shinto shrines are places of worship and the dwellings of the kami, the Shinto “gods�. Sacred objects of worship that represent the kami are stored in the innermost chamber of the shrine where they cannot be seen by anybody. People visit shrines in order to pay respect to the kami or to pray for good fortune. Shrines are also visited during special events such as New Year, setsubun, shichigosan and other festivals. New born babies are traditionally brought to a shrine a few weeks after birth, and many couples hold their wedding ceremonies there.
13
Colors of Japan
SCULPTURES With Buddhism, bronze and wooden images of Buddha and bodhisattvas were imported from Korea. A famous example made in Japan is the bronze Shaka triad in Hōryūji Temple in Nara, which bears an inscription saying that it was cast by Torii Busshi, a Korean immigrant, in AD 623. Sculpture changed according to Japanese taste in the Nara period (AD 710-794) when temples were built throughout the country. Materials were bronze, wood, clay and kanshitsu (‘dry lacquer’). An example of this last is the portrait statue of Ganjin, the monk who founded Tōshōdaiji Temple.
15
Colors of Japan
CLOTHING The kimono is a traditional Japanese dress. In modern day Japan, it is worn only sparingly or during special occasions such as weddings, tea ceremonies, formal traditional events and funerals. An appropriate style and color of kimono is to be worn depending on the occasion and the person’s age and marital status. Men’s kimono usually have more subdued colors and are made typically from matte fabrics. Partly for this reason, it is the women’s kimono that generate more interest because their beautiful designs make them art pieces as much as they are garments. The women’s kimono is traditionally made of silk, but these days they are also made of polyester. Decoration techniques include embroidery, yuzen painting and dyeing.
17
Colors of Japan
CUISINE Japanese cuisine ( washoku) offers an abundance of gastronomical delights with a boundless variety of regional and seasonal dishes as well as international cuisine. Let’s take a look at some of the all time favourites!
19
SUSHI Sushi is the most famous Japanese dish outside of Japan, and one of the most popular dishes among the Japanese themselves. In Japan, sushi is usually enjoyed on special occasions, such as a celebration. During the Edo period, “sushi� refered to pickled fish preserved in vinegar. Nowadays sushi can be defined as a dish containing rice which has been prepared with sushi vinegar.
Colors of Japan
There are many different types of sushi. Some popular ones are:
Nigiri
Small rice balls with fish, shellfish, etc. on top. There are countless varieties of nigirizushi, some of the most common ones being tuna, shrimp, eel, squid, octopus and fried egg.
Gunkan
Norimaki
Oshizushi
Temaki
Small cups made of sushi rice and dried seaweed filled with seafood, etc. There are countless varieties of gunkanzushi, some of the most common ones being sea urchin and various kinds of fish eggs.
It is pressed sushi, in which the fish is pressed onto the sushi rice in a wooden box. The picture shows trout oshizushi in form of a popular ekiben (train station lunch box).
Sushi rice and seafood, etc. rolled in dried seaweed sheets. There are countless varieties of sushi rolls differing in ingredients and thickness. Sushi rolls prepared “inside out� are very popular outside of Japan, but rarely found in Japan.
Temakizushi (literally: hand rolls) are cones made of nori seaweed and filled with sushi rice, seafood and vegetables. 21
TEMPURA The classic “batter-fried� food in Japan is tempura, which is no stranger to the West. What is not well known about this so-called typical Japanese dish is that in actual fact it was introduced, or at least devised, centuries ago by Europeans living in Japan - the Spanish and Portuguese who established missions in southern Japan in the late sixteenth century. The dish caught on with the Japanese, who added the thin, delicately seasoned dipping sauce with grated daikon mixed in. By now tempura has passed so thoroughly into native cooking that its origin is almost forgotten. Colors of Japan
While tempura remains an exclusive domain of tempura specialty restaurants, it is also easy enough to make at home with very good results. In its higher forms it is a food reserved for special occasions, in its more pedestrian forms, simply a good meal. Whatever the purpose of the meal, to feast or to feed, in making tempura the cook should observe three points - fresh ingredients, oil at a constant temperature, and lumpy batter. The reasons behind using the freshest fish and vegetables available are self-evident. Keeping oil at a constant, proper temperature means even frying, and precise control, and light food, as discussed in detail above. But perhaps lumpy batter as a sine qua non for good tempura requires further explanation
23
RAMEN Ramen is a noodle soup dish that was originally imported from China and has become one of the most popular dishes in Japan in recent decades. Ramen are inexpensive and widely available, two factors that also make them an ideal option for budget travelers. Ramen restaurants, or ramen-ya, can be found in virtually every corner of the country and produce countless regional variations of this common noodle dish.
Colors of Japan
Shoyu ramen soup is a clear, brown broth flavored with soy sauce (shoyu). The soup is usually made of chicken broth but often contains other meats such as pork, beef or fish depending on the region. Shoyu ramen is the most common type of ramen and is usually what is served when the menu does not specify a specific type of soup. Shio ramen soup is a light, clear broth seasoned with salt. It is typically made from chicken broth, but may also be flavored with other meats such as pork. Miso ramen soup is flavored with soybean paste (miso), resulting in a thick, brown soup with a rich, complex flavor. The style originated in Hokkaido where the long cold winters spurred the need for a heartier type of ramen soup, but it has spread to the point where it can be found pretty much anywhere in Japan.
25
SAKE In various regions all across Japan, breweries perfect their own types of sake. A delicate yet complex rice wine liquor, sake has steadily become an international trend amongst connoisseurs and general consumers alike. Travel through Kyoto and you may run into Fushimi-Momoyama, a place with abundant ground-water famous for sake brewing. There you may find various old and new techniques used for brewing. Explore the historical shrines and structures as you sip on a glass of sake distributed during a tasting. While you are in the area, visit Gekkeikan Okura Sake Museum. You will be introduced to the long history of sake brewing in Kyoto as you peruse through the museums expansive collection of unique brewing tools while enjoying a tasting of Kyoto’s finest sake.
Colors of Japan
Most people are familiar with drinking sake in small porcelain cups but few are yet aware that sake may be enjoyed in a number of different kinds of vessels. From traditional to modern, sake is most typically enjoyed in the following: The oldest sake cup style, the wide-mouthed sakazuki continues to be the ceremonial favorite. Shallow but dramatic, this cup is most formally lifted to the mouth with two hands: one to hold the bottom of the cup and the other to hold it on the side. Available in a number of sizes from the most minute to a large showpiece, the sakazuki most typically holds only a few sips. Sakazuki are often beautifully decorated and usually made from porcelain, earthenware or lacquer but some are available also in gold, silver and glass. When using sakazuki, it is common to pour for the other person and to reciprocally accept another person’s offer to pour. This form of etiquette is a form of empathy to express not only hospitality but also understanding of the needs and enjoyment of others.
27
GREEN TEA Japan is one of the oldest green tea consuming and producing countries and is the birthplace of modern sencha. Tea connoisseurs note that Japan is home to the highest caliber of steamed green teas, where sencha production techniques have been elevated to an art form through artisanal traditions and the modern hygienic food technologies of the Japanese tea industry
Colors of Japan
Various grades of green tea are cultivated, differing on the timing of harvest and on the amount of sunlight the tea leaves are subjected to. The highest grade is gyokuro, which is picked during the first round of harvest and shaded from the sun for some time before harvest. Next is sencha, which is also picked during the first round of harvest but whose leaves are not protected from the sun. Finally, bancha is a lower grade of green tea whose leaves are obtained from the later rounds of harvesting. Only the highest quality leaves are used for matcha, which are dried and milled into a fine powder which is then mixed with hot water. Matcha is the form of green tea that is used in the tea ceremony. Konacha consists of tea dust, tea buds and small tea leaves remaining after processing gyokuro or sencha. Although considered a lower grade of tea, konacha is thought to complement certain foods well, such as sushi. It is often provided for self-service at inexpensive sushi restaurants.
29
Colors of Japan
SEASONS Cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers can be found all over the world but there are certain seasonal treats that only Japan can offer and others that have their own local twist. Let’s review!
31
SPRING The cherry blossoms, known in Japan as sakura, are usually only in full bloom for around one week. After the period of full bloom the small, round shaped flowers start to flutter gracefully from their trees and the blossoms are said to be the most beautiful in this final stage as the white and pink petals gently float to the ground. For many Japanese, the blooming of the cherry blossom trees symbolizes human life, transience and nobleness. The Japanese love to celebrate and cherish the cherry blossoms trees during the limited flowering period and many people hold ‘flower watching’ parties known as hanami. You cannot travel to Japan in spring without appreciating the beauty of the sakura and experiencing a hanami party for yourself!! Next are the three best parks to view and feast your eyes with cherry blossoms!
Colors of Japan
Tohoku
Hirosaki Park, Aomori The park is surrounded by a triple moat and earthworks and is famous in Japan for its spectacular cherry blossoms in spring.
Kakunodate
Akita Kakunodate is a quiet town in the east of Akita. It is enclosed on three sides by mountains, and the Hinokinai-gawa River runs southwards through it. The Hinokinai-gawa River is lined with cherry trees for two kilometers. The tunnel of cherry blossoms that forms along the riverbanks in spring is beautiful, and has been designated as a national beauty spot.
Takada Park
Niigata The park includes over 4000 cherry blossom trees which are illuminated at night to fascinate passers by. The park is well regarded as one of the three most beautiful night view points to enjoy cherry blossoms.
33
N AT S U Summer is the season of fireworks. Almost every night, communities around Japan stage lively firework displays colourfully enlivening the night skies. Summer throughout Japan culminates with large scale festivals, many with folk dancing, as well as “Bon odori” dance meetings for the recreation of local residents, friends and visitors. The International Fireworks Display, which is held every July on the Sunday before Marine Day, is the finale of the “Opening of the Port Festival”. It is also a poetic way of announcing summer’s arrival to the Port of Yokohama. The fireworks display, with over 6,000 fireworks launched from the waters just offshore from Yamashita Park, draws more people than any other event of the year in the Yokohama area. Next are the best festivals to visit in summer!
Colors of Japan
Sumiyoshi Festival, Osaka
Osaka’s summer festival for the season. The festival’s Nagoshi Shinto purification ritual in which beautifully dressed ladies and children walk through a large thatched ring to purify themselves and wish for good health, is a designated intangible cultural asset. The general public also has the opportunity to walk through the thatched ring. After the ceremony, two dances – Kumanomai and Sumiyoshiodori are performed. The thatched ring is placed at the Sumiyoshi Shrine gate until the festival ends on the evening of August 1.
Nakafurano Lavender Festival, Hokkaido
The Mt. Hokusei Ski Area Lavender Park in Nakafurano hosts one of the biggest lavender festivals of the flower season when the lavender and flowers are in their most beautiful state. The farms come alive with stalls and children’s entertainment shows, not to mention fireworks at night, making this the perfect time to visit Furano and experience the festivals. Simple and affordable access to and fromthe festival / flower farms is available.
35
AKI Aki is autumn in Japan. Colorful leaves (koyo) are to the Japanese autumn what cherry blossoms are to spring. The viewing of autumn leaves has been a popular activity in Japan for centuries and today draws large numbers of travelers to famous koyo spots both in the mountains and in the cities. Each year, starting in mid September, the “koyo front� slowly moves southwards from the northern island of Hokkaido until it reaches the lower elevations of central and southern Japan towards the end of November. Some trees around Tokyo and Kyoto remain colorful into early December. Next are the places in Japan to find autumn leaves!
Colors of Japan
Autumn leaves can be enjoyed in various ways. During the early phase of the season, the colors are mostly found in the mountains where entire slopes turn orange, yellow and red, and provide some of the most amazing seasonal sceneries. Hiking is the most rewarding way to see the colorful leaves in the mountains, but many spots can also be conveniently reached by train, bus or ropeway.
Shiretoko National Park
Among the best spots to see the colors on the Shiretoko Peninsula are the Shiretoko Pass in early October and the Shiretoko Five Lakes in mid October.
Onuma Park
Located near the southern tip of Hokkaido, Onuma Park sees autumn colors in the second half of October. The colors can be enjoyed on pleasant easy walk along the park’s ponds.
Noboribetsu
The trees surrounding Noboribetsu’s spectacular hell valley and around the sulfurous ponds further up the forested slopes, turn beautifully colorful in October.
37
FUYU Winter in Japan runs from around December to February. And that’s the time of year when there are all kinds of cold-weather special events in many parts of Japan. If you’re traveling in Japan at this time of year, forget about the cold and simply enjoy yourself. Next are the most famous snow festivals in Japan!
Colors of Japan
Sapporo Snow Festival, Hokkaido
Sapporo Snow Festival, in Sapporo, Hokkaido is arguably Japan’s best-known winter festival. This event takes place every year in early February at venues all over Sapporo: dates for 2012 are February 6 to 12. Over two million visitors come to Sapporo for the festival, including about 50,000 tourists from abroad. The gigantic snow sculptures erected by Sapporo citizens and Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force can truly be considered works of art. Themes for structures at the 2011 Sapporo Snow Festival included musical Lion King, The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests(China) and an Nishi-Hongan-ji temple (Kyoto). The sculptures are illuminated at night, and the main street leading from the Sapporo rail station is all done up in lights.
Asahikawa Winter Festival, Hokkaido
Asahikawa, well known as the site of Japan’s northernmost zoo, holds the Asahikawa Winter Festival from February 8 to 12. This festival’s snow sculptures are known for their size. For example, a sculpture representing Suwon Castle in the city of Suwon, Korea, had a volume of 103,591 m3 and was inscribed in the Guinness World Records as the largest snow structure in the world. The principal snow sculptures at this festival reputedly use six tons of snow. 39
Colors of Japan
VISUAL ARTS Historically, Japan has been subject to sudden introductions of new and alien ideas followed by long periods of minimal contact with the outside world during which foreign elements were assimilated, adapted to Japanese aesthetic preferences, and sometimes developed into new forms‌.
41
CALLIGRAPHY In Japanese, calligraphy is called shodou, or “the way of writing�. Unlike its Western counterpart, it is widely practiced by people of all ages and all walks of life in Japan. Indeed, all Japanese children have to learn the basics of calligraphy as part of their elementary school education. The history of Japanese calligraphy can be traced back to the origins of Chinese civilization and the creation of the Chinese writing system itself about 4,500 years ago. Calligraphy had already been developed a considerable amount by the time it arrived in Japan sometime around the sixth century, at approximately the same time that the Chinese system of writing (kanji) was also being imported.
Colors of Japan
Kaisho literally means “correct writing”. In other words, this is the style in which each of the strokes is made in a deliberate and clear way, creating a form that is very similar to the printed version of the character that one might see in a newspaper. This is the form that students of calligraphy study first, since it is close to the everyday written characters they are already familiar with, but at the same time it gives them the opportunity to get used to using the brush (fude) correctly. Gyousho literally means “traveling writing” and refers to the semi-cursive style of Japanese calligraphy. Like cursive handwriting in English, this is the style that most people will usually use to write with when taking notes. Furthermore, as with English cursive style, what are written as separate strokes in kaisho style flow together to form a more rounded whole in gyousho. Text written in this style is can usually be read by the majority of educated Japanese.
43
IKEBANA Ikebana is the common term used for Japanese flower arrangement. The art is also referred to as kado (“the way of flowers�). Different schools of ikebana exist today with a variance in style. Some schools advocate that flowers should be arranged in a way that they look as if they were in the wild; others pay attention to precision of shape, line and form, going as far as to prescribe rules that dictate the angles that the branches should make.
Colors of Japan
In addition, modern styles of ikebana (avant-garde ikebana) have evolved, some of which even use glass, iron, and other materials instead of flowers. The container of the plant plays a role in the composition as well. The type of container used also varies according to taste, ranging from simple squarish ones with subdued colors to those with unique shapes or extravagant designs. Well known schools of ikebana include the Ikenobo, Sogetsu and Ohara schools. The two latter schools offer day classes in English on selected days each week at their centers in Tokyo. Reservations have to be made via e-mail or phone. A class takes around two hours and costs about 4000 yen (see links below). In addition, the Hanatoro event that takes place twice a year in Kyoto is a good occasion to see ikebana creations.
45
PAINTINGS The art of Japanese painting is full of mesmerizing Asian charm when you look at it from a purely decorative view. But it is also a subject that can be a bit confusing for novices when you want to learn more about it. Different painting schools and styles, a variety of different media, the deep roots in Zen Buddhism and the use of specific terms from the Japanese language make this art form not always easily accessible for Westerners.
Colors of Japan
Emakimono
Horizontal scrolls called emakimono. The word means literally translated “image (e) of a rolled (maki) thing (mono)”. Emakimono were created by pasting single sheets together to form a long roll. The images were viewed from right to left. Emakimono are among the oldest forms of paintings. Instead of emakimono you can find the words makimono or emaki. It means the same.
Kakemono
Vertical scrolls called kakemono. It is the “thing” that you hang on a wall. A kakemono is mounted on a roller on both ends. The roller on top has a string attached so that you can hang the scroll vertically. The roller on bottom is meant to straighten the image out by its weight. Vertical scrolls became popular during the Edo period. It comes closest to the Western framed canvas painting and was the ideal form of decorating a wall for the small Japanese houses.
Byobu
Another painting media were folding screens, called byobu in Japanese. They had come from China to Japan in the 7th century and were used as room separators, mostly with 4 or 6 panels. Due to their sizes, the use was limited to temples and palaces. Screens became a major medium for lush and elaborate paintings. With the rise of the merchant class, the demand for screens moved to the rich towns people during the Edo period. The subjects on screens were similar to those on ukiyo-e (Japanese prints).
Shoheiga
During the Muromachi (1333-1573) and Momoyama period (1573-1603) powerful feudal lords built castles and commissioned painters to decorate interior walls with paintings. The Japanese term is shoheiga.
47
GARDENS Garden design is an important Japanese art form that has been refined for more than 1000 years. Gardens have evolved into a variety of styles with different purposes, including strolling gardens for the recreation of Edo Period lords and dry stone gardens for the religious use by Zen monks. Great gardens can be found throughout Japan, with particularly many in the former capital of Kyoto. Next are the most beautifully designed gardens in Japan!
Colors of Japan
Kenrokuen
Built in Kanazawa for the enjoyment of the former feudal lords, Kenrokuen feels like a collection of multiple excellent gardens that include a variety of ponds, streams, hills, groves, flower gardens and several pavilions and tea houses.
Adachi Museum of Art
Meticulously maintained, the relatively recently created garden at the Adachi Museum of Art near Matsue is almost surreal. The museum’s collection of Japanese paintings is also outstanding.
Katsura Imperial Villa
The strolling garden of the Katsura Imperial Villa in western Kyoto is one of the first and finest of its kind. Advance reservations are necessary to see the garden.
49
Colors of Japan
DESIGN Japanese design is a collection of modern contemporary design brains coming together, to create memorable works of art. Right from graphics to the the traditional origami, Japan excels in every field it offers!
51
Colors of Japan
Modern graphic design in Japan may be studied as a synthesis of both Japanese and western movements and styles from Japanese Kano school of painting, to Rimpa, and ukiyo-e woodblock prints; together with western styles of Art Nouveau, Constructivism, Bauhaus, futurism, Dada and othres. The Japanese history of graphic design as an artistic discipline must also examine publications such as Gendai shogyo bijutsu zenshu. (The Complete Commercial Artist) (1928-1930), which deals with effective design techniques, and played a significant role in the evolution the Japanese visual communication design by introducing the western world’s grammar of design to the Japanese media. Under the rubric of “dezain� (a transliteration of the English word design); graphic design was recognized as a distinct discipline, different from other disciplines such as zuan (design), and shogyo bijutsu (commercial art) in the visual art domain, in the late nineteenth century.
53
Colors of Japan
On March 11th, 2011, Japan was hit by the most powerful earthquake in at least 100 years at 8.9 magnitude, the fifth largest in history. The earthquake triggered powerful tsunami waves that reached heights of up to 40.5 meters. As if the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami weren’t enough, the following day, a reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant melted, exploded, and released radioactivity into the atmosphere. People from a variety of backgrounds in all parts of the world worked together to help Japan recuperate from this triple disaster. The design world was definitely in the middle of the action, as this post will aim to demonstrate. To commemorate the anniversary of this tragedy, remind us of the uncertainty of life, as well as celebrate the goodwill of our fellow people all over the world at the same time, here’s a compilation of earthquake posters, canvas prints, silkscreen prints, and the like (as well as links to efforts/exhibitions that encouraged their creation) made to benefit Japan during that difficult time.
55
PACKAGING DESIGN Our everyday life is filled with an abundance of products, most of which are packaged. Packages are everywhere and right next to you. There are many aspects in the world of design, but none is closer to you than package design. The Japan Package Design Association (JPDA) is an organization for designers and corporations involved in such package design. Established in 1960 and certified as a public service corporation in 1981, JPDA is the only private organization for package design in Japan. In April 2013, JPDA commenced operation as a public interest incorporated association. Colors of Japan
Packaging is closely tied to the cycle of manufacturing, distribution, purchasing, use, disposal and recycling. From this point of view, all concerned with package design must keep in mind that packages have social functions and must be responsible to society. Therefore, an important theme for package design is to make them both consumer-oriented and ecofriendly. JPDA values each one of its members for their knowledge, intelligence and hands-on experience. JPDA furthers mutual understanding and works for exchange between members. By improving the quality of design works, and by promoting the usefulness of package design, JPDA aims to enrich our way of life and contribute to economic development in light of themes required in successive periods.
57
ORIGAMI Origami is the art of folding paper into different shapes without using glue or scissors. Common folding objects include animals, flowers, balloons, planes and boats. Most popular among them, the crane is a symbol of longevity, and it is said that folding one thousand cranes can make a wish come true. Therefore, one thousand cranes are customarily given to sick people to wish them a fast recovery. In addition, the crane has became a symbol for peace. As such, large number of folded cranes are laid down beside the monuments that remember the atomic bombs in the peace parks of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Colors of Japan
The small number of basic origami folds can be combined in a variety of ways to make intricate designs. The best-known origami model is the Japanese paper crane. In general, these designs begin with a square sheet of paper whose sides may be of different colors, prints, or patterns. Traditional Japanese origami, which has been practiced since the Edo period (1603–1867), has often been less strict about these conventions, sometimes cutting the paper or using nonsquare shapes to start with. The principles of origami are also used in stents, packaging and other engineering applications
59
Colors of Japan
TECHNOLOGY Japan is one of the leading nations in the fields of scientific research, technology, machinery, and medical research with the world’s third largest budget for research and development. Japan definitely knows how to put this budget into good use.
61
Colors of Japan
BULLET TRAIN Japan’s high speed bullet trains, also known as Shinkansen trains, offer visitors an experience like no other with speeds reaching up to 320 km/hr! The main Shinkansen lines with bullet trains include Tokaido, Sanyo, Tohoku, Joetsu, Nagano and Kyushu. Popular routes include Tokyo to Osaka and Tokyo to Nagano with frequent and punctual departures. Hop on and off the rails in cities like Kyoto, Nagoya and Yokohama along the way! To travel on Japan’s bullet trains you can choose from 3 different rail passes. The Japan Rail Pass covers the entire country of Japan whereas the JR East Pass allows for travel in Eastern Japan including Tokyo, Nagano and Mount Fuji. Kyushu Rail Passes offer the flexibility of exploring the entire island of Kyushu, or only the Northern part of Japan’s third largest island. All these passes represent great value, as they include travel on Japan’s bullet trains!
63
HUMANOID ASIMO, an acronym for Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, is a humanoid robot designed and developed by Honda. Introduced on 21 October 2000, ASIMO was designed to be a multi-functional mobile assistant.With aspirations of helping those who lack full mobility, ASIMO is frequently used in demonstrations across the world to encourage the study of science and mathematics. At 130 cm (4 ft 3 in) tall and 48 kg (106 lb), ASIMO was designed to operate in real-world environments, with the ability to walk or run on two feet at speeds of up to 6 kilometres per hour (3.7 mph). In the USA, ASIMO is part of the Innoventions attraction at Disneyland and has been featured in a 15-minute show called “Say ‘Hello’ to Honda’s ASIMO” since June 2005. The robot has made public appearances around the world, including the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the Miraikan Museum and Honda Collection Hall in Japan, and the Ars Electronica festival in Austria.
Colors of Japan
65
Colors of Japan
CARS Ever since the Tesla Roadster departed showrooms, a handful of startups have tried to fill a similar two-seat electric cars car niche. The latest is a company from Japan called Green Lord Motors (GLM), which recently raised 1.7 billion yen ($14 million) to develop its sports car and explore other models. Called the Tommykaira ZZ EV, the upstart certainly has attractive styling on its side. That’s courtesy of Japanese aftermarket firm Tommykaira, which is known for its body kits. The company’s body is married with a rolling chassis from GLM, which may make the chassis available for other custom bodies as well. In its current form, the ZZ EV will do 0 to 62 mph in 3.9 seconds. It has 305 horsepower, and an estimated driving range of 75 miles. One unusual feature is a built-in synthesizer meant to provide some aural stimulation to the driver and passenger in the absence of engine noise. The device is made by musical equipment company Roland, and allows owners to choose from a variety of sounds. The ZZ EV has been on sale in Japan since August 2014, priced at 8 million yen ($67,000). It currently isn’t available anywhere else, but GLM says it will use its recently-aqcuired funds to develop a left-hand drive version for other markets. The company also plans to promote its chassis business, meaning other companies could potentially adapt the setup for different uses.
67
Colors of Japan
D E S T I N AT I O N S Japan has a list of varied “must visit” destination to offer. Let’s talk about the 3 most famous tourist spots and what makes them so delightful!
69
Colors of Japan
BYODO-IN The Byodo-In Temple is located at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. It was established on June 7, 1968, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. The Byodo-In Temple in O’ahu is a smaller-scale replica of the over 950-year-old Byodo-in Temple, a United Nations World Heritage Site in Uji, Japan. The Byodo-In Temple is a non-practicing Buddhist temple which welcomes people of all faiths to worship, meditate or simply appreciate its beauty. The temple grounds are often used for wedding ceremonies for Hawaiians or visitors from Japan. The Temple grounds are a lushly landscaped paradise nestled in a cleft of the pali and are home to wild peacocks and hundreds of Japanese koi carp. The beautiful grounds include a large reflecting pond, meditation niches, and small waterfalls. Visitors describe this destination as beautiful, peaceful, and restful.
71
Colors of Japan
SKY TREE The Tokyo Skytree is a new television broadcasting tower and landmark of Tokyo. It is the centerpiece of the Tokyo Skytree Town in the Sumida City Ward, not far away from Asakusa. With a height of 634 meters (634 can be read as “Musashi�, a historic name of the Tokyo Region), it is the tallest building in Japan and the second tallest structure in the world at the time of its completion. A large shopping complex with aquarium is located at its base. The highlight of the Tokyo Skytree is its two observation decks which offer spectacular views out over Tokyo. The two enclosed decks are located at heights of 350 and 450 meters respectively, making them the highest observation decks in Japan and some of the highest in the world.
73
Colors of Japan
OKINAWA Okinawa (Okinawa-ken) is Japan’s southernmost prefecture, consisting of a few dozen, small islands in the southern half of the Nansei Shoto, the island chain which stretches over about one thousand kilometers from Kyushu to Taiwan. Okinawa Prefecture can be divided into three major island groups, the Okinawa Islands (Okinawa Shoto) around Okinawa Island (Okinawa Honto), the Miyako Islands (Miyako Retto) around Miyako Island and the Yaeyama Islands (Yaeyama Retto) around Ishigaki Island. Okinawa’s climate is subtropical, with temperatures barely falling below 15 degrees in winter. The seas surrounding Okinawa’s islands are considered among the world’s most beautiful with coral reefs and abundant marine wildlife. Consequently, snorkeling and scuba diving are among Okinawa’s top attractions.
75
富士山
Colors of Japan
FUJI
mount
Mount Fuji (Fujisan) is with 3776 meters Japan’s highest mountain. It is not surprising that the nearly perfectly shaped volcano has been worshiped as a sacred mountain and experienced big popularity among artists and common people throughout the centuries. Mount Fuji is an active volcano, which most recently erupted in 1708. It stands on the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures and can be seen from Tokyo and Yokohama on clear days. 77
Experience the Land of Colors!
Colors of Japan
79