Japan, A Country with a Culture of Rituals

Instead of simplistically categorizing Japan as being religious, it is more accurate to say Japan has a culture of rituals or Japanese people tend to be ritualistic.  Since Buddhism and Shintoism focus on developing an individual’s mindset rather than constant worship, Japanese people don’t consider participation in related traditions as “religious.” As we continue to learn about traditions in Japan, please remember and consider the connections to Buddhism and Shintoism, but also try to recognize other cultural influences from Japan’s relationships with other countries.

What tradition did I learn about?:

In Japan there are two kinds of traditions: (1) Western holidays adopted from Americans but re-interpreted in Japan, and (2) native Japanese rituals, holidays, and festivals. Below I will list and describe a few important holidays and traditions:

American-inspired holidays 

  • Happy Birthday: In some countries, the Happy Birthday song is sung with the same melody but the lyrics are changed to the native language. However, in Japan it is sung in English!
  • Valentine’s Day (February 14) & White Day (March 14): We all know of Valentine’s Day, but White Day is celebrated in Asian countries, including Japan. In Japan, girls are supposed to give chocolate to boys on Valentine’s Day, and boys to girls on White Day.  
  • Halloween (October 31): This is not considered a “children’s holiday” where you build friendships with your neighbors, as in America. There is no “trick-or-treat” culture, but you can definitely buy Halloween themed candy and sweets.

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