The Japanese people have lots of traditions that differ from American traditions. These are found in many aspects of people’s lives and can range from going to temples, to the way people bathe and eat. Traditions are based on cultural beliefs, religion, the environment, relations and exchange with other cultures. Japanese traditions are influenced by religions like Buddhism, which came from India and spread throughout much of Asia, Confucianism, which came from China, and Shinto, the local Japanese ancestor-worship traditions. There are many Buddhist and Shinto shrines and temples throughout the country. The environment also heavily influences the traditions and culture. Japan is an island that experiences all four seasons and the Japanese people have matsuri, or festivals, to celebrate the seasons. Japan is also near other Asian countries like Korea and China with a long history of international relations. Let’s see how these facts influence cultural traditions.
In Japan, there are many matsuri throughout the year. I visited Gion Matsuri, a festival that takes place in the Gion district, or neighborhood, of the city of Kyoto. I have also gone to smaller local festivals in smaller shrines. In addition to learning about festivals in Japan, I have also learned about some of their hygenic practices.
