11 Facts About Japanese Culture for Kids

With these 11 facts about Japanese culture for kids, you can hopefully get your curious little minds interested in something other than the newest episode of their favorite TV show. In this age of technology, it is more important than ever to make conscious decisions to teach your youngsters things of value and not let too much of their minds get cluttered up with some of the garbage that plagues their most prized electronics. Teaching your kids facts about different cultures at a young age can be a great way to get them interested in different things. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of culture is “the beliefs, customs, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time.” It goes on giving examples like “ways of life” and “way of thinking, behaving, or working” mentioned in the same basic context. With all these different things that make up culture, it shouldn’t be hard to find something that will grab your child’s attention.

Not only is teaching your kids about different cultures an excellent way to educate and get them excited about new things, but it can be an ingenious way to teach them about values. Especially, those values that seem to be fading in our own culture. Japanese culture is especially an awesome culture to learn about as a child because it is so rich in values and yet has a fun, enchanting appeal.

I remember when I was in the fourth grade, we had a unit completely devoted to Japanese culture. It was about two or three weeks where we would learn something new every day about different Japanese customs, beliefs, ceremonies and rituals. We also each had a specific topic that we had to do a big project on and present to the entire class. Those few weeks in my elementary school years left a big impression on me as a child that much of it has stayed with me years later.

Whether or not they realize or you as the adult realizes, kids actually enjoy and are interested in learning about this stuff! Even before a parent really has the chance to notice, young children are often very intrigued by people who look, dress, or act differently than what they are familiar with, which is just another reason why it is a good idea to teach your children about as many different cultures as possible. You could avoid a potentially embarrassing moment out in public by simply educating your child about the different people they may see and the unique cultures they represent, and this list of the 11 facts about Japanese culture for kids will be a great start!

Grown-ups, I haven’t forgotten about you! Although I found some great sites about Japan targetted at kids to help me come up with a kid-friendly list, 50 Crazy Facts About Japan You Won’t Believe is another informative list that I would recommend you check out for yourself! It is intended for a reader with a more mature mind than that of a child’s. I have made a point to include facts about Japanese culture that will covertly teach them important principles as well as ones that are just for fun. You can expect for whatever youngsters you share this with to learn great stuff about the Japanese culture along with some influential values and enjoy a laugh along the way!

 

11. Japanese culture dates back to about 10,000 BC

Japanese culture has been around for thousands of years. Although we can’t pinpoint a specific date it was established, archaeologists have uncovered and been able to piece together parts of Japanese culture from many different things left behind, one of the most significant things being art. During the birthing stages of the Japanese culture, they were known as the Jomon, which is a name derived from the unprecedented designs imprinted on their pottery. They flourished in Japan for nearly 10,000 years, growing more civilized and sophisticated along the way, until they were joined by a new people—the Yayoi people, who came from China. Since their introduction, the Jomon have borrowed and tweaked the customs of other cultures, like the Yayoi, and blossomed into what is now the Japanese culture.

 

10. Crooked teeth are often considered attractive

While many western countries will try to correct their less-than-perfect teeth with the aid of braces and retainers, in Japan many men consider women with crooked teeth to be attractive. This particular look is known as “yaeba” and is often admired for the youthfulness it brings to a woman’s face. Although it is ideal to have a naturally crooked smile, it has become increasingly popular in Japan for women to spend hundreds of dollars to have a procedure done that will make their teeth crooked. Along with this newer custom, an older Japanese tradition known as “ohaguro” was once very popular and practiced regularly. It involves dyeing the teeth black or “blackening your teeth” and was also a sign of beauty more commonly practiced by married women, but sometimes even done by men. The samurai even practiced the ohaguro tradition to display their loyalty to their masters.

 

9. It is common for rice to be served at every meal

No matter where you go in this world, you will find an array of different dishes that are common in certain cultures. While the Japanese are known to eat some seemingly unusual things, it is also very well known that they have a lot of tasty traditional dishes. One of their predominant foods being rice, which they even used to use as money! Today, rice is eaten at every meal—even breakfast! The Japanese are very particular about the way they prepare, present and eat their rice along with everything else they eat. Because of their watchfulness in how and what they eat, the Japanese have always had a very healthy diet and are therefore known to live longer than the average person!

 

8. The Tea Ceremony is one of Japan’s many traditional rituals and has been practiced for hundreds of years

When you start to take a look into Japanese culture, it really doesn’t take long to notice the beauty in it all. Even the simple act of a host serving tea to a guest is a form of art taken very seriously in Japan. In Japan, it’s not just having some folks over for tea. The tea ceremony is a very methodical way of preparing and serving “matcha,” or green tea. It requires a certain level of knowledge and delicacy. The host must know how to prepare a special meal for their guest, prepare the tea properly, even the way they arrange their flowers and eating utensils are given much thought. It’s all about maintaining a certain etiquette and creating a beautiful and relaxing experience between the host and their guest.

 

7. Slurping your noodles indicates you are enjoying your meal

Does the sound of other people eating make you see red? In Japan, loud slurping actually indicates that one is enjoying their meal and it can be considered rude not to slurp! Along with this comes a slew of other table manners to be mindful of, like never point your chopsticks or poke your food with them, make sure to at least try a little of everything that was presented, and never mix other food with your rice! To ensure you don’t offend, you might want to check out some more dining etiquette if you ever find yourself a guest at a Japanese dinner table, but don’t talk about it at the dinner table, as conversation while eating is kept to a minimum!

 

6. Japan is universally recognized for its traditional arts along with its modern pop culture

Remember the pottery I mentioned a little earlier made by Japanese ancestors, the Jomon? Well, the designs on their pottery were actually the oldest patterns of their kind! This tells us that art has been a big part of Japanese culture and over the years, it has evolved from unique designs in their pottery to sculpting, different forms of painting, kirigami, and origami, to its martial arts, bonsai, bento, manga, anime and so much more. The Japanese take art so seriously that they have nine key principles that underline art in their own culture. You can look more into that here, but I’d like to give you an idea of the forms of art I already mentioned.

The pottery was previously mentioned, but during that same time frame eventually came sculptures. At first, they were sculptures of what we believe to be the goddess the Jomon worshiped at the time and kept maturing as time went on. The ukiyo-e is a style of Japanese woodblock painting that has been around for thousands of years. Many of the Japanese paintings we are familiar with today are typically this style of painting. Kirigami and origami are very much alike. Origami is the art of paper-folding, while kirigami is a little more intricate because in this art the paper can also be cut. We’re all familiar with martial arts, but many may not realize that it is just as much a form of Japanese art as it is self-defense. Bonsai is the art of growing tiny trees. These trees are aesthetically pleasing and can take a lot of dedication and patience to keep in a dwarf state. Bento is a more modern art taking over Japan. It is the art of preparing food to go. Many Japanese mothers practice their bento as they pack their child’s lunches, strategically arranging their food into adorable shapes and characters. Manga and anime are also more a part of the contemporary pop culture in Japan. Simply put, manga is essentially Japanese comic books, while anime is their own style of animation.

 

5. Japanese are keen on non-verbal communication

Silence is something that is highly valued in Japan and, therefore, can be very intuitive when it comes to picking up on someone else’s body language. In Japanese culture, one who is quiet would be more trustworthy than someone who does a lot of talking. They even have many proverbs or Japanese sayings that pertain to their value of silence. One, in particular, being “the duck that quacks is the first to get shot.” It shows how much the Japanese value silence as well as revealing that they find one can get more out of non-verbal communication and cues than verbal ones. It might even be a fun idea to practice more non-verbal forms of communication in your own home!

 

4. In Japan, religion is more like a way of life than something that is preached and advocated

Buddhism and Shintoism are the two main religions that the Japanese follow. When the Jomon people evolved into what are known as the Yayoi, Buddhism was introduced to them from China and Shintoism later became their own modification of the religion. Today the Japanese aren’t real big on religion. However, many traditional religious practices can be found in their customs and rituals as well as long-established religious principles encompassing many of the values that are fundamental to the way that the Japanese live their lives today. While religion is not an everyday practice in Japan like you would find in other cultures, it is very much so present in their beliefs and vital festivals throughout their lives, birth, marriage, and death being among the most important milestones where they take part in these spiritual festivals or “matsuri.”

 

3. The Japanese are very mindful to hierarchy

The Japanese have many different hierarchal systems practiced in their culture. From social hierarchies to business hierarchies, the etiquette they maintain throughout them can be a lot for a child’s mind to take in. However, a typical practice is the respect they show for their elders. Be it in a family, social or business situation, everyone is expected to know their place in the hierarchy. It is typical for children in school to address each other a certain way depending one who is younger or older. Also, in social situations, the elders are also always served first as a sign of respect, which if you haven’t noticed is something take very seriously!

 

2. Children often join sports teams at a young age to help instill qualities the Japanese value

While Japan’s national sport is Sumo, Kendo, Karate, Aikido, and Judo are other traditional Japanese sports that are profoundly entrenched in Japanese culture. Sumo derived from a Shinto ritual over 1,500 years ago and was molded into a professional sport where the object is to push your opponent out of a ring. Kendo is thought to be one of Japan’s oldest forms of martial art, which is similar to fencing, but a much more spiritual experience. Karate, aikido, and judo, along with many others are all forms of martial arts, as well and each has their own unique style and teaches many different qualities that the Japanese value, such as dedication, discipline, and harmony. You can also find children taking part in sports like baseball, soccer, and football and they are encouraged to be part of a team to gain a sense of pride and camaraderie.

 

1. “Wa” is one of Japan’s key values and means “harmony”

All throughout Japanese society you will find “wa,” which can be a pretty heavy concept but be easily described as simply “harmony.” The Japanese, above all, strive for harmony in every aspect of their lives. So, it only made sense for it to be at number one out of 11 facts about Japanese culture for kids. It’s kind of like “keeping the peace” in every possible situation you can imagine. A great example is how the Japanese stray from confrontation or conflict of any kind. For instance, in Japanese culture, it is considered rude to say “no” to someone directly. Instead, they choose their words carefully, as not to offend others and avoid conflict. Can you think of more harmonious ways to show you do not agree with someone or something? You might just find that practicing some of Japan’s cultural values can increase the value in your own life, and help you lead a more peaceful existence!