Family customs and rites of passage in Japan

The ancient Japanese culture is rich in family-honoring rituals and customs. Japan has been able to temper the effect of other cultures for many years since it is an island nation. This made it possible for the lovely Land of the Rising Sun to have its own culture and heritage. Details from the life of your Japanese ancestors will enliven your family stories with major milestones, festivals, and distinctive attire.

Shintoism and Buddhism are two significant religions that have an impact on Japanese customs and culture. For more than 2,000 years, Shintoism has been practiced in Japan. Shintoism is just the belief in kami (gods). As Shintoism places a strong emphasis on rituals, some Japanese might not consider it to be a religion at all but rather a way to honor several social traditions in Japan. Because of this, Shinto practices and Buddhism may coexist harmoniously. 

A Cultural Rite of Passage, Hatsu Miyamairi 

For the close family members of a newborn child, the practice of Hatsu Miyamairi, also known as Omiyamairi, or "shrine visit," is a treasured family tradition. During this unique rite of passage, the baby's parents or grandparents take him to a Shinto shrine. This Japanese Shinto custom expresses appreciation for the birth of the child and is traditionally carried out 33 days after the birth of a girl and 31 days after the birth of a male.  Infants are typically carried by their grandmother and clad in a beautiful white frock or white kimono. The shrine priest offers a prayer for the infant's wellbeing.

No Hi Seijin 

An additional rite of passage in Japanese culture is Seijin no Hi, also known as Coming of Age Day. It is celebrated every year on the second Monday in January to welcome those who have reached the age of 20 into adulthood. Since AD 714, when a young prince changed into new robes and altered his hairdo to signify his transition into adulthood, Seijin no Hi has been practiced in Japan. New adults congregate on this celebratory day and listen to uplifting speeches from elected figures.

Rite of Passage in Kanreki 

People don't typically view becoming older as a cause for celebration in many cultures. Being 60 years old in Japan is a cause for celebration! Kanreki, which means "return" and "calendar," refers to going back to your first cycle; in conventional calendars, a person turning 60 has finished one cycle. The celebrant man or woman wears a vivid red vest and headgear, sits on a red couch, and receives a white fan to mark kanreki. To support the wish that the birthday person would live a long and healthy life in a "second childhood," food, gifts, and decorations are all red in hue.

The Obon Festival: A Japanese Cultural Festival 

The Japanese pay tribute to their ancestors at the Obon festival. This three-day summer event, which usually occurs in July or August, has been held for more than 500 years. This Japanese Buddhist custom urges people to go back to their ancestral homes, clean their ancestors' graves, and pay them a visit. The family altars are thought to be visited by the ghosts of the ancestors. As a sign of respect for the deceased, gifts of food, booze, and flowers are frequently placed on gravestones and altars. Dance and music are featured in the festivities. The dance form known as "Bon odori," or "Bon dance," is unique to the Obon. Region to area may have different bon odori aesthetics. The focal point of a classic Bon dance is a tall wooden scaffold decorated with lanterns or lights. Attendees congregate around the scaffold, known as a yagura, and dance in a circular motion as musicians and singers perform on it.

Japanese Domestic Life 

A kamidana or butsudan, which are house altars or shrines, and tatami mats, which are floors made of rush and cotton, are just a few of the highly distinctive features that distinguish traditional Japanese homes and give them their characteristic appearance. House altars and shrines are used for worship and to show respect to ancestors. A butsudan altar, which resembles a cabinet, is frequently used by Buddhists. A Buddha statue, candlesticks, incense, bells, and a spot to make gifts on the altar are frequently found in the cabinet. A kamidana is a tiny Shinto shrine that is kept inside. The shrine contains amulets or talismans. White pieces of paper are suspended from a rope over the top, similar to traditional shrines seen in cities and towns. These rope and paper demonstrate the shrine's cleanliness to the kami, or god. Vases, candlesticks, and white plates for food, sake, and water offerings may also be present.

Visitors must first pass through the genkan, a lowered platform made of pressed soil or concrete, before entering a Japanese residence. They take off their shoes at the genkan and put on indoor slippers before rising to enter the house. Visitors who do not have slippers must carefully take off their shoes so that their socks do not contact the genkan before stepping inside the house. Throughout the house, washi paper walls divide the various rooms. These movable walls may be moved to create extra room as needed, and they can even aid in controlling the temperature of the house. A paper wall doesn't offer much privacy, as you might expect. Because of this, modern Japanese homes frequently have thicker walls.The tokonoma is another distinguishing feature of Japanese homes. A slightly elevated alcove that serves as this focal point is typically decorated with a hanging scroll, pottery, and floral arrangements. The tokonoma's artwork and flowers may occasionally be changed to reflect the seasons or a special occasion. A seat in front of the tokonoma is regarded as an honor seat saved for visitors and the family head.  The engawa, a lengthy passageway, may also be found in a traditional Japanese house. The engawa, which often connects the living space with the garden, is available for you to stroll down. It's the ideal spot to unwind on a nice, sunny day.