Culture and Arts

The culture of Japan has been strongly influenced by other countries, especially China and Korea.  Japan boasts an enriched tradition in the arts. 

Origami is the traditional art of folding paper into decorative objects.  The word "origami" means "folded paper."  Each figure is made with a single sheet of paper and without the use of glue or tape.  Origami is used in Japanese homes as a pastime and in school to teach certain skills in geometry.  Origami has also become very popular in other countries including the United States. 

Another popular Japanese art is calligraphy, painting letters of the alphabet using a brush.  Calligraphy requires  a lot of practice.  Students must learn how to hold the brush, how much ink to put on the brush, and how to write the characters correctly. 

Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry which has become popular in the United States.  A haiku is a short poem which consists of 17 syllables arranged in 3 lines.  The first line has 5 syllables, the second line has 7 syllables, and third line has 5 syllables.  A haiku poem can be about anything but the topic must be kept simple.  Haikus do not rhyme. 

Many Japanese people enjoy ikebana, the art of arranging flowers in vases and other containers.  This technique requires a lot of practice.  Bonsai is the art of growing miniature trees.  This is also a favorite pastime in Japan.