自分の生きる人生を愛せ。Love the life you’re living.
We can find a piece of Japan everywhere around us in the 21st century. We’re diving into Japanese culture, without even having a clue. From early childhood by watching our favourite inspirational Anime, all the way into our adulthood, where we’re picturing ourselves dining at a fancy sushi restaurant. You can find more about how Japan influences the West in this article, starting off with a little bit of history about its curious nickname.
The Land of the Rising Sun
We all are aware that Japan is called ‘The Land of the Rising Sun’ but do we know why?
Yes, you’ll say the sun rises first in Japan. But the truth is quite different than our guesses. Depending on the time of year, the countries where the sun rises first in the world are New Zealand, Kiribati, and Russia, and if you’d like to read more about this topic our suggestion is to check out this informative article.
Back to the point, the origins of the name "Land of the Rising Sun" are in fact very intriguing.
The Italian explorer Marco Polo was the first man to introduce Japan to the western part of the world in the 13th century. Truth be told, the explorer never actually visited the Land of the Rising Sun. He only reached the country's neighbour - South China, where natives introduced him to the history behind Japan's nickname. Japan was referred to as "Wa" or "Yamato" until the 7th century, employing the Chinese character 倭, which carries the meaning "small" or "insignificant". However, in the early 8th century the Japanese government changed it to Nihon (literally translated to “where the sun rises”). An interesting fact is that Japan took the Chinese government into mind when naming their nation, perhaps to express their respect. Japan is situated where the sun rises for China rather than Japan. And even though Japan’s national flag looked quite different at first, nowadays it is still called “the rising sun flag”.
Technology Geeks
On behalf of the whole world, it is safe to say that Japan gave birth to some of the most advanced inventors of technology. From digital cameras, through to DVDs and CDs, including the first game consoles- it is all Japanese influence on the rest of the global population.
Moreover, the period of the biggest development of video games in Japan is marked as the ‘golden age of video games’. Companies such as Nintendo and Sega created the legendary Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, and Street Fighter, which, in fact, many of us 90s and 00s babies have played on repeat during our childhoods and some, into their adulthood. And, of course, who hasn’t heard about Sony’s PlayStation. To this day Japanese video game inventions remain the most profitable in the whole industry and we’re sure the publishers are very proud of their work.
Who doesn't love sushi?
The first thought that comes to our minds when hearing The Land of the Rising Sun’s name is definitely their popular dishes. Sushi, ramen, and green tea are just a small part of the amazing cuisine that Japan presents to other nations. We’ve all heard the saying “Japan holds the secret to longer life”, however, it’s not really a secret just that Japanese people know how to balance the tasty with healthy. Whether paired with a glass of sake, a cocktail, or a glass of wine, it is exactly the world-loved Sushi that delivers to us a distinctive and delicious dining experience unlike anything else. The combination of the rice, sauce, and other ingredients with the cold, crisp fish is still unique for many people in the world.
Feeling hungry after reading all of this? Good! Our team recommends visiting either K.O.I. Kanpai - the cosy hybrid store in the center of Breda that offers a list of authentic Japanese meals, or if you’d rather prefer a busier atmosphere Geisha Lounge is the restaurant for you with the best sushi in town!
Entertainment
Did you know that the Japanese invented one of the Netherlands, and the rest of the world's favourite entertainment activities? Karaoke!
The word ‘karaoke’ comes from the Japanese ‘kara’, which means ‘empty’ and ‘okestura’, which means ‘orchestra’. The first karaoke machine producer was the company Clairon, even though the first karaoke machine was originally invented by the musician Daisuke Inoue in 1971.
Another big influential part of Japanese pop culture on the rest of the world is Anime (Japanese cartoon). The writer of Pure Invention. How Japan Made the Modern World? Matt Alt, shares in an interview that Anime had become one of the fastest growing segments on American streaming networks and added that Demon Slayer the Movie was one of the highest grossing productions of 2020.
Pop Culture
The first person to discover and develop the kawaii appeal was the founder of Sanrio- Shintaro Tsuji. In addition to creating merchandise using their characters, Sanrio engages in publishing and movie productions. Hello Kitty is one of the most popular Sanrio figures and Japanese characters in general. Her appearance is not just cute but also symbolic. Hello Kitty doesn’t have a mouth, I.e., she has an expressionless face. The meaning behind that lies in the freedom of those, who look at her face, to project their own emotions onto it. Of course, there are other interesting Sanrio characters and if you’re curious to find which character resembles you, go try this cool BuzzFeed Quiz.
And finally, if you’re passionate about collecting Japanese merchandise, our team recommends doing a little trip to Amsterdam and visiting The Otaking store. Have fun!
