Japanese traditions list / Japanese traditional culture rank

Japan has many traditional cultures that we as Japanese can be proud of in the world.

There are various types of traditional culture, such as traditional culture that pervades Japan and obsolete traditional culture, but all of them are valuable identities for understanding the heart of Japan (it is often called yamato-damashii) and understanding the charm of Japan.

Many Japanese cultures are of Chinese origin. Because Japan have traded with China since ancient ages. Many of these cultures, even if they originated in China, have grown into cultures not found in other countries due to the influence of other country’s culture and their own development in Japan.

In this article, we introduce such many Japanese culture as a list of Japanese traditional cultures.

This article is recommended for such ;

• A people who wants to know how many are there Japanese traditional culture.
• A people who is a Japan mania.
• A people who wants to go to Japan.
• A people who makes the content that’s theme of Japan.
• A people who is a teacher of Japan.

Among such traditional cultures, “Oshogatsu” is a culture that has a history of more than 1,000 years and has achieved development unique to Japan, such as food, festivals, play, and ornaments. Its appeal is not well known overseas, and modernization has diminished domestic awareness, so we as the Japan Shogatsu Association℠ was organized with the aim of enlightening it and passing it on to future generations. You could see our other contents from the top page.

So what other traditional cultures are there in Japan? Let’s take a look together.

Martial arts [Japanese traditional martial arts]

There are many traditional martial arts known to the world in Japan.

• Kendo（剣道, けんどう）
• Judo（柔道, じゅうどう）
• Karate（空手, からて）
• Sumo（相撲, すもう）
• Naginata（薙刀, なぎなた）
• Kyudo（弓道, きゅうどう）

Cooking, foods [Japanese traditional food culture]

Japan has many traditional food cultures known all over the world.

• Chopsticks（Hashi, 箸, はし）
• sushi（寿司, すし）
• Natto（納豆, なっとう）
• rice ball（onigiri, おにぎり）
• Umeboshi（梅干し, うめぼし）
• Sukiyaki（すき焼き, すきやき）
• Shabu-shabu（しゃぶしゃぶ）
• Udon（饂飩, うどん）
• Soba（蕎麦, そば）
• Sake（日本酒, にほんしゅ）
• Natto（納豆, なっとう）
• ramen（ラーメン）
• shaved ice（Kakigori, かき氷）
• Steamed bread（Manju, おまんじゅう）
• green tea（Ocha, お茶, おちゃ）（Ryokucha, 緑茶, りょくちゃ）
• rice cake（Omochi, 餅, もち）
• rice cucky（Senbei, 煎餅, せんべい）

Performing arts / skills [Traditional Japanese performing arts]

Japanese traditional performing arts and skills are of interest from all over the world.

• Calligraphy（Shodo, 書道, しょどう）
• Tea ceremony（Sado, 茶道, さどう）
• Flower arrangement（Kado, 華道, かどう）
• Haiku（俳句, はいく）
• Tanka（短歌, たんか）
• Noh（能, のう）
• Kyogen（狂言, きょうげん）
• Rakugo（落語, らくご）
• Kabuki（歌舞伎, かぶき）
• Lion dance（Shishimai, 獅子舞, ししまい）
• Kagura（神楽, かぐら）
• Shogi（将棋, しょうぎ）

Musical instrument [Traditional Japanese Musical instrument]

Japanese traditional musical instrument are of interest from all over the world.

• Shamisen（三味線, しゃみせん）
• Koto（琴, こと）
• Wadaiko（和太鼓, わだいこ）
• Shakuhachi（尺八, しゃくはち）

Tourism [Traditional Japanese tourism objects]

Japan has many unique traditional tourism objects that you can’t see in other countries.

• Hot springs（Onsen, 温泉, おんせん）
• public baths（Sento, 銭湯, せんとう）
• Coming light（Goraiko, ご来光, ごらいこう）
• Karesansui（枯山水, かれさんすい）
• Shrine（Jinja, 神社, じんじゃ）
• Castle（Shiro, 城, しろ）

Manufacturing [Traditional Japanese manufacturing]

Traditional Japanese manufacturing is of interest from all over the world.

• Tatami（畳, たたみ）
• Straw work（Warazaiku, 藁細工, わらざいく）

Clothes [Traditional Japanese clothing]

Japanese traditional clothing culture that is of interest from all over the world. These are also important.

• Kanzashi（簪, かんざし）
• Kimono（着物, きもの）
• Jinbei（甚平, じんべい）
• Geta（下駄, げた）
• Zori（草履, ぞうり）
• Yukata（浴衣, ゆかた）
• Snowshoes（Kanjiki, かんじき, 樏, 橇, 檋, 梮）

Concept [Traditional Japanese way of thinking]

Traditional Japanese thinking is influencing the world.

• Wabisabi（わびさび）
• Hannari（はんなり）
• Yamato-damashii（大和魂, やまとだましい）
• Zen（禅, ぜん）

The day of Hare [Japanese traditional the day of Hare culture]

The culture of doing something special on the day of Hare is also unique.

• Haregi（晴れ着, はれぎ）

Oshogatsu Traditional Culture [Japanese Traditional Oshogatsu Culture]

Oshogatsu is a unique culture of Japan.

• Kakizome（書き初め, かきぞめ）
• Nanakusa-gayu（七草粥, ななくさがゆ）
• Zoni（雑煮, おぞうに）
• Otoso（お屠蘇, おとそ）
• Osechi cuisine（お節料理, おせちりょうり）
• New Year’s present（Otoshidama, お年玉, おとしだま）
• Hatsuyume（初夢, はつゆめ）
• Hatsumode（初詣, はつもうで）
• Lucky bag（Fukubukuro, 福袋, ふくぶくろ）
• New Year party（Shin-nen-kai, 新年会, しんねんかい）
• Kagami biraki（鏡開き, かがみびらき）
• The beginning of the bow（Yumi-hajime, 弓始め, ゆみはじめ）
• Lion dance（Shishimai, 獅子舞, ししまい）
• New Year’s soba（Toshikoshi soba, 年越しそば, としこしそば）
• Namahage（なまはげ）

We as the Japan Shogatsu Association℠ supervises books, magazines, TV, Video related to the Oshogatsu (Oshogatsu festivals, Oshogatsu foods, Oshogatsu play, Oshogatsu ornaments, etc.).

We as the Japan Shogatsu Association℠ is a specialized research institute for the Oshogatsu. You can feel free to contact us.

Oshogatsu play [Japanese traditional oshogatsu play]

It is interesting traditional oshogatsu play.

• Hanetsuki（羽つき, はねつき）
• Karuta（カルタ）
• Hyakunin Isshu（百人一首, ひゃくにんいっしゅ）
• dice game（Sugoroku, 双六, すごろく）
• Top spinning（Komamawashi, 独楽回し, こままわし）
• Fukuwarai（福笑い, ふくわらい）
• Flying a kite（Takoage, 凧揚げ, たこあげ）

Seasonal traditional culture [Seasonal Japanese traditional events]

Events other than New Year’s are also a unique culture unique to Japan.

• Jugoya（十五夜, じゅうごや）
• Shichigosan（七五三, しちごさん）
• Setsubun（節分, せつぶん）
• Hinamatsuri（ひな祭り, ひなまつり）
• Hanami（花見, はなみ）
• Carp streamer（koinobori, 鯉のぼり, こいのぼり）
• Jinjitsu no Sekku（人日の節句, じんじつのせっく）
• Nanakusa no Sekku（七草の節句, ななくさのせっく）
• Jomi no Sekku（上巳の節句, じょうみのせっく）
• Momo no Sekku（桃の節句, もものせっく）
• Tango no Sekku（端午の節句, たんごのせっく）
• Shobu no Sekku（菖蒲の節句, しょうぶのせっく）
• Tanabata no Sekku（七夕の節句, たなばたのせっく）
• Sasatake no Sekku（笹竹の節句, ささたけのせっく）
• Choyo no Sekku（重陽の節句, ちょうようのせっく）
• Kiku no Sekku（菊の節句, きくのせっく）
• Summer festival（Natsu Matsuri, 夏祭り, なつまつり）
• Obon（お盆, おぼん）
• Year-end party（Bonenkai, 忘年会, ぼうねんかい）
• General cleaning（Ohsoji, 大掃除, おおそうじ）

Other [Other traditional Japanese culture]

Japan’s uniqueness also represented in responding to special events.

• Yuino（結納, ゆいのう）
• Going to night（Tsuya, 通夜, つや）
• Mourning（喪中, もちゅう）
• Shichigosan（七五三, しちごさん）

Japanese traditional culture experience popular with foreign tourists

As mentioned above, such traditional culture in Japan is rare for outside of Japan, it is one of reason that peoples from outside may visit Japan. This is called “experiential consumption” and is also a trend for Japan travel.

So what is most popular? For reference, we will introduce it from other websites.

10 Japanese cultures that foreigners like and their reasons / 3 examples of inbound experience contentHot spring

• kabuki
• Dressing
• tea ceremony
• Sword fight
• origami
• calligraphy
• flower arrangement
• Ukiyo-e
• food sample

from https://honichi.com/… (in Japanese)

World-class cool Japan. Top 10 most popular “traditional performing arts” in Japan

• 5th Kyogen
• 4th tea ceremony
• 3rd calligraphy
• 2nd Kabuki
• 1st Rakugo

from https://tripeditor.com/353218 (in Japanese)

Summary [Japanese traditional culture]

As you can see, there are various cultures in Japan.

We as Japan Shogatsu Association℠ would like to continue to cherish the traditional culture that is indispensable when talking about Japaneseness.

President of Japan Shogatsu Association℠ IMANARI, Yuta.

We as the Japan Shogatsu Association℠ supervises books, magazines, TV, Video related to the Oshogatsu (Oshogatsu festivals, Oshogatsu foods, Oshogatsu play, Oshogatsu ornaments, etc.).

We as the Japan Shogatsu Association℠ is a specialized research institute for the Oshogatsu. You can feel free to contact us.

Update history

• June 11, 2021 Little rewrite
• June 03, 2021 Add “Otoso”
• May 26, 2021 Add new item
• May 25, 2021 English version published
• April 26, 2021 First draft released (in Japanese)