Cultural Footprint

Our cultural footprint is integrated into our identity. It is something we can all relate, learn and aspire to.

Cultural Footprint Japanese Diaspora

Looking Back to the Past: Re-examining Seattle’s Once Vibrant Japantown

Seattle’s Chinatown-International District (CID) was once home to the largest Japantown in North America and remains to be one of the most historically significant places for Japanese Americans. In the 1880s, the first wave of Japanese laborers arrived in the Northwestern United States and undertook hard labor to build railroads, sawmills, and farms. Amid the prewar global population growth, by 1930, 8,500 Japanese Americans were living in what is known as the CID today. The district was home to Japanese language schools, newspaper offices, religious institutions, and dojos, which represented Japanese culture and became known as Japantown. The streets were filled with lodgings, restaurants, and stores run by Japanese American

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Cultural Footprint Japanese Diaspora

Found Photos of Japanese-Australians Uncover Historical Journeys of the Past

It’s not a well-known fact that Japanese people lived in Australia before the war. When we trace back the friendly relations between Australia and Japan today, we realize that it is thanks to the achievements of Japanese immigrants in the past. In 2015, Mayu Kanamori came across more than 300 photos featuring Japanese nationals at a flea market in a rural town in Australia. The discovery led Kanamori, an artist based in Sydney, to launch a project, Untitled.Showa, to try to identify the people in the photos and the story behind them, for instance why they were found in Australia. Anyone can participate in the project. Participants are asked to explore ways

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Cultural Footprint Japanese Diaspora

Deconstructing Creativity: ‘Japas’ Craft Beer, Created by a Trio of Female Japanese-Brazilians

Brazil is home to the world’s largest Japanese populations outside of Japan, numbering about 1.5 million people. The Japanese Brazilians are either 1) Japanese people from Japan who immigrated to Brazil and then became naturalized Brazilian citizens; or 2) those born in Brazil with varying degrees of Japanese ethnicity. There were many reasons why there was an influx of Japanese people coming to Brazil. Back in 1868, Japan was suffering from poverty and high unemployment during the Mejii Period (1868-1912). Consequently, the number of Japanese wishing to emigrate increased. Many of them were dreaming of working abroad to save money and eventually return to Japan. However once they arrived, many others

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Cultural Footprint Japanese Diaspora

The Hidden Story: The Cultural Heritage of Okinawan Tattoos

More than 120 years ago, the custom of hajichi, a deep blue pattern tattooed on the back of women’s hands in Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands, was banned by the Meiji government and gradually disappeared. Hajichi was the cultural heritage of the Ryukyu Kingdom, a rite of passage to mark the coming of age, marriage, and a talisman, which was desired by women. Lee Tonouchi, a fourth-generation Okinawan writer born and raised in Hawaiʻi, discusses the origins of Hawaiʻi Creole also known as Pidgin, as well as the diversity of the cultures in Hawaiʻi, and his own experience with hajichi. Tonouchi wrote Okinawan Princess: Da Legend of Hajichi Tattoos (2019). He said he was motivated to

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Cultural Footprint Life Style Me Time Guide Table For One

Getting Perfect Me Time in Classic Tokyo’s Cafes

The coffee culture in Tokyo draws inspiration from different global influences including various American coffee style cafes to authentic Italian espresso bars, as well as entertainment cafes like the maid cafes (where waitresses are dressed in maid outfits), and numerous cuddly animal cafes which showcase cats, owls and mini pigs to name a few. We’ve reached new heights in the variety of cafes and the coffee culture in Tokyo. The local coffee shop has become more than just a cup of coffee. It has become the perfect place for get-togethers, chats with your loved ones, spending some quality Me Time, or meeting for business purposes. We are here to help

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Cultural Footprint Me Time Guide Table For One

Our Choice for the Best Korean-Japanese BBQ In Japan

Yakiniku means grilled meat in Japanese, and Yakiniku restaurants can be found in every restaurant row in Japan. There are approximately 20,000 yakiniku restaurants in the country. Some specialize in premium brand-name beef such as Kobe and Matsusaka beef, while others specialize in offal and game meat. There are All-You-Can-Eat buffets, as well as conveyor belt yakiniku, just like conveyor belt sushi! These days, the yakiniku trend keenly focuses on the dizzying variety of sauces. Many restaurants choose specific sauces depending on the particular type of meat that they serve. In addition, it is not unusual for customers to be served at least four or five different kinds of sauces. And there are

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Cultural Footprint Me Time Guide

The Old Meets the New: Living like a Monk, a Temple Stay Guide

Buddhist practices, such as mindfulness and mindful eating, are spreading more and more as a part of changes in one’s lifestyle in western countries. There are many Buddhists in Asia, as well as many curious people outside of Japan who say that Japanese people appear to be Atheists. However, many Japanese are just simply not religious even though they were born to Shinto rites, married with Shinto or Christian rites, and buried with Buddhist rites. They habitually go to shrines and temples to pray to gods and Buddha during New Year’s and during other traditional religious events. Regardless, many Japanese people never think about what they believe in and what

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Cultural Footprint Life Style

Love or Hate – Japan’s Mysterious Tattoo Culture

Many curious people outside of Japan ask us about the some of the stigmas surrounding Japanese people having tattoos. They first ask, “Why can’t Japanese people with tattoos seem to buy life insurance?” and secondly they ask, “Why are people with tattoos frequently not allowed in Japanese public baths?“. At first glance there seems to be a definite negative bias and discrimination towards those with tattoos. However, while some view tattoos as an art form, the Japanese government, on the other hand, does not. “Why can’t many Japanese people with tattoos buy life insurance?” The first reason is that there is a long-held belief that tattoos represent the Japanese criminal syndicates

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Cultural Footprint Table For One

Why Japanese Curry is so Popular in Japan: Its Unique Origins

When people think of Japanese food, many of us typically imagine sushi, soba, ramen, and yakitori. However, the fact is that Japan is actually the world’s second largest curry-loving country —of course, India is number one, based on the annual consumption of curry powder in the world. In Japanese, curry is called karē raisu, which means curry over rice. According to a survey by S&B FOODS, a Japanese company that produces and sells curry and spices, the average Japanese individual eats more than 80 servings of curry per year, or roughly once a week. There are many specialty curry restaurants in Japan, and curry is also very frequently prepared at home.

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Cultural Footprint Life Style Me Time Guide

Minimalism Stories You Should Read in Your Lifetime

Autumn is a great time to expand your artistic horizons and interests, whether it’s arts, movies, theatrical performances, classical music, or jazz. We think one of the easiest and convenient things to do by ourselves every fall is to read. In Japan, there is a saying, “Autumn is the season for reading.” We considered it to be the best season for deepening our knowledge. We will introduce you to recommended Japanese pieces of literature which will enhance your life. While the most recognizable Japanese author is Haruki Murakami, a younger generation of writers is making its mark. In recent years, many contemporary Japanese works of literature have been translated into

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