Contemporary Japanese culture combines influences from Asia, Europe, and North America. Traditional Japanese arts include
crafts such as
ceramics,
textiles,
lacquerware,
swords, and
dolls; performances of , , ,
dance, and ; and other practices, the
tea ceremony, ,
martial arts,
calligraphy,
origami, ,
Geisha, and
games. Japan has a developed system for the protection and promotion of both tangible and intangible
Cultural Properties and
National Treasures.
Twenty-two sites have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, eighteen of which are of cultural significance. Japan is considered a
cultural superpower.
Art and architecture The history of Japanese painting exhibits synthesis and competition between native Japanese esthetics and imported ideas. The interaction between Japanese and European art has been significant: for example
ukiyo-e prints, which began to be exported in the 19th century in the movement known as
Japonism, had a significant influence on the development of modern art in the West, most notably on
post-Impressionism.
Traditional housing and many
temple buildings see the use of
tatami mats and
sliding doors that break down the distinction between rooms and indoor and outdoor space. Since the 19th century, Japan has incorporated much of Western
modern architecture into construction and design. It was not until after World War II that Japanese architects made an impression on the international scene, firstly with the work of architects like
Kenzō Tange and then with movements like
Metabolism.
Literature and philosophy of
The Tale of Genji, a
National Treasure The earliest works of Japanese literature include the and chronicles and the
poetry anthology, all from the 8th century and written in Chinese characters. In the early Heian period, the system of
phonograms known as kana (
hiragana and
katakana) was developed.
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter is considered the oldest extant Japanese narrative. An account of court life is given in
The Pillow Book by
Sei Shōnagon, while
The Tale of Genji by
Murasaki Shikibu is often described as the world's first novel. During the Edo period, the () overtook the samurai aristocracy as producers and consumers of literature. The popularity of the works of
Saikaku, for example, reveals this change in readership and authorship, while
Bashō revivified the poetic tradition of the with his (
haiku) and wrote the poetic travelogue
Oku no Hosomichi. The Meiji era saw the decline of traditional literary forms as Japanese literature integrated Western influences.
Natsume Sōseki and
Mori Ōgai were significant novelists in the early 20th century, followed by
Ryūnosuke Akutagawa,
Jun'ichirō Tanizaki,
Kafū Nagai and, more recently,
Haruki Murakami and
Kenji Nakagami. Japan has two
Nobel Prize–winning authors—
Yasunari Kawabata (1968) and
Kenzaburō Ōe (1994). Japanese philosophy has historically been a
fusion of both foreign, particularly
Chinese and
Western, and uniquely Japanese elements. In its literary forms, Japanese philosophy began about fourteen centuries ago. Confucian ideals remain evident in the
Japanese concept of society and the self, and in the organization of the government and the structure of society. Buddhism has profoundly impacted Japanese psychology, metaphysics, and esthetics.
Performing arts Japanese music is eclectic and diverse. Many
instruments, such as the
koto, were introduced in the 9th and 10th centuries. The popular
folk music, with the guitar-like , dates from the 16th century. Western classical music, introduced in the late 19th century, forms an integral part of Japanese culture. was developed in post-war Japan and became very popular in North America. Popular music in post-war Japan has been heavily influenced by American and European trends, which has led to the evolution of
J-pop.
Karaoke is a significant cultural activity. The four traditional theaters from Japan are , , , and . is one of the oldest continuous theater traditions in the world.
Media '' is the
highest grossing media franchise of all time. According to the 2015 NHK survey on television viewing in Japan, 79% of Japanese watch television daily.
Japanese television dramas are viewed both within Japan and internationally. Many Japanese
media franchises have gained considerable global popularity and are among the world's
highest-grossing media franchises.
Japanese newspapers are among the most circulated in the world . Japan has one of the oldest and largest film industries globally.
Ishirō Honda's
Godzilla became an international icon of Japan and spawned an entire subgenre of
kaiju films, as well as the longest-running film franchise in history. Japanese comics, known as
manga, developed in the mid-20th century and have become popular
worldwide. A large number of
manga series have become some of the
best-selling comics series of all time, rivalling the
American comics industry. Japanese animated films and television series, known as
anime, were largely influenced by Japanese manga and have become highly popular globally. The
World Press Freedom Index reported
self-censorship among journalists.
Holidays , Tokyo Officially, Japan has 16 national, government-recognized holidays. Public holidays in Japan are regulated by the of 1948. Beginning in 2000, Japan implemented the
Happy Monday System, which moved a number of national holidays to Monday in order to obtain a long weekend. The national holidays in Japan are
New Year's Day on January 1,
Coming of Age Day on the second Monday of January,
National Foundation Day on February 11,
The Emperor's Birthday on February 23,
Vernal Equinox Day on March 20 or 21,
Shōwa Day on April 29,
Constitution Memorial Day on May 3,
Greenery Day on May 4,
Children's Day on May 5,
Marine Day on the third Monday of July,
Mountain Day on August 11,
Respect for the Aged Day on the third Monday of September,
Autumnal Equinox on September 23 or 24,
Health and Sports Day on the second Monday of October,
Culture Day on November 3, and
Labor Thanksgiving Day on November 23.
Cuisine Japanese cuisine offers a vast array of
regional specialties that use traditional recipes and local ingredients. Seafood and
Japanese rice or
noodles are traditional staples.
Japanese curry, since its introduction to Japan from
British India, is so widely consumed that it can be termed a
national dish, alongside
ramen and
sushi. Traditional Japanese sweets are known as . Ingredients such as
red bean paste and
mochi are used. More modern-day tastes include
green tea ice cream. Popular Japanese beverages include
sake, a brewed rice beverage that typically contains 14–17% alcohol and is made by multiple fermentation of rice. Beer has been brewed in Japan since the late 17th century.
Green tea is produced in Japan and prepared in forms such as
matcha, used in the
Japanese tea ceremony.
Sports wrestlers form around the referee during the ring-entering ceremony. Traditionally,
sumo is considered Japan's national sport. Japanese martial arts such as
judo and
kendo are taught as part of the compulsory junior high school curriculum.
Karate, which originated in the Ryukyu Kingdom, is popular across the world and has been
included in the Olympic Games.
Baseball is the most popular sport in the country. Japan's top professional league,
Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), was established in 1936. Since the establishment of the
Japan Professional Football League (J.League) in 1992, association football gained a wide following. The country co-hosted the
2002 FIFA World Cup with South Korea. Japan has one of the most successful football teams in Asia, winning the
Asian Cup four times, and the
FIFA Women's World Cup in 2011. Golf is also popular in Japan. In
motorsport, Japanese automotive manufacturers have been successful in multiple different categories, with titles and victories in series such as
Formula One,
MotoGP, and the
World Rally Championship. Drivers from Japan have victories at the
Indianapolis 500 and the
24 Hours of Le Mans as well as podium finishes in Formula One, in addition to success in domestic championships.
Super GT is the most popular national racing series in Japan, while
Super Formula is the top-level domestic open-wheel series. The country hosts major races such as the
Japanese Grand Prix. Japan hosted the Summer Olympics in
Tokyo in 1964 and the Winter Olympics in
Sapporo in 1972 and
Nagano in 1998. The country hosted the official
2006 Basketball World Championship and co-hosted the
2023 Basketball World Championship. Tokyo hosted the
2020 Summer Olympics in 2021, making Tokyo the first Asian city to host the Olympics twice. The country gained the hosting rights for the official
Women's Volleyball World Championship on five occasions, more than any other country. Japan is the most successful Asian
Rugby Union country and hosted the 2019 IRB
Rugby World Cup. ==See also==