The Tokyo Traveler

Upon approaching the main building of a shrine in Tokyo you may notice a number of wooden plaques tied to a simple structure or tree.  These are ema and visitors purchase them from a stall on the shrine premises, write a prayer on the back, and then leave them behind in the hope that their prayer might be answered.  People employ ema to pray for good health, bountiful harvests, prosperity in business, success on exams, overall happiness and just about anything else you can imagine.
The literal translation of ema is “horse picture” and it is a tradition that dates back …read more

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Cats, dogs, horses and birds, oh my!  These are just a few of the animals that represent good fortune in Japan.  They are a common sight in business and homes around Tokyo and are often printed on talismans that can be purchased from the temples and shrines that abound in the city of Tokyo.  Folklore and tradition play a big part in the symbolic use of animals to ensure good fortune and prosperity to those who display them.  Here are just a few of the creatures in the menagerie:
Maneki-neko is a cat with a raised paw that is displayed to …read more

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If you ever make plans to meet someone in Shibuya there is a good chance that they will suggest meeting at the Hachiko statue. Located in a plaza just outside the station you will find an unassuming statue of an Akita dog named Hachiko whose story and memory is beloved by the people of Tokyo and throughout Japan.
Hachiko arrived in Tokyo with his owner, Hidesamurō Ueno, an agricultural professor at the University of Tokyo, in 1924 and each day he saw Ueno off to work and met him at Shibuya Station upon his return. For ten years …read more

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Have you been having a string of bad luck lately?  Are you starting a new job, a new business or a new relationship that you want to be successful at?  If so, you should get a Daruma Doll.   Legend says that these dolls are named after Daruma, the Japanese name for Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism, who achieved enlightenment by staring at a blank wall for many years and who lost the use of his arms and legs as a result.
The first Daruma Dolls are said to have been made some 300 years ago at a temple in Takasaki …read more

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Hello Kitty is a busy feline these days, and at thirty-four she is not showing any signs of slowing down, in fact she is busier than ever. Hello Kitty was recently named Tourism Ambassador to China and Hong Kong and she will be featured on limited edition postage stamps that will go on sale in Japan on July 23rd.
There are three different versions on the postage stamps, a set of Y50 stamps (Y500 for 10 stamps), a set of Y80 stamps (Y800 for 10 stamps), and a deluxe collectors set for Y6,090 that includes both of the above and …read more

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The yukata is a type of kimono worn during the summer months by both men and women in Japan.  Usually made of 100% cotton, they are light weight and comfortable to wear in the hot summer months. 
The Japanese don yukata when they head out to festivals, use them as a robe after a bath, at onsens (public baths) and ryokan (traditional Japanese Inns). 
The name yukata comes from the word “yu” (bath) and “katabira” (under clothing). Thousands of years ago, Court Nobles wore linen “yukatabira” which were draped loosely after taking a bath. It gradually became worn by Japanese warriors …read more

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One of the most recognizable forms of Japanese arts are woodblock prints or ukiyo-e. The word ukiyo refers to the world of common people and e means picture. This art form originated in the late sixteenth century in the ancient capital of Kyoto and the first ukiyo-e were not woodblock prints at all but paintings of everyday life.
As ukiyo-e developed into popular art the subjects of the prints broadened. The equivalent of today’s movie poster were Yakusha-e or woodblock prints of kabuki actors in popular roles and Bijin-ga illustrated beautiful women of Edo. Landscapes came later and were used …read more

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Across from the grand Imperial Hotel you will find the Imperial Palace, home to Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress of Japan. The palace has housed the Imperial Household of Japan since 1868, when the imperial family relocated from Kyoto which had been the imperial capital for more than a thousand years.
Japan’s monarchy is the longest hereditary monarchy in the world and there have been 125 reigning monarchs since 660BC. Prior to 1889, Japan had eight female tennō or reigning empresses, but since that time Japanese law limits the succession to the throne to direct male descendants …read more

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Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day) is observed in Japan on May 5th. The event is celebrated by hanging carp streamers (koi-nobori) and displaying samurai dolls and helmets (kabuto) in and around the home.
Kodomo no hi was originally the day that Japanese families would pray for the health, strength and future success of their sons. This holiday said to have originated in ancient China as Tango no Sekku which was held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. The Chinese believe that the 5th month is one for purification and rituals were …read more

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This past Friday, I went to Hono-ozumo at the Yasukuni shrine near Kudanshita Station. It was a ceremonial Sumo tournament and much more. I’ve never seen Sumo live before but I’ve watched it on TV, a lot, and let me tell you that it’s pretty impressive live! The event at the Yasukuni Shrine covered everything from the blessing of the ring right through to the closing ceremony.
The event started at 9AM and ran until around 3PM. I got there a bit early and snagged a good seat – actually there are no seats so I placed …read more

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