The Tokyo Traveler

Did you know that the world’s oldest man, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is Tomoji Tanabe, from Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan?  He will be 113 on his birthday next week.
Today was  Respect for the Aged Day, Keiro no Hi, in Japan and it is a national holiday.  The holiday is relatively new, designated in 1966, and there aren’t many customs surrounding the day that originated back in 1951 when it was know as Toshiyori no Hi, or old people’s day. But Keiro no Hi is sure to gain significance as Japan struggles with an ageing population that …read more

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In my hunt for newsworthy items from Japan to share with you each Sunday I have found a couple of great resources that I think are worthy of a mention. I can’t cover everything in my weekly Nihon on the Net, so if you want to find more Japan specific news from a variety of sources you might want to check out News On Japan and if you want to see what bloggers who write about Japan have to say, check out JapanSoc, a great social networking site that you too can join!
On to this weeks, Nihon on the …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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Pagodas first appeared in Japan in the 6th century when Buddhism was introduced from China and India.  They can range in height from one to thirteen tiers. On the grounds of the Senso-ji temple in Asakusa you will find an beautiful example of a five storied pagoda which is the most common.
In the west pagodas are symbolic of Asian architecture but the spiritual aspect of the structure is often overlooked. Pagodas were originally built to house Buddhist relics and the remains of prominent Monks. In Japan most pagodas can be found on the sites of Temples and are …read more

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