SUMO

SUMO is a traditional Japanese sport where a RIKISHI (strong man) tried to push opponents out of the circular ring called DOHYO. Force the opponent touches the ground or with any parts other than feet. Japanese people thought that SUMO as KOKUGI (national skills). It is a tradition that is very old and until today, the sport still has many ceremonial elements such as the use of salt for purgation period since it was used in the Shinto religion. Life as a RIKISHI somewhat bound by the rules of the association of SUMO. SUMO professional members must live in the area called HEYA (room) where all aspects of their lives, from how to dress up to eat must according to strict tradition.

                                            

TUMBLER DARUMA DOLL

“NANAKOROBI YAOKI, JINSEI WA KORE KARA DA..” If it been translated, it meaning: fall 7 times, get up 8 times, the life begin now. This is what this statue were from. This doll will not falling even it fall many times. It show his willing to get back after fall many times.
                                      

It were named after a Buddha monk from India, BODHIDHARMA (440-528) that build shoaling temple in China, these TUMBLER doll were the symbol of self-discipline and positive outside thought. Above this doll is heavy and round shape so it will help itself to recover itself after falling many times It teach us to become more dedication and put more effort after falling. The round shape have a legend whereas DARUMA got SATORI (knowledge) after had a ascetic in a cave for 9 years without moving even a inch.

THE LEGEND OF MYSTICS MOUNTAIN (FUJI MOUNTAIN)

Actually (Fujiyama/Fujisan) that famous and as the symbols of Japan has it old name “The Excellent Mountain”. Fujiyama that ha height 3776 meter always been relate with legend and myth from this rising sun country. These were some of the myth of Fujiyama that many people know bout it.
                           

BONSAI

Bonsai is artistic art of mini tree and to grow it up in pot. Even though it always been relate with Japan, Bonsai is actually come from China and grow from PENJING art. In western culture, the word bonsai were use in all that is Japan Bonsai, PENJING China, and BUNJUE Korea.
                         


THE HISTORY OF BONSAI
Chinese people were the first that minimize the tree and grow it up in the pot around 200 A.D. This art maybe came from the practice of doctor in old time to move herb plant to others place. In old time it show the beautiful trunk of tree in many shaped like animal or mystical. From china, these practices were spread to Japan, in HEIAEN era. In EDO era, these landscape plants like bonsai were important. This agriculture plant like Azalea and maple fill the hobbies of wealth people. To grow this plant in old times the pot were really big but in modern bonsai give the standard to the pot that is used. The tree were called HACHI NO KI that means “Tree In A Pots” in that time. The word bonsai appear in end of 19^th century of MEIJI era.

KODOMO NO HI

Every year on o5 may KODOMO NO HI (Children Day) was celebrated in Japan. This day were celebrated to make people know how important to cares about children feeling and to prays for the children healthy. This day also a day for the children to show respect and appreciate to all loves that given by their parent. Beside that, KODOMO NO HI were more about the boys days.
                             

In earlier, KODOMO NO HI was called as TANGO NO SEKKU (The Beginning Of Summer Festival). SEKKU means (Seasons Festival) whereas this day got five festivals in a year. These festivals were thought as the beginning of summer. TANGO has two meaning, TAN (angle) and GO (Afternoon). In Japanese, GO also means (Five) whereas as the festival day that is on day 5 on month 5. Since then, these days were thought as day to erase all evil spirit. On this day, family in Japan will celebrate this day as Boys day.

URASHIMA TARO

URASHIMA TARO is one of the famous Japanese Tale Story. It been told by one generation to other a long time ago and containing various Japanese custom. URASHIMA TARO is a fisherman that saved a turtle and as a reward the turtle bring him to the Dragon Castle above the sea. Many variations of this story and where it comes from are still unknown.
                                  

THE STORY ABOUT URASHIMA TARO
A long time ago, there was an angler name URASHIMA TARO. One day when he walking around on the beach, he save a turtle that been bullied by a group of children. A few days later, URASHIMA TARO went to fishing as usual. Then, the turtle that he saved before appear from the sea and said “Hello fisherman, I’m the turtle that you saved a few days before. The princess told me to bring you to RYUGUJO (Dragon Castle) as a reward for saving me.

HINOMARU

Red sun on white sky, that is Japanese National Flag. The Design of this country is so simple and maybe the simplest flag around the world?!.
                                       

WHERE HINOMARU CAME FROM?
The flag of Japan that is HINOMARU or NISSHOKI is a white flag with a circle of red represent the sun the middle. The legends said that HINOMARU came from the large attacks of Mongolia to Japan in 1274 and 1281 when a Buddha monk, NICHIREN was asked to gave the sun flag to Japanese Emperor that represent as the sun god “AMATERASU”. Actually the sun symbols were on a fan that own by 12^th century samurai that involved in 15^th and 16^th century. SHUGANATE TOKUGAWA (1603-1867) uses this flag to his ship in early 1600. In the middle 19^th century, SHUGANATE ordered all Japanese ship to sail with white flag that have red sun in the middle.