Japanese Culture Final

When does Nemko Matsuri take place?

Around Halloween time

What court really liked cats?

The Heian court

Which emperor was gifted a black cat?

Emperor Uda

What other animals were deemed important in Japan?

Koi, beetles, birds

What is the most popular dog breed in Japan?

Shiba Inu

What are the different types of Cat Yokai?

• Neko-mata : known for having a split tail

• Bakeneko: known for shapeshifting

• Maneki-neko: the inviting cat; its paw is always waving at you

What is Gotokuji Temple?

The lucky cat temple

What was notable about the Joumon Period?

• started around 13000 bc, ended 300 bc

• Called the rope period bc rope heavily used

• Made ancient pottery

• Indigenous Japanese looked different

• Hunter gatherers

What was notable about the Taika Period or the “Big change period” (during asuka period)?

• prince yamashiro and the soga clan dynasty is ended

• Nanako Oue (Emperor Fujiwara)

  • Takes the throne after plotting the demise of soga clan

  • Changed family name to fujiwara

  • During fujiwara’s reign, Japan starts to be referred to as “nihon” instead of “wa”

What were the 2 forms of storytelling?

• Emakimono

  • Horizontal narration filled artwork; painted hand scrolls

• Shadow Puppetry

What Disney movies competed with Japan in the 1900s?

• Bambi

• Steamboat Willie

• Fantasia

• Pinocchio

• Snow White

Osamu Tezuka (1928 - 1989)

• Princess Knight (1953)

• New treasure island (1947)

• Astro boy (1952)

Hayao Miyazaki

Started at Nippon Animation, created Ghibli

• Ghibli established in 1985

What sci-fi film inspired many space and techno anime?

Star Wars

What does OVA stand for and what are they?

Original Video Animation

• Special releases for home video formats

• Japanese direct to video is opposite of America! Meant demand was high

What is the name of the robot cat cartoon and when did it start?

Doraemon, 1979

What kind of art is this?

Ukiyo

What kind of art is this?

Ikebana

What kind of art is this?

Shodou

What kind of art is this?

Nihonga

What kind of art is this?

Sado

What kind of art is this?

Manga

What kind of art is this?

Sumie

Who is the artist and what is the name of the far left painting?

Hiroshi Yoshida; Glittering Sea

Who is the artist?

Hasui Kawase

Who is the artist?

Yayoi Kawase

What are the three things emphasized in Japanese beauty?

• Light skin tone

• Large eyes

• Facial Structure

Why does Japan care about appearance?

Strong culture: group harmony > individuality

What is the statistic about foreigner body satisfaction after living in Japan?

The amount of female foreigners reporting confident in their size dropped from 54% to 23%

What was the Hays Code (1934-68)?

A ban on certain “sinful” topics like homosexuality in films unless portrayed in a negative light

What did Disney tend to do with queerness in their films?

• Villains in films made to be interpreted as queer

• Queerness portrayed negatively

Who are these villains?

Left:

• Medusa Gorgon (soul eater)

• Ultear Milkovich (Fairy tail)

• Lust (FMA)

Right:

• The Evil Queen (Snow White)

• Lady Tremaine (Cinderella)

• Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty)

What are common themes of sexism in anime?

• One-sided fanservice

• lack of proper character development compared to male counterparts

• Lack of proper female representation mirrors Japan’s lack of gender equality

• Unrealistic body proportions compared to male counterparts

Why are shrines commonly tied to nature?

Shrines were made where the Japanese believed the gods resided

What are the roof made of?

Roof is made of the bark of the Japanese cypress tree; it has three layers to prevent rain from leaking inside which is replaced every 60 years

What are Kannushi and what three things are notable in their clothing?

They are an intermediary between men and the gods

• Eboshi (crow hat)

• Joue (pure garment)

• Shakujou (bishop’s staff)

Who are the Miko and what has been done to them?

• they are assistance of the shrine who are unmarried women, bear the famous red hakama, And are limited to manual labor, and minor rituals

• They are over, represented in media, Likely for their pure, young, virgin woman aesthetic

What is Yasukuni Shrine and why is it controversial?

• Established in 1869 by Emperor Meiji

• Honors soldiers who fought for Japan post- shogunate

• Controversial due to Japan’s conduct during WWII

• yasukuni means “peaceful shrine”

What are Inari Shrines and what are they associated with?

• indoor shrines are dedicated to the Kami inari, the Kami of rice; They are associated with: Foxes, rice, household wellbeing, business prosperity, and general Prosperity

What are Jinzo Statues?

• They are the patron of children and travelers

• Protectors of dead children

• Red bib symbolizes good luck

What does the Nickname “Otanuki-Sama” mean?

Honorable Mr. Tanuki

When did Vocaloid begin development and when did it release? How many voice banks did it include?

• development started 2000

• Released in 2004

• Featured 5 voice banks (3 english, 2 Japanese)

When was hatsune miku released and what happened after?

2007; the popularity skyrocketed! Since Miku’s release, very few voice banks have not featured an official anime style mascot

Who were Kagamine Rin & Len made by? When were they released? What are their items? Are they twins?

• crypton future media

• 2007

• Rin - orange; Len- banana

• They are not officially twins, but essentially gender swapped versions of each other, though many fans and songs interpret them as twins

What does -P mean? Where did it originate? What game did it inspire?

• P is for producer

• Originated on niconico

• Inspired iDOLM@STER game (where the player is the producer of a female idol group)

Who are famous vocaloid producers?

• Hachioji-P

• Giga-P

• wowaka

Which president decided to bomb Japan and what did he know?

Harry Truman; 33rd US president; New very little about the impacts of atomic bombs and the Cold War

How many combined casualties were estimated as a result of the atomic bombs?

200,000

What was the first popular post war song and why was it significant?

• “Ringo no uta” (Apple Song, 1945)

  • Known as first popular hit of postwar era

  • It was composed for the movie “Soyokaze”, which was a wartime production, but released after Japan’s surrender

  • Emphasizes shift from hardships of war on homefront to feel-good entertainment that offers an escape

What are Japanese atomic bomb survivors known as?

Hibakusha; they received prejudice based on their health issues

Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?

• Lacked resources

• America froze Japanese assets

• Thought America would negotiate after attack

When does Japanese fashion date back to? Which piece of clothing was introduced and what did it represent?

Heian period; the kimono; it was a symbol of status and luxury

Which period saw the introduction is fashion subcultures?

Heisei Period

What is the idea of Lolita fashion? What ar the common sub styles?

It is a way to express yourself freely; Gothic, cyberpunk, and sweet

What is Harajuku fashion known for? What are the types?

• being decorative and showing individuality

• Types:

  • Pop

  • Lolita

  • “Yume-kawa” (cutie and dreamy)

What is shibuya fashion known for?

• Shibuya 109 (store)

• Casual

• Cool > cute

• Black

What does Sakura mean in Shintoism?

• believed that Gods would rest in the trees during spring

  • A sacred place for the rice paddy god to dwell

• Established a day of rest

What is the origin of Awa Odori?

• original meaning lost to time, but a couple ideas are:

  • Local variation of Bon-odori dancing performed during the Obon holiday

  • Inspired by Furyu dance from Noh plays

  • Result of the completion and subsequent celebration of Tokushima castle, built by hachisuka iemasa in 1587

List the Japanese historical periods in order:

1. Joumon Period

2. Yayoi Period

3. Koufun Period

4. Asuka Period

5. Nara Period

6. Heian Period

7. Kamakura Period

8. Muromachi Period

9. Azuchi-Momoyama Period

10. Edo Period

11. Meiji Period

12. Taishou Period

13. Showa Period

14. Heisei Period