When you travel to Japan, you will see cute cartoon characters in ads, billboards and company logos everywhere you go. Dogs or cats are popular - from a courier company's black cat logo, to warning signs featuring a dog wearing a police uniform, to dentist ads that depict a cat wearing a nurse's...
Posts tagged: Shinto
Learn the true meaning of gift giving, Japanese-style
If you have a Japanese friend or work with Japanese business people, you may know that they like to give gifts. Your Japanese customer may bring a box of biscuits when they visit your office or your Japanese colleagues may buy a souvenir for you when they have a long weekend away. While the...
“Waribashi” splittable wood chopsticks express Japanese hospitality
When did Japanese people start using chopsticks? Although there are various opinions about the date, it appears that chopsticks came from China at least in the 7th century. “Waribashi,” splittable wood chopsticks, were first made during late Edo period, around 1800. Waribashi are wooden chopsticks which are made from a single piece...