Japan’s schizophrenic culture may leave you gasping for breath as you try to navigate its multifaceted depths. Over the centuries, Japan has been shaped by outside influences and has gone through periods of intense isolation. The result is a culture that is uniquely layered.
On the one hand, there are magnificent temples, serene shrines, kabuki, nō, tea ceremonies and museums full of remnants of its rich artistic heritage. On the other hand, there is stark, spare modernism—karaoke bars, video game parlours, Western fashion and minimalist urban living.
Traditional Japanese arts include crafts such as ikebana and origami, performances such as kabuki, unique architecture, gardens, martial forms, and cuisine. Manga is a traditional form of comic books that blends traditional woodblock printing and Western art. Anime, which is television and film influenced by Manga, is also renowned the world over.
Japan is no laggard in literature either. The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki is often described as the world's first novel. Modern novelists include Junichiro Tanazaki, Yasunari Kawabata, Kenzaburo Oe and Haruki Murakami. Kawabata and Oe have both received the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Sumo is considered Japan's national sport and is one of its most popular. Martial arts such as judo, karate and kendō are also widely practiced in the country. Baseball is a popular spectator sport.
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