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Culture
Western-Influenced
During the Meiji Restoration, the arrival of Westerners in Japan introduced Western music to the country. Classical music became popular, and
it led to the emergence of several symphony bands and orchestras. Jazz also became a hit in the 1930s and many Japanese musicians in this
genre, such as Dan, Sadao Watanabe and June, achieved international fame.
Pop Music
Japanese popular music, also referred to as J-pop, is a genre that encompasses mainstream music from the 1960s up to the present, including:
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Disco
Club
Rock
Alternative
Heavy Metal
Reggae
Hip hop
Anime theme songs
Electronic game theme songs
Kimono
Kimono is Japan’s distinctive traditional clothing. It literally means “something one wears”. It used to refer to any type of clothing that is worn,
but its meaning changed through time, and it now only refers to that specific full-length piece of clothing that is commonly worn on special
events and occasions today.
Available in a wide array of colours, sizes and designs, kimono can be worn by men, women and children. They usually come in vibrant colours
with flowery designs during the springtime and with autumn patterns during the fall. For winter, kimono made from heavy material and flannel
are worn.
When wearing kimono, tabi (ankle-high sock) and geta (wooden sandals) are also worn.
Architecture
Japan has fascinating traditional and contemporary architecture.
Shrines and temples, dating back several centuries, feature unique and intricate designs that are a mixture of both native Japanese creativity
and imported influences from China and other Asian countries.
Old houses and buildings showcase wooden posts, lintels, curved roofs, tatami floors, bamboo blinds and rooms with minimalistic interiors
divided by thin, sliding walls, containing barely any large furniture.
In the past century, exposure to Western society had a flow-on effect on Japanese architecture. Many newly constructed houses and buildings
have adapted Westernised style with the use of bricks, concrete and other materials. Interior spaces have also started to be filled with more
furniture, with desks, tables, chairs, and other pieces being incorporated in the designs.
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