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![]() Fish The Japan Archipelago, encircled by water, abounds in marine products. Fish in particular is essential to the Japanese diet. As fresh fish is easily obtainable, dishes that are eaten raw, such as sashimi and sushi, are popular. In addition, grilled or boiled cooking style is widespread, but steamed or fried dishes as in Western cooking, are relatively not so. Fish is deeply related to Japanese culture. When a sea bream is grilled whole, it is considered good luck and is invariably served on grand occasions such as weddings. Shrimps and prawns are considered good luck as well because in a figurative sense, the more their tails are curved and their backs bent, the longer one's life will be. |
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![]() Futon There are two kinds of Futon: sleeping mats and coverlets. Futon are filled with cotton or feathers. Sleeping mats, like bed mattresses, are covered by sheets, while coverlets are used with blankets as coverings. Since Japan is quite humid, Futon are hung out on sunny days to air in the sun. As Futon are put in a closet called Oshiire when not being used, they serve as practical bedding for small Japanese rooms. |
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![]() Japanese Bath In taking a Japanese bath, one enters the bathtub only after first washing off outside the tub. Generally, the whole family uses the same tub of hot water, so they keep it clean. Until about 40 or 50 years ago, bathtubs made of wood were common, but now they are almost all made of tiles, plastic or stainless steel. In the cold winter, the bath warms the body and in the highly humid summer, it washes away the constant stream of perspiration. The bath is indispensable to Japanese life. It is the optimum cure for a day's fatigue. Because today the majority of Japanese homes have baths and many kinds of bathing remedies are being sold, there is an increase in the number of people who enjoy their baths by adding their favourite bathing remedy to the water. |
Check out these interesting reads in our archives as well: |
Know Japan 2013 archive |
Know Japan 2012 archive |
Know Japan 2011 archive |
Know Japan 2010 archive |
Know Japan 2009 archive |
Japanese Recipes 2008 archive |
Japanese Customs 2007 archive |
Japanese Customs 2006 archive |
Japanese Festivals 2005 archive |