Japanese Culture in New York - Chopsticks NY

Shiretoko, located in the northeast of Hokkaido, provides an outstanding example of the interaction of marine and terrestrial ecosystems as well as ecosystem productivity. Surrounded by primitive forest, Shiretoko offers magnificent scenery, including the Shiretoko-Go-Ko lakes, waterfalls, and drift ice in the ocean, as well as a number of marine and terrestrial species, some of which are endangered and found only in this region. The Shiretoko-Go-Ko lakes are comprised of five scattered lakes and are among the highlights of Shiretoko. Since no river flows in or out, the lakes are filled by springs, which keeps the water extremely clear. No vehicles are allowed, and some areas are closed to public access to protect the natural beauty. There are guided and self-guided walking tours and ocean cruise tours available. Watching beautiful waterfalls, cliffs, lakes, and mountains by the ocean is unforgettable.

Stretching across the borders of Aomori and Akita prefectures on the northernmost part of Honshu Island, Shirakami-Sanchi has the last virgin forest of buna, Siebold’s beech trees, that once covered the hills and mountain slopes of northern Japan. A 17,000-hectare area, out of 130,000 hectares of mountains, is designated a World Heritage Site, and 74 % is in Aomori prefecture. Shirakami-Sanchi, literally translated as “White God Mountains,” preserves nature well and shows the evolution of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. The mountains are closed from November to May for safety reasons, but during the warmer seasons you will enjoy grand views of lakes and waterfalls as well as the 400-year-old “Mother Tree” that keeps a tremendous amount of water in its trunk. There are some easy hiking routes, and guided walking tours and bus tours are also available.

Long before the Tokugawa Shogunate established its family shrine in Nikko during the 17th century, the area was considered a sacred place by Shugen-do Buddhists. Accordingly, Nikko has both temples and shrines, which both harmonize and contrast with the surrounding mountains and forests. UNESCO has designated two shrines, Futarasan Shrine and Toshogu, and one temple, Rino-ji Temple, as World Heritage Sites. Toshogu, the Tokugawa family shrine, is especially famous for its lavish decoration and intriguing construction technique that reflect the artisanship and architectural splendor of the Edo period. Nikko, located 120 miles north of Tokyo, is a major tourist attraction of Japan. The greater area of Nikko provides magnificent views of nature and offers onsen (hot springs) as well; the foliage season is an especially popular time to visit.

Because these villages were isolated from other areas by snowy mountains, Shirakawa-go and Gokayama developed and preserved a unique way of life that grew out of their natural and socio-economic circumstances. The main attractions of this World Heritage Site are the Gassho-style houses. These houses have extremely steep thatched roofs that effectively prevent snow from piling up. Inside the roofs are three- or four-story rooms for culturing silkworms, which used to be the villages’ main source of income. A Gassho house is made of timber, straw, and rope--no nails are used.

Japan incorporated Chinese culture into its own native aesthetic, which then evolved under this new influence. Kyoto is the city where Japanese culture bloomed and developed, and it’s been the cultural center of Japan since the imperial capital was built there in 794. The shrines, temples, and gardens of Kyoto are great examples of the development of Japanese culture, particularly in the areas of wooden architecture, religious architecture, and the art of landscape gardening. The seventeen World Heritage shrines and temples are Kamigamo-jinja Shrine, Shimogamo-jinja Shrine, To-ji Temple, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Enryaku-ji Temple, Daigo-ji Temple, Ninna-ji Temple, Byodo-in Temple, Ujigami-jinja Shrine, Kozan-ji Temple, Koke-dera Temple, Tenryu-ji Temple, Kinkaku-ji Temple, Ginkaku-ji Temple, Ryoan-ji Temple, Hongan-ji Temple, and Nijo Castle.

Although Japanese culture bloomed and developed in Kyoto, Nara is considered the birthplace of Japanese culture. Located south of Kyoto, Nara was the capital city from 710 to 784. Heijokyo, the capital of Nara, was modeled on the Chinese system of government and city planning. In addition to its system of government, Japan imported numerous other things from China via Korea, including religion, philosophy, and art. The historic monuments of ancient Nara represent the evolution of Japanese architecture and art as a result of cultural links with China and Korea. The World Heritage Site of Nara includes the remains of the capital city, the primeval forest of Kasugayama Mountains, and shrines and temples in the area such as Todai-ji Temple, Kofuku-ji Temple, Kasuga Taisha Shrine, Genko-ji Temple, Yakushi-ji Temple, and Toshodai-ji Temple.

Horyu-ji Temple was built about 1400 years ago in the Ikaruga region of Nara prefecture and is known as the world’s oldest wooden construction. The founder of the temple was Shotoku Taishi (Prince Shotoku), who embraced Buddhism and actively imported Chinese culture to Japan. The monuments in the Horyu-ji area miraculously blend Chinese and Japanese styles and display outstanding examples of Buddhist art. These include the Kondo (Golden Hall), the Gojunoto (Five-story Pagoda), and Yumedono Hall (Hall of Dreams). Numerous statues and murals are also very important.

The Kii Mountains stretch over three prefectures--Mie, Nara and Wakayama--and the three sacred sites in the area are connected by pilgrimage routes that lead to the ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto. One of the three sacred sites, the Yoshino and Omine area, has steep mountains and serves as the sacred center of Shugen-do, the Japanese religion that combines Shintoism, Buddhism, Taoism, and mountain worship. Another site, Kumano Sanzan, is the head shrine of 3,000 shrines known as the Kumano Jinja Shrines. Koya-san, another site, is the deep forest where Kongobu-ji Temple, the head temple of Shingonshu, is situated. The World Heritage Sites bear exceptional testimony to the development of Japan’s religious culture over one thousand years.

The elegant castle Himeji-jo is one of four existent castles built before the Edo period. It has both beauty and the ingenious defense systems found in castles during the Civil War period in Japan. With its elegant appearance combining straight lines, elegant curving roofs, and white plastered earth, it is called “Hakuro-Jo,” or “White Heron Castle.” The castle also has miraculously avoided damage caused by wars, including the severe bombing during World War II.

The Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine features the remains of large-scale mines, smelting and refining sites, and mining settlements from the 16th to 20th centuries. This region contributed not only to the development of the economy in Japan but also to the economies of the surrounding nations. Because of its rich natural resources, the area was once the target of territory battles among many samurai lords who wanted to support and leverage their financial foundations during the Civil War period. The site illustrates the history of mining technology, settlements, fortresses, transportation routes, and shipping ports.

Genbaku Dome in Hiroshima prefecture is the ground zero of the atomic bomb explosion on August 6th, 1945, and is the only structure left standing in the bombed area. The neo-Baroque-style building was originally built in 1915 and used as a showroom for the local products of Hiroshima. After the bomb, it has been considered a symbol of the most destructive force created by humankind.

Having 1,400 years of history, Itsukushima Shinto Shrine is the head shrine of 500 shrines that share the same name. It was first built in the 6th century on the island of Istukushima in the Seto Inland Sea by Emperor Suiko and was enlarged by Kiyomori Taira, a powerful aristocrat, in the 12th century. Itsukushima Shinto Shrine is artistically and technically ingenious and perfectly harmonizes with the surrounding mountains and sea. The 16-meter-high torii gate, built in the middle of the sea, symbolizes the highly refined artistic sense and technical skills of the region and time period.

A small island located 45 miles south of Kyushu Island, Yakushima is home to a rich array of flora, with some 1,900 species and subspecies, including ancient specimens of sugi (Japanese cedar). Some of the sugi are over 1,000 years old, the oldest tree is thought to be 7,200 years old. Thanks to its climate, Yakushima maintains a unique ecosystem. It’s reported that Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki often visited and got inspiration for Princess Mononoke from Yakushima. Many tours can be arranged from Honshu, the main island, and there are also local trekking routes.

The Kingdom of Ryukyu was prosperous between the 12th and 17th centuries, when it served as the center of economic and cultural exchange for southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan. Although it is now a territory of Japan called Okinawa, the Kingdom of Ryukyu experienced a cultural development path completely different from that of Japan. The political and economic climate of the Kingdom of Ryukyu was different from those of the countries surrounding it, and the surviving monuments of the site demonstrate Ryukyu’s unique cultural identity. Unlike Japan’s castles, Shuri-jo Castle, a highlight of this World Heritage Site, did not serve as a fortress but rather as a palace.