Japan is well known to all of us. And again Japan! Why are schoolgirls checked for underwear in Japan? Alluring gesture with index finger
: They defiantly extend it in your direction when they wish you good luck.
"Goat"
This gesture in the form of the little finger and index finger pointed forward is especially loved by rock music fans and is used in any situation: this is how they say hello, say goodbye, and express gratitude. However, in Italy, Spain and Macedonia it is better to refrain from such a sign; we especially do not recommend showing it to the male population. Locals may take it as a hint of the recipient’s wife’s infidelity.
"Like" A gesture familiar to us, which is present in almost everyone in social networks
, means approval. In addition, hitchhikers vote on the roads with their outstretched hand and thumbs up. However, on the islands of Thailand this sign is mirrored and means condemnation. But it is harmless - the same as sticking out your tongue. In Greece, the familiar “class” has a certain meaning - “shut up” or “fuck you.”
"Everything is OK"
In Russia, the “ring” sign can be used to make it clear without words that everything is fine. Japanese people use this to replace the word “money.” We do not recommend showing the usual “okay” to everyone in France and Germany, as this will make it clear to the person that he is a complete zero. In Morocco, Tunisia and Greece, the gesture is even interpreted as an accusation of non-traditional sexual orientation.
Fingers crossed
Superstitious people often cross their fingers, believing that the sign brings good luck. But forget about your beliefs in Vietnam. The meaning of the gesture in this country is very specific, meaning female genitalia.
clenched fist "Good luck!" or “The enemy will not pass!” - this is how this sign is understood in many countries. But making such a gesture in Pakistan can get you into trouble. Locals
They may not understand you, in their country a clenched fist means “fuck you!”
“Yes-yes” and “no-no” we replace with the usual shaking of the head. However, people in India, Greece and Bulgaria use it in completely opposite ways. A nod down and up will mean “no”, instead of the usual approval. And shaking your head from left to right - “yes”.
Alluring gesture with index finger
The common "come here" gesture is considered offensive in the Philippines. The sign is only appropriate when communicating with pets, but when communicating with people it shows that you consider your interlocutor to be less than your equal.
Patting on the head
A common sign of tenderness and consolation, the Buddhist religion does not approve. The crown of the head is the highest point of the body; it is there, according to monks, that the soul resides. It is worth refraining from such signs in countries where Buddhism is practiced. By touching the top of the head you will invade the person’s soul.
Victory
Index and middle finger form Latin letter V is a symbol of victory. However, Italians believe that this sign resembles female genitalia and often use it for fun.
The “face” of Japan is well known to everyone: sushi and sashimi, geisha and samurai, sakura and Fuji, Toyota and Panasonic. Only experts know what is hidden on the “Other Side of Japan”. Political scandals and the world of Japanese toilets, the reasons for the popularity of anime and the secrets of the yakuza mafia, Japanese weddings and the hopes of Russian wives of Japanese husbands, features Japanese geography and Japanese “sickness” in football - became the main topics of the book by journalist and Japanese scholar Alexander Kulanov. The second edition of "The Other Side of Japan" has been replenished with "Aftershock" - forbidden revelations about Japanese management, unusual comparisons of Russians and Japanese and reflections on the causes of the accident at nuclear power plant"Fukushima-1" - everything that is not customary to talk about in Japan, but without which the idea of this country would be false.
On our website you can download the book “The Other Side of Japan” by Alexander Evgenievich Kulanov for free and without registration in epub, fb2 format, read the book online or buy the book in the online store.
Greetings to all!
The other day we published a small test to see how well you know Japan, promising to give the correct answers. The time has come.
# 1. Correct answer: decorative drainage from the roofs of buildings. (Japanese: 鎖樋/kusaritoi)
#2. Correct answer: Wooden rattles used by fire patrols (Japanese: 拍子木 / hyoushigi). Volunteers conduct regular patrols in their areas warning people to be careful with fire, using these rattles, which sound like the sound of burning wood, to attract people's attention, and at the same time shouting, “Be careful with fire” (Hi no youjin).
#3. Correct answer: Ear cleaning sticks (Japanese: 耳かき / mimikaki). The Japanese love to clean their ears using these sticks, and the male population even likes to visit specialized ear cleaning establishments, where she will rest her head on the lap of a young girl and clean their ears.
#4. Correct answer: afterlife name plaque (卒塔婆 / sotoba). Buddhists are often given a new afterlife name at death, referred to as “kaimyou”. Given name written on the afterlife tablet and placed next to the grave, the place of worship. Also, the wishes of the deceased are often written on these tablets so that these wishes come true.
#5. Correct answer: straw for winter wrapping of trees (Japanese: こも巻き / komomaki) Trees are wrapped in winter to prevent eggs and larvae from laying on tree trunks. Instead of tree trunks, insects lay eggs in straw, which will be burned in the spring.
“Tamara and I go as a couple” - this is a little about them :)
On December 13, all over Japan they began to create kadomatsu - magical twins, without which the New Year is impossible in this country!
"Kadomatsu" translates to "pine at the gate." They decorate, in fact, the entrances to temples, shops, houses and even just apartments. They are placed in pairs, on both sides of the door.
Japan is a relatively small country. But how gracefully its inhabitants play it off! Therefore, kadomatsu is a multifunctional item. This is not just a popular New Year's decoration, it is also a greeting to the deity of the coming year and a wishing tree.
The Japanese believe that the deity chooses Kadomatsu as a temporary refuge. In some areas it is called "Mr. Pine", hence the use of pine in creating this decoration. Leaves with wishes are tied to kadomatsu at the entrances to temples.
This object, revered by the Japanese, is created not only from pine. Ferns, oak, bamboo, oranges, chestnuts, algae, apricot branches and much more are used.
As a rule, kadomatsu looks like this. In the center are pine branches or, for example, bamboo stems; they are arranged in 3, 5 or 7 rows. Around there is a decoration of flowers and greenery, all tied up with a straw rope. The composition is placed in wooden pots.
Size - from tabletop to floor-standing. A shimenawa amulet is hung between two pots; it is a rope woven from rice straws and hung with paper ribbons. In those places where pine is especially revered as a totem, New Year's decorations are not made from it, they take bamboo or something else.
Sometimes kadomatsu is placed not at the entrance to the room, but inside, then the decoration should not be paired. They also decorate home altars and gardens.
Interestingly, artificial kadomatsu appeared more than half a century ago.
And this bamboo seems to laugh :)
Out of respect for the deity, materials for kadomatsu are prepared on the lucky day of December 13th. The “twins” are usually removed on January 14 and burned in a festive bonfire. Its flame is a farewell to the past year, cleansing before new life. By the way, all festive decorations are burned along with the kadomatsu. IN rural areas and now it is a great national event.
And there are also these:
During the New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Kadomatsu are kept clean and tidy, and they are served with symbolic portions of festive dishes - zoni soup with mochi flatbreads. I was reminded of this offering to our brownies :)
Of course, kadomatsu are compiled according to all the rules of the art of ikebana: each element has its own special meaning, its location is also symbolic. Thus, pine is a symbol of longevity, bamboo speaks of perseverance, and straw rope is a talisman against evil spirits and diseases.
The decoration at the entrance is placed in pairs because it represents the union of a man and a woman. Bamboo stems are placed at different levels, this means heaven, humanity, earth. Well done Japanese :)
This tradition is spreading in other countries as well. Very beautiful!
I congratulate everyone on the upcoming holidays, and I wish the same as Kadomatsu - longevity, perseverance and no adversity! And translating into the language of handicrafts - free time for pleasant creativity, motivation to develop skills and only good reviews at the Masters Fair!
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It turns out that Japan can appear anywhere, even in Pskov in mid-December - you don’t need to fly anywhere, just imagine... Have you tried it? Does not work? Then there is another method, which was used in the Central City Library of Pskov, where the day before they gathered everyone interested in immersing themselves in Japan and presented: “Here is a samurai, and here is a geisha. And here is their shogun.”
When the staff of the Central City Library of Pskov thought about how to complete the cross year “Russia - Japan”, so that this eastern country was remembered for a long time in Pskov, they turned to young designers. To students of the Department of Design and Materials Processing Technology of the Faculty educational technologies and design of Pskov State University and offered to embody their attitude to Japanese motifs in a series of posters. The students liked the idea - third-year students took on the work: Tatyana Beshlebnaya, Veronica Pak, Ekaterina Gerasimovich, Elena Kirillova, Yulia Vishneva, Maria Usova, Andrey Rusakov, Anastasia Fedorova, Yana Sumkina. The curator of all the preparation for the exhibition was Liliya Momotova - her works are also presented in the exhibition.
Let's say right away that samurai, geisha, shoguns had to be imagined, the imagination had to be strained, and now they are already here. They look at you from the walls, hide behind frames and glass, and listen to what the people gathered here are talking about in a city far from their Japanese home. There was no sake either, so all impressions are absolutely sober.
The design students, of course, are great, they were transported to the country with enthusiasm Rising Sun. And they have even acquired features of the Japanese attitude to what is happening. When they began to be criticized at the opening of the exhibition: “All the painting there is built on line, but here you have spots in the composition,” “The Japanese and Chinese have never worked in dark colors.” “You didn’t feel Japan, you treated it in a Western way.”
The authors, like a samurai, withstood the pressure of critics, while calmly looking at those around them, none of them sparkled with their eyes or grabbed a sword... Criticism, “here” in Japan, is a test of stability. There was, they survived. The designers' defense had their own very compelling, well-reasoned arguments, including very clear and well-known ones - the contrast and non-linearity of the eastern symbols "yin" and "yang" - were also in favor of the creative view presented. And another “pro” is that questions have already been heard from among the guests: “is it possible to purchase the works?”
Poster painting has always stood in a separate row. And this time was no exception. In addition to the pictorial embodiment, a poster always has an idea, an appeal to the beholder, a message - political, economic, pacifist, ideological - there are always many reasons for the appearance of a poster.
What helped to reproduce Japan on posters, since most of you have never seen this country? - we ask the designers.
Associations. Personally, I did everything by associations, because besides Mount Fuji, we know enough of them,” says Andrei Rusakov.
And I have long been familiar with Japanese art, with the culture of the country, and many of us are well aware of the music and poetry of Japanese poets - all this, of course, is reflected in the works,” shares Yana Sumkina.
Some of them are already dreaming, others only in this project became acquainted with the peculiarities of the residents’ view of life Japanese islands. Painting, poetry, and music of Japanese masters have always had many fans and followers, and today is no exception. Of course, someone may say that the Japanese style, the Japanese view of reality is not our reality, not the Russian circumstances of life. But that’s what’s wonderful. Such creative experiments show that today in Pskov you can do a lot, including creating any environment for yourself, learning any arts and understanding of creativity. There would be a desire...
Do these guys need Japan? Yes, of course it is needed. In general, they need the whole world. And they will comprehend it with pleasure, because they have the power to resurrect, recreate it in their imagination. And we also need them to look at the world - because then they will be able to show it to us through their creativity.
And for an artist to think in associations is no less important than to be able to paint from life. Associations are often stronger than impressions.
The artists presented all program participants with an author's postcard for reading the original Japanese haiku - the legendary Japanese tercet. Our readers have not read Japanese haiku, but we are giving you a postcard with wishes for a good future. And you can see the exhibition of works in reality - Pskov, Konnaya St., 6.
And with best wishes to you the hieroglyph of Happiness
