Samurai masks were facial armor worn by Japanese Samurai warriors. They were made out of leather and iron and were designed not only to protect the warrior's face but also intimidate their enemies. Read more about them.
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The kimono is a formal Japanese garment and wearable art used during important ceremonies like weddings. Even though it originated in China, it’s now part of a big fashion and art industry in Japan. The yukata is a dress commonly worn in Japan during the summer. Learn about them both.
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Temari, Japanese thread balls, is an ancient Japanese art that began as simple toy balls for children's play. The playtime favorite was made by tightly winding and stitching threads into intricate patterns. Today, the art of temari is considered an Oriental folk art and they are given as good luck charms.
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Sculpture is one of the oldest Japanese artforms. Japan has some of the world’s oldest and most impressive sculptures, many of them ranking among the largest in the world. Today, sculpture in Japan is a popular way for young artists to express themselves.
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In Japan, they know how to stay cool with style! You may have seen pictures of Japanese people ready for the summer season sporting a cool accessory; the fan. There are two distinct styles of fan - the Uchiwa and the Sensu or Ogi.
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Shodo is the art of Japanese calligraphy - a unique way of telling short stories and poetry by painting symbolic characters. It is sometimes done with enormous brushes instead of pens, pencils or feather quills.
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These days, Japanese architecture is a hybrid of traditional style meets modern and western convenience. One of Japan’s most iconic artistic buildings is Kinkaku-ji Temple. Once a victim of war and arson, it has been restored to its former glory.
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Origami is the art of folding paper into small and intricate designs. It's taught at a very young age in Japan, so almost every Japanese person is skilled at creating a range of original designs. You can learn how, too!
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Kyudo is a Japanese martial art, literally meaning ‘the way of the bow’. In essence, it is Japanese archery, but encompasses far more than simply shooting an arrow at a target! Learn more about it here.
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The next post in our Japanese Art Series is all about ukiyo-e. You’ve probably seen some of the most famous ukiyo-e artworks, even if you didn’t know what you were looking at at the time. The word ukiyo-e means “pictures of the floating world"
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