volleyball

Japanese volleyball team



I will tell you about volley ball in Japan. Especially volley ball for mothers. Volley ball is one of the popular sports in Japan. There are two reason of it. The first reason is that volley ball in Japan is strong. According to wikipedia, Women’s volley ball team in Japan got 5 medals in Olympic games. In 1962, Women’s team was called “withes in the East” because Japanese team was very strong. In that year Japanese team got gold medal in Olympic Games. In that year Japan and soviet were rival and their game was attracted the world. Even now the topic about volley ball in this year is sometimes talked in TV program in Japan.
The second reason is that Japanese like team sports. When we think about popular sports in Japan like baseball or soccer, many of them are team sports. Why Japanese like team sports? That is because Japanese has strong sense of group work. We like to cooperate in a group. Therefore, Japanese baseball and American Base ball is a little bit different. American baseball tends to emphasize the achievement of individual. On the other hand, baseball in Japan cares about achievement of team more.
For those reasons volley ball in Japan is popular.






Volleyball is popular among female. In Japan there is “mamasan volley ball”. It means that mother’s play volleyball as hobby. Those mothers are influenced by popularity of volleyball. Some of them are fascinated with volleyball so start volleyball. Some of them are women who did volley ball when they were student or some of them are beginner. Usually player is 6 in volleyball but 9 people play in “mamasan“ volleyball. They play in community center in their town or they participate the volley ball team of PTA(this is community of parents in school) of their children. Even if you are not mother if you are at least 35 years old or you got married more than once, you can join this community. There are a lot of tournament for those “mamasan volley ball” team. LAWSON cup is one of the tournaments of “mamasan volleyball” and it was held on March. This tournament was held by National housewives volleyball League. According to the blog of mother who participate “mamas an volleyball, the practice of volleyball is very hard so it is a little busy to do both housework and volleyball. When the tournament is near, they practice everyday. However, even if the practice is hard, those wives really like volleyball so they can make an effort.
Like this Japanese likes volleyball.

nanakusagayu

I will tell you about rice porridge with seven different spring herbs in Japanese “nanakusagayu” and how this is connect with religion in Japan. In January seventh Japanese eat “nanakusagayu”. Seven herbs are Japanese parsley, shepherd’s purse, henbit, turnip, radish, and so on. In that season set of spring herbs are sold in super markets. By eating it, Japanese believe that we can be healthy in a year and quiet our stomach. In New Year’s Day we eat many foods so, we need to rest our stomach with “nanakusagayu”

First picture is "nanakusagayu" and second picture is one of the seven spring herbs; shepherd's purse.

The “nanakusagayu” has connection with Shinto. Shinto is one of the religions in Japan. According to Shinto in Japan there are the days “gosekku”. In Edo period the shogunte decided that day as ceremnies. January seventh, March third, May fifth, July seventh and September ninth are the days of “gosekku”. This decision was based on a thinking of Shinto. The thinking is that to remove a malicious spirit and have power to defeat all diseases. Then it was decided that in that day Japanese eat “nanakusagayu” for this reason.

The origin of “nanakusagayu” is not known by Japanese. Moreover, a lot of Japanese do not know “nanakusgayu” comes from Shinto. However, the basic purpose of eating “nanakusagayu” has not changed. Therefore, I think even if the origin is forgotten, the hope of people for the future is not change in each period. People hope to have peace in their life.

Kabuki

I will tell you about Kabuki. Kabuki is Japanese traditional entertainment. The origin of Kabuki is in Edo period and made by Izumonookuni. At that time she danced by disguising herself as a man. The reason of it is not clear.




Kabuki is very popular even now, so many people visit Kabukiza. This is the theater that presents only kabuki. The theater is established in Meiji era. A lot of people visit here to see Kabuki every day. In the theater you can get not only entertainment of Kabuki but also delicious food. Moreover, you can eat both in the shop and the theater. It means that you can eat food while watching Kabuki. Kabukiza is in Tokyo. You can see Kabuki also in Osaka, Kyoto and so on.



People who wear kimono is one of the actors of Kabuki. He’s name is ShimanojouKataoka. He is not women but man. In kabuki woman is not allowed to play, so man play women role also. The reason is that it was said that women’s kabuki disturb discipline in Edo period. Man who play role of women is called Onnagata. He is a pupil of the fifteenth Ninzaemon Kataoka. In 1997, he played in Canada.


Kabuki is very popular both Japan and other countries now. The reason is that famous actors like Ebizou Ichikawa succeeded to this name. This incident broadcasted in Japan. People go to the theater to see these actors. Thanks to this, some of the TV programs did a feature on Kabuki. Then, people have started to pay attention to it. Moreover, the plays of Kabuki in foreign country have increased. It is little opportunity for foreigner, so the plays are taken up by medias. If the value of newspaper for kabuki is good thing, foreigners become interested in kabuki. Then Kabuki becomes popular in Japan and foreign country.

I think it is very good thing that Japanese tradition become popular. It will be opportunity for Japanese to rethink their culture and be proud of it and it will be opportunity for foreigner to become interested in Japan. I have never been to seen Kabuki so if I have a chance to see it, I want to go to the theater of Kabuki.