Music & Rituals

    Recently, I have been very interested in Japanese culture and food. I haven't ever thought about their music but I do think it would be good to learn about their different wedding, funerals, and holidays and what kind of music they play during that time. Japan has a very set culture and knows what is right and what is wrong. Like I know not everyone likes a set culture I know some people like a loose culture so you can decide if you want to be like your ancestors or not.

    In Japanese weddings, they do the same things that Americans do like, vows and ring exchanges but also get cups of sacred sake and exchange them between the bride, groom, and their families. They call the exchange of sake between the bride and groom 'San San Kudo'.  San means 3 and kudo means nine which means the groom and bride drink it 3 times from 3 different sized sake cups.

At Japanese funerals, they will normally wear black clothing and a white cloth covering their face and will participate in a memorial service on the anniversary of their death. Their rituals can also vary from region which offers a bunch of different ways to honor the deceased loved ones in Japan. Some of their offerings would be fruit, rice, green tea, sake, and some special lotus-shaped sweets.  

    During the funeral, they will also play the shakuhachi which is a flute made out of bamboo by the Japanese. It is symbolized by the gesture of people putting their hands on their chest. Its main use is for meditation. They honor them with a ceremonious cremation which is known as kotsuage. 

    Lastly, during the holidays some of their traditions are that there are lights everywhere and exchange gifts. Christmas Eve is very similar to Valentine's here. They use that day to spend time with family, friends, and couples to have parties and celebrate as much as they can. They have a song named Christmas Eve by Tatsuro Yamashita which was made 30 years ago but every Christmas it is always played just like All I Want For Christmas Is You which was made 20ish years ago but every Christmas we listen to it.

   

Work Cited:

    Nowack, Hannah. “13 Customs to Expect at a Traditional Japanese Wedding.” Theknot.Com, 7 May 2021, www.theknot.com/content/japanese-wedding-traditions#:~:text=Sake%2DSharing%20Ceremony,-Although%20many%20current&text=During%20Shinto%20weddings%2C%20%22not%20only,grooms%2C%20’San%20San%20Kudo.

    “Japanese Funeral Traditions: The Cremation Ceremony.” Pulvis Art Urns, www.pulvisurns.com/blogs/news/japanese-funeral-traditions-the-cremation-ceremony#:~:text=Traditional%20mourning%20practices%20include%20wearing,part%20of%20their%20funeral%20services. Accessed 23 Sept. 2023.

    “Japanese Funerals Rites.” Japan Experience, www.japan-experience.com/plan-your-trip/to-know/understanding-japan/japanese-funerals. Accessed 23 Sept. 2023.

    Milwood, Kayan. “Christmas Traditions in Japan: A Unique and Fun Festive Season.” Day Translations Blog, Day Translations, 22 June 2023, www.daytranslations.com/blog/christmas-traditions-in-japan-a-unique-and-fun-festive-season/#:~:text=illuminating%20everywhere%20is%20a%20true,of%20couples%20spend%20time%20sightseeing.

    “Top 5 Popular Japanese Christmas Songs.” The Wadas On Duty, 30 Nov. 2022, the-wadas.com/popular-japanese-christmas-songs/#:~:text=Christmas%20Eve%20by%20Tatsuro%20Yamashita,-Original%20title%20%3A%20%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AA%E3%82%B9%E3%83%9E%E3%82%B9&text=It%20is%20like%20the%20most,still%20hear%20it%20every%20Christmas.

    Nelson, Ronald. The International Shakuhachi Society, www.komuso.com/pieces/pieces.pl?piece=2201#:~:text=Symbolized%20with%20the%20gesture%20of,and%20memorials%20for%20the%20deceased.&text=A%20song%20for%20solo%2C%20offering,Shakuhachi%20(Japanese%20bamboo%20flute). Accessed 23 Sept. 2023.

    “Japanese Wedding Traditions.” Manhattan Bride, www.manhattanbride.com/insights/japanese/#:~:text=The%20most%20popular%20tradition%20during,sized%20sake%20cups%20called%20sakazuki. Accessed 23 Sept. 2023.