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Japan Entertainment
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| Overview Japan offers a full range of entertainment, both classic and modern. From the mysterious Oriental symbolism of the Noh drama to Western music concerts of all genres, there are no lacks of options to keep you constantly on the whirl while visiting Japan. The nation's rich artistic heritage has been preserved in shrine and temple treasure houses and through the private collections of royalty, Daimyo (feudal lords) and wealthy merchants for hundreds 01 years, and is now available in numerous public and private museums. Museums & Art Galleries Japan's long recorded history as well as its profound artistic accomplishments are copiously detailed and on display in its many museums. Indeed, the archeological artifacts, crafts and artistic masterpieces contained in its museums represent exquisite microcosms of the Japanese experience that illuminate the nation and its people as a whole. Perhaps at the pinnacle of Japan's museums stand the national museums, of which the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno Park was the first to be established, in 1871. Its extensive collection gives a comprehensive overview of the entire history 01 traditional Japanese art, plus historic, scientific and natural history exhibits. The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo exhibits a chronology of Japan's modern fine art masterpieces. The Kyoto National Museum was originally created around the paintings, sculpture and other treasures from temples in the vicinity, and now contains examples of Japanese art from all periods. The Nara National Museum is noted especially for its collection of Buddhist sculpture. In Tokyo, there are numerous art museums, both public and private, which preserve invaluable works of Japan's traditional fine art. To name just a few, the Goto Art Museum boasts, among its collection, the "Tale of Genji Picture Scroll" (a national treasure); the Nezu Institute of Fine Arts is dedicated to a collection of tea ceremony articles and Buddhistic art; and the Hatakeyama Collection features tea ceremony artifacts. These three museums also have a Japanese garden, allowing the visitor to appreciate works of fine art in a tastefully relaxing atmosphere. Also worth visiting are: the Idemitsu Museum of Arts with its collection of calligraphy, paintings and pottery from both Japan and China; the Suntory Museum of Art featuring antique fine art items based on traditional living; the Yamatane Museum of Art specializing in modern and contemporary Japanese paintings; and the Japan Folk Crafts Museum with a focus on beautiful crafts for daily use such as pottery Putting aside traditional fine art, there are also other types of distinctive museums. The Edo-Tokyo Museum features the history and lifestyles of Tokyo, using large-scale models. The Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Museum is a genuine art deco structure built in 1933 and holds various loan exhibitions. In the realm of contemporary fine art, Japan is recently emerging as a transmitter of distinct creativity to the rest of the world. As such, contemporary art museums in Japan await those who are interested in the country's up-to-the-minute lifestyles, thoughts, media and so on. One of Japan's largest of its kind in scale, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo presents an extensive range of contemporary art masterpieces from both Japan and abroad. The Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery often spearheads in holding "new-concept" exhibitions for contemporary art. The Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo's Shinagawa district is an elegant Bauhaus-style building which houses a variety of contemporary art works. In Ibaraki Prefecture to the north of Tokyo, the Contemporary Art Center at Art Tower Mito is known for its unique exhibitions featuring contemporary art. The Tokugawa Art Museum of Nagoya specializes in Noh costumes, swords, armor and other samurai relics. As for traditional fine arts in the Kansai region, the Fujita Art Museum in Osaka is important due to its rich collection of antique fine arts. Note, however, that it opens only in spring and autumn. Also celebrated are the Osaka Municipal Museum of Oriental Ceramics, which specializes in priceless antique ceramics from China and Korea, and the Osaka Municipal Museum of Art with its rich collection of Chinese, and Japanese antique fine art works. The Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art in Kyoto is an impressive villa structure placing pottery masterpieces on exhibit in a relaxing and serene atmosphere.. Meanwhile, Osaka's Suntory Museum TEMPOZAN holds theme exhibitions focusing on posters. Gardens Japanese gardens, which excel in the creation of symbolic miniature replicas of entire seas or landscapes within the restrictions of a few hundred meters or less, are renowned around the world. Evolving from the sponsorship of a highly refined ruling class and the principles of Buddhism and Shintoism, Japanese gardens are ravishing combinations of plants, sand, water and rock that celebrate the beauties of nature in a structured artistic form. Numerous gardens are found on the grounds of temples, and many are centuries old.
Kyoto is particularly rich in gardens, with those of Katsura Imperial Villa, Ginkakuji and Kinkakuji Temples, Nijo Castle and the famous rock garden of Ryoanji Temple being especially exquisite examples. In Tokyo, recommended gardens include Higashi Gyoen Garden, Hama Rikyu Garden and Koishikawa Korakuen, while the large now public park of Shinjuku Gyoen was originally a pleasure ground of the Imperial family. Elsewhere across the country, notable gardens include Kenrokuen of Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, Kairakuen in Ibaraki Prefecture, Korakuen in Okayama Prefecture and Ritsurin Park in Kagawa Prefecture. Classic Performing Arts  Japan's
Noh drama is a highly stylized stage art with 700 years of history.
Richly symbolic, Noh is rooted in ancient Shinto rites and is performed
on a stage which is roofed like a Shinto shrine. Actors wear masks, and
movement is highly stylized, while the costumes are usually rich and gorgeous.
This classic art form is performed in Tokyo's National Noh Theater, the Hosho Nohgakudo, the Kanze Nohgakudo, the Kita Nohgakudo and the Umewaka Nohgakudo in Tokyo. In the Kansai region, Noh is staged at the Kanze Kaikan in Kyoto and the Osaka Nohgaku Kaikan. Noh, on the other hand, is perhaps best appreciated at open-air, torch- lit performances at temples.  Kabuki
Theater is Japan's secular classical drama, with vivid makeup, spectacular
costumes and sets, plus dramatic action that includes sword-fighting,
jancing, and even actors flying from and to the stage over the audience.
The Bestvenue for Kabuki in Tokyo is Kabuki-za in Ginza, which stages plays throughout the year. Also in Ginza is the Shimbashi Embujo, while the National Theater of Japan near the Imperial Palace occasionally hosts touring companies. Bunraku is an elaborate form of puppet theater in which three - quater-lifesize wooden and porcelain figures are manipulated byt three puppeteers working in tandem. With narration provided by formally clad masters and Shamisen accompaniment, Bunraku is an exotic and picturesque experience. Modern Performing Arts Modern performing arts, such as opera, "Buto" dance, musicals, plays and ballet can also be enjoyed in various cities across the country. In Tokyo, especially, top artist from around the world are constantly on stage. Some are so popularthat tickets have to be reserved well in advance. Tokyo Opera City is a state-of-the-art full-scale hall ideal for concerts and opera. The Takarazuka Troupe, a unique all-girl musical company, attracts many people who enjoy its brilliant performances where male roles are all played by females. The internationally celebrated "Buto" dance theater impresses the audience with its avant-garde performances unique to japan. The Arts  Among
its indigenous arts, few are more typically Japanese than Ikebana,
or the art of flower arranging. Closely related to the Zen Buddhist art
of the tea ceremony, Ikebana emphasizes simplicity and precision of form
and aims at symbolizing the various aspects of nature. There are numerous
schools teaching Ikebana, many of which offer instruction in English.
The art of tea, or Chanoyu, is an aesthetic cult of spiritual refinement that was originally very popular among the ruling samurai. Today, you can see and possibly participate in demonstrations of Chanoyu at some of the major schools and in hotels. Ceramics and Porcelain  As
Chanoyu began to spread in the Muromachi period (1333-1573), it gave rise
to ceramic producing centers around the country, each with its own distinctive
style. The 17th century saw the town of Arita succeed in firing porcelains
which gave further momentum to the rise of Japan's pottery industry in
subsequent years. Among numerous producing centers, the most famous are
Mashiko-yaki (ware) in the Kanto region; Seto-yaki, Tokoname-yaki,
Mino- yaki and Kutani-yaki in the Chubu region; Kiyomizu-
yaki and Shigaraki-yaki in the Kansai region; Bizen- yaki
and Hagi-yaki in the Chugoku area; Imari-yaki, Arita-yaki
and Karatsu-yaki in Kyushu. These production centers have pottery
museums, shops and pottery-making classes where even the beginner can
experience shaping and designing his/her own fulfillment. Nightlife Tours The range of entertainment available in Japan's cities is so vast that visitors may best sample them by joining a night tour. In Tokyo, Sunrise Tour Series by Japan Travel Bureau offers reasonably priced lightlife tours. In Tokyo, Kabuki Night Tour offers IOU a sukiyaki dinner, and a chance to see a Kabuki performance. In Kyoto, by joining Special Night, you ~an be a guest at a tea ceremony, followed by rempura dinner and finishing up by enjoying various kinds of traditional Japanese performing arts in the Gion Corner. Where to Drink No visitor needs to go thirsty in Japan. In addition o western-style bars in the cities, traditional drinking spots include: "Izakaya" are Japanese-style pubs serving beer, Japanese sake, cocktails and other alcoholic )beverages as well as casual meals. Drinking 3stablishments of this type are all going strong till midnight. Step into one and experience the 'liveliness." Prices are naturally very reasonable. "Karaoke" (singing along with recorded music) is one of the most popular forms of nightlife in Japan. Generally, a Karaoke establishment consists of a number of compartments, each replete with Karaoke equipment. A group of guests can occupy a compartment at a reasonable price to enjoy singing while drinking and eating. Many Karaoke houses even offer a selection of popular songs you can sing in English. In Tokyo, the best locations for a lively evening of good food, drink and entertainment include the internationally-flavored district of Roppongi, the upscale and elegant Ginza with its dazzling neon-lit signs, the more sophisticated Akasaka, the youthful, crowded Shibuya, and the more raucous Kabukicho in Shinjuku. Dancing Dancing Discotheques and clubs are common and well- frequented in all major cities, particularly by the young and young at heart. In Tokyo, Roppongi offers many high-class venues for adults, while Shibuya is a dancing Mecca of the young. Sports Sports of all kinds enjoy great popularity in Japan. And, in its various martial arts, Japan has contributed several major sports to the world at large. Traditional Sports  Among
home-grown sports, none represents Japan's national feeling as much as
Sumo, a form of wrestling which originally was practiced during
festivals and on holy days at Shinto shrines. Consisting of a single hard-packed
dirt ring in which two -often enormous -men meet, a Sumo match is won
when one wrestler forces the other from the ring or to the ground. Sumo
involves intricate rules and an entire vocabulary of holds, thrusts and
strategies that its devotees delight in debating. Judo is a martial art of self defense which was born in Japan and now enjoys popularity among devotees internationally. Based on principles of leverage and using an opponent's strength to one's own advantage, Judo is now an Olympic medal event. The Kodokan training center in Tokyo is a good place to see Judo pupils training, as well as occasional exhibition bouts by experts. Ken do is a form of fencing in which opponents clad in heavy cotton padding and lacquered armor assail one another with bamboo swords. The Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo is the best place to observe Ken do.
Karate, a form of weaponless combat, was developed by Okinawan peasants whom their mainland rulers forbade from carrying arms. Trained in the concentration of energy into blows of the hand or foot, a Karate expert can break through a thick stack of bricks or wood with a single stroke. Go to the Japan Karate Association in Tokyo to watch trainees and experts alike practice. Aikido is another martial art based on concentrating one's energy, as well as taking advantage of an opponent's strength. Aikido is especially valued among its followers as away of maintaining and increasing physical fitness. The Aikikai is an Aikido center in Tokyo. Japanese archery , Kyudo, is considered to be as much for individual spiritual refinement and the development of concentration as it is for competition. Long associated with the principles of Zen Buddhism, archery contests can sometimes be viewed at temples. Contemporary Sports  Baseball
is so popular in Japan that many fans are surprised to hear that Americans
also consider it their "national sport." Especially popular
are the national- level spring and summer tournaments among senior high-school
teams. Schools, champions representing their respective prefectures, gather
at the Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture and vie for victory.
Almost everyone from around Japan becomes near- fanatical in support of
the teams from their respective birthplaces. Professional baseball is well developed, with twelve teams being sponsored by major corporations. In Tokyo, the most favored place to see a game is the Tokyo Dome Stadium located in the grounds of Korakuen Amusement Park. Cheering for your favorite professional baseball team is a unique and powerful activity, using trumpets, drums and other noise-making instruments. Soccer is a sport which is now a focus of explosive popularity among children and young people in Japan. Backed by such feverish popularity, the J League was established in 1993 to offer the highest level of soccer competition in Japan. The J1 consists of 14 teams and the J2 of 12 teams, which include a number of internationally famous professional players. Major J League games are always packed with enthusiastic spectators, while televised games also provide hot topics for conversation at home and elsewhere. Soccer draws an increasing number of people who also enjoy playing the game. Soccer is very much in focus with the ever-growing fever in Japan over the 2002 FIFA World Cup to be jointly hosted by Korea and Japan. Golf is another widely popular Japanese sport. There are many first-class golf courses in the countryside near all the major cities. And within the cities themselves, there are numerous driving ranges for the country's millions of enthusiastic golfers. Angling has many fans in Japan, and in fact the fresh water rivers and lakes are often stocked by nationally developed fish farms. Due to the varied nature of its coast, however, offshore and deep-sea fishing requires greater expertise and more specialized gear than does fresh water angling. A number of tourist spots offer the pleasure of fishing in mountain streams or lakes and fishing gear is available for rent. Mountaineering is well-developed in the nation's many mountain ranges. Hiking and climbing are popular activities, with the best time running generally from mid-July to mid-August. Climbing Mt. Fuji, Japan's universally recognized symbol, is most popular. The climbing season for Fuji-san extends from July 1 to August 31. Viewing rare and precious alpine flora is another enjoyment for climbers. Climbing in Japan originated many centuries ago as part of widely spread mountain asceticism, while as a recreational sport it began and became popular only in the modern era. Skiing is big in Japan, with millions of skiers flocking to the major resorts in the mountains of Honshu and Hokkaido. The nation's ski resorts are very well developed, and compare favorably with the top regions of Europe, the U.S. and Canada. Recently, the number of ski grounds that also cater to snow boarding is increasing as the sport gains in popularity especially among young people. Skating is available in indoor rinks in the major cities, as well as at excellent outdoor facilities in the wintertime in the north and Hokkaido. |
The above material are taken from All Travel Japan Tourism
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