Japan's winter paradise

Since winter is already here! (or not, in some countries) I decided to post some amazing pictures of winter in Japan! They are so beautiful! Almost dream-like! And I'm sure you will like them too! These pictures don't belong to me, they all go to their respective owners! If you have other amazing pictures of Japanese winter, dont hesitate to share them! （●＾o＾●）

Beautiful Japanese Landscapes

Here are some amazing pictures of Japan's extraordinary beauty!
Enjoy ^.^

What are Yokai and where did they come from?

Do you know what Yokai are? If you are an anime fan you have surely heard of them. But do you know their origins? Here's the answer :
Yokai's (also called "Mononoke" or "Ayakashi") oldest records date from the 1st century. It was in a book that came from China called "The Spectre (Yokai) was in the imperial court for a long time. The King asked Tui for the reason. He answered that there was a great anxiety and he gave a recommendation to empty the imperial room" (a long name isn't it)
There were a few other statements in Houki 8, in The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagon as well as a statement by Murasaki Shikibu - "the Mononoke have become quite dreadful", in Koubo 3......
During the Edo period, some people began to question weather Yokai really existed - "It can be said that the so called Yokai in our society is a representation of our feelings that arise from fear" (by Masayoshi Kitao)
At that time books about Ayakashi became very popular and even shops called Kashi-Hon opened. Japanese people became very interested, especially when the Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai became popular. Many new Yokai appeared because there was a demand for the story tellers to tell about Yokai that were not yet known to society, there were cases where individuals invented new Yokai (Kasa-Obake, Toku Kozo...).
Mononoke were frequently depicted in ukiyo-e that famous artists like Utsugawa Kuniyoshi, Kawanabe Kyosai, Katsushiga Hokusai... drew.

Here are some famous Yokai (I do not own these pictures/Paintings/Drawings) :

Tengu

Kappa

Kutsune

Umibozu

Ho-o

Yuki Onna

Yurei

Komainu

Do you Guys have a favorite Yokai?

You can leave a comment below.

If you found this helpful, please like and share :)

- Aoi chan ( ^ . ^ )/ ~ 

#Manga #Japan #History Manga's History and Evolution.

Are you a Manga fan ? How you ever wondered about who created it and when ? And why did it become such an important part of Japan's culture ? I hope that what's written below will at least partly help you understand that.

Manga has a long and complex pre-history in earlier Japanese art. ''Modern'' manga originated between 1945 and 1952 and between 1952 and 1960, while a previously militaristic and nationalistic Japan rebuilds it's political and economic infrastructure. An explosion artistic creativity developed in the post war period. The most famous ones were Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy) and Machiko Hasegawa (Sazae-San). Astro Boy became and still remains very popular in Japan and the anime adaption of Sazae-San has more views than any other anime on the Japanese Television. Hasegawa's focus on women's experience and daily life was later characterized as Shoujo manga. Between 1950 and 1969, as an increasingly large readership for manga emerged in Japan, two main genders appeared on the market : Shounen manga (mainly aimed at boys) and Shoujo manga (mainly aimed at girls).Since 1950s, Manga became a major part of Japan of Japan's publishing industry : ¥420 billion (5,5 billion) in 2009.The Kanji for Manga 漫画 refers to both comics and animation. ''Manga'' as a term used outside Japan refers specifically to comics originally published in Japan.

Nowadays manga has become extremely popular all around the world, mainly in Europe and in the U.S.

Manga's equivalent exists in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan as Manhua and in South Korea as Manhwa.

Here are some photos of Manga's evolution over the years (year when the volume came out) :

                                             

Astro Boy (1951-1968)

Sazae-San (1946-1974)

Lupin The III rd  (1967-1969)

Sailor Moon (1991)

Rouroni Kenshin (1994)

Neon Genesis Evangelion (1994)

Inuyasha (1996)

Fullmetal Alchemist (2001)

Maid-Sama (2005)

Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack On Titan) (2009)

Gintama (2011)

One Piece (2014)

Ao Haru Ride (2011)

World Trigger (2014)

  

Springtime in Japan : the Sakura Dream blossoms.

In my opinion, spring is the most beautiful season in Japan. Of course every season has it's charms : the autumn and it's fire-like colors, the summer and it's green trees covering everything or the winter and it's calming cold tones. But the spring's atmosphere is dream-like. I think that's one of the things in Japan that haven't changed over the centuries. Sitting under the blooming Sakuras and drinking Sake or Green Tea : from the earliest recordings to the modern day Japan, this activity never changed. It even became more popular : during the Edo jidai (period) of Japan, only high ranking people and eventually poets and artists went to Sakura Sightseeing events. Nowadays everyone can enjoy them at the nearest park or at special sightseeing spots during spring. Here are some beautiful photos of springtime in Japan :

What is your favorite season in Japan and why ? Would you go Sakura sightseeing ?
You can write your opinion in the comments ! Please share or Google+ if you enjoyed this post ! :)
Thank you/ Arigatou gozaimasu
- Aoi ( ^ . ^ ) / ~