Nothing like a sea day to let your mind wander in the direction of trivia. Shrines and temples, for example. Since we’ve seen both it might be fun to note the distinction between the two. Shrines are built to serve the Shinto tradition (a philosophy, not actually a religion) and are characterized by a torii gate at the entrance. Temples are built to serve the Buddhist religious tradition and are characterized by a sanmon gate at the entrance.

Moving right along, Godzilla, star of no less than 32 films, originally appeared in a series of Japanese movies beginning in 1954. This fictional sea monster was awakened and empowered by nuclear radiation leading to the common belief that he was conceived as a metaphor for nuclear weapons. If you watched this year’s Academy Awards you’ll recall he walked away with an Oscar.

Did you know that karaoke originated in Japan? Singing karaoke here usually involves renting a private karaoke room equipped with all the necessities. Rooms are priced by the hour; English songs are in the playlist; and whoop whoop, drinks and snacks can be ordered from and delivered to your private room.

Fans of the new 10-episode mini-series Shogun might enjoy knowing what one is exactly. Officially the shogun served the emperor, but unofficially the overwhelming majority of power rested with this military protector or shogun. The first de facto military leader/dictator was granted the title Seii Taishōgun in 709 and the last one stepped down in 1868. That is one long run! The era during which a shogun and his family were in power is called a shogunate.

Not to be confused with dark-robed ninjas, those semi-fabricated mercenaries, samurai were real. These provincial warriors slowly came into prominence as the shogunate system formalized and gained in power and influence. Samurai eventually gained social status in the 1590s and became identifiable by their distinctive armor and swords, both of which were practical yet elaborate. Two little samurai surprises: women were welcome in their ranks and many senior samurai were well versed in poetry and were patrons of painters and sculptors. They attended literary salons held by imperial court nobles and monks, and even perfected a ‘sword dance.’ No doubt they did dishes and changed diapers too.

Staying on the topic of death and dying, let’s talk ritual suicide. Hara-kiri or seppuku developed in the 12th century as a means for samurai to achieve an honorable death. There are two kinds: voluntary and obligatory. The ritual of cutting one’s own stomach was performed to avoid capture after battlefield defeats, as a means of protest, a way of expressing grief over the death of a revered leader, or as a means of capital punishment. There was even a female version of seppuku. Although seppuku fell out of favor over a hundred and fifty years ago many troops chose it over surrender during World War II and as late as 1970 a renowned novelist and Nobel Prize nominee committed ritual seppuku.

On a brighter note, let’s talk sumo wrestling, Japan’s national sport. It originated in Japan and it’s now the only place where you can practice it professionally. There are only two rules: you must wrestle inside a straw-lined ring and the wrestler who touches the ground with anything other than the soles of his feet loses. There are six major sumo tournaments each year. Sidebar: Dan and I went to several tournaments and even visited the dressing area when we lived here in the 1970s.

One of the best-known symbols of Japan is Mount Fuji (Fujisan). This iconic mountain, considered sacred since ancient times, was forbidden to women until the early 1900s. 

Cremation is mandatory in Japan. Cemeteries have family shrines where the ashes of generations are placed together.

Japan has 10% of the world’s active volcanoes. Add lots of earthquakes and the occasional typhoon and it’s not exactly an uneventful place to live from a natural disaster perspective.