Japan And Things Japanese (Kegan Paul Japan Library)

781 Pages·2006·39.12 MB·English

by  Joya

JAPAN AND THINGS JAPANESE
For over fifty years, the Japanese-born Western-trained author of
this remarkable volume devoted himself to explaining Japanese
traditions and customs to foreigners through his newspaper
columns, talks and four short books. The comprehensive work
presented here, drawn from all these sources deals with all
aspects of Japanese life and material culture - apparel and
utensils; cures and medicines; houses and buildings; fetes and
festivals; fish, birds and animals; folk tales; food, sake and
tobacco; living habits; marriage, funerals and memorials; natural
phenomena; plants and flowers; popular beliefs and traditions;
recreation and entertainment; religious rites and social customs.
With over seven hundred and thirty separate entries, this unique
volume is the definitive work on all Japanese things.
www.keganpaul.com
THE KEGAN PAUL JAPAN LIBRARY
The National Faith ofJapan • D. C Haltom
The Japanese Enthronement Ceremonies • D. C Haltom
History ofJapanese Religion • MruaharuAnesaki
Ainu Creed and Cult • Neil Gordon Munro
Japan: its Architecture, Art and Art Manufactures • Christopher Dresser
Home Life in Tokyo • Jukichilnouye
AnArtist'sLettersfromJapan • JohnLaFarge
Japanese Girls and Women • MabelMBacon
The Kwaidan of the Lady ofTamiya • James S. de Bennemlle
The Haunted House • James S. de Benneville
We Japanese • Frederic de Cari.randAtruharaSakai
Shogi: Japanese Chess • Cho-Yo
The Nighdess City of the Geisha • J E. de Becker
Landscape Gardening in Japan • Josiah Conder
The Gardens of Japan • JiroHarada
Ancient Japanese Rituals and the Revival of Pure Shinto • Sir Ernest Satow with Karl Florenz
History ofJapanese Thought • Hqjime Nakamura
The Mikado's Empire • WE. Griffo
Japanese Homes and Their Surroundings • EdwardS. Morse
Japanese Buddhism • Charles Eliot
Lafcadio Hearn's Gleanings in Buddha Fields • Lq:fi:adio Hearn
In Far Japan • FrankH Hedges
BeautyinJapan • SamuelW Wainwright
Behind the Japanese Mask • Robert Craigie
The Flowers and Gardens ofJapan • Florence Du CaneandEllaDu Cane
Learning the Sacred Way of the Emperor • YutakaHibino
Japanese Marks and Seals • James LordB owes
Japan and Its Art • Marcus B. Huish
The Last Genro • Bunji Omura
Japanese Names and How to Read Them • A. J KoopandHogitarolnada
The Theory of Japanese Flower Arrangements • Josiah Conder
Traveller from Tokyo • JohnMorri.r
Diaries of the Court Ladies ofOldJapan • AnnieShepleyOmoriandKoichiDoi
The Art ofJapanese Gardens • Loraine E. Kuck
Japan and Things Japanese • MockJoya
JAPAN AND THINGS JAPANESE
MOCK JOYA
KEGAN PAUL
London • New York • Bahrain
First published in 2006 by
Keg an Paul Limited
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© Keg an Paul, 2006
All Rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electric, mechanical
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying or recording, or in any information storage or retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
ISBN: 0-7103-1312-8
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Applied for
To the memory of Don C. Seitz of Tlze World, New York, who
first encouraged me to write on Japan and Things Japanese.
PREFACE
UP
to some fifty or sixty years ago, the general public of
foreign countries did not know about Japan and Japanese,
some even being ignorant of the existence of such a coun-
try. But with the news of the Russo-Japanese War, 1904-5,
they became suddenly interested in the little country of the
Orient that was fighting the great European power.
As I went to the United States two years after the War,
when the American public was just beginning to know some-
thing about Japan, I met everywhere many persons desiring to
have more information about my country. Gradually I was
asked, even in my student days, to tell friends and others about
Japan and the Japanese, and then when I became a reporter
of The World, New York, I wrote articles on the history,
customs and problems of the Japanese, besides covering regular
assignments.
As I found that most Americans did not know Japan, and as
I was also unfamiliar with the thought and habits of the Ameri-
can people, I realized that it was necessary for us to know each
other's historical backgrounds, traditions and customs in order
to come to mutual understanding and respect. While I did my
best to know American traditions, folklore and customs, I
came to find joy in explaining things Japanese to Americans.
Thus my task of writing and talking on Japanese folklore
and customs began almost fifty years ago. Coming back to
Japan after the World War II, I started to write such articles
for the Japan Times. All these years I have kept up this work
of writing on our ways of thought and customs for the said jour-
nal and other publications, and speaking before the gatherings of
foreign residents and visitors, and also for the NHK overseas
broadcasting.
In this volume I collected those I believe to be worthy of
being presented to foreign readers out of my past articles and
talks. The items in "Quaint Customs and Manners of Japan"
Vol. 1-4; "Milestones in Life"; "Japan: the Life and Legends";
and "Japanese Customs and Manners" are mostly included in
the present book, revised or rearranged with additional ma-
terials.
Many of Japanese thoughts and customs may appear
strange to other peoples, but they have their backgrounds and
meanings to us. It is my hope that their explanations may
help foreign peoples understand our ways and sentiments.
In publishing this volume, I wish to express my thanks to the
many foreign and Japanese friends as well as unknown readers
who kindly encouraged and helped me by giving their valuable
suggestions and criticism.
Mock Joya
Kamakura, October 1958

CONTENTS
Chapter I. Apparel and Utensils
Bells .................................... 3 Koromogaye .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 32
Biz en Ware .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. 4 Kuromoji................................. 33
Charcoal................................. 5 Kusudama .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. . .. 34
Chaw an and Owan .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 Kyara .................................... 35
Chochin ................................. 8 Lanterns . . . . . . . .. . .. .. . .. . . . .. .. .. .. .. . . . 36
Cloisonne................................. 8 Lighters . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. 37
Cosmetics . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 Mayudama .............................. 38
Dyes .................................... 10 Meriyasu . . .. . .. .. .. . . . .. . .. . . .. . . . .. .. 39
Embroidery .. .... . .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. 11 Mirrors ................................. 40
,Fans .................................... 12 Mompe and Kappogi .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. 41
Fude and Sumi........................ 14 Mugiwara Zaiku .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 42
Furoshiki................................. 15 Nenneko ................................. 43
Futon .................................... 16 Paper ........... ........................ 4~i
Geta ........... ,........................... 17 Pearls .................................... 44
Hachimaki . .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . 18 Pillows ................................. 45
Hanagami ........................... ... 19 Pocket Warmers .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. . 46
Happi .................................... 20 Rice Straw .. .. .. .. . ..... .. .. .. .. .. . .. 47
Hashi .................................... 21 Sandals ................................ 48
Rata and Nobori ..................... 22 Suminawa .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . 49
Head Coverings .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. 22 Swords ................................ 50
Hemp Cloth .. ... .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. 23 Tabi ....................................... 50
Hosho Paper .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. 24 Take-no-Kawa .. .. ...... .. . .. .. .. .. . .. 51
Indigo Blue ..... .. .. .. .. ... .. .. .. .. .. . 25 Tanzen and Dotera .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. 52
Jewelry ................................. 26 Tasuki ................................. 53
Jinrikisha .............................. 27 Tatara Steel .. ....................... .. 54
Kakashi ................................. 28 Tenugui ................................. 55
Kamado ................................. 29 Trunks.................................... 55
Kamiko ................................. 30 Yatate ............................ .... 56
Kimono Materials . .. .. .. .. .. . .. . ... 30 Yukata .................................... 57
Koman Fabrics .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . 31
Chapter II. Cures and Medicines
Amma .................................... 61 Ku1na-no-1 .............................. 69
Cold Cures . .. .. . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . .. . .. 62 Kuroyaki . ...... ....................... 70
Dokukeshi .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. . 63 Medicinal Teas........................ 71
Hari-Ryoji .. .. . . ... .. .. .. ... .... .. .. .. .. 64 Medicine Peddlers . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. . 72
Home Cures .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. 65 0-Kyu ................................. 73
Furidashi........... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Rabies ................................. 74
Gama .................................... 67 Smallpox................................. 75
Ginseng ................................. 68