Japanese Daily Life
A short overview of traditional Japanese lifestyles, cuisine, apparel, and housing.
Traditional Lifestyles of Japan
Historically, Japan was mainly a land of farmers and fishermen. The average person lived in a small, self-sufficient village. They raised crops and livestocks, pulled fish from the sea, hunted whales, foraged for shellfish, picked wild plants, and made much of the materials needed to survive. Others worked as craftsmen, managed inns, or sold wares from village to village. The upper classes enjoyed a more luxurious quality of life, though they were more restricted by social etiquette. Lower class women of the feudal era, for example, assisted their families on the farm or in town, while noblewomen remained mostly secluded within the home.
Japanese Cuisine
Japan is recognized globally for its diverse cuisine based on staples like rice, seafood, noodles, and vegetables. Besides regional specialties, the nation is known for several internationally famous dishes. Perhaps most popular of these is sushi, or vinegared rice paired with a variety of fillings. Contrary to popular belief, sushi’s central ingredient does not need to be raw fish. That ingredient is more commonly seen in sashimi, which is served in thin slices. The preparation of sushi’s rice is often deemed more important than its filling. Ramen, a favorite of Chinese origin, is a noodle soup served with a combination of meats, vegetables, mushrooms, and boiled eggs. Miso soup, meanwhile, is made using fermented soybean paste. Fried foods are generally known as tempura.
Beyond these basics, Japanese cuisine branches out into countless local recipes, culinary schools, and foreign influences. At home, traditional meals can be as simple as rice served with miso soup, pickled vegetables, and grilled fish or other meats. These may be accompanied by sweets for dessert. Tea remains the most popular beverage. Alcoholic drinks such as sake, a type of rice wine, or beer are also served. Today, Japan is known for its fine dining. As of 2016, both Tokyo and Kyoto possessed more Michelin stars than Paris.
Historic Housing of Japan
The traditional home of Japan is called a minka. In the past, most were built with wood, rice straw, paper, and clay. Woven rice straw mats, or tatami, cover raised floors. It is still considered very impolite to walk on these floors with shoes. Instead, a small room through the doorway is used to remove shoes before entrance. Interior walls often consist of paper on a wooden framework, permitting light to pass between rooms. Partitions can be moved to merge rooms or divide spaces. A covered walkway, or engawa, wraps around the house and protects the more fragile inner walls from the weather. Minka tended to contain very little furniture, with artwork displayed on the walls. Essential furniture such as beds and tables were light and portable.
Traditional Japanese Clothing
The customary clothing of Japan varied by the status of its wearer. The standard outfit for much of the nation’s history was the kimono robe. Worn by both genders, kimono are made up of multiple articles of clothing and require a specific process to wear correctly. The materials, colors, patterns, and articles of clothing used all depended on status, time, and place. In general, men wore robes of more muted colors, with broad pants called hakama. Women tied their robes with a large obi sash. More simple happi robes are also commonly seen today. The standard footwear was raised sandals like the geta or okobi, worn with tabi socks. Common headgear included flat, circular hats woven from rice straw, known as kasa.
Modern Lifestyles of Japan
Modern Japan has both modernized rapidly and preserved much of its older culture. Western-style apparel is now the standard, particularly among working professionals. The kimono, however, is still preferred for formal occasions. Similarly, while most people live in apartment buildings or more permanent housing than the minka, they may retain several rooms with tatami mats and sparse furniture. Japanese cuisine is popular at home and while dining out, but restaurants and grocery stores may offer foods from Europe, China, Korea, the United States and many other cultures. About 92 percent of the population now live in Japan’s cities.
References
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Dunn, Charles. Everyday Life in Traditional Japan. Tuttle Publishing. 2008.
Friday, Karl. Routledge Handbook of Premodern Japanese History. Taylor & Francis. 2007.
Hancock, Edith. “18 Cities with the Most Michelin Stars in the World.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 18 Dec. 2016, www.businessinsider.com/cities-with-the-most-michelin-stars-in-the-world-2016-12.
Henshall, Kenneth. Springer. A History of Japan: From Stone Age to Superpower. 2012.
Locher, Mira. Traditional Japanese Architecture: An Exploration of Elements and Forms. Tuttle Publishing. 2012.
Ono, Tadashi and Harris Salat. Japanese Soul Cooking: Ramen, Tonkatsu, Tempura, and More from the Streets and Kitchens of Tokyo and Beyond. Ten Speed Press. 2013.
Perez, Louis G. The History of Japan. Greenwood Publishing. 1998.
“The World Factbook: Japan.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 17 Oct. 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ja.html.
Walker, Brett L. A Concise History of Japan. Cambridge University Press. 2015.
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