Category Archives: Shiny Dinglehoppers

Hanging Out With the Noren

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Susan Spann

Noren are traditional Japanese doorway hangings. Most noren are made of fabric panels, with a slit cut up the center to permit passage through the door. Japanese businesses traditionally hang a noren in the entrance during business hours. The presence … Continue reading →

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Japanese Lotteries – Old and New

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Susan Spann

The Ashikaga shoguns ruled Japan during the Muromachi period. Although not strictly considered a hereditary position, the title of shogun remained in the hands of the Ashikaga clan from 1338 until 1573. The office most commonly passed from father to … Continue reading →

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A Word or Two About Seppuku

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Susan Spann

Seppuku (sometimes also referred to as hara-kiri) is a form of Japanese ritual suicide. Throughout most of Japanese history, only samurai were allowed to commit seppuku. The first recorded seppuku was that of Minamoto no Yorimasa, a warrior and poet who committed … Continue reading →

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Have You Ever Worn Hakama?

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Susan Spann

Hakama are traditional Japanese pleated pants worn over kimono or under a tunic or surcoat. Traditionally, only men wore hakama, though in the modern era people of either gender can wear them. Hakama aren’t exactly “pants,” because only one of … Continue reading →

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Mempo: Mask of the Samurai

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Susan Spann

Medieval Japanese armor featured a number of masks and face guards, each of which had a different name and style. To a certain extent, all Japanese armored masks were designed for two purposes: first, to protect the wearer’s face in … Continue reading →

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Do You Know About Genpuku?

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Susan Spann

Genpuku is (or, more properly, was) a traditional Japanese coming-of-age ceremony for male members of the samurai class. The timing of the ceremony varied, at the discretion of a samurai boy’s father or the male relative in charge of his training, … Continue reading →

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Neko-te: Claws of the Cat

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Susan Spann

The Japanese word neko-te translates “cat’s claws.” In the context of medieval Japan and the ninja, neko-te refers to a weapon consisting of metal or leather finger sheaths equipped with sharpened metal blades. The sheaths slip over the end of the … Continue reading →

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Exploring the Bakufu

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Susan Spann

Many Westerners know the words “shogun” and “shogunate,” but fewer recognize “bakufu” – even though the concept is familiar. “Bakufu” (幕府:ばくふ) is the Japanese term for the shogunate or, more specifically, the shogun’s government. The term translates “tent office” or … Continue reading →

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Chonmage: the samurai topknot

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Susan Spann

Chonmage is the Japanese name of the traditional hairstyle worn by adult samurai males. Adult samurai men and women wore their hair long (and usually pulled back in a bun or tail). Samurai of both sexes often visited stylists to … Continue reading →

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What’s a ‘Shinobi’ Anyway?

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Susan Spann

Ninja fans will already know the answer to this one, but for those not already in the know: The word “ninja” comes from a Japanese word which is written using Kanji, or characters, borrowed from the Chinese. The Chinese pronunciation of … Continue reading →

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