Ten Tidbits About Japanese Manners and Aesthetics

My heart goes out to the ongoing crisis in Japan and to the estimated 16,000 still missing after the tsunami and earthquake. 

This is normally the time of year when people in various countries gather at local cherry blossom festivals, sakura no matsuri. But the celebrations have been hushed in Japan due to the recent catastrophes.

This post is a tribute to their cause. How many of these Japanese customs and traditions are you familiar with?