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	<title>Japan Uptown &#187; Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage</title>
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	<link>http://japanuptown.com</link>
	<description>Blog on Japanese culture, lifestyle, foods, and entertainment!</description>
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		<title>Summertime Japanese Dessert Delight ~ Kakigori</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/summertime-japanese-dessert-delight-kakigori/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/summertime-japanese-dessert-delight-kakigori/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:50:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flavored Shaved Ice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food in japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ice kacang]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan popular dessert]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kakigori]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kezurihi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Popular dessert]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[popular kakigori flavors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shaved ice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Summer dessert]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Summer food in Japan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=695</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[How does strawberry vanilla syrup on top of shaved ice with lots of fruits on a summer day sound to you. Heaven I bet!
History of Shaved Ice or Kakigori in Japan
Kakigori is flavored and shaved ice and a Japanese summer tradition and loved by all young and old people alike. Most people doesn’t know that Kakigori isn’t really a modern treat but it actually has a very long history, dated way back to the times in the Heian period, which is more than a thousand years ago. It even got ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://japanuptown.com/summertime-japanese-dessert-delight-kakigori/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Celebrating New Year in Japan ~ Kinga Shinnen!</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/celebrating-new-year-in-japan-kinga-shinnen/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/celebrating-new-year-in-japan-kinga-shinnen/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 01 Jan 2011 03:22:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Headline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan News and General Info]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[108 human sins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Big event in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese calendar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese New Year]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Year in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New year wishes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Osechi ryori]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[otoshidama]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=674</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[First of all, me and my team here at Japan Uptown wants to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and may you all be blessed with prosperous times ahead and all the best of luck!
Happy 2011 everyone!
New Year celebration is indeed a very big thing in Japan. The Japanese started to adopt the Gregorian calendar five years after the Meiji restoration in 1873. Before that, like all it&#8217;s other similar roots countries like Korea and China, they have been adopting the Chinese calendar. Therefore now, 1st of January marks ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://japanuptown.com/celebrating-new-year-in-japan-kinga-shinnen/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Feminine Language or Joseigo, as Part of Japanese Culture</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/feminine-language-or-joseigo-as-part-of-japanese-culture/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/feminine-language-or-joseigo-as-part-of-japanese-culture/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:46:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning Japanese]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feminine language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese language history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joseigo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Language gender]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Onnakotoba]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=580</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A variety of Japanese, called joseigo or onnakotoba, that is typically used by females as a reflection of their femininity. The existence of clearly marked, gender-differentiated language style is the frequently mentioned characteristic of Japanese. Joseigo or feminine language is the words, terms and phrases which are used exclusively by females. This is nothing new to the world since there are several other languages with the same culture, like in French language and Arabian language.
Aside from the high pitch, distinctive voice quality, and particular sentence-final intonations that are associated with ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://japanuptown.com/feminine-language-or-joseigo-as-part-of-japanese-culture/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ancient and National Sport of Japan – Sumo, the Japanese Wrestling</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/ancient-and-national-sport-of-japan-%e2%80%93-sumo-the-japanese-wrestling/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/ancient-and-national-sport-of-japan-%e2%80%93-sumo-the-japanese-wrestling/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:00:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Japan News and General Info]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan Social and Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan national sport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan professional sport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan sumo association]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan traditional sport]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kokugikan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sumo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sumo champions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sumo history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[watch sumo in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yokozuna]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=586</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sumo, a form of Japanese wrestling began as long as 2000 years ago is considered by many to be the national sport of Japan.
Sumo became the professional sport in the Edo period (1600-1868), and although it is practiced today by clubs in high school, colleges and amateur associations, it has its greatest appeal as a professional spectator sport. Today, the ancient sport is still popular and the best wrestlers are revered as national heroes. The highest ranking players are called Yokozuna or grand champions.
The object of this compelling sport is ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://japanuptown.com/ancient-and-national-sport-of-japan-%e2%80%93-sumo-the-japanese-wrestling/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Japanese Childrens&#8217; Day &#8211; Shichi Go San</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-childrens-day-shichigosan/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-childrens-day-shichigosan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:43:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Japan News and General Info]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan Social and Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[celebrate children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Childrens day Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chitose ame]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coming of Age Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Festival in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan custom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shichi Go San festival]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thousand year candy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=633</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The world has children’s day, however, Japan has been celebrating their little ones since long time ago.
Shichi Go San is a festival to celebrate the children in Japan. It is the coming of children of age seven, five and three. The word ‘Shichi Go San’ itself directly translates to seven-five-three. Shichi Go San is not a national holiday, however, on this day girls of age three and seven, boys age three and five are celebrated. Their parents will have the children dress in elaborated children kimono with traditional obi (for ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-childrens-day-shichigosan/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Obon, Bon Festival and Bon Odori &#8211; Japan Summer Festival</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/obon-bon-festival-and-bon-odori-japan-summer-festival/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/obon-bon-festival-and-bon-odori-japan-summer-festival/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:47:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Writer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan News and General Info]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan Social and Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bon festival]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bon festival outside Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bon Odori]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hachigatsu bon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan summer festivals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese traditional clothing yukata]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kyu bon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Obon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Obon Festival]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shichigatsu bon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Summer in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yatai]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yukata]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=596</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is summer again and it calls for the time of summer festivals in Japan, where there are various kinds of stalls (or yatai), hanabi (fireworks), yukata, beaches and watermelons!
July and August marks the peak of summer in Japan. And in these months Japanese people celebrate summer festivals which may vary from place to place. One such festival is called Obon or Bon Festival which is a Japanese custom festival celebrated as part to honor the deceased spirits of their ancestors. It is actually a customary tradition closely related to ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://japanuptown.com/obon-bon-festival-and-bon-odori-japan-summer-festival/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Basic of Japanese Arts and Papercrafts &#8211; Washi Paper</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/basic-of-japanese-arts-and-papercrafts-washi-paper/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/basic-of-japanese-arts-and-papercrafts-washi-paper/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Aug 2010 18:47:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese papercrafts and arts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan Arts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Arts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese paper]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese papercrafts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Origami]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[traditional Japanese arts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Types of Washi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ukiyo-e]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washi paper]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=588</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Washi paper, is probably one of the many basics in numerous Japanese papercrafts and arts.
It is used as foundation in most traditional Japanese arts and papercrafts, which were applied in rituals and daily life of the Japanese people ever since they knew how to make paper on their own. Washi was developed from the traditional Chinese art of paper-making process, and by using their own method, material and some re engineering of the technology, washi is produced.
The word ‘washi’ itself means Japanese paper. ‘Wa’ meaning Japanese and ‘shi’ meaning paper, ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://japanuptown.com/basic-of-japanese-arts-and-papercrafts-washi-paper/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Free Basic Japanese Language Lesson for Foreigners and Beginners 1</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/free-basic-japanese-language-lesson-for-foreigners-and-beginners-1/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/free-basic-japanese-language-lesson-for-foreigners-and-beginners-1/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:57:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Japan News and General Info]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan Social and Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning Japanese]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Basics of Japanese language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Free basic japanese language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese language grammar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese phrases]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese social custom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning japanese language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Simple Japanese terms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Simple Japanese words]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=501</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Learning something that you really like should be a very pleasant experience for everyone, such in the case when you are trying to learn a new language. Japanese language is a very interesting language to begin with. It helps a lot knowing certain words and phrases in Japanese while living or touring Japan. Therefore, I wanted to provide something useful for people who wants to learn just the simple and basic Japanese language phrases and words for free and most importantly, it should fun too!
So meet Natsu Sensei~ She will ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://japanuptown.com/free-basic-japanese-language-lesson-for-foreigners-and-beginners-1/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Black Teeth Custom – Between Ohaguro and Globalization</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/the-black-teeth-custom-between-ohaguro-and-globalization/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/the-black-teeth-custom-between-ohaguro-and-globalization/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:30:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Interesting Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan News and General Info]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan Quick History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan Social and Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black teeth custom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black teeth makeup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan black teeth history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese globalization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ohaguro]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ohaguro history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Old japanese custom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reason of ohaguro]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Why Ohaguro banned]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=491</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I received one reply to my previous post on the issue of ‘Ohaguro’ or Black Teeth Custom, which was once a very popular custom in the ancient Japan. The question pertain to the reason as to why the practice was banned in the Meiji period, well, instead of replying straight, I find this is a very interesting issue to discuss and research on and so I did, and decided to write a post on it. By the way, you can read more on the introduction from my previous post titled ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://japanuptown.com/the-black-teeth-custom-between-ohaguro-and-globalization/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Beautiful Hydrangea Garden at Mimurodo-ji Temple</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/beautiful-hydrangea-garden-at-mimurodo-ji-temple/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/beautiful-hydrangea-garden-at-mimurodo-ji-temple/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:30:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Going Places in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tourist Attractions in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beautiful Garden Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hydrangea Garden Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan summer tourist attraction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan tourist attractions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese religion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Temples of Japan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=441</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Japan, like its many other oriental companion countries takes huge pride in the profuse numbers of shrines and temples within the country. Some of them are dedicated to Shinto religion while some are of Buddhism origin. One such temple that I will write about this time is the Mimurodo-ji, which is also the 10th temple of the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage.
Japan too, as we might have noticed before is a country that place grave importance towards nature and and its surrounding. The Japanese love to fuse themselves with natural surrounding and ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://japanuptown.com/beautiful-hydrangea-garden-at-mimurodo-ji-temple/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Japanese Festival and Traditional Annual Event: Akoh Gishi Sai</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-festival-traditional-annual-event-akoh-gishi-sai/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-festival-traditional-annual-event-akoh-gishi-sai/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:01:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan News and General Info]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[47 ronin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Akoh Gishi memorial museum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Akoh Gishi Sai]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Akoh Gishi Sai Information]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harakiri]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan traditional events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Festivals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Masterless samurai celebration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sengakuji Temple]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=402</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Akoh Gishi Sai or &#8220;The Forty-Seven Loyal Retainers in Akoh&#8221; is one of the many festivals in Japan, which is traditional in nature.
If you’ve heard of the samurai movie ‘Chushingura’, then you have all the reason to know about Akoh Gishi Sai. If you are a follower of the Japanese culture, history and lifestyle, you will probably have noticed the extent of loyalty in their lives. Being loyal to one’s Country, King, Lords, Masters and Parents is basic knowledge and ethic in the Japanese people since the ancient times. Although ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Seniority, Age superstition and Legal age in Japan</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/seniority-age-superstition-and-legal-age-in-japan/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/seniority-age-superstition-and-legal-age-in-japan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:26:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Japan News and General Info]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan Social and Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coming of Age Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan customs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan holiday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan supersitions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Legal age in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seijin no Hi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seniority system in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yakudoshi]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=379</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In Japan, customs and traditions still prevails to these days.
Even though the current society has been much modernized, there are still substantial traditional and customary impact in their daily lives. For social purposes, age is reckoned in both relative and absolute terms. Relative age is set by order of birth: one is senior, peer, or junior to someone else. Japanese often claim that theirs is a uniquely “vertical” society, pervaded by rules of seniority. Seniority rules, however, are common to modern institutions such as schools, corporations, and bureaucracies in all ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Ninja, The Secret Weapon of Japan&#8217;s Wartime</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/ninja-the-secret-weapon-of-japan-wartime/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/ninja-the-secret-weapon-of-japan-wartime/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:24:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Japan Quick History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Basilisk]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bushido]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History of ninja]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese secret agents]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese spy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Naruto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ninja]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sengoku period]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinobi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[War in Japan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=301</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Knowledge of feudalism in Japan may not be complete without getting to know about Ninja or Shinobi, the Japanese mercenary who specialized in unorthodox arts of war.
A ninja can get pass you unnoticed, like a ghost passing by and you will probably have to rely to your sixth senses to feel certain presence but yet unseen. You will find it a lot in movies, epic and historical Japanese dramas, Japanese animation or anime, video games and comic books or manga. If you’re into cosplaying, you will find that ninja is ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
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		<title>Interesting Japanese Ancient Custom: Ohaguro or Black Teeth</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-ancient-custom-ohaguro-or-black-teeth/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-ancient-custom-ohaguro-or-black-teeth/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:35:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Interesting Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black teeth custom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black teeth makeup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blackening the teeth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Geisha]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan black teeth history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese ghost]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ohaguro]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ohaguro bettari]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Old japanese custom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Youkai]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=265</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Yellow teeth are a real turn off, but black teeth are a major turn on, for the ancient Japanese people at least. Ohaguro simple means to blacken the teeth.
It is an old Japanese custom that was so popular centuries ago in Japan, and up to the Meiji period at the end of the 19th century. If you’re lucky enough, you could probably catch a glimpse of this black teeth phenomenon in Kyoto nowadays by Geisha ladies. In the olden days, most married Japanese women, some aristocrats, samurai and even those ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-ancient-custom-ohaguro-or-black-teeth/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<title>Koi Fish and Koi History: Between Hobby, Art and Heritage in Japan</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/koi-fish-and-history-hobby-art-and-heritage-in-japan/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/koi-fish-and-history-hobby-art-and-heritage-in-japan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:01:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Writer</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese carp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese carp koi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Koi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Koi breeding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Koi Fish]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Koi history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Niigata koi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nishikigoi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Origin of koi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Price of koi fish]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=230</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[‘Koi’ could mean two things in Japan, one is ‘Love’ and another is the main topic here – a specialty carp fish.
Both words are written in different Kanji though. Koi fish are actually the descendants of wild common carp that have been selectively bred since thousands of years ago for color, pattern, body shape, scales and personality. Yes, you can say it is another kind of Japanese art heritage that is cultivated through time. Now, the koi breeding has been spreading worldwide and there are various exhibition and competition held ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://japanuptown.com/koi-fish-and-history-hobby-art-and-heritage-in-japan/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>The Original Religion of Japan &#8211; Shinto and Shintoism</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/the-original-religion-of-japan-shinto-and-shintoism/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/the-original-religion-of-japan-shinto-and-shintoism/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:36:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Japan News and General Info]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan Quick History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan Social and Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese religion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese religion statistic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese shrines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Polytheism in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Religion and Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinto]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shinto practice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shintoism]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=187</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here are the basic information of the indigenous Japanese religion, Shinto and Shintoism.
Japanese in short can be described as natural practitioners of polytheism. Since the earliest history of Japan and the ancient people of Japan, they have been worshiping a number of Gods that are largely related to nature, such as the Sun Goddess, God of the Sea, God of lightning and many more. This natural spirituality of the Japanese people is called as Shinto or ‘Way of the Gods’. The similar term or description first appears in the historical ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Fundamental of Japanese Alphabet: Hiragana, Katakana and Furigana</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-alphabet-hiragana-katakana-furigana/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-alphabet-hiragana-katakana-furigana/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:10:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Learning Japanese]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Furigana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiragana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese alphabet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese alphabets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese word]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese writing system]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kanji]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Katakana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning Japanese alphabets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning japanese language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning Japanese writings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=173</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today, we’re going to talk about the Japanese writing system. One drawback when you’re visiting Japan is the lack of English directions and help menu, especially in much less busy places outside the big cities. However, you’ll still find foreigners-friendly areas in major big cities like Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka as well as Yokosuka since there are a lot of foreigners and expatriates working at these places.
Is not impossible to learn and understand the basic Japanese writing. The first thing is that you have to know the fundamentals of Japanese writing ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-alphabet-hiragana-katakana-furigana/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Japanese Papercraft –Origami Papercraft, The Art of Folding</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/origami-papercraft-the-art-of-folding/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/origami-papercraft-the-art-of-folding/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:38:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Educational technique in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning origami online]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Origami]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Origami artworks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Origami folding instructions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Origami for kids to make]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Origami history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Origami information]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Simple origami]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[What is the use of origami]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=157</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It’s time to get a little more artsy and crafty with another post on Japanese Papercraft, which in case you didn’t know, an art that has last for centuries! Origami is a very old Japanese art that could have possibly been dated back to the Heian period (794-1185) – the same birth period of Geisha, the unique, beautiful and extraordinary sexy courtesans of the Japanese high-class ancient society.
If I were to go through the history of Origami, I have to say, like most Japanese arts, Origami too was based on ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Japanese Zodiac Origin and Information</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-zodiac-origin-and-information/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-zodiac-origin-and-information/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:26:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Japan Quick History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan Social and Lifestyle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chinese zodiac]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese zodiac]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese zodiac animal signs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese zodiac calendar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese zodiac symbols]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ketsuekigata]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Origin of japanese zodiac]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[What is your japanese zodiac]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=151</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One more aspect that the Japanese people of the old times have outsourced from their nearest neighboring countries is the zodiac system, which in nature has many linkages with Buddhism. The Japanese zodiac system is so much similar to that of the ancient Chinese zodiac system, but in truth that is it the same thing after all. The Chinese zodiac system is rather ‘karmatic’ in nature. Something that is very well related to Buddhism. Instead of the linear pattern of the western calendar, the Chinese zodiac system adopted a set ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Japanese Festivals: Tanabata Matsuri in Japan</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/tanabata-matsuri-in-japan/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/tanabata-matsuri-in-japan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Sep 2009 20:14:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan News and General Info]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Festival in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan summer festivals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Star Festival in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tanabata]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tanabata festival]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tanabata matsuri]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tanabata matsuri in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tanabata matsuri Tegomass]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=145</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Japan is a country with a multitude range of festivals, celebrations, holidays and traditional ceremonial occasions, be it of their own origin or those derives form other cultures and later integrated into theirs. For your information, in Japan, festivals falls into two main categories; which are matsuri (simply means festivals) and nenchu gyoji (meaning annual events). Nenchu gyoji is also pronounced as ‘nenju gyoji’. Matsuri are usually festivals of native Japanese and Shinto origin. It is held annually on established dates sometimes decided by the shrine. Festivals which fall under ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Nihonjin no Kigen: Where do the Japanese people came from?</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/where-do-the-japanese-people-came-from/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/where-do-the-japanese-people-came-from/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:04:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Japan Quick History]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ainu people]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese origin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jomon people]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jomon period]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nihonjin no kigen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Where do the Japanese came from]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yayoi period]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=139</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here’s the tricky question – where do the Japanese people come from?
Most people would simply assume that the Japanese are either generations of the aborigines of the once isolated islands or people who happens to migrate into the island from the nearby mainland. However, the real answer is actually in both answers. Japanese people that lived on today are actually part of varying admixtures of the aborigines and the once continuously increasing immigrant population from the mainland, namely Korea and China.
Like the rest of the world, the Japanese land too ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Nihongo – The Language and Native Tongue of Japanese People</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/nihongo-the-language-of-japanese-people/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/nihongo-the-language-of-japanese-people/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:00:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning Japanese]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Basic japanese language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiragana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese basic phrases]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kanji]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Katakana]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Learning japanese language]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Native tongue of Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nihongo]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=137</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The native language of the overwhelming majority of the more than 120 milions of population of the Japanese archipelago is called Nihongo, which is also a subject that they take with high pride. Why is that so? Well, it is rather hard to find typical Japanese people conversing and communicating in english. They find pride and honor in the very own language that they speak. But it doesn’t mean that they can’t understand and speak english at all. As a matter of fact, english is taught in middle and high ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Japanese Paper Crafts: Kirigami Pepakura</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-paper-crafts-kirigami-pepakura/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-paper-crafts-kirigami-pepakura/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:55:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese pepakura]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kirigami]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Origami]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[papercraft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Papercraft art creative]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=135</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are actually quite a number of japanese papercrafts but this time, I will talk and cover on kirigami or kirigami pepakura. The word ‘pepakura’ is a japanese translation of papercrafts written in katakana, while ‘kirigami’ literally means ‘cutting papers’ (‘kiri’ means to cut and ‘kami’ means paper. It is a type of Japanese art that involves a lot of cutting and also folding paper into certain shapes, ornamental objects and designs.
Kirigami is different from origami because it involves cutting to get a certain shape, though it also initially involves ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Japanese Natural Art Heritage: Bonsai Trees &#8211; History and Care</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/bonsai-trees-its-history-and-care/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/bonsai-trees-its-history-and-care/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:43:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bonsai]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bonsai care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bonsai for beginners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bonsai in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bonsai plants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bonsai tree care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bonsai trees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Growing bonsai trees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[History of Bonsai]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese bonsai]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=129</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Japan is one nation that can never be separated from nature. As a matter of fact, they take pride in nature. They see and define the natural environment around them as holy beings. To the Japanese, all of the elements of nature possess spirits and emotions, aligning some the similarity to that of a human attributes. One that had been taken into deep particular interest by the Japanese is the bonsai plants.
.

Bonsai is a type of small plant (any kind of small trees!) that is nurtured in a small pot ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hanami or flower-viewing party festival in Japan</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/hanami-or-flower-viewing-party-festival-in-japan/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/hanami-or-flower-viewing-party-festival-in-japan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:55:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events in Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hanami dango]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hanami festival]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hanami flower viewing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hanami history]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hanami in japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sakura]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sakura flower]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sakura japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sakura tree]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sakura viewing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=107</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You know… one thing about oriental countries is how they integrated flora and fauna into their cultural lifestyle – making their culture one of its own kinds. Flower viewing is not only famous in Japan, but China and Korea as well. The concept doesn’t differ much from one another too. Well, in all countries stated above, flower viewing is a leisure event where they watch and cherish the eternal beauty of natural surrounding especially blooming flowers while sitting down listening to music and sipping authentic tea.
I’m quite sure I saw ...]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://japanuptown.com/hanami-or-flower-viewing-party-festival-in-japan/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Japanese heritage: Sakura, the legendary flower of Japan</title>
		<link>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-heritage-sakura-the-legendary-flower-of-japan/</link>
		<comments>http://japanuptown.com/japanese-heritage-sakura-the-legendary-flower-of-japan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:51:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Japanese Culture, Arts and Heritage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cherry blossom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Japan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sakura]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sakura cherry blossom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sakura flower]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sakura tree]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Somei Yoshino]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://japanuptown.com/?p=103</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To me, it’s like one of the many wonders in this world where we lived in – the ‘Sakura’ flowers or ‘cherry blossom’ some may have called it. When you’re looking at the pictures of Sakura trees in rows, it is so beautiful ‘as if’ like you’re watching a field of tulips in Netherlands, with a little more oriental touch. Alas, I had to admit, they’re rather incomparable to any other things in this world.
All these years of my life, when I come across the word Sakura, I only remember ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
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