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Japan has much history and beauty, the past interlacing the present and influencing the future. Their beauty is featured everywhere, especially in beautiful Mt. Fuji. ("Japan" 737)  They have gorgeous dramatic fashions from the past that hint subtly at the modern fashions today. Their beauty treatments are preformed as an art and are nearly entirely naturally based. In Japan art is a major part of their culture and is treated as such with all different unique styles and forms. Japan is a unique culture that incorporates beauty into everything they do, fashion, both modern and ancient, beauty treatments, and their anomalous art and monuments. Fashion has always been a major part of Japan. Since ancient times designers have been working hard to create new and creative fashions. Although today the ancient traditions of Japan maybe somewhat neglected and unknown, ancient fashion has been very influencial to the country. It shaped what we known Japanese style to be today, and it will continue to do so in the future.

Japanese women have always loved dramatic hair. Black hair is by far the most common color in Asia. "Japanese noble women in the seventh century A.D. wore their hair very high and boxy at the front, with a sickle-shaped ponytail at the back. This hair-style, known as //kepatsu//, was inspired by Chinese fashions of the time" (Szcepanski). High ranking ladies wore their hair long, high and thin. They believed that thin sticks would keep them safe and the talismins in their hair would protect them from evil so they put many different types of "hair ornaments" in their hair. Long hair symbolized beauty and nobility. Farmers couldn't wear buns on the top of their heads because they carrried baskets on top of their heads.During the Heian age individuality was frowned upon and the common style for everyone was to have their hair tied up with paper. Young unmarried women were also not allowed to show their face in public. Having their faces covered and hidden from men was a sign of beauty back then.

 Kimonos were also very fashionable in ancient Japan. During the Heian period 749-1185, many elaborate layers of colred kimono robes, which was custom, became popular with Japanese women. Jun-hitoe, twelve unlined robes were frequently worn, the sleeve edges and colors showed the shades of each kimono. People of the royal court sometimes wore up to sixteen kimono layers(Japanesekimono.com). Kimonos weren't just for women! Everyone including men and children wore them with a belt called an obi. Men had additional pants underneath their robes too. In the spring and summer seasons thinner and lighter colored robes called yukatas were worn and in the winter they wore thicker and darker colored kimonos. For women especially, kimonos aren't just worn based on age but also by maritial status. Young, unmarried women wear colorful, rich patterned, long sleeved kimonos while older married women wear the more simple robes. For their wedding, women had special white kimonos called shiro-makus. These special kimonos have more intricate patterns and are much more delicate.



The two types of japanese sandals or japanese shoes is the geta and the zori. The kimono's length is normally adjusted to hang right at the ankle displaying both the japanese odori socks and shoes. Japanese sandals and shoes come in a variety of colors and styles, red and black being the most popular. Geta sandals are best known from the common pictures of Geishas. Geta sandals are any sandal without an attached heel. The front of these sandals is slightly tapered to make the wearer lean forward when they walk. Walking in these sadals takes a lot of practice. The zori and tatami sandals have flat bottoms and are much more casual then the geta sandals. "The sandals are called tatami which means straw. The surface of the sandal is made from woven straw like the tatami mats used on the floors of japanese homes" (JapaneseKimono.com). These sandals are all worn with socks. Traditional tabi socks are split between the big toe and index toe. They were specially designed for people to wear them with geta or zori sandals."Odori tabi socks are purchased to the exact fit of the persons foot. The tabi are popular among traditional japanese dancers and theater artists. The vinyl sole bottom of the tabi protects their feet since japanese shoes are not normally worn during performances" (JapaneseKimono.com). Many people still prefer them today because of thei r softness.

<span style="color: rgb(0,0,0);"> Throughout Japan’s history, the Japanese folding fan and the Japanese hand fan have played significant roles in society as well as ceremonial traditions. The importance of the Japanese fan was far more than its ability to keep people cool. It was used in an extensive range of social and court activities (Oriental-decor.com). It first appeared in sketches of the Japanese God of Happiness. Later the fan was adopted by China and many European countries. Uses of the fan varied from keeping cool to hiding your face. Fans were a gateway to their emotions. Wealthy people were more likely to have fans as a sign of status. But, the fan wasn't only for fashion and beauty, there are also war fans that were used to signal each other on the battlefield. Fashionable fans unlike the "iron fan of war" were made of thin paper with beautiful paintings hand painted on them.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> The modern beauty in Japan varies from the very plain kimono to the harajuku style, and is mostly influenced by high school girls. The kimono is the most traditional clothing in Japan, that both women and men wear. It is wrapped around the body, left over right, and tied with a sash. Women's kimonos can be very simple design. They are usually worn by the older women, with a very unique silk design, and are most commenly worn during ceremonies. Men don't usually wear kimonos, but when they do it is usually for a special tradition. The most popular types of kimonos are made of cotton and are worn, mostly, at home, resorts, and ceremonies. Another Modern fashion is the Harajuku fashion, which is very "avant-garde"(Japanesefashion.net). The harajuku fashion started in the city of Harajuku around 1990, and has formed in other parts of Japan to, by most school girls. There is no one Harajuku style though, harajuku is a term used for the oddly dressed girls around the city of Harajuku. One type is Kawaii. Kawaii means cute or pretty and rebels against the older type of clothes, because the older women do not find it as cute or pretty. Other types of harajuku fashion are cyber-punk, gothic-loli, and cosplay.

Modern trends and street fashion in Japan are extremely different from one another and some are very "avant-rde"(Japanesefashion.net)."According to experts from the global fashion world, the term 'street fashion' denotes the fashion wherein the wearer personally customizes the outfits in such a way as to adopt a blend of the current and traditional trends"(www.japanesefashion.net). Which means most street fashion and trends in Japan are costimized or personally made by the person. Another trend and street fashion is the traditional Japanese kimono. "In fact, one can trace the continuously changing Japanese street trends in the various issues of one of the leading fashion magazines in Japan - FRUiTS. This magazine is largely popular as it is considered as one of the prominent promoters of street fashion in Japan. Shoichi Aoki has made contributions to this publication since 1997"(www.japanesefashion.net). This magazine has also talks about the Western fashion in Japan now.

Western fashion has become very popular in Japan ever since the 1960's and became street fashion in the 1990's. One western style of clothes is a black suite with a tie. "Most of the middle aged men work in companies, in which many require for them to wear a suit and tie. Also, Japanese ladies that work in offices, also known as OLs (Office Lady), wear suit-like outfits with the trousers replaced with a skirt, and often no tie"(www.asij.ac.jp). Another western style of clothing is a simple jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers, like what we wear in the United States, and in parts of Europe. Therefore not only do high school girls and the FRUiTS magazine influence the modern fashion in Japan, but Americans do too. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> In Japan there is much focus on beauty. However, unlike most places such as America they believe in natural and healthy beauty. In Japan there is less surgeries and extreme unhealthy dieting and more of living healthily. Women in Japan actually live longer because they do not affect their natural balance, meaning they do not focus on unnatural beauty involving harmful chemicals and procedures(Wilson). The Japanese are known for their beautiful, smooth, flawless skin which is maintained all naturally(Munro). They eat lots of Komenuka rice bran and Wakame sea weed which protects your skin form UV sun rays, and smooth a fine red bean called Azuki, which they spread across their skin. The Japanese also strongly believe in the use of vitamin C which comes from oranges. People in Japan are known for their beauty yet they are almost completely natural(Wilson).

The Japanese spa culture is centuries old. One of the most popular features of their spa culture, from both the past and now is their hot springs. The springs have been around and popular in Japan since as early as 190ad. They first became immensely popular in all the classes when an empress used Hot Spring Therapy to cure injured soldiers in 400ad(Unique Japanese Spa Culture).Another part of the Ancient Japan spa culture is a form of massage called Shiatsu. This is used to remove pain and stress and is unusual because instead of using the whole palm only the finger tips are used for the most part. This is more relaxing and efficient than a regular massage. (Wong)Even today the methods used in a spa in Ancient Japan are still used and popular today.



Most people who don’t live in Japan think of the more traditional form of make-up when they picture a Japanese lady going out. In reality most girls and women don’t go wandering around on the streets like that. Because of the focus on natural beauty most women don’t wear a lot of makeup and when they do it looks very natural, they mainly only use peachy tones(japan-guide). However there are those rare special occasions when the old ways of wearing makeup come back into play. They use a white full face makeup called guanine, and is nightingale droppings. They don’t use many colors for the traditional style of makeup; the only three colors used are black, white and red. The white is the base for the face, the red outlined the eyes and the red is used for the lips and to add some color around the eyes. The result is beautiful and dramatic and because all the makeup, both traditional and modern are made out of natural products it does not harm the skin <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(Process of Japanese Make-up).



Modern Japanese beauty treatments are much like they were in the past since they were so effective. They still mainly use all natural products but they do have one major treatment that does involve some chemicals. These are very mild yet affective. The treatment takes unruly curls and makes them shiny and straight, permanently. This has become very popular all around the world as women and girls no longer have the time, or desire, to spend hours fighting their curls.(Balmaseda )Even today though, the main focus is still on their skin. Girls are not allowed often out in the sun to protect their skin and the old natural methods for beauty are still in place with a newer exfoliation method added, a clear gel used to remove the dead skin and create a soft glow on the skin. New herbs and signature oils are also used. So no matter what in Japan beauty and naturalality come first and go hand in hand.



The art in Japan reflects the citizens, life, religion, and culture. The first art was made by the Jōmon people in 11000 BC They crafted lavishly decorated pottery storage vessels, clay figurines called dogu<span style="color: rgb(0,0,0);"> and crystal jewels. The first known artist in japan was Kose Kanaoka and some of the main artist in modern japan are Ayako Rokkaku, Yutaka Inagawa and Aya Takano.But Japanese art has changed very much over the centuries because of people taking over japan or different emperors ruling so they don't really stay with the same way of art for very long. after world war II the things they drew where different they started moving into the mainstream of modern art.

The monuments in Japan are very large like the Tokyo tower, it is the largest self supporting bridge in the world and was made in 1958. with that the Tokyo Tower weighs about 4,000 tons!! The Tower is painted in white and orange according to aviation safety regulations. The Rainbow Bridge is a suspension bridge it connects a waterfront area in Tokyo.It was began to built in 1987 and completed as a new symbol of Tokyo in 1993. It is 798m in length. It has three kinds of transportation.On the upper spot there is a expressway and on the lower spot there is a monorail.And there is a walkway too.It obtains power of the sun and illuminates with white, green and red in the night. the other big thing in Japan is the Tokyo Olympic stadium, right now is not the stadium for the Olympics, it is where many sporting events are held in Japan.

The beauty of Japan is perhaps one of the most delicate and unexampled things in the world. Their passion for dramatic fashion and finespun designs seizes your eyes. Although their customs and designs have changed over the centuries, artists and designers always find a way to encorporate the archaic designs with contemporary ones. People in Japan have a way of taking simple items and turning them into a five star spa treatements. Art in Japan combines ingenuity and pure skill. Japan is a unique culture that incorporates beauty into everything they do, what they are known for is fashion, both modern and ancient, beauty treatements, and their anomalous art and monuments.

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