Portal:Japan/Did you know/Did you know/Archive

This is a selection of recently created new articles on Wikipedia that's related to Japan, and were presented on the Portal:Japan page. Some, but not all of them, were featured on the Main Page as part of Did you know?

Did you know...



 * that Pontocho is a geisha district in Kyoto? The neighborhood is traditionally identified as the location where kabuki began. American anthropologist Liza Dalby apprenticed as a geisha in Pontocho.


 * that agemochi, fried balls of glutinous rice, is a popular snack throughout Japan?


 * that Nihonjinron (日本人論, "discourse on the Japanese") is a Japanese term referring to a genre of discourses that posit and examine certain unique characteristics, behaviors, or thinking-patterns of the Japanese people? Some Western authors have written what might be considered to be nihonjinron, such as Ruth Benedict's The Chrysanthemum and the Sword and Eugen Herrigel's Zen in the Art of Archery.


 * that an obi (帯) is the top-most sash worn with various styles of kimono and martial-arts uniforms; several other sashes may be worn under the obi to secure the clothing in place and/or to enhance the shape of the body or of the uppermost sash?


 * that in Japan, "high school baseball" (高校野球: kōkō yakyū) generally refers to baseball tournaments played by high schools nationwide culminating at a final tournament at Hanshin Kōshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Japan? These nationwide tournaments enjoy widespread popularity. Qualifying tournaments are often televised locally and each game of the final stage at Kōshien is televised nationally on NHK. The star players of the championship team achieve a degree of celebrity status. Several professional baseball stars first made their mark at Kōshien, including Ichiro, Hideki Matsui, and Hideo Nomo.


 * that the LDP-led coalition retained control of the House of Representatives in the 2003 General Election, while the Democratic Party of Japan made major gains?