Mornington Peninsula Gallery`s In the Japanese Manner

Mornington is turning Japanese. The Mornington Peninsula Gallery`s in the Japanese Manner is showcasing works of famous Australian artists influenced by the art of Japan. Fans of vibrant flora and fauna prints made by Margaret Preston will have the chance to see her work. The exhibition features colourful and technically brilliant works on paper by the likes of Preston, Thea Proctor, Ethel Spowers, Lionel Lindsay, Violet Teague and Napier Waller. All the works are inspired by traditional Japanese woodblock printing art. The exhibition will run from September 8, 2010 at the Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery Civic Reserve, Dunns Rd, Mornington, Victoria.

Step-By-Step Guide to Identifying, Finding, Cultivating, Protecting & Maintaining Beautiful Bonsai Trees!

Japanese Swords

A Japanese sword or nihonto is one of the traditional bladed weapons of Japan. There are several types of Japanese sword, according to size, field of application and method of manufacture. The most commonly known type of Japanese sword is the katana, which is a single-edged and usually curved long sword, traditionally used by samurai from the 1400s onwards. Other types of Japanese swords include wakizashi, which is a short sword, tsurugi, which are double-edged long swords and odachi, which are older versions.

Japanese swords are still commonly seen today and remain very popular. Antique and modernly-forged swords can easily be found and purchased. Modern, authentic nihonto are made by a few hundred swordsmiths in Japan. Most old Japanese swords can be traced back to one of five provinces, each of which had its own school, traditions and trademarks. My favourite are the blades from Seki and Mino in Gifu which were famous from the start for their quality and sharpness.

If you enjoyed this article you might also enjoy our two most popular articles
Japan Fashion Culture Hit Around The World
Daiso Japan

The Japanese Fashion Industry Popular Brands

The Japanese street fashion is known for its mix-match of different styles and genres, and as such there is no single sought after brand that can consistently appeal to all fashion groups. The three cornerstone brands are often said to be Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo. It wasn`t until the early 1990s that the industry saw a blooming emergence of street fashion brands such as A Bathing Ape, Evisu, and Uniqlo. Japan is also well known for its consumption of foreign luxury brands such as Burberry, Louis Vuitton , Gucci and Prada. Recently, Abercrombie & Fitch has become popular among aspiring American preppy Japanese teen.

Discover The Secrets Of Dating The Beautiful Women Of Japan

Japanese Fashion

Cosplay Fashion

Cosplay is short for “costume roleplay” where participants wear elaborate costumes usually as a specific character or idea. Often, the fashionistas of this street fashion will dress up as characters from manga, anime, and video games.

The Secrets Of Speaking Japanese Fluently

Japanese Fashion

Visual Kei Fashion

The style of Visual Kei consists of striking makeup, unusual hair styles and flamboyant costuming. Androgyny is a popular aspect of the style especially within the entertainment industry. Well known and influential artist include the musical groups X Japan and Dir En Grey.

Discover The Secrets Of Dating The Beautiful Women Of Japan

Japanese Fashion

Bosozoku Fahion

The stereotypical bosozoku look is often portrayed and even caricatured in many forms of Japanese media such as anime, manga and films. The typical bosozuku member is often depicted in a uniform consisting of a jumpsuit and a type of military issue over-coat with kanji slogans. These are usually worn open, with no shirt underneath, showing off bandaged torsos and matching baggy pants tucked inside tall boots.

The Secrets Of Speaking Japanese Fluently

Japanese Fashion

Kogal Fashion

Kogal Fashion is another of Japan`s famous street fashion. The Kogal look is based on a high school uniform, but with a shorter skirt. The girls call themselves gyaru (gals). This style was very prominent in the 1990s, but has since declined. The High School fashion or look involves a hitched up uniform and accessories like garters, tiaras and fingerless gloves.

Discover The Secrets Of Dating The Beautiful Women Of Japan

Japanese Street Fashion

Ganguro Fashion

The Ganguro street fashion become popular among Japanese girls in the early 2000s. The Ganguro style consists of bleached hair, a dark tan, fake eyelashes, black and white eyeliner and platform shoes. A typical look for a Ganguro Girl is to wear brightly coloured outfits, mini-skirts, and tie-dyed sarongs.

The Secrets Of Speaking Japanese Fluently

Japanese Street Fashion

Japanese Fashion Lolita Fashion

Lolita Fashion contains many different styles and themes. Lolita has become one of the larger, more recognizable styles in Japanese Street Fashion. This is now gaining interest worldwide. Lolita is seen as one of many different styles that brings the “cute” in Japan. The Lolita look consists primarily of a knee length skirt or dress, headdress, blouse, petticoat, knee high socks or stockings and rocking horse or high heel/platform shoes.

Some of the styles and themes contained within Lolita include Gothic Lolita, Sweet Lolita, Punk Lolita and Classic Lolita.

Discover The Secrets Of Dating The Beautiful Women Of Japan

Japanese Fashion

Japan Fashion Culture Hit Around the World

Japan Fashion has become a hit around the world. Japan is a highly fashion conscious country and has tended to follow European Western fashions, but Japan is now becoming a fashion leader and powerhouse in its own right. A lot of new young fashion is being created on the street of Tokyo and other major Japanese cities and this is influencing fashion around the world. This so called “Street Fashion” is a term used to describe fashion where the wearer customises outfits by adopting a mixture of current and traditional trends. More recently, Japanese hip-hop which has long been present among underground Tokyo`s club scene, has influenced the mainstream fashion industry.

Japanese Street Fashion

Street fashion is still prominent in Japan today. Urban fashion districts in Tokyo such as Harajuku, Ginza, Odaiba, Shinjuku and Shibuya are the centers for this fashion in Japan. Some of the subculture attire that can be seen in these areas include Lolita, Ganguro, Kogal, Bosozoku, Visual Kei and Cosplay.

Discover The Secrets Of Dating The Beautiful Women Of Japan

Japanese Fashion Popular Brands
Cosplay Fashion

Visual Kei Fashion

Bosozoku Fashion

Kogal Fashion

Ganguro Fashion

Lolita Fashion

Easy Japanese Cooking Recipe Vegetable Tempura

This month's Easy Japanese Cooking recipe is Japanese Vegetable Tempura

Preparation Time: 25 mins
Cooking Time: 10 mins

1 cup self-raising flour
2 tbsp cornflour
1 ½ cups iced water
½ tsp salt
Extra self-raising flour for coating

1. Combine flour, cornflour and iced water and whisk to a slightly lumpy batter. Add more water if you want a slightly thinner batter but authentic Japanese tempura is slightly lump.

2. Place extra flour and vegetables into a plastic bag and shake to coat vegetables.

3. Dip vegetables in batter.

4. Heat oil until a faint haze appears and cook vegetables in batches until batter crisps.

5. Drain on kitchen paper and serve with a low sodium soy sauce and pickled ginger.

In Japan we use tempura batter with vegetables like onion, potato, sweet potato, pumpkin, shitake mushrooms, green pepper and carrot. It also works great with prawns and white fish.

Easy To Follow Steps To Create Over 108 Top Japanese Recipes!