World Karate Champion, Ayano Nakamura This video shows an interview with world champion Ayano Nakamura, about karate. Approved as an official game of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, karate is very popular internationally as a form of self-defense, mental training, and sport. Have you hear of the movie Karate Kid? If you recall, the story is about a boy who practices karate, and through that he grows as a person. Three entries were made for the blockbuster, and it captured the hearts of audiences all over the world with its themes of martial arts and spirit. Currently, there are about 70 million karate practitioners worldwide. This interview with Ayano Nakamura, winner of the 2017 Karate World Championships, introduces what karate is and what makes it appealing. What is Karate? Photo：Karate Karate is a Japanese martial art that focuses on using the hands and elbows for defense. Although there are various views on the origin of karate, it is rooted in an old Okinawan martial art called "te" (手, te) or "karate" (唐手, karate) which was popular among samurai in the Ryukyu Kingdom (present day Okinawa) as an art of self-defense. Later, it was blended with a Chinese martial art and the base for the karate we know today was formed. The martial art has adopted the three elements: spirit, technique, and physique. Karate has countless styles. The most famous ones are the four major styles of karate: Shotokan style, Goju style, Wado style, and Shito style) and the three major styles of Okinawan karate (Goju style, Uechi style, and Kobayashi style). Although the names of the kata (form of movement, posture, etc. in martial arts) are the same, each school has its own characteristics. At countless gyms and schools of karate throughout Japan, many people are practicing karate to learn about the Japanese spirit and manners as well. Two Types of Sports Karate: Kata and Kumite Sports karate has two types: kata and kumite. In kata, practitioners compete on precision and speed, while in kumite, practitioners compete on how precisely they can hit a certain body part of the opponent. Basic Kata of Karate Photo：Karate Ayano Nakamura mastered Shotokan style karate which has 25 types of kata. As the phrase goes "karate is not for attacking" every kata starts with a block instead of an attack. Trainees master basic kata such as punches, kicks, and blocks first, then move on to more complicated kata. Well-known kata are "Bassaidai," "Kankudai," "Enbi," and "Jion" etc. What Can You Learn From Karate? Learning techniques is of course important in karate. However, observing rules always comes first in the martial art. As "karate is not for attacking" implies, controlling your techniques is more important than anything else in karate. Summary of Karate Source :YouTube screenshot In this interview, Ayano Nakamura describes the traditional Japanese culture "Karate." She focuses more on the mental aspect of karate, manners, etc., rather than the aspect of karate as a martial art. Karate gives more importance what it means to be a fighter, such as making eye contact while talking and greeting. To be strong is one of the ultimate goals of martial arts. Ayano Nakamura hopes, however, that everyone develops a tender heart to care for others, and develops the courage to overcome obstacles through karate. In this video, Ayano Nakamura explains what makes karate attractive and demonstrates her karate techniques. Check out her sharp, impressive movements and powerful will!

The Martial Arts Tourism Gaining Popularity Among Tourists Visiting Japan This video, titled "[Japan Sports Agency] Foreign Visitors to Japan Taking Interest! A Report on the 'Budo Tourism' That Can Only Be Experienced in Japan" (【スポーツ庁】訪日外国人が注目！ 日本でしか体験できない「武道ツーリズム」の現場をレポート), was released by "Japan Sports Agency" (スポーツ庁). Budo Tourism refers to foreign visitors to Japan going on sightseeing trips to experience traditional Japanese martial arts. In addition to sumo, Japan's national sport, Japan has various traditional martial arts, such as kendo, judo, karate, and aikido, which attract a lot of interest from foreign tourists. With Budo Tourism, some foreigners visit Japan to try Kyudo, Shorinji Kempo, Naginata and Iaido. Karate, A Martial Art Gaining Popularity in Budo Tourism Photo：Martial arts Karate, seen from 0:34 in the video, is one of the most popular forms of martials arts in Budo Tourism, and has also officially been made into an event at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. It is said that there are around 130 million karate enthusiasts around the world, and the number of foreign tourists visiting to experience karate through Budo Tourism is increasing year after year. There are various theories about the origin of karate, but it is believed that the history of Japanese karate begins with the self-defense techniques of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which can be seen in the video. The Chinese martial art "Toude," which was introduced to the Ryukyu Kingdom, later become what we know as traditional Okinawan karate. Eventually, karate was divided into several schools, and performances and matches began to be held throughout the country. The Appeal of Budo Tourism Photo：Karate The fascinating experience of practicing in a dojo while wearing traditional uniforms typical of Japanese martial arts is not something you can easily experience outside of Japan. What kind of experience are foreign tourists looking for when training in classes held at traditional martial arts dojos? One reason is that Japanese martial arts place a large importance on etiquette and many people feel that they can experience spiritual growth through these experiences. Japanese martial arts have the idea of "Shin-Gi-Tai" (心技体: heart, technique, strength) This is a term that refers to the three qualities of a martial artist: mental strength (心, heart), skill (技, technique), and physical strength (体, body). It is said that training the mind and body in a well-balanced manner is the most important thing to consider when practicing martial arts. Summary of Japan's Budo Tourism Photo：Karate, kata As mentioned before, the number of foreign tourists interested in traditional Japanese martial arts, such as karate and kendo, is increasing year after year. Many Japanese people and foreign tourists are looking forward to seeing traditional martial arts at the Tokyo Olympics. Going forward, Budo Tourism will become a bridge between Japan and the rest of the world.

This video, titled "KARATE OLYMPICS FOREVER in Hokkaido 20170219 Making オリンピックPR in 北海道 [PV]," was released by "KARATE WORLD TV - produced by JKFan." Japan's traditional art of karate, which has enthusiasts all over the world, has been designated as an official event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The video was shot in Hokkaido in the extreme cold of winter, and shows children hoping that karate will continue to be an official sport of the Olympics. In the mountain where snow is still falling, children dressed in karate uniforms practice punches over and over again! After the exercise is completed, each child holds up a piece of paper saying "KARATE OLYMPICS FOREVER" and together, the children and adults chant it with all their heart. This video was also broadcast at World Karate Day in Germany in 2017.

Traditional Japanese Cultures – Tea Ceremony, Flower Arrangement, Calligraphy, Kendo, and Archery: Video Introduction This video, titled "IS JAPAN COOL? DOU - 道 (THE TANGIBLE MANNER)," was uploaded by "ANA Global Channel." The video begins with an atmospheric Japanese bamboo grove, followed by scenes of martial arts such as iaido and kendo using Japanese swords, as well as calligraphy and archery. The beautiful images and the sound of taiko drums provide a glimpse into the various "Ways" of Japanese culture, including the classical Japanese performing arts of Noh theatre and Nihon buyo (classical Japanese dance). In Japanese "Dou" (道, Road/Path), in the context of traditional Japanese cultures, means "The Way." Some of the most common of these traditional cultures are as follows: Kendo (剣道) Kendo (剣, Sword) (道, Path) or "The Way of the Sword" Sado (茶道) Sado (茶, Tea) (道, Path) or "The Way of Tea" Kado (華道) Kado (華, Flower) (道, Path) or "The Way of Flowers," a type of flower arrangement Shodo (書道) Shodo (書, Writing) (道, Path) or "The Way of Writing," more commonly known as calligraphy Kyudo (弓道) Kyudo (弓, Bow) (道, Path) or "The Way of the Bow," more commonly known as archery Traditional Japanese Cultures and 'The Way' Photo：The kanji for 'Way' When it comes to Japanese culture, many people probably think of things like kendo and tea ceremony. "Dou," or "The Way" helps convey the history and wisdom contained within these traditional Japanese cultures. In fact, it's still not widely known that there are numerous "ways" in Japan. For starters, calligraphy (書道, Shodo), tea ceremony (茶道, Sado), and flower arrangement (華道, Kado), widely known as traditional Japanese culture, are collectively referred to as Sando (三道) or "The Three Ways." Even today, they are popular as training activities. There are also nine types of budo (武, War) (道, Path) or "The Way of War," including judo, which is popular around the world as an Olympic sport, kendo, kyudo (traditional Japanese archery), sumo, karate, naginata, aikido, jukendo, and shorinji kenpo. In addition, there are iaido, jodo, tatedo, and kobudo. There is also kodo, (香, Aroma) (道, Path) or "The Way of Aromas," which involves burning incense to enjoy their fragrance. There are many lesser-known forms of martial arts in Japan as well. Did you know that there are more Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples in Japan than there are convenience stores in the entire country? Even Japan's native religions, Shinto (神, Gods) (道, Path) or "The Way of the Gods," Butsudo (仏, Buddha) (道, Path) or "The Way of Buddha," and Shugendo (修, Discipline) (験, Test) (道, Path), or literally "The Way of Discipline and Testing." Learning More than Simply the 'Way' Photo：A judo gi So what is learned from these traditional Japanese cultures? Let's take the aforementioned "Budo" (martial arts) as an example. Japanese martial arts are similar to sports, as they are competitive and use a set of established rules. However, budo emphasizes spirituality. It's said that Budo is a form of "Bushido" (武士道), the "Way of the Warrior," a way to improve one's spirituality and character, particularly civility and morality. Budo is not only about winning matches, but also about becoming a better person by training one's mind, techniques, and physique through daily practice and discipline. Let's take a look at what you can actually learn by studying martial arts. ●Etiquette and Perseverance Martial arts are said to begin and end with a bow. Through martial arts, students learn to be considerate of others while keeping their emotions in check, and through repeated training, they also acquire patience and perseverance. ●Increased Concentration When competing against an opponent, one must pay attention to the opponent's movements and be ready to respond to the opponent's attack. This requires a high level of concentration. By continuing to practice, you will strengthen your ability to concentrate. Other benefits include increased flexibility of the shoulder blades and hip joints and increased metabolism, and it can also be practiced by men and women of all ages. If one's spirituality is enhanced through "budo," one may be able to calmly deal with unpleasant situations in real-life relationships or at work. Not limited to martial arts, in Japan, there are countless classes and dojos related to "ways," such as kado (華道, flower arrangement), sado (茶道, tea ceremony), and kyudo (弓道, archery), and many people practice them because they enable them to learn the Japanese spirit of harmony and etiquette. Popular Japanese Cultural Experiences Among International Tourists Photo：Kado Here are some Japanese cultural experiences that are popular among tourists visiting Japan. First, there's tea ceremony. Tea ceremony is a uniquely Japanese cultural experience that is popular among foreign tourists because of its refined etiquette and the Japanese spirit of wabi-sabi. Flowers are universally loved. In kado, a type of flower arrangement and purely Japanese culture, one learns not only how to arrange flowers, but also how to entertain guests and how to appreciate life by decorating flowers and plants. Unlike standard flower arrangement, the artistic ikebana experience, which also teaches the beauty of the space between the flowers, is becoming more and more popular every year. Another popular Japanese cultural experience among foreign visitors to Japan is kimono. As you can see in the video showing traditional Japanese dance and Noh theatre, many people associate Japan with kimono. In Kyoto and other sightseeing spots, people are often seen wearing kimono as well. Summary of Traditional Japanese Cultures and 'The Way' Have you checked out the video to learn about the different "ways" of Japan? It's a beautiful video filled with the charms of traditional Japanese cultures, dignified movements, and wabi-sabi. Like we mentioned, there are many "ways" that even Japanese people are not familiar with. The traditional Japanese cultures or "ways" aren't just about techniques, but also growing as a person and honing one's character. Perhaps you can use the inspiration you've found from this article to find your own path?

Highlights in the Video This video, titled "[ver.2] JAPAN - Where tradition meets the future | JNTO," was created by "visit japan." It summarizes popular sightseeing spots in Japan, the charms of Japan, the wonders of Japan, and recommended destinations in Japan. Many people think of Tokyo and Kyoto as tourist destinations. However, there are many other traditional tourist spots in Japan as well. This video introduces Japan’s scenic beauty and superb views, tradition and beliefs, traditional performing arts, martial arts, and festivals, using the latest technologies, such as time-lapse and drones, in a quick, 3-minute video. There's a lot of scenery introduced in the video that even Japanese people don't know about! I hope that everyone can discover the wonder and beauty of Japan by watching this video! The video introduces countless tourist destinations, the charms of Japan, the splendor of Japan, recommended spots in Japan, and Japanese culture. This article will also introduce some of the information in the video, so be sure to follow along with the video as you read this article! Recommended Tourist Destinations in Japan ©Michio_Matsuoka Modifying This video also introduces many tourist destinations in Japan. There are many World Heritage Sites in Japan, some of which have unique cultures and history that you can't experience in other countries. For example, Itsukushima Shrine, which has an impressive vermillion red torii gate standing in the sea, and Himeji Castle, which has impressive, white castle walls, are both popular with domestic and foreign tourists. Itsukushima Shrine is shown from 0:35 in the video. Shirakawa-go, where you can stay in historic thatched-roof houses, is another tourist destination in Japan. Other tourist destinations that we highly recommend visiting include Shuri Castle (1:26) and Osaka Castle (1:41). If you're looking to go for a walk amongst magnificent natural scenery, we recommend places like Mt. Fuji and Kumano Kodo. Beautiful Sightseeing Destinations in Japan's Great Outdoors ©Kagoshima Prefecture Modifying The magnificent view of the natureof Japan shown in the video is spectacular. As of June 2019, Japan's four natural heritage sites are Shiretoko in Hokkaido, Shirakami Mountains that span Aomori and Akita, the Ogasawara Islands of Tokyo, and Yakushima in Kagoshima prefecture. Natural heritage spots where you can enjoy seasonal landscapes unique to Japan are also attracting attention as a valuable tourist destinations. Yakushima is shown from 0:35 in the video. We recommend it to those looking to go on a trip to unexplored places with spectacular views of nature that will make you forget all about the troubles of daily life. The video introduces a ton of other spots full of natural beauty that aren't listed above. There are still so many wondrous views in Japan! Sightseeing in Japan's Lively Cities! Photo：Dotonbori Walking through the bustling cities of Japan also makes for an unforgettable experience. If you're looking to visit lively spots, we recommend the Dotonbori area in Osaka. This is shown from 1:14 in the video. There are many restaurants and shopping districts around Dotonbori, Osaka, which is known as Kuidaore Town. Many popular events are held in tourist areas as well, so be sure to keep your eyes open for them. In Osaka, there's the Tower of the Sun, which was created by the artist Taro Okamoto as a symbol for the Japan World Exposition (Osaka Expo) held in Suita City, Osaka Prefecture in 1970. This famous tourist destination is introduced from 2:16 in the video. Going out to see Japanese festivals and learning about traditional Japanese performing arts and martial arts is sure to make for an unforgettable experience. Summary of Modern Day Japan After watching the video, which place caught your eye? Of course, there are many more tourist destinations, charms, and wonders in Japan, but at the very least, this article and video will get you started on your adventure! One of the best parts about sightseeing in Japan is that you can enjoy it in a way that will suit each and every person. We hope that with this video and article you've found something that piqued your interest in Japan!