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Japanese Cultures Shared in 1000-Piece Puzzles

 

Disclosure: I was sent these puzzles in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

On Monday I shared two new picture books that share Japanese grandparents sharing their culture and traditions with their Japanese American grandchildren. Today I am sharing two 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles that share a bit of Japanese culture and tradition as well. The first is Japan's Most Famous Shinto Shrine 1000 Pieces Jigsaw Puzzle from Tuttle Publishing. 

From the Publisher:

  • 1000 pieces
  • Quality design & easy to handle pieces
  • Finished puzzle 24 x 18 inches
  • Features a mesmerizing photo from Japan's Fushimi Inari shrine
  • Fushimi Inari is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best-known Shinto shrine in Japan
  • It is famous for the 10,000 vermilion Torii gates which form a 4-km (2.5-mile) pathway leading up and around the mountain

About Fushimi Inari Shrine:

Fushimi Inari is one of the thousands of shrines dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice, sake, and prosperity. Foxes are believed to be the messengers to Inari so there are many fox statues in the shrine. It is known for its 10,000 vermilion Torii gates (pictured in the puzzle) that form trails leading up and around Mt. Inari. It is located in Fushimi-Ku, Kyoto, Japan, and predates Kyoto becoming the capital in 794. Kyoto was the capital prior to Tokyo. Many people visit it today to hike the various trails behind the main building. 

The shrine was founded by the Hata family in 711. It originally was founded on Inariyama hill in southwestern Kyoto. It was moved to its present-day location in 816. It is the oldest and most historic landmark in Kyoto. Pilgrims still visit the shrine and leave donations to Inari as well as pray to him. 

On February 6th every year there is a festival at the shrine to celebrate the Day of the Horse or Hatsu Uma no Hi. The festival includes horse races and a ceremony to purify the horses. The festival dates back to the Nara period and is believed to have been to pray for good harvests. 

Sources:


From Me:

I love the idea of learning about Japan and its cultures and history from puzzles. Puzzles have a way of bringing people together and getting them talking. A puzzle like this one gives the adults a chance to teach kids about the Fushimi Inari shrine. The back of the puzzle box shares a little information. The quality of the puzzle is excellent as all of Tuttle's have been!

Our second puzzle is Japan's Samurai Warrior Festival in Japan 1000 Pieces Jigsaw Puzzle also from Tuttle Publishing. 

From the Publisher:

  • 1000 pieces
  • Quality design & easy to handle pieces
  • Finished puzzle 24 x 18 inches
  • Features a beautiful, full-color photograph of Japan's Nebuta Festival in Aomori
  • The festival features huge floats in the shape of Samurai warriors made of wood or bamboo, covered in papier mache, and lit from within by hundreds of lights


About the Nebuta Festival:

The Nebuta Festival or Samurai Warrior Festival is held every year in the city of Aomori from August 2 to 7. It is part of the Tanabata Festival or the Star Festival of Japan. The festival consists of lantern parades. The floats are made with wood or bamboo bases and covered with colorful papier mâché. They represent historical samurai warriors. They can be as high as 29 feet and 49 feet wide. There are usually 20 floats, and the parade goes from about 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The floats are lit up with lanterns and people carry lanterns throughout the parade. The floats are surrounded by people in costume dancing. Anyone can join as a dancer if they rent a costume in a local store. 

Nebuta means drowsiness. It is thought that the festival was originally to wake sleepy souls in time for the work of the harvest. The origins of the festival are not completely clear. It is believed it may have begun during the Nara period (710 to 794). There was a tradition of sending lanterns down the river as part of the Tanabata Festival. There are nebuta festivals in other towns but the one in Aomori is the most famous and original one.

Sources:


From Me:

Just like the first puzzle, there is information about the Nebuta Festival on the back of the box. I see this puzzle as an opportunity for a family, class or friends to work together and learn a bit about Japan and this tradition. The quality of the puzzle is great and the picture is fun. I imagine this is a fun puzzle to explore even more about the festival in a class. I hope you will check out both of these puzzles!! 

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