Animated Pictograms

Fun and easy-to-understand presentation of historical culture and traditional customs that are uniquely Japanese.

  • VISIT TO TEMPLE / SHIRINE
  • BOWING
  • POUNDING RICE CAKE
  • HAILING A CAB / TAXI
  • TAKING A BATH
  • WATER ABLUTION
  • TEA CEREMONY
  • RHYTHMIC CLAPPING AT CELEBRATIONS
  • RIDING THE TRAIN
  • WINNING MOVES IN SUMŌ
  • AWA DANCE FESTIVAL
  • Coming Soon

About The Project

EXPERIENCE JAPAN PICTOGRAMS were developed to provide visual support for tourists in Japan.
For more information about the objectives and design concept of the project, please click here.

Request

If you would like us to create new PICTOGRAMS for you or have other requests, please contact us here.

WINNING MOVES IN SUMŌ

相撲の決まり手[SUMŌ-NO-KIMARITE]

A traditional martial art imbued with many ritual elements. It is a national sport of Japan, in which two rikishi (wrestlers) with magé (hair topknot) wearing nothing but mawashi (belt/loincloth) attempt to force each other out of a 4.55 m-diameter dohyō (circular ring) or to touch the ground. Sumō has a large repertoire of techniques called “kimarite,” numbering 82. Most rikishi weigh over 100 kg, but smaller rikishi can outsmart those weighing twice as much. Taro, a small-figured boy, loves to watch sumō. He gets inspired and encouraged by watching rikishi whether they win or lose.