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.

MONOMANE

ものまね[MONOMANE]

Monomane is the art of mimicry. Monomane artists mimic the voices and gestures of different animals, renowned personalities, etc. It is said to originate in kowairo-zukai (performers who impersonated the voices of Kabuki stars) and established itself as an art form in the late Edo period. Nakimane, a genre of monomane that mimics animal sounds, was also popular during the Edo period. Today, Edoya Nekohachi, a fifth generation animal mimicry artist, keeps this unique and refined art form alive. Ritsu was able to overturn his reputation as a crybaby by impersonating his classroom teacher perfectly. He is now regarded a hero.