niponica is a web magazine that introduces modern Japan to people all over the world.
Cover: Small figurine to hang on a cup for a surprisingly amusing effect. Height approx. 5 cm.
©Tanaka Katsuki/KITAN CLUB
Issue
Special Feature
Tiny but Awesome!
Miniature Is Big in Japan
Haiku, a complete poem in just 17 syllables. Bonsai, a tree grown in a tiny pot. Or just a pocket-size transistor radio. Even without these well-known examples, it is clear that Japanese culture has a long history of miniaturism—the aesthetic of reducing things to a size just right for their own tiny, perfect world. An appreciation of the beauty of the minuscule and the ability to achieve it have resulted in traditional crafts, industrial products, toys and a lot of other things that are tiny, awesome and cute.
On March 3 every year it is common for families to celebrate their young daughters during the Hina-matsuri festival, by displaying small dolls in the home. In one region in Shizuoka Prefecture, homes are decorated with tsurushi-bina, which are made of cloth and suspended in an ornate display. (Photo: Aflo)
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