One may be surprised to know that people of the Orient, especially people of Japan are relatively an acne free nation.

What could be the reason for this teenage blight not erupting periodically to deface the smooth surface of a Japanese face, back, neck and shoulders? Well, the reason is extremely clear. It is the Japanese diet, which has a direct influence on the relatively few cases of acne in Japan. The diet consists of a lot of soya bean, which is extremely good to get cure acne or even prevent it.

And then if there is a remote case of acne, the best home remedy to cure acne is plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables

Do you want a cure acne remedy which works?

Most of the visitors on the Internet out there are looking for the easiest ways in which they can cure acne the natural way. Acne is quite distressing skin ailment. That is the reason why, any person suffering from it would want to look for the easiest way to cure acne naturally, just for the sake of his self-esteem!

One may be surprised to know that people of the Orient, especially people of Japan are relatively an acne free nation. What could be the reason for this teenage blight not erupting periodically to deface the smooth surface of a Japanese face, back, neck and shoulders? Well, the reason is extremely clear.

It is the Japanese diet, which has a direct influence on the relatively few cases of acne in Japan. The diet consists of a lot of soya bean, which is extremely good to get cure acne or even prevent it. And then if there is a remote case of acne, the best home remedy to cure acne is plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Japan is still a country which believes in organic agriculture, and that is the reason why you are not going to find a large number of chemicals and pesticides used on the food, which is going to be eaten by the Japanese. Fresh fruit and fresh vegetables are eaten regularly by children. Apart from that, the food is definitely not fried. That is the reason why you are not going to find Japanese or Koreans suffering from acne.

Acne is aggravated with a large amount of secreted oil, clogging up the pores of the epidermis. So, if you enjoy eating foodstuffs dripping in greasy fat, you are going to add to the oil and fat content, which needs to be removed from your system. And you should not be surprised that you are breaking out in acne, time and time again.

Prevent acne

There is another reason why the Japanese have such smooth skins. Kojic acid is a by-product, which is produced during the fermentation of Sake, the rice wine, of Japan. In small quantities, it is a skin whitener in Japanese cosmetics. There is another natural product, which is used extensively in Japan to cure acne. A child is massaged with Camellia oil, until it is 5 years old. Not only is it going to give the child a smooth and moisturised skin, but it is going to prevent acne from ever occurring.

So become the Lady of the Camellias right away and use one drop of this oil to keep your skin smooth and glowing.

Pre 1891- Items imported to the U.S. did not have to be marked with the country of their origin.

Most Japanese ceramics were not stamped with any backstamp or they were marked with the Artist’s or Manufacture’s name in Japanese.

1891 – 1921 – Starting in March, 1891, after enactment of the McKinley Tariff Act, all goods imported to the U.S. were required to be marked in English with the country of origin.

In 1914 the Tariff Act has amended to make the words “Made In” in addition to the country of origin mandatory. This was not rigorously enforced until around 1921 so some pre 1921 pieces can still be found without the “Made In” wordage.

Most Japanese pieces from this period were marked “Nippon” or “Hand Painted Nippon”. They quite often will have a company logo. You will find a few pieces from this era just marked Japan and a few with no markings at all.

1921 – 1941 -In August, 1921 the U.S. Custom Service ruled that Nippon could no longer be used and all goods where to be backstamped with “Made in Japan”. Some items got into the U.S. with just a “Japan” stamp. In an effort to save on labor costs not all pieces in a setting were backstamped. This means that you can have an 8 place setting that was imported as a 12 place setting with no stamps at all. Prior to WW ll the few paper stickers that made it to the U.S. were very flimsy and glued on with very weak glue.

1941 – 1945 – This was WW ll so there were no imports from Japan. Imports from Japan did not really start back up until the summer of 1947.

1947 – 1952 – The occupation of Japan by the U.S. began in September 1945 but no items reached the U.S. from Japan until around August 1947. All imports from Japan up till 1949 had to be stamped “Occupied Japan” or “Made in Occupied Japan”.

In 1949 the U.S. Custom Service decreed that “Occupied Japan”, “Made in Occupied Japan”, “Made in Japan” or just “Japan” where acceptable. Most pieces were backstampted in black ink. Later in this period flimsy paper stickers started to show up on more and more items. Most of these were removed or fell off so these pieces can be unmarked.

1952 – Today – The vast majority of today’s Imports are marked “Japan” or “Made in Japan”. This is when the paper or foil labels came into their own. The 2 most common labels now seem to be:

1 – A small oval or rectangular shaped paper sticker. These, most likely, will be made in blue or black with white lettering.

2 – A black or red foil label with gold or silver lettering.

Some imports are still backstamped today but not many.

Caution – A lot of knockoffs were imported from China in the 1980s to early 2000s and to a lesser extent are still coming in. These are made so well that to recognize these fakes by just looking at the backstamp is almost impossible.

If you have plans to visit Japan, there are some things you need to know. Familiarizing yourself with some basic Japanese cultural practices will go a long way in making your trip there enjoyable. Also, you are not likely to get into trouble. Here are things you should not do based on Japan culture.

1. Do not enter a house wearing your shoes

Are you used to walking around in your house in your shoes? Well, you might get yourself in trouble if you do that in Japan. There is a special place where you should keep your shoes before entering the house. Also, there are slippers for guests when entering a room.

2. Do not shout on the train

Trains are very common in Japan. However, people do not make noise while in trains. They are always silent. If you have to speak to someone, do it in a low tone. Use your ears if you have to listen to some music.

3. Do not use your phone on trains

As indicated earlier, Japanese do not like any noise in the trains. You will rarely find someone using his phone to make a call in the train. If you have to use your phone, send a message or talk in a low tone so as not to distract other people.

4. Do not eat on trains

Japanese do not eat when traveling on commuter trains. Drinking is okay without the train is too crowded. However, in long distance trains, eating and drinking are allowed. Food and beverages are also sold in such trains.

5. Do not forget to remove toilet slippers

Once you get to Japan, you will notice that there are slippers only used when going to the toilet. These slippers are easily noticeable since they have particular words or pictures. Always remember to remove them when entering your house or walking on the streets.

6. Do not tip anyone

While it is common to tip anyone after an excellent service in many cultures, Japan is an exception. No matter how satisfied you are with their service, they never accept tips. In fact, someone will come running after you, returning the tip!

7. Do not ignore someone you are speaking with

If you are talking with a Japanese person, always stay calm and attentive. You may sound impolite and rude by just failing to show that you have understood a point. Whenever speaking, show your attentiveness by talking back.

8. Do not photograph everything

Since Japan is a beautiful country, you are not allowed to take photos everywhere. It is advisable to always ask someone before taking photos. You must be granted permission to take pictures in museums, temples, and shrines.

9. Do not hug anyone you meet

Hugging is common in western countries. However, in Japan, it is not. You do not hug someone you come across in Tokyo streets. Most of the older folks do not like the habit. If you want to hug someone, then it's best to know their age group and whether they are comfortable with it.

10. Do not eat or drink when walking

It is uncommon to find Japanese eating or drinking while they are walking. Even on the streets with food stalls they always find a place to sit. Now you know how to speak when you are on Japanese streets so you do not look foreign.

11. Do not receive a present with one hand

Whenever receiving a gift or a visiting card from a Japanese, use your two hands and bow. Then tell him thank you. On receipt of a gift, do not open it until the person who has given it to you has left.

12. Do not throw away trash haphazardly

Another thing you might find hard to get used to is how to handle your trash. In most cities around the world, there are a lot of trash cans however, Japanese cities are different. People are encouraged to carry their trash until they find a place to dispose of it.

13. Do not fail to say "thank you"

The verb "thank you" is highly valued in Japan. Learn to say after after being served in a hotel or store. Familiarize yourself with how bowing is done in Japan. You must always bow and say thank you when you meet with elders.

14. Do not write down a person's name in red ink

In Japan, it is OK to write "goodbye" in red ink but not a person's name. The Japanese consider it to be disobedient. Therefore, if you have to write down your Japanese friend's name, you know which color to avoid.

15. Do not be shy

It is common for tourists to ask for help from locals. When you get to Japan, do not be shy or afraid of asking for anything. They are very friendly and helpful. Even when you accidently forget something somewhere, go back as no one is going to take it away.

Japanese history includes alternating periods of isolation and revolutionary influences from the rest of the world. As early as the Jomon period from about 14000BC to 300 BC, Japan had a hunter-gatherer lifestyle; wooden stilt houses, pit dwelling, and agriculture. Weaving was still unknown and the ancient Japanese clothing consisted of fur. However, some of the world’s oldest pottery is found in Japan, along with daggers, jade, combs made form shell and clay figures.

The period thereafter to 250 BC saw the influx of new practices like weaving, rice sowing, iron and bronze making influenced by china and Korea. Chinese travelers describe the men ‘with braided hair, tattooing and women with large, single-piece clothing.’ Initially ancient Japanese clothing consisted of single piece clothing. The ancient and classical Japan begins from the middle of the 3rd century to 710. An advanced agricultural and militaristic culture defines this period. By 645, Japan rapidly adopted Chinese practices and reorganized its penal code.

The peak period of ancient Japan and its imperial court is from 794 to 1185. Art, poetry, literature and trade expeditions continued with vigor. Warlords and powerful regional families ruled ancient Japan from 1185 to 1333 and the emperor was just a figure head. By the Japanese Middle Ages, Portugal had introduced firearms by a chance landing of their ship at Japanese coast; samurai charging ranks were cut down; trade with Netherlands, England and Spain had opened up new avenues. Several missionaries had entered Japan as well.

Distinct features of the lifestyle, ancient Japanese clothing and women is difficult to decipher for the simple reason that it is super-imposed by the Chinese culture. Ancient Japan readily adopted other cultures and practices and most of its own culture is lost among these adaptations.

Ancient Japanese clothing was mostly unisex, with differences being in colors, length and sleeves. A Kimono tied with an Obi or a sash around the waist was the general clothing and with the advent of western clothing are now mostly worn at home or special occasions. Women’s obi in ancient Japanese clothing would mostly be elaborate and decorative. Some would be as long as 4meters and tied as a flower or a butterfly. Though a Yukata means a ‘bath clothing’, these were often worn in the summers as morning and evening gowns. Ancient Japanese clothing consisted of mena and women wearing Haori or narrow paneled jacket for special occasions such as marriages and feasts. These are worn over a kimono and tied with strings at the breast level.

The most interesting piece of ancient Japanese clothing is the ju-ni-hitoe or the ‘twelve layers’ adorned by ladies at the imperial court. It is multi-layered and very heavy and worn on a daily basis for centuries! The only change would be the thickness of the fabric and the number of layers depending on the season. Princesses still wear these on weddings.

Since the Japanese people don’t wear footwear inside their homes, tabi is still worn. These are split -toe socks woven out of non-stretch materials with thick soles. Clogs have been worn for centuries in ancient Japan and were known as Geta. These were made of wood with two straps and were unisexual. Zori was footwear made of softer materials like straw and fabric with a flat sole.

Ancient Japanese clothes, culture and footwear are slowly regaining their popularity with the western world. There is an honest curiosity in knowing more, wearing kimonos or using silk fabrics with beautiful floral prints from the ‘land of the rising sun’.