Understanding cultural references in japanese anime and manga

Ever wondered why anime characters have big eyes or wear beads? This article gives you an insight into Japanese culture, as seen in anime and manga!
Most Japanese anime is, obviously, made for a Japanese market, meaning American viewers will be unfamiliar with much of what they see. While some of this unfamiliarity adds to the pleasure of watching, some facets of Japanese culture could stand to be explained.

The Eyes: The large, shiny eyes that have become a staple of anime style are actually more a product of history than of culture. In the past, characters in American and European cartoons, such as Betty Boop and Felix the Cat, had disproportionately large eyes. This style was emulated by Tezuka Osamu, one of the most influential founding fathers of anime. Today, this distinctive eye style has become a matter of the animators' preference. Large eyes often appear on women and young children to make them appear more innocent. Although most American viewers are familiar only with this particular eye style, many of the characters in cartoons shown in Japan possess much more normal eyes.

Religion: worshipping at a Shinto shrine

A description of how to worship at a Shinto shrine, as well as a description of the religion of Shinto in general.

When it comes to the old religions from the Orient, very few have the mystery and mysticism associated with them that Japanese religion of Shinto does. A religion without a founder, written scriptures, or body of law, Shinto has been described in the past as a mix of nature worship, shamanism, fertility rites, divination, and hero worship.
Shinto dates back to around the 8th century BC, while the Yamato dynasty still ruled over Japan. The name "Shinto" is derived from the Chinese words "shin tao", which means "The Way of the Gods", and reflects a lot of the views that Shinto holds about the world in general. Practitioners of Shinto believe that the world is inhabited by spirits known as "kami", who can either be the guardians of a clan or area or are simply the spirit of an object or creature.
One of the most obvious forms of Shinto worship are the Shinto shrines, which have become synonymous with Oriental mysticism. The shrines can be simple or ornate, and are built out of tribute to the kami that takes residence within them. To worship at a shrine is to pay respect to the kami within, and to pray that they will grant your sincere request.