Cultural Traits

1. Hiroshi and his ojiichan (grandfather) has a strong passion for sumo wrestling. Ever since his Ojiichan told his brother and himself the legend of the history of Japanese civilization. Its a sumo match fought on the shores of Isumo and is written in the Kojiki (the records of ancient matters). In this match the two god's Takemikazuchi and Takeminakatato were said to shake the Earth to its very core. Takemikazuchi won and it is said that the imperial family can trace their ancestors back to him and the very first sumo match.
-This is a link that basically summarizes the various legends in the Kojiki. http://www.washburn.edu/reference/bridge24/Kojiki.html
-The history of the two gods present in the sumo legend. http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=150

2.  After Kenji gets beaten up, Hiroshi gives him an Omamori bukuro that he believes belongs to their deiced mother. An omamori is a small bag usually embroidered. Inside each bag is a prayer or blessing written on paper or wood, sanctified by a priest from  temple. They are meant to ward off evils and keep you safe. However if you open the bag and read the blessing or prayer it would undo the blessing. The omamori thar Hiroshi gives Kenji has "great" and "to protect" embroidered on the bag in gold threading.
-You can actuallly buy your own omamori at this site. http://www.tsubakishrine.org/omamori/omamori.html
This is the history aspect.
-http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ancient-japanese-culture.html

3. Kenji is more interested in the art of mask making rather than sumo like his older brother. The great mask maker Yoshiwara let Kenji be his apprentice and shows him the ways of Noh mask making. An example of a mask is the Ko-omote mask meaning "youth" "face". He even gives Kenji his copy of the book of masks. The same copy his sensi gave him.
-This is a interesting background on noh theater masks.
 http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00717/pages/masks.html
-The history of Japanese mask making.
http://www.yoshinoantiques.com/newsletters/Masks.pdf

The Street of a Thousand Blossoms- A novel by Gail Tsukiyama

This novel takes place in Tokyo in 1939. Hiroshi and Kenji, two orphaned brothers, must put their dreams on hold as war plagues their neighborhood. Tsukiyama does a great job depicting life during WW2 as the tow brothers watch life as they know it wither away. I chose The Street of a Thousand Blossoms because I am curious to know what life was like during WW2 in an another country besides the United States. Also after reading some book reviews it appears to be a good read. I expect to learn about Japanese culture as well as common life during a war. Maybe even lean a little but about putting dreams on hold and picking up your life after the war has resided.

Prezi

http://prezi.com/7soxkbp82v-y/re-living-the-occupation-of-the-ruhr/?kw=view-7soxkbp82v-y&rc=ref-20602677