ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Korean influence on Japanese culture

Imagine you have a best friend who lives in a house right next to yours but they do things a little differently than you. Your friend likes to eat different foods, wear different clothes and sometimes speak a different language.

Now, imagine if your friend and their family were from a neighboring country, like Korea, and they brought their unique customs and traditions with them. Something similar happened between Japan and Korea many years ago!

In the past, Japan was influenced by Korean culture in many ways. For example, the Japanese learned how to make pottery from the Koreans and also adopted Buddhism, a religion that originated in India but spread to Korea and eventually to Japan.

Korean influence can also be seen in Japanese food, clothing, and even in the Japanese language itself. For instance, many of the words used in Japanese today like “kamikaze” and “tsunami” came from the Old Korean language.

Even though Japan and Korea have had their differences throughout history, it is important to remember that cultural exchange can bring new and exciting ideas to life.