Japanese Candlesticks Guiding Us in Forex Trading

Learn Japanese candlestick history, structure, patterns, and strategies for successful Forex trading.

 The Origins of Japanese Candlesticks

こんにちは [Kon'nichiwa]. Japanese candlesticks are a type of chart used to visualize price movements in financial markets. These chart types are commonly encountered in technical analysis. By representing opening, closing, highest, and lowest prices in a single candlestick, they provide us with the opportunity to monitor price changes in real-time and quickly assess momentum. Japanese candlesticks were developed centuries ago by Japanese rice traders and were used for analyzing rice futures. Today, they are widely used in all financial markets. These charts are believed to have been developed by Munehisa Homma, a trader and rice analyst in Japan during the 18th century. Homma created Japanese candlestick charts by studying trading and analysis methods of his time, and he developed these charts for use in rice trading. In the years that followed, Japanese candlestick charts became popular and evolved in Japan. Japanese candlestick charts were originally used in Japan. Their popularity in the Western world can be attributed to Steve Nison. Nison introduced Japanese candlestick charts to the Western world with his book "Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques," increasing the popularity of these techniques. Nison's book was published in the 1990s and contributed to the wider acceptance of Japanese candlestick charts in the West. Today, Japanese candlestick charts are used in many financial markets and asset classes worldwide.


The Structure of the Candlesticks

This chart type visually represents the price movements of a financial instrument, usually a stock, currency pair, or commodity. Each candle represents a specific time period (e.g., 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 4 hours, 1 day, etc.) and generally contains the following main elements:

1. Body. The body of the candlestick is the thick part and represents the price difference between the opening and closing prices. The candle can be green (bullish candle) or red (bearish candle). A green candle indicates that the opening price is higher than the closing price, signaling bullish control. A red candle, on the other hand, indicates that the opening price is lower than the closing price, signaling bearish control. We have the option to customize candle colors. It is also possible to use different colors. For example, if the closing price is higher than the opening price, the candle is shown as hollow (usually white). If the closing price is lower than the opening price, the candle is shown as filled (usually black).

2. Upper Wick. The thin line on the top of the candlestick represents the highest price within a specific time period. It is also known as the upper shadow or the wick.

3. Lower Wick. The thin line on the bottom of the candlestick represents the lowest price within a specific time period. It is sometimes referred to as the lower shadow or the wick.

The core elements and colors of a candlestick: Body, Upper Wick (Shadow), Lower Wick (Shadow), Green (or White), and Red (or Black) candlesticks.
Japanese candlestick constructions


Japanese candlestick charts always visually represent price movements in any time frame using these three fundamental elements. Each candle starts with a line from the opening price, then adds thin lines (wicks) that show the highest and lowest prices, and finally ends with the closing price. Candles are arranged sequentially, and these sequences provide us with a foundation for assessing price movements and market trends.


Trading with Candlesticks

Japanese candlestick charts provide important information about price movements, either alone or in combination with other technical analysis tools. Different candlestick patterns and combinations allow us to predict future price movements, evaluate market trends, resistance and support levels, trend reversals, and more by associating them with price actions. Therefore, Japanese candlestick charts are a significant tool in technical analysis. Candlestick patterns, both individual and in combination, are used in both bullish and bearish markets. You can find more comprehensive information about basic Japanese candlestick patterns in the following links:

Please keep in mind that when trading in financial markets like Forex, we can experience both profit and capital loss. Every trader should do their own risk analysis. No technical analysis tool can guarantee future price movements. Japanese candlestick charts can be used on their own, but it is recommended to combine them with other technical indicators for better results. Wishing you trading success!

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