Changing Impressions

Before coming to Japan, my friend told me-“To visit Japan is to have a complete cultural experience.”

For people who like adventures and are willing to adapt to new ways of doing things, coming to Japan would be an adventure of a lifetime. In Japan, even day to day activities such as eating and sleeping are different. Some of what you might think is appropriate in Japan, actually is not; and some of what you would rather think is inappropriate, is considered to be right and suitable. On one hand, it is considered to be rude to drink, eat, smoke or show public affection while being outside on the street; as well as the fact that after 10pm no noise, whatsoever is allowed to be made. On the other hand, it is ok to sleep during the lectures, in the restaurants; to put on make-up on a train and to read porno manga in public places. In many respects, Japanese people do strange, surprising things, or their behaviour simply makes no sense.

To me, Japan feels like the other world. I like it and I don’t. Being in Japan, so far away from home and from anywhere really, it seems to me that I am looking at the world from the outside, with different eyes. By studying Japanese language, culture and traditions, I was taught a lot more about my own. Now I appreciate my culture even more.

I don’t like the fact that I don’t know what’s going on in peoples heads because they are very enclosed and don’t show their thoughts or emotions. Japan didn’t win over my heart. I can’t relate to it; however it can not relate to me either. Neither do I have a will to belong, nor will it ever let me belong.

For the visual representation of this blog I decided to put up some photos of my precious memories. They represent the places I liked the most, as well as people I have met throughout the way.

Japanese art and entertainment

Calligraphy=shodo, paper folding=origami, flower arrangement=ikebana, tea ceremony=chanoyu, Japanese clothing=kimono. I got a chance to get a glimpse of these visual arts of Japan. Each of them is unique and complicated. Being able to perform them, one has to be very patient and understanding, and then one will be rewarded with a peace of mind and calmness. While experiencing these Japanese arts I became more familiar with Japanese customs, traditions and proper etiquette. I could see inside their way of life.

Shodo: http://www.theartofcalligraphy.com/

Origami: http://www.lisashea.com/japan/origami/sales/history/

Ikebana: http://www.ikebanahq.org/whatis.html

Chanoyu: http://aabss.org/journal1999/f23Turay.html

Kimono: http://www.sallys-place.com/beverages/tea/chanoyu.htm

I provided web-sites, which I think describe very well each of these arts.

The picture with many cranes-origami creations, I made in Okinawa in Japanese Naval Underground. The cranes represent Japanese soldiers’ loyalty towards Japanese people and land. Also, this is peoples’ way of honouring Japanese soldiers by bringing the cranes to this memorial site.

Sports in Japan

Japanese Ice Skater Lives the Dream in Russia

I really enjoy watching figure skating. One of the main reasons for this is that the sport is very popular in Russia. And because I am from Russia, I am very proud when skaters representing Russia win. Russian skaters are one of the dominant powers in this sport in the world. The sport is currently gaining popularity also in Japan. There are many fans of Russian skaters in Japan especially among females. Being in Japan, when I meet somebody for the first time, they would name very famous Russian figure skaters and ask me if I know them.

In this regard, let me mention a Japanese girl, Yuko Kawaguchi, who came to Russia to make her dreams come true. Living in Japan, she admired Russian pair skater, Elena Berezhnaya. She wanted to become just like her, but for that she needed to have a Russian coach, Elena’s coach, Tamara Moskvina. She wrote a letter to Tamara asking to train her. At first, Moskvina was hesitating, but then she agreed.

Kawaguchi’s present partner is Alexander Smirnov. Kawaguchi and Smirnov are one of the hopes of the Russian Skating Federation. Yuko could be in the right place at the right time. Most of the Russian skaters who owned the highest ranking places have either retired or turned professional, after the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.

Yuko is very hard-working. She successfully finished her studies in “International Relations” in St. Petersburg State University. She speaks fluent Russian. Kawaguchi became the first foreigner to represent Russia in a World Championship.

Yuko’s dream is to represent Russia in the Olympics. For her dream to come true, she will have to refuse her Japanese citizenship and obtain Russian, because Japan does not allow having a double citizenship. It is a very tough decision to make, but she is in Russia now, she represents Russia in a World Championships and to participate in the Olympics is to have one or two chances in a million…but only time can tell…

http://www.goldenskate.com/articles/2007/101507.shtml

Japanese Politics

Junichiro Koizumi

In 2001 Junichiro Koizumi was named LDP’s 20^th president and Japan’s 56^th Prime Minister. He served as a Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006. After he left his post in 2006, he dragged Japanese politics into “the age of celebrity”. Prime Ministers who took his place after him (Shinzo Abe, Yasuo Fukuda, and Taro Aso) could no longer be colourless. They attracted a lot of attention to themselves.

Koizumi was known for economic reforms, which were focused on Japan’s government’s debt and the privatization of its postal service. Also, he had a lot of attention outside Japan because of his willingness to locate Japan Self-Defense Forces during the war in Iraq. His visits to Yasukuni, a Shinto Shrine honouring Japan’s war dead as well as several war criminals, led to diplomatic tensions with China and South Korea.

“The most interesting thing about Junichiro Koizumi is that he is interesting. Most Japanese Prime Ministers before him have been dull figures.” He stood out as a good-looking with grown-out permed hair individualist. He always did things his own way. “Like all media stars, he has cultivated a style that people can recognize.”

He is divorced, has a preference for Armani suits and heavy metal music. He released a karaoke CD where he is singing Elvis Presley songs. In his honour a mint flavour chewing gum was named. More than a politician, he was a pop idol.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1187224,00.html

The first photo I took from a Kansai Scene Magazine (Issue 102/Nov 2008).

The last two photos were taken in Okinawa. The poster says: “Change, reform! Will not let the tax rise to 11%! If I’ll be given a chance to do it, I’ll do it!” Barack Obama…???

RELIGION IN JAPAN

About a month ago, when I visited Okinawa, I went to a Buddhist temple and the fence around it and the top of the roof had symbols of swastika on them. I was very surprised, but I assumed that it doesn’t mean the same thing in Japan as it did during the World War 2 in Germany. I was right; it doesn’t have the same stain in Japan as it does in the Western countries.

In Japan, swastika symbol is known as manji. It has different meanings depending on the direction it faces. It represents universal harmony and the balance of opposites. When facing left, it represents love and mercy. When facing right, it means strength and intelligence. Because the right-facing swastika is associated with Nazism, Buddhist manji after the mid-20th century are almost universally left-facing . You can see on the photos that swastikas on the fence of a temple are left-facing.

In Japan, manji is also used as a map symbol for Buddhist temples.

http://www.lotussculpture.com/swastika1.html →Swastika and Religion

Gender in Japan

In Japan still exist stereotyped gender roles and gender-based discrimination at work, at home and in a community. It is assumed that men should be breadwinners and work outside the home, while women remain at home doing housework and raising children. Because of these stereotypes, not only women but also men are put in a difficult situation where they are expected to work for very long hours and give up quality time they could otherwise spend with their families. Traditional Japanese values discourage women from working outside the home. It is thought that wife’s employment would lead to marital adjustment problems, that it would harm children’s development.

The sumo tradition is very old. For religious reasons women are traditionally not allowed to enter the sumo ring. In the late 1990s, when the Osaka Governor was a woman-Fusae Ohta, she was not allowed to enter the sumo ring to present the governor’s prize to the winner of the Sumo Tournament. Even though it is a governor’s duty to present the prize, she was not allowed to enter the ring, only because she was a woman. A male deputy governor took Ohta’s place when presenting the award.

More on female Governor of Osaka go to:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E1DE103DF935A15750C0A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1

I think that in Japan should be developed a system that will allow both men and women to work less and have a better quality of life. I think that both father and mother should spend more time with their children.

The pictures I put up demonstrate how we tend to stereotype males and females. Female→usually associated with pink or red colour; long eye lashes and seduction. Male→blue colour; bigger in stature. Second picture is a symbol of Kappazushi-sushi bar.

Globalisation/The Japanese Version

Japan is becoming overly internationalised and globalised. “Globalisation is the global movement, and control, of products, capital, technologies, people and images. It increasingly takes place through the work of organisations, perhaps the most powerful of which are multinational corporations.” McDonald’s, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, United Colors of Benetton, Apple, The Body Shop are just some examples of multinational corporations which one can find in Japan. To me Japan seems to be more americanised than globalised. More and more Japanese people are choosing American style sports, clothes, food and music. Japanese students prefer to do American sports and dance as opposed to doing something traditional Japanese. For them it is not cool to do tea ceremony, traditional Japanese dancing, ikebana…

On the first photo you can see the Statue of Liberty in America Mura, Osaka. Ame-mura is famous for being a place for observing some of the ridiculous clothing choices of Japanese youth culture. Ame-mura is a Japanese interpretation of the U.S. There are many Western-style restaurants, clubs, American clothing shops.

Traditional Japanese Culture

Last Monday I went to Kyoto to Kiyomizudera. I got a chance to have a glimpse at a traditional Japanese wedding. I have seen the part where photographer was taking pictures of the bride and groom. There also were wedding planners and before photo was taken they made sure that the couple looked perfect. They paid a lot of attention to every minor detail. The couple was fixated on the presentation of the clothes and their stance. I thought it was a bit too much, it even seemed obsessive. It again proved to me that Japanese people are perfectionists. I also thought that the wedding ceremony was very private with only family and close friends being there.

I went to Kyoto with two of my Japanese friends. And they were just as excited as I was to see the wedding. I asked them what kind of wedding they would like to have and both of them said Western style wedding. I asked them why and they said that kimono dress doesn’t look good on them and that they want to wear a Christian style dress and have their wedding in a Christian church even though they are not Christians.

A few pictures I put up show the Japanese traditional wedding dress the couple was wearing. The bride was wearing a white wedding kimono dress, which I later found out is called shiro-maku (shiro-white and maku-pure). The bride’s hair was styled in the traditional style decorated with beautiful combs and accessories. There is also a picture of the bride and groom standing under an Ai Ai Gasa-the love umbrella.

Japanese Pop Culture

Japanese pop culture is a distinct collection of art, music, fashion and other forms of expression. Cartoons, manga and anything kawaii (可愛い, 'cute') are strong influences of high-tech products and clothes available in the high street.

In Japan, everything (goods and even lifestyle) is kawaii. Examples would be cute cartoon characters, often pink, being embedded onto bags, T-shirts, hair bands, phone charms, pens, etc. “Many adults adore cuteness as much as children and teenagers: for example, bank cards are available with cute cartoon characters printed on them, and though the culture of kawaii is most firmly established among young girls, grown men are prepared to be seen with cute items too.” http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Japanese_popular_culture Cute is anywhere and everywhere in Japan. Also everybody wants to be called cute in Japan.

Japanese people are very keen readers of magazines and newspapers.

Japanese People

''The outward strangeness of things in Japan produces a queer thrill impossible to describe - a feeling of weirdness which comes to us only with the perception of the totally unfamiliar.''

Lafcadio Hearn

Having lived in Japan for almost five weeks, I have noticed that the concept of friendship in Japan is ambiguous. It is as if it doesn’t exist in Japanese society. It seems that it is known and used only because it is an often encountered Western word. In Western concept of friendship you can make friends and lose friends. In the Japanese outer circle, you have no friends.

Japanese people are very kind, friendly and helpful, but at the same time I don’t feel closeness or warmth from them. I never know what they are thinking, what is behind their face… They don’t talk about themselves, their families. It seems that they are too shy and too polite to be your friend.

The first Japanese person I ever met was a girl named Ayaka. She came to Ireland as an exchange student and I was her speaking partner. We quickly became very good friends. VERY close friends. She came to my University with the bunch of other Japanese people. When I first met her I realised how different from other Japanese students she was. She had a different mentality, which appealed very much to me.

My roommate in Japan is also Japanese (Yui). She is a typical Japanese girl; friendly, nice and helpful, but distant. We are sharing the same room, but it seems that we are living in two different worlds. I know her from the outside, but not the inside. She gives very brief answers about herself, her family, and her friends. It is very hard to get through the boundaries that are created by the society and culture.

Above are the two photos of Yui. I also uploaded a photo of a guy sleeping on the floor at the train station:). Public sleeping is a very common thing to see in Japan.

The collage photo was taken from: http://phillips.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/1111manypeople.jpg
It shows some of the Japanese fashion and crazy hair styles.

Neighbourhood Hirakata

I live in Seminar House 3. Everyday I walk to and from college. Usually, I walk through the housing estate. It is very peaceful and safe, but the main reason I walk there is that I love looking at the houses and people. Everyday I see something new on the same street. Neighbourhood around here is very friendly. Many young and old people live here and lots of children. They often greet me with a smile. Some of them even try talking to me.

I think that any neighbourhood consists of people, pets they have, houses they live in; shops, restaurants, etc. These things define a neighbourhood. In this post I would like to talk little bit about Japanese houses, because I will have another opportunity to talk about Japanese people.

Even though, in Japan houses are very small, I really like the way they look. They look like they are from a fairytale! And all of them have different constructions and are of different colours.

Outside every house there are many different plants and flowers; lots of umbrellas, bikes and bicycles; toys; instruments. That’s why most of them look very messy.

I put up a picture of an apartment block, in which you can see people leaving their laundry drying on the balconies. On one hand, Japanese houses seem very closed; conservative in their architecture, you don’t really know what is inside. On the other hand, people leave their laundry outside, which I think is a very personal thing to do. By looking at it, you can see who is living in the house and what their profession is. I think it’s kind of contradictory.