The Reflection

                After having been in Japan for a few months, I feel that my initial impressions of the society have changed quite significantly. I enjoy several aspects of the culture, however, I feel that some aspects of the Nationalism that are pretty much government regulation are negatively holding the society and minds of the people from progressing in an effective way. Japanese people are part of an extremely collectivist society, where often opinions are a reflection of a national view of an issue, and differing perspectives are criticized by the rest of society.

                One aspect of Japan that I particularly enjoy is the care with which tasks are efficiently performed. Going to restaurants, there are often devices that make ordering automated. In addition, the workers at restaurants and Izakayas offer a very warm setting in which customers are made to feel  very comfortable.

                The collectivist mind of Japan is often a scary thought, coming from such an individualistic society as America. It has its benefits as everyone is working for their own, as well as the common good of the Nation, or so it may seem. However, I feel that the idea of progress is defined by the power holders and  dictated towards the rest of the citizens.  I enjoyed watching videos that brought this issue to light, such as the documentary on Kimigayo and the teachers’ revolution against its requirement.

                I have really enjoyed observing and interacting with several people, and though I will never be a Japanese person in how they observe me, I’ve learned the rules and skills that will allow me to integrate into Japanese society through my use of honorific expressions in both gesture and language. 

The Izakaya

One extremely interesting aspect of Japanese culture is the drinking culture in Japan. Izakayas are found all throughout Japan spread out from small family owned shops to large chains. Here, wining and dining go hand in hand with a wide array of food and drinks. This is one of the cultural gathering places of Japan. Here, workers, students, grandparents and couples all come to socialize.

Unlike your typical bar in America, the distinct separation of groups in this environment is what makes it unique. Here, you come in with your group and are seated at a table (or on tatami) and are stationed at your designated area until you leave (which I have sometimes observed to be when some member of the group drinks himself into a doze).

The lively nature of these establishments are part of what makes it such a unique aspect of Japanese culture. This is the place to be loud. The minute you step in, you hear the commotion of people laughing, eating and chatting mixed with the waiters and waitresses yelling to keep the volume up and the place energetic. The food is what makes an Izakaya a very different drinking and social experience. Usually the emphasis on good food is what attracts customers. From sashimi to yakiniku to ramen, Izakayas often have it all at a relatively reasonable price.

Historically, the Izakaya, stemming from "i" (to stay) and "sakaya" sake shop, according to a waiter at the Izakaya, used to be a place for business men to unwind and converse after a long day at work. However, these days, the establishments have diversified their clientele by expanding their menus and hosting drinking parties for larger groups.

All in all, who can deny great food and a place to drink and socialize for a reasonable price?

Sakura: The Beauty of Transience

Hanami: The cherry blossom celebration. Every year, crowds gather around the entire nation to unify under the fleeting beauty of the cherry blossom tree to celebrate the brief blooming of the cherry blossom flowers. Under trees, near the trees, and around the shrines and temples crowded with the “Sakura”, one is sure to find several people rejoicing in this short lived welcoming of the spring season. Japanese poetry reflects this fascination with the Sakura, as you may find in this article:

http://openspaceindia.org/Talking-Poetry/Essays/Interviews/The-Cherry-Blossom-in-Heian-Waka-poetry.html

When one thinks of the beauty of a flower, you may often find the description to be in the vibrant colors or the alluring smell. In Waka and other traditional Japanese poetry, however, the falling of the sakura seems to captivate the attention of the poet beyond its existence. The sakura is often a representation of the winds of change as the literal winds cause the flowers to fall of the tree, like one last snowfall of sorts, marking the ending of winter and the commencement of spring.

Today, we find festivals and celebrations, even in Hirakata, as these pictures depict, of the gathering. Here music is played and dances are performed along the river on the way to the Hirakata train station. People sitting with foldable chairs, drinking beer and eating bento, talking and admiring the short-lived beauty of the flowers makes this a very special time of year in Japan.

The lanterns and decorations hang from the sakura tree, but are soon removed as well, as the flowers fall. Acceptance and the welcome of change fill the air with a mystical feeling of togetherness. Congregations of people make this one of the most significant annual spiritual unifications of the Japanese nation.

Shunsuke Hirano

Shunsuke Hirano is a fellow student of mine at Kansai Gaidai University. As a member of Japanese society, while still being exposed to a lot of foreign cultures that may hold beliefs contrary to what he was brought up with, I felt he would be a good example of a modern Japanese citizen of our generation. Today, globalization is happening at a rapid rate with the internet and the ease at which its contents can be accessed. Shun, preparing to go to America, is adapting to several aspects of the culture, while still maintaining key traits of what one may consider a Japanese person. Talking to shun, I was able to learn a little bit of the nuances of the Osaka region and the culture it breeds. As opposed to several other parts of Japan, Shun describes Osaka as more vibrant and bold and this is represented in the dialect spoken here. It leaves room for sarcasm and a very particular type of humor that is not necessarily found throughout the rest of Japan. Shun is the son of a talented baseball player, and thus found himself naturally interested in the sport. Having played for several years, he identifies with “yakyu” as having been his main interest for a long time.  It is interesting to see that technology makes it very easy for him to access what it means to be “American” and implement that into his lifestyle, in preparation for his future.   Shun grew up in Fukui, an a more rural area than here. There, the traditional Japanese culture seems to have been a more prominent influence than in Hirakata. Here, he finds himself becoming more open to being able to both relate and implement the values of other cultures as well. These pictures make it evident that Shun is a humorous and light-hearted person. He refused to let me take a serious portrait of him, saying that it would misrepresent his personality.

The Hirakata Chronicles

Stuck in the Seminar House, the university housing, on most evenings, you find several students getting their fix of Manga in or playing the latest FPS or their favorite RPG. They use strategy on screen, but this selective use of strategy seems to be counter-productive to having the best strategy to make the most of one's time in Nihon. Welcome to Hirakata: home of Kansai Gaidai University. The very fact that KGU is located in Hirakata adds quite a twist to the dynamic of both the demographics and culture of the town. There is a static element in all of my interactions with the local residents and store owners. “Doka kara kimashitaka?” they ask me every time. “Where are you from?” Looking foreign even in America, I haven’t encountered the question nearly as much. The language and cultural barriers create a very apparent divide in Hirakata. Here you have the local community and an influx of foreigners. In front of the Seminar Houses there is a park buzzing with activity from dawn til dusk. Children playing along with the elderly taking walks and massaging their feet on a surface provided, equipped with a rail to hold on to. Across from this park lies a small corner shop with vending machines where it is not uncommon to find someone drinking a warm coffee or purchasing cigarettes. Since the nearest trash is located right by the vending machine, it would be ridiculous to do anything but consume your beverage right there and continue with your activities after, right? Katahokohigashimachi is a small area with not too much activity, but move closer to the university and right across the East Gate, you will find Café Istanbul and Seven Gods, a melting pot for foreigners and locals where the KGU internationals learn the Osaka dialect and the Locals learn phrases in several foreign tongues.

The Initial Journey

Soon after stepping foot on Japanese soil, it becomes very apparent to the foreigner that they are not Japanese. "Gaijin" becomes the essence of one's identity both to the local and to one's self. Various aspects of Japanese culture remain very unique to this culture alone. The strict adherence to rules may seem a bit over the top at first, but understanding its benefits and its place in such a society cultivates a deep appreciation for them (well some of them at least...) over time. So much so that during the catastrophic disasters of last spring, instead of looting and taking advantage of the absence of crime control, their upbringing here taught them to act in an extremely orderly fashion. In grocery stores, as the electricity went out, the citizens placed the items back on the shelves and cooperated with whatever steps needed to be taken to deal with the problem at hand.

At the other end of the spectrum, there lies the symbolic meaning and implications that are part of any culture. I’ve chosen to show the image of the Gaijin through representing a lack of understanding of the culture. Here, these miniature taps or fountains are located outside of sacred shrines and temples as a means to represent a method of cleansing one’s self. We see the water to wash your hands being drank. In this situation, the local Japanese people were shocked, but had no way of showing their reaction before they could prevent this individual from taking a sip. After learning that this water was not meant to be drank, it was dispelled his mouth, resulting in yet another act that only a foreigner would do.

Another thing on may realize is the meticulousness of the culture. Every little detail counts and that is very apparent in the way they serve their food. Not to mention, the presentation makes the food taste only that much better.