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.