Japanese religion

Japanese religion system is different from other countries as we learned in class. In Japan, we can worship both Buddhism and Shinto at the same time. Most people go to Shrine 1 month after their babies are born to pray their babies will grow up wholesomely. However, most people go to temple when their relatives die. Actually, my family has both Buddhist home alter and Shinto home alter in my house. I live with my paternal grandmother, and we have a Buddhist home alter for grandmother’s ancestors and her husband. We watched a film about Shinto in class, so I’d like to introduce how is the habits of people who worship Buddhism.

Buddhist home alter

My grandmother worships “Jodo Sinshu” (True Pure Land Buddhism) which is a school of Pure Land Buddhism. The patriarch of True Pure Land Buddhism is called “Shinran”. He inherited the wisdom of his master, “Hounen” (法然) in Kamakura period (later 12c~ 14c), and disciples of Shinran found a religious community.

The main temple of True Pure Land Buddhism is “Hongan-ji”(本願寺) which is in Kyoto. (This site also introduces about True Pure Land Buddhism, so if you are interested in it, please check it out.)

This picture shows one of the rooms in this temple. It is named "Gan no ma"(The room of Goose), and it is Japanese national treasure. You can see flying geese on the slinding door.

So, what people who worship Buddhism do in daily life?
My grandmother always preys in front of the home alter twice a day. She preys before she has a breakfast and dinner. I think it means people respect deceased so they should precede deceased. When she opens the home alter in every morning, she puts 4 cups and flower. One of 4 cups is big and others are small. In the big cup and one of small cup, we pour Japanese tea, and in other small cups, we pour water. After she put those things, she burns a candle and incense stick. Then, she preys to deceased. She does the same thing before she eats dinner every day. Moreover, every time we boil rice, we put it on the home alter at first. (We also put it on the Shinto home alter too.)
I asked my grandmother what she preys every day. It depends on person what they prey, but in my grandmother’s case, she thank to and deceased at first. Then, she asks them to protect her children and all of relatives. Finally, she reads part of sutra. She told me that she thought it was better to read whole sutra, but she didn’t do so because she wasn’t strong believer of Busshism. Therefore, she just thank and prey to deceased.

We have the custom called “Meinichi”(命日) which is the anniversary of one’s death. Japanese people often visit a grave on the day. In addition, the chief priest at a Buddhist temple comes to my house to prey on the day every month. For example, my grandfather died 23rd, so the chief priest comes to my house 23rd every month. People always put their hands together when they prey. I heard the meaning from the priest. In Buddhism, right hand is holy, and left hand is dirty. (I think it also includes the meaning that Buddha and deceased are holy, and human beings are dirty.) By putting hands together, we can meet deceased, the priest told me. Therefore, priests always use their right hands when they put something on the alter and they don’t show their left side to alter.

We have a big event, Bon festival, from 13th to 15th in August to hold a memorial service for the spirits of deceased. It is said that the spirits of dead persons come back to home in this period so we clean up alter and set out fruits, vegetables and alcohol as offerings. We usually go to the grave on 13th to pick up the spirit of ancestor, and visit grave again on 15th to send the spirit. It is common that relatives gather and have lunch together.

Gender in Japan

I would like to write this week’s blog focusing on the difference of the power between men and women in Japan. In Japan, there is an idea that men are superior to women. For example, in former days, there is discrimination between men and women. Women did not have suffrage until 1880 because women were regarded that they only had to support men. In addition, women couldn’t have high status.
According to my grandmother who is 92 years old now, women had to obey men in former days. Men always order women to do something like housework. If women did not follow them, some men used violence on women. Moreover, people believed that it was bad for women to drink. There were some women who drunk, but they were laughed by others if they drunk.

Today, those discrimination becomes less than before. There is some laws that show equality among gender. For example, there is a law that aim is to secure equality of employment among men and women. In fact, there are many women who have job and become active in each field. However, the idea that men are superior to women does not completely disappear. I found an investigation conducted by labor department of Gifu prefecture office. They asked if office worker felt gender difference in an office, and 35% of women and 25% of men answered yes. About 28% of women and 34% of men answered they felt some difference between gender. According to this survey, we can see more than 60% of women and about 60% of men felt gender difference while they were working.

Survey conducted by the labor department of Gifu prefecture
(It was written in Japanese)

It also can be seen in our dairy life. In Japan, wives usually do housework such as washing dishes and laundry, and cleaning house. Actually, in my house, my mother always does housework though both of my parents have job. While my mother does housework, my father is watching TV. Recently, my father helps her with housework like washing laundry, but she still does housework mostly. When I went to Australia 4 years ago, I was surprised at their idea about housework that is different from Japanese idea. I stayed with my host family for 2weeks. They didn’t have the idea that women have to do housework like Japan, and they always cooperate with each other. My host parents did housework in turn. My host father often goes shopping, and takes care of their pet. I think the number of Japanese husbands who help their wives with housework is increasing compared to before. Moreover, in some families, husbands stay at their house, and do housework and take care of their children while wives are working outside. I think those families are also increasing compared to before. However, we still have the idea that men are stronger than women, and women should support men.

Globalization of Japan

This character is Ponyo which is a main character in the film of "Ponyo on the Cliff in the Sea".

Today, Japan takes many things from other countries like food industry and apparel industry, but I would like to write about a Japanese thing which exports to other countries, "Ghibli films".

This black cat is the character called Jiji in the film of "Kiki's Delivery Services". He is the best friend of Kiki(She is main character of this film)


Ghibli films are created by Hayao Miyazaki. He is one of the famouse film director, and also animation writer, caricaturist, and founder of Studio Ghibli which is an animation film studio. Miyazaki's films are now appreciated by many people not only in Japan but also in other countries. His popular films are "Spirited Away" (2001), "My Neighbor Totoro" (1988), and the latet one, "Ponyo on the Cliff in the Sea" (2008). Those films were released in America, and the latest one "Ponyo" were released in 927 theaters. Moreover, those films were awarded many prizes. For example, "Spirited Away" received a Golden Bear prize which is the most honorable prize at Berlin International Film Festival. It was for the first time in history that animation film received a Golden Bear prize.

The person who is in the middle is Hayao Miyazaki who creats Ghibli films.
I borrowed this picture from this site.
http://www.eiga-portal.com/butaiaisatsu/sentochihiro-kin/photo6.shtml

I took observation about Ghibli films. I took interviews to 10 foreigners, and all of them answered they knew about Ghibli films. 3 of them are American students who come to Kansai Gaidai to study Japanese. When I went to Kyoto with them and my friends, we found the shop which sold stuffs of characters of Ghibli films such as Ponyo and Totoro, and they loved those stuffs so much. In addition to that, one of my friends who lives in South Carolina, America, also knows about Ghibli films, and she can sing the song of Ponyo. She told me that she could rent DVD of Gibli films in her hometown. I found that the most popular Ghibli film among those who I took interviews was "Spirited Away" through my observation. I asked what point they like about the film, and one of them told me that he liked imagination because he could not expect those imaginations that Hayao Miyazaki created.

Ghibli films are mainly created for children, and a lot of works created by Hayao Miyazaki are loved by children. I think no children don't know about Ghibli in Japan. I, myself, loevd Ghibli films very much when I was young, especially "My Neighbor Totoro". However, Ghibli films entertain not only children but also adults. In fact, one of my professor respects him. I think the reason why Ghibli films are appreciated by people is that Hayao Miyazaki creates not just stories for children, but he satires our society. For example, he represents about protection of environment and animals in the film of "Nausica of the Valley of the Wind" (1984), and also represents anti-war in the film of "Porco Rosso" (1992).

On 20th of November, one of his films "Castle in the Sky" will be broadcasted on TV. This movie is about adventure of a boy and a girl in the imagination world which is based on Europe after the industry revolution in 19th century. The title in Japansese is "Tenku no shiro Laputa". The name of "Laputa" was taken from the book, "Gulliver's Travels", and the castle which is in the sky also appears in the film. If you are interested in this film, please check it out next month!


Links

Studio Ghibli http://www.ghibli.jp/

Ghibli museum (in Tokyo) http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/

Ghibli fan site http://www.aic.gr.jp/anime/ghibli/

They are written in Japanese.

Sport and recreation in Japan

There are many sports Japanese people play today, but I would like to write about soccer which is second most popular sport in Japan. I like watcing soccer game and I sometimes go to a stadium to see a game. The Japanese professional soccer league was set up in 1992, and has become popular. I have watched the TV program which asked children what kind of sports they like best before, and many children answered they liked soccer the best. In Japan, we have 36 professional club teams, and 18 teams of them are divided in J-1 league which is top league in Japan, and other 18 teams are divided in J-2 league. The season they play soccer is a little different from other countries. In Europe, their season starts in August or September, and finishes in May. However, in Japan, thier season starts in March and finishes in the beginning of December. The price is depends on the seat or stadium you go, but you can watch a J-league game if you pay at least 1,500 yen or 2,000 yen. In Osaka, we have 2 peofessional club teams. One of them is Gamba Osaka whose stronghold is Suita city(North part of Osaka), and the other one is Cerezo Osaka which is now J-2 league and their stronghold is Osaka city. I'm fan of Gamba Osaka since I was a high school student, and sometimes go to the stadium to watch a game with my friend. Gamba Osaka is now third place in J-1 league so there is a big possibility they become J-1 champion of this year!

In Japan, we have 4 big tournaments. One of them is called "FIFA Club World Cup", and champions from 6 continents gather in Japan, and decide the strongest club team in the world. This tournament was called "Toyota Cup" before, and there are many professional soccer player who wants to enter this tounament in Japan, and also in other countries. Gamba Osaka became Asia champion last year, and entered this tounament. They had a game with Manchester United which is very famouse club team of England. Although they lost, and score was 3-5, their positive attitude was appreciated in Japan, also in England.

Yasuhito Endo (Japanese professional soccer player)

Yasuhito Endo who plays in Gamba Osaka, and also center of Japanese national team is one of my favourite soccer player. His position is Midfilder, and his accuracy of passing a ball is appriciated by many people.

Next year, World Cup will be held in South Africa, and Japanese national team has gotten the right to enter World Cup. I'm looking forward to watching games!

J-league official cite http://www.j-league.or.jp/eng/
Gamba Osaka official cite http://www.gamba-osaka.net/en/index.html

Third picture is borrowed from this cite http://sports.livedoor.com/photo...5BF%25CE

Japanese Pop culture and Entertainment

I would like to introduce Japanese pop culture and entertainment, "Karaoke". I suppose you've already known that "Karaoke" was born in Japan, and now, it is very popular entertainment around the world. "Karaoke" is an abbreviation word for "Kara Orchestra". "Kara" means empty, so"Karaoke" means melody without voices. In Japan, we have about 10.000 Karaoke boxes. Hirakata city also has Karaoke box in front of Hirakata station. Karaoke is very popular in Japan because it is fun to sing songs, and it also reduce our stresses. Moreover, it is cheap. You can sing songs as much as you want until 9 p.m, and it costs only 800yen! Therefore, Karaoke is popular entertainment among high school students and college students. Karaoke entertains not only young people but also adult people. Some people go to karaoke after they drink in a bar with their friends. It is called "Nijikai" which means post-party party. Karaoke appears in a wedding reception too. In Japan, we have a custom to hold wedding reception when we get marry. We invite our families, relatives, collegues and friends. At the wedding reception, friends or collegues of bride and groom often sing songs to celebrate them. Those songs are usually about marriage or love songs. We use karaoke then. I, myself, was invited to a wedding reception of my friend in March, and sang a song with my friends. I was glad she appriciated our song.
Here is one short clip about modern Japanese wedding reception.

The instrument of karaoke has improved today. Before, it was the instrument for just singing songs. However, we have a system that our songs are graded now. It also calculates how much you burned calories when you finish singing a song. Karaoke will keep on entertaining us.

Here is link to the homepage of "Jankara" which is one of popular Karaoke box in Japan. It is written in Japanese. It has some information about the Karaoke box such as fee, foods and drinks.

http://jankara.ne.jp/index.html

Neighborhood Kashiwara

I would like to introduce my neighbor today. I live in Kashiwara City, Osaka. It is about 2 hours far from Kansai Gaidai. It locates east part of Osaka and near Nara. My hometown is countryside, so there is a lot of nature such as rivers, mountains and rice fields. My hometown is also famous for grapes. There are a lot of vineyards near my house, and it has several kinds of grapes such as Black grape and Muscat. We have original wine in my hometown.There is grape picking event from August to October. We can eat grapes as much as we want if we pay 1.100 yen. Picking fruits is popular event in Japan. For example, we have strawberry picking, pear picking and apple picking.

The first picture shows Japanese vineyard. Japanese vineyard is different from other countries’ a little because Japanese land is not so large as other countries. Other countries can use large land for planting grapes, so it is usual that the vines are planted on the ground. In contrast, in Japan, we have to use our narrow land effectively. Therefore we have different way of planting vine. At first, we make shelves, and then, make grape’s vine trail on the shelves, and grow vines on high place. It is the best way to grow many grapes in limited space in Japan.

Second picture shows Japanese residential area. In Japan, houses are built close to each other. It is also because Japanese land is small. In addition, we have fences around our houses. We have fences not only around houses, but also around schools. When I went to Australia 4 years ago, I found that they didn't have fences around their houses and schools. Moreover, neighbors came into school yard and walking with their dog. I was surprised because in Japan, we can’t enter school yard if we are not student in the school. If someone enters without permission, he will be regarded as a suspicious person. Although we have fences between our houses, the connection of our community is strong. Every town has a residents’ association, and cooperate with each other. For example, we make several gropes and clean parks near our houses on Sunday in turn. We respect and cooperate with each other to make our town better.

My recommendation of Japanese culture

My recommendation of Japanese culture relates to nature. In Japan, we have a custom called “Hanami”(Flower viewing). “Hanami” is going out to places such as parks to enjoy seeing cherry blossoms. It is said that its origin is noble men’s event in the Nara period (about 1300 years ago). Cherry blossoms are planted everywhere. For example riversides, school yards and temples. Cherry blossoms bloom from March to April. We go out to do “Hanami” with family, friends or colleagues. We often spread a sheet under cherry blossoms, and enjoy drinking, eating and talking. Therefore, in March and April, some parks are full of people who enjoy the coming of spring. Enjoying “Hanami” in the evening is also good way. It is called “Yozakura” (夜桜), and cherry blossoms are illuminated. We can see different faces of them, and enjoy aesthetic atmosphere.

In autumn, we have “Momiji gari” (going maple viewing). It is also one of Japanese popular customs as well as “Hanami”. In autumn, most leaves turn into red and yellow, and they create beautiful scenery in fields and mountains. Kyoto is famous spot to go “Momiji gari” in Japan, so many people visit Kyoto to see beautiful and old-fashioned scenery. I would like to introduce one of my favorite places in Kyoto. It is “Jissouin” (実相院). We can see rare scenery there. It is famous for “Yuka momiji” (床もみじ). “Yuka momiji” is the scenery that “Momiji” which has turned into red is reflected on the polished black floor. People enjoy the reflected scenery. The best timing we can see that scenery is noon. Even if leaves does not turn into red, we can enjoy “Yuka midori” (床みどり). The green leaves are reflected on the black floor, and it is shining in emerald color. If you interested in this place, please visit there while you are in Japan.