Changing impression of Japan

This class is my first time to take a class with oversea students so I could realize both possitive points and negative points of Japan through this course. I was happy that I could know other student' different point of view from Japanese.

I clearly remember that the first thing at which I was surprised was other students' image toward Japan. The professor asked us whether Japan is drinking country or not, and most students agreed that Japan was a drinking country. I didn't have an image that Japan is a drinking country, so I was very surprised at their opinions. I also had an image that people in other countries go to bar more often than Japan, and they also drink alcohol much more than Japanese.

Moreover, I could realize the good point of Japan too through this course and this blog. For example, there is a typical image that Japanese people focus on the importance of harmony of group. Although it might have a negative point such as Japanese focus on group too much and some of them are not good at expressing our opinions, because of this culture, we have a strong connection between people as I mentioned in the blog post 2. In addition to that, Japan has a culture to enjoy nature. In Japan, we have 4 seasons; spring, summer, autumn and winter, and we have some events in each season. There are some events that people enjoy the nature such as "Momiji-gari"(maple). I think most of Japanese people like to participate in those events and co-exist with nature.

On the other hand, I also realized negative points of Japan. As we learned in this class which was about politics, we have some problems such as the problem of Japanese anthem. I didn't know about the problem until I took this course because I had never seen such a situation. I felt I should know about Japan more, and it is important to do so before I study about other countries.

I'm really happy that I could take this course and know the different point of view about Japan. I couldn't get them if I studied with only Japanese students. I also could think about Japan afresh, and I could know things I didn't recognize because I took it for granted. I would like to make the most of experience in this class, and consider things without being a slave of Japanese point of view. By doing so, I would like to improve my way of thinking in order to be able to decide what is good or bad, and how to improve them.

Politics in Japan

“Mottainai” Have you ever heard this word? This is a Japanese word which means waste, (specifically, it is the word that shows people's lamenting feeling when they can't use the most of worth of something) and this word is becoming worldwide now. One Kenyan person whose name is Wangari Maathai actively work by spreading this word to the world. Just putting some rubbish into the dust box is “Mottainai”! Japanese government, specifically, Ministry of the Environment works hard about our environment. I’d like to focus on recycling in Japan today.

In Japan, we have to separate rubbish according to the type of rubbish. For example, we separate rubbish into combustible, not combustible, bulky refuse, and can and bottle. The rule of throwing away something depends on the region, and some area has a strict rule such as Kyoto prefecture.

Recycling Box
The rubbish are divided into can, carton packs, plastic bottles, and other plastic materials.

Recycling becomes popular today. Most supermarkets have recycling boxes like this picture. My family often brings cartons of milk and plastic bottles when we go to supermarkets and also give newspapers to our local community. When we bring cartons of milk, we often cut and open the carton.

We also separate plastic bottles into cap and bottle when we put them into the recycling box. After we put plastic bottles into the recycling box, autonomy collect them, and they reborn into fabric, sheet such as files, new bottles and pens. According to the statistics done by the council for PET bottle recycling, the rate of collecting plastic bottles is 69% in 2007. If we recycle plastic bottles or cans, we can save the energy to burn them and prevent to emit CO2. If we save 1.5 litters plastic bottle, you can prevent to emit 87 gram of CO2!
Cartons of milk will also reborn into toilet papers, tissues and uchiwa( a Japanese fan). If we recycle 6 piece of cartons of milk, we can make 1 toilet paper from them. Today, about 65600 tons of carton of milk are collected in a year.

If we recycle these rubbish and reuse them, we can save a lot of energy and resources. Today, we live in the mass production and mass consumption society, so I think our tiny effort to the environment in daily life is very important.


Mottainai
http://www.mottainai.info/english/

The council for recycling PET bottle
http://www.petbottle-rec.gr.jp/english/index.html


(This site incldes statistics I mentioned on this post)

Japanese manner

For this week’s blog, I would like to write about Japanese manner. There are lots of manners in Japan from daily life to business manner, but I hope this post will be efficient for you.
First, I would like to tell you about manners for eating. One of the manners while we are having meal is the way of using chopsticks. One example of taboo of using chopsticks is called “Sashi-bashi” (Stabbing).

This is regarded as a rude because it’s not only inappropriate but also rude to a cook because it seems that you check whether it’s boiled properly or not. Moreover, you spoil the arrangement of the food.

Another example is called “Watashi-bashi” (Laying down).
Please don’t lay your chopsticks across the top of a bowl. This is also taboo because laying down chopsticks across the bowl means the sign that you finish eating the dish, and it will be interpreted that you don’t like the dish and don’t want to eat it any more.

There is a manner when we use disposable chopsticks. When you use disposable chopsticks, please do not pull them left and right above the table like this picture because it will be regarded as childish.

The proper way is pull them up and down slowly like this picture.

In addition, when you finish having meal and don’t use chopsticks any more, you should put them back into the wrapper, and fold down the tip of the wrapper because it is a sign that the chopsticks have been used. If the wrapper is already folded down, you can just put the chopsticks into the wrapper.

In western countries, it is not good to pick dishes up, but in Japan, it is OK to hold dishes with the hand which is not hold chopsticks. For example, we hold bowls while we are eating rice or soup. If you don’t pick the bowl up, it will be regarded as a bad manner. We also pick up small dishes and “Donburi” (rice dishes with various toppings). When we eat sashimi (raw fish), we usually eat it with soy sauce and wasabi. Most Japanese people put wasabi in the soy sauce, but it is also bad manner because it will destroy the nice fragrance of wasabi. The proper way is that taking wasabi on the raw fish, and then, dip it into the soy sauce and eat it. It is also good to hold soy sauce dish with a hand.

Next, I’d like to introduce the manner when we visit someone’s house. There are some rules what to wear. For example, it is not good to visit someone’s house with bear feet, so you should wear socks or stockings even in summer.
In Japan, we have to take our shoes off when we enter a house. When you enter someone’s home, it is the manner to straighten your shoes by yourself. Some Japanese people tend to enter the house with back to the host because they try to straight their shoes, but it is impolite. We should step out of the entrance at first, and then, turn around, stood down and straighten your shoes.
If you are invited in a Japanese style room (Tatami room), you should take off slipper before you enter the room. It is good manner to avoid stepping on the cloth edges the tatami because the edge will become loose. If you are served “Zabuton” which is a Japanese cushion, it is rude to step on the cushion because it means you step the host’s hospitality. Moreover, it is also rude to change the position of the cushion because it means you refuse or don’t like your host’s hospitality.

Lastly, I will introduce the manner when we take elevator. When we take an elevator, we should not only push the button for open but also put one of hands on the door until everyone finishes getting on the elevator not to close and attack someone. We had better do so when we getting off an elevator too.

I think you will think that there are so many manners in Japan, and they are troublesome but I hope you will find them useful in the life in Japan. If you have an opportunity to use these manners, please try it!
This book about Japanese manners and has lots of useful manners. If you are interested in the Japanese manners, you can borrow the book in the library at Kansai Gaidai.

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