Somewhere in Kyoto..
I strongly disagree with some assertion that Japan is losing its traditional values and things that seem Japanese, due to the westernization, more specifically Americanization. The truth is that Japan is a very smart country. It has accepted what's useful and neccessary from western cultures and with its unique ways, they have been interpretd and re-presented to suit Japanese culture and the people.
A question,, isn't it ironic to make such a big deal out of the influence of western cultures, which supposedly caused changes in the original Japanese characterics, while in America, such a variety of different cultures and races is just considered as 'diversity'. What is, then, traditional American culture?
McDonald's? KFC? Cowboys???
4 comments:
Hey again.. I'm currently studying something on multiculturalism. I think that the question you asked is fair, but it's also important to acknowledge that America is a multicultural country- very diverse in all respects. Japan however, has a one dominant culture (and a 99.99% Asian population)that only in recent years has turned to outside influence. Maybe the question about Japan becoming westernized/Americanized then encourages a healthy discussion don't you think?
(To be honest I had that thought hit me when I was in Odaiba, Tokyo on Spring break last semester- I saw the rainbow brige which looks very similar to the Golden Gate brige, a Japanese variant of the Statue of liberty, and some building that looked almost identical to the empire state!!)
Sach
Hey I also meant to add.. if you're interested check out this site:
http://flickr.com/photos/aikon3390/
There are a bunch of really AMAZING photos by one of my best friends whom I used to go to church with while in Japan. He's no photographer or anything but I just think his pics have allota essence to it. May inspire you too if you like.
Kindest regards
Sach
I think you bring up some very important points. I like your idea about diversity. But as Donald Richie stated in The Japanese Version film, the Japanese do not necessary think of this adoption process as westernization/americanization, but modernization. It is a Japanese cultural process to borrow and adapt things from outside to suit local tastes. This process has been going on for centuries. Still, I'd like to hear more of your ideas on this subject...
isn't westernization/americanization also modernization in some sense?! i just think that there's no need to distinct the two. I mean Jap society is accepting what's beneficial for the people and the country and i regard highly of their willingness and adaptability towards changes for the improvement. Whether the matter is being an individual or being a big nation, it's always really difficult to go through changes even if they bring positive and beneficial results.
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