Last Blog Entry 10-2

Times I shared with my best buddy during my stay in Japan,
from exciting adventures to painful memories..

Last Blog Entry 10-1

my place in the world..

first pic taken in Daiso on an adventure to discover a variety of items that are only 100 yen
second one taken in Kobe, which is one of my favourite places (out of where I've been) in Kansai

Blog Entry 10- 紅葉

Around this time of the year, some Japanese people go out into the nature to see leaves changing the color and enjoy being one with the nature. On the last public holiday before this semester is over, a Japanese family and I went to Mt. Rokko, Kobe. And we played with sheeps, goats and horses in the farm that was located on the mountain. It was great fun.
There were a lot of hikers enjoying nice sceneries and good weather. Japan, where four seasons are quite distinctive, offers us unique experiences with the nature and the people!

Blog Entry 9- seeing through the reality- CHILDREN!

At Nagao Kindergarden, 13th Nov..

These nursery school kids all have different looks, thoughts, behavior and reaction to the camera! I really appreciate these kinds of opportunities that allow me to see and be with Japanese people from all different age groups. Certainly they offer me different experiences and lessons within the same culture.

Earlier this semester, I have written and posted pics that were similar to this, relating to my first encounter with kindergarden and kids. I like kids in general, but especially I love getting them in my photographs because they are see-through, not to mention in the photos but even in reality. However I was able to find significant changes in the pics throughout the course of the time. Despite of my personal attachment to some kids and of the differences in places and times, I had those kids right in front of my camera this time, giving away a sense of being and sharing the moment together at that time by this action of photographing them. Each presented me with different, (but realistic in all) poses and expressions, whether the pics were taken noticed or not.

p.s I was not able to ask their parents if it was ok for me to use these pics of their children for my blog, but I guess as soon as this project is over, I might have to delete them and it might be ok this way..?! gomenasai!!

Blog Essay- Japan Religiously Revised

http://wittstudent.blogspot.com/2007/11/religion.html

Japan, with both Shinto and Buddhism as national religions appears to be a very peaceful country to foreigners, if not all, at least in the religious facet of the country. As a matter of the fact, the tolerance of Shinto and Buddhism allows Japanese to accept and adopt various beliefs, gods and lifestyles from all over the world. We hear about (and even watched in class too) true life stories of the Japanese people in general who visit shrines once or twice a year to practice Shinto, have a western Christian-style wedding at church and end their lives in a Buddhist funeral.
However regardless of the flexibility of religions that this country proudly offers, a lot of people, young generation in particular, are not religious at all and rather indifferent towards different beliefs and practices. They are simply not interested in religions, which, as a result, caused a lack of knowledge and shallow performance of even one certain religion. Maybe it's this ignorance of the people, rather than co-operation of different religions that has brought what seems to be peace and harmony.
Furthermore, in the West, where having a faith is as important as having a thought, religions can be very political and therefore can be used as a means of achieving and managing power. Whereas in the East, religions seem to be more emotionally and spiritually involved within people's lives. In this regard, imposing certain belief on someone can also include some kind of power and control, possible to create an argument amongst individuals in the western socities. However due to the nature of religion that the belief is pychologically influential, it is regarded as a sensitive topic, especially to the people in the collectivistic Japanese soceity. Consequently it is reasonable to guess that it is shaped into such a way that different religions were organized to harmonize with each other from a social and cultural aspect of Japan.

Another point of my argument lies on the question whether it is possible at all to have all the different religions living in peace with each other. Japan also did have a history of oppressing and conflicting with new foreign religions, including Christianity. Even now, the population of Christianity remains surprisingly low, suggesting the influence of the past still lingers on until thesedays. It seems more accurate to say that Shinto and Buddhism are open and accepting only mainly towards each other as the values of each one correspond with the other and with the Japanese society.

Blog Entry 8- Re-japanization of Westernization (Americanization!!)

Actaully the Japan's unique way of readjusting foreign cultures to suit their interests and tastes is visible everywhere, not just in Kyoto.

These pics were taken in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture. The area was indeed a very interesting place and I'd say it was a good example of Re-japanization of westernization. I'm not sure whether they were reconstructed or natural, but the streets and some stores were somewhat artificially traditional Japanese (at least not in a way Kyoto is!) There was a quite famous orgel museum where a variety of orgels was on display and for sale to attract visitors. The orgels aka music boxes were originally from Europe but they finally re-japanized the orgel too! I mean, look at the orgels with ornaments that are Japanese dolls in Kimono!!

Blog Entry 8- Re-japanization of Westernization (Americanization!!)

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???