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B#18-Questions 4 Departures

1. When they are asked about their religion, most Japanese answer they are Shinto and Buddhist. Why do they belong to two religions at the same time? Why don’t they think it’s contradictory? Explain why you think so.

2. Considering Zoto, “Public and Private” and “giri” have deeper relationships. Thinking about those two concepts while Japanese people do “Zoto”, which scene of this film is a good example that “‘Private gifts’ that are not considered as important” (p.240) ?

3. Daigo was a cellist, but his orchestra was dissolved, and he takes a job as “Nokanshi.” What kind of job is “Nokanshi”? From the film, what is the general perception of this job? How does Daigo feel about his job? Describe the transition of Daigo’s wife perception toward his job.

4. Japanese funerals have many rituals and customs. In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between the Japanese funerals you saw in the film and the kind of funerals you have been to?

5. Movie—What does the stone that Daigo has mean?

6. Movie— Was Daigo able to meet his father? What kinds of situation was it?

7. What other PRIOR Japanese key concepts do you see in this film? Explain what and why you think so.

8. What did you learn about the Japanese culture through the film? What do you think about the movie overall?

jakerabbit25

blog 18

1. From what I learned in the book, Shinto is a very basic religion with a vague ruleset that can be interpreted in many different ways. As a result, it is able to adapt to the teachings of many other religions. 2. One scene that describes this is when Daigo is talking about the stone his father gave him. He said that they were supposed to keep exchanging stones, but he never did. As a result, the stone became unimportant. 3. A Nokanshi is someone who deals with or handles dead bodies. In America it could be compared to a coroner or mortician. From the film, I think that the general purpose of the job was to care for and prepare the body for the afterlife. Daigo was very reluctant at first because he originally did not know about the job he applied for. His wife was originally okay with his job until she found out what it really was. Then she wanted him to quit and find a normal job. However, she came to terms with it after seeing her husband at his job. 4. The biggest difference is that amount of care given to the body when around the family. In Japan, they take their time delicately attending to the deceased. In America, they do not do this to the extent of the Japanese. 5. It was in the form of a letter from his father. It was a rigid stone which showed concern. 6. Daigo sees his father at the end of the movie when he passes away. 7. One prior concept was chinmoku, and this was shown through all of the silence during the funeral processes. Another concept was giri, and this was shown through Daigo receiving a stone from his father. 8. I learned that Japan takes very good and precise care for the deceased. They have a specific plan and process for people who have died because their culture heavily values the afterlife. Overall I thought that the movie was decent. It had some funny moments, but nothing really stood out to me.

akronjapaneseculture11

4/17 B#17

Contents

1) Announcement: Essay paper and WebEx paper are due on May 1st.

You will make a hard copy,staple, bring to our class.

2) Analysis: Watching the real WebEx conference and discussed what kinds of Japanese key terms you can see and analyze the reasons

3) Discussion for “All the Corners of the World”

Homework is

1) Read Zoto and Soshiki

2) Blog entry #17— 2 direct citations and your impressions (4 total)

On Wednesday, we will watch “The Departures”

jakerabbit25

blog 17

Zoto (p.233)- I found it very interesting that Befu “lists eighty-five occasions on which gifts may be given” (p.233). In my opinion, I don’t understand why this is necessary. But I think it has to do with the overall respectful tone of the Japanese culture. I think that this concept is extremely similar to giri in that both ideas reference gift-giving, which can often be involuntary and obligatory. Another thing I noticed is the contrast of gift-giving between Japan and Western cultures. In Western countries, people “often give presents without expecting anything in return, and do so simply because they want to” (p.240). In Japan, there is a very high presence of giri. As a result, the Japanese feel even more pressure to also give the person a gift of equal value. Lastly, even though I was already aware, it’s interesting that tipping is not at all common in Japan. In America, not tipping at a restaurant is almost a taboo. I think that it is nice to see the contrast of this concept.

Soshiki (p.201)- One thing about Japanese funerals that stuck out to me was tomobiki. The book states that it’s “a day on which it is thought that the bad luck of the family could affect their friends” (p.204). After reading this section, it honestly felt boring because the Japanese treats a funeral as an excruciatingly long process. I was surprised to learn that the process isn’t over even after the actual funeral, with the book stating that “on the fourteenth, twenty-first, twenty-eight, and thirty-five days, a Buddhist service is held within the family circle” (p.210). Another thing that I found interesting was the Japanese’s perception of graves. They tend to care much more for their graves than places like America, including burning incense and leaving offerings or water. In America, people also pray and leave things like flowers, but not to the extend of people in Japan.

akronjapaneseculture11

B#16 Questions 4 To All Corners

1. Considering iitoko-dori, the textbook mentions that “the process of iitoko-dori, which has given rise to relative rather than absolute ethical value system, has also result in serious negative consequences” (p.130). Did you find a scene that explains it well? Describe the scene and write the reasons why you think so.

2. Considering Ikuji, how do you see Keiko (Suzu’s sister in law) child bearing? Use the citation of textbook and explain the DIFFERNCES between textbook and Keiko. Explain why you think so.

3. Considering Ryosaikenbo, in the movie, there are much the Ryosaikenbo concepts, for example “In Japan, it is still believed that boys and girls should be brought up in different ways” (p.181). Did you find a scene that explains it well? Comparing with American culture nowadays, do you feel it is fair or not? Explain the reasons why you think so.

4. Considering Danjyo Kankei, unlike the tradition of Danjyo Kankei, did you see in the movie that men (husband, father in law, or good male friend) are subservient to females (wife, mother in law, sister in law, prostitute friend)? Explain the scenes and why you think so.

5. MOVIE- Why did Suzu lose her right arm?

6. MOVIE- What was the relationship between Syusaku and Rin?

7. What do you think the meaning of her right arm?

8. My grandfather who just passed away was 100 years old. He was 1 km away from the ground zero. My grandmother was in Kure and she saw the mushroom cloud like Suzu saw. Do you have similar story in your family? If you do (would have), can you see the historical facts differently or not? Explain the reasons why you think so.

9. What Japanese key concepts that you have learned before (other than current 4 concepts) did you see in this movie? Explain why you think so.

jakerabbit25

blog 16

1. One scene that I think describes this is when Suzu is practicing with other people how to jab with a rod in some sort of combat training. One of them said that America has guns and more weapons. This shows that during the war, Japan was far less technologically advanced than America and other Western countries. As a result, Japan lost the war from America’s atomic bombs.

2. Keiko is a strict and verbal parent. One quote from the book is that “Japanese mothers let their expectations ‘seep down’ to their children” (p.136). Keiko is very verbal and doesn’t lead by example. Instead, Suzu represents Ikuji by making drawing for Harumi’s school book. In addition, Keiko is always telling Harumi what to do which signifies the stress of obedience, and this goes against the Japanese mindset of “Japanese mothers are not nearly as concerned with parental authority as American mothers” (p.136).

3. One example of Ryosaikenbo is when Suzu makes Harumi a bag from her fabric instead of making her something else. In addition, Harumi had a book for school, and the textbook says that “female primary school students also read more books than their male counterparts” (p.181). In America, it’s somewhat similar because we still have gender-specific toys and activities, such as dolls and toy cars. Even though American society is slowly moving away from it, I don’t think it’s fair. I think that a kid should play with whatever toy makes them happy.

4. One example that contradicts Danjyo Kankei is when Suzu is given the choice to marry Shusaku in oimai. This is because in this scenario, the woman gets the power to make the choice regarding marriage. Another example is when Keiko is talking to her parents about how her husband begged her to marry him. This gave Keiko power and authority over him instead of the other way around.

5. She was dragging Harumi away from a bomb that had a delayed explosion.

6. Shusaku used to help Rin a lot because she was poor. He bought a bowl Rin made and he wrote Rin’s name on a piece of fabric. They could have had feelings for each other as well.

7. I think that the loss of her right hand signifies her loss of innocence because she didn’t really need to take responsibility for a lot until the point where Harumi dies. It also represents a loss of part of her character because she had flashbacks of all the things she did with her right hand, like holding hands with Shusaku and drawing pictures.

8. I do not have a similar story in my family so I am unable to answer this particular question.

9. One concept that is obvious is Oimai because Suzu’s and Shusaku’s marriage was arranged. A second concept is aimai, which is shown when Suzu made Nanko Meshi. Shusaku’s parents gave ambiguous or neutral answers even though they did not like the meal. A third concept is the Japanese ie system. This is shown when Shusaku tells Tetsu that he’s the man of the house since his father wasn’t home. By him telling Tetsu to leave, it showed his authority in the ie system. Lastly, the movie also showed gambare when Suzu first moved in. She did as much as she could around the house even though she didn’t have to, which made her think she had a duty or obligation to do as many chores as she could.

akronjapaneseculture11

4/5

Contents

1) Share your essay topic and thesis statement

2) start watching next movie “To All Corners of the World”

homework

1) Blog #15—Upload your questions (Due by Monday, 4/10)

if you will write analysis paper and attend WebEx conference, please write both of them. I should tell all your questions to Japanese students

On Monday no class but you will WebEx to me during our class period from 4:55 to 7:05. Sign up sheets will be shared soon.

2) Blog #16— Term analysis (Due by Wednesday, 4/12)

①Read Iitoko Dori(p.127), Ikuji(p.135), Ryosaikenbo (p.179), Danjyo Kankei (p.61)

② 2 direct citations and your impression why you think so (2X4terms=8)

We will have our class of term analysis on Wednesday, 4/12.

3) Watch the movie “To All Corners of the World” (Due by Monday, 4/17)

On Monday 4/17, we will have discussion of this movie.

The discussion leaders are Jessica, Daniel, Henry, Christian

4) Blog #17—answer the questions (Due by Monday, 4/17)

I will email you when I upload the questions.

You will have WebEx conference on Thursday, April 13th at 9PM to 10PM.

jakerabbit25

blog 15

Iitoko dori (p.127)- I was impressed that Japan was able to adapt so quickly to Western technology and become so modernized in a short period of time, with the book stating that “Japan had a good foundation for accepting Western technology because in the Tokugawa period both cottage industries and financial systems were quite well developed” (p.127). I think that this relates to the concept of gambare because it shows that Japan as a country is trying to better itself and make itself as efficient as it can be. I was also surprised by some people in Japan “believing in two or more religions simultaneously” (p.129). This is unusual to me because in America, people generally believe in only one religion. I am also surprised that Japan has been very open to new religions. This is because I always think of the country as isolationist due to its treatment of foreigners. This attitude contrasts in America because they aren’t very tolerant of religions outside of Christianity/Catholicism, especially towards Islam.

Ikuji (p.135)- It was very interesting to see the Japanese and American parenting styles compared and contrasted. From personal experience, I think that it is true when the book states that “American mothers were more verbally analytical” (p.136). One thing that surprised me was the lack of authoritative parenting in Japan because this was something I thought was very prominent due to the country’s rigid power structure, with the book saying that they “rarely discipline their children in an authoritative manner or punish them harshly in order to force them to be obedient” (p.136). Even though Japan places more emphasis on manners, the reality is that authoritative parenting is more prominent in America where it is more important for parents to have parental authority. It seems to me that Japanese parents tend to let their children learn and think for themselves while American parents tend to tell their children what to do in order to teach them obedience. In my opinion, I think that the Japanese parenting style is more efficient and better for the child, and I think that American parents should adopt some of their techniques.

Ryosaikenbo (p.179)- I am not surprised by the emphasis of gender roles in Japan. I have already learned that Japan has a lot of rules and norms, so ryosaikenbo isn’t much of a surprise to me. I do think that Japan’s gender role concepts throughout its history is consistent with other countries as well, like in America. In America, there are still gender roles and a fairly large amount of sexism, which has fortunately been shown to get better over time. In Japan, gender roles have also become increasingly less strict, which is shown when the book says that in Meiji times ryosaikenbo “meant to support one’s husband, while in the Edo period women simply had to be obedient to their spouses” (p.180). Another similarity I found between gender roles in Japan and America was how children were brought up. This is represented when the book states that there are “various kinds of toys that symbolize women’s roles: miniature models of items such as sewing machines, kitchen appliances, and household items” (p.181). This idea is also seen in America, where there are certain toys designed for males and certain toys designed for females. I personally do not think that this is right. I think that gender roles should be interchangeable and that people, especially children, should play with or do whatever they want as long as they are happy.

Danjyo kankei (p.61)- I was happy to find out that there was a time in Japan’s past where men and women were held to equal standards. However, I was actually quite surprised that male dominance basically began with Confucianism. The book states that because of Confucianism “the idea of ‘men outside and women inside’ became widespread” (p.62). I think that this was the turning point for male power in Japanese society. Another thing I found interesting was that it is becoming more common to get married through love as opposed to omiai. The book states that marriage based on love was “more than five times more frequent than arranged marriages in 1990, although the latter were three times more common in 1950” (p.65). I think that this shows that people in Japan are putting more emphasis on their own feelings and values as opposed to their parent’s wishes.

akronjapaneseculture11

4/5

Contents

1) Share your essay topic and thesis statement

2) start watching next movie “To All Corners of the World”

homework

1) Blog #15—Upload your questions (Due by Monday, 4/10)

if you will write analysis paper and attend WebEx conference, please write both of them. I should tell all your questions to Japanese students

On Monday no class but you will WebEx to me during our class period from 4:55 to 7:05. Sign up sheets will be shared soon.

2) Blog #16— Term analysis (Due by Wednesday, 4/12)

①Read Iitoko Dori(p.127), Ikuji(p.135), Ryosaikenbo (p.179), Danjyo Kankei (p.61)

② 2 direct citations and your impression why you think so (2X4terms=8)

We will have our class of term analysis on Wednesday, 4/12.

3) Watch the movie “To All Corners of the World” (Due by Monday, 4/17)

On Monday 4/17, we will have discussion of this movie.

The discussion leaders are Jessica, Daniel, Henry, Christian

4) Blog #17—answer the questions (Due by Monday, 4/17)

I will email you when I upload the questions.

You will have WebEx conference on Thursday, April 13th at 9PM to 10PM.

jakerabbit25

Web Ex conference questions

Concepts

Gambare

Chinmoku

Term Questions

How much time do you dedicate to school and do you think it is reasonable?

Are people in Japan comfortable openly expressing their opinions and speaking out? Why or why not?

Culture Questions

What are words in Japanese that you think the English language should have a word for?

The anime/manga culture in America is seen as nerdy and looked down upon. In Japan, is the anime/manga culture seen as that or is it more normal?

akronjapaneseculture11

B#13-Questions 4 Wind

B#13 is due on next Wednesday !

1. Considering Nemawashi, the textbook mentions that “important decisions have been made well in advance through the process of Nemawashi” (p.161). Did you find a scene that explained it well? Describe the scene and write reasons why you think so.

2. Considering Sempai and Kohai, Sonkeigo, Kenjyogo, and Teineigo expressions are shown in the oral conversation. However, nowadays it is shown by attitudes how to interact with other people (sempai to kohai /kohai to sempai), for example “third year students have great power in junior high and senior high schools” (p.191). Watch the relationships between characters and describe the relationships that explain Sempai-Kohai relationships well.

3. When Jiro asked Kurokawa to borrow his in-law-suite in order to spend time with Naoko, Kurokawa said “I can hardly approve of an unmarried couple living together”. Which Japanese concepts Kurokawa depended on to say that? Write the reasons why you think so.

4. Considering Omiai, Obviously Jiro and Naoko were not Omiai. If their situation were Omiai, do you think they would have married? Because of their love, Jiro ended up to be a widower. Is this happy ending for him or not? Explain why you think so.

5. Considering Nemawashi, the textbook mentioned “It is particularly difficult to take a totally opposite stance in Japan since opinions and emotions are often taken together as a whole” (p.161). It seems a little different in the movie when Jiro had a meeting to discuss the newest airplane” Why do you think it is different from what the textbook described? Think about the relationships between people in the meeting.

6. Movie—What did Naoko do when her health got really bad?

7. Movie—What did Naoko say in Jiro’s last dream with Mr. Caproni? Why do you think she says that to Jiro?

8. Jiro ended up creating his Zero fighter airplane used for the War. If you were Jiro, would you pursue your dream even if it would use for the bad situation?

9. What Japanese key concepts that we have learned before (other than current 3 concepts) did you see in this film? Explain why you think so.

jakerabbit25

blog 13

1. One scene that I thought showed nemawashi was when the Japanese engineers were looking at the German planes and one of the Germans got upset that they were looking at a plane. Then Dr. Junkers addressed the German and resolved the conflict because consensus between Japan and Germany was needed in order to purchase the planes.

2. One example of sempai-kohai is the relationship between Jiro and Kurokawa. Being Kurokawa’s employee, Jiro has to follow his instructions about his designs and listen to his orders such as what work to do and where to go. Another example is that Mr. Caproni acted like a mentor or sempai to Jiro, who served as his apprentice or kouhai. This is shown through the dialogue between the two in each of their dreams.

3. I think that Kurokawa’s statement was an example of the Japanese ie system and oimai. It shows the ie system because in the Japanese family structure, there is a man, and his wife and others are beneath him. Because of this structure, Kurokawa was mad that they were not following the rules. It also represents oimai because they were not married.

4. I think that they would have married because Jiro said that he loved Naoko ever since he laid eyes on her. So I think that they would have ended up together regardless. The ending is both good and bad for Jiro. It’s bad because Naoko died but it’s good because she was still encouraging Jiro through his work. She ran away at the end because she wanted Jiro to live and succeed, which he did.

5. I think that this situation is different because when this scene occurred, Jiro had already been working as an engineer for a few years. He was already regarded as a genius when he first started, so he was able to build up prestige and be regarded in higher standing.

6. Naoko ran away from home and left letters for Jiro and his sister. She did this because she realized she was getting sicker and wanted Jiro to remember her as how she used to be.

7. She told Jiro to live. I think she said this because she knows that he is a gifted person and wants the best for him.

8. If I were Jiro, I would still pursue my dreams because it would give me a sense of accomplishment and purpose. But I would try my hardest to make sure that my ideas are used for the right reasons.

9. One concept I noticed in the movie was gambare. This is shown through Jiro’s constant persistence to build his design for his plane. Another concept I saw was sudan ishiki. This is shown through Kurokawa bossing around the engineers throughout the movie and getting flustered at Jiro’s ideas because they were different.

akronjapaneseculture11

3/15 B#12

Contents

1) discussion of “What makes me American?”

2) Watch the movie, The Wind Rises

Homework

1) Watch the rest of movie

2) Read the following

①Nemawashi(p.159) ②Sempai-kohai(p.187) ③Omiai(p.165) ④haragei (p.61)

3) Blog entry #12—Term Analysis (2 direct citations and your impression)

jakerabbit25

Blog 12

Nemawashi (p.159)- It was interesting to see nemawashi used in the Japanese business industry. I think that this concept relates a lot to cooperation and sudan ishiki. I think this because both ideas want to retain group harmony. An example of this situation is when “even if one’s ideas are not critical, to speak up at a meeting often makes others irritated.” (p.161). They also make business decisions based upon a consensus. It was also interesting to see the perspective of non-Japanese people had towards this concept. To people in other countries, they “think of it as cheating, lobbying, and politicking.” (p.162). I can understand why they think of nemawashi like this, but to people in Japan it can be something positive. Places like the United States practice democracy or a majority in the business sector, while Japanese businesses practice using a consensus.

Sempai-kohai (p.187)- Reading this section has made me even more aware of the enormous amount of rules and norms that are followed in Japanese society. In my opinion, I don’t think that the senpai-kohai system is efficient. I think this because, like the book says, “people put more emphasis on age than ability because the system of wages and promotions is based on seniority rules.” (p.188). I personally don’t like this system because it wouldn’t let younger people who are more skillful to take over a job. In addition, I think that I also see this concept in both Japanese schools as well as American schools. Both countries have a type of seniority system set up in schools. From personal experience seniors at my high school received special privileges that underclassmen did not have access to. However, I think that the sempai-kohai system is much more strict and prominent in Japan. This is shown through the fact that a kohai has three different language types to address their sempais, which are “sonkeigo (respectful or honorific language), kenjogo (humble language), and teineigo (polite language).” (p.189).

Omiai (p.165)- I am surprised that omiai is still very popular in Japan because I have usually thought that arranged marriages were an outdated tradition. One of the changes that I found interesting was that omiai was previously family-centered. In the present day, “marriage is individual-centered, and the wishes of the prospective bride and groom are respected” (p.166). Another thing that I found interesting were the multiple benefits of using omiai, especially the fact that “People do not have to suffer many of the negative consequences of dating, such as finding opportunities to meet others or suffering face-to-face rejection.” (p.167). I think that this makes marriage and dating much more efficient. In the United States, I think that arranged marriages are extremely uncommon. I think that this concept reinforces the idea of the Japanese always striving to become better or more efficient at something, whether it be work or finding a mate.

Haragei (p.103)- When I read that haragei was “a way of exchanging feelings and thoughts in an implicit way among the Japanese,” I felt like it strongly resembles the concepts of honne to tatemae and aimai (p.103). I think this because all of these ideas have something to do with saying one thing while meaning something else. Another concept that I noticed correlates with haragei is chinmoku, which is shown when the book states that “long silences are readily accepted in conversation in Japan” (p.106). This is something that people in the United States are not used to and may make them feel uncomfortable. With that being said, I don’t think that that part of haragei is practiced in my country. However, people in America also use implicit communication. Especially in our political system, many people use implicit communication to hide their motives and real feelings.

akronjapaneseculture11

3/8 B#11

Contents

1) Announcement: Next Monday is term quiz

2) We discussed that we should have term analysis on Monday, watch the movie on Wednesday, and watch the rest of movie and answer the questions over the weekend and on Monday will have a discussion in the class.

3) Discussion of “Memoir of Geisha”

Homework is

1) Blog entry #11—What makes YOU American?

Think you have lived in a different country for a long time. Someone asks you “Where are you from?” Your answer is “I’m from the United State.” Do you consider yourself an American? Or something else? What value do you put on being American? Why do you think so?

MY answer of what makes me Japanese is

I have lived here in the United State for more than 10 years. I don’t have US citizenship but even if I did, I don’t think I would consider myself an American. I’m Japanese because even though I am used to the American customs, I admire my Japanese culture sensibility and I act according to Japanese standards. For example, for me, Gambari is really important. I always Gambaru because I admire /recognize Gambaru is the most important part of my life. You don’t have to Gambaru in the US because no one care how much you gambaru or not. No one has a definite definition of gambaru (neither Japan nor US). I don’t know how meaningful for American society it is either. (I’m not talking about work ethic because everyone works hard here in the US as well.) It is not necessary to follow Japanese concept, specifically Gambari, in the US but I work hard every single day to achieve the gambaru. Like Jiro, keeping working on Gambari is Gambaru. Since Gambari is a really significant part of Japanese culture, I feel like I’m really Japanese. Yes, I was born in Japan and I cultivated how to adapt to the culture. For me, it is just a start to making me Japanese.

Side notes(just my reflection)

As for an inferiority complex, I realized that I don’t have the inferiority complex any more. My inferiority complex was my face and book smarts. I am able to do stuff like cooking, drawing pictures, sports, etc above average, I mean REALLY good! However, my face and book smarts are below average. When thinking about why I think that, it is because there is an unseen standard reinforced by Japanese society. America doesn’t have one. I should say, it is varied. It makes sense to me that most of my students say they don’t have one.

jakerabbit25

blog 11

I think that whether or not I consider myself American would depend on how long I’ve lived in my new country. If I recently settled there, I would still say I was American. If I was in another country for many years or decades, then I would not say I’m American. I think that what makes a person American is the customs practiced in the United States and also feeling a sense of pride or love for it. For someone to identify as American or another nationality, it has to be something they feel. On a personal note, I am not very patriotic as an American. I think that a country is simply another place to live. When I would first move to a new country, I would still practice American customs. As I’d adjust to my new country, I would adopt the new customs and become less American. Physically speaking, I would always be considered “American,” but internally I would no longer identify as that. I think that I would identify with the country I have spent the most time in because those values would directly affect me the most. If I was in another country, caring about American values wouldn’t affect my life. This is why I would change my values to adapt to a new country.

akronjapaneseculture11

B#10-Questions fro Geisha

1. Today’s Japan is very much like the West. The Japanese wear jeans and T-shirts, listen to Hip Hop, dance at the club to the dance music, sit on the couch, etc. In modern Japan, geisha in Kyoto Gion district symbolize the old, traditional Japan. What kind of arts and lifestyle of traditional Japan does geisha, “a person of art,” maintain and practice?

2. Considering Bigaku, the Japanese sense of aware means “people are aware of the beauty of full blossoms, of course, but are more touched and deeply moved when these blooms are falling or beginning to wilt” (p.37). Can you find a moment in which you can relate to this Japanese aware in your life? Describe your example and experience. Explain the reasons why you think so. 3. Comparing with the other Japanese films we have watched in this class, in Memoirs of Geisha, do you think it lost ma or aware because they speak English? Why? Why not? Explain the reasons why you think so.

4. Considering Kisetsu, are there any events (e.g. Tanabata, Omisoka, etc) where you appreciate Kisetsu in the U.S.? Find one and explain what it is. If you were Japanese, how would you enjoy the events differently from Americans.

5. Considering Otogibanashi, in the film, can you discover “sense of emotional beauty, of a feeling of aware, which embodied in feelings such as patience and pity” (p.172). Describe the film and explain why you think so.

6. Explain Wabi-Sabi with your own words. Compare the sense of aesthetics in your country with the notion of Wabi-Sabi in Japan.

7. In the film, what scenes do you see Wabi-Sabi? Describe the scenes and explain why you think so.

8. Movie- how did Hatsumomo end up? What is the relationship between Sayuri and Chairman at the end? Do you think Sayuri is happy about the her life or not? Why do you think so?

9. Movie-Who did Okaasan adapt? What do you think Pumpkin’s life?

10. What Japanese key concepts that we have learned did you see in this film? Explain why you think so.

11. What do you think about the movie overall? Share your personal opinions.

jakerabbit25

blog 10

Geishas practice customs like face paint, fan dancing, wearing kimonos, and walking a certain way in special shoes.

I think that an example of this in America is the transition period between seasons. As one season moves to the next, people learn to appreciate the current season and embrace the new one.

I think that ma or aware was somewhat lost in this movie. I feel like this is because the wording sequence of Japanese is different than in English, so concepts like chinmoku are less prominent.

The closest thing in America that I think comes close to kisetsu is Earth Day which celebrates the planet, but even then it is not widely practiced. If this was practiced in Japan, it would be a community event where people would spend time outside observing and appreciating nature.

On example of Otogibanashi is when Sayuri performs the fan dance because the dance is supposed to represent and emphasize her beauty.

Wabi Sabi to me is an emphasis on simplicity and realism while acknowledging differences and imperfections. This is different in America. In my country, beauty is more objective, and there are specific standards as to what is considered beauty for things such as art. American designs are made to be extravagant and over-the-top, while Japanese designs are made to show practicality and simplicity while maintaining its imperfections. Japan sees imperfectness as beauty and America sees perfection as beauty.

Wabi sabi is shown through the geisha’s wardrobe and makeup because they represented Japanese beauty.

Hatsumomo eloped with Koichi and ruined her chances of becoming a geisha. Sayuri and the Chairman reunited and he is able to tell her his true feelings. I think that Sayuri is happy because she had a crush on him the whole movie and she is finally reunited with him at the end of the movie.

She adopted Sayuri. Pumpkin led a very humble life but may have felt betrayed that she was not selected.

The ie system is very prominent in this movie, and this is shown through the geisha selection with Sayuri. Another concept is uchi to soto. When Sayuri was taken into the mother’s home, she was a soto group as opposed to Hatsumomo.

It was not a bad movie, and I enjoyed viewing the representation of Japanese customs. However, Eternal Zero is still my favorite movie so far because it was more modern.

akronjapaneseculture11

2/27 B#9

Contents

1) Announcement

WebEx conference with Sophia University in Japan

4/13 9:00pm-10:00pm

4/27 9:00pm-10:00pm

2) Discussion of The Eternal Zero

Discussion leaders are Georgi, Mitchell, Jake

Homework is

1) Read the following:

①Bigaku②Kisetsu③Otogibanashi④Wabi Sabi

2) Blog entry #9— 2 direct citations each (2X4) and your impressions

jakerabbit25

Bigaku (p.35)- I am surprised at how quickly Japanese society has adapted to Western culture and ideas. The book states that this is due to “the opening of Japan in the nineteenth century after many years of seclusion and especially after World War II” (p.35). It also seems a bit unfortunate that the bigaku of Japan is shrinking in order to accommodate globalization. Bigaku has become increasingly more rare in Japanese society, and this has been shown through the Westernization of music, art, and fashion. Something that I found interesting is that Japanese music, or hogaku, is now only reserved “on certain occasions, such as the New Year ceremony, omiai, or when having dinner at a ryotei or kappo” (p.36). This, in my opinion, shows that modern Japanese people would rather conform to Western beliefs than acknowledge their own culture, which to an extent is unfortunate.

Kisetsu (p.153)- The first thing I thought was intriguing was that Japan can be considered to have six seasons, which includes a typhoon season and a rainy season. I also think that the Japanese do well at adaptation. One example of this is through the architectural design of their houses, where “floors are raised to keep houses away from the damp ground, and dwellings are made airy and open” (p.154). What I also found interesting was that there are specific holidays and events held for each particular season. The tradition that I liked the best was hanami. This is because I really enjoy nature and I feel like the cherry blossom trees would be something that I would appreciate. However, I am a bit disappointed because hanami “lasts hardly a week, however, as the life of the cherry blossom is short, a fact that many Japanese poets throughout history have had cause to lament” (p.155).

Otogibanashi (p.171)- Something that I immediately noticed was that the four seasons “is a common feature of many folktales in Japan in which the seasons, uguisu, ume blossoms, and golden ears of rice plants are described in detail” (p.172). This relates to the concept of kisetsu which was just described above. Another thing I found interesting was that the story “Sumiyaki-choja” exemplifies the concept of Japan’s idea of a perfect being, which “is illustrated in these folktales, and this is generally a person who has a very strong will” (p.174). I feel like this idea of perfection is strongly related to the concept of gambare, in which people never give up and are constantly striving for abstract perfection.

Wabi Sabi (p.223)- The first thing that came to my mind when I read this section was the difference between Japan and America. In Japan, things are designed based on “empty space, lack of ornamentation, and quiet, subdued colors” (p.223). As a result, Japan finds these simple designs elegant and artistic. In America, however, emphasis is placed on extravagant, over-the-top designs, which is what the average American finds attractive and elegant. Something else that I found intriguing was the diminishment of wabi sabi as Japan continues to modernize. One reason the book provides for this is that Japanese culture has become more materialistic. It states that “many Japanese today esteem only the surface value of things and cannot recognize the unseen behind the outer world” (p.229). This materialism is a Western concept and has become more prominent in Japan as they continue to Westernize their culture.

akronjapaneseculture11

B#8-Questions to Zero

1. Considering The Do Spirits of Japan, Zen Buddhism is “ So thoroughly integrated into the Japanese psyche…” (p.73). What kinds of aspects did you see in the film? Explain the reason why you think so. 2. Movie—Considering Hedataru to Najimu, what was the relationship between Kentaro, Keko and Kageura the first time they met? Why do you think Kageura act like that? 3.Movie— Considering Bushido, what is the perspective of old people (Hasegawa,etc) toward Miyabe? What word did they use to describe Miyabe and why did they use the word. 4. Movie—Considering Hedataru to Najimu and Shudan Ishiki, the sense of “uchi to soto” is more reinforced. What was Miyabe’s situation in the Kamikaze (around 1914). Think about the relationship between Miyabe and Izaki and answer the question and explain why you think so. 5. Movie—Miyabe said to Izaki, “I don’t want to die” and Izaki felt an “intense loathing”. Why is that? Use the Japanese key concepts and explain why you think so. 6. Considering Shudan Ishiki, what is the negative effect of groupism in this film? Explain it comparing with Kamikaze and suicide bombers. 7. What is the connection between this film and “The Last Ronin”? Do you see “bushido” in this film? How do you think it affected this war? Explain the reasons. 8. Considering Haragei, Haragei related to Amae, Aimai, and Honne to Tatemae, etc “~concepts are important in maintaining face and not hurting the feelings of others” (p.104). Did you see Haragei in this situation, the war? Did you see Haragei more because the situation is the war? Find the scenes and explain why you think so. 9. Movie- To whom did Miyabe switch the plane and why did he do it? 10. Who do you think the person who saved Matsuno with bloody sword was? 11. Considering the prior concepts we learned in our classes, which one did you see in this film? Explain why you think so. 12. What do you learn from this film? Tell us the most striking fact from the film.

jakerabbit25

Blog 8

1. One aspect of the Do spirit is the concept of kamikaze pilots. Even though some did not want to do this action, they performed it anyways because it was the way they fought in battle.

2. Hedataru is shown between the characters when they first meet. This is because Kageura thinks that Miyabe’s grandchildren are either naive or do not care much about his legacy, and he also thought that they believed what everyone had said about their grandfather being a coward. Towards the end of the film, najimu develops because Kageura finally sees that they are genuinely invested in Miyabe’s legacy and do not truly think that he is a coward.

3. The word they used to describe Miyabe was “coward.” This is because whenever they saw him, he would not participate in battle and would instead run away in the sky. In their minds, his actions contradict bushido and Japanese thinking. Since they felt that because of bushido he had to fight, they saw his actions as unconventional and condemned him for it.

4. I feel like the relationship between Miyabe and Ishiki was more of an apprenticeship. Since Ishiki looked up to Miyabe, this is an example of their uchi group. In the kamikaze, Miyabe to most people was in the soto category and was looked down upon. I think that this is because everyone saw him as a coward, so they did not treat him nicely.

5. Izaki felt that Miyabe was being selfish that he didn’t want to die. A kamikazes had a duty to die for their cause, which is an example of bushido. Since Miyabe thought differently, Izaki reacted through anger.

6. The ability to not think for oneself is a negative effect in the movie. Groupism only justifies the use of kamikazes, which causes people to sacrifice themselves even if they don’t want to. The difference between suicide bombers and kamikazes is that suicide bombers are individuals who act alone while kamikazes are a group with the same goal, which portrays the concept of Shudan Ishiki.

7. Magoza and Miyabe are both related. Both characters chose not to participate in battle, which violated the concept of bushido. As a result, both of them were not treated nicely by those around them.

8. Haragei was used greatly in the movie. One example is when Japanese soldiers like Kenichiro found out that they were selected to be kamikazes, most tried to brush it off by saying things like “it’s okay” or “it’s fine.” Miyabe did not use haragei as much as the others because he was more vocal about his beliefs and insistence of not wanting to die.

9. Miyabe switched his plane with Kenichiro. This was because he felt like he found someone who would actually take care of his wife and daughter, so he did not feel the need to put off his death any longer.

10. I originally thought it was Miyabe, but the end of the movie shows him crashing into an enemy carrier. It is unclear to me who saved his wife, but it was most likely someone who was friendly with Miyabe.

11. A prior concept shown in the movie is amae. This is shown when Kenichiro cares for Miyabe’s wife and daughter out of a sense of duty.

12. The thing I found most interesting was how Miyabe was able to have such a prominent effect on those around him. I think that the most striking fact was that he intentionally switched planes with Kenichiro because it shows that he really values life.

akronjapaneseculture11

2/15 B#7

Contents

1) watched the rest of movie, The Last Ronin

2) Discussion

Homework is

1) Read the following

①　Hedataru to Najimu ②Shudanishiki ③The Do spirit of Japan

2) Blog entry #7-term analysis (2 direct citations X 3 terms)

jakerabbit25

Blog 7

Hedataru to Najimu (p.109)- I was intrigued that there was an actual step-by-step process Japan has when it comes to becoming acquainted with someone. I think that this concept is another sign that Japanese society is much more rigid and organized than some other cultures. When the book says “underlying these movements are the Japanese values of restraint and self-control,” I think it shows that they all have a specific way of doing things (p.109). The one similarity I found between America and Japan is that both countries have noticeably large personal spaces. However, America does not exactly have a specific ruleset regarding personal space or meeting new acquaintances. I was also surprised that the book mentioned the concept of uchi and soto and related it to personal space, which stated that “Uchi is a space that indicates one’s own world; soto has nothing to do with oneself” (p.111). Because of these things, the norms surrounding the act of meeting new people feels a bit overwhelming in my opinion.

Shudan Ishiki (p.195)- In this reading, I was able to spot a very obvious contrast between Japan and America. In Japan, group consciousness and cooperation are very important, which “produces a feeling of solidarity” (p.195). In America, society is a lot more individualized, and people tend to act selfishly and think for themselves or say what’s on their mind. Both attitudes have pros and cons. In Japan, group solidarity decreases the chance of “hurting the feelings of others, disrupting the group ambience, or destroying harmonious relations” (p.195). However, people’s thoughts are less individualized, which I think could lead to a lack of diversity or creativity. In America’s more diverse society, people’s individuality helps spark creativity and innovation to a greater extent, but it may lead to a lack of group cooperation.

The Do Spirit of Japan (p.71)- One thing I found interesting was the deterioration of the spirit of do, with the book stating that “the spiritual and aesthetic values of Japanese culture...are rapidly being lost” (p.78). This implies that Japan is becoming increasingly globalized and exposed to multiculturalism. Another thing that stood out to me was the idea do has of striving for perfection “in basic patterns as a means of acquiring spiritual satisfaction in their lives” (p.77). I think that this relates to the concept of gamabari in that the Japanese are always trying their hardest to be the best. In my opinion, Japan places too much of an emphasis on working hard and perfecting everything, which leads to the country’s common concept of death by overworking.

akronjapaneseculture11

B#6-Questions to Ronin

1. Considering Bushido, how did Magoza’s acting demonstrate Bushido? Choose two of his actions and explain the reasons.

2. “Giri does not have an equivalent concept~” (p.95). What is the difference between Giri and the English word “obligation” Compare and explain the differences of each word.

3. Considering Bushido and Giri, what are the differences between Giri and Burshido? Using scenes from the movie, explain both concepts.

4. Considering the Japanese Ie system, what scenes of the movie represent this concept? Choose two scenes and explain the reasons.

5. Considering the Japanese Ie system, what kinds of conflicts/contradictions does this concept bring into the relationship between Magoza and Kane?

6. Considering the Japanese Ie system, “51 percent of people think that men are treated better than women in the family, while 40 percent think that men and women are treated equally”(p.124). What do you think about it comparing with American culture. Use your experiences and explain the reasons why you think so.

7. Among 3 concepts we learned in this session, what term does it fit to explain the following scene from the movie?

When Kichi heard that Magoza escaped from the important battle, Kichi was very confused and puzzled. Why was Kichi confused? Explain it using one of the concept and why you think so.

8. What do you think of Magoza’s acting at the end? Using citation from the textbook and guess the ending.

9. Considering the prior concepts we learned in our class, which concepts do they use effectively in the film? Why do you think so?

10. Reflective inquiry— Share whatever you want to tell considering your personal perspective.

jakerabbit25

Blog 6 Ronin Questions

1. One example of Bushido is Magoza following his lord’s orders to care for his wife and child because this shows his loyalty to his lord. Another example is when the Ako samurais avenged their leader’s death then committed seppuku because it is a good portrayal of the honor and ethics associated with Bushido.

2. In America, an obligation is usually simply something that one does out of empathy or politeness, and there is not as much of a consequence for not doing so. In Japan, giri is a lot more intense. Giri makes one feel as though it is their duty and that there are severe repercussions for not doing so. Giri is held as a virtue in Japan whereas American obligation is only seen as an act of kindness.

3. The difference between giri and bushido is their purpose. Bushido has more to do with things like honor, integrity, ethics, and loyalty to their lord. This is shown through the samurai's use of seppuku and Magoza giving up his title after he ran away from battle. Giri, however, is based less on honor and more on implicit duty. This is shown when Kichiemon looked for all of the families of samurais who died in battle to give them money. Both concept deal with obligation, but giri is much more serious.

4. One scene that’s an example of the Japanese ie system is when Oishi tries to arrange a marriage with Kane. This shows the structure of the ie system, low positions of women, and the practice of arranged marriages. Another scene representing the ie system is that before the ronin uprising, Magoza ran away at the order of his lord and had to revoke his samurai status. This is because in the ie class system, the book says that a samurai has to maintain dignity and honor. Since he ran away, Magoza was no longer considered honorable and did not consider himself a samurai anymore.

5. One source of conflict is that Kane did not wish to enter a marriage despite the movie saying that she was at an age where girls usually get married. Another point of conflict is that Oishi tried to arrange a marriage with Kane despite the romantic feelings between her and Magoza, which complicates their relationship.

6. I think that in Japan, male dominance and misogyny is more prevalent than in America, but it is more normalized and accepted. In America, male superiority is still very present, but it’s not as much of a norm unlike in Japan. I say this because I think that there are a lot more movements in America that are fighting for female equality and women’s rights.

7. I think that this scene best represents the concept of Bushido due to Kichi’s confusion. In normal circumstances under Bushido, Magoza would have not fled the battle and stayed out of honor and loyalty to his lord. Since he did not do this, it caught Kichi by surprise.

8. One concept that was shown in the movie was aimai. An example of this is when Kane provides vague answers to Oichi about the man she likes, which is Magoza. Another concept is Honne to Tatemae. This is shown when Magoza finds out that Kane likes him but continues to brush it off as if he doesn’t have those feelings as well.

9. I think that Magoza will act humbly and honorably like he did throughout the movie. I think the quote that best describes Magoza’s behavior is “absolute loyalty to one’s lord” (p.41) since his primary purpose was to fulfill his master’s orders. I think that the relationship between Kane and Magoza will cause one of them to die at the end of the movie, which could be a parallel to the plot of the play displayed in the movie.

10. I know that in current society, being married off at age 16 is extremely unusual and most likely illegal in America. I can also see the perspective of the samurai in that they thought Magoza betrayed them by running away, when in reality he was just following his lord’s orders.

akronjapaneseculture11

2/7

Contents

1) Discussion for “Blue”

Homework is

1) Read the following

①Bushido ②Giri ③ Japanese Ie system

2) Blog entry #5-Term analysis (2 direct citations and your impressions)

On Wednesday, we will have a term analysis as small groups

jakerabbit25

Blog 5

Bushido (p.41)- The thing that I found very interesting was that the samurai previously dominated Japan’s political system, with the book stating that “Samurai education was developed, in order to provide the ethos and the skills appropriate to an official career” (p.44). This reminds me of the modern concept of martial law, which is when a country’s military power controls the government. In my opinion, I don’t think that the samurai should have been ruling during their time period because I don’t feel that a military power should control the government. Another concept that I found intriguing was seppuku. Before reading this section, I was slightly familiar with the term in that I knew it was a form of suicide, but I was not sure about its details. I was surprised when I read that it is performed specifically by self-disembowelment, and that the abdomen was “the place where the soul and affections dwelled” (p.46). I think that this concept has a lot to do with Japan’s sense of honor and integrity, and although I don’t completely understand its rationality, it’s something that I respect about the culture.

Giri (p.95)- I think that Giri shows a sense of community in Japan. The comparison between Japan and America was very interesting in that “the cost of ochugen and oseibo gifts is almost equivalent to the cost of justice in the USA” and that the “cost of keeping harmony in human relations and that of mediating legal disputes is almost the same” (p.99). This implies that these holidays serve as a deterrent for crime in Japan, which is an interesting perspective. For the most part, I do not see a lot of Giri in America, but it does happen on certain holidays where we are obligated to give gifts to others. It seems as though it is a heavy social norm in Japan to follow, and the book even states that it “must be done against one’s will” (p.95). This confirms my view that Japan is very rule-defined and has many norms that have to be obeyed.

The Japanese ie system (p.119)- I was surprised that there are multiple definitions to the word “ie”, but I have had prior knowledge that one of the meanings was for a residence. The patriarchy portrayed in the ie system seems like a very power-driven hierarchy. I think that this system is more strict than the household systems in America. In addition, the ie system has been shown to be misogynistic, with the book stating that “Even if they married well, women were in a weak position because they could be sent away for any reason” (p.121). I was also interested by Japan’s perspective on adoption. The book says that it’s used “as an alternative way to obtain a successor, and thus a family could limit the number of children without endangering the line” (p.121). This view of adoption greatly contrasts to the view in America where adoption is more of a personal and emotional choice as opposed to using it to secure a family heir.

akronjapaneseculture11

B#4-Questions to Blue

“Although the Japanese may not be conscious of aimai, its use is regarded as a virtue in Japan…” (p.9). In the film, find the scene that you think that aimai is regarded as a virtue and explain why you think so.

Considering Aimai, you can see a lot in the relationship between Kirishima and Endo. Describe the scenes and explain why they use Aimai in the specific scene.

What are the differences of schooling between Japan and US? Think about one Japanese key concept and explain it with the concept.

Considering Uchi to Soto, find the scene that you think that Uchi to Soto regarding the relationship between Kirishima and Nakano (Endo’s old friend)?

When Endo asked Kirishima whether she listened to the CD, Kirishima answered that it was difficult because it was English. However, she hadn’t listened yet and one second later, she told her the truth. What kind of Japanese concepts you have learned before did Kirishima used in the situation. Explain it with Japanese concepts and why YOU think so.

Considering Chinmoku, what affect do you think Chinmoku in the whole movie gave to the audiences?

MOVIE—What kind of college did Kirishima go and where?

MOVIE—What did Kirishima and Endo end up?

What did you think about the ending of the movie? What kind of Japanese key concepts do they use and why?

Reflective inquiry—-How does your brain work in regard to watch this movie? What is the most difficult concept for you that was shown in film very well but you don’t understand? Why is that?

jakerabbit25

Blog 4

Aimai is greatly shown through Kirishima’s interaction with Mizuuchi. She doesn’t seem to answer any of his questions, using indirect silence to communicate with him.

The scene where Endo asks Kirishima about listening to her CD’s shows aimai. Kirishima gives an indirect answer, signifying the ambiguity of the situation.

I think that Uchi to Soto is more prevalent in Japanese schools. This is shown through Kirishima’s friend group and their treatment towards each other. I think that a greater emphasis on groups are placed in schools in Japan as opposed to American schools.

I think the scene when Nakano finds out that Kirishima stayed the night with Mizuuchi represents Uchi to Soto. Since Nakano was hurt by Kirishima’s actions, she excluded her from herself. In addition, Uchi to Soto is shown when Kirishima starts spending more time with Endo, which leaves a negative impression on her old friend group.

This scene is an example of aimai. This is because Kirishima said she listened to the CD’s which was an indirect answer out of courtesy. However, she then told the truth to Endo, which I feel shows that Kirishima cares about Endo enough to not use aimai and be more straightforward with her.

With the movie’s heavy use of chinmoku, I think that there was a subtle feeling of suspense. There was also a lot of indirect communication shown through the silence, which seemed more relaxing as opposed to other movies that are filled with dialogue.

Kirishima went to an art school in Tokyo.

Kirishima ended up in Tokyo and Endo left with her old boyfriend somewhere near the beach.

The ending of the movie gave me a lot of confusion. I think that they used chinmoku because they wanted to use silence as a form of suspense.

My brain reacted differently when I watched this movie. The concept I had the hardest time adjusting to was chinmoku. In western culture, movies are usually filled with dialogue, and the pauses between speakers remain small. Japanese movies use this silence much more heavily, which made it harder for me to adjust to the movie.

akronjapaneseculture11

1/25

Contents

1) Discussion of “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”

2) Case study

Homework is

1) Read the following

①Aimai ②Uchi to Soto ③Chinmoku

2) Blog #3—Term analysis

2 citations (2X3concepts=6) each concept and your impression.

Pick quotes that makes you feel puzzled, confused, angry, interesting and analyze why you have that emotions.

jakerabbit25

Blog 3

Aimai (p.9)- I already had an impression of politeness being an important part of Japanese culture. However, I found it interesting how they use ambiguity to answer others almost all the time. From an outside perspective, foreigners may see them as shy or lacking confidence, and this can become a problem internationally. The book uses the example of silence by stating “Whereas the Japanese consider silence as rather good and people generally feel sympathetic toward it, non-Japanese sometimes feel that it is an indication of indifference or apathy” (p.13). I was also interested by the two examples of aimai expressions, maa-maa and ichio. The book says that maa-maa “is generally translated into English as ‘not so bad,’ but the expression is ambiguous and actually has a very subtle range of meanings incorporated within a vague answer, which is regarded as good manners in Japan” (p.12). I feel like the use of this word is also used in America. When strangers in America ask how the other is doing, they often respond with something like “good” or “okay”. In both America and Japan, people often provide ambiguous answers in public in order to stay polite and civil.

Uchi to Soto (p.217)- Reading this section made me realize that there is much more discrimination in Japan than I originally thought. I think that it also relates to race relations in the United States. The book states that “Even today, if a person’s language, skin color, habits, or appearance are different, many Japanese will regard them as soto, or outsiders, and will ignore them in order to live more easily in harmony among members of their own uchi groups” (p.219). In America, racism and prejudice is still very prevalent, and there are still many instances where people are denied employment based on gender, skin color, etc. Another thing I noticed about Japan is that there are way too many rules and norms to follow in my opinion. One example is that their family model is “male-dominated- the head of the family was always a senior male, and he had absolute power over other family members, who had to obey him” (p.218). I feel annoyed that this type of family structure has a slightly misogynistic undertone, implying that there is something wrong if there happens to be a female head-of-household.

Chinmoku (p.51)- I enjoyed reading about Japan’s history of silent communication, especially about Zen Buddhism. According to the book, “Zen training is designed to teach that truth cannot be described verbally, but can exist only in silence” (p.52). I think that this is a beautiful and artistic way of looking at the concept of silence. Like the Japanese, I often enjoy silence, but I try not to assign negative connotation to it. On the other hand, silence can also cause problems, such as the book’s example of seeing someone being molested on a train. This made me realize that the concept of conformity is extremely prevalent in Japan. Silence in Japan means “defiance and indifference in Japanese life” (p.55). The citizens of Japan almost always choose to remain silent in order to prevent being disapproved of, even if they were in a situation like the one described above.

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