I know you've answered questions about cultural appropriation before, but I'd love know read more of your thoughts on the subject. When I lived in Japan, other Americans would criticize each other for cultural appropriation (like if an American wore a kimono to a festival). On the other hand the Japanese people I interacted with seemed to enjoy teaching me how to properly wear a kimono, what do do when visiting a shrine, dance in the Nebuta parade, etc. What are your thoughts?
Cultural appropriation is a very tricky topic that I still have a lot of trouble navigating — particularly because I think that my perspective as an Asian-American vs the perspective I have as a Japanese person can be at odds with each other — but I am pretty confident in saying that I would not consider that cultural appropriation whatsoever.
I think that would fall under the umbrella of cultural appreciation instead! I also suspect that many Japanese people would agree with me.
For me, I always define cultural appropriation of using a piece of another culture and claiming ownership of it without respecting it. It's not a perfect definition, but it's always what I personally come back to when I consider whether something is appropriation or not.
I think the key thing to consider here is that Japanese people are offering you to share these experiences with them. You as a non-Japanese person, are not barging into a sacred space to say "I want to experience this so you must cater to me". Instead, Japanese people are inviting you to participate because generally, we love sharing our culture! We want you to learn and get something from it.
Here's the other thing: any money you spend is directly contributing to Japan and Japanese culture. Any money you spend renting or buying a kimono will go directly to a Japanese kimono business — something that is increasingly dying out. It'd be different if you bought a fake kimono that an American person appropriated, because then you'd be contributing directly to cultural appropriation and that's not okay.
As long as you are being respectful of Japanese customs and you are going in with a learning perspective rather than a knowing one imposing your own cultural beliefs and values onto it, I think that all of those activities are perfectly fine.
The thing about cultural appropriation is that it's defined by the people who's culture is being borrowed. One thing that I think is really important for allies to do is lift the voices of the people from that culture rather than talk over them. Generally speaking, if a Japanese person is fine with you doing it, but an American person says that it's appropriation, chances are you should listen to the Japanese person.
I love it when people from other cultures respectfully partake in Japanese culture — and I know that many Japanese people agree with me! While it's important to always question yourself and consider whether you are being harmful or appropriative or not, I at the very least, do not consider participation in Japanese activities that are offered by Japanese people to foreigners. In fact, I wholeheartedly encourage it!
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