Reaction to Japan and Changing Impressions via Visual Anthropology

My nationality is Japan. I was born in Japan and raised in Japan; however, I realized that I am not "Real Japanese". Before I take Visual Anthropology class, I thought that I know about my own country well because I am native anthropologist. But what I was looking at was only one side of Japan. Since I have been living in Japan for 19 years, I was only looking at bad side of Japan. When it comes to think about Japan, what always came up to mind was about political issues. Japanese government kept changing Japanese prime minister every year and I was always shamed about it. As other example, Japanese people use Honne and Tatemae when we talk, and I didn't like the way. I always wondered why all international students are in Japan? Why did they choose Japan to study? What is good things about Japan? I always wanted to leave Japan as soon as possible.

Vietnam

This is a pic from when I went to Vietnam with my friend.

However, that attitudes changed through Visual Anthropology class. Through the class, I learned how to observe my country from other perspective. Moreover, I realized that I knew nothing about Japan by interacting with international students in KGU. They knew about Japan more that I do and that surprised me. After theclass started, I learned that there are also good things in Japan. Through the discussion in Japan and other people's blog, I realized Japan is much safer than other countries. I wouldn't be worried at all even if I leave my purse and my bag. It might be small thing, but I am satisfied that I could find good thing annout Japan. Also, I felt that we need Honne and Tatemae when we talk. I felt that people from other countries talk too directly. I realized that the way Japanese talk is much better than talking too directly. Even though there are many things that Japanese should improve. Japanese people are influenced by K-POP too much. So am I. I am Super Junuor fan.
Huge fan. After all, I appriciate that I could find good side about Japan. Now I know much better about Japan than before.

Super Junior's concert at Tokyo Dome

I could not take a pic of all the goods I have

When I created a blog as an assignment, I named "Japanize Me", hoping that I can get to know better about my own country. and that successed.

Japanese Culture:Japanese Modern Bath

When it comes to think about Japanese culture, I came up with idea of bath since Japan is one of the countries where people use bathtub when they have a bathtime. In old days, people used to have a bath called "Goemonburo"(五右衛門風呂). It is made by steel and people boil the water with fire directly so they had a bath with thin wood board under them in oreder to avoid burning themselves. Now this old traditional culture is gone. because of western culture, the style is changed but, bathtub culture is still alive in Japan.

This is the picture of the bath at my house. Usually in the bath, if it is apartment, there is a huge mirror and the small shelf where the washbowl, shampoo and body soap are put. Beside the shelf, there is the bathtub with some bath salt in it. This is why the color inside of the bathtub is green. There is also little chair we use when we wash hair. Shower is attached to the pole and it is vertically movable so that people can change the height of showerhead. Since Japan is the bathtub culture, we usually use bath salt when we take a bath. You can find a bath salt everywhere that so many kinds of bath salts are in LOFT or drug store.

Bathsalt

Usually, in order to separate changing room and where we take a bath, the door is shut completely in order to avoid overflwing water. Morover, unlike western counries, the floor is lower than bath floor in Japan. Unlike other countries, beside the bathtub, there is a covered drain to avoid overflowing water.

What Japanese People Do??

                When it comes to describe Japanese, they are usually described as shy or hardworking.
Also, Japanese prefer to work as group rather that individual work compared to other countries. Why is the group work is prefered in Japan then? This is because Japanese maku much of "Wa"(和) which is the Japanese traditional style of how to communicate with others. Not only when we work, but also when we go to school or go home, even when we go to bathroom, we prefer to stay as a group. This habit, going to bathroom with friends or as a group, is seen mostly among girls. This habit gradually starts around 5th grade in an elementary school. They keep doing the habit after they enter junior high school and high school. The habit seems end as they enter the university; however, some girls still like to doing it. It is likely that girls who went to a girls' school stick to their friends comapred other girls. Actually, I went to a girls' school for 12 years and so it is hard for me to go to the bathroom alone. Moreover, I think the girls, who still cannot go to the bathroom alone, is mostly from a girls' high school. There is a term for going to the bathroom with friends and that is called "Tsureshon"(連れしょん). We hardly use this term but still it is common word, especially, for boys. Now, what is the topic talked about inside the bathroom? They usually talk about boys, cosmetics, classes, homeworks, boys, girls they don't like, teachers, and boys. Nothing is different from the conversation in the classrooms except they talk more about boys.

Bathroom with friensds

Japanese are also described as hardworking. The picture is my friend studying for her mid-term exam at the computer lab in CIE. Japan is known as one of hardworking countries. It is illegal for companies to force peole to work more than 8 hours a day (from 9am to 5pm) and 40 hours per week without paying extra money for overtime work; however, it is common in Japan to work from 9am till late at night without extra money for overtime work.

mess on the desk

Portrait of Japanese

Today's theme is "Portrait of Japanese". The person I chose is Sakura Kuwata who is one of my friends. As you may notice, she has unique name which was named after Sakura (桜) which means "cherry blossoms" in Japanese. Isn't it cute? Sakura lives in Suita city which is about half and an hour from Hirakata city. Sakura and I attended same high school; however since we were in different courses, we've never talked before. After I found that she is going to attend the same university as I am going to, I asked my friends to introduce her. My first impression about her was "wow, she's skinny and taller than me." Since most of my friends were shorter than me, it was actually surprising to see someone taller than me in the school. Sakura is skinny and even though she is skinny, she eats a lot. Whenever I say this to her, she denies that she is skinny, so I am sure she has secret about how to keep her body skinny but she wouldn't tell.

Among her many characteristics, what I like about her is her hair. Among many young Japanese dying their hair (I am one of them too), she have never dyed her hair before. I think this is rare and her black hair emphasizes that she is Japanese. One of the reasons her hair is black, is because she usually works at the hotel as a waitress for a part-time job on the weekends so she is not allowed to do that. Because of her part-time job, she is interested in hotel business; therefore, she is going to major in Hospitality in the States for next 2 years.

To describe her in one word, "Sleepy" would match. She loves sleeping and wherever she is, she is always sleeping, most of the time, during the classes. I can't believe but whenever I look at her, she is sleeping.

Wandering Around Neighborhood Kouzu

His name is Goemon.

A park

Shrine

Little cat eating Chikuwa:D

Wandering around, I found that I know almost nothing around my house. Where I live is 10 minutes from Nihonbashi station which is famous for Otaku street. My place is very near down town and convinient since there are many access of transportation. My neighborhood Kouzu, is kind of small community. There is a park where I used to play when I was a little. Since it was afternoon and cold day, there were no children playing but only old lady and old guy sitting on the bench and chatting. Just right the park, there is a shrine which is popular for wedding. I've seen many people having wedding there. People who lives around also come and pray on the first day of New Year. As I was wandering around, there was a lady who was with her cute dog. I asked her if she lives around here and I went go for a walk with the lady. Someone I never talked before. She was very nice, she told me about many things that I did not know before. She told me that her dog's name is Goemon who is 5 years old. She told me that there is a small community among her and her dog. Unfortunately, there weren't any her friends. As she walked, she suddenly stopped. There were two cats and surprisingly, she fed some Chikuwa to them. She told me that there should be one more cat and that cat loves Goemon. As they ate chikuwa, they left.

As I live in Nihonbashi, it is really close to Namba that only 10 minutes by walking, I can get to Doutonbori. On the way to Namba, there is National Bunrak Theater. These are also my neighborhood.

Cultures in Japan

Furisode at photo studio "first stage"

On 2nd Monday of January, which is called Coming of Age Day 成人の日(seijin no hi), all girls, who turned 20, wake up early in the morning and get ready to celebrate their coming of age. Since the ceremony starts around 9am, girls have to wake up 4am or 5am in the morning and go to the beauty salon to set their hair, make up and get changed to 振袖 (furisode). Luckily, I did not wear furisode on that day so I did not have to wake up early. It takes more time for girls to get changed than boys because most boys wear a suit. On other day, usually before or after the coming age of day, they get changed to furisode again and take photos at photo studio. Sometimes photo rent furisode, set hair and make up for girls. Furisode is one of kimono that usually people who are unmarried wear on the coming age of day or wedding party. Interesting thing is that it has long sleeves and longest sleeves are about 114cm long. There are three types of furisode which are 大振袖(o-furisode), 中振袖(tyu-furisode) and 小振袖(sho-furisode) as the length of sleeves change. Usually flowers, butterfly, birds, and stream are drawn as patterns. The reason why only girls who are unmarried are allowed to wear furisode is because during Edo period (about 400 years ago), unmarried girls emulated girl dancers who were showing their cuteness by swinging (which means furi) sleeves (which means sode). It is also said that by swinging sleeves, they tried to exorcizedrive out an evil sprit.

Taking photos after coming of age day

Among many celebration, there is a celebration for only girls that is called 雛祭り(hinamatsuri) or 桃の節句(momo no sekku) on 3rd March. When a baby is born and if the baby was a girl, grandparents from mother side present dolls which are called 雛人形 (hinaningyou) to the baby, hoping her good health. This is coming from a custom, throwing a paper which looks like people into river hoping for health. The custom became popular among emperors during Muromachi period and graduatelly it changed to praying to dolls. On the top, there is an emperor and empress. On the second from the top, there are three servants for emperors and on the third from the top, there are five musicians who play music for festival. On the forth from the top, there are two ministers. On the third from bottom, there are three servants.

At one of famous doll shop for girls festival "Masumura"

200,000~600,000 for each set