Hedaturu to Najima; Shudan Ishiki; The Do spirit of Japan

Hedataru to Najimu

                “Each person has his or her own privacy even though they are in the same room.” (111)For me this would be awkward and I could never have privacy amongst other people. However, this is probably common in areas of America that have high population density, such as New York. Also probably how dorm life is, but I would not know from experience.

                “Keep about ninety centimeters from one’s master in order not to step on his shadow.” (110) I found the shadow game among children interesting. This game is played in America, but it doesn’t have the same connotation because America does not have this ninety centimeter rule. I admire the amount of respect that the ninety centimeter rule shows.

Shudan Ishiki

                “Out of the mouth comes evil; silence is golden” (195) When my brother was in fourth grade he had a home room teacher named Ms.Brown who would make his class write “silence is golden” whenever they were too loud: they had to fill up and entire sheet of note book paper. In general, America is a more boisterous culture and I am curious to know if teachers in Japan have the same problems with rowdy kids that teachers in America have.

                “It would have been impossible to reorganize society and reconstruct the economy quite so quickly if it had not been for the strong group consciousness of the Japanese people” (197).  I have a lot of respect for the way Japan was able to bounce back so quickly. I suspect that if a similar situation would happen in America the states would divide and there would be civil war. I think this because American culture doesn’t have any constants. For example, American culture to someone who lives in New York is going to be completely different than someone who lives in Arizona.

The Do Spirit of Japan

                “Liberation from man’s intellectual nature, from the burden of fixed ideas and feelings about reality.” (74)This reminds me of transcendentalism, which was a major part of American history. Both focus of emptiness and closeness to nature.

                “Mushin (no-mind)” (76). This type of state of mind that influenced Japanese culture is very important to painting and drawing. It is the R-Mode, which means thinking on the right side of the brain. It is important because it is non-verbal thinking; hence, it can be described as no-mind. It is important to painting because it allows your hand and your brain work together without conscientiousness. 

The last Samuari

1.       Magoza demonstrates bushido when he refuses to tell the truth even though it put him in a situation where he could have died or could have killed his best friend. This shows sell-sacrificing loyalty to his master. Another time he demonstrates bushido is when he tells his master that he would love to die by his side. This shows the importance of an honorable death is samurai culture.

2.       The difference is that giri implies deep personal connection. The book gives the examples of master-subordinate, parent-child, and lovers. Obligations in American culture, however, can be mundane and not personal. For example, I have an obligation to go to work, but there is no personal connection between me and my employment.

3.       Bushido is based on a warrior’s code of conduct that emphasizes loyalty and honor; whereas, giri involve personal relationships and obligation to seek another person’s happiness. When Magoza agrees to raise the girl this shows bushido because he is being obedient to his master. However, when he waits till the girl consents to the marriage before arranging it, it is because of giri (Magoza felt obligated to make the girl happy).

4.       The scene where Magoza finalizes the wedding demonstrates how ie systems have reputations. It demonstrates this because Mahgoza is scared that because the girl is born of a criminal the family would not want that shame on their ie system. Another scene that shows how the ie system worked is when Magoza first brings up the idea of Kane marrying the merchant boy. Kane asks Magoza if she has a choice and the answer is no, she does not have a choice. In the ie system the male head of the ie made all the decisions.

5.       This causes a contradiction about Kane’s happiness. Kane knows that Magoza wants to make her happy and will make his decision accordingly, but she will only be happy if she can choose her own love. But Magoza believes that his decision to have her marry a merchant will make her happy, therefore, she agrees to the marriage to make Magoza happy. This conflict arose because of the power distribution in the ie system.

6.       American culture has traditionally favored men in the family but this trend is changing and women are being treated more equally. In my experience growing up men have always been treated better. When my mom was with my dad he was in control of everything, my mom wasn’t even allowed to check the mail. Then she met my now former stepdad and was treated better, but he still had the final say in all matters. Therefore, in my experience men are treated better and have more power in the family.

7.       Magoza’s wish was for Kane to marry a merchant. Kane’s wish was to be with Magoza. Therefore, by setting up this marriage Magoza was ignoring Kane’s wish.

8.       I think that in the end of this movie Magoza will commit suicide. One reason I think this is because it is foreshadowed in the movie by the numerous puppet show scenes that show people committing suicide. In the book it says that (pg46) achieving an honorable death is important for the samurai. Magoza was supposed to die an honorable death till he was assigned this task, when he completes this task I think he will commit suicide since he is supposed to already be dead.

9.       The puppet show was very much like Romeo and Juliet, which I had to read in high school. In this play the moral is that young love is the epitome of stupidity as evidenced by their dual suicide. I do not think that the dual suicide in the puppet show has the same meaning. 

Blog#4 Bushudo, giri, ie system

Bushido

                “Live admirably and honorably in order not to have regrets when they died” (45). This quote reminded me of the term “YOLO”, which means “you only live once”. This is usually used to excuse regrettable or idiotic behavior. I found it interesting that the Japanese, when faced with death, find the need to live admirable; whereas, Americans, when faced with death, live more selfishly. The two cultures definitely have a different meaning of the phrase “live without regret”

                “Because they may think that suicide is the easiest way to be released from all pain.” (49)This was relevant in the first movie we watched. I am curious to know what the different motivations for committing suicide are in Japan and America. I am also curious to know if Japan is, like America, affected by clusters of suicide. In America it has been documented that suicide, especially among teenagers, are more likely to happen in clusters over the period of a couple months. (It is thought that this occurs because kids see the attention that the dead kids receive and want that for themselves.)

Giri

                “A custom of returning something for goodwill” (96). This is very similar to karma. I was interested in the history behind giri and how it relates to Japanese seasons and farming. I am curious to know how the concept of good and bad karma became part of American society.

                “Contemporary Japanese society in custom of giving presents in the summer and at year’s end, called chugen and seibo, respectively.” Learning about when and why Japanese give gifts made me wonder if they celebrate birthdays. In America birthdays are (depending of the individual and whether or not it’s a “major” birthday) widely celebrated. This makes sense because birthdays celebrate independence and individuality, which are core concepts of American culture. However, in Japan the group is more important than individual recognition; therefore, I and curious to know how they celebrate birthdays.

Ie system

                “Japanese houses have butsudan (family altars) for this kind of worship” Unlike Japanese culture, America does not place value on ancestry. I am a painter and my current body of work involves taking old photographs of anonymous people and turning them into iconic figures. This is possible for me because my culture does not care about old family member and sell’s their photographs on eBay or at estate sales. After learning about butsudan, I suspect that Japanese people are not as easily forgotten and discarded after death.

                “Expressions such as ‘for the ie’ and ‘the shame till the last generation of the ie” (123). The English language has similar phrases, such as “shame on you” and “where you raised in a barn.” The difference, however, is that in America there is a separation between the individual and the family. In Japan, what you do reflects your entire ie. 

Blog#3: Swing Girls, Gambari, Honne and tamatae, Kenkyo

Gambari

                “To work hard and patiently.” Of the three definitions listed I liked this one the best because it most closely resembles my work ethic. I like the spirit of gambari and think that American culture could benefit from this. However, I was shocked to read about the negative side effects this attitude can have in Japanese culture.

                “Having free time is wasteful, even shameful.” American culture is the opposite of this. Especially when looking at the amount of television Americans watch.  I find it odd that so many Americans spend most of their lives watching fictional people live life. However, American society often encourages mass consumption of entertainment.

Kenkyo

                “The nail that sticks up gets hammered down.” The reason why many Americans are ambitious is so that they can get recognition. This is different from Japanese culture where humility is stressed. America also places importance on humility, but it’s a different type of humility. In Japan, humility means blending in with the group and not taking public responsibility of accomplishments; whereas, in America, humility means taking pride in your accomplishments and telling everyone about your accomplishments in a respectful manor.

                “Living in an information based society, people tend to make more of what they communicate to others that how they do so.” I once had an English professor who stressed the importance of what you say rather that how you say it. According to him, nothing meaningful could be written if the most important aspect of writing was grammar; therefore, he taught us that content was more important. I think it is good that Japanese culture is starting to place more importance on content of speech rather than rhetoric.

Honne to Tatemae

                “One’s superficial words are called tatemae, while one’s actual intentions are called hone.” I found it interesting that this is a virtue. In America people who say one thing but mean another are called “fake” or “plastic”.

                “Do not like to express themselves in a straightforward manor for fear it might hurt other’s feelings.” In America bluntness is a virtue. People often say, “Say it to my face.” People say this because American culture relies on knowing where people stand and knowing what people’s opinions are. In Japan, however, it is better to hold one’s tongue.

Swing Girls

1.       I believe the scenes in which the swing girls are told they are not good at music shows the competitive gambari spirit because the girls don’t give up. For example when their first gig is cut short because they are so bad they decide to keep playing anyway.  Then the final scene shows the result of their perseverance, equal opportunity, and competiveness. The final scene demonstrates this because the girls play better than the other bands and it is because of their gambari.

2.       I do not believe Naomi’s muscle stimulator shows gambari for two reasons. First, because it is for self-serving purposes. The book described gambari as hard work for the sake of a group or corporation so that someone in the management would recognize your hard work. Also, muscle stimulators do not work and are a substitute for doing the hard work necessary to lose weight.

3.       The character who is the most Kenkyo is the girl who was initially good at music. Even though she held the tissue up the longest and was the fastest to learn the music she did not boast and kept quiet. The math teacher was the least Kenkyo because he let people believe that he was a great jazz musician and then at the concert told people that he was the swing girl’s teacher.

4.       The tatemae of Tomoko was when she said that she was only in the band to skip class and then she willing gave up her seat. The honne was when she went outside and cried because she actually cared about the concert.  The reason she did not say that she wanted to be in that band is because she did not belong to the band and did not want them to know her true feelings or intentions.

5.       After the girls start to feel like they are actually accomplishing something by playing music their motives change from skipping class to gambari. This is especially true when the real band comes back and they no longer have to play in the concert. For them it was a realization of what being a musician could let them accomplish.

6.       If this movie was not based on gambari spirit it would have ended with them giving up. This is because throughout the movie they have to overcome the doubt of others, such as the main characters parents, the failed concert, and the teacher’s initial doubts. Without gambari spirit they would not have been able to overcome these obstacles.

7.       The hardest concept to understand is honne and tamatea. In American culture people are encouraged to state their points clearly and have everyone’s opinions and feelings known. Also in American culture people don’t generally care about other people’s feelings. Therefore, honne and tamatae is hard to understand because American culture is blunt and most often rude.

8.       As a painter I can relate to the adversity that the swing girls had to overcome. Most of my colleagues have been practicing art since grade school and feel that it comes naturally to them. I, on the other hand, did not become serious about painting till late in high school and therefore I have had to work harder that my colleagues to be a good painter.