Higashikorien-cho

Ballet studio on the second floor

The neighborhood between my homestay home and the train station is not one to be overlooked. Though only a fifteen minute walk, there is always something to view and investigate. One curious aspect is a ballet studio on the second floor of one of the business buildings. It may not seem like much, but from a dancer's perspective it shows that the residents in the neighborhood have an interest in western styles of dance. Of course ballet has been around in Japan for many years already, though a studio in this small area is unique.

Ojizo Building

 A major landmark through this fifteen minute walk is the ojizo area. At first I had no idea what this building could possibly be, but with some research it has turned out to be one of the most interesting aspects of the area. In between small business buildings and residential homes is this strong reminder of the religious emphasis in Japanese life. The building is architecturally a mix of old and new; a recurring theme in modern Japan which is seen almost everywhere. Down the road is a small business which never seems to lock its door. Very peculiar. The businesses, as in most of the Kansai area, do not have front yard space between the front door and the road and pedestrians, yet the shop is always wide open with the owners yet to be seen. A sample of the trust my area seems to have with each other.
 Due to a busy schedule, I have no been able to fully explore the other places of my area, but this small sample is enough to keep any traveler occupied for a while. A small business by the name of F Sharp and F Bass is near the ballet studio. The first floor is an antique and flower shop, with a coffee house upstairs. One might argue a ballet studio and European style antique store are not what a Japanese neighborhood should be like, but what then should it be? Through experiences around the region, this mix of east and west has nothing to do with changing of Japan to be like the west, more of Japan changing as it desires.

First Impressions of Japan

Side ally in bustling Osaka

  Upon entering Japan, one of the first things you notice is the abundance of visual stimuli. Writing adorns almost every surface, with some English words mixed in, along with bright pictures and expressions. One might feel overwhelmed and think this is an extreme attempt to coherse foreigners to buy souveniers, but more experience reveals it is a large part of Japanese culture. Japan is a combination of bustling, metropolitan areas and old-time tradition. The extreme posters show the modern culture, but with only a ten minute walk into a city you will pass an old temple or shrine. This impressive mix of old and new is amazing and yields a second look around any where you go.

My room in homestay.

 When I moved in with my host family I wasn't sure what to expect. We usually hear of the strict culture in Japan, or maybe of the high technology throughout the country. But the first few days here have shown me that it is a combination of both. Remnants of old tradition are very evident, along side new technology. It seems the old traditions adapted to include modern culture. For example, my host mother will cook dinner, serve everyone their food, and yet the father and brother do not lend any hand in either cooking or serving. This is not considered rude, even when they leave the dinner table and leave all their plates. The first few nights it confused me, and as I guest I wasn't sure if I should offer to help or not. But after a few days I was allowed to help set table, and even wash my dishes after breakfast. The rules for a guest and the rules of a woman seem to have combined into a state where I can help, but not as much as my mother and sister do. This leaves me in an awkward position, but the Japanese culture has developed into an interesting mesh which I am very open to exploring. The Japanese have been very welcoming of foreigners, and any attempt to speak Japanese is accepted very well.

A small sample of Japanese fashion.

  The last impression I would like to discuss is that of Japanese fashion. The Japanese population is much younger and has quite an interesting expression of fashion. Every woman has their own style, and they wear it without doubt. This is very admirable, and something I would like to take to heart. It does not matter what they style is, everyone has style nonetheless. The freedom to express yourself is very refreshing compared to a college life in New Orleans where there are only two or three styles accepted, and every thing else is judged harshly. It seems to be an aspect of Japanese which has persisted through time, from national pride in their traditions to language and fashion. They are a unique society which has so many aspects it is almost impossible to explore entirely.
 Photo credit to:
(http://www.shops4shopping.com/shopping/latest-japanese-fashion-trends-2011/)