My first impressions of Japan were vague, mostly because I had no reference to go by and was just 'going with the flow'. In a country with an ethnic identity and drastically different culture, I did not know what to think. I was suprised by the advanced incorporation of modern, chick style and ancient influences throughout architecture, and thought this was a 'mixing' of Japan's past and present. But throughout my stay I've learned it is not a mixing of two ideas; it is who Japan is today. A people's past can't be completely turned over into the present. Japan has a tendency to keep things as almost a 'just in case' policy, which leads to many small cultural bits in most daily life.
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| Japanese people visiting Fushimi Inari |
The Japanese are much more involved and interested in their history and cultural areas than I expected. When I traveled to visit famous places, such as Fushimi Inari or Asuka, there were many Japanese people there to visit as well. Though in other countries this is not unheard of, I feel has a higher priority here than back in the United States; people aren't as willing to go sight-seeing on a holiday as they are here.
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| Homes and gardens are manicured |
The most important thing I learned from my stay in Japan is the amount of respect within the Japanese society and culture. When I first arrived I was suprised by how nice and polite the customer service was as well as anyone I spoke to. After having more time in the area and speaking with more Japanese people I understand it is mostly about respect. Respect for others, the surroundings, oneself, and one's work. One could argue Japan is a clean place because of hired labor to clean up, but this alone could never keep the country's streets as clean as they are. The people respect the space around them, and as a result live in a beautiful place. My area back home could definitely learn from this. Respect is something we are lacking, and it is a principle foundation to Japan's success.
