In the End

      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.

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.

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.

Nature in Japan

      Nature holds an interesting position in Japanese society and architecture, one which is striking to foreigners upon first entry to Japan. When hearing of traditional Japanese culture, one would think that Japan is filled with wooden or nature incorporating homes with as much greenery as possible. Due to the high population density, the opposite has come to fruition in cities, though very naturalist homes and complexes still exist on rural or religious areas. If you look another level deep within the industrialized cities, you will notice that there is greenery in every area possible. In effect, the Japanese hold both practicality of architecture and importance of nature on equal pedestals.
  One example would be a large company headquarters which I pass by every weekday. As per usual in the area, the structure is built of concrete and has no front or side areas of grass to be as compact, and practical, as possible. Though it may have only one tree planted in a greenery block by the front doors, it is a sakura tree and is always well maintained. Along with this tree are a few other small greenery spaces, concrete flower boxes, which contain many beautiful tulips and other brightly colored flowering plants. These types of flowers, while very beautiful, require a lot of weekly care. The company seems to value beautiful nature as highly as their headquarters complex; in other countries large buildings such as this might have greenery boxes, but will not be maintained anywhere near to this extent.

     In addition, many of the structures we think of as traditional Japanese architecture incorporate nature to a high degree. They are also frequently visited by Japanese citizens and others alike. The Japanese, though living a very practical, urban lifestyle, still desire this touch with nature which they do not have in their daily lives. Religious areas seem to indulge in an intimate relation with nature, are are conserved this way due to the Japanese ideals.

What do Japanese people do?

Describing a 'typical' Japanese person to a foreigner is something no one can really do. We are here in Japan, as foreign students, to try and understand the ''average" Japanese person by studying Japanese culture, language, and history. It seems the more Japanese people I meet the harder it is to answer the seemingly simple question: What do Japanese people do? Though I will make an attempt with the knowledge I've gained from the Japanese people I know currently.

Asuka dera, in Asuka, a valuable historical sight.

  As a culture, the Japanese are interested in their history. Every civilization yearns to know where they came from, and the Japanese are no exception. Before undergoing a major construction project, the area first needs to be excavated to make sure nothing historically valuable will be lost in the new construction. Though partially due to the lack of new space in an island nation, this is a small indication of how the Japanese interest in their unique past. Though in general there is much interest, some individuals I have spoken to don't have any personal interest in history. A much more common interest is sightseeing. The train systems in Japan are some of the most reliable in the world, and on a sunny day who wouldn't want to do a little traveling for a reasonable price? Many Japanese people go sightseeing to nearby shrines, temples, and historical places. They are aware of the beautiful and precious things right around their neighborhood or along the train line, and take time to enjoy their beautiful country; something some foreigners can be envious of.

At a 'nomihoudai' in Kyoto.

   A particular past time which is Japan is famous for around the world is karaoke. Japanese people of all ages seem to enjoy karaoke, from middle school students to businessmen. The large amount of karaoke clubs/bars in almost every shopping mall or larger area show the strong popularity karaoke has. Foreigners often find this past time a little harder to enjoy at first, seeing as how in other countries singing in front of a crowd is much more stressful than in Japan. Not to say no Japanese people are shy in front of a crowd, just a larger portion of Japanese citizens aren't as bashful. If they were, how could karaoke gain such popularity? Karaoke is a common past time on a Friday or Saturday, and most Japanese students I've had the opportunity to know go to karaoke much more often than any other weekend activity with friends. With the famous areas nearby, one might wonder why don't Japanese college students go 'hit up the club' almost every Saturday in Osaka when they are so close by? One strong concept might help to explain this phenomenon. Japanese society is, if I might dare to call it, quite shy. It might seem contradictory to the previous karaoke discussion, but Japanese society is not as open about 'sexiness'. For that matter, dressing in high heels and tight clothes to go a dance club is not something on the top of a Japanese college student's list of things to do. Instead, a Japanese person might opt to go to a 'nomihoudai' ( all you can drink) establishment. Without all the music and party, this is more of a nice place, where friends all sit in a booth and drink as much as they would like for a set price.
 

Enigma

My host mother with the family golden retriever Gen-chan

One may ask themselves, what makes a Japanese citizen different from any other person? Sure the answers history, culture, ethnicity cross the mind, but it seems none of them are completely right. It seems no on can ever truly answer this question, though we all try to find this elusive answer. Maybe the closest someone can come to the answer is by living with a Japanese person. Not just for one day, but through the seasons to feel the ups and downs of life with them. Small things, like the morning routine and work hours give glimpses into a very complex society and peoples. With this, let me introduce the person I have closest to reaching this state with during my month and a half so far of living in Japan.
   My host mother, pictured at the right, is a woman who defines the term enigma. Her main title is 'homemaker' though she also works a part-time job two or three days a week. The title 'homemaker' is very accurate. From a Western standpoint it may have the connotation of a few chores, cooking, and gossiping the rest of the day, but my host mother works just as hard and long as any full time employee. Awake before everyone else in the home, she makes and serves breakfast for everyone, somehow knowing within the minute of when each person will sit down at the table and having coffee, toast, and other delicious food ready. Throughout the day she runs errands, helps family members by driving them to the nearby train station, cleans the house, takes care of the family dog ( seen with her in the picture ), and recently has been helping the family's daughter during her last month of pregnancy. What a day. I have offered multiple times to help with chores, for example to wash my breakfast dishes in the morning. In a Western home, after a week the hosts would gladly accept this type of help as a type of thanks for their hospitality, but my host mother after three weeks hesitantly said I could help with dishes ONLY if she was not home at all. This constitutes some of her enigma. While the rest of the family sits and watches television, able to help, she insists on relaxation while she goes about her busy work.

   A woman like this is so busy I hardly had a chance to photograph her, so I was eager for the few moments she had time and snapped a few. Her smile is contagious, and at dinner times she is the 'life of the party' if I can use such a casual tone. Though this family has never hosted a student without a high level of Japanese proficiency, her patience with a low level language student, such as myself, is astounding. This patience is not something specifically Japanese, neither are the long work days. It is the way she attends to them with vigor daily which makes her part of a unique culture; one where personal frustrations need not be voiced every day. A sense of great satisfaction at the end of the day outweighs the small desires throughout the day to tell others about life. It is a concept which is difficult to put in words and my apologies for not presenting it as eloquently as it requires.

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/)