Japanese culture in our daily life

When I started study Visual Anthropology of Japan or before, my impression of Japanese culture or Japan was from very tourist's perspective.

In addition, it was a kind of stereotype about Japan.

Considering Japanese culture, I had come up with Sakura, Samurai and so on before I had taken Visual Anthropology of Japan.

Of course, these things represent Japan, but as end of semester approached, my idea about Japanese culture is changing a little through the class and my friends’ blogs and mine.

Recently, I have doubts about even what I have is Japanese culture.
A lot of Japanese cultures are buried in our daily life in Japan, so I pick up keitai, it represents some Japanese culture.

This is decoration mail, we call it "dekome", some people, especially young girls use it.

Decoration mail express senders' feeling more understandably for receivers by using familiar picture or manga character, in this case Doraemon.

We make ordinary mail with decoration, but we frequently use it on special day such as friend's birthday or New Year's day.

This is decoration mail of New Year's day version.

This type of decoration mail is like New Years's postcard.

There are not only decoration picture but moving picture, too.

E-mail is one of our communication tools and it e-mail express only letters. However it is difficult to convey senders' feelings sometimes. So, these days it is not just any communication tools. How receivers feel decoration mail using visual effect.

Through the class, I can find out Japanese culture in my daily life little by little. This class was very beneficial for me and it will help to describe Japan in my study abroad.

Products of governor

Recent years, in Japan, famous people such as TV talents has been advancing to the political world. Becoming members of the Diet or governor, TV talents attracts attention of mass media and citizens.

I'll focus on the governor of Miyazaki prefecture, Hideo Higashikokubaru. He was a TV talent. Now he does public relations on Miyazaki prefecture as the governor. Because of his unique character, himself became character of Miyazaki.

This is the Miyazaki governor Higashikokubaru keitai strap.

Himself became goods of Miyazaki, because he was very famous before becoming Miyazaki governor, so these goods are very effective for appealing Miyazaki prefecture.

Not only Higashikokubaru character goods are sold, but also some sweets which are focused on Miyazaki's special products are sold.
This is chocolate sweet, Crunky.

This is Miyazaki melon taste and Higasikokubaru governor is designed on left upper coner.

It means this is appealing Miyazaki prefecture using special products Miyazaki melon taste and characrer of Miyazaki's governor.
You can buy it at convenience sotores, so this way is easy to appeal Miyazaki because convenience store is very familiar for everyone. Miyazaki's one of the special products is melon, so Crunky which is melon taste is sold in convenience store with Hogasikokubaru character.

In Osaka, famous Toru Hasimoto who was lawyer became the governor of Osaka prefecture.

Considering the case of Higashikokubaru, Hashimoto's character goods will be sold soon.

Recent years, it is trend in Japanese politics that famous people become governor, therefore it is easy to do PR. However it is important to appeal prefecture, not Higashikokubaru or Hashimoto.

Amezaiku

Today, I would like to talk about Japanese traditional sweet, sugar sculpture(飴細工;amezaiku). It has been said that tradition had started in Osaka in early 1800s, Edo period.

In regard to how to make amezaiku, according to Kiritani (1995) says;

Glutinous rice (mochi gome) and patatp poweder are boiled carefully to a specific transparent doughy texture, and then hand pulled and kneaded. Contact with the air during into a huge ball and allowed to harden untill ready for use. Tadon (charcoal) in the box of amezaiku's cart heats the large candy ball into a pliable mass. Animals must be formed quickly before the candy hardens-a rabbit, for instance, takes about thirty seconds. Dexterity, an artistic sense, and a lot of imajgination are needed(p.20).

Making amezaiku is required not only technology and but also imagination.By the way, where can we see amezaiku? We sometimes see amezaiku at yatai festivals. I have seen the amezaiku yatai in Yasaka Jinja.
When children see amezaiku, they order candy into animals or characters.

As you see left picture, these are rabbit, Doraemon, Hello Kitty in this picture. We can say amezaiku is not only Japanaese traditional art but also enjoyable for children. Amezaiku practioners keeps amezaikuk tradition and they give children to dreams.

As you also see right picture, this is amezaiku sold at yatai.

Ame-zaiku practitioners make candy into animals or character in less than 3 minutes.One of the famous Japanese Amezaiku practitoner is Takahiro Mizuki. He is often picked up in TV.

Amezaiku practitioner is very few nowadays, so it is noexaggeration that it is vanishing.

this is a movie about making amezaiku.
You can find that this required clever skill.


http://books.google.com/books?hl=ja&lr=&id=5_GGbiw1-y4C&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=Amezaiku&ots=vqeOiJfLfP&sig=K8j9y_NYHa2X2yOVZ2fBla4Pwkw#PPA20,M1

Undou kai in Japan

Today’s topic is sports in Japan, so I would like to talk about Physical education in Japan.
P.E is one of the subjects of school, and people grow up through sports and exercise.

First of all, I introduce P.E clothes.

P.E clothes style is a little different from school to school.
However, everyone wear same gym suit (体操服;taisou fuku) in same school.

As you can see, Japanese children wear half-sleeved shirt and half-pants in PE class now.
However, boys had worn short pants and girls had worn bloomers after Tokyo Olympic.
The reason of change of gym suit is influence of professional sports uniform.
So, now Japamese students wear half-sleeved shirt and half pants-after 1997.

Next, I’ll focus on big event of P.E, 運動会(Undou kai).
Undou kai is like sports festival.

Students prepare for Undou kai durinf some days.

On the very day of Undou kai, parenrs come to see their children's activity.

Many of parents bring their camera, they record it.

First Undou kai in Japan was held in 1874 by British man, Strange.

However, trriger of spreading out of Undoukai was Undou kai which was held in Sapporo in 1878.
Every elementary school, junior high school and high school hold Undou kai in autumn.

Undou kai is also held by community such as city or town.

Students are devided some teams, such as Red team, White team, Blue team and so on.

Each team has cheering party, this is characteristic of Undou kai.
Many games are held in Undou kai and I’ll introduce some common games.

This picture shows tug-of-war (綱引き;tsuna hiki).

Two teams pull one rope against each other for each other's positions, and it is a competition to compete for the superiority and inferiority.

This picture shows piggyback fight (騎馬戦;Kiba sen).

This game style imitate a fight between a samurai and the knights who ride a horse.

One Kiba consists of four members and win and loss are depend on how many cap does kiba get.
Kiba is consist of only boys because Kiba sen's model is samurai fight.

However, gilrs can participate Kiba sen depends on school because of considering of gender equality.

Kiba sen's roots is political movement because it was made in Meiji era and government's power was too strong that people were not allowed to express their opinion.

But they needed the Diet and making the constitution.

So people came up with idea of Undoukai because it was not speech.

Kiba sen which was born in Undou kai that people who did a movement for democratic rights made "the government struggle piggyback fight (政権争奪騎馬戦；seiken soudatsu kiba sen)."

Kiba sen shows competition that who the political leader is.

It very related to Japanese histrical background.

Cremation

Cremation is one of the Japanese funerals.
It is a convincing opinion that the cremation came with transmission of the Buddhism. This is associated with Buddha having been cremated.

This is the Uji funeral hall in Kyoto.

As you see, it adjoins cemetery.

You will see the vent in the left side of central bulding's roof.

There are some reasons Japanese has cremation funeral.

Many Japanese people doesn’t believe in any religions, so they are not particular over the way of funeral. In addition, cremation is the easiest way of funeral.

Cremation is respected in the Buddhism which has constant power in Japan.

Crementation is strongly promoted in the Jodo Shin Shu in particular.

Retracing Japanese funeral in the past, burial had been maintained in the early modern times.

That's because cremation was considered as an insanitary way in this period.

In this period, burial is the mainstream of Japanese funeral.

Burial is not prohibited in Japan, but considerinf sanitary aspect, government announces cremation is best way of funeral.

Because of progress of cremation technology, cremation spread drastically in Japan now.

Takarazuka

I would like to talk about Japanese art and entertainment, Takarazuka Kageki-dan.

We Japanese call it Takarazuka.

Takarazuka Kagekidan means Takarazuka operatic group.
This group is consists of only women, so some women play men's role.

Theme of Takarazuka's show is various, they play SF, fantasy, love story and so on.

Actresses who graduated Takarazuka music school play and are unmarried on the stage.

This is Takarazuka musical school.

We call them Takara jennu because we imitate calling Paris jennu.

To be Takara jennu, girls have to go to Takarazuka musical school for two years.

During two years, they practice ballet, voice training, dance, English conversation and so on.

Takarazuka has five classes, flower class(花組), moon class（月組）, snow class（雪組）, star class（星組）, and sky class（宙組）.Each class gives a performance.

This is sky class's performance, Reimei no Kaze.

This story about Japanese recovery after the Wolrd War II.

As you can see, you will find women make up men's style.

Takarazuka's performances are held in Takarazuka big theater and Tokyo Takarazuka theater.

This is called Hon Kouen (main performance).

1 or 2 Hon Kouen performances are held there in a year.

However, Takara jennnu performes national tour and which is held some theater, such as Umeda art theater like this.

Takarazeka is Japanese unique entertainment.

Omizutori

Japan has many religious events that we pray everyone’s health or we pray we won’t have bad accidents.
Today I’d like to write Todai-ji’s event, Omizutori.

There is Todai-ji in Nara prefecture.
You may think Omizutori (お水取り) is water event, but actually it is fire event.
Omizutori, which means taking sacred water, has become the popular name of the ceremony. It has taken place as an annual rite for 1248 years. In the past it had taked place in eburuary in the lunar calendar. At present, it starts on March 1 and ends on the 15th of the month.
This event is taken place because Buddhist priest repent sins of profane world.
As picture shows, firebrands(松明) are lighted. And this is very popular, so many tourists visit there to see it, especially March 12th. Because March 12 th's Omizutori is special. Firebrands which size is 6 meter long are lighted.

Firebrands make people's sin pure, and you soak up spark, you spend this year without disease or accidents.

Valentine Day, White Day

Many countries have Valentine Day.
What they do in Valentine Day is different from country to country.
In America, men give women candy, chocolate or flower.
Japan imitate this event, however Japanese spends unique Japanese Valentine Day.

Japanese Valentine Day is women give men chocolate and this chocolate has two patterns of meaning.

First, it is called Giri Choco(義理チョコ). Women give man to Giri choco because they preserve the harmony of human relationship. For example, my father brings back chocolate which he gets it in his office from women subordinates.
Second is Honmei choco.　Women give honmei choco(本命チョコ) to men because they really love their partner.　So, Valentine Day is known as love confession's day for women.

In addition, women give chocolate to their friend, especially friend of woman in recent years. This chocolate is called tomo choco(友チョコ).

On the other hand, White Day is men return candy for woman. Men give candy to women
This is answer day of Valentine Day.

In Japan, Valentine and White Day is very popular events, so many sweet exhibit in the shop, even convenience store.

So we can say Valentine Day and White Day make big edonomy effects because women and men buy for the gifts. Sweets indutry make large profits.

Japanese people in train

Today, I'd like to write about write about Japanese people.

When you ride in train, you can see many people in the train using keitai denwa. Some of salary-men read newspaper, some of women make up. Many of them use keitai and send keitai mail. Each people spend their own time by keitai mail. I think this is playing alone, in Japanese, "hitori-asobi".

I examine makes each people's space, because many people are

absorbed in reading books, newspaper, using keitai, Nintendo DS, making up. However these things causes bad situations. That's why people doesn't care about people his/her around.In Japan, people think making up in public as shame manner, because it is Japanese manner! When I see a woman making up, I feel uncomfortable and I regard this woman as not knowing manner.

One of Japanese value is style in Japanese "hinkaku". Recently series of book which about hinkaku is very popular. Josei no Hinkaku(women's style), Oya no Hinkaku(parents' style) which are written by Mariko Bandou are bestseller, so number of people who care about manner is increasing.

Now, manner problem dependes on each people's moral.

Name in Japan

I would like to introduce something describe Name in Japan.

There are something describe our own name.

I'll give two examples.

First is Hyousatsu. Most of house has Name plate. We call it hyousatsu.
Hyousatsu shows us Family name.
Sometimes we can see family name in English in Japan, however kanji style is common.

Second example is name hanko, it means seal in English.

hanko is very important for our daily life.

hanko are devided from several types.

When we receive home-delivery service, we sign or put a seal.

We use Mitome-in in such this situation.

This type of hanko is very cheap, you can buy only 100 yen.

However ginkou-in is very expensive.

This is also one of the type of hanko.

When you establish bank account, you need this type of hanko.

Many of them are handmade in case someone forge.

These hanko is very important our daily life.

Ryoushin-ichi

Today I'd like to write about neiborhood my hometown, Kamo.

My hometown is very countryside.

It is around mountains, and there are many fields.

Some people sell vegitable which they produced.

This is the unmanned vegitable shop.

Shoppers choose what they buy and they pay money in the small box.

These vegitables are local production and very fresh.

There are some shops like this in my town and they are called "ryoshin-ichi"(sometimes called mujin-ichi).

It means conscience market.

It is common for Japanese country people to buy vegitable and so on at these shop.

There are some problems in these shop.

It is possible that someone stole money from payment box and vegitables.

Shop owner trusts shoppers that they will not steal and also he realizes some of his products may be stolen.

His real purpose is not to earn money by selling his products, but to share his products in his own field with neighborhood.

Welcome to Japan

When forigners travel to Japan, many of them go to see Japanese sightseeing spot.
Japan promotes activity of VISIT JAPAN CAMPAIGN by the Minister for Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
Now Japan make a lot of effort to promote traveling to Japan for forigners.


Speaking of Japanese traditional place, many Japanese would say Kyoto.
There are many shirines and temples.
Also, Japanese characteristics is enjoying each seasons and nature.
Japanese people used to enjoys seasons and they used to make haiku through the nature.
Now they doesn't have custom of making haiku, however they never forget to feel the change of seasons. This shows one of Japanese characteristics.





Thease are photos of Kiyomizu-dera which is World Heritage Site.

Rhight sidephoto is Kiyomizu's stage is very famous.

We Japanese say "Kiyomizu no butai kara tobioriru you" when we make very big decisions.

"Kiuomizu no butai kara tobioriru you" means "jump down from Kiyomizu's stage" in English.

So Kiyomizu influences our conversation like Japanese proverb.

If you stand at Kiyomizu's stage, you may make big decisions!