Movie Reaction

I found this movie to be extremely effective in describing the tragedy in Japan. I was uneducated and uninformed about the tsunami that disastrously destroyed many homes and took many lives. First and foremost, what I found to be extremely interesting was the way in which the film was able to grasp the emotional responses of numerous individuals. In class, we have learned so much about the concepts of “honne” and “tatamea” which create norms to control emotions in public environments. Although the individuals hesitantly cried, (some began to laugh or smile when they began to tear up) they did show emotion to the interviewer. This shows the magnitude of this catastrophe and the influence this tsunami has had over so many lives. This film showed that due to the catastrophic degree of events, people were unable to hold back any emotion.

            Also, I was extremely shocked by the extent of the damage caused by the tsunami. The film showed multiple scenes of completely destroyed houses, cars and belongings. One interviewee described her familiarity with her street, and that she knew where her house used to be located, and yet, there was no neighborhood left standing. She also explained that some of her neighbors and friends did not survive. Additionally, she expressed amazement towards all of the cars and belongings that had piled up amongst debris in various areas. She wondered how things may have been different if people had actually evacuated. She explained that many people did not believe that the tsunami would have such a significant impact, or they did not believe it would actually affect their neighborhood. Due to this doubtfulness, lives were lost. She expressed extreme regret and sorrow over the idea of this.

            I think it is truly amazing that our school systems failed to inform students more fully about this event. It was not until this video that I truly understood the magnitude of the event and the negative impact it had on so many lives. I think to be educated on this tsunami through the personal perspectives of individuals facing the outcome of this disaster is an effective and important way to learn about the unfortunate event. I am glad that I was able to view this film and develop an appreciation for the shocking conditions others are still facing in Japanese society. 

Reaction Paper 10/29/12

It is very interesting to see the many concepts and terms we have learned in class come together as an interdependent explanation of Japanese culture. We have studied the cultural concepts of  “kenkyo”, “aimai” and “honee and tatemea” just to name a few. All of these concepts work together to create a unique kind of society and culture for the Japanese people.

            Firstly, this idea of “the nail that sticks up gets hammered down” is apparent in Japanese society. All of these various concepts we have learned seem to stem from this cultural component. “Honne and “tatemea” for example, are cultural norms which socialize individuals to manage emotions according to particular situations. “Honne” is a concept used to describe one’s true emotional feelings that are normally only shared with close friends and family, while “tatemea” is the feeling and emotion one shows to the public. In other words, one is discouraged to draw attention to their feelings in public situations. It is understood that displaying emotion in public is putting one’s emotions on someone else and is completely inappropriate. Again, this can relate to the overarching concept evident in Japanese society: that the group is more important than the individual. An individual’s feelings are not appropriate to share with the group for the sake of the general population.

            Also, “kenkyo” or, modesty, is yet another concept that demonstrates the idea that the group is more important than the individual. “Kenkyo” is the concept used to describe the way in which individuals interact with one another, with a sense of modesty or humility. For example, Japanese are often uncomfortable receiving a compliment, and will not eagerly accept the compliment they are given. If one is told that they are a good writer, it is polite to say “oh no, I am not a good writer at all.” Again, we see this trend that to emphasize the individual is not socially appropriate.  It is clear that individuals are uncomfortable when the spotlight is on them, such as receiving a compliment. We see this kind of behavior in schools as well. While in America, the students are motivated to excel and compete, in Japanese schools, academics are very much about the general group rather than the individual. Students are expected to remain on the same level, in a vigorous and egalitarian academic setting. For example, students in the U.S. will ask many questions, until each student fully comprehends the subject. Each student is taught to succeed at their own level, regardless of others abilities, and classes are conducted in some way in which there is personal attention, time for questions, and help on an individual basis. However, in Japanese society, students are culturally expected to remain silent and refrain from asking questions. Asking questions individually is seen as a set back for the group overall.

            “Aimai” is another way in which Japanese society maintains the general group by placing cultural norms for interaction between individuals. Aimai is the way in which one expresses oneself ambiguously or indirectly. Again, it is discouraged for one to straightforwardly express their individual feelings and thoughts. Rather, one must articulate their thoughts and feelings in an indirect manner in order to avoid conflict and offense to others. The idea of the “rule of unanimous” is carried out through this cultural facet. There is a need for strong emotional unity in Japan, and going against this means going against the group. Therefore, individuals must be discreet in their individual expressions as a means of maintaining harmony. For example, one must disagree in a roundabout way in order to preserve relationships, and keep a positive public environment.  Again going against this would violate a key social norm of Japanese society, often described as: “The pheasant that keeps its mouth shut is least

likely to get shot.”

            It is apparent that through the many specific aspects of Japanese culture we have come to learn of this greater societal theme regarding the group versus the individual that so greatly influences every feature of Japanese society. 

Japanese Etiquette

There are some very interesting aspects to dining etiquette that is unique to Japanese culture. Could you ever imagine holding your fork in a particular way that it would be believed to cause bad luck? In Japanese culture, chopsticks are an essential aspect of the dining experience, and must be used in the correct manner. There are surprisingly, many rules regarding how one may use their chopsticks. A few of these rules include, “When you are not using your chopsticks, or have finished eating, lay them down in front of you with the tips to left”, and “do not spear food with your chopsticks”“. However, chopstick dinner etiquette has rules regarding chopsticks and their association with funerals and bad luck. For example, “do not stick chopsticks into your food, especially not into rice. This is only done at funerals. with rice that is put onto the altar” and “do not pass food directly from your set of chopsticks to another's. Again, this is a funeral tradition that involves the bones of a cremated body”. During a funeral in Japan, in almost all cases, the body is cremated. During the cremation aspect of the funeral, the relatives of the deceased pick the bones out of the ashes and transfer them into an urn using large chopsticks. At times, two relatives may hold the chopsticks together and transfer the bone. This is seen as the only time that it is proper for two people to hold the same chopsticks at the same time. Thus, using chopsticks in the same manner at the dinner table would be associated with death and therefore, may be considered bad luck and a “social faux pas”.  

            I found this particular fact about Japanese culture to be extremely interesting. I cannot think of anything in Western culture that is equivalent or even similar to this dining etiquette. Of course in Western culture, we have dinner etiquette that includes the use of silverware, and how to use the various silverware during various parts of the meal. However, if one were to accidently use the wrong silverware, or hold the silverware in the wrong manner, although it may be seen as improper, rude or offensive to other people at the dinner table, it would not be considered bad luck to the individual or to the group of diners. Also, in Western culture, we do not truly have something that is considered bad luck for all people that it would then become integrated into society and culture. Belief in bad luck varies greatly from individual to individual. For example, some people may hold their breath driving past a funeral, not walk under a ladder, or conversely, to find a penny with the head facing up may be considered good luck by some. However, not everyone believes in these various superstitions. I think this is an important concept that this idea of bad luck has established importance in Japanese culture. 

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2039.html

Skype Reaction

I found the Skyping experience to be extremely interesting. However, I felt as though I was learning more about Swedish culture and Swedish societal structure and norms than I was about Japanese culture. During our skype session, I felt as though the one Swedish student involved in our group, was doing a lot of the talking and answering the American students questions regarding Swedish culture. We discussed briefly the average age of marriage and having kids in Sweden. While it was extremely interesting to learn about him and his personal life story and how that compares to general Swedish society, I felt as though it was not helpful in going over topics we had learned in class.  I believe that it was hard to really focus on class topics, and the conversation felt scattered at times. However, the communication difficulties may have been simply because it was our first time meeting each other, and introducing ourselves to the program. I am definitely looking forward to meeting with the Swedish students again!