aodhanmb-blog

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #16

1. Most Japanese people say they are Shinto and Buddhist because during the early years of Japan they adopted ideas from both the Shinto and Buddhist religions and these ideals have been maintained since then. They don’t find it contradictory because of Itoko-Dori in which they take the best ideas from one culture/religion and integrate it into their own, the Japanese people have basically made a new religion so believing in things the way they do is not contradictory 2. The scene in which Daigo and his boss are given a gift from the father of the man who’s son dressed like a girl is a great example. 3. Nokanashi are encoffiners and they take the dead on their final journey into the afterlife by beautifying the body in front of its friends and family as well as hosting a ceremony to fondly remember the one that passed away. It is generally percieved as not a “real” or “proper” job meaning that most people who haven’t experienced what Nokanashi do see their job as lesser than other jobs. At first Daigo dislikes his job and is only their because of the high pay he receives, but as the film goes on he realizes the beauty in his job and the joy it can bring to the family and friends of the deceased leading him to see his job as the one he was always fated to have. At first Daigo’s wife hates his job and finds it disgusting which causes her to leave him for a few months, but when she witnesses him doing the ceremony for the old lady that ran the bathhouse she realizes the good in his job and she comes to accept it.  4. The biggest difference between Japanese funerals and those I have been too is that during Japanese funerals the dead are cleaned and make up is put on them, In America that is all done in private and then the body is shown to the family. 5. It represents how his father feels about him, and how much his father loves him. 6. Yes, Daigo was able to meet his father but it was unfortunately after his death. 7. Gambari applies well to this film and is seen in Daigo who does not stop working hard at his job no matter what hardships come his way. Also Otogibanashi can be seen when Daigo tells the story of the stone letters to Mika. 8. I learned that Japanese funerals and the ceremonies that accompany them are meant to pay the dead as much respect as possible after their passing and to send them into the next life with good blessings. I thought the movie was very good and gave a great view of all the work involved with being a Nokanishi. 

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #15

1.Soshiki “Those who face death, or whose family or friends have died, tend to want supernatural explanations to ease their suffering” (Ikeno/Davies p. 201) “Graves serve two purposes in Japan: to bury the ashes of the dead person and to have a place to go for worship” (Ikeono/Davies p. 211) Japanese funerals seem to have more complexities to them then the funerals I’ve been too, this complexity isn’t a bad thing and I honestly believe that it pays more respect to those who have passed on and makes the process of accepting the loss of a loved one easier. From an American standpoint we lack multiple rituals before burial, we usually only have one, the cremation and burial process are almost the same as in Japan. The main difference between our two funerals is that mourning period after as well as the ceremonies after, we lack the ceremonies after burial and the mourning period varies from person to person, some people may only mourn for a week, others for months or even years to come. Japanese people most likely have funerals and treat the dead in this way because of the combining of Shinto and Buddhist religions earlier in Japans history. 2.Zoto “People receive gifts at all significant stages of their lives” (Ikeno/Davies p.233) “The gifts for these events can be classified into three main types: seasonal gifts, ceremonial gifts, and gifts for other occasions.” (Ikeno/Davies p. 234) Japanese gift giving seems like it would be pretty hard to keep track of. I can barely remember most of my friends and families birthdays and if I can I do not always have the means to get them a gift. It interests me to think of how much money is spent exclusively on gifts in Japan,  and how many gifts someone may receive in their lifetime.  From an American standpoint the Japanese give way too many gifts, we do share the concept of giving gifts on holidays and when visiting someones home for the first time. We also give gifts during some ceremonies such as weddings and baby showers, but we lack many ceremonies to give gifts during. Overall we just give less gifts than the Japanese and we can’t really afford to give so many gifts since it would disadvantage us in someway. Japanese people may think this way because gift giving is a clear and distinct way to show feelings.

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #14

1. I did not find any scenes that were evidence of Itoko-Dori, all of the cultural elements in this movie appeared to be Japanses as far as I understand. 2. Yubara didn’t need to use Nemawashi because she had total control of the spirits in the bathouse with her contracts, and she has enough magic power to beat anyone who would challenge her. All of her spirits worked under contract and were given names of her choosing so that they couldn't leave the spirit world. if she did use it i imagine she would meet with haku to make business decisions and zeniba to decide what spirits to take on as customers and employees. 3. The relationship between rin and sen is the perfect example of senpai-Kohai because sen treats rin with respect because she is older and has more experience in the field. 4. This film was full of a sense of aware as well as emotional beauty. Especially in scenes featuring haku’s dragon form, the train, the bath house, and the day to day lives of the spirits. The fantastic animation in this film really makes the beauty of it all clear to anyone watching, this film was clearly made with a loving passion thats hard to find in other films.  5. Haku made a deal with Yubara that if he returned her baby she would break sens contract but only if she passed one last trial. Sen passed the trial by knowing that none of the pigs shown to her were her parents and thus the contract was broken. 6. Firstly he will quit working for Yubara and then he may move on to a new river to continue his duties as a river spirit. 7. Japanese anime is extremely creative and unique it combines a wonderful palette of colors with beautiful and fluid animation creating a piece like no other. American Anime is very basic and simple and lacks the awe inspiring creativity of Japanese anime, to put it simply its very obvious that American Anime is just desperately trying to copy Japanese anime.  8.  Gambari from sen and the other bath house workers was constantly shown in the film. I say this because they were constantly working hard and encouraging each other to do so. 

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #13

1. Nemawashi  ”There is a tendency to compromise with others by laying groundwork”(Ikeno/Davies p.159) ”As a rule, it is necessary to have a consensus before making decisions in Japan” Ikeno/Davies p 160) Nemawashi is a fairly simple term that holds great power in most if not all human interactions. I find this term interesting because of how key it is and that it goes beyond business and can even be used in our personal lives. From an American point of view this is nothing new we do this all the time in business and in our personal lives to achieve our goals. Japanese people may think this way because conducting business in this way allows for group harmony to be kept and strengthened. 2. Sempai-Kohai ”Sempai... people who are older or superior in ability” (Ikeno/Davies p.187) ”Kohai is the opposite of Sempai” (Ikeno/Davies p. 188) I believe the Sempai-Kohai system should be important in personal interactions and at school, but i think it should play almost no part in business. In the workforce people should be judged and praised based on their abilities not their age. This idea of seniority is present in America but on a much smaller scale, such as family owned businesses passed down from generation to generation and parents teaching children to always respect their elders. Japanese people most likely think this way since the Sempai-Kohai system has existed since very early in  japans history. 3. Iitoko dori ”Japan has a long-established tradition of adopting elements of foreign culture.”(Ikeno/Davies p. 127) ”They also have developed the habit of adopting only the most useful borrowings from other nations.”(Ikeno/Davies p.128) I believe all people and cultures take bits and pieces of other cultures and apply it to their lives. I think this is a good thing because it allows you too see the world in new and interesting ways, and it makes your life better than it was before. As Americans we would love to claim that we think of everything we do on our own but that is simply not the case, America is very similar to Japan in the way that we have taken parts of other cultures and adapted it to our own culture. Japanese people may think this way because in modern times Japan is coming in contact with many outside influences which have helped change the way people think. The Japanese people may simply want to better their lives by adding a part of a culture to it that will leave them better off.

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #12

1. Suzu and Shusaku are definitely not a classic example of ryosaikenbo, their relationship does display some qualities of it but they never demand anything of one another. The scene in which Suzu and Shusaku first meet and he asks about her umbrella is a great example of ryosaikenbo, because it is expected of a good wife too know the answer to that question and to give an answer that would please her husband. Another example is when Suzu moves in with Shusaku’s family she immediately helps around the house in anyway she can as well as making sure the family is fed by making dinner and preparing food for days to come, all of this is expected of a good wife.  2. One example of Suzu’s attitude is when she first moves to Kure with Shusakus family she isn’t really happy to be living their, but regardless of how she feels she stays by her husbands side and endures being chastised by Shuskau’s sister. An American woman in Suzu’s situation would most likely make it extremely clear that she is displeased with her current living situation and would most likely fight with Shusaku’s sister. The big difference here between Suzu and an American woman is that Suzu holds her emotion inside and endures while an American woman would let her emotions out so she would endure as little pain as possible. 3. I think the scene when Shusaku and suzu meet for the first time inside the monsters basket is a good example of Ikuji, because even as complete strangers they work well together and escape from the monster. This ability to cooperate at such a young age displays how the importance of being able to get along well with others in the group is key even at such a young age. 4. Oimai in this film worked in the more modern way it is now. A man came calling for Suzu wanting to marry her, she was given the offer to accept or decline and she chose to accept his offer and move in with him and his family as his wife. 

5. It exploded killing Harumi and blowing off Suzus right hand. 6. She caught some kind of strange unknown illness, if i had to guess its radiation sickness. 7.  The biggest difference is how submissive the woman is to the man, and how no matter what the man is always above the woman. I cannot relate to Suzu and Shusaku’s relationship but i can understand how its the way it is. Since Suzu doesn’t work she stays at home and does general housework, while Shusaku is out earning money. Their relationship makes sense to me because of who earns the money and each of their own skill sets.  8. An advantage of anime describing historical fact is that anime can be more graphic but also more whimsical, anime is also more engaging to look at then regular everyday people. The entirety of eternal was very serious and lacked any whimsical elements its still a fantastic film but it lacks the kind of wonder anime can add to a movie.  9. I saw a lot of gambari in this film no matter what happened who died or what the bombing raids did to the land people kept on surviving to the best of their abilities. This hard work during times of war was same as how it was in america during both World Wars because both men women and even children all worked hard to keep the nation running and provide resources toward winning the wars.

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #11

1. Ikuji ”The main principals of child rearing focused on creating individuals who knew how to get along with others in the group” (Ikeno/Davies p.135) ”With time, it is difficult for children to go against their mothers’ expectations, and they even consider it shameful to do so.” (Ikeno/Davies p.137) I find it very interesting that from childhood Japanese children are practicing the social norms and proper conduct in society that they will be practicing for their whole lives. I think their are many affects on child rearing outside of the parents, friends and other experiences play a massive role in how a child develops. From an American standpoint Ikuji is a terrible way to raise a child sine you are not teaching them independence but instead obedience. I believe Japanese people think this way because Japan began as a small agricultural country with very close communities interacting daily and these humble beginnings have left the Japanese people with an overwhelming value placed on group harmony and being able to function properly in the group. 2. Ryosaikenbo ”which means a “good wife and wise mother”.”(Ikeno/Davies p. 179) ”Traditional role models for women are creating problems today” (Ikeno/Davies p.184) Gender roles have always seemed unnecessary to me, some set of predetermined expectations for how anyone should live their lives always seemed stupid and close minded. People are only on earth for a set amount of time most people would hate wasting it conforming to societal expectations and gender roles. The idea of gender roles and propaganda towards women is just as prevalent in the United States as it is in Japan, the main difference being that women in America have more opportunities than Japanese women to break free from social expectations and become their own person. I think Japanese people think this way because it started as a traditional value that is now seen as a societal norm and the people and the media are preaching this idea and passing it from generation to generation. 3. Danjyo Kaneki ”Historically the relationship between men and women in japan has changed in accordance with the dominant social system of the period and women’s position within it.”(Ikeno/Davies p. 61) ”An old Confucian adage says, for example, that a woman should in youth obey her father, in maturity her husband, and in old age her son.” (Ikeno/Davies p.63) I always enjoy learning about Japanese terms that encompass a major part of human relationships and interactions. I think the relationships between men and women should always be equal and that household duties should be split among them instead of being forced upon one party. In the past the United states had the exact same husband wife relationships as Japan and the same things were expected of women, but nowadays women and men expect each other to provide equally and to treat one another as equals. I think Japanese people think this way about relationships between men and women now because of the influences of other countries showing them that women can and should be allowed to be free and independent, and if a man and woman do get married it is an equal relationship and the women should not be sub-servant to the man.

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #10

1. Geisha carry themselves with grace and elegance and their beauty does not come from an idea of them being loose women. Their beauty comes from their skills not their bodies and they symbolize the beauty in art and women themselves. They practice the art of Kimono wearing, accompanying men to tea houses, living in a chikyo, and living as a piece of art not a prostitute showing off her body. 2. I have always found beauty in rainfall which for most is something associated with sadness and the ending of a sunny day, but for me the falling of rain creates a uniform and calm feel to the world around me that i quite enjoy. When it rains i am usually compelled to go stand out in it because simply experiencing rain brings me joy. 3. No, i dont think this movie lost any ma or aware because of it being in English. Firstly there was still a use of Japanese words and phrases throughout the film. Second silence and ambiguity still played a huge roll in speech and it was hard to pin down many characters motives and desires. Finally when it came to the chairmansfeelings towards Sayuri, he found her most beautiful when she was at her lowest point which highly represents aware. 4. In the U.S. we have Christmas to celebrate the winter season and the snow that commonly accompanies it, we even have songs about the season itself that are always played during this time in public places. I believe during christmas the Japanese would appreciate nature and the animals that thrive during the season more than americans, since during the winter season americans are mainly focused on the material aspect of christmas, so I think that the Japanese would be more focused on the sentimental and spiritual parts of the season. 5.The Chairman throughout the entire film is a prime example of this, he is very patient and waits many many years to tell sayuri how he feels, he also pities his friend Nobu for not being able to find happiness and allows him to have a chance with sayuri despite how the Chairman feels about her. 6. Wabi sabi is finding the beauty in the simple or broken, its finding beauty in things most would not be able to find beauty in. In America we value practicality as well as extravagance so many of the things found beautiful in Japan thanks to wabi sabi would be seen as ugly and pointless in the United States. 7. Wabi Sabi was clearly displayed in the scene where sayuri dances as the lead for the geisha. In the scene her dance is very frantic and lacking in elegance, but there is beauty in its lack of commonality and the contrast of sayuris frantic and desperate movements and the beauty she has and thee outfit she is wearing. 8. She failed to become the successor to the geisha house, and then left the home for good after trying to burn it down. It is unclear exactly what their relationship is at the end my best guess is that they are going to be lovers or he will become her danna. Sayuri is definitely happy about her life because she ended up with the man she loves. 9. Mother adopted Sayuri over pumpkin despite promising to adopt pumpkin. Pumpkin seemed to be given the short end of the stick her entire life and the once chance she had to shine was ripped right out from under her in all honesty pumpkins life is sad and unfulfilling. 10. Amae, Wabi Sabi, and Bigaku are all abundantly present in this film. I believe this to be true because the geisha embody all of these terms and live their lives in a specific way to make these terms part of their daily lives. 11. I enjoyed the movie and found it interesting to see the effects of the war on Japanese values and cultural customs. It was also interesting to get a closer look at the the geisha life style.

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #9

K1. Bigaku ”The Japanese aesthetic is very subjective” (Ikeno/Davies p.37) “Aware is thus connected to feelings of regret for things losing their beauty, and paradoxically finding beauty in their opposite” (Ikeno/Davies p.37) Bigaku is something i can understand and respect what the word means for the Japanese aesthetic in art, clothing, and entertainment. I believe its common for a way of seeing beauty to die out but not to be on the verge of extinction, beauty is above all subjective and there is beauty to be found all throughout life. As an American Bigaku is not really something i see often since our standards on beauty and our aesthetic is mostly set in stone. There is of course variation throughout but most people would agree on certain things always being beautiful. I think the Japanese people think this way because as times change and outside influences begin to effect Japan the Japanese people are now appreciating other forms of art and adding it to their daily lives. Allowing other cultures to influence your own is just fine but allowing your own culture to fade away is a major problem the Japanese people are facing and I can only hope that a vocal minority keeps Bigaku alive and well within Japan. 2.  Kisetsu  ”it can be said that Japan has six seasons”. (Kawazoe & Kuwabara, 1972) “In the not-too-distant past, almost all Japanese people were engaged in agriculture; as a result, they were very sensitive to the seasons” (Ikeno/Davies 156). I find Kisetsu interesting since it was originally based off of farming but is now very influential in the day to day lives of Japanese people. In America the seasons are important but nowhere near as important as kisetsu, our seasons are mainly used to acknowledge the time of year and as a reminder of upcoming holidays or a break from school and work. Japanese people think this way about the seasons because their ancestors were farmers and the seasons were essential to their lives and those feelings have been passed on from generation to generation 3.  otogibanashi ”Folktales are special because the contain morals and reflect the ways of thinking and the character of a people” (Ikeno/Davies p. 171) “the ideal of the individual in Japan as a person with strong will and decisive judgement.” (Ikeno/Davies p. 175) I am a big fan of stories and folktales and these Japanese tales are just the kind of thing i like. They are strange in a good way that allows them to send a meaningful message. In America we use folktales in the exact same way the only major difference in our tales is that they are usually more grounded and less out there in terms of what happens in the story. I believe Japanese people create these folktales in the way they do is to emphasize the meaning of the tale itself and the importance of the tale itself. 4. Wabi Sabi ”Simplicity and elegance are often considered two of the essential aesthetic qualities of Japanese culture” (Ikeno/Davies p.223) “Wabi Sabi can be recognized through the discipline of the mind” (Ikeno/Davies p.229) Wabi Sabis is very interesting to me because it dives into the ideas of simplicity and what lies beyond that simplicity. Its cool how Wabi Sabi focuses on the simple and then dives deeper to make it complex. We have this concept in some ways in America but almost no one gives it as much thought as the Japanese have and it is very rarely integrated into our lives. I think the modern Japanese think Wabi Sabi is less important now because of outside influences from other nations and the increase of materialism throughout Japan and the world.

[aodhanmb-blog]

What Makes Me American

To be perfectly honest this question is pretty difficult to answer, because yes i do see myself as an american, but i lack a strong love of my home country and i am indifferent towards what most people value. To put it simply America is just where i live and that’s how its always been. The thing that makes me most American would be how much i value individual freedoms especially the freedom of choice. America is a country built on freedom so this is a core value of the nation and was key to Americas growth into the nation it is today. What i enjoy most about this personal freedom is getting to choose how i live my life and also being able to experience entertainment from other nations, such as japan, many of the things i enjoy doing the most were created in japan. My point here is that what makes me american is my personal freedom to live my life how i choose, even if that involves interacting with other nations I’m still an American through and through

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #8

1. You see aspects of loyalty and honor all throughout the film. You see loyalty and honor in the japanese military who are willing to fight and die for their country, you also see pride in how the soldiers carry themselves and live their lives. 2. When Kentaro, Keko, and Kageura first met it was definitely a hedetaru interaction. Kageura acted in the way he did because he Kentaro said Miyabe was a coward and wasnt taking his grandfathers story and legacy seriously. 3. Most people saw Miyabe as a coward because he disrespected the bushido way in the worst way possible, he valued his own life over the nations future. They described Miyabe as a coward, and they used the word coward because it depicted him as weak, unworthy of praise, and a dishonorable man. 4. Miyabe was soto to the kamikaze because he did not approve of their actions and believed that life should be valued not thrown away. At that time he was also soto to Isaki because Isaki thought like many other soldiers at the time that not being willing to give up your life for your country was beyond dishonorable and completely unheard of. I think that Miyabe was Soto to the Kamikaze because he ideals did not align with theirs and there are many moments in the film where the Kamikaze actively show distaste towards him. 5. Isaki felt an intense loathing because of Bushido ideals as well as shudan ishiki. Firstly as far as the bushido ideals Miyabe was not willing to give up his own life for his country and valued people and other things higher than the country itself. In this scenario the country can be seen as the master and the japanese armed forces as the samurai and in the Bushido way the master is valued above all else. Secondly is Shudan Ishiki, this plays a role in Isakis loathing because at that time he is a part of the group and he sees the world the same as they do so he is more then willing to die an honorable death for his country and like the rest of the group it irritates him that Miyabe is not willing to do the same. Furthermore the group dislikes Miyabe so by following the group Isaki is also led to dislike Miyabe. 6. Shudan ishiki’s negative effect in this film is that it helps to create an entire army of people more ready to die just to win one battle then save their own lives so they can help to see their country to a bright future. Groupism also led to to no one challenging the higher ups because they led the group and made decisions for the group, this inability to challenge the group led to the special attack unit which was a suicide squad that was ultimately a failure that did way more harm than good. 7. Both films feature main characters who are seen as weak cowards too afraid to do what is right for their country and its people, even though what they did was justified and their beliefs were right all along. Bushido is abundantly present in this film it is mainly shown in the way many of the Japanese air force acted, what they believe, and how they lived their mostly short lives. I think the Bushido way of thinking brainwashed many soldiers to a degree, causing them to forget about the future and think only of the war. For example when Miyabe asks Oishi about what he would do after the war he initially has no answer and he looks as if it just dawned on him that their could be a life outside the war.  8. Miyabe switched planes with Oishi. In all honesty it is unclear as to exactly why Miyabe switched planes with Oishi but if i had to guess he knew Oishi was the kind of man that would care for his family if Miyabe died, and Oishi had saved Miyabes life once Miyabe could be returning the favor. Finally Miyabe may not have come to accept his death but he knew that his spirit would live on in those he met during the war. 9. Kageura 10. Bushido, The Bushido way was all over this film and it was interesting to see its portrail in a more modern japan. The Japanese armed forces were clearly built on Bushido values and the way they acted as soldiers was very similar to the samurai. 11. Even after you die you can live on in those whose lives you've changed in a meaningful way.

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #7

1. Hedataru to Najimu ”Hedataru means to separate one thing from another, Najimu to become attached to, become familiar with, or used to”(Ikeno/Davies 109) “Hedatari is removed by giving the signal that others can approach or by showing an intention of becoming closer by offering a gift” (Ikeno/Davies 110) Hedataru to Najimu is an interesting concept because like many other terms we have analysed it lays out clear steps to take in social interactions and how to become friends with a stranger. I believe this concept is present in American society but it is much more muted and varies greatly from person to person, some people are open books and you can know a lot about them in the very early parts of your relationship, but other people are more secretive and closed off and you can know them for years and still not know many things about them. I think Japanese people think this way because they value personal space and avoiding sudden intrusions of that personal space, it also seems that they value having a clear system to human interactions allowing them to avoid conflicts and understand others easier. Finally Japan is a small country and everyone is in close proximity so having established social boundaries would be quite helpful. 2. Shudan Ishiki “In Japanese society, people are primarily group-oriented and give more priority to group harmony than individuals” (Ikeno/Davies 195) “There is no doubt that the harmony of the group is vitally important to Japanese society.(Ikeno/Davies 196) The value that Japanese people place on a group always fascinates me, their view on groups and how much value is placed on them is a basic human instinct made social law. I believe that a being part of a group should be held in high regard but giving up parts of yourself and even free thought should not occur just because the group says so. This concept is present in America but not nearly to this degree yes there are groups of people that exclude others and think mostly as one but even in those groups at least some will think and act separately from the group. In America the group is valued but not necessary for life, and even more value is placed on the individual and free thought. Japanese people may think this way because in Japan you want to be part of a group to find harmony in life. 3. The Do Spirit of Japan “Many Japanese expressions contain the kanji do, and these words reflect a wide range of meanings”(Ikeno/Davies 71) ”The formalization of do practices began in the mid-Edo period”(Ikeno/Davies 76) The spirit of do is in all honesty confusing to me from what ive gathered its a system of learning and practices in education and business. The closest thing to this in America would be the board of education which establishes standards for how children are educated but even then not all schools teach children in the same way and it mostly varies from state to state. Japanese people may think this way because this way of thinking has been present for many, many years and lays out a clear structure on how to do most everything. They may enjoy it because it simply makes life easier.

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #6

1. The first of Magoza’s actions that demonstrate Bushido was giving up his free life to follow the orders of squire Oishi. He was so loyal to the man he considered his master that he was willing to give up his freedom. Magoza’s second act of Bushido was committing Seppuku after he had completed his orders. By committing Seppuku he upheld the Bushido ideals of honor and loyalty for a samurai is to live his life in a way that will never disgrace himself or his master. 2. Giri is a strict set of social norms that must be followed and will be followed, also Japanese people highly value Giri and the harmony it brings to relationships. When compared to the American obligation Giri is very clearly a set of rules while obligation is something you should do but in all honestly most people dont or put very little effort into, also an obligation is seen as something bothersome since it cuts into your freedom to do as you please. 3. Giri is an obligation to return favors and pleasantries to others when they are presented to you. Giri is shown in the film when Magoza presents the vase to Shuichiro, and in return Shichiro takes him to the puppet show. Bushido is a warriors code of honor and loyalty to oneself and to ones master. Bushido is best shown by all of Magazo’s actions throughout the film but especially giving up his entire future to raise squire Oishi’s daughter and seeing too it that she is happily married. 4. When Oishi asks Magoza to raise his daughter for him this displays the ie system because Oishi wants his bloodline to continue. The other example of the ie system is when Shuchiro allows his son Chaya to marry Kane even though he is also interested marrying her, this displays ie because by allowing chaya to marry Kane the shuchiro household is guranteed to last much longer than if she married his father. 5.Since Magoza is not a blood relative of Kane she does not need to be submissive or loyaly to him, this cause conflict between them causing many situations when her and Magoza argue and she defies him.  6. I think this data is skewed towards men because Japan for many years has  seen the man the only one possible of running the household and deserving the respect of others. I also think that as time goes on there will soon be a 50/50 split on those who believe men are treated better and those who believe both are treated equally.  Based on my life experiences women and men are both deserving of equal treatment and both have the potential to succeed professionally and provide for the the family. So in my opinion Men and Women are equals. Finally I am certain as time goes on Japanese women will be just as well if not more resepected than japanese men. 7. This scene best represents Bushido because Magoza was so loyal to squire Oishi him simply fleeing the battle made no sense to Kichi. Kichi himself says that there was none more loyal to Oishi than Magazo he even describes Magoza as Oishi’s shadow. 8.”Seppuku or death by disembowelment” (Ikeno/Davies 46). I believe Magoza committed seppuku because he had completed his order and he believed it was time he had his honorable death. I also think he thought of himself as a dead man walking and that the true Magoza died with the other 46 Ronin. I understand why Magoza committed seppuku but i dont think it was necessary he had already proven his loyalty by following Oishi’s orders for 16 years after his death. 9. I think aimai was a concept that was executed well in this film. In almost all of Magozo’s interactions he uses Aimai because he knows once he has completed his duty his life on earth will end. The scene where it was most clear was when he was talking with Mistress Yui before he commits seppuku. 10. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and i thought it was a fantastic representation of many Japanese customs especially Bushido

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #5

Bushido “ethics that were formed among the samurai” (Ikeno/Davies p. 41) “all samurai had to live admirably and honorably in order not to have regrets when they died (Ikeno/Davies p. 45) I had heard of the Bushido ways before but i had never looked into them in depth. I have nothing but respect for the Bushido lifestyle, being able to devote oneself to what they believe in and having that level of loyalty is amazing to me. In american society its hard to find an example of a Bushido type loyalty except for within the military but even there the level of loyalty is nowhere near as great as the samurai because most Americans look out for themselves first and foremost. I think the Bushido style of thought is less prevalent in Japan because many people are not satisfied with simply living for someone elses gain. Yes loyalty is a respectable and admirable trait in Japan but their is also a strong sense of using individual skill to move up the ladder in life. Overall the way the book puts it is perfect Bushido’s relevance to Japanese life depends on the individual  Giri “Moral principles or duty, rules one has to obey in social relationships, and behavior one is obligated to follow or that must be done against ones will” (Matsumura 1988 p. 653). “Many giri customs that came into being in the past continue to be important in Japanese life” (Ikeno/Davies p. 99) Giri is an interesting concept to me because in many social situations you are expected to return a favor or provide a favor to others, such as when someone is walking behind you and you go through a door it is proper to hold the door for them. What makes it interesting is that in American society although this may be the right thing to do its not necessary or expected so many people simply don’t do little things like that. In American society it is taught that you should be kind to others and return favors but it is not a social requirement you may lose the respect of others for not being kind and returning favors but you are free to live your life as you choose. Japanese people most likely think this way because of how much the value harmony amongst all people and that they want to avoid conflict. It is much easier for them to practice giri then to go head to head with one another and risk a disruption of the harmony in human relationships. Ie System “a network of households related through their respective heads” (Ikeno/Daviesp.119) “adoption was an important means of continuing the ie”(Ikeno/Davies p.121) Ie is a concept i can relate too and understand at least in the modern sense. It makes total sense to me that a parent would have greater control over their childs lives until they were old enough to sustain themselves without their parents. What i understand but dont approve of is the concept of the eldest man/husband essentially ruling the home and the people within it as a king like figure. In American society modern day Ie is most definitely present in most nuclear families one parent brings in the cash and has say over what is done with most of the money and until a certain age children are expected to listen too and respect their parents wishes. Japanese people probably think this way because they value harmony within the home and with each other, but most importantly they value a system that respects elders and loyalty to the family.

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog entry #4

1. The scene where the school girl tries to give Akira money she got from hanging out with an older gentleman. Akiras response to being handed the money is to yell no and slap her hand away, this response is quite ambiguous and can be seen as virtuous because with that no Akira says many things but the most clear ones are I do not want money earned in a shady way, and whats wrong with you you're better than this and you don’t need to sell yourself just for us. I view protecting a lady from something that could potentially cause her harm to be quite virtuous. 2. In the scene where Akira confronts his mother and tells her shes a bad mom, there is a lot of ambiguity to that statement, because he lets the statement linger and does not elaborate on it, this gives way to the statement potentially meaning many things, firstly that shes a bad mom but also that shes a bad person and what shes doing is wrong, finally that shes putting her needs in front of her children's. 3. In all honesty it doesn't seem like there is much of a difference between what american and Japanese children do daily. I’d say the two major differences are that the children have much more independence and that their homework is more intensive. When i was a young child my life was pretty much the same as what I have of a Japanese child’s  except for the fact that i barely left my home except to go to school. 4. Clearly in this film the Uchi are Akira, Shigeru, Yuki, and Kyoko. I do not include their mother because shes only a part of the group in the beginning once they hit the middle of the movie she basically doesn't exist. The children are very clearly following Uchi they tend to try to avoid conflict amongst themselves and they respect the order of authority in the household. Akira is the oldest/most mature so he cares for everyone in the home an acts as another parent for his siblings, his siblings very rarely challenge him and they clearly respect him or else they would defy him at every turn. The Soto to this group is most of society but most clearly the landlords. The landlords are always avoided and lied too, so that they remain as far away from the group as possible, if the landlords were not seen as the other they would upset the order of the home.   5. In the scene where Akria gets his moms phone number at her new job and calls her, when she answers the phone he says nothing and then hangs up. I really cannot wrap my head around what this silence met why would he not say something about how bad things were getting without her around and how bad they needed money. If i was in Akira’s shoes i would scold my mother and demand that she either returns to the home, tells her man about her kids, or send enough money for us to sustain ourselves for upwards of a year. I Overall i found this use of Chinmoku unbelievably confusing as an american who will speak his mind loud and proud when he needs help to survive. 6. She died and her body was taken to see the planes. 7. I believe Yuki’s death will cause Akira and Kyoko to go to the police and child welfare so that they can keep on living. I assume they would all be sent to some sort of foster home and then sent out to different families looking to adopt. Even with the money their mother gave them it will eventually reach the point where they’re broke and have no way to sustain themselves. 8. I found this film to be interesting to say the least. In many ways the film was cruel especially seeing the children’s mother consciously neglect them for months at a time. In America i don’t think a film like this could exist and carry the same impact. Mainly because there is so much support for orphans and it is way harder to just ditch your kids in America, there are way to many records that tie you to your children. Finally because a child of Akiras age roaming the streets alone would be seen as odd and be reported to authorities by a concerned citizen fairly quickly, also the landlords would be much more persistent about the bills and most likely find out that the mother had abandoned her children. 9.  At first i was trying to be keen and analyze this film but as the film went on i just began to enjoy the film for what it was and i was enveloped in the characters lives. Chinnmoku is definitely a concept i just cant wrap my head around. I think i can’t quite understand it because I am an american and the way i was raised was to avoid silence in conversations because that silence represents something negative about the current state of the conversation. 

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #3

Aimai “a state in which there is more than one intended meaning, resulting in obscurity, indistinctness, and uncertainty.” (Ikeno/Davies p9) “If a person really wanted to say no, he or she said nothing at first, then used vague expressions that conveyed the nuance of disagreement.”(Ikeno/Davies p10)   Although aimai may be polite i dont see it being very effective, it is adding steps to conversation that simply don’t need to be there and with these extra steps  conversations drag on much longer than they need to. Coming from an american background it makes much more sense to me to speak my mind when i disagree with someone so that i can get the conversation over with as soon as possible, i don’t need to be polite if im never going to speak with that person again because our differences are too great. As far as conversation with friends or family i would and have used aimai because you do not want to hurt the feelings of friends and family unless there is no avoiding it. I think Japanese people think this way because it brings them comfort, they clearly value being polite and giving people the time of day, and when you give people the time of day it makes them feel important and if everyone is listening and being polite with everyone else than a general sense of comfort is created amongst people in society Uchi to Soto “Uchi can be defined as 1 inside, 2 my house and home, 3 the group that we belong to, and 4 my wife or husband; in contrast, soto means 1 the outside, 2 outdoors, 3 other groups, and 4 outside the home” (Kokugo Jiten, 1991, pp. 99 & 706). “people make strong distinctions between inside and outside to feel a sense of security within their groups” (Ikeno/Davies p219) Uchi to Soto definitely goes beyond Japanese culture and is present in almost every culture, although it is much more clearly outlined and practiced in Japan. I like the concept of Uchi to Soto because its true and there are examples of it in everyday life. As an american Uchi to Soto is definitely present in our society but as time has passed it is much more enforced and normal in our culture too try and be inclusive to all people regardless of your relationship too them. Yes there are many people who have a fear and hatred of outsiders but as time goes on they are becoming a vocal minority. I assume Japanese people think this way because family is of the utmost importance to them and those outside the family who cannot help  the family are not worth the time of day. Chinmoku “what is important and what is true in japan will often exist in silence” (Ikeno/Davies p52) “Silence also means defiance and indifference in Japanese life.” (Ikeno/Davies p55). I personally dislike silence in my conversations, not because it as seen as awkward but because that means that the conversation is dying and no one has any new ideas. When i am talking with my friends and we hit a long period of silence a feeling of dread may com over me because i’m enjoying the time I’m spending with these people and i do not want it to end. Generally Americans view silence in conversations as rude or awkward and something to be avoiding, yes there are times when silence can be valuable but for the most part we want to avoid it. Japanese people might think this way because conversation for them is like a game and they need time to think before they make a decision on what to say or else they will face social shame and discomfort.

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #2

 #1 Jiro always approaches his job in a serious and meaningful way, the way he approaches his job is a perfect example of Gambari. Since he approaches his job in a serious and meaningful way, the way he acts with his son at work is the same way he acts with any of his employs, because he wants them to work hard and earn their place at his or their own restaurants. #2 I do not believe Yoshikazu will ever exceed Jiro’s gambari. Despite him being clearly talented and a hard worker through and through, his true passion clearly isn’t making sushi and running Jiro’s resturant. He may be passionate about his work at Jiro’s resturant but it wasn’t always his dream like it was for Jiro. For these reasons i dont think Yoshikazu exceed jiro’s gambari #3 At some point during the documentary Jiro says that he doesn’t do this for the money or the fame he simply does it because its what hes passionate about. I believe this to be Kenkyo because despite him being unbelievably talented and having the best sushi in the world he still sees it as simply his passion and nothing more. #4 Jiro is clearly important to the restaurants image and its fame but when it comes to the quality of the food it can clearly be handled by Yoshikazu, but even though Yoshikazu can match Jiro’s sushi quality he will never be able to top his fame and the respect hes earned over the years, once Jiro passes on I imagin Yoshikazu will have to earn the respect of the customers once again. #5 I believe Enryo is present in Jiro’s relationship with Takashi,because by allowing Takashi to start his own resturant Jiro is restraining the time he spends with Takashi and allowing him to blossom on his own, he is giving Takashi much more freedom then Yoshikazu. the scene that exemplified this is when Takashi speaks with the documentors about starting his own resturant and the talk he had with Jiro beforehand #6 The advantage of Gambari in the U.S. is that if your work hard to achieve what you have you appreciate the things you have more, it also helps you develop a good sense of what you need versus what you want. The disadvantage of Gambari in the U.S. is that sometimes hard work doesn't always pay off and you can work your whole life towards a goal and never reach it. Furthermore somethings are beyond your control and working hard unfortunately cannot change a bad hand dealt by fate

#7 “ Once you decide on your occupation...you must immerse yourself in your work.You have to fall in love with your work.Never complain about your job.You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill.That's the secret of success...and is the key to being regarded honorably. “ I believe this is the best Jiro quote because it clearly represents the mindset needed to engage in gambari but it also gives insight into the Japanese way of viewing your career. I mainly chose this quote because i agree with and respect what Jiro is saying here and I wish i could view work as he does. #8 Gambari is the most difficult for me to understand because in American society and what I have seen from my parents just because you work hard does not mean you are happy. Hard work can be stressful and if you are working on something non-stop eventually that stress will crush you. I respect the mindset of someone who practices gambari but I could never do it myself because at my core i am a lazy human being and always looking for the easiest way to do things. Also in america people who make decent money and have a good amount of free time are seen as lucky so i have always strived towards that kind of lifestyle. 

[aodhanmb-blog]

Blog Entry #1

Amae 

“Depending on the benevolence of others” (Ikeno/Davies,, 17)

“The concept of amae may have been important in order to maintain the solidarity of the group” (Ikeno/Davies, 19) 

I find amae very interesting and a good way to describe the bonds between those you are close to. Amae seems to be present to a certain degree in American culture but it is much less important and is not the foundation of most relationships. Japanese people may think this way because relationships to those around them means more culturally, also this concept has been present since the creation of Japanese society.

Gambari  

“A frequently used word in Japan, with the meaning of doing one’s best and hanging on”(Ikeno/Davies, 83)

“gambaru is defined in the following ways: (1) to work hard and patiently, (2) to insist on having ones way and, (3) to occupy one place and never leave” (Ikeno/Davies 84)

I feel that Gambari is an impressive trait to have but it is also a double edged sword, being able to work diligently and patiently to achieve your goals is admirable but once it begins to harm your health and social life it is something to be less respected. In american society those who work hard do tend to achieve their dreams, but they tend to be more introverted and less socially adept, while those who don’t work as hard may not achieve their dreams but will have large social circles. Japan seems to be a nation built upon hard work and achieving your goals through hard work, and if you don’t work hard you are looked down upon, its these two reasons i believe that Japanese people think this way

 HonnetoTatemae

“Honne is ones deep motive or intention, while tatemae refers to motives or intentions that are socially-tuned, those that are shaped, encouraged or suppressed by majority norms (Honna & Hoffer, 1986, p.940″ (Ikeno/Davies 115)

“The Japanese do not like to express themselves in a straightforward manner for fear that it might hurt other’s feelings” (Ikeno/Davies 116)

I believe the concept of Honne & Tatemae goes beyond japanese culture and is a social concept present in many if not all cultures, but to be fair it is nowhere near as strongly represented anywhere else but within Japanese culture. As I said earlier i believe this exists to some degree in all cultures and societies, but depending on the culture it is more or less clearly represented. I believe Japanese people think this way because they highly value being straightforward, respect, and harmony, by following HonnetoTatemae they can exemplify these characteristics in day to day interactions.

Kenkyo

“when Japanese people give presents or introduce themselves they commonly add modest expressions” (Ikeno/Davies 147)

“Today Japanese society is rapidly changing” (Ikeno/Davies 148)

The ideas of kenkyo and keigo are clearly changing when viewed from an international standpoint, and this change may be good for relationships between japan and other nations but maybe not the best for its citizens and how they have come to know social norms. The way Japanese social norms are changing reminds me of things we value in america such as individualism and a strong sense of self worth. Japanese people most likely think this way because internationally they are being viewed as timid and passive and they need to make some changes in how they interact with each other to make it clear what their intentions are.