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B10

1. One thing that i learned is that Geisha’s carry themselves with the highest form of grace and elegance. their so called beauty comes from from their “skills” not because of the way their bodies are, and they symbolize the beauty in art and woman as a people and an art. To them they aren’t a prostitute. They accompany men to tea houses, they live in houses called Chikyo and they live as “Art”. 

2. i have always found beauty in storms which is associated with darkness and sometimes destruction, or even being scared. But for me its something that is very special. It's a cleansing of the world, its a calming moment that is meant ot be enjoyed not feared. I have always felt at peace when it storms, i feel happy and excited yet calm and peaceful at the same time. 

3. Personally i don't think that this movie lost anything with it being in English. FOr starters the japanese words that had special meanings were still used repeatedly throughout the movie, second the silence and Ambiguity was still used very well and represented perfectly throughout the film as well. and lastly when it came to the ending of the movie when it showed how the chairmen felt he thought she was beautiful when she was at her wits end and or her lowest point. 

4. For us here in America we have Christmas which happens within the Winter time, the trees have went sleep and snow blankets the landscape. Special songs are written about winter and the holidays to help celebrate it but in America people only focus on the holiday itself. While in Japan i fee; they would focus more on the Season tan the holidays,they would care more about the weather and the snow and things along those lines because they have always been more appreciative of mother nature and the things that she has to offer. 

5. I feel that the Chairman thought that the entire film was a perfect example of this, he was very patient and had waited several years before telling Sayuri how he truly feels about her. He also pities his friend Nobu for not being able to achieve happiness even after he allows him to have a chance with Sayuri. 

6. A definition of Wabi Sabi is finding the beauty in the simple things in life or things that are “Broken”. Itts finding the beauty in things that other people wouldn't find beautiful. In America we Value almost the same things as they do, but with a few other things like extravagance. Many of the things that the Japanese find beautiful today are because of what WabiSabi, without it they would be viewed as ugly, worthless, disgusting and or pointless, not just there but also here in the America. 

7.One scene that clearly shows Wabi Sabi would be when Sayuri dances for the Geisha. When she is, the dance she performs is very lackluster, its very jumbled and chaotic it lacks elegance, but they find the beauty that lies within the dance and appreciates it to an extent, the out fit she is wearing also plays a role in it as well.  

8. When the time came it turned out that she indeed did fail at becoming the head or successor to the Geisha house, and once she heard news of this she was upset and left before returning shortly after attempting to burn it down a sad fitful rage. For me i found it hard and unclear to tell what their exact relationship was but different context clues throughout the movie suggest that they will end up as lovers. Sayuri definitely becomes happy about her life towards then end because she ends up with the man of her dreams and the man she loves. 

9. One thing that happened was the mother ended up adopting Sayuri instead of Pumpkin even thought the mother promised to adopt pumpkin. Pumpkin was definitely given the short end of the stick here in this situation. and this wasnt the first time this had happened, she had truly endured this throughout her entire life, and she never truly got what she deserves.

10. Throughout the move the terms Amae, Wabi Sabi, and Bigaju were all shown continuously throughout the film. i find this to be true because of what the Geisha are. They have all of these qualities and they are somewhat even the terms themselves. 

11. i enjoyed the movie to an extent and found it to be somewhat interesting, i enjoyed the fact that they incorporated all of the different aspects that could had had an impact on their every day life and how in depth they took their cultural customs. 

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B16

1. One thing that I have noticed is that most of the Japanese people classify as Buddhist / Shinto because of the ways their culture and or religion came into existence. They had adopted ideas from both of these religions and had maintained them since then. By the term Itoko-Dori they find this to be an alright thing to do and follow, the reason why is because its something they have always done, always taking the best ideas from other things and adding it to their own. 

2. There were a few scenes but the on that stood out the most to me was when the boss of Daigo and himself received a gift from the boy's father. “the boy that would dress as a girl.” 

3.Nokanashi are people that take the deceased and help prepare the body for its final trip into the afterlife, what they do is they cleanse the body and dress it and also put makeup on it “beautifying the body” in front of the person's friends and loved ones. When viewed by others it seen as a job that isn't a good job and or a proper job, and is often viewed as a lesser job and or a job that is looked down upon by others. At the very start Daigo finds the job to be very odd and he has a very strong dislike for it, and wants to hide it from his friends and family, but as time progresses he of course ends up enjoying the job. He finds the beauty within it and the happiness and joy it brings to others. As time progressed and news got out about the job he was performing his wife finds it nauseating and wrong and disgusting thus leading her to leave him for several untill she sees him one day performing one and finds the beauty of it as well and comes back to him. 

4. The biggest Japanese funerals and American funerals would have to be the ceremony and or the process that they both undergo. Here in America the bodies are prepared before hand, they are cleansed and dressed and pampered before it is seen by the public, but in the Japanese culture it is all done in front of the friends and family members. This is more of a religious act and it is meant to help move that person on from the physical world into the spirit world. 

5. The stone represent how his father feels towards him, it shows how much the father loves him and cares for him. 

6. yes, i feel that Daigo was able to meet his father but he met him in a way that was unusual, he met him after he had died. in a more of a spiritual sense. 

7. For me, i feel that Gambari applies very very well to this film because of Daigo. He is constantly working and he is working hard no matter what the hardships are. Another word that comes to mind is the word Orogibanashi, this is demonstrated when Daigo tells the story of the stones he received to Mika. 

8. I learned that this is a very ceremonial act, it's something that is very very important and is used to deliver them to the spirit realm and is to be held with the highest form of respect for that person. Passing that person on with the love and good blessing of its loved ones and family members. I found the movie to be somewhat entertaining, i feel that it gave a good example and view of all the work people had to do that had that job but also in a less morbid way. 

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B15

Soshiki 

“As a consequence, modern buddhist-style funerals in Japan are still greatly influenced by the Shinto traditions.” (Ikeno / Davies, 202) 

“Shinto, which originated in Japan in ancient times, emphasized the importance by Shinto traditions.” (Ikeno / Davies, 202) 

i find this to be very interesting because Japanese funerals seem to be very ceremonial and have lots to do with traditions and rituals that all lead into their way of saying goodbye to the on died and wishes them a safe travel. In American society i feel that it can be very different, when we have funerals here its more of just an open casket and we each walk up and say our goodbyes before leaving and or putting the coffin into the ground. i feel that the Japanese are this way because they are very tradition oriented.

Zoto 

“Most important, both Ochugen and Oseibo must be sent every year continuously if relationships are to be maintained. “ (Ikeno / Davies, 235) 

“In New Year’s Day, they traditionally receive New Year’s cards, not only fro relatives and close friends but form old friends, bosses, business partners, colleagues, and almost all of ones acquaintances.” ( Ikeno / Davies, 234) 

I personally think that this would be extremely difficult to keep up with and maintain all together, mainly because it seems to be something that can hold a lot of stress for people, constantly having to sendoff gifts and thank yous to the people who you receive the gifts from. Herein America we have this to an extent of giving gifts to or friends and loved ones but we only do this on specific holidays we don’t do this for things like the new year. I feel that the Japanese are like this because of their cultural backgrounds and things along those lines. 

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B14

1. All throughout the movie there were examples of Iitoki-dori. An example of this would be when Sen conformed to the new rules of the spirit world after she was trapped there. the reason for doing this is because if she didn’t she wouldn't be able to get her parents back and she would also be turned into a big fat pig as well. A more specified example of this would be when she got rid of her old clothes and put on her spirit world outfit. 

2. Considering Nemawashi i feel that Yubara didn't use Nemawashi because she wanted to have all of the power that she could posses within the that realm, and she didn't want to have the threat of someone being able to overthrow her. i feel that if she used Nemawashi she would have more free time and the power would be more of a hierarchy instead of a stern ruler. 

3. The relationship between Rin and Sen represent Sempai-Kohai because Rin gives orders to Sen repeatedly throughout the movie, for example when he was asked to go prepare the bath and how Rin took care of sen throughout the movie. 

4. Considering Otogibanashi, i think that this concept is shown repeatedly throughout the movie, the reason for me saying this is because the parents are morphed into pigs, this leads into the concept of nature which plays a huge role in the movie. 

5. Sen broke the bond that they had by saving Haku because she loved him from the very start. When it came time for her to make a deal with Ybaba she said that if she was to chose the correct pigs out of the pack, Yubaba would rip up her contract and set her and her parents free. 

6. i feel that at some point in the future Haku would be able to get some power back from Yubaba and perhaps even eventually overthrow her and get back all of his power and perhaps even set everyone free by terminating their contracts. 

7. a difference would be the use of Otogibanashi and the use of nature throughout the film, most of the time in American cartoons the animals are personified but in this Japanese cartoon or Anime the animals were just animals they weren't personified and they were sued to help teach a lesson. 

8. some prior concepts that were shown in the film would be things like Giri, because of how the sprit with no face and or “No-Face” was extremely obsessed with paying back Sen for letting him into the house and showing him kindness when no one else would. Another goode example of something that showed up in the movie would be Gambari, the reason why i say Gambari is because Sen worked endlessly to complete her task to free her parents. 

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B13

Nemawashi

“They prefer to reach a solution as amicable as possible, and there is a tendency to compromise with others by laying groundwork, referred to in Japanese as nemawashi, before reaching a final agreement.” (Ikeno / Davies, 159) 

“As a rule, it is necessary to have a consensus before reaching decisions in Japan.” (Ikeno / Davies, 160) 

I personally don’t agree with this because i think that being able to voice your opinion is very crucial to someones moral and mental state. Its important because it can improve your life in many ways. Here in America people tend to think for themselves and think about their feelings over others and will most often take the route that best suits their needs. i think that the Japanese are like this because they are afraid of social conflict and will most often want to avoid it, being in fear of being removed or shunned from social groups.  

Sempai-Kohai 

“In Japanese companies, in particular, people put more emphasis on age than ability because the system of wages and promotions is based on seniority rules. “ (Ikeno / Davies, 188) 

“The Collapse of bubble economy has caused high unemployment, the even senior executives have lost their jobs.” (Ikeno / Davies, 188) 

I don’t agree with this because i feel that it is unfair to be compensated by age and gender instead of work ethic. i feel that it should be based off of how much you work, how hard you work, and how you view the job. Within American culture that aspect of respecting your elders is upheld to an extent but i feel that it would never reach that level of respect the Japanese have for their elders. But unfortunately businesses here in America do tend to want to higher younger people over older people.  I think the Japanese people are like this because of the IE System that they have and follow, how the most powerful role within the family and the most dynamic role is given to the eldest. 

litoko Dori 

“In fact, there is another important reason: Japan has a long-stablished tradition of adopting elements for “Foreign culture” and adapting them to Japanese use.” (Ikeno / Davies, 127) 

“AS a result of a long history of iiyoki-dori, the Japanese are able to change their sense of values in a short time and with little difficulty.” (Ikeno / Davies. 130) 

i find this to be interesting because growing up in America we are forced to blend with other ethnicities. In American culture we sort of have this going on but not to the Japanese extent. i believe the Japanese are like this because they were in the process of trying to modernize. 

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B12

1. For me here was only a select few that demonstrated Ryosaikenbo. But a scene that stuck out to me was when keiko was giving a description Suzu’s life and she emphasized how boring some parts of her life must have been with the constant orders and being strictly obedient. Another scene that stuck out to mew as when her and her family were prepping for survival against the incoming air raids and how they had to gather supplies and ready shelters ect. Another example that i thought of was when she first arrived at the house, when she did so she took up a huge quantity of the household chores, as well as many other things because the main woman who did it “her Mother-in law” was in capable of doing it. 

2. there are many differences between Suzu’s and a stereotypical attitude of an American woman. One of the differences that stood out to me was Suzu is very obedient and serves to the families every need instead of doing things for herself. All throughout the film it is very obvious that she didn't want to marry and or live with Shusaku but once again she did it to please those around her especially her Mother / Grandmother. Another example of her being selfless is when she stayed back at the house and did choose and all the housework and cared for others despite her wanting to be an artist. An American woman wouldn’t have married someone that they didn't want to marry, they would have persuade their dreams and passions instead of being a housewife, and lastly they would speak whats on their mind. 

3. A scene that that really showed Ikuji to me would be when Keiko first arrived at the house, When she did Hojo’s ad a very strong dislike for little Suzu. She was always testing her, yelling at her, ordering her around and treating her in a way that she shouldn’t be testing her. And not once did Suzu argue or disagree with her, she followed what she was told to do and did it without hesitation. 

4. in the film the process of Oimai is shown when Shusaku and is father go to Suzu’s home and they ask to marry her. Then it appears again when Suzu and her family arrive at Shusaku’s home and his aunt mentions she would act as if she was a matchmaker fir the wedding. And lastly it is shown by Suzu when she is expected to take care of Shusaku’s family when he is away at work. 

5. When Suzu and Harumi found the bomb they hadn't realized that it was a bomb, but by the time they realized that it was a bomb it detonated and killed Harumi and Suzu lost her right hand because thats the hand that she was holding onto Harumi with. 

6. Once the Atomic bomb went off Sumi described how she and her father went into the city to find her mother as well as her father. But at one point she her father fell ill and ended up dying shortly after he got sick. Sumi also became ill due to the radiation poising form the Atomic bomb. But because the bomb that was dropped was so new they weren't sure what was wrong with her and assumed that she would in time, get better. 

7. Considering the relationship between men in America i feel that the biggest difference that was shown within the film would be the power that each member holds. Within the film Suzu is taught and shown what and where her place is within the social ladder and that she is to be nothing but obedient to her family and her husband. It is also shown throughout the movie that she is to take care of household chores and things like that while her family is away at work. i feel that this is so different from todays society in America. The reason why i say this is because in todays society women are allowed to choose wha they want to do and choose what they are able to accomplish in life and accomplish carrier wise, and they are able to do what they please they aren’t limited by what they can accomplish. 

8. i think that a pro to using Anime/ animation to portray a movie like this is because it is able to reach a wider range of audience with it. i feel that it has the capability of appealing to all ages, children and adults. i think that it is just overall better because it seems to be more effective when it comes to drawing people in, i feel that using real life things and people are less appealing. 

9. A term that i feel that was displayed within the film would be the Japanese IE system. My reason for doing this is because with in the film they had a social ladder of sorts that they are all put into and follow. 

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B11

Ikuji 

“From a critical point of view, the Japanese concept of “good child” places too much emphasis on adaptability to the society or groups, resulting in adults who tend to be indecisive and leave problems to other people, often avoiding personal responsibility and giving into others.” (Ikeno / Davis, 139) 

“It is necessary to establish childrearing practices in Japan that enable children to develop real independence, having their own brand of self-assertion, as well as a cooperative spirit, rather than a sense of bind and unthinking obedience.” (Ikeno / Davis, 139) 

i find this to be very interesting that they have implemented these types of rules and thoughts into their children because here in America we tell our children and were told ourselves thats its ok to be different and that you want to be unique and special because that makes you stand out from the others and it makes you who you are now. and i feel that the Japanese are like this because it has to do with being seen inside and outside of groups as well as conforming to social norms and wanting to be liked and accepted ect instead of shunned and pushed away from the others.   

Ryosaikenbo 

“to be a “good wifree” in Meiji times meant to support one’s husband, while in the Edo period women simply had to be obedient to their spouses. The educational system of the Meji era emphasized schooling for girls as well as boys because it was considered that they would ass become mothers in the future and thus have a formative influence on their children’s education.” (Ikeno / Davis, 180) 

“The social expectations of women, for example, that they should be beautiful, kind, sensible, do housework well, and be obedient to their husbands, reflect mothers’ attitudes toward their daughters.” (Ikeno / Davis, 182) 

i agree with some parts of it and i disagree with other parts of it. i feel that it is correct that women should be able to get their education and be able to attend school but i disagree with the fact that it could be taken away. in todays generation there are still parts of the world where its a crime for women to get their education and or attend school / college and it gets worse than that if you continue to look into it. Here in America women had to fight in order to get that right and the right to do many other things as well like voting, working, schooling ect. And i feel that its only right that they are able to do these things. i feel that the Japanese are this way because its something that they . have always went by and something that they have always seemed to incorporate into their lives but as time continued on they seemed to become influenced by out externalities. 

Danjyo Kankei 

“In the distant past, Japan was a matrilineal society in which women had rights to succeed to the property of a family, and there were many female leaders. Men and women seem to have had equal relations socially, politically, and economically in their daily lives.” (Ikeno / Davis, 61) 

“The Japanese language also has a great many expressions used only for females, which sometimes make fun of women or dictate how they should behave.” (Ikeno / Davis, 63) 

i personally cant relate to any of this because i myself am not female but i still disagree with it because i feel that Women should be Viewed equally as men. But i can see where they are coming from to an extent! i know that in many places of the world Women are still viewed as less than Men. I feel that here in America that problem still occurs where men are less than women and i feel that it shouldn't be that way, i feel that as the days continue women are continuing to fight for their rights and are fighting to be equal. i feel that the Japanese are this way because they have been influenced by outside sources and i feel that new minds that raised up within their culture have implanted this feeling of Women being less than Men into them and it has started to become something that they cant quite rid themselves of. 

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B9

Bigaku

“that the Japanese sense of beauty is based n concept known as mono no aware, a kind of aesthetic value that comes from feelings, While in Western art, people try to construct something of beauty with a logic of what is beautiful.” (Ikeno / Davis, 37)

“This is not the case with Japanese sense of aware-people are aware of the beauty of full blossoms, of course, but are more touched and deeply moved wen the blossoms are falling or beginning to wilt. ” (Ikeno / Davis, 37)

i fully agree with what they are saying and how they view beauty. They are saying that Beauty comes from within and that there is beauty in every living thing. I feel that in American society we have all strayed away from inner beauty and everyone is now becoming consumed with needing the gratification of others in order to feel beautiful. i feel that the Japanese are this way because they have always normally stuck with their old ways. 

Kisetsu 

“The modern Japanese have in inherited these attitudes from their ancestors, which is why the seasons are still closely connected with contemporary Japanese life , and this sense of the seasons has had a great influence on Japanese lifestyles, annual events, and literature.” (Ikeno / Davis, 153) 

“Thus, if the rainy season and the typhoon seas are included, it can be said that japan has six season, (Kawazoe & Kuwabara, 1972). (Ikeno / Davis, 153) 

i understand this to an extent i find it somewhat confusing to me, but their rainy season i suppose could be translated to like out Tornado season and or flood seasons. Here in America i feel that this is something we don’t usually worry about and or think about because its usually not something that we have to deal with. and i feel that the Japanese worry and or think about this and or make this a big deal is because they base their farming and goods off of these seasons.

Otogibanashi 

“(”A Bush Warbler and the House”), and it is regarded as one of the most repetitive ofJapanese folktales.” (Ikeno / Davis, 171) 

“This feeling is called aware, and when the Japanese see a woman in grief bearing it with patience, they feel this sense of aware.” (Ikeno / Davis, 171) 

I understand this completely because as a person that grew up on fairy-tales and folktales this is nothing new to me. In American culture this is something that we have as well, its something that adults tell their children as they grow up. sometimes its to ward the children off from doing things or its to help the children to understand ect. I feel that the Japanese are like this because its a tradition that they have always done and or carried out through the generations. 

Wabi-Sabi 

“Simplicity and elegance are often considered two of the essential aesthetic qualities of Japanese culture, they have been important features of Japanese life since ancient times.” (Ikeno / Davis, 223) 

“Wabi is both an aesthetic and moral principle, originating in the medieval eremitic tradition, which emphasized a simple, austere type of beauty, and a serene, transcendental frame of mind yet also points to the enjoyment of a quiet, leisurely life, free from worldly concerns.” (Ikeno / Davis, 223 - 224)

i find this to be very interesting and intriguing because they are all about keeping things simplistic and thats something i can agree with and try to follow myself. with things being simple things tend to be much easier and stress free. Here in America i feel that this is something that is not followed i feel that we are constantly trying to skate around simple things, just like the saying “the easy way out.” I feel that the Japanese have strayed from being this way because of other influences. 

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B8

1.       All throughout the movie there are tons of scenes that show honor and loyalty throughout the movie. For example you see many examples of it with in their army and military. They are willing to put their lives on the line and die for their country, and they also carry their pride with them where ever they go.

2.       For me, when Kentaro, Keko, and Kageura first met I felt that it was definitely a Hedetaru moment. The reason I think this is because of the way they acted when they first interacted it was as if Kageura thought go it was a joke, or something that he wasn’t going to take seriously.

3.       All throughout the movie they portray Miyabe as a coward. They all said that he was a coward and that he was worthless and again a coward because he valued himself and his own life over the countries life, honor, and things along those lines. And that is one of the worst ways you can disrespect your culture and the country.

4.       To me, I feel that he was Soto to Isaki because he thought that, like many of the other soldiers at the time that not giving up your life for your country and honor was one of the most disrespectful and dishonorable thing someone could ever do. But I also feel that he was Soto to the Kamikaze way because he believed that life should be valued and kept out of harm’s way instead of put on the line or given to the wind.

5.       I feel that Isaki had an overwhelming burden of pain and loathing because of how much Bushido weighs down on them and their culture. First, the way that Bushido works within this scenario is that Miyabe was not willing to give up his life for his country, he didn’t want to throw it away, he wanted to save it for his family and keep his promise to his wife to return. This then leads into Isaki’s loathing because at that specific time he is part of a group that sees it as being honorable to throw your life away. Or die an honorable death for his country like the rest of the military and the people within his group would be willing to do.

6.       A negative effect that was put into Ishikis part of the film was used to help make all of the soldiers and such be prepared for what their fate was going to be. This being putting their life on the line and getting ready to die just for the victory of one battle. Then when we talk about Groupism, and how it led into the lack of challenges when it came to people that were higher up because they all made the decisions for them.

7.       For me right off the bat one of the things that I noticed was something about the main characters. They were both considered to be cowards or they had committed some form of act that made themselves look bad and brought dishonor to their country, despite the fact they both were “Justified” by their actions. Bushido appears quite frequently in the way the Japanese air force acted and how they lived and what they believed. I feel that they way that they were brought up and broken in was almost like brainwashing and such, they constantly were telling them that they had nothing to live for outside of the military and that their life belonged to the county.

8.       Miyabe switched plains with Oishi. To me I found this to be unclear as to why he did it. I didn’t understand why he did it in the movie and when we went over it in discussion I still didn’t quite understand why he did what he did. Perhaps it was because he was the only person that really understood what he was meant to do and understood that there was more to life.

9.       I think that the person that saved the Matsuno was Kageura.

10.   Â One that I saw most frequently was Bushido. The reason why is because it was literally displayed all throughout the movie.

11.   There is life after death and its not worth wasting and throwing away. People that you did good onto will carry you on with them and you will “continue to live on” in a sense.  

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What makes me American

To me I feel that there are many different things that defines us as "Americans" more specifically me, as an American. It's something that we are taught, something we are raised in, a way of life that we follow and then we learn about the history of us, of what we are, of the Americas which is supposed to make us feel passionate about being one. But In another sense i also feel that it's just a label that we are given because we were born and raised here, because we are a citizen here. Despite the religious things we do and follow or traditions we do people are still considered to be "American" because they are legal citizens. I think fully that it is a mix of the two. I was born and raised here and I consider myself an American because of what I was taught as I was growing up. What I was told to feel and think about myself and what I was when it came to being an American. It's a feeling of freedom and a feeling if passion. Knowing that there's nothing like being an American. And this was something that when I was younger I was excited about, but now if course as I got older and began to experience the world on my own I've grown to have a love hate relationship for being an American. This is where it leads into being a label. Something I am because I was born here.

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Blog 7

Hedataru to Najimu “Personal space in Japanese human relationships can be symbolized by two words that describe both physical and psychological distance between individuals: hedataru and najimu. Hedataru means “to separate one thing from another, to set them apart,” and it is also used in human relationships with such nuances as “to estrange, alienate, come between, or cause a rupture between friends.” (Ikeno/Davis, 109) “In Japan, relationships are not built by insisting strongly on one’s own point of view but require time, a reserved attitude, and patience.” (Ikeno/Davis, 109) To me Hedataru to Najimu means like, future and present. It means one person is already close to someone else and they have a strong bond with them while the other means that their bond is in the making or will soon become something strong between the two of them. Here in American I feel that there are some things that are similar. Here we have people that we consider to be close to and we tend to share more things with them and be more open around them, and then we have people that we aren’t to close to. People that we aren’t to open to and don’t feel as comfortable with but are willing to strengthen that bond. I feel that the reason why the Japanese are like this is because it is also linked to another vocabulary world/ words it’s a perspective of being viewed as being in a group and or out of a group, meaning friend group wise. Shudan Ishiki “In Japanese society, people are primarily group-oriented and give more priority to group harmony than to individuals.” (Ikeno/Davis, 195) “Most Japanese consider it important virtue to adhere to the values of the groups to which they belong” (Ikeno/Davis, 2915) To me Shudan Ishiki is the description of close nit group of friends, family and loved ones. It’s something that is very common within their society, having a group of friends that you see daily and learn and experience more with. They form their own rules and special connections with each other. Here in America usually we do have some sort of social group of people, family, ect that we hang out with on a daily or end up conversing with but I feel that ours doesn’t go to the extent that the Japanese does. And I feel that once again this is another thing that can be linked to being seen as inside and outside of the group and I believe that they are this way because of their culture and the way that they act when around each other and the way that they were taught to socialize. The Dō Spirit of Japan "many Japanese expressions contain the Kanji dō, and these words reflect a wide range of meanings, from the mundane to the profound." (Ikeno/Davis, 71) "Many of these expressions are used for the traditional Japanese arts, both material and aesthetic; some express religious, philosophical, or spiritual doctrines, others reflect the common usage of everyday life." (Ikeno/Davis, 71) To me The Dō Spirit of Japan is something that has become a big part of the Japanese language and culture, it has become a word with many meanings. It's something that is diverse and well known throughout the culture. It's said that it can explain or mean the most simplistic of things but also express the complex and profound of things. I feel that it is something that you have to have grown up around in order to fully understand it. From an American perspective I feel that we wouldn't be able to comprehend or grasp the full meaning and be able to understand it if it was used in a conversation. Here in America we do have some words that can play a similar role to it, but I don't think that it'd be able to ever reach the level that it's on. Being able to express many things with just one small word. I feel that the Japanese are like this and have conjured up such a word because it's apart of their culture. It's something that they do in order to possibly avoid conflict or to help express inner emotions and feelings more with using less vocabulary. For example they have even been able to use silence as a form of communication.

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Blog 6

1.       Throughout the course of the movie I feel that there are many different scenes that could demonstrate Bushido, but there were some scenes that stood out more than others. The first scene was when he refused to expose the girl he was supposed to protect and watch over and raise “Miss Kane”to anyone despite being torn down by everyone because of his actions during the night of the war. The second scene that stood out to me where Magoza’s actions would have demonstrated Bushido is a scene at the end of the movie where he took his own life after he had completed his mission. This mission being raising Miss Kane, and making sure she got married when she was able to. The reason why I chose this to represent Bushido is because after he had fulfilled his mission he took his own life and chose to do so instead of living past it and moving on which he could have been. Another reason why he chose to do this is because he believes he is still a samurai.

2.       To me there are many differences and similarities between the words Giri and Obligation. One difference between the two is that with Giri it is something that you must do, you must return the favor. If you don’t or fail too you can be cast out or be shunned because of it which can also be tied into other vocabulary. While Obligation is like a choice, it’d be polite for you to return the favor / gift but you don’t have to and without doing so it has the possibility of not having a detrimental outcome. As for similarities it’s the feeling and actions of returning the favor to someone after they have done something for you and or given you a gift of some sorts. The reason for doing so is because it makes you look better and it is the polite thing to do within both cultures.

3.       One scene to me that showed Giri would be again as I stated before the very ending movie scene when Miss Kane was going to get married. The reason for me choosing this scene is because it expresses Giri in the sense that in exchange for Magoza doing what he did with the war and basically sacrificing his life to fulfill his masters orders of raising Miss Kane and such she would get married despite not being forced to. As for Bushido, I would again say that the ending scene represented the word quite well because he once again took his own life like a samurai would because he completed his masters orders and he had achieved everything he needed to in order to die honorably.

4.       Two scenes that showed the IE system would be when Magoza took Kane to the puppet show. The reason why I say this because when Kane was taken there the owner and his son both found interest in Kane but he let the son take it because this was in a sense his “First love”. In other worse it was the first girl he had shown interest in. Another scene that would represent the IE system would be once again at the start when Magoza was to watch over Kane and see to it that she would be married off so that their family line would continue.

5.       Considering the values of the IE system and the Japanese culture I feel that there are many different ways that things can be contradictory to each other. One of these ways being how they view each other, Magoza and Kane that is. He saw them as being the same never more and less then each other.

6.       Me personally I feel that when it is being compared to the American way of life and life style it is something that is correct when thinking that men are usually treated better and or are considered higher than women in the social pyramid. The reason why I say this is because growing up, it was always my mom being the one who would go around cleaning the house, cooking the dinner, helping me with homework when needed, and doing things along those lines. It was never something where my father would make dinner, clean, do laundry or help with other things.

7.       For me Bushido makes the most sense because it explains his confusion the best, back then it was very unheard of and off for a samurai to retreat from battle and run, so when Magoza took flight and fled from battle it was something that was confusing because not only are samurai supposed to be completely loyal to their leaders but he was also very high within the ranks and considered to be the leaders second in command.

8.       “As this case suggests, seppuku, or suicide by self-disembowelment was the most honorable death for a samurai.” (Ikeno/Davis, 46) I think that Magoza did this because he still considered himself to be a samurai. There for with continuing to consider himself a Samurai he still lives and serves by their codes which means that when he had fulfilled his masters orders of protecting and rising Kane he got to have an honorable death.

9.       I feel that there are several different words that was represented within the movie. One of the ones that I noticed was when him and Kane would be talking he sometimes throughout the movie would use silence as a response to what she had to say.

10.   Personally I enjoyed the movie to an extent, the reason why I say this is because I still feel that he should have been able to live out his life but I understand why he did what he did and why he couldn’t live out his life fully. I have now come to understand it more and like it a bit more because the move did stick to what a true samurai would have done when a lot of other movies would have strayed from this. It also reminds me of another move that I watched “I forgot the name of it” that followed the same guidelines of this one, they fled from battle which resulted in them actually winning at one point but in the end despite winning the war they had to kill themselves in order to have an honorable death. 

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Blog 5

  Bushido

"they appeared as self-defense group's to protect private an IRS and to maintain public order in the Heian period." (Ikeno / Davies, 41)

"Bushido refers to the ethics that were formed among the samurai. Although the term was not used until the Edo period, the concept itself was formed in Kamakura period, evolving through the adoption of neo-Confucian ideals in the Edo period, to become the foundation of national morality after the Meiji Restoration." (Ikeno / Davies, 41)

To me Bushido is something that required you to be very loyal, strong,  smart, centered, honorable, and spiritually aligned. The reason why I think this is because it explains that they were at the peek of society, they were looked up to and held many things within a society, things like keeping the villagers safe to being sure there's peace and tranquility within the area. They were the authorities of the villages. Here in American society I feel that there are many different forms of people that are looked up too and people that attempt to maintain the peace within certain areas like police officers. But sometimes they are hated and or disliked because of their actions and this can be a very common thing within our society. But I feel that this was a very rare occurrence within the Japanese culture. The reason why I think the Japanese are like this is because honor and hard work and things along those lines is something that has been within their culture for centuries. So it's understandable that people that had, worked hard, and had everything worked out were able to achieve such a high status and such an honorable position.

Giri

"A key concept in understanding Japanese culture and certain characteristic patterns of behavior among the Japanese arising from traditional attitudes toward moral duty and social obligation is known as giri. The origins of giri are obscure, and precise definitions are difficult to formulate." (Ikeno / Davies, 95)

"Giri can perhaps best be understood as a constellation of related meanings, the most important of which ate as follows: (1) moral principles or duty, Â (2) rules one had to obey in social relationships, and (3) behavior one is obliged to follow or that must be done against one's will." (Ikeno / Davies, 95)

To me Giri seems to be like another set of laws that everyone must follow and conform to. It's something that has been going on for centuries and it's something that most everyone will follow because it follows their morals. With everyone following this it helps to keep the peace between everyone thus avoiding social conflict ect. Here in America we have social norms but we don't really have any type of specific rules that we follow like they have in Japan. Here we do what we like and think because it's Moore self centered. Making oneself happy takes priority over others and such. I feel that the Japanese are like this because it's the way they have acted and the way they have lived. This is the way that they communicate and it's the way they avoid a lot of the things they are scared of.

Ie System

“The foundations of ie are thought to be based on the worship of ancestors. For Japanese, except for the emperor and the aristocrats, the origins and names of one’s ancestors were not usually known; nevertheless, all households had ancestors that they worshiped.”(Ikeno / Davis, 119)

“Patriarchism is one of the main characteristics of ie. Under this system, the head of the household, who was generally the senior male,decided on the actions of its members and had the absolute power of control over the family; for example, his consent was needed when family members married, and they had to obey his orders respectfully. people were trained to accept the system and were taught their position in the hierarchy of ie beginning in childhood.”  (Ikeno / Davis, 120)

To me the Ie System is like a social ladder but regarding family trees. It shows who is considered to be above who, it shows who the so called “alpha” is within the family but what it does is it keeps everything in order. It makes sure that there's is peace within the family and helps to keep respect throughout the family. Here in America I don't think that we really have a system like theirs, we do have someone that is in charge of the household which is usually the male but sometimes that is passed onto the mother because either father is absent and missing within their lives or because the household is primarily run by the mother. Within the household respect is usually expected because they are your elders but sometimes there is lots of conflict that can detour the respect and push it away. and when the child is older normally the moves out and begins his own life and starts his own household and family. there isn't any becoming the next man of the household. I think the Japanese are like this because again it its another thing that has to do with respect. Respecting their elders, avoiding any and all forms of social conflict and such. 

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Blog 4

1.      1. A scene to me that stood out and represented Aimai the best was when Akira confronted his mother about where she really was, asking her if she was really at her place of work. She avoided the question and gave an answer that avoided the question overall and shut him down. another scene that I fell represented Aimai well was when Kyoko confronted their mother as well about her profession and she yet again avoided the question and didn't answer directly, simply telling her not to worry about it. 

2. A scene to me that showed some sort of Mother son relationship was when the mother helped Akira with his homework, sitting there and helping him to learn and understand it while teaching him new things like looking what he doesn't understand up in the book. Another example was when they were all eating dinner together and she was actually interacting with her children, playing games with them, talking with them, things along those lines. I think that these two scenes show Aimai because it shows them actually interacting and holding a bond with each other instead of the mother constantly being gone or not interacting with them.

3. I feel that some of the differences between the two lives of children in USA and Japan would be the schooling and social groups. Even at a younger age Social groups are something that is very popular and big while in the USA at such a young age its not a very big thing for us. For me I didn't have these big friend groups at the younger ages, I had one maybe two friends that I would see on a daily basis or hang out with and in ever feared of being kicked out.

4. one concept that was described within the film was the relationship the children had to the outside world in their new life. It was something foreign, something they didn't really get to experience for themselves. All they knew was each other and the boundaries of their home. Another example of this is when Akira made friends, and when he didn't conform to their standards he was removed from the group and left alone. Being apart of a friend group was foreign to him and he didn't know how to conform to it thus leading to him being removed. 

5. For me the part of Chinmoku that confused me the most was the lack of Sympathy on the mothers end. For the mother to literally just up and leave her children seemed so wrong. you'd assume that especially in that culture the mother wouldn't just leave their children to fend for themselves. You'd think that the mother would have some sort of Sympathy at least and try and get the children to a good home instead of just leaving them which caused the death of one of the children. For me I feel a lot of mothers would never up and leave their own children. they'd at least try and find people to look after them. 

6. What happened to Yuki at the end is she ended up dying because she fell off of a chair and hit her head causing some sort of head trauma. 

7. I feel that the ending was very very random and certainly took a turn I didn't expect. I feel that eventually the kids will end up being split up and or given to some sort of home, my reason being for this is because at one point in the movie one of the ladies that lived in the building stumbled into the apartment and the children being alone. Finding it to be a mess and the children not giving a response to where the mothers current location is would eventually lead up to her becoming suspicious and causing them to investigate. 

8. I feel that the film was very deep and very sad, the theme of the children slowly being left alone and being forced to survive out on their own without any adult figure would not be tolerated here in the USA. Here in the USA the children would be given to foster parents and or turned into the children protective agency. And would most likely be given to the same home and or kept together. 

9. for me again the thing that is the hardest for e to comprehend would be why the mother did what she did. why did the mother end up leaving her children there and not worrying about them. the reason why this is so hard for me to understand I suppose is because I grew up with “Don't ever mess with a mother or her child because you wont survive”. I think of them as figures that are strong and something you don't mess with, and for her to just up and leave her children I find it to be hard to understand and grasp. 

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Blog 3

Aimai

“To be ambiguous in Japanese is generally translated as Aimaina, but people use this term with a wide range of meanings, including “Vague, obscure, equivocal, dubious, doubtful, questionable, shady, noncommittal, indefinite, haze, double, two-edged,” and has so on (Oe, 1995 p. 187). (Ikeno/Davis, 9) 

“Aimai can result in misunderstandings, and people from other countries sometimes become irritated because the Japanese seem unable to answer yes or no directly.” (Ikeno/Davis,13)

To me, Aimai is something that has become a very big part of the Japanese culture. It is something that is used very often in formal and informal situations but its something that cant fully be described, a word with many faces. It is something that can kindly decline such as an offer but it is also something that is used to politely disagree with someone's statement. This can be portrayed with a variety of other words that the Japanese use as well as even silence. In American language this is something that I think is new, the reason why I think this is because here in America we speak our minds regardless if its considered to be “Rude” or “Impolite”. Although we do try to be polite when we can and we don't try to be blatantly mean or rude its not something we worry about a lot. because its something that wasn't hammered into our culture. The reason why I feel the Japanese are like this is because its something that is apart of their culture and has been apart of their culture for a long time. A common fear that the Japanese have disrupting the “Peace“ they all hold with each other and fear upsetting one another causing them to use Aimai to avoid upsetting or being removed from friend/social groups.  

Uchi to Soto

“These divisions reflect a basic dichotomy in the Japanese way of thinking known as Uchi and Soto. Uchi can be defined as (I) inside, (2) my house and home, (3) the group that we belong to, (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).” (Ikeno/Davis, 217)

“The notion of Uchi/Soto also dominates human relationships throughout Japan, and people make strong distinctions between inside and outside in order to feel a sense of security within their groups.”(Ikeno/Davis, 218)

To me Uchi to Soto is something that describes a physical and emotional feeling / object. It can be used to describe a physical person and or object that is away and or outside and also something or someone that is not associated with the family or group of friends. While it can also mean a feeling of something, like a feeling of safety for a family, like being included within something or feeling left out from something, the same rules can apply to an object. When it comes to America I don't think we have something that is really similar to this, we do have sayings that can relate to this and feelings that are similar like “home sweet home” or “no place like home” referring to the feeling that your home and family gives you that you cant really find any where else. I feel that these terms are much more present within the Japanese culture then in the American culture. I feel that the Japanese feel this way because a common fear with theme is upsetting others and then being replaced or shut out from that certain friend group or family, there for they use these terms as a form of measurement . 

Chinmoku 

“Communication among human beings takes various forms and includes not only verbal but nonverbal expression such as gestures, facial expressions, posture.” (Ikeno/Davis, 51)

“There are a number of reasons for silence being so ubiquitous in Japanese Communication, and these causes can be classified into two main categories: Historical factors and the dominance of group consciousness in Japanese life” (Ikeno/Davis, 51) 

To me Chinmoku is primarily focused on explaining what it is and how it is viewed by the different perspectives. it is silence, what silence is and how it is used and viewed within a conversation, it is used as something to help  show empathy and that you are deep in thought. But it could mean something completely different to people of a different social class. Here in American sometimes being silent can be disrespectful and or could be a sign of you not caring, while other times it could be a sign of respect or like in the Japanese culture deep in thought. The reason why I think the Japanese are like this and or have this in their culture is because it is something that has been there for a while. It is something that the Japanese have experienced before because it corresponds with their work ethics of working non stop and not being social as well as other cultural aspects. 

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Blog 2

1. Jiro shows Gambair through the relationship with his two sons because in one scene it talks about how his two children felt that their father was a stranger in their own house because of how little he was home. With this happening it shows how involved he was in his work and how it affected him and his family. 

2. I don't think that Yoshikazu will exceed his father, the reason why I don’t think he will exceed his father is because at the start of the movie it says that when he first started he hated it, he wanted to go off to College and get a degree and do his own thing but Jiro wouldn’t permit it. And as time went on he slowly began to get used to working there, and began to accept the fact that it was his pre-determined job and this led into him “Liking” the job. But I feel because of his past and him not having that initial spark of passion and fire to be the best he could be at the job he wouldn’t ever be able to reach his father’s level, let alone surpass it.

3. The scene that I would use, would be the scene that was towards the end when all of the people are talking about how Jiro worked so hard and how amazing he is at making Sushi and how he did all of these amazing things and then Jiro began talking saying, what people don’t understand is that it’s really all of my apprentices that make these amazing works of sushi and that he really just stand there looking pretty and makes a few pieces here and there. The reason why I chose this scene is because it shows that he isn’t taking all of the credit, he is showing that he AND his apprentices are the ones that make the business and the food, that it’s not just him.

4. I feel that Jiro’s presence is very important still, the reason why I say this is because he is the one who has that burning passion he is the one who made sushi what it is today the one that basically reinvented it. Another thing is, is that I’m sure a lot of people that travel from all around the world don’t just go for the sushi but they go to have it be prepared by him.

5.  I feel that Amae is present between Jiro’s and Takashi’s relationships, the reason why I think this is because there are some scenes within the movie that show Takashi talking about hoe he believes his father’s business is so big and well known is because he went out and made a name for himself, and that he knows he won’t be able to surpass his father but having his guidance will help make him stronger in the long run.

6. An advantage of Gambari in the U.S. is that if you work hard to achieve your dreams and aspirations it has the potential to pay off, meaning that you will get a job that you adore and love and gain wealth and honor. A disadvantage of Gambari in the U.S. is that you can work hard all of your life and still not have anything change. For example you can work hard your entire life and not move anywhere, thus leading it to feel as if you didn’t beat and or achieve Gambari.

7. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That’s the secret to success and is the key to being regarded honorably The reason why I chose this specific quote is because, it shows how in his eyes and many others the way to achieve success and be honorable. It represents and shows Gambari very well because it shows with hard work and dedication things will pay off in the end and you will be able to achieve many things.

8. For me the most difficult one to understand is Amae. The reason why I think I have such a hard time understanding what Amae is and how it works is because I look at it as, there are people that are very close to you like loved ones, Family, Friends. And then there are ones that aren’t so close, like friends you don’t talk to on a daily basis. And for me I have a constant fear of losing the people I love. Another thing is that I have had friends that I loved to death and I have had family members that I care for a tremendous amount and have drifted apart from them.

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Blog 1

Gambari

“Since the 1930s, however, Gambaru has become a positive expression, commonly used to exhort enthusiasm and hard work from others, usually toward group objectives.” (Ikeno/Davis, 85)

“This suggests that Gambaru is an expression that is unique to Japan and expresses certain qualities of the Japanese character” (Ikeno/Davis, 85) 

To me Gambari is something that can be good and bad. Its something that can have a great payoff but can come at a very detrimental price. the constant feeling of needing to work hard and be diligent at every task you are given is a quality that I think is good, but I think its important to know when to stop and when to take a break. When it becomes something that hurts you and can even cause death is when it turns bad. its important to know when you need to break, when you need to take a moment and collect yourself. When it comes to American society it seems to be split down the middle. There are those who work hard and can obtain their goals and then there are those who don't work as hard but make up for it with other aspects such as social statuses. But both sides have downfalls, for example with those that work and work and work and force themselves to work 24/7 can become like hermits, and can also begin to develop health issues. those that don't work as hard and obtain a social status most likely end up without a high paying job and end up struggling more often then others. Japan to me seems like a place that was built off of hard work. its something that is very common their and its almost frowned upon if you don't work as hard as you can and as diligently as possible. 

KenKyo

“The spirit of these sayings is effective in maintaining the group ideology of the Japanese people, and the attitude they represent will remain in society as long as honorific and humble forms of speech (Keigo) exist in the Japanese language.” (Ikeno/Davis, 143)

“Japanese society is structured along fine lines of vertical hierarchy corresponding to degrees of power and distance in the in interpersonal relationships.“ (Ikeno/Davis, 144)

I feel that Kenkyo is something that is viewed differently depending on who and where it is being viewed from. if its being viewed from a Japanese standpoint I feel that it is something that could be looked down upon and or something that is shied away from. But I feel that if it is being viewed from a standpoint of, for example,another nation I feel that it could help better things between them, possibly make things more “Relatable”? Their social norms reflect ours in a way, that being there is usually certain social norms that are favored or more commonly used like our self worth and value. I believe they act this way because it is connected to Gambari. considering they are a culture that is based off of hard work and such, it can cause them to be timid and this making it seem like they need to change the way they interact with one another on a social scale. 

Amae 

“Amae is vital for getting along with others in Japan and is the basis for maintaining harmonious relationships in which children depend on their parents. younger people rely on their elders, grandparents rely on their adult children, and so on.” (Ikeno/Davis, 17)

“First, the Japanese have difficulty saying no, in contrast to westerners, who are able to do so more easily... That is, people hesitate to refuse others for fear of breaking this bond.” (Ikeno/Davis, 19)

To me Amae is something that perfectly describes the bond you and your friends, family, and or special ones share. it is something that is treasured and “popular” per-say withing their culture. When it comes to America it is something that is less prominent, its something that is there but isn't as valued and used. I believe the Japanese are like this because it is something that is important to them again from a respect aspect as well as a cultural aspect. its something that has been done throughout the generations.

Honneto Tatemae

“In trying to understand Honne and Tatemae and how these contrastive concepts function in Japan, it is important to examine certain Japanese cultural characteristics, such as a dislike of direct expression and the importance of harmony and ceremony in Japanese life.” (Ikeno/Davis, 116)

“In Japan, the terms Honne and Tatemae are often used in conversation, but the concepts themselves are seldom fully understood” (Ikeno/Davis, 115)

To me these words are something that are not only prominent within the Japanese culture, but is prominent within a large percent of all cultures. The only thing that is a clear distinction between them is the amount of pressure the culture puts on it. For example it is extremely important within the Japanese culture. To Americans it is something that is prominent within the society but again I feel that it is not as valued or prominent. Its something that is there and used but not over glorified. I believe Japanese people think this way because it is something that again has been within their culture for a very long time and with using these words they are able to achieve many things like, peace and respect among each other.