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tannerlansky1-blog · 8 years ago

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Blog #14

Questions for Spirited Away

1. Condering Iitoko-dori, the textbook mentions that “Japan has a long established tradition of adopting elements of “Foreign culture” (p.127). Did you find scenes in the film? Describe the scene and write reasons why you think so.

The overall town setting is actually derived from Taiwan. Also, the father is driving a German car. Other than that nothing else seemed to stand out that wasn’t Japanese.

2.Considering Nemawashi, the textbook mentions that “important decisions have been made well in advance through the process of Nemawashi” (p.161). In this movie, Yubara made all decisions. Why didn’t she need to use Nemawashi. Explain the structure of her business and explain why she didn’t use Nemawashi and if she would have used it, how would it work considering the relationship between Zeniba, Haku, and Yubara.

Yubaba was strong and powerful with her magic. I feel like since she was the boss and clearly more powerful than everyone else with her powers, that she kind of just “winged” it. There was no real need for Nemawashi when she was the one calling all of the shots with no clear competition to get in her way in order to devise a plan. Zeniba and Yubaba are twin sisters and are both witches and Haku was a water spirit and also has a magical ability allowing him to turn into a dragon.

3.Considering Sempai and Kohai, nowadays it is shown by attitudes how to interact with other people (sempai to kohai /kohai to sempai), for example “third year students have great power in junior high and senior high schools” (p.191). Watch the relationships between characters (Lin and Sen) and describe the relationships that explain Sempai-Kohai relationships well.

Lin is sempai and Sen is Kohai. After Lin found Sen in the boiler room, she was a mentor and risked everything for Sen trying to sneak her up to see Yubaba to get her a job. After Sen received the job, Lin was with Sen every step of the way watching after Sen to make sure nothing happened to her. She helped her when doing chores and when cleaning the baths. She also gave Sen some background information about things around the bathhouse.

4.Considering Otogibanashi, in the film, can you discover “sense of emotional beauty, of a feeling of aware, which embodied in feelings such as patience and pity” (p.172). Describe the film and explain why you think so.

Everyone was trying to help Sen do her duties and help her get her parents and get back to her home. Sen was patient and worked very hard even though she was definitely out of place and was given the toughest jobs by Yubaba. She eventually got through everything and was able to rescue her parents and get back home.

5.Movie—How did Sen break her contract?

Sen broke her contract by taking the seal back to Zeniba and bringing Boh with her, Haku negotiates with Yubaba to break Sen’s contract and release her parents if he returns Boh and Sen passes Yubaba’s final test. Sen had to identify her parents from a group of pigs and when Sen states that none of the pigs are her parents, the contract is broken and she received her real name.

6.Movie—What do you think Haku will do after Chihiro (sen) left his world?

Haku is no longer being controlled by Yubaba and his river has been filled in by buildings in a city. He will probably just remain in the spirit bathhouse and find work that needs to be done.

7. What did you learn about the Japanese Anime? Comparing with American Anime, describe the DIFFERENCES and explain them by considering the Japanese key terms.

Although I normally do not endeavor in anime, I did notice that the sense of realism and simplicity was very noticeable and the adoption of spiritualism was very nice. American Cartoons are the most common form of animations and it does not normally show any form of realism. The focus in American anime is normally through action and excessive fight scenes. However, in Japanese anime, I feel that the focus is more on the folktale/story line (otogibanashi) and beautiful, elegant animation (wabi-sabi) rather than fast-paced content.

8. What other PRIOR Japanese key concepts do you see in this film? Explain what and why you think so.

Uchi to Soto and possibly Giri were seen in the film. Uchi to Soto would be how Haku immediately helped out Sen and became close with her throughout the film to get her and her parents back to their home before it is too late. And Soto would be how none of the spirits wanted to let outsiders into their land without turning them into pigs. Giri could be how Sen helped Haku remember his name. Maybe Sen felt obligated to help Haku remember his name to free him because Haku was helping her out so that she did not lose her parents or become a slave in the spirit world.

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tannerlansky1-blog · 8 years ago

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Feedback for My Grandpa

I thought the story about your grandpa was amazing. I have never heard the Japanese side of what happened after the nuclear bomb was dropped. I also did not know that the Japanese did not know about the side and after affects of dropping a nuclear bomb. I also learned that those who were affected by the bomb received that paper for medical attention. I was also surprised that even though your grandpa was affected by the bomb, that he was able to live to be so old. The story and the artwork were very touching and enlightened my views on what happened during the war.

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tannerlansky1-blog · 8 years ago

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Blog #10

Questions for Geisha

1. Today’s Japan is very much like the West. The Japanese wear jeans and T-shirts, listen to Hip Hop, dance at the club to the dance music, sit on the couch, etc. In modern Japan, geisha in Kyoto Gion district symbolize the old, traditional Japan. What kind of arts and lifestyle of traditional Japan does geisha, “a person of art,” maintain and practice?

Geisha practice traditional art and hospitality and play music and dance. They also partake in witty conversations and participate in party games. They will typically wear a rich kimono and fancy jewelry.

2. Considering Bigaku, the Japanese sense of aware means “people are aware of the beauty of full blossoms, of course, but are more touched and deeply moved when these blooms are falling or beginning to wilt” (p.37). Can you find a moment in which you can relate to this Japanese aware in your life? Describe your example and experience. Explain the reasons why you think so. 3. Comparing with the other Japanese films we have watched in this class, in Memoirs of Geisha, do you think it lost ma or aware because they speak English? Why? Why not? Explain the reasons why you think so.

I do not think the movie lost its ma or aware because they spoke English. Maybe it did a little bit because sometimes you can lose emotions or true intent when translating from Japanese to English. However, for this movie, I think speaking English did not take away from the movies underlying intent. If it was originally written or spoken in Japanese and translated to English I feel it may have lost its sense of aware but since it was written and spoke in English it had its full intent. I cannot remember a specific moment were I can picture Bigaku taking place, however, throughout my whole life everyone tells you to look at things different ways. So in a sense, I could definitely see the full beauty of something dying (flower wilting) just as if it was in full blossom.

4. Considering Kisetsu, are there any events (e.g. Tanabata, Omisoka, etc) where you appreciate Kisetsu in the U.S.? Find one and explain what it is. If you were Japanese, how would you enjoy the events differently from Americans.

There is definitely a sense of kisetsu in the U.S although it is not as prominent in the U.S as it may be in Japan. Japan has more of a spiritual connection with the seasons whereas, in the U.S. Some people do not even experience different seasons, like California or Florida. And places that do experience seasons normally complain about the weather that the season brings. For example, Ohioans during winter complaining about too much snowfall. However, places still celebrate the changing of the seasons. My hometown in Independence host festivals like Fall Fest and Winter Fest although this is mostly just to gather with family and friends and enjoy free entertainment and food.

5. Considering Otogibanashi, in the film, can you discover “sense of emotional beauty, of a feeling of aware, which embodied in feelings such as patience and pity” (p.172). Describe the film and explain why you think so.

This can be seen throughout Sayuri’s life as becoming a geisha. Even though there were many drawbacks, Sayuri was patient when it came to her learning and understanding what it is to be a geisha. Her journey was also not very pleasant and was full of suffering and pain, both physically and mentally.

6. Explain Wabi-Sabi with your own words. Compare the sense of aesthetics in your country with the notion of Wabi-Sabi in Japan.

Wabi-Sabi is the simplicity and elegance of beauty. Japan’s sense of aesthetics is simple and beautiful. Whereas in America, I feel that our sense of Aesthetics is usually deep and intricate. In America we are always trying to be different from one another and are always changing the “norms”. In Japan, I feel like there is always a sense of the old world in everything that is done in Japan.

7. In the film, what scenes do you see Wabi-Sabi? Describe the scenes and explain why you think so.

Wabi-Sabi could be seen when the women are seen entertaining the men. Through the movements and style of the music and dancing, there was simplicity and elegance in the practice of the arts.

8. Movie- how did Hatsumomo end up? What is the relationship between Sayuri and Chairman at the end? Do you think Sayuri is happy about the her life or not? Why do you think so?

Hatsumomo ended up in a downward spiral and became an alcoholic. This caused her to get into a fight and ruin her chances of becoming a geisha. She eventually became a prostitute and drank herself to death. The chairman is still Sayuri’s danna. I believe she is ultimately happy, however, I feel like she believes things should have been different for her to get where she is. She had to deceive and hurt other people in order for herself to live a life that she wanted. Although, Sayuri’s goal was to get the chairman as her danna and that is what she got.

9. Movie-Who did Okaasan (mother) adopt? What do you think Pumpkin’s life?

Okaasan adopted Sayuri instead of Pumpkin. Pumpkin’s situation was sad. Since mother decided to adopt Sayuri instead of Pumpkin, it ruined Sayuri and Pumpkin’s friendship and Pumpkin was eventually thrown out of Mother’s house. Pumpkin became homeless and needed help finding work and wanted to come back to the okiya but mother did not want her back.

10. What Japanese key concepts that we have learned did you see in this film? Explain why you think so.

Wabi-Sabi, and Bigaku. Everytime we see the geisha performing for their clients, we can see the simplicity and beauty in not only what they are doing but in the movements and the way they talk and act.

11. What do you think about the movie overall? Share your personal opinions.

I thought the movie was ok. The plot was decent and the acting was good. The movie seemed to drag on a bit, however, it was still a good movie. I felt the movie was educational and portrayed some of the terms very well.

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tannerlansky1-blog · 8 years ago

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Blog #8

Questions for Eternal Zero

1. Considering the Do Spirits of Japan, Zen Buddhism is “So thoroughly integrated into the Japanese psyche…” (p.73). what kinds of aspects did you see in the film? Explain the reason why you think so.

The biggest aspect of do in the film was bushido. Everyone called Miyabe a coward because he was not following bushido. He chose to stay out of range of danger so that he could live to see his family. He was high ranked and skillful but he did not use his full potential fighting for Japan.

2. Movie—Considering Hedataru to Najimu, what was the relationship between Kentaro, Keko and Kageura the first time they met? Why do you think Kageura act like that?

Kageura saw miyabe as an extreme coward so since Kentaro and Keko are decendants of Miyabe, he would not let them into his personal space “Hedataru” and since he disliked Miyabe so much, he did not want to talk to Kentaro and Keiko.

3.Movie— Considering Bushido, what is the perspective of old people (Hasegawa,etc) toward Miyabe? What word did they use to describe Miyabe and why did they use the word.

They kept calling Miyabe a coward because he would always fly just out of range when he was in battle and his plane was always in pristine condition. They saw it as very dishonorable for someone of his rank and skill to never put himself in danger while he was fighting so that he could come home to his family instead of fight for his country.

4. Movie—Considering Hedataru to Najimu and Shudan Ishiki, the sense of “uchi to soto” is more reinforced. What was Miyabe’s situation in the Kamikaze (around 1914). Think about the relationship between Miyabe and Izaki and answer the question and explain why you think so.

Miyabe knew that being a Kamikaze was a waste of potential, this is why he kept failing the students who were trying to become Kamikaze. Miyabe told Izaki that they are not only in the air force to fight for their country, but that they are also there to do their duty and come home to their family.

5. Movie—Miyabe said to Izaki, “I don’t want to die” and Izaki felt an “intense loathing”. Why is that? Use the Japanese key concepts and explain why you think so.

This can be explained by giri and shudan ishiki. Miyabe obviously has a longing to make it home. This may because of giri because he feels like he is obligated to make it back to his wife and kid because he promised multiple times that he would come home. It can also be due to shudan ishiki, because Miyabe knows and said that him and everyone else has much more to contribute to the group through more conventional methods rather than just crashing their planes into the enemy ships.

6. Considering Shudan Ishiki, what is the negative effect of groupism in this film? Explain it comparing with Kamikaze and suicide bombers.

The negative effect of groupism would be everyone’s willingness to join the kamikaze and die for the country. Even though the willingness to die during battle is technically bushido. Kids were joining the Japanese Air Force and signing up to be part of the kamikaze because it was the “group” thing to do at the time and if they said no there would have been consequences.

7. What is the connection between this film and “The Last Ronin”? Do you see “bushido” in this film? How do you think it affected this war? Explain the reasons.

War and Bushido was the connection between these films. You could see bushido a lot throughout the film. Everyone who saw Miyabe as a coward was because they were referring to bushido, and how he did not practice it. Everyone wanted to die in battle serving Japan, however, Miyabe tries to convince everyone that living is worthwhile.

8.Movie- To whom did Miyabe switch the plane and why did he do it?

He switched planes with Kenichiro. He may have done this because he escaped death many times by not engaging in battle while he watched his fellow comrades die. He may have also done this because he has seen so many kids who were joining to become kamikazes and felt he also needed to serve his country.

9. Who do you think the person who saved Matsuno with bloody sword was?

I think the person who save Matsuno with the bloody sword was Kaegura because he had a sword in his home and he stated that he wanted to become a swordsman. I feel that he had the sword on display because of the events that took place.

10. Considering the prior concepts we learned in our classes, which one did you see in this film? Explain why you think so.

Bushido was probably the most prominent concept found in the film. Everyone in the Japanese army and air force didn’t want anything but to die honorably for Japan, while Miyabe was trying to show everyone that there is a purpose to live.

11. What do you learn from this film? Tell us the most striking fact from the film.

I learned how Japan was actually able to get children to join the kamikaze through peer pressure and negative stigma if they chose not to sign up. I also learned that based on certain events, it could completely change their view of someone and their actions.

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tannerlansky1-blog · 8 years ago

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Blog #6

Questions for Last Ronin

1. Considering Bushido, how did Magoza’s acting demonstrate Bushido? Choose two of his actions and explain the reasons.

The main takeaways from Bushido are loyalty, obligations, and service. Magoza dishonored his fellow comrades by not staying and dying in battle, he instead carried out at direct order from Kuranosuke Oishi. Even though Magoza knew this was technically dishonorable to the overall meaning of “the determined will die”, it was still a form of bushido because he was carrying out his obligation/promise to Oishi. Another form of Bushido was when Kane got married to Shuichiro, his last obligation to Oishi was carried out. Since he was dishonorable by not committing seppuku like Kuranosuke Oishi and his followers, Magoza deemed it fit that he would commit “seppuku” after Kane got married because he felt disconnected and fulfilled when his last promise to the Kuranosuke Oishi was completed.

2. “Giri does not have an equivalent concept~” (p.95). What is the difference between Giri and the English word “obligation” Compare and explain the differences of each word.

The main difference between Giri and the English word obligation is that Giri is not just tied with social and psychological obligations, it is also closely related to moral principles and duty. The most common form of “obligation” is when someone makes a promise; the person making the promise will feel obligated to fulfill the promise in order to not jeopardize their relationship. With giri, however, it is a much deeper and underlying process where, no matter what, if someone does something for you, you are indebted to oblige to pay it back to that person. In the English term, obligations, it is ok to not fulfill a promise or not return a favor. The person you are not returning the favor for may feel a little hurt but the situation as a whole is not that bad. In giri, it will have a much greater impact if the person is not returning favors or paying back a debt. The person not practicing giri will most definitely be ostracized by everyone around him/her.

3. Considering Bushido and Giri, what are the differences between Giri and Bushido? Using scenes from the movie, explain both concepts.

Giri would be when Kane made Magoza the fancy kimono in return for him looking after her all of these years. Bushido, would be when Magoza abandoned his comrades during the battle to fulfill his obligation to Kuranosuke Oishi.

4. Considering the Japanese Ie system, what scenes of the movie represent this concept? Choose two scenes and explain the reasons.

The residency and relationship between Kane and Magoza represent the IE system. The house that they live in could be considered IE and their relationship would also be considered IE. Magoza tells Kane that it is time for her to get married even though she does not want to she has to because Magoza is considered head of the household. The same goes for Shuichiro and his father. The father notices Shuichiro has an eye for Kane so he goes out of his way to make sure that Kane is found and marries his son.

5. Considering the Japanese Ie system, what kinds of conflicts/contradictions does this concept bring into the relationship between Magoza and Kane?

IE brings a few conflicts between Magoza and Kane because Kane does not want to leave Magoza because he has been with her and has been her “father figure” her whole life. However, Magoza has an obligation to fulfill with Kane’s father and wants her to get married to Shuichiro because he can provide great financial support for her. Also, since Magoza practiced bushido, he also taught and raised Kane the bushido way. This was also a factor when she didn’t want to become the wife of a merchant.

6. Considering the Japanese Ie system, “51 percent of people think that men are treated better than women in the family, while 40 percent think that men and women are treated equally” (p.124). What do you think about it comparing with American culture? Use your experiences and explain the reasons why you think so.

In America, we are always trying to change and reform, cultural and religious practices as well as laws to make sure women and men are given equal opportunity in every factor of life. Even though we have been making great progress since older times, America is still a long way away from true equality. We have gotten away from arranged marriages, we are letting more women get into the workforce into positions they want, we have generated rules and regulations that allow women to vote, own property, etc. However there are still drawbacks where women are getting paid less money than men for doing the same jobs, there is also physical discrimination when it comes to labor intensive jobs like firefighters, police officers, construction jobs, etc. It is even uncommon for women to be the head of the household because of old values where men are to work and provide while women are to serve. Even though women are more than capable of doing these jobs, society is still struggling to come to an equilibrium.

7. Movie—Among 3 concepts we learned in this session, what term does it fit to explain the following scene from the movie?

When Kichi heard that Magoza escaped from the important battle, Kichi was very confused and puzzled. Why was Kichi confused? Explain it using one of the concepts and why you think so.

Bushido: Kichi knew Magoza and was really close to him so he knew that Magoza would not be that dishonorable and abandon/escape his seppuku after the battle. Kichi wanted to find Magoza because he was angry and confused as to why Magoza left because no one was allowed to know why he left or who Kane really was. Magoza’s mission was to escape with Kane, keep her identity a secret and have her marry.

8. Movie—What do you think of Magoza’s acting at the end? Find the citation from the textbook and explain why he did it.

“As this case suggests, seppuku, or suicide by disembowelment, was the most honorable death by the samurai.” Magoza decided to perform seppuku because he was supposed to do it along with the rest of his clan before he got the order to raise Kane. After his mission was over, he felt it was necessary to perform seppuku because it was the most honorable thing he could do for his clan.

9. Considering the prior concepts we learned in our class, which concepts do they use effectively in the film? Why do you think so?

I feel the film used chinmoku effectively throughout the film, especially when Magoza and Kane are eating in their house. Even though it was silent, whenever there was silence the emotions and responses through facial expressions were almolst palpable. There was also Uchi to Soto. Even though Kichi and Magoza were Uchi, compared to Magoza’s duty and agreement with Kane’s father, Magoza and Kichi were almost Soto at some parts of the film because Magoza could not be truthful to Kichi. That is why when they were battling, Magoza never broke in, even though he may have wanted to.

10. Reflective inquiry— Share whatever you want to tell considering your personal perspective.

At first I was a little upset when watching the movie because I thought it was going to be action packed and full of a lot of battle scenes. However, even though it wasn’t action-packed, it helped me understand the term bushido more than any other war film could have showed. It also had scenes that helped me understand the term IE a little better.

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tannerlansky1-blog · 8 years ago

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Blog #4

1.Although the Japanese may not be conscious of aimai, its use is regarded as a virtue in Japan…” (p.9). In the film, find the scene that you think that aimai is regarded as a virtue and explain why you think so.

When the kids are ambiguous to the landlord about where their mom is so that they do not get into trouble or kicked out may have been seen as virtuous.

2.Considering Aimai, ambiguity is a big part of human relationships in Japan and the film. Thinking about the relationships between mother and son in this film, describe the scenes of them and explain why you think so.

The biggest form of Aimai is when the son keeps asking the mother if she told her new boyfriend about him and the other children. Also, when the children ask the mother why she is gone for long periods of time, she is always very ambiguous with her answers. The kids know she is being ambiguous and know there is something else going on.

3.What are the differences for the daily lives of young children in Japan and US? Think about your days in children and describe how it is similar or different?

Most American families do not live the way the family did in the movie. However, my family lived similarly to how the children did in the movie. Even though it was similar, there were some differences. My Mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer when I was young so everyday me and my siblings would look after eachother and we wouldn’t see my parents until late at night when they would get home from the hospital. This meant that me and my siblings were responsible for waking up, doing our morning routine, walking to school, walking home from school and preparing our own dinner. Our childhood was different though because our parents would still come home every night and pay all of the bills and they would do the shopping for us to make sure there was food in the fridge.

4.Considering Uchi to Soto, what kinds of concepts of Uchi to Soto are described in this film? Think about social relationship between kids (in the small apartment) and society (outside, eg. Convenience store, school)

In regard to Uchi to Soto, in the beginning, the whole family was “Uchi” and everyone else was “Soto”. However, as time went on, the mom quickly left the inner “Uchi” group of the family and went immediately to “Soto”. Suki also quickly entered the group going from “Soto” immediately to “Uchi”.

5.Considering Chinmoku, the textbook mentions that “~slient, it may imply a wide range of meanings, such as consideration or sympathy, modesty, agreement, patience, embarrassment, resentment, lack of forgiveness or defiance, and apathy” (p.55). I think you saw a lot in this film. Choose the one scene that the most difficult Chinmoku to understand for you and explain how YOU (American) to react and why.

There were two instances where chinmoku was a little confusing. The first was when the kids at the convenience store put the stolen items in Akira’s bag. The store owner took Akira into the back room and was asking Akira about stealing the items and Akira just sat there and was taking the consequences even though he was clearly acting as if he didn’t steal the items. The second was when the mom and the son were at the diner eating food and arguing about how the mom needs her own happiness because her previous lovers have left her alone with all of the kids.

6.MOVIE—What happened for Yuki at the end?

Yuki fell off the chair that was by the plants and when her brother and sister found her, she would not wake up. Akira wanted to show her the airplanes so he bought a bunch of her favorite snack and put it in the suitcase with here and took her to the airport.

7.MOVIE— What do you think the ending? What happened to the kids? Why do you think so?

I thought the ending was sad, the kids were all still struggling to get by. Since Saki is part of the group, she will probably help Akira and his siblings out. The Landowner also saw the state the kids were living in when she opened the door and saw the apartment. The mom is still sending money but the utilities have been shut off and the rent is past due. They will probably get caught.

8.What did you think about the film? Think about American social structure and counterparts for neglecting children.

In America, the kids would not have been able to last as long as they did without a parent. In America, all kids have to legally attend school. Also if someone found out that their parent’s abandoned their kids, Child Protective Services would have been called, the mom would have been immediately arrested and the kids would have been relocated to a new home or an orphanage.

9.Reflective inquiry—-How do your brain work in regard to watch this movie? What is the most difficult concept for you that it showed in film very well but you truly don’t understand? Why is that?

Chinmoku and Aimai: When Akira and his mom are at the restaurant eating, there are times where the Mom or Akira say something to eachother and there is a long pause, but the emotions and responses seemed to be there but were not spoken. And when the statement did get a response it was almost always dodgy and ambiguous.

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tannerlansky1-blog · 8 years ago

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What Makes You American?

With every generation the idea of being “American” changes. Most people use their family’s religion and culture to identify themselves in our society. However this is becoming more and more difficult as generations go on because of people marrying outside of their own culture and religion. For example, if you move further down my family tree I am Irish, German, Polish, Croatian, etc. So it is difficult to only practice one culture’s way of living. So, instead my family takes pieces and parts from our families history and practice our own ways. For my ancestors, being American was coming to America to live and make a difference in their lives. What makes me American however is very different. I do not practice a religion, so I do not stick to any of my family’s religious/cultural practices. What makes me American, besides being a natural born citizen, is actually the fact that my family is a hodge-podge of cultures and religions. Everyday, no matter where you go, you can see people from many different backgrounds. It is this diversity that defines me and our society what it is to be American. Ever since the start of the Americas forming, America was always a mixture of different religions and cultures and people came over for a new beginning. Whether people came over to escape something or just for the curiosity, to be American was always about “new beginnings”.

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tannerlansky1-blog · 8 years ago

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Blog #2 :Q

1. Jiro said in the Documentary that he knows he did not spend much time with his kids while they were young because he was constantly working. Now that his sons are older and are working for him, I feel he is now a role model and a mentor for his kids. He pushes them to be the best that they can be and makes them work outside of their comfort zones. I feel their relationship is not really “father/son” but more as “Master/Apprentice”. It is more serious and professional.

2. I do not think Yoshikazu will exceed his father. In the Documentary, Yoshi and Jiro explained that it was not until later in his life he was forced to work with his father to make sushi. I feel that since Yoshi joined the industry so late in his life and that he did not express a love for making sushi when he was younger that there is some sort of drawback or lack of passion. Jiro is full of passion and love for his work. As the title suggests, Jiro was so into his work that he would dream of ideas for his sushi and write them down in the middle of the night. Yoshi may have the ability to reach his fathers level of talent and respect since he was able to learn from him first hand, however, I think he will not be able to exceed Jiro.

3. Whenever Jiro tries the quality of the sushi when one of his workers or sons make him a piece to try, Jiro has no shame criticizing the sushi exactly how it is and the response from the chef was always humble and modest with their response and actions. It was really interesting seeing this portrayed in a restaurant setting. I worked in a restaurant for 4-5 years and I have never seen such a level of acceptance and modesty between the head-chef and the sous-chef.

4. Jiro is probably one of the most respected sushi chefs in the sushi industry. As Jiro is getting older, it is clear that his oldest son is making the transition of taking over the restaurant. Even though Jiro is the one who brought the restaurant to fame, people do not just go there to eat sushi Jiro makes, they go there to experience the “Jiro feeling”. If Jiro did not believe Yoshikazu’s sushi met Jiro’s standard for quality and presentation, he would fire his son and not let him work. Since Jiro has full faith in his son taking over, I feel that there is little to no variation in the taste of the sushi that Jiro makes and the sushi that Yoshikazu makes.

5. I would have to say it is really both that keeps them at an equilibrium, however, It is weighing more in favor of Amae. In the film, when Takashi is explaining his restaurant, it is clear that he is successful from his apprenticeship and relation to Jiro. Takashi also goes on to explain that he knows his father is more experienced and talented at making sushi so he said he had to lower his price to satisfy his customers. His father goes on to explain that he knew his son was ready and capable of opening his own restaurant but he made it clear that if Takashi went through with it, that there was no coming back.

6. The advantage of Gambari is different for everyone. In America most people compare a direct correlation with Gambari and material possessions. However, that is not always the case. For example, there are those with high Gambari that are rich and have no money troubles and that are surrounded by luxurious items. However, there are also those who have high Gambari that are extremely poor but they are still hard/dedicated workers. They might not have many material possessions, but they are still able to provide the “needs” to the family. The disadvantages of Gambari are sometimes people can be so hard work-oriented people that they forget to acknowledge the “fun” part of life. This can lead to solitary-style living and can be quite unhealthy. When people are “all work and no play” there is increased stress and can make life feel unpleasant. It will also eventually cause a physical toll on the person and it can literally directly impact their well-being.

7. The food critic said that “[Jiro] dislikes the holidays.” and that the “Holidays are too long for [Jiro}”. I picked this quote because I have never seen someone that not only wants to work on a holiday but someone that does not like the fact that a holiday is too long. Most people want to take as much time off of work for a holiday as they can. They do this so not only they can relax, but also to spend time with the family and overall “de-stress” themselves. I found it unique that Jiro not only though the holidays are long but that he would actually prefer to work on a holiday.

8. The hardest concept to understand is probably “Kenkyo”. The meaning of the term itself is a little confusing and then in the book it goes on to explain the different types of Kenkyo and how to use it using the same words “to read” and “to write”. The book explains that In American culture we use the term humility as in the sense of “you and I are equals” and that Japanese use the term as “I am your inferior.” This is probably seen in america as the common term when someone makes a mistake as “everyone is human” or “We were all kids once.”

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tannerlansky1-blog · 8 years ago

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Blog #3

Aimai-

"If people sacrificed themselves and worked for the group, the group supported them, so they made their own opinions conform with their group's objectives and felt a comfortable sense of harmony" (p. 10)

"although this group consciousness has contributed greatly to the economic development of Japan, the need for strong emotional unity has also resulted in an inability to criticize others openly." (p.11)

Personally, I thrive from criticism. One of my main ways of learning is through experiences with criticism.If I do not know what I am doing is wrong or why it is wrong it will be hard to learn the correct way. In American society, it is common knowledge that the best way to learn from your mistakes is to acknowledge the fact that something is wrong. You can see this all of the time in cooking shows in America. The judges are always direct and to the point with no ambiguity. In Japanese culture, ambiguity is commonplace. The book states that this is because of the seclusion of Japan from other countries due to the fact that it is an island. It goes on to explain that this caused the Japanese to become a close-knit community and allowed the Japanese to better understand one’s true intentions. This closeness allows for the Japanese to express this sense of ambiguity.

Uchi to Soto -

"Individual opinions were not valued, and every member had to consider the harmony of the family first and foremost." (p.218)

In American society this can be seen from time to time when a parent or family member has an inability to work and the kid/family member will have clear goals for themselves but most of the time they have to stop what they are doing in order to support/further the families well-being. My personal perspective would be my families relation with my grandfather. My Grandpa has owned his business since he was 22 and wanted to retire when he hit 65 like most Americans do. However, due to hardship in the family it is required for him to continue working in order for the family to function and operate. In Japanese culture this closeness is essential and that is why there is a clear distinction between family and outsiders. The book explained that is may be due to the closeness of communities and the exclusion from outside countries and cultures. I feel that once you become close to your family and are accustomed to that closeness, it is hard to bring others into your "inner circle" which can cause conflicts both interpersonally and internationally.

"The distinction sometimes causes problems within Japanese society itself, as well as in international relations." (p.219)

Chinmoku - "Silence occurs when people have nothing to say, of course, but it does not always mean that they have no ideas." (p.53)

My view of Chinmoku is very similar to the Japanese culture. In American society most people are commonly uncomfortable when there is silence, especially in communication. I often see people having a conversation and the moment one of the parties has nothing to say there is an "awkward" silence and people tend to occupy this silence either by immediately changing the subject or they pull out their phone to cut the silence. In Japanese culture, sometimes silence is a key factor in communication. This can be seen by the term "actions speak louder than words", meaning that sometimes body language and silence can work hand-in-hand when having effective communication skills.

"Silence thus functions as a kind of lubricating oil to create smoother communication because it can help to avoid hurting others and contributes to a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere, allowing people to overcome difficult situations in a calm and unhurried way." (p.54)

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tannerlansky1-blog · 8 years ago

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Blog#1:A

Gambari: "In daily life, the Japanese use the term Gambari very often, and this overuse seems to point to certain Japanese characteristics, some of which have negative effects." (p. 83)

From a personal perspective, I grew up in a setting where people were always pushing me to be a better person, they would always tell me to keep working my hardest until I achieved my goal (obtaining a bachelors degree) and it would often be overwhelming and cause me to struggle to keep my head straight and achieve my goals because of the constant re-assertion from my family and peers to keep pushing me forward. In American society, I feel that people are getting more "soft' and family and peers try not to push their kids/friends too hard and are ok with what they do or accomplish. This is more noticeable in parents with their kids than it is with grandparents with their grandchildren. This could be because in the past, occupation, marriage, and success were the three main driving factors in society and since then it is more common for people to not have a full-time occupation from a trade, or degree and more and more people are not getting married. In Japan, with the constant overuse of this term I feel it is negatively impacting people because everyone is expecting some sort of standard from each-other, that if one cannot fulfill their goals/duties they feel like they are not part of the "norm" and are a disgrace/ashamed for not being able to hold themselves up to their peers standards.

"the monk who does not work should not eat' (Japan); 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.' (America)." (p. 85)

When I was younger growing up in poverty I help myself strictly to the belief that pulling my weight is essential to success. I would constantly just work and work without giving myself a chance to enjoy my youth and free time. It wasn't until I got to college and my scholarship program showed us the importance of hard work but they also went into depth on the importance of "play" and to enjoy oneself. Once I was able to realize that there is a healthy balance to "work and play" I was able to feel like a normal person and have fun while still being able to achieve my goals. This also goes for the American society. When people are accustomed to work only, they live their lives with high stress and anxiety which is unhealthy and can lead to health/ societal issues. People have learned to accept this and also try to balance business and pleasure. In Japan, however, this is not the case. They feel there is some sort of disgrace if they are not constantly bettering themselves to reach their personal goals/accomplishments. Saying that Japanese people just want to pull their weight in society is a complete understatement. They constantly find work to do that even though it may not be related to themselves, it will help out their close family/ society. They never seem to reach a sense of fulfillment because of the overuse of the term.

Kenkyo: "Although a sense of egalitarianism seems to be growing today, people are still conscious of these hierarchies." (p.144)

I personally do not fully understand how to address my peers/elders/mentors. However, I am able to make the distinction between the hierarchies, I was never fully taught the importance, or how to address the members of each hierarchy. This is also true for American society. I believe this is solely due to the fact of lack of education. If you look at Ivy league and religious schools from a decade or two ago, there was a strict definition/ universal code of how you should address who you are talking to or else you would be punished. Nowadays, schools are becoming very laid back and do not teach this to the kids anymore. and people from middle- to-low class families probably do not have the proper education of this so they cannot really teach it to their own kids. In Japan, this may also be the case, as technology is advancing, they are becoming more connected with the outside world and see how other cultures are also evolving and adapting. this could possibly be the cause of them slipping up and conforming with the idea of egalitarianism.

"The expression of humility in English is kind of an understatement, within the spirit of 'you and I are equals.' Japanese modesty, on the other hand, carries a connotation of 'I'm your inferior' through the expression of negative self-images." (p.147)

As I was growing up people had me accustomed to the idea of "humble yourself". This idea was that everyone is the same, and we all make mistakes. Own up to who you are and accept others how they are. This can be seen throughout American society. I vaguely remember a book we read in our high school where the characters were in a war setting and on of the "disposable" foot soldiers was talking to his peers while watching a highly decorated "tyrant-like" leader and he said something along the lines of: even though they were from the complete opposite ends of the spectrum, they both had to use the same latrines. This is one of my favorite examples to use when I think of "humbling myself to the fact that "we are equals." In Japan however, there is a clear line between the hierarchies and when a lower-class is address an upper-class, the lower class makes it very clear and apparent that they are the underling and have full respect for their higher-up. I see this portrayed in Asian-style films where the inferior pupil will normally not even make eye contact with the higher class, especially when they have done something wrong/shameful.

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 depend on adult children, and so on." (p. 17)

I feel that I am able to understand Amae a little bit when it comes to everyday life. There is a clear understanding in my family that we know who has to rely on who in order to get through everyday life. Without this harmonious balance, it is really easy for things to go south really fast. We have experienced this many times and it is not until we reach the harmony again, that everything returns to normal. I feel like this is also the case for most American families. Most people understand the concept but they do not always follow it strictly and when that happens, it is when most of the time things can fall apart. Sometimes eventually to the point where there is no coming back and establishing this balance and harmony again. In Japan, I feel like this is an important term and can probably go hand-in-hand with the term Gambari. In Asian culture it is common for families to live together in one house just for this reason. It is an endless cycle of need and harmony between everyone just as the quote suggests. The thought process is simple, the children need a parent in order to survive and succeed. Younger people need their elders to teach them from their own past experiences and finally grandparents need their adult children to help take care of them whether it is running errands for them or just keeping them company through their hard times.

"Dependency among adults is commonly seen in Japanese society, as in relationships such as those between husband and wife, teacher and student, and doctor and patient." (p.19)

This is understandable because I would not be where I am today without this type of dependency being present in my life. My sole understanding of this type of dependency has allowed me to learn and understand the rest of how society works in order to succeed myself. In American society, however, I feel like the distinct lines between relationships are fading and people are losing their sense of this dependency. There has been a lack of respect and acknowledgement between the relationships people have with their peers. This is because of religion, education, probably even past experiences. In Japan, this dependency is essential. A student will never not listen, or do the opposite of what their teacher has told them to do. This shows in "Jiro" with Jiro's apprentice and how he talks with such respect about Jiro. It is most likely considered a waste of time to not see and respect the underlying dependency society has on eachother.

Honne to tatemae: "For example, when a person is visiting someone's house in Japan and it becomes time for supper, people will often say,' won't you dine with us?' But this is not really an invitation; rather it is a subtle hint that it is time to go home." (p. 116)

I was always taught that this is the polite thing to say when I have company come over around dinner time. This is the same for American society as well. However, in American society most people see this as an actual invitation and will more than likely stay for dinner. This is were the term "southern hospitality" has become popular. The idea is that what is mine is yours and what is yours is mine. Most people will probably not find this as being rude or intrusive for this reason. In Japan, this is seen as being intrusive and the proper response is simply "No, thank you" but this is well known as being a "no-no." Japanese culture has been able to master when this type of behavior is not okay because of the strict and distinct use of the "honne' and "tatemae."

"People switch easily and skillfully between the two and are rarely aware that they can cause misunderstandings and confusion among people who are not accustomed to this way of interacting." (p.116)

It is not always easy for me to read a situation and find our what the actual proper response is supposed to be without hurting someone's feelings. This means that most times conversations are always volatile in American society and it is not always easy finding the correct response. In Japan, since they have the clear distinction it is easy for them to inter-operate just fine with ease, but when talking to someone from a different culture it is often hard to find the proper communication without both parties being confused due to the lack of a clear-line between the situations.

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