Changing Impressions of Japan.

Before I came to Japan I had a stereotypically image in my mind of how I thought it would be. Non-stop traffic, neon lit facades and expensive food. Upon arriving in Tokyo my initial impressions were that my assumptions had been correct. It was without doubt the busiest, brightest and most expensive place I had ever been. Everywhere I went I was innundated with spectacular sights and sounds. Every meal I consumed forced me to spend more money than I wished, in a word it was overwhelming.

After Tokyo I caught the Shinkasen to Nagano, it was then that my pre-concieved ideas fell to the wayside. It was beautiful, peaceful, but still expensive. Walking through small villages with snow covered roofs was as far from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo as you could possibly get. In a word it was peaceful.

Then I caught the train to Kyoto, initially it felt like any other city I had ever been to. My hostel was located in Gion-Shijoh, I arrived, unpacked and immediately followed the advice of my trusty Lonely Planet and walked through the old neighbourhood. Within 15 minutes I came across a small procession of Geisha, it was a spectacular sight which I can vividly remember as if it were yesterday. I proceeded on to the Kiyomizu-dera temple which is the starting point of the world famous "Southern Higashyama Walking Tour." I then spent the next six hours walking from temple to temple, often I was alone except for the monks who were busy in prayer. It was a awesome experience that I will never forget, in a word it was inspiring.

So in essence my impressions of Japan changed everyday, it is a country of incredible depth and beauty. No one place can sum up the experiences on offer. From these intial days of travel I learnt to expect the unexpected. My trip to Japan has been an invaluable experience, I now see Japan in all its multi-dimensional glory and not as a one trick pony.

Politics in Japan.

Upon arriving in Japan I noticed the abundance of political posters on display. On virtually every street I have encountered largely the same image, regardless of the political affiliation of the politician (or potential politician) the layout is nearly identical. The first picture I've posted is the standard of all Japanese political posters, whoever is pictured has a serious look on their face as if to tell the public that they are ready for business. Couple this with the seemingly endless parade of vans blaring out political messages and one could assume that Japan is a hotbed of political discourse. Whilst this may well be true for some age demographics, in my experience the youth of Japan have very little interest in the political process.

In order to find out more about Japanese youths' seeming disinterest in politics I asked several Japanese students their thoughts on politics in order to gain some insight.

How do you feel about politics?

Seiko- "I don't really know. My Dad is interested but my friends and I don't think about it much".

Jiro- "I followed the Obama election but Japanese politics is not interesting".

Yurika- "Iam going to vote in the next election, I don't know which party is which yet".

Although Iam sure there are young people who are interested in politics, as far as I have ascertained it does not permeate Japanese culture as it does in Australia. It is unfortunate because living in a democracy brings with it certain responsibilities and I feel that political awareness is integral to sustained growth and freedom.

Sport in Japan.

I was lucky enough to go to a Hanshin Tigers game last night and I was immensely impressed on all fronts. The stadium itself was hugely impressive, offering an uninterrupted views of the entire field. I was also amazed at the level of support given to the Tigers. It was obvious from the outset that Osakans take their baseball team very seriously. As soon as I entered the stadium I was innundated with noise and colour, it seemed as if everyone present was wearing a Hanshin Tigers jersey and sporting a noise maker of some kind. As cliche as it may sound the atmosphere was truly electric. Every time the Tigers stepped up to bat the crowd would break into synchronised song, with each player having their own individual tune. It was an amazing spectacle, each song was punctuated by a predetermined rhythm with the crowd adding the percussion via their noise makers. The level of coordination was extraordinary, the only thing I've seen which comes close to it would be an English Premier League match. Another highlight was the traditional 7th inning release of balloons, which was a spectacle to behold. At a predetermined moment 50 000 people unleashed their 'rocket' balloons which creates a whole lot of noise and vibrant colour. It was the highlight of the night, particularly because the Tigers lost 9-2. Despite the heavy loss the Tigers fans remained upbeat and continued to Cheer to the end. Overall it was an awesome night and one of the highlights of my time in Japan.

One strange aspect of the night was the abundance of gaijin leeway afforded our crew of 25. We had so much space as it seemed no Japanese people desired to sit near us. I'm not sure if they were intimidated or just cautious but we had a multitude of spare seats next to us in an otherwise sold out stadium.

Gender in Japan.

Flying in the face of the overtly masculine image of men presented by western media, Japanese metro sexual men http://www.mynippon.com/men/metrosexual.htm are unafraid to make themselves look pretty. Every day I encounter Japanese men who have seemingly spent several hours prepping their hair and fastidiously choosing an outfit that will be deemed trendy. Having lived in Australia and England before my current stay in Japan my previous definition of metro sexual was a guy with a stylised mullet and a "salmon" coloured polo shirt. Japanese men have taken metro sexual to the extreme, their entire ensemble would put most Australian women to shame. They can be seen in the trendy (i.e expensive) areas of Osaka, carrying a plethora of shopping bags which sport designer labels. These shopping bags are often accompanied by their 'man bag' (essentially a handbag) a pair of skinny jeans and some ludicrously over sized sunglasses, which remain on long after the sun has gone down.

Japan has a male cosmetic market that accounts for nearly one-fifth of men's cosmetics globally and sales of men's skincare have surged in the past few years, growing an average 13% per year, according to Mandom, Japan's second biggest cosmetics maker after Shiseido. http://www.glasshousetalent.co.nz/index.asp?s1=Client%20Resources&s2=Articles&s3=Metrosexual%20Sales%20On%20The%20Increase

Mandom goes on to say that delicate men are 'in fashion' at the moment, Japan has always been willing to take trends to the extreme, maybe what I have witnessed in my time here is just another example of this. Perhaps several summers from now Japanese men will be dressing up like outlaw bikers complete with dirty denim and greasy beards. Although I respect ones freedom to jump on any bandwagon they wish, I find myself irritated by the fact that most trends require people to spend ridiculous amounts of their income on what amounts to nothing more than a fleeting moment of 'cool'.

Religion in Japan.

Religion in Japan is a complex haphazard affair. Like a man at the Kentucky Derby who bets on every horse and declares himself a winner, the Japanese hedge their bets in the hope of securing every realm of spiritual possibility. Multiple religions have co-existed in Japan since the sixth century when Buddhism was introduced.http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/japan/religion.htm

From the outset Shinto and Buddhism influenced each other and developed a relationship which was mutually beneficial for the followers of both religions. Confucianism and Taoism have also had deep historical impacts on the thoughts and actions of Japanese people throughout the centuries.

Christianity was introduced by Jesuit missionaries in 1549 and was at first viewed negatively by those in power. In the 1600s many were persecuted and forced to renounce their Christian beliefs. It wasn't until the late 1800s that the ban on Christianity was lifted and Christians were openly able to practice their rituals.

According to a 1996 report, about 194,000,000 Japanese are members of both religions, about 54% more than the total population of Japan. Apparent by these numbers, Shinto and Buddhism are not in conflict with each other but exist peacefully together. In actuality most Japanese seldom attend religious services, except during festivals, marriages and funerals. Seemingly Christianity seldom comes into play except during marriages ceremonies (although this is mainly due to it being seen a fashionable). Whilst many elderly Japanese turn to Buddhism in order to secure a new life via reincarnation, also because Shinto sees death as impure. This picking and choosing of various religious rites and rituals defies the traditional view of a single faith being the only path to religious enlightenment. Although it could be argued that hedging one's spiritual bets isn't true religious faith, the people of Japan have found religious peace and prosperity which has alluded those in the middle east for 1000s of years.

Globalisation and Japan.

Since the end of World War 2 and the subsequent occupation by Allied forces Japan has wholeheartedly embraced global trends and fashions. Japanese people have a distinct knack for picking and choosing those trends which most appeal to them, never allowing anything to be thrust upon them. Globalisation though, is a two-way street, as much as Japan incorporates world cultures into their own they also have a strong global influence. The list of global trends started in Japan is seemingly endless, everything from computer consoles (and games), car design, robotics, fashion and music. Having the world's second largest economy is no accident, Japan must stay at the forefront of world trends in order to capitalise on and maintain their powerful position. Companies like Sony and Toyota create new technologies which are eagerly snapped up by hungry consumers the world over. Sony's Playstation 3 has quickly established itself as the premier gaming system, producing titles which have broken records thought to have been unattainable. Toyota has pioneered hybrid car technology which is receiving a warm reception from both consumers and fellow car companies who aren't ashamed to jump on the green technology band wagon. Beginning with the Prius, Toyota has now incorporated hybrid technology into the vast majority of its products, including their luxury arm, Lexus.

The true test of globalisation is a countries ability to not only embrace foreign trends but to also contribute globally with their own products and ideas. Japan achieves this on a higher level than any country that Iam aware of. For every McDonald's or KFC one encounters you can rest assured that their will be a Toyota in the drive though or a child playing his PSP whilst waiting for his food.

Ihei Kimura (b Tokyo, 12 Dec 1901; d Tokyo, 31 May 1974).
Began his career in Taiwan in 1920 where he trained as a photographer. Returning to Japan in 1924 he established a photographic studio in the Nippori district of Tokyo. From 1930 he worked for several years in the advertising section of a soap and cosmetics company, where he continued to develop his style. In 1933, he joined fellow photographer and formed the group Nippon Kōbō ("Japan workshop"), which emphasized "realism" in photography using 35mm cameras; this group quickly disintegrated so Kimura formed an alternative group, Chūō Kōbō ("central workshop") with a whole new batch of photographers. During the World War 2 he worked in Manchuria and also contributed to propaganda magazines supporting Japan’s war effort. Once the war had ended Kimura was able to once again photograph the everyday scenes that he became famous for. He travelled extensively around the world, most notably to Paris where he completed an acclaimed series of photos.

Kimura's photos provide a great insight into the everyday lives of Japanese people. They never look posed and present a realistic portayal of Japanese society. Personally Iam a huge fan of Kimura's work. His photos have a depth of feeling which greatly appeals to me. As a historical reference his work is extremely valuable. Of particular note is his series of photos taken in Akita which showcase both his talent and range.

http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/555/art.asp

Japanese Popular Culture.

Popular culture in Japan is one of the most diverse aspects of this hectic multi-layered land. For the purposes of this post I will focus solely on drift racing and it's metamorphosis from underground recreational activity to worldwide multi-million dollar enterprise. Drifting refers to a driving technique and to a motor sport where the driver intentionally over steers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while preserving vehicle control and a high exit speed.

Although the technique of drifting has been evident in motor sports for decades, modern day drifting was born in the hills of Osaka in the early 80s. With the advent of the new freeway systems many of the old mountain roads were left empty. A small crew of thrill seekers claimed these roads as their own and began regularly pushing the limits of their high powered, real wheel drive street machines. Before long this small crew of drifters had developed a huge following and spurned a whole legion of copycats. By 1988 professional drift events were being staged at Tsukuba Circuit in Shimotsuma. http://www.motoracing-japan.com/circuit/09_tsukuba.html

Today drifting has evolved into a competitive sport where drivers compete in rear wheel drive cars to earn points from judges based on various factors. At the top levels of competition, for example the D1 Grand Prix from Japan and others in Malaysia, Australia, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, Formula-D in the United States, King of Europe Drift Series in Europe, Drift Mania in Canada, and the NZ Drift Series in New Zealand. Despite the worldwide popularity of drifting, Japan remains universally lauded as both the premier drifting location and for spawning the greatest advocates of the technique. Drifting is one the most popular sports in Japan today, with drivers such as Kenji Takayama, Daigo Saito and Suenaga Naoto enjoying an almost cult like status amongst fans of the sport.

http://madeinatlantis.com/life/drifting_culture.htm

Japanese People.

Japanese people are amongst the most hospitable I have encountered in my travels around the globe. I encountered Tokyoites who wouldn't hesitate to take time out from their busy schedules to offer help to this hapless gaijin. In this respect Tokyo has an almost small town vibe to it, which is strange considering that it is arguably the largest metropolis in the known universe. http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/largest-cities-area-125.html I have also found that Japanese people have a genuine curiosity and desire to learn more about other people and cultures. Being a vegetarian my dietary requests in a restaurant would inevitably invoke questions as to my religious beliefs and more often than not sympathy as I would invariably be left hungry.

The Japanese peoples' hospitality quickly disappears when bargains are afoot. This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Kobo-San flea market in Kyoto. People who I'm sure are normally placid in most situations became pushy and overly assertive in their desire to attain the bargain basement priced trinkets and antiques. I have never been trodden on as much in such a brief passage of time, and I can only recall a solitary 'sumimasen' which normally gets thrown around like a baseball at a Hanshin Tigers game. As I have mentioned in my previous posts Iam blown away by the verve and dedication of Japan's elderly population. Without doubt they were the most domineering and bargain conscious of the lot. They give no quarter and take no prisoners, if any one got the better of them on Sunday I failed to witness it.

My prevailing impression of Japanese people is that if respect is shown it is invariably returned. They carry with them a sense of pride and decency which should be held up as beacon for western countries which have let such notions dissapear in a relentless pursuit for monetary gain.

hirakata stylez...........

Hirakata is a microcosm of contemporary Japanese society. At first glance it appears like any other modern city around the world, but delve a little deeper and you will find the objects of beauty that draw so many people to this ancient country.

To truly explore Hirakata a bike is essential. Riding through the numerous narrow lanes you will notice old and modern designs seemlessly incorporated within the architecture of the local houses. The gardens are tended to perfection, I could spend days on end basking in there beauty. So magnificent are the local houses and gardens that if you're not paying careful attention you may find yourself riding straight past a Shinto temple. Which at first glance may be confused for simply another wonderful house. The local temples are numerous and well worth taking the time out to explore. I've found myself retreating to the temple in the above picture as a bastion of peace from the hustle and bustle of the seminar house and university campus.

Night time is my favourite time to explore the neighbourhood of Hirakata. Like much of Japan it truly comes alive at night. Every evening no matter what the weather you will encounter people walking their dogs, along with those out for some exercise of their own. I'm constantly amazed at the veracity with which elderly Japanese people take to their exercise routine. I'm ashamed to admit that I've seen people well into their sixties who would run rings around me when it comes to fitness. If anyone is looking for the reason why Japanese people have the longest life expectancy in the world, I would advise them to pay a visit to a local park after dark.

early impressions of japan

My early impressions of Japan were that this is a country like no other. The people take a genuine pride in good manners and respect. From the masked subway commuters in Tokyo through to the Buddhist beggars in Kyoto. The citizens of Japan display a level of sincerity towards their

fellow countrymen which I have never seen before in my travels across the globe.

Riding on the subway in Tokyo I became familiar with the phenomenom known as "gaijin leeway" whereby the if the conditions are not too crowded, every native commuter will do their best to give foreigners as much space as possible. It's only possible to get this close to local if they're asleep. I would wager that if this lady had of woken up she would've experienced a moment of panic, having realised that she had not given the gaijin the appropriate amount of space.