JAPAN

Welcome once again and thank you for tuning in, we will now commence our journey, so please grab on tight to your seats and let’s start the engines of our imagination. 

First stop: JAPAN.

You heard it, our first stop is japan, what better place to commence our journey, than the country that first sees the sunrise. Japan.

Japan has had a fascinating and multifaceted culture; on the one hand it is steeped in the deepest of traditions dating back thousands of years; on the other it is a society in a continual state of rapid flux, with continually shifting fads and fashions and technological development that constantly pushes back the boundaries of the possible. 

As we have learned, Japan is, you could say colliding between the new cutting age technology and fast changing society with its antique conservative traditions and values. We will start with the fascinating “old” side of Japan, to understand their traditions including traditional culture like Geisha, Samurai, Japanese tea ceremony, Japanese gardens, kimonos and Japanese Language, we must first take a two way ticket to the past! So next stop everybody, Traditional Japan!!!!

HISTORY

Traditional Japanese culture has many roots in traditional Chinese culture (which we will be discussing later on hehehe), however Japanese culture, even historically differed from Chinese culture. This differentiation of the cultures is due in part to the separation of the two land masses, plus Japan’s periods of enforced isolation from the outside world, further extended the differences between the two cultures. Many times throughout history the first time a particular aspect of culture was imported from China it was of course very Chinese. However within a relatively short period the designs changed to take on a distinctly Japanese style. This can be seen in the designs of Japanese gardens and temples.

The Great Hall (Kondo) Horyuji Temple in Nara, is one of the first Buddhist temples built in Japan and follows the style from Sui Dynasty of China (6th century) with its double roof structure.

It is with some irony then that in modern times that the younger Chinese generations have looked to modern Japanese culture as a source of inspiration, particularly in field of Japanese fashion culture, where the Chinese are inspired by Japanese fashion magazines.

The first historical documents mentioning Japan date to around the 5th century. Japanese myth holds that Emperor Jimmu was the first emperor of an imperial line that is still in place today. The following Asuka regime during the mid 8th century is noted for a more centralized Japan in which Chinese culture significantly influenced Japanese traditions.

Nara was the first centralized capital of the nation established in the late 8th century. After a succession of powerful Shogun, Japan fell into a state of near-anarchy as provinces declared war upon one another during the 15th centuryIn 1867.

The imperial capital was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo, renamed from Edo to Tokyo (Eastern Capital). In the early 1930's there were many small-scale military engagements in so-called "incidents" between the two sides. This culminated into a full-scale war in 1937.

As we’ve learned so far Japan has had quite an interesting history, concerning dynasties and political conflicts. But enough of the history lesson, lets return to the present.

LANGUAGE

And well how on earth are we going to comprehend Japanese people if we don’t understand their language, let’s take a look into the books…

The Japanese writing system consists of three different character sets: Kanji (several thousands of Chinese characters) and Hiragana and Katakana (two syllabaries of 46 characters each; together called Kana). Japanese texts can be written in two ways: In Western style, i.e. in horizontal rows from the top to the bottom of the page, or in traditional Japanese style, i.e. in vertical columns from the right to the left side of the page. Both writing styles exist side by side today.

TOKYO

How do we go to japan and not talk about world famous city Tokyo, not only is Tokyo the capital of Japan, but it is also one of the most technologically advanced places in the world. Tokyo not only holding the secrets of the most advanced artificial intelligence is also a place full of wonder where the clear shock between traditional japan and new japan meet and flow in a completely intriguing flow. Here is a more descriptive report of Tokyo

Tokyo (東京, Tōkyō) is Japan's capital and the world's most populous metropolis. It is also one of Japan's 47 prefectures, consisting of 23 central city wards and multiple cities, towns and villages west of the city center. The Izu and Ogasawara Islands are also part of Tokyo.

Prior to 1868, Tokyo was known as Edo. A small castle town in the 16th century, Edo became Japan's political center in 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu established his feudal government there. A few decades later, Edo had grown into one of the world's most populous cities. With the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the emperor and capital moved from Kyoto to Edo, which was renamed Tokyo ("Eastern Capital"). Large parts of Tokyo were destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and in the air raids of 1945.

Today, Tokyo offers a seemingly unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture and dining to its visitors. The city's history can be appreciated in districts such as Asakusa, and in many excellent museums, historic temples and gardens. Contrary to common perception, Tokyo also offers a number of attractive green spaces in the city center and within relatively short train rides at its outskirts.

PEOPLE

Now getting back on track on the present Japanese people appear at first glance to be one of the most socially and ethnically homogenous groups in the world.

It is reasonable to equate Japan's rapid post-war economic development to the 1990s with social solidarity and conformism. Despite labour shortages since the 1960s, authorities resisted officially sanctioning foreign workers until the 1980s, relying on increased mechanisation and an expanded female workforce instead. As we’ve been able to deduce in our previous history flashback, women have always had a very centered place in the Japanese society, resembling beauty and grace (such as Geishas still to this day represent in their traditional lifestyle and dances).

RELIGION 

Now, something we as westerners have probably asked ourselves is, what is the religion in Japan? This is a basic question, and can be an as easy or an as complicated concept as you want it to be. Religion in Japan is a wonderful mish-mash of ideas from Shintoism and Buddhism. Unlike in the West, religion in Japan is rarely preached, nor is it a doctrine. Instead it is a moral code, a way of living, almost indistinguishable from Japanese social and cultural values.

 

Japanese religion is also a private, family affair. It is separate from the state; there are no religious prayers or symbols in a school graduation ceremony, for example. Religion is rarely discussed in every day life and the majority of Japanese do not worship regularly or claim to be religious.

However, most people turn to religious rituals in birth, marriage and death and take part in spiritual matsuri (or festivals) throughout the year.

FOOD

Here is the topic where no wrong can be done, food, we all love food, and we all have different perceptions and sometimes misconceptions about the food surrounding different countries around the world.

I am sure that more than one of you have heard (as westerners) that Asian people have rather extravagant tastes regarding the culinary aspect. Which is not completely true in the sense we think it is, When it comes to food, the Japanese are among the most enthusiastic and passionate of any race. Ask any Japanese person about a recent trip within Japan and the conversation almost always includes talk of the local food. In fact, for many Japanese travelling outside of their hometowns, food is often one of the primary motivators for travelling.

For this reason many towns and cities in Japan are known first and foremost for their local speciality, whether it be a type of sweet, fish, noodle, seaweed or tofu etc. Such is the Japanese passion for food that you can turn on your TV at almost any time of the day or night and almost undoubtedly catch a show about food.    

Careful preparation and meticulous presentation are crucial elements of Japanese cuisine. Food is an art form and even the simplest dishes are often prepared by chefs who have trained for many years.

As you can see, Japanese people treat food as not only the thing that you need to live and tastes great, they treat food as an art, which is a unique view that can be very interesting when you come from outside the culture.

GEISHA

Moving onto one of the most typical things here in japan, Geishas, the symbol of beauty by excellence in ancient and traditional times. The distinctive white face, red lips and elaborately decorated hairstyle of the Geisha is an enduring image portrayed throughout the globe as the entrance to a world to which most of us mere mortals are not invited. From somewhat seedy beginnings, the current world of the geisha remains a mystery to most foreigners and Japanese alike.

SAMURAI

Another emblematic theme of japan, are the distinctive samurai soldiers, that may not be as we westerners think, of course we might have a vague idea of what a samurai is and such, but the truth is that being a samurai has a much more deeper feeling and meaning than the sense of loyalty and braveness we so often see in movies. Pride and honor are a must when we talk about things that represent or that we associate with samurais. For those interested in Japanese history, samurai culture and the role this military class played in shaping Japan is a fascinating one.

Although samurai no longer exist, the influence of these great warriors still manifests itself deeply in Japanese culture and samurai heritage can be seen all over Japan - be it a great castle, a carefully planned garden, or beautifully preserved samurai residences. It is also deeply ingrained in the psyche of the Japanese people.

The basis of samurai conduct is bushido, "the way of the warrior". This unique philosophy valued honour, reckless bravery and selflessness, as well as duty to the warrior's master with the purpose of giving up one's life and embracing death. There was no place for fear in the way of the warrior and this conduct of self discipline and respectful, ethical behaviour was to become the role model behaviour for other classes throughout Japan's history.

THEATRE 

Coming to another stop we once again get in touch with Japan’s vast historical context that still has a great value and present impact in today’s everyday life for the average Japanese people. We now dive in into what must be one of the most fascinating cultural and historical representations that still carry on today. You're in Tokyo with InsideJapan Tours - why not take in the theatre? If you are shopping or just window-shopping in Ginza in the heart of Tokyo, you are only a few minutes' walk from the Shimbashi Embujo.

 All parts in Kabuki are played by men and some of its greatest actors specialise in playing female characters. Kabuki stars are part of Japan's celebrity culture and you will often see their faces on advertising billboards or in TV commercials.

Apart from Kabuki, the puppet theatre (Bunraku), with each puppet being manipulated by three puppeteers, also dates from the seventeenth century, and Noh, a more stately form of danced theatre in which many main actors wear wooden masks, can  trace its history back to the fourteenth century.

Bunraku is most regularly played in Osaka at the National Bunraku Theatre and earphone guides are also available there. Noh can be watched at the National Noh Theatre in Tokyo, and each seat has a personal subtitling system.

Japan has preserved its traditional theatre forms, but it has a vibrant modern theatre as well. The country was virtually cut off from the rest of the world for two centuries from the mid-1600s to the mid-1800s, but when it discovered what European theatre was like, it eagerly embraced the major European playwrights: Shakespeare, Ibsen etc.

ANIME AND MANGA

Taking a break from so many cultural activities we take a stop or best said a MUST in our visit to Japan is the anime and manga community that lies here, anime is the word to describe the characteristic style to draw and or animate a story. Originally the term anime was adopted from the American word animation. Anime has a variety of themes, characters, and stories. There is such a wide range of themes that there is most definitely something out there for your tastes.

Before we continue let us first clear up the fact that the international term of “otaku” which is world widely known to describe a person who likes, enjoys, watches or is a fan of anime and manga, in Japan, the term “otaku” is normally seen negatively, it is seen as someone who is socially isolated and has an unhealthy obsession and relationship with the fictional characters that are shown in anime or manga.

Manga books are generally printed in black and white and cover a wide variety of genres and subject matter aimed at both sexes and all ages, not just for young boys - to whom comics are generally marketed in the West. Themes include romance, action adventure, science fiction, comedy, sports and can also venture into darker subject matter for adults such as horror and more risqué material; though the latter tends not to be acknowledged in everyday life and culture.

As it makes up a large section of Japan's publishing industry, manga books can be found and seen everywhere. People reading manga on trains during rush hour is a common sight in Tokyo as well as the rest of the country.

Once certain manga have proven their worth by popularity, the natural progression is for an animated TV series to be created, however, manga is not the only source of inspiration for anime. For example, Pokémon was a worldwide hit as a video game for Nintendo before it was made into manga and anime series.

The obvious differences from manga such as colour, movement and sound bring anime to life, but there is one additional element which is extremely important: the theme song. Artists from the J-pop and J-rock world are all falling over themselves to write the theme songs for the next big anime series as it is almost a guaranteed hit and provides great exposure. The anticipation of which artist it will be can often overshadow the anime itself, being the topic of hot discussion in school playgrounds and internet forums.

Parting from the fictional and intriguing world of Japanese animation, we now approach the end of our amazing journey, today we’ve gone through a journey across the globe towards one of Asia’s most modern countries, arriving clearly seeing how the culture shock may affect us and to get a better understanding of the culture we travelled in time, where we learned about all the political changes the country has endured and how its traditional values have been very preserved colliding nowadays with competing technology and advanced resources that may not compare to the rest of the world.  

 We now take aboard the plane to the amazing CHINA. Do not forget to keep on track of our great adventure, thank you so much for reading, I hope you’ve spend a wonderful time here with me enjoying all the greatness that this country can offer, and see you next time when we land in Bei Jing.