Japanese culture

“The Samurai is a term for the military nobility of pre-industrial and agrarian Japan. From the Samurai, the warrior class (known as “bushi”, hence “bushido”), one learns the art of being disciplined in growing or perfecting oneself. One learns to outthink, outmaneuver and out-win ones enemies or rivals (Low 183).” The Samurai class called for a life of duty and discipline both on and off the battlefield. The loyalty and bravery to the daimyo far surpassed friends and even family which played a…

There is a vast amount of differences between Japanese culture and American culture. The movie Shall We Dansu is an excellent character study of people that make up the working class in Japan. Shall We Dansu follows depressed business man Mr. Sugiyama as he lives a mundane lifestyle until he finds himself drawn to a ballroom dancing class because of a entrancing woman he always sees there when he is on the train. Despite having an excellent position at the large company he works at, a devoted…

All my life, my answers to questions regarding religions has been “I don’t know”. Being born and raised my first ten years of my life in Japan, I acquired many “religious” practices that the majority of the Japanese population perform, and became a cultural practice rather than a religious practice. However, I never quite understood what, where, or who God was, and assumed it was similar to like Santa Claus; someone who is everywhere and nowhere at the same time; someone who one thinks exists,…

whatever we may think...”.Journeys is a term that implies travel, the notion of a journey can be either physical, inner or imaginative and can result in negative or positive outcomes. Journeys result in transformation of new insights, experiences, cultures and perspectives. Journeys that are undertaken by individuals display consequences and changes that aid in shaping an individual’s perspective on interpersonal relationships, personal identity and existential outlook. These ideas are…

consumer goods produced to target the cute aesthetic so enjoyed by Japanese youth. This has been the subject of criticism, as this is a rebellion against the traditional, more conservative Japanese society. The critics focus their attacks on the childish nature of members of kawaii culture…

In 1937, the Kokutai No Hongi (Cardinal Principles of the National Entity of Japan), the Ministry of Education published a series of ideals that provided the definition of Japanese cultural values and a fundamentals. This publication defined the national essence, or identity, of Japan in terms of loyalty to the Emperor, subjugation of the individual to the State, filial faithfulness within one’s family, to the Emperor, and to the nation, harmony among all citizens, and martial spirit through…

are meant to coexist with it and our own species (we aren’t meant to fight among ourselves). Thus Shinto peacefully coexisted with Buddhism. Shinto.Shinto has also played a rather large role in politics and as such has influenced a lot of the Japanese culture. The deity of Shinto is known as Kami who unlike the all powerful gods of western religions is an energy believed to be held within all of nature. Kami…

are shown in Ch’an’s significant importance surrounding the instability and naturalness of all things. Zen came to Japan in the seventh century but was not completely developed till the twelfth century. Zen became a central influential force in Japanese culture as it reached into more then just Buddhist temples, from gardening and calligraphy to war strategies and practices. The core of the Bodhidharma’s wisdom is that a person does not need to analyze sacred texts, pray to deities,…

Japanese Kawaii: A Bibliographic Essay The focus of this bibliographic essay is the Japanese idea of kawaii. The term kawaii is generally translated as “cute” in English, but it’s actual meaning in Japan is far wider and more complex. In addition to exploring the extent of the kawaii phenomenon, my research revealed multiple questions or ideas for me to potentially address in my paper. These include the topic of kawaii on Japanese youth, specifically the effect on the identity and self-image of…

others in the achievement of enlightenment. Though his contribution to the spread of Buddhism throughout Japan cannot depreciated, Prince Shōtoku influenced Japan in other, major ways. He was known to also be a brilliant politician who changed the Japanese government for the better after a time of political and religious crisis during the sixth century. With China and Korea surpassing Japan as well as a rejection of Buddhism from those practicing the Shinto religion, Japan needed a leader to…