Throughout high school, I was taught and have researched many facts about cultures and civilizations throughout the world. My 9th grade honors literature teacher often told my class, when giving us ‘bizarre” information about other cultures, that it’s “not wrong, not right, but different”. However, despite the looks of shock or disapproval in my classmate’s eyes, my world perspective already changed, after I moved to japan.
I moved to Okinawa, Japan in the summer before I started fourth grade. As I stepped off the plane one thing I noticed was the vast social differences that separate Japan and the United States. In the United States, few people are willing to work hard in contrast to how much handwork is valued in Japan’s society. From convenient store cashiers, to businessmen, every occupation in Japan is filled with hardworking people. It is said that the Japanese view the customer as God, and provide the best service that they can possibly provide. Although this is one simple example, the difference between the fluctuating level of work ethic in the U.S and that of Japan is incomparable, and I have now seen how hard people in other countries are willing to work, for happy, successful lives.
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The religions of japan are very different from what most Americans are used to. For example, Christianity in America focuses on one God, while the main religion of Japan, Shintoism, believes that everything has a spirit and in a way everything is “god”. Although my first instinct was to avoid anything resembles these practices, my situation forced me to realize that their religion is part of their culture, and although I do not have to participate in their rituals, it is important to respect the beliefs of others. Hostility to opposing beliefs is very dangerous but to change this, a change of perspective is
A new book written by Jonathan Clements outlines the arrival of Christianity to Japan and the horrific suffering of believerss at the hand of their Japanese persecutors in the 1600s. “Christ’s Samurai” details how the early Christians in Japan were heavily persecuted by the government in an attempt to eradicate the faith. In his new book, British non-fiction author Jonathan Clements describes how some of the early believers were branded with hot irons, immersed in boiling water, and crucified by the shogun’s forces, Japan Times relays. Some of the gruesome acts done to the Christians included attaching straw coats to them and setting them on fire.
I was born and raised up in South Korea for twenty years, and thus I know Korean culture very well. I also understand American culture as well, because I lived and worked with Americans for four years. I decided to choose this topic, because in my experience, I have noticed a lots of differences between Korean culture and American culture; for example how Korean or American treat older people, how Korean or American act in the gym, and about the differences in foods. I picked those subjects because I have experienced the Koreans and Americans side well enough to understand both and I’m currently in South Korea with military men and women. I have Korean friends and American friends spending time together sometimes, and then I can observes differences and similarities.
The Impact of Rice on Japanese Identity The aim of this essay is to explore how Rice is connected to the production of Japanese culture and society. I will argue, following Bourdieu, that Japanese culture and religious beliefs have been shaped and defined by their staple food; Rice. The essay will also discuss the impact of rice on Japanese morals and Japanese society as a whole. The demographics that this essay will concentrate on are; the influence rice plays in the Japanese religion; Shinto, and how the very nature of Japan’s spiritualism is in direct correlation with the use of rice in their society.
Anime has been part of my life since the 7th grade. It has comfort me through the good and though times. The anime community has been a big impact in America and holds an annual expo for anime fan. The cartoons in U.S. are normally made for children entertainment. Unlike Japanese anime the entertainment is for children, teenagers and adults.
In this manner, Buddhism, Christianity and different religious and cultural gatherings were disenfranchised and even mistreated with an end goal to purge Japan from their persuasions (Christensen, p-2). Inside this mentality, it was resolved that Shinto was the most truly Japanese type of religion and culture, and that it was principal to Japanese character at the national level. Shinto turned into the state religion, and was utilized to advance a particular belief system of Japanese prevalence. Japanese nationalism preceded into the 1930's and 1940's the place it finished in World War II. State Shinto was disbanded after Allied forces won the war, overcoming Japan, and the Americans involved Japan.
Religion in Japan is difficult to define because, like most religions, so many factors go into the makeup of the Japanese religiousness. Shinto, Buddhism and Christianity are the three main religions in Japan. Folk religions and New Developed Religions also play an influential role in the makeup of Japanese religiousness. One of the reasons it is so difficult to separate out a dominant religion in Japan is because of syncretism.
Shintoism is the native religion to the people of Japan. It is centered on the worship of many different kami. Each one rules a separate domain from the sea to creation and death. One single kami rules over all eight million of them, the sun goddess Amaterasu. Yet even with a female being the most important figure women have been barred from participating in religious practices.
Shinto is recognized as an indigenous religion of Japanese people that comes from two words: shin (Gods) and to or do (the way). It is “an action-centered religion that demonstrates on ritual practices to be carried out diligently and to establish a connection between present-day Japan and its ancient past.” Although Helen Hardacre argues in her book Shinto and the State, 1868-1988 that Shinto is not a religion, this paper will contradict her perspective to consider Shinto as a religion in the period of 1868-1945, according to Emile Durkheim’s definition of religion. Thus, Shinto in this period qualifies as a religion because of its specific set of rituals, deities, and shrines. In addition, Hardacre states that Shinto still had a systematic
Shinto is the term used to describe the indigenous religion of Japan. The word shinto comes from the Chinese shin tao, meaning “the way of the kami”. The dwellings of the kami are located at Shinto shrines. The Shinto refer to the local beliefs, rituals, practices, and institutions. Shinto has been highly influenced by Buddhism and Confucianism, but is completely different the many other religions.
Shinto which translates to “way of the gods” in the English language is a native Japanese religion and the largest religion in Japan alongside Buddhism. The Shinto religion is Japans most practiced religion with nearly 80% of the Japanese people practicing Shinto in one way or another. The Shinto religion is also Japans oldest religion, which evidence shows dates back to 660 BC. The origins of Shinto can be traced well into the past and evidence shows that in its earliest forms the religion was based off of animal and nature worship. Japan is known as Shinkoku, which translates to Land of the gods in English.
If you enjoy like me the festive nighttime illuminations, there are three periods around the year when you can experience them in Japan: during Hanami, during the winter holidays, and on late autumn, when Japan celebrates the autumn red leaves. The late autumn celebration is called in Japanese Momijigari which means “hunting the red leaves", and one of the best places to enjoy it is in Higashiyama, Kyoto. Here’s a photo taken in Eikando, with a wonderful grove of maple trees… Simply
Japan has been mainly influenced by three different belief systems including Shintoism, where its effect can be seen through the traditions and politics of Japan; Buddhism, whose effect is shown throughout Japan’s celebrations and social activities; and Confucianism, which made effects on the daily lifestyle and education of Japan. Although these three belief systems all have greatly influenced Japan in multiple ways, however, Shintoism’s impact on Japan is the most evident. Shintoism’s influence on Japan is clearly shown throughout the political system and traditional pastime and activities of Japan. Shintoism is a belief system that is originated in Japan. Unlike most belief systems, Shintoism lacks religious texts and spiritual authority.
In MAIN READING of UNIT2, we learned the dichotomy between a high-context culture like Japan, Korea, China, and many Latin American countries and a low-context culture like the U.S. and many European countries. In a high-context culture, the context of the situation and the relationship of the interlocutors play a vital role in the message being communicated, in a low-context culture, everything is direct, straightforward, and individualistic, often times to the point of redundancy. Besides, in the handout given in this class, we learned the present circumstances in Japan that foreign residents are increasing and because of the mixing of different cultures, various problems arise. When I read the handout, I thought that if things remained as they are, a high-context culture would disappeared, because the U.S. that has a low-context culture is the leader of global society and we may have to adjust it in the future. I think that a high-context culture which has a lot good points a low-context culture don’t have should be protected, so I don’t agree that Japan is globalized too much.
Following along with Japan, there biggest religion is Shinto. Shinto is one of Japan’s major religions, but it does not influence the modern Japanese life the way that Christianity will dominate in the United States. It’s more a matter of a shared culture of the ritual practices and belief in spirits against which some people define themselves. Every country has different types of dynamics and social views.
Intro Shinto is the formal religion of the state of japan it roots back six hundred years before Christ, it also called the way of the kami because it revolves around the main belief of Kami. Shintoism has no known leader or establisher, so it has no formal sacred text and no official codification of belief. As said before the main belief in Shinto is the belief in Kami which translate to God, divine being or also spiritual essence. One of the main differences between Shintoism and western religions is that in the West the God or divinity is almost always considered all mighty and all powerful while in Shinto Kami are believed to exist not only as spiritual beings but also as spirits of natures. Which means they are believed to exist within