Abstract The following paper is an analysis on the 'Americanization' of Japaneseculture. Four distinct areas of culture will be analyzed, and in turn, some general analysis will be presented in terms of assigning the causes for this trend. In particular, focus will be given toward understanding how this process must be understood with the 'transformation of identity' that had been taking place in this context.
Abstract The most fundamental beliefs of Buddhism can be understood by what are referred to as the Four Noble Truths. This paper will identify these Four Noble Truths and show how they have influenced Japanese society, cultural attitudes, and way of life.
Abstract This paper examines three essays on different aspects of medieval Japaneseculture that use legends to subjugate women - the blood pool hell to which all women are damned by virtue of their biology, the Five Obstructions which are the five states of enlightenment which women cannot achieve after death because of the inferiority of their gender, and the use of images of women being transformed into snakes and dragons to tell stories about women's threats to men.
From the Paper "This paper considers the positive and negative effects of Buddhism for women in the medieval and early Edo periods through the introduction oft he apocryphal text known as the Blood Pool Hell Sutra. The rise of popularity of the sutra was connected to ..."
Abstract This paper takes a look at the post-modern Japanesecultural society and its effects. The paper focuses on cultural deviations that did not exist in the past. The paper examines Japanese youth culture, women's role in Japaneseculture as well as Japanese pop culture.
Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Youth Culture Role of women
Popular Culture Conclusion
From the Paper "The youth culture in Japan has evolved a lot since the last fifty years. Youth culture was quite restricted due to the strong influence of the military. The Japanese defeat during World War II badly affected the Japanese society. Japan did make a lot of progress through industrialization and urbanization, which brought an increase to the middle class. The youth culture was disillusioned with life there and this sparked a lot of protests against the political structure. The youth community was looking to implement communal values originating from the rural communities and not urban values."
Abstract This paper discusses Japaneseculture. It looks at the origins of Japaneseculture and the influences on and describes how the roots of Japaneseculture are found in the unique language and religion. The paper also discusses the culture of sport, dress, cuisine and gender issues and discusses how each of these aspects influence the overall Japaneseculture.
From the Paper "A key element of Japanese culture is the cuisine. Japanese food itself is driven by the geography of the country, and the rituals surrounding eating and drinking are derived largely from Shinto belief. Noodles, fish and rice are the staples of Japanese cuisine. That Japan is an island nation results in seafood being the primary source of protein, and some of the world's most famous fish markets are in Japan. Fish is often consumed raw, either on its own (sashimi) or in rolls (sushi). Japanese cuisine often features noodle soups, flavored with seasonings such as miso or dashi that are derived from local ingredients. In all but the most cosmopolitan cities such as Tokyo, Japanese cuisine is the only form of food to be found easily."
Abstract The paper discusses the similarities between Sumo wrestling, martial arts and baseball. The writer notes that one of the influences on the Japaneseculture is in connection with cheering. The writer details similarities and differences between Japanese and American sports events. The writer explains that the Japanese, who are usually more staid than Americans, cheer quite boisterously at sports events. In conclusion the writer states that American sports have influenced Japaneseculture in all areas, including in the business culture, which is seen in the use of brand promotions at sports events.
From the Paper "One example of the way American sports has influenced Japanese social forms is the way Japanese fans participate in cheering. The Japanese are generally courteous and take care not to embarrass a person before a group. They are especially polite when greeting strangers, and are slow to express their feelings to outsiders. However, none of these customs are evident in cheering at a sports event. "As such, the game here is slower paced and more strategic in Japan than its American forerunner. Also, Japanese teams revolve around their managers, who put their players through rigorous practice routines and spend a lot of time on the field during games in strategy sessions. Finally, baseball in Japan is more of a collective enterprise, and players don't receive the same attention and adulation that their colleagues in the United States enjoy."
Abstract The paper relates that the Japaneseculture was greatly influenced by the Chinese, however, their cultures today remain very different from each other. The paper shows how both the Chinese and the Japanese have similar views when it comes to the family and women's place in society but the Japanese have a hybrid culture while the Chinese culture is of a heterogeneous quality.
From the Paper "Japanese culture was greatly influenced by the Chinese; however, their cultures today remain very different from each other when examined closely. What the two Asian countries do have in common is that both of them have survived thousands of years and both are intricately immersed with the family unit or structure and the hierarchy of society. In terms of social comparisons, both the Chinese and the Japanese have similar views when it comes to a woman's place in the family and society. Both cultures adhere to the patriarchal views of position and both give the power of the governing of families to the eldest male in the household. Both cultures have also built their families with extended members. There is no doubt that the family unit is equally important in Japanese and Chinese culture."
Abstract This paper researches Japaneseculture, a culture primarily based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as The Buddha, in his work "The Eightfold Path". According to this paper, The Buddha was not Japanese but, probably, Nepalese and while he is believed to have lived from 543 to 483 B.C.E., some hold that he lived a century later.
Contents:
How Buddhism Creates a Unique "Built Environment"
Japanese Ritual is What Transforms 'Nothing' Into 'Something.'
Smaller Artifacts and Buddhism/Spirituality
Symbolic Carvings on Useful Items: Synthesis
Borrowing From Another Asian Culture The Final Frontier of Spirituality: Metaphysics and Quantum Physics
Synthesis
From the Paper "Like so much else in Japanese culture, it is not what it seems, but rather a symbolic combination of the mundane (hair ornamentation) with the sublime, or, as Jones puts it, "transforming the ordinary object into something extraordinary. The object's relationship with its surroundings and its own purpose are integral to kazari" (Jones, 2003, p. 4626), a fact that brings this, too, into the metaphysical realm suggested by the brief passage from The Eightfold Path.
The genius of the Japanese is also cited as their ability to incorporate elements from other cultures and make them not only their own, but central to the Japanese way of life. "Most aspects of Japanese culture came at one time from China--the tea ceremony, for example--and ... shows Japan's fascination with China in the 15th and 16th centuries"
Abstract This paper evaluates the Japaneseculture through interviewing a young woman who attends graduate school at the University of Notre Dame. Through the course of the interview, a number of personal and culturally sensitive factors, including socio-economic factors, lifestyle, family values, religious preferences, health beliefs and practices and childbearing and parenting practices are assessed in order to provide for a cultural assessment. In doing so, culturally competent nursing interventions are introduced to provide for a positive health experience.
From the Paper " In the 2000 census, 796,700 residents of the U.S. identified their "race" as Japanese (Reeves and Bennett, 2004). When the question of identifying her race was introduced, Ms. J identified herself as Japanese. She expressed a strong cultural bond to the Japanese culture even though she and her family have been living in the United States for some time now. Although Ms. J is from a relatively affluent Japanese home, and is 23 years old, she is still living with her parents, and intends to do so until she married. This is quite common in Japanese culture and not seen as evidence of immaturity, but respect, regardless of her own personal state of affluence (Friedman, Bowden, & Jones, 2003). She stated that her parents became angry at any attempts upon Ms. J to share an apartment with a friend, even though Ms. J's friends were 'nice girls,' according to the admittance of her parents."
Tags:japanese, english, united, states, parents, grandparents, elders, honor, old, age, care
Abstract This paper discusses how three Japanese poems reflect the values of traditional Japaneseculture. The poems under consideration are: "Crafty Fox," "Yellow Earth," and "My Poetry."
From the Paper "No account of Japanese art whether visual or textual can be complete without reference to the highly traditional and highly honored value system of historic Japan. Contemporary values of Japan can be traced as far back as the..."
Abstract This paper discusses the history of film animation in Japan. Particularly, it discusses anime produced by Japan's Studio, Giblias, and whether it plays a part in Japaneseculture. The paper concludes that though Japanese animation has it's roots in western animation, it has developed and continues to do so in a very different direction and that it draws on its own cultural influences like kabuki theater and woodblock prints as well as developing it's completely unique style.
From the Paper "By the 1990's anime took a more serious turn that in my opinion is not present in modern day western animation. While still outputting light-hearted so called children's anime, studios began to release more intellectual sophisticated anime such as Anno Hideaki's television series Neon Genesis Evangelion and Miyazaki Hayao's film Princess Mononoke. These films often touched on themes and issues that modern Japanese faced. To truly explain the Japanese nature of these films I believe that an in depth look at one of them in necessary."
Abstract This paper examines Shohei Imamura's most well-known film outside of Japan, the 1966 film, "The Pornographers." It views the film from the perspective of a series of interlocking journeys through the psyche of the protagonist. The paper suggests that the journey that Imamura's protagonist takes through this often nonlinear narrative structure is what makes the story so compelling, both as a film and as an example of Japaneseculture in the middle of the 20th century.
From the Paper "The closure to Ogata's long and oftentimes nonlinear psychic journey comes when Ogata makes a life-sized "sex doll," at the cost of great time and effort, in a vain hope to cure his (no doubt psychologically-induced) impotence. This is a powerful image in the film, and shows as well as anything else the transformation of the character's inner obsession into outer, material manifestations. On the surface, it seems that Ogata has reached his final destination: in leaving the real world with real women, he continues to suffer from flashbacks and his lifelong isolation and masochistic traumas seem no closer to resolution. Yet he continues to manipulate his appetite for sex, as if Imamura were using Ogata to make the statement that such primal appetites are in fact fundamental and unavoidable. As he drifts out to sea in his boat, the audience must sense a new and final journey has begun."
Abstract Through the evolution and literary history of haiku, one can witness the trends in Japanese thought and culture. Among all the modern influences about which to write, haiku poets still find new ways to look at the traditional themes of nature and the natural world. Through their work, Japaneseculture and thought is recorded. The relationship between haiku and Japanese thought is a long-standing one. The emphasis on giving up the extra, the nonessential, is simple to see in haiku-nonessential words are eliminated through the strict limits on form. Linkages between cultural understandings in everyday Japanese thought with the words and images used in haiku give an excellent starting point for examining the ways in which the two influence one another. In the article, each of these factors are examined.
From the Paper "Japanese culture is known for its ability to make superb use of space. Japanese architecture melds form with function to keep Tokyo and other urban centers populous but workable, Japanese cuisine creatively utilizes spices and textures to stay fresh and interesting, and Japanese poetry exudes feeling and emotion with a minimal number of words. Centuries old, haiku is a structured and sparse form of poetry with strict rules regarding form. However, the form is only sparse in its word structure; the poems themselves portray significantly larger emotions and images than their size would suggest."
Abstract This study examines the extent to which females' roles are influenced by their cultural background. It focuses on close examination of how Korean and Japanesecultural influences affect a woman's career aspirations and expectations for success in society. The first section consists of an observational review of the literature available regarding female roles in Japan and Korea, and an analysis of the two cultures is provided. The second half of the study entails a field study of American students with Korean and Japanesecultural backgrounds in an attempt to ascertain to what extent female student roles are influenced by the models of their parents, the majority of whom were raised in Japan or Korea. First-generation students/families are examined to assess the most accurate information.
From the Paper "In a study conducted by Song (2001) women's career aspirations were examined among 482 Korean college women in South Korea. The study showed that a formal education perpetuating gender inequality exists among many of the students, thus many students based on educational experience only would not be able to envision themselves in a career. Rather the inter-relationships and external factors such as peer influences and internal factors such as maternal influences and the mother-daughter relationship were examined to uncover to what extent a woman's self perception and career orientation were influenced. The study acknowledged that a woman's choice of roles and career aspirations were tied to developmental history and the pressures of the social climate (Song, 2001:1)."
Abstract This paper takes a close look at the three religions that shaped Japaneseculture: Buddhism, Shinto and Confucian thought. With the advent of Buddhism in 552 C.E., the Japanese were to experience a resurgence in religious devotion. The writer traces the steps that the Japanese took in welcoming a new spirituality, from the building of temples to schools of philosophy.
From the Paper "Thus on the surface Buddhism won a hands-down victory over Shinto. But this was not quite the complete story. Intellectually and institutionally, Buddhism was dominant for a thousand years in Japan. Yet Shinto continued to exist and carry on, especially in the multitudes of village shrines, much as it had for centuries past. This was true even after the "new" Buddhism of the Kamakura thirteenth-century period became the religion of multitudes of common people. Indeed, Buddhism captured the minds of many inside Japan, but the long standing traditions of Shinto would continued to echo in the halls of Japanese history. In addition to this, the development of numerous denominations, regional differences, and the later introduction of Christianity led to religious pluralism in Japan. Cultural borrowing gave the nation a broad perspective of the world, but would also induce a great deal of confusion in later generations."
