Abstract
This paper examines Japanese religious characteristics within the context of the rapidly evolving Asia-Pacific Rim in terms of culture and society. It discusses how Japanese society can be thought of as very religious to the degree that its religions are intertwined with its cultural roots, making them influential even if not consciously practiced. The paper also discusses how, politically, Japan has a tendency to restate history in terms that bring various elements of its society and culture into line with the official conception of homogeneity that is essentially a worldview based on Shinto heritage.

From the Paper
"Japanese cultural resistance to outside influence is all the more surprising given that it itself, though most Japanese would never acknowledge this, was formed through the amalgamation of various cultures and societies in the region. Japan is an archipelago or island nation which is a geography that is conducive to developing a variety of localized cultures and languages: "It cannot be denied, however, that, from past to present, Japan has come into being as a multicultural society through the complex interaction of various cultures...". The researcher intent on illuminating the religious character of the Japanese will understand this rational dichotomy between self-conception and actuality and use it to commercial or interpersonal advantage. "

Tags:Shinto, culture, chinese, buddhism

Abstract
This paper looks at purity and the abhorrence of pollution as fundamental ideas in both early Japanese religion and mythology and examines how these religious principles of purity overlap with the general social customs and everyday matters.

From the Paper
"The idea of purification is essential to the Japanese creation story as described in the Kojiki. After Izanami (She-Who-Invites) gives birth to the Kami of fire, she is burned and goes to the underworld. Izanagi (He-Who-Invites) enters the underworld in search of his wife and is horrified to see that "she [is] much swollen, rotten matter [is] flowing from her, and maggots [are] swarming in her" (Wheeler 14). Izanagi is "dismayed by the sight" and quickly flees from the underworld. He then says in regret, "Truly, in coming to an abominable and corrupted land, I have brought upon myself ill luck, and must purify my person of its filth" (Wheeler 17). At this point in the Kojiki, a rather lengthy account of Izanagi's purification ritual is described (Wheeler 17-19). This passage in the Kojiki illustrates the importance of purity in Japanese culture at the time of its writing."

Tags:ethics, purification, religion

Abstract
This paper discusses the development of the Samurai system in Japan and the ethical system that was created for the Samurai which, in turn shaped the behavior of the bushi, or warriors. According to this paper, this ethical system was influenced by Buddhism and Confucianism as well as other ethical systems and religious doctrines. This indicates how the Samurai system affected other aspects of Japanese culture."

From the Paper
"Most Westerners know Samurai only from films, and such depictions give only a sense of the social, religious, political, and ethical aspects of the Samurai class in Japanese society. The comparison often made with the Western gunfighter is only partially applicable, and the Samurai held a much more important and respected place in Japanese society for a much longer period of time. The ethical elements in Samurai thought are particularly powerful and controlling of Samurai behavior and serve to give the Samurai class the basis for its social position and for the respect of the people. "

Tags:samurai, code, honor

Abstract
This paper focuses on two chapters from Brett De Bary's translation of 'Origins of Modern Japanese Literature' by Karatani Kojin. This paper introduces a distinctively Japanese regard for landscape in relation to literature, and discusses what Kojin referred to as the `discovery of Interiority'. The paper reviews these chapters as they are a helpful introduction to other trends in modern Japanese literature before the rise of militarism.The rise in militarism heralded the War in the Pacific that brought the destruction of the Japanese`modern' order as it is known.

From the Paper
"Foreign influence of the later 19th century inspired reflection on Japanese literature hitherto shaped by Confucian/Chinese literary culture. Several reformers appeared, esp. Soseki of early 20th century to inspire a strongly Japanese expression; focus on landscape as background for human activity, and conveying of human psychology. Expression then delayed by rise of Japanese militarism in 1920s and 1930s; much of what we understand, now, did not surface strongly till after 1949. Mainly course material references."

Tags:19th/20thc, japanese, lit/theory

Abstract
The paper discusses how females have had a major impact on Japanese literature. The paper focuses on two women in particular, Sei Shonagon and Murasaki Shikibu, who were attendants in the court of the Empress in the Heian Period, and wrote influential and widely read books that reflected the society they lived in, yet are relevant in today's world as well. The paper notes that an ancient Japanese proverb called Onna-Taki, or Woman Hill, named for the area's tradition of female-headed clans, says, "If a man from any other place weds a woman from this place, he will die and wither immediately" ("Catalog"). The paper highlights how this proverb represents the strength of ancient Japanese women writers, and the influence they exerted over Japanese literature and society.

From the Paper
"Females have had a major impact on Japanese literature. Two women in particular, Sei Shonagon and Murasaki Shikibu, who were attendant's in the court of the Empress in the Heian Period, wrote influential and widely read books that reflected the society they lived in, yet are relative in..."

Tags:japanese, females, literature

Abstract
In this essay, a father writes a letter to his son who died while they were in a Japanese Internment camp during World War II. Although this is a fictional account, the emotions and events depicted are vivid and based on truth. This story touches on events such as Roosevelt's order to inter Japanese citizens during the war, as well as describing the lives Japanese-Americans had made for themselves on the West Coast following their immigration to the US. The narrator also discusses the reparations the US government offered to pay Japanese-Americans following the war, questioning whether the money was worth the loss of his only son.

From the Paper
"I was so wrapped up in my own feelings that I barely realized that you were coming down with an awful cold. The cold must have lasted for weeks before I even realized that you were under the weather. Please don't get the idea that I did not care about you. I cared about you deeply but I didn't understand how badly the camp was ruining my perception of the world around me. The look in your face was becoming pale everyday yet I did nothing to help you. I was stuck in my own fear of what would happen if I would actually go and face reality. Writing this letter to you today has made me open up the wounds that will allow me to deal with the scars that were created such a long time ago."

Tags:Japanese Internment Camp, World War II, reparations, creative writing

Abstract
This paper discusses how three Japanese poems reflect the values of traditional Japanese culture. 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..."

Tags:Japanese, values, Bushido, serenity, poetry

Abstract
This well-researched and clearly written paper details the numerous differences in both the Samurai and Ninja philosophies. Due to the differences in their religious and social origins, valuing ceremony versus intimidation and their general code of fighting ethics, the Samurai and the Ninja followed different paths of honor. The writer details the religious aspects of both Japanese warriors. The Samurai were strongly associated with religions that enforced inflexible dogmas. The Samurai were generally Shintoists or followers of Confucianism. In contrast, the Ninja were associated with religions that did not have strict unmovable dogmas. The Ninja were mainly Zen Buddhists. This paper examines the Samurai and Ninja's role and status in Japanese society. The Samurai were considered an exalted part of society, whereas the Ninja were perceived as social outcasts. The writer also delves into the fact that the Ninja and the Samurai warriors occupied different social classes and approached life with very different personal philosophies. The fact that the Samurai and the Ninja held such different values helps to explain the vast differences between the two groups of warriors, which are detailed in this paper.

From the Paper
"Although the Ninja were considered social outcasts, they were not solitary. In fact, the Ninja worked in organizations, which were separated into three layers: jonin (high ninja), chunin (middle ninja), and genin (low ninja). The ninjas all worked under a daimyo. Structure within Ninja groups ranged, with some having little structure and others being organized almost like an army unit ("Ninja"). However organized, all Ninja followed the ninpo or okite. The most important rule of the ninpo was to keep the secret of the Ninja. In fact, the most severe crime was to leave a Ninja family and not return ("Ninja"). Those who did so were called nukenin, and their family members would bring them back, whether dead or alive ("Ninja"). This was done in order to prevent ninjas from revealing the secret of the Ninja or of revealing the identity of the daimyo for whom the ninjas were working."

Tags:japanese, philosophy, buddhism, religion, theology, society

Abstract
This paper discusses abortion on a pragmatic level of when human life actually begins. It explores the Japanese culture and Buddhism in its respect for life and the essence of the spirit and compares it those views of American Christianity. It shows further, how each views life in the context of abortion.

From the paper:

"...at the heart of this debate is the ethical and religious question of "when does human life begin?" Perhaps one of the reasons the issue is both so contentious and so difficult, and why such little light has been shed upon it, is that there are deeper issues at hand than that of politics or law. To explore these issues without passing judgment on the issue in a legalistic fashion is important. Religion is at the heart of this debate, and this paper will attempt to explore notions of the nature of human life from a comparative perspective to give a fresh view on this rather tired issue. It will examine the radically different fashion in which abortion is conceived of in contemporary Japanese Buddhism versus contemporary American Christianity. Through looking at these religions through this very specific focus this paper will also attempt to explicate differences between these two religions in their different cultural contexts in a larger fashion."

Tags:Japan, Buddhism, Christianity, life, conception

Abstract
In this article, the writer looks at various customs and practices that are present in Japan. The writer demonstrates that in many ways such customs and business practices are different from those in America. The writer points out that when negotiating in Japan, it is best to observe a highly deferential communication style, as opposed to a confrontational style. Further, the writer explains that debate and an open show of disharmony will make a negotiator seem rude, rather than dominant or skillful. In this essay, the writer discusses different types of communication and presents an overview of Japanese styles and customs.

Outline:
Communication Style and Preference
Formal/Informal
Linguistic Differences
Language Barriers and Interpretation
Nonverbal Communication (body language, eye contact, space)
Structure of Business Correspondence
Cultural Norms and Religious Influences
Organizational Structure of Businesses
Hierarchy & Leadership style
Individual or Group Orientation
Role of Women
Negotiation Process
Style and Phrases
Deadlines
Rules of Engagement
Family and Social Structure
Hospitality
Ethical Considerations
Legal and Government Considerations
Codes
Labor Regulations
Works Cited

From the Paper
"The Japanese are likely to know that shaking hands rather than bowing is considered appropriate by Americans, but be prepared to bow, nonetheless. One lesser-known fact is that an American should avoid making the 'OK' sign, as in Japan it means money rather than affirmation. Pointing is simply considered rude."
"As in all nations with different nonverbal protocols, avoid using large hand signals, extremely animated facial expressions and dramatic movements that could be misinterpreted by one's host. Also, although the Japanese may be prepared for American communication differences, it is worth remembering that the Japanese do not talk with their hands and to do so with great animation could distract the Japanese, rather than prove an asset to communication."

Tags:cultural, protocols, respect, loyalty