Reflection and Small Group Discussion Summary

The first small group discussion

                        In this small group discussion we talked about the topic of popular culture within Japanese culture. I discussed what my personal experiences were with Japanese popular. I brought up that I was influenced by Pokémon and dragon ball z when I was growing up. I would come home and watch both of these shows for hours. As we continued in our discussion we listened to our Swedish students discuss their experiences with Japanese popular culture. They felt that sailor moon and Pokémon also were popular in Sweden. We also discussed that Nintendo and Mario has completely taken over the video game industry. Through this discussion we felt that Japanese popular culture has influenced everyone within the group.

The second small group discussion

                        In this discussion we covered the cool Japan. We first tried to break down the words. We concluded that cool Japan was a marketing ploy. One designed to encourage tourism for Japan. We then discussed the dress that has taken over the popular culture within Japan. The group as a whole considered the fashion very controversial. The Americans within the group felt that it was very weird to their own culture. The Swedish students also took the same view on the fashion within the Japanese culture.

Reflection for discussion

            Looking back at the discussion I can say that it was very informative and a great experience. Overall we covered popular culture as a whole in the Japanese Culture. The first topic we covered was the different types of Japanese Culture that have been apart of our lives in the United States. We as a group could point to two things Nintendo and Pokémon. These two things played a significant roll in our lives as a whole growing up in the United States. The second thing we discussed is the fashion that exists within Japan. The fashion was an eye opening expiereince that has changed my view as a whole of the world. Overall I am very glad that I have taken part in this discussion. It is great to talk to people that have a complete opposite view point from you, it opens your eyes to different possibilities.

Reaction with Detailed Description

The first small group discussion

                        In this small group discussion we talked about the topic of popular culture within Japanese culture. I discussed what my personal experiences were with Japanese popular. I brought up that I was influenced by Pokémon and dragon ball z when I was growing up. I would come home and watch both of these shows for hours. As we continued in our discussion we listened to our Swedish students discuss their experiences with Japanese popular culture. They felt that sailor moon and Pokémon also were popular in Sweden. We also discussed that Nintendo and Mario has completely taken over the video game industry. Through this discussion we felt that Japanese popular culture has influenced everyone within the group.

The second small group discussion

                        In this discussion we covered the cool Japan. We first tried to break down the words. We concluded that cool Japan was a marketing ploy. One designed to encourage tourism for Japan. We then discussed the dress that has taken over the popular culture within Japan. The group as a whole considered the fashion very controversial. The Americans within the group felt that it was very weird to their own culture. The Swedish students also took the same view on the fashion within the Japanese culture.

Reflection for discussion

            Looking back at the discussion I can say that it was very informative and a great experience. Overall we covered popular culture as a whole in the Japanese Culture. The first topic we covered was the different types of Japanese Culture that have been apart of our lives in the United States. We as a group could point to two things Nintendo and Pokémon. These two things played a significant roll in our lives as a whole growing up in the United States. The second thing we discussed is the fashion that exists within Japan. The fashion was an eye opening experience that has changed my view as a whole of the world. Overall I am very glad that I have taken part in this discussion. It is great to talk to people that have a complete opposite viewpoint from you, it opens your eyes to different possibilities.

Show and Tell

                For this show and tell I have chosen a topic in which I have stumbled upon while viewing documentaries online. While online I have found a documentary on a very interesting topic involving the Aokigahara Forest. The Aokigahara Forest is the most popular place within Japan to commit suicide. When entering the forest there are abandoned cars scattered across the parking lot, where individuals have driven to the forest then left their cars to commit suicide. The parking lot is strewn with these reminders of how big the issue truly is within the culture. As explained in the film suicide in the older days was connected with the samurai. The modern form is new because it is connected to the individual not being able to adapt to society. As one walks into the forest you can see many signs with messages telling individuals that suicide is not the answer. The locals do not commit suicide within the forest. The locals are told to not come to the forest because of this issue.  They are told as children that it is a scary place to avoid. Overall the numbers have been staggering amounting to 100 suicides in the last 20 years. I believe the most fascinating part about the issue is the people who enter the forest who are indecisive about dying. They wrap tape around the trees as they move into the forest to find there way out if they decide to not commit suicide. Overall the issue is very disturbing. It has continued to grow within the eyes of individuals as the numbers climb.

How has suicide affected Japanese culture?

Becoming a Geisha Reaction

As the film began I had no previous knowledge about Geisha’s or the Geisha lifestyle. After the film I have a new respect for the art form as well as the lifestyle. The young girl within the film comes to the life of a Geisha as a personal decision, one that requires many a sacrifice to become a full Geisha. The sacrifice starts at a young age. She leaves her home in the rural areas of Japan for Kyoto; the absolute opposite from what she is accustom to. She has to take orders from her Geisha mother and the other Geisha’s. The young trainee cannot contact her family or friends for months on her journey into becoming a Geisha. This wares on her as she becomes home sick for her family and friends. For a young girl this must be an overwhelming experience. I know myself at the age of 15 and I could only imagine the mental ware that this must take on her. Even though this is hard on the girls it is done for a reason. It is done because the life of a Geisha is extremely demanding. The trainees must be weeded out, to show your dedication to the art. Another reason for this is the cost of training a potential Geisha. The video said that the training can cost around 2000 pounds a month. This is a large investment and because of this the Geisha’s need to know that the trainee is dedicated. When a trainee is far along in her training she is given a name, the name chosen is Kikuyu, This is her Maiko name and will be used when she is a Geisha performing. Within her specific Geisha house all of the girls are named after flowers. During her transformation you can see that the Geisha lifestyle can drive wedges in your personal life as well as your social life, once a trainee everything has to revolve around being a Geisha. Everything within your life falls to the wayside. Overall the Geisha Lifestyle is a very interesting one. It holds onto the traditional Japanese lifestyle in an everchanging modern Japan. This video has given me a new appreciation for the life and art style that is Geisha.

Reaction to Departures.

         Coming into the movie Departures I had no idea what to expect. Not knowing what to expect I came in with an open perspective ready to take in the film. As the film begins you see that the main character Daigo Kobayashi runs into a huge conflict concerning his employment. The cellist’s orchestra disbands meaning that he will have to return to his hometown. After returning he takes a job in the newspaper that reads “assisting departures.” Daigo finds out that he will be preparing the dead helping them pass on from this world. The movie to me showed the respect that is involved within Japanese culture concerning this burial process. Every little detail is taken care of preparing them for the afterlife, also the variety of religions that are taken care of under the title obtained by Daigo. A specific scene really struck me within this movie. The scene occurs when the octopus that the couple are having for dinner comes alive in the kitchen, flopping about. They grab the octopus and go to the water. Once arriving they throw the octopus into the water, where it just floats there lifeless. While watching this scene I chuckled, but as the octopus floated there you could feel a sense of sadness. Now looking back on the film I can see that in a way this scene foreshadowed what was to come during the rest of the film. Overall, the film was thoroughly enjoyable. It played with a very fascinating topic within society, death, with grace and beauty. Showing that life, as we know it is precious and should not be taken for granted.

What are your thoughts of how the topic of death was covered in this film?

What emotions did the film evoke for you a viewer?

Reaction Paper #2

            When writing this reaction paper I decided to focus on a specific topic because of the variety of information that we were given to reflect and react upon. I decided to focus on community and the neighborhood that we covered in class. The first part that I want to discuss is the rural communities of Japan. These communities are very tight knit. They are still very connected to the history of Japan. Which to me was very interesting the strong hold on the old ways. Especially when looking at the ie system which is still strong in the rural areas of Japan. The villages have required meetings in which are comprised by the heads of the households. I make the connection in the United States to a sort of homeowners association in ones local neighborhood. There is also a similarity in which everyone must pay monthly dues. These meetings concern local events and contain discussions. This lends itself when events such as natural disasters occur. We could see this in the video we watched. The community needed to ban together and help each other out, because sometimes the government can’t help you. This struck me being that I am from New Orleans and observed the same behavior. It really is an amazing thing seeing a community come together through tragedy.

            The urban environment is the next thing that I want to discuss. The urban environment represents the modern Japan. Within the urban communities you interact with more people, but the interactions are not forced. For instance people with the urban areas have the liberty to avoid participation with local action groups. Also, the ie system does not play as much of role within the urban areas, so there is much more participation in groups by wives and children. The idea of building a civil society is prized, which is an emphasis on volunteerism. Festivals play a large roll in strengthening the local community as a whole.

The concept of the Japanese neighborhood and community was oddly familiar to me in certain ways as we covered the topic. There are many similarities that we as Americans can relate to. The importance of family and the broader community as a whole was something that I was raised to appreciate. So when I look at the Japanese culture I can understand how they approach the topic in their everyday lives. Overall the most interesting thing that I noticed while covering this material was how close the communities truly are with Japan, that when the government can’t help, they ban together and solve the issues themselves.

How are American communities similar or different to Japanese communities?

Can we learn something from how close the communities are?

Reaction to Video

The video Kyo-o mamoru was a fascinating look into the after effects of the tsunami on Japan. Through the dvd there were many interviews with survivors trying to rebuild their lives after this crushing natural disaster. The video showed a place in the middle of recovering from one of the largest natural disasters the world has ever seen. The images were haunting as the camera panned around the locations. There was nothing in some areas for as long as the eye could see. As well as some areas had mounds and mounds of debris covering everything. A specific example would be the brewery close to her house. The entire area was a mass of cars. A specific thing that struck me was the amount the community pulled together to help one another. People volunteered and help one another out with food preparation and search parties. As we discussed in class the Japanese culture is very cohesive. These neighborhoods could really be seen during this disaster. The government could not be there so people banded together to rebuild. Being from New Orleans this reminded me of what happened after Katrina. After the disaster we were helped by the government, but when things drop out of the media limelight you need each other to rebuild and heal.

How do you believe the role of the neighborhood played a role in the film?

How do you believe the government should help moving into the future?