Reactions to Japan and Changing Impressions via Visual Anthropology

The blog I started in Feburuary is nearly end by posting this last theme of "Reactions and Impressions towards Japanese culture". The semester has been to closure so quickly that I wish I can be in this Asian studies longer. This few months was just so fun for me that I had many unpredictable chances to get along with the exchange students which made me a bit apart from Japan(might sound exaggerating but, yes). Through out the blog postings for this Visual Anthropology class, I realized that there are many cultures which did not really impress me until I have written about it on the blog. Since I am Japanese, picking interesting topics was a tough one to do.

However, this project made me rethink about the Japanese traditions which I will never do without this blogging. Sometimes it was difficult from my perspective to choose a unique topic which is not really common because I wanted to share new things to people whom do not know well about Japan.

After few posts, I noticed that this is not something I will do on my own. However, the project gave me a realization of importance of living in Japan. I believe that unless I am in Japan, I will never realize this. I gave a conclusion within myself that I like Japan and I noticed how many valuable things we have in Japan. In a few months, hopefully, I will be in the states where the culture is completely different and I am sure I will miss Japanese culture and tradition so badly.

Also, I found a interest in taking photos and looking at other perspectives through visual by this visual anthropology blog posting. I hope my postings at least helped some people to look at to learn and know about Japan. I really enjoyed the postings and observing. Thank you:)

"Cherry Blossom's Culture Observation"- by Sakura

Japanese Culture: Mamachari

Since the blog topic was free choice among Japanese culture, it was hard for me to decide what to write about. Also, I wanted write about something that is not really known by foreigners who have not came to Japan. However, I decided to introduce Mamachari (ママチャリ) since it is really popular in Japan.

Basically, Mamachari is a bycicle for wifes' who have small children. As you can see from the photo, Mamachari is electronic and have baskets to carrier children. The maximum to put baskets is two and the child should be less than 2 or 3 years old. This type of bicycles are helpful for wifes' because of the usefulness. I guess the number of people who don't have drivers license led to an invention of this kind of bicycle Mamachari. It is easy taking children to kindergartens and shopping groceries.
Moreover, because of the increase of Mamachari users, now there are many fashionable and creative Mamachari's sold in the markets. The seats for children have changed compared to the one's from the past which were usually just a hard square basket but now there are seats made comfortably to sit in.

However, even though the Mamachari's are useful, there are demerits that can be risky for your child. Placing the child seat in the back can be harmful for your child since it is invisible. Also, placing two seats can be hard to balance the bicycle so it can cause accidents.


When I googled the word "Mamachari", I found a interesting competition called "Mamachari race" . As it is, the race is to compete by riding Mamachari. The website tells us that your やる気(motivation) is important to win this competition. If you have やる気 and you wish to join this race check here(Retrieved from http://www.japan-racing.jp/fsw/12/12mama.htm).

What do Japanese people do?

Culture influeces people in many ways . Wether the culture influence one in good or bad ways, there are certain things Japanese are influenced by the culture and there are many things that only Japanaese people do but cannot be found in any other countries. Among those many things Japanese people do, making peace sign whenever one takes a picture and taking a printed sticker picture called "Purikura" are one of the examples of what Japanese people do.



First, "Peace Sign"(ピースサイン) is a typical posture of Japanese people whenever they take photos. If someone turn the camera to one's face they will never look at the camera without the "Peace Sign". This photo shows that two Japanese girls are peacing but the American guy Jake is not doing the peace sign. I guess peace sign is a habit for Japanese. There are many posture instead of peace signs common for girls when they take photos. For instance, such as there are postures which girls use their hands on their chins to make their face look smaller. Young people create a lot of posture's to make them look more beautiful and thin.

Another thing what Japanese people usually do is Purikura. Purikura(プリクラ) is a Japanese sticker picture which is available in many places such as in big malls and game centers. Whenever people hang out somewhere, people usually get into the machine and just get a piece of sticker. Some people take more than 2 times. Moreover, Purikura is popular among the people at any age. Friends, family and classmates, Purikura is one if the ways to leave memories. When I was at the age of 14, people even had a sticker book called "プリクラ帳"(purikura-cho). I don't know whether they still have this or not; however it was really common between girls.

I introduced two ways of Japanese photo taking culture of taking photos with peace sign and taking Purikura for this weeks blog. 

Portrait of a Japanese Person: Airi Inui

This week I am going to introduce one of my best friend Airi Inui. She's the person I have chosen for this week's blog theme "Portrait of a Japanese Person". We have been friends for 2 years since we entered Kansai Gaidai. Actually we have attended to the same high school. However, because we weren't in the same course, we had never talked and even knew each other. We became close friends after we noticed that we are going to be in the same class in Gaidai. Because we attended to the same high school and had many common things to share, it wasn't hard for me to get along with her. Now she is one of my besties to hang out inside and outside school.

To describe in a word, I would say she is ツンデレ(Tsun-dere). ツンデレ is a typical Japanese character that describes being cold and sharp on the surface which is the "ツンside" but underneath the cold characteristic they are warm and become fawner which is the "デレside". She is the ツンデレest girl I have ever met in my entire life. This photo above is when she is in the mood of デレ!!

To be honest, my first impression of Airi wasn't that good. I was kind of scared of her. I think that's maybe because she seemed cold when she talks. By the way, she's not always cold. She is a nice and lovely girl. 

This girl Airi cannot let go with her scarf as she is wearing in these photos. Even though she was born in the winter seasons she's sensitive to cold. Need a warm scarf to cover and protect her neck from the freezing wind. This was an extra information about Airi-chan. Hopefully, you learned something interesting about my friend Airi Inui. End of this week's post.

My neighborhood Hara-machi, Suita city

Today I will introduce my Neighborhood which is Haramachi, Suita city in Osaka. It locates in upper Osaka where we can go to Osaka city in about 10 minutes by train. JR Suita station is about 20 minutes' walk from my apartment. Eventhough it's rural place I don't care because it's not that difficult to access to the city. However, seriously around my neighborhood there are not much to share because where I live is just an area full of houses and apartments. 

Although what I like about my neighborhood is this small bamboo jungle. I like livinig in this apartment because I  can relax a lot by looking at these trees and hearing the birds except summer. When the summer comes, thousands of cicadas are singing all the time which makes me dislike these bamboo trees.

This is the nearest place to have dinner, Yakiniku (焼肉) which is 5 minute's walk from my home. It's one of the popular restaurant around in my neighborhood. I haven't tried Yakiniku here but people are always waiting outside so it MUST taste good. There is a convenient store across this restaurant.

This is what it looks like near my apartment. As you can see, there is nothing but houses. It is really dark in the night but no one strange here. Hara-machi is a peaceful town. Before I finish up my post I would like to share something. In Japan we have a system of delivering supermarket to apartments. At a certain time on Wednesday evening, here comes a truck of groceries. People who have no time to go shopping or people who are busy taking care of their child use this delivering supermarket. After they have divided their groceries those people are chatting forever. Maybe about 10 people staying at the hall of the apartment for 4 or 5 hours chatting all the time with loud voices. I'm sure this is not happening only at my apartment but it's common in Japan. End of my blog for this week.

Japanese Culture

Beginning this blog by talking about what "Japanese culture" is. There are  tons of things and traditions that describe Japanese culture but i will share three of those. This is a photo of "Coming of Age Day", me wearing kimono. Everyone who are 20 goes to the ceremony with this tight kimono on. We spend about 200,000yen and wake up early to get ready (depends on people) for just this moment. It was fun but I thought it is crazy to spend so much money on a particular day. However, it has become one of my best memories.

 

The right photo is a zoom of "Obi(帯)" which is belt for kimono. Can't tell from its appearance but this is the one that makes us tight and hard to breathe. We are able to choose colors for kimono and obi and all the decorations for kimono. I chose this less popular color "light green" kimono with Sakura patterns.

I think Fireworks are another popular Japanese culture. I know other countries have fireworks, but Japanese ones are more high quality!? I guess. On Summer seasons there many fireworks all over Japan. What we call "Hanabitaikai(花火大会)/Matsuri(祭)". On the streets we can find many small shops and booths in a row that offers foods and games. The best festival in summer that I recommend for foreigners to go. The photo was taken last year at Fukuchiyama located upper Kyoto.

Worldwide formula, Sushi equals Japan. In Japan, we can have 2 piece of sushi on a small plate by100yen or 1 sushi that costs more than 10,000 yen. Whenever I go overseas, I always wonder about sushi rolls having avocados in it which I really wish Japanese to do. The End of my first culture observation photo journal.