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Blog #16

1.     Shinto and Buddhism are explained to be both used in Japanese funerals. They are also very similar to each other. Shinto and Buddhism don't contradict instead Shinto became apart of Buddhism because of similarities. In the United States Americans normally follow one religion because most religions contradict each other.

2.     One example of private gift giving was when Daigo's father gave him the rock to show his love, and also the one that Daigo gave his wife. These were simple yet sentimental gifts. These gifts are not considered as important because it was a small gift that didn't need a gift in return. 

3.     Nokanshi is the job where someone prepares the body for cremation and final farewell after death.  The perception people have of the job is poor. People believe it's a low class dirty job making money taking care of dead bodies. In the beginning Daigo struggled with the thought of touching a dead body, but throughout the movie you saw him start to take pride in his work as he grew in his skills. Also as the movie progressed, the village as well as Daigo's wife came around and started to appreciate his profession.  

4.     The biggest difference is how the body is handled and cleaned. In Japanese culture the body is washed and cleansed in front of the family, while in America we do not witness that stage. The funeral home prepares the body for display before the calling hours or service.

5.     The stone explains how his dad felt about him. The stone was not perfectly round and had a few bumps which also showed he was worried and concerned about his life. 

6.     He was able to see his father again after finding the news about his passing. Although reluctant at first, he agreed to see him. He was very upset though when he saw him. He did not recognize him until he found the stone in his hand that Daigo gave to him many years before.

7.     One Japanese concept I saw in the film was Ryasaikenbo which is good wives and wise mothers, the social expectations of women. Daigo's wife was dedicated to him and didn't question his decision to move to the country and wasn't too upset when he spent all his money buying an expensive cello. Diago's wife also didn't work because she stayed at home taking care of the house and cooking while Diago worked. 

8.     I learned a lot in regards to the way the Japanese view the after life, and how their traditions and cultural view of taking the body and treating it upon death. Overall I thought the movie was touching to see how the unexpected can give you fulfillment by helping others.

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Blog #15

Soshiki

“However, Japanese funerals are based on an ancient way of thinking derived from Shinto, which requires respect and honor for the souls of one’s ancestors. Shinto is a religion indigenous to Japan that involves nature worship and a belief in the souls of one’s ancestors” (p. 201).

I believe this means that a lot of thought and worship goes into putting on a funeral in Japan. The importance of the funeral is to pay respect to your falling ancestors. In America we pay respect to our fallen family and relatives. We also go to funerals to pay respect for the person who lost a love one even if we weren’t so close to the person who passed away. Americans however, usually have a place in which they allow for there to be some kind of worship, like a church service or mass for the individual who passed away. In the Japanese culture they feel if they don’t worship their ancestors that they will be cursed. I believe Japanese also have a time frame where they are allowed to grieve because its something they believe in.

“Thus, although Shinto did not have specific ways of purifying the impurity of death, Buddhism offered a sophisticated, ceremonial means for easing the transition of the deceased to the afterlife, and the two sets of customs became combined” (p. 204).

Funerals seem very important in the Japanese religion. They believe that by honoring them they are helping to send their soul into a new and better world. This impurity of death can only be cleansed by cremation though which is the combination of Buddhist and Shinto beliefs. During their funeral they have many sessions where they pray to the deceased. This is their belief so that the soul can transition smoothly from one world to another. Americans do have funerals, but do not go through the rituals and do not believe that death is impure. We do have something like calling hours or service and afterwards we provide food as a form of thanks. Cremation and coffins are both accepted. I think that since we do not think about the souls of our ancestors, we do not feel the need for all of these rituals. We do not even have a specific period of mourning. The Japanese believe that if the ancestors are not honored, then their family will be cursed. This has a huge impact on how they view their funerals. 

Zoto

“According to Maruyama, there are forty-three kinds of seasonal and ceremonial gifts given in Japan, while Befu lists eighty-five occasions on which gifts may be given” (p. 233).

I feel this concept of giving gifts for almost every occasion or issue whether it be big or small seems extensive. They give gifts for simple things like going to a person’s house. I have rarely ever seen anyone do that in American culture unless they are cooking a meal for them. They also give gifts for most of the holidays. Americans also give gifts and receive gifts for most of the holidays. They also have days celebrating birth and death. We have similar days like birthdays and funerals. I think that the gift giving is a lot more meaningful in America because we give gifts to a person when we respect them and we make them personal. In Japan they seem like more of a duty. They give them on the same exact day every year whether or not they like the person that they are giving a gift to. There is a sense of giving only to respect the traditions and not particularly to show their personal feelings. I think that they only give gifts is to keep harmony in everyday life and not to be viewed as an outsider.

“Another characteristic of Japanese gift giving is its practicality. Something that can be used is chosen for almost all kinds of gifts, and because money is most practical of all, it is given on many occasions” (p.238).

This seems like the Japanese enjoy giving simple gifts. Everyone likes money and it is very practical, and no deep thoughts or considerations have to be made when giving money as a gift. In America we also give money as a gift, but not as frequent as the Japanese. Some Americans receiving the money as a gift might feel like the person is not putting any thought into it. For example, Americans might give money as a gift for someone’s birthday, but for Christmas most people want an actual gift in which the person thought of. In the Japanese culture, gift giving is so common and frequent that money is the best option to give someone because very little thought has to go into it. It would be pretty hard and time consuming to think of a different gift each time you have to give someone a present.

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Blog #14

1.     Iitoko-dori is shown throughout the film. She shows Iitoko-dori when she works for the business in order to try to get back her parents. She adopts the Japanese culture by the way she works and dresses in order to fit in with the the other girls in order not to get fired. Sen cleans the river spirit, and in return the river spirit rewards her job well done with a magic herbal cake after she cleans him.

2.     The reason why Yubara didn’t use nemawashi is because the business that she was in she new decision making was really important. She was a leader, but not the main overseer who controls everyone. If she would have used nemawashi, it would have made Zeniba and Haku mad, and the relationship between all of them would have fell apart. The other reason she didn’t use nemawashi is because how the business is set up it would not have allowed her to control every little situation even though she had a lot of power. In order for the business to function properly everyone had specific duties to follow and the order must be met.

3.     One of the relationships that the movie showed was is in the relationship between Rin and Sen. Rin would speak to Sen about planes in her dreams, and became a mentor of sorts for Sen. Rin was leader and Sen was the underclassman or student. Sempai-Kohai is seniority rules in Japanese relations in in this case it was Rin. Sen wanted to work very hard in trying to save her parents from the pig pen. That was her main goal and having Rin as a leader or teacher allowed her to keep up the hard work even when things got tough.

4.     Yes, I believe there is Otogibanashi a sense of emotional beauty in the film. It is very prevalent in the scene that she walks across the bridge when going to visit her parents in the pig pen. She is full of different emotions, some of which include: nervousness, afraid, but at the same time strong because she wants to get back her parents that were turned into pigs. She had to be very patient and work hard in order to see her parents again. She learned that she couldn’t rush through her duties or preform poorly because she could be fired from her job. She also displays otogibanashi when she works in the bath house in order to clean the spirits. She doesn’t complain, but actually cleans the spirits better than most would ever because she knows that in order to get back her parents she needs to do a great job. You could see the determination in her eyes that she wasn’t going to give up.

5.     Yubaba forces Sen to identify her parents from among a group of pigs in order to break their curse. After Sen answers that none of the pigs are her parents, her contract combusts and she is given back her real name.

6.     I believe Haku accomplished his mission of saving Chihiro and her family and is now going to return working in the business where he came from. I think Chihiro and Haku will meet again. The movie has an open ending, which means that there is certainly the possibility of another encounter sometime in the future. They will not forget and always have feelings for one another.

7.      The visual look and feel of Japanese animations vs. American animations, mostly evident in the design of human characters. In Japanese animation there is more detail in the sketches.  The term otogibanashi folktales and bigaku sense of beauty is great terms that describes Japanese anime. The folktales portray two kinds of beauty like in the movie visual and emotional.  American animation either falls into attempts at comic-book style realism or grossly exaggerated, comical cartoon characters with highly exaggerated features. There's usually less detail in American animation.

8.     Uchi to Soto is shown throughout the movie. Chihiro was the outsider (soto) and had to wok very hard to fit in with the rest of the group. The witch does not usually hire anyone, she had to beg for a job because she was an outsider wanting to come in. Another term that came to mind when watching this movie was gambari which is Japanese patience and determination. Chihiro had to learn to be patient and work very hard before ever seeing her parents. She couldn’t rush or give up working even when it got tough because she could have lost her parents, but she was determined to get them back.

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blog #13

Nemawashi

         “Nemawashi was originally a gardening term meaning ‘to dig around the root of a tree a year or two before transplanting it’; however, it is widely used in Japan today, especially in business circles, to mean ‘groundwork laid unobtrusively in advance’” (pg. 159).

 I find it curious that this term revolves around a planting and growing phrase. Maybe this was done in order to make sure that they did not forget to do it or push it off for another year. I think that maybe this is so they know that they have no other decision, but this one. This portion of the term may translate over to the business portion. Once the boss knows what he wants to say, that he needs everyone to agree with him. We as a society feel like speaking up for something we don’t agree with is the right thing to do. The Japanese have to agree with the boss because the decision is already made. They also have to agree with him because they do not want to be kicked out of the group for going against anything that is being said or done. They know that when he proposes his idea that the rest of the group they will accept it, if not they will be viewed as rude and an outsider.

“In addition, although they are similar in some ways, differences between nemawashi and spadework can be observed in terms of three main points: the decision-making power, the meaning of the meeting, and certain other characteristics” (pg. 161) 

  I feel like spadework is a lazier version of nemawashi. There is no individual person who is going to speak out against the director even if they disagree with him. The spadework that is used in the USA and many other countries is not so much set in stone. This is flexible and people in these cultures do not have as much group consciousness as the Japanese. American individuals will speak up if they do not agree with something because they know that this will not as serious impacts and they are just being truthful to their opinion. In Japan however, this is considered impolite and they would be thought of as an outsider by the rest of the group.

Sempai-Kohai

            “At schools and companies, seniors believe that it is natural to be respected by juniors because they are experienced in their jobs or other activities” (pg.188).

               The fact of respecting your elder is taken very seriously in the Japanese culture. If you are a senior at college, under classmen are supposed to respect you. The more that you have worked for a company or gone to school, the higher status you will have. This makes sense since you gain experience the older you get. You do not simply learn a skill in one day, but as you get older you improve upon this skill and become the best you can. I believe that seniority should be considered, but not necessarily by age. I think it should be considered more by the experience in a certain field and what you accomplish. In the United States we follow the rule which is always to respect your elders. Also in high school everyone respects the seniors because they are the upper classmen in the one’s that are in “charge”. In Japanese they are always respectful of the elders. It does not necessarily mean the person is old, but has knowledge and in charge.

 “When people talk to superiors they use keigo (honorific) language, which includes three types of language: sonkei-go (respectful or honorific language), kenjogo (humble language), and teineigo (polite language)” (pg. 189).

  The fact that there are three different languages actually is kind of shocking. In America we do not really have any languages based on politeness. We may give adults titles like Mr. and Mrs., but there is not exact language which we speak to them. Most countries have some form of language that is more respectful for adults. I think that having three different ways of speaking would be difficult to do especially if you do not know the person very well. I believe that the sense of respect to the elders in Japan greatly influenced the need for these languages. It seems better to have different forms of speaking depending on who you are talking to instead of treating everyone equal. Some people deserve more respect than others and without these different forms of language, I feel like some essential communication skills are lost. I feel like no relationship is shared between people if you do not show that you respect them. The Japanese really believe in respecting their elders. They know what type of language to talk in, when having a conversation with someone who has seniority

 Iitoko dori 

"Japan has a long established tradition of adopting elements of foreign culture and adapting them to Japanese use" (pg. 127).

This reminds me of the whole melting pot aspect of American culture. We are pretty much just a country made up of immigrants from the bottom up.  If we see something from another country, whether it be food, technology, clothes, or something else, we'll just add it to what we already have.  At some point, everyone in the US except the Native Americans can trace their heritage back to some other country or continent, so there isn't really much that we have that is just an American thing. Sure, we come up with our own stuff a lot too, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been influenced in some way by another culture.

"Iitoko-dori can be seen most easily in the way technology has been adopted into Japan, a process that has had both positive and negative aspects" (pg. 129).

Iitoko-dori is a very interesting aspect of Japanese culture and one that I can definitely see in its development over time. I believe it is obvious that the Japanese like to adopt things that they see as useful. It is interesting, however that this trait developed in a country that spent so much time isolating itself. It has however given them an edge many times throughout history. In the United States we have seen technology increase over the years, and has had both positives and negatives as well. However, in my opinion the Japanese should be careful with this, because it can risk losing aspects of their own rich culture in favor of others.

** Already completed Otogibanashi term Blog # 9 **

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Blog #12

1.     The relationship is between Suzu and Shusaku is married. This is much different from what you would see in America because Suzu parents set up the arrange marriage between the two, and they only met once before. Yes, I saw ryosaikenbo throughout the movie. The scene that stood out most to me is when Suzu a young housewife, but also takes turns overseeing food distribution and attends training against air raids, and also when she makes women's trousers fit for emergency evacuation all while still being a housewife.

2.     To me it seemed that Suzu had a lot of love and loyalty for Shusaku, which I assume comes with the pressure that Japan places on women to get married. Suzu does not want to come off as disloyal even though he could have done something to upset her. If this would have been an American relationship, I think this would not have worked out. Americans are more blunt which means they don’t put up with others. American women would tell the man what they dislike about them and breakup and move on.

3.     The scene that stands out to me is when the navy sailor named Tetsu comes to visit Suzu. He was a childhood friend of hers, and he has been assigned to go fight in war. Understanding it might be Suzu's last chance to see Tetsu alive, Shusaku leaves them alone to talk without anyone around. After all those years apart, Tetsu never forgot about Suzu and wanted to go visit her before he went off to war. 

4.     Omiai worked in the film by Suzu who at that time was 18, is told by her parents that an unknown young man has come to propose marriage to her. The man, whose name is Shusaku, lives in another city. Suzu decides to marry him and moves to join Shusaku's family in the other city.

5.      Suzu and Harumi are caught in an explosion. As Suzu realizes that they are standing next to an unexploded bomb and tries to pull Harumi away, the film provides a close up of their hands before a huge flash takes over the scene and then the scene goes dark.

6.     Suzu's youger sister Sumi, later got seriously ill caused by atomic-bomb radiation in Hiroshima.

7.     The biggest difference I saw is is in American men and women are viewed more equally than in Japan. Americans also like to say what is on their mind, so if a man and a woman were in a relationship and one disobeyed the other you would definitely hear about it. The biggest difference is having the family of the women (Suzu) pick a man that you are supposed to marry. I cannot relate to the relationship between Shusaku and Suzu. Even though you see a connection there, I am unable to realize how they can form feelings so quickly even though they only met once many years ago.

8.     I believe anime you can relate to more. When I compare it to Eternal Zero, I feel like I understand the anime movie better. Historical facts can sometimes be hard to understand because it happened so many years ago, but anime somehow makes it easier for you to relate too.

9.     One Japanese term that I saw in the film is bigaku, which means Japanese sense of beauty. In the film it is shown each time she drew a picture. She was able to capture the details and able to put them in her drawing. What Americans view of beauty is completely different than Japanese. The Japanese don’t mind the imperfections, while Americans would point them out. I also saw Giri throughout the film. First is when the parents of Suzu set her up to marry Shusaku. She had the obligation to go live with him because her parents wanted her to marry him. Another scene is when Tetsu has to go fight in the war. He displays giri because its his duty to go fight for his country. In America we do not allowour parents to set us up to marry someone we have never met. We Americans do display giri though like the Japanese when we want to fight in war to defend our country.

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Blog #11

Ikuji

“Japanese parents tend to be of the seep-down type as far as discipline in the infant years is concerned. There are two main features of seep-down parenting. One is the tendency in Japan for behavior to be learned by imitation of parents rather than by linguistic analytical explanation, as is the case in America” (pg. 135)

I believe that the way Japanese parents teach their child reading skills is how American parents also try to do it. Americans like to imitate so their kids can catch on to what is being said. This is one practice that a lot of parents use when teaching their kids to read. In Japanese society they teach their children how to read at a very young age. I believe in America most children don’t start reading until age four and five when they start school. The Japanese parents are stricter when it comes to education, and they want their children to grow up with a lot of knowledge. 

“The second feature of seep-down parenting is reflected in the fact that Japanese mothers are not nearly as concerned with parental authority as American mothers” (p. 136).

I believe when it comes to disciplining your child, Japanese mothers tend to give in, while American mothers are more confrontational. We Americans don’t hold back. For example, when you see a child acting up in a store American parents are more likely to discipline them on the spot, whereas Japanese parents will wait until no one is around to talk to their child because they don’t like to cause a scene. I feel like Japanese are uncomfortable when attention is directed towards them especially when it is about disciplining their child in a public place. They however have a stricter standard when it comes to education, and I feel it is less likely to see Japanese children misbehaving. 

Ryosaikenbo

“These influences on gender appear in language, fashion, the workplace, politics. Japanese women today, however, are troubled by the social expectations of females in Japan, because a great many working women have the additional pleasure of doing housework and are expected to be good wives and wise mothers, as well as pursuing their careers” (pg. 179).

It is clear that the role of women has changed greatly in Japan since traditional times, and Japan is certainly not alone in this, the role of women in many cultures, including Americans. It was uncommon for a husband and wife to hold full time jobs, but instead the woman was expected to stay home and care for the children and the home. This has changed drastically, now most women in American culture pursue their own careers. this is a change that has been developing for many many years, over a century. The same goes for Japan, though these changes have started more recently, they are moving slowly towards gender equality. 

“Children are socialized in the culture values of the community in which they live, and if they do not acquire these values, society will not recognize them as true members” (pg.181).

Yes. I think the way you were taught and raised depends on where you grew up. If you were brought up in a household that was middleclass you understand what it means to work for what you have. In America we see this all the time especially in school. People that grew up in certain areas of the city hang out with those people that also live there. If you were raised in a Christian house hold you are more likely to hang out with friends that you believe have the same believes as you. However, in Japan it is stricter on what they believe. For example, they believe boys and girls should be brought up in different ways. In particular, discipline toward girls is much stricter than with boys.

Danjyo Kankei

“Compared with most Western countries, the position of Japanese women in society is still low, a fact that is often pointed out in this increasingly international world” (pg.63).

I believe what this citation is telling me is while other Western countries are allowing women to have equal rights and freedoms as men, the Japanese are still lagging behind. The Japanese have taking very small steps to equality, but it has been at a very slow pace. In America, I feel we still have ways to go for equal rights for both men and women, but we are moving in the right direction. In Japan they have a hard time allowing women to lead, they believe it is a man’s job to lead. The more the western cultures show up in the Japanese lifestyle, the more likely they will change.

“In modern Japan, the number of people with higher-educational backgrounds is increasing, and their sense of values is also changing in many ways. Conventional ideas with regard to male-female relationships are carrying less weight these days, and sexual mores and perceptions of marriage clearly appear to be changing” (pg. 64)

To me this citation means that as Japanese culture changes so do people’s values. Females in Japan are finally allowed more freedom. That being said more needs to change for equality to prevalent between men and women. In the United States women are allowed to get the same education as men and are allowed to work in whatever field they want. However, we still have issues with equality in America and more needs to be done to fix it. In Japan as culture vales have changed so as Japanese society. More rights have been given to Japanese women and the the relationships between men and women like higher education and able to work in certain job fields, but the progress is slower in Japan, then in

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Blog #10 Geisha

1.    In the movie, the Geisha lived a very strict lifestyle, where they always are practicing dancing, while wearing long dresses, with high heels while portraying beauty. They also dance to traditional Japanese music with a style of expression dancing. The dance requires agility in which symbolizes a story of beauty.

2.     The New Year is a time in my life when I can relate to this Japanese way of life. I reflect on all of the good and bad that happened in the past year. However, I am excited about what will come of the new and what the year will bring. And there is a comfort in the idea that this process will always repeat. This is a great example of bigaku because people are conscious of the beauty from the past year, but are looking ahead of what will coming in the following year. They are also glad to see what each individual accomplished in the past year and want to achieve just as good or better year ahead. Japanese people can find beauty in almost anything, while it is harder for Americans to do so.

3.     No I do not believe it lost ma or aware in the movie because they speak English, I think that they were still able to convey the sense of aware. It was nice to be able to focus on the visual aspects of the film instead of having to be constantly reading the subtitles and possibly missing nuances of the film. This is definitely important especially in a film so focused on the concepts of beauty because it is based on visuals.  In all the other movies we've seen up to this point, they were all in Japanese with English subtitles, so you got all of the nuances naturally in the language.

4.     For most Americans, we don't really acknowledge the seasons changing when they officially do.  For most of my life, spring doesn't really seem to start until Easter, summer until Memorial Day or the 4th of July. There's not much of a difference between them other than the weather. The Japanese appreciate these differences more because it's ingrained in their culture and supposedly see beauty in the existence of anything. Certain festivals in Japan begin when the seasons change, and it gets carried on for generation to generation.

5.     I think that the film definitely exemplifies the idea of emotional beauty as a whole and embodied feelings of patience and pity. The main character, Sayuri's story is a perfect example of a story that embodies these ideals. Sayuri was a patient person and did her best in a life that seemed very unfair for a long time, she succeeded eventually at the very end.

6.     Wabi-sabi is the way that simplicity and elegance work together to make something beautiful. Accepting something as beautiful even though it may be unfinished, not always have to be perfect. Americans definitely do not embody that type of lifestyle. Everyone is always busy and moving around, not living simplistic lives or taking time to appreciate the beauty in life.

7.     Yes, wabi-sabi is definitely evident at many points throughout the film. the scene that jumps out to me as exemplifying this ideal is Sayuri's dance. The dance itself is fairly simple as far as steps are concerned however it is still elegant and beautiful and it manages to convey a great deal of emotion. 

8.     Hatsumomo's tries to burn the handkerchief and picture, but accidentally burns the house down. Sayuri and the Chairman reunited and he is able to tell her his true feelings. I think that Sayuri is happy because she had a crush on him the whole movie and she is finally reunited with him at the end of the movie. 

9.     Okaasan adopted Sayuri. Pumpkin didn't have the same opportunity that Syrui had throughout the movie. Pumpkin worked under Hatsumomo who only focused on herself. Pumpkin had a very sad and miserable life she was constantly second best and bullied by Hatsumomo.

10.  I feel the most prevalent concept in this film is Bingaku, the Japanese sense of beauty, as beauty was such an important theme in this movie. Also gambari was very noticeable. Gambari means patience and determination, it was shown throughout the film, Sayuri worked hard as a geisha to achieve her goals, with the main one being to become the chairman's personal geisha. she never gave up and reached her goals even though it got difficult.

11.  I enjoyed the movie. I loved how Sayuri held on to her dream to meet the chairmen again and found such a simple action so uplifting. I wonder how different the film would be had it been in Japanese instead of English.

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Blog entry #9

Sam Doria

Bigaku

“Lifestyles from Western cultures have been increasingly accepted and adopted in Japan, and a Westernized way of life is now widespread among the Japanese people. As a result, many people are beginning to ask where one can find original Japanese culture with its deep sense of beauty” p. 35.

I believe that since Western tradition has come alive that people are more likely to form to that tradition, rather than the Japanese way. That does not mean that the Japanese tradition has disappeared, but it is harder to find the beauty in it. In our society we are made up of all different kinds of people that come from all over the world, and there are different cultures that are found throughout America. In Japan, I still feel like most people follow the Japanese culture, but it’s just more hidden with the rising of Western culture.

 “In contrast, Japanese art focuses not on what is logically considered beautiful, but on what people feel is beautiful. The Japanese aesthetic is very subjective, and there are no absolute criteria as to what this should be” p. 37.

To me this means, that everyone has a different sense on what is considered beautiful. It can be many different things in the Japanese culture that people are considered beautiful, but is being over shadowed by the uprising of Western culture. In our society different people have different ideas on what they think is considered beautiful, not everyone has the same thoughts and feelings. In Japanese culture they feel beauty is being lost by the up rising of western tradition. They also feel that the Japanese view of beauty is different for each person.

Kisetsu

“Japan has four well-defined seasons consisting of spring, summer, fall, and winter, as well as a rainy season called tsuyu, which prevails from June to July throughout most of the country” p. 153.

The weather in Japan is different then in in America. Also what the weather is on one side of the island can be totally different on the other side. Same could be said in America. On the west side of the country it can be warm and rainy, while on the north east side it can be cold and snowy. In Japan they also have a threat of typhoon season which is very rainy, and in some instances Japan could said to have six seasons.

“In autumn, a variety of festivals are celebrated in Japan that are based on old religious rites that have been passed on from generation to generation in the form of festivities to pray for a bountiful harvest” p. 155.

To me this means that the autumn season is very important for the Japanese. People go to these festivals every year because these old religious rites are passed on each generation. In our society we have a lot of festivals, some in which are very important and can be religious based depending on if its put on by a church or perish. Each city has their own festivals were the community can come together to enjoy. For the Japanese these festivals are important to them, and these traditions get passed on generation to generation.

 Otogibanashi

“Japanese folktales portray two kinds of beauty: one is visual; the other is emotional. Typically, these folktales are known for their portrayal of the physical beauty of the seasons, as well as their in-death descriptions of the emotional lives of the hero” p. 171.

Folktales are important in the Japanese culture because it tells a story of beauty. Beauty is a form of speech in Japan and it helps tell a story. In America we have several well known folktales that tell life lessons. We do not focus on beauty because it is not as important in our culture. Japanese people adore their folktales because it portrays physical and emotional beauty, and tells an important story that the Japanese can relate too.

“Japanese folktales often contain animal characters that take the form of human beings, and these elements help explain the Japanese concept of nature in which people are thought to coexist with nature in a rather vague way” p. 173.

I feel it is important because it allows the reader to grasp the concept of nature. The use of animals in these folktales help tell a story as it relates to the outside. We Americans have a couple animal characters that help tell a story for the most popular folktales. It is important to get the message across in the story, and even though we Americans don’t focus on beauty like the Japanese, our stories still tell important messages. The Japanese like to use animal characters in their folktales because I believe it shows a different perspective on the meaning of the story, but I feel the underlying message stays the same, which is how it relates to nature.

Wabi-Sabi

“Wabi is both an aesthetic and moral principle, originating in the medieval eremitic tradition, which emphasizes a simple, austere type of beauty, and a serene, transcendental frame of mind yet also points to the enjoyment of a quite, leisurely life, free from worldly concern” p.223.

To me this means that the word “wabi” shows a simple type of beauty, and also how to enjoy yourself without having to worry about the chaos of the world. We Americans try to forget about all the problems of the world and try to focus on the enjoyments of life. In Japanese tradition, it is important to keep a sense of beauty while following your morals. They think its important to have beauty in all that you are doing, and that you find enjoyment in life.

“The adjective, wabishi indicates good taste and refinement today, but such wabi-related expressions did not always have this kind of aesthetic value” p 224.

There are several different ways wabishi can be interpreted, but I feel the main definition of it is to have elegance at what you are doing, and stay true to yourself. This word has evolved over the years, it used to describe unfavorable conditions, such as discouragement or anxiety, but then expressed the feeling of pain of unrequited love. In American society we have words that describe the same situations. Our English words, I don’t think have changed in meanings as frequently as the Japanese word Wabi. The Japanese believe over the last few centuries the meaning of the word has adapted to the culture. The sense of beauty they believe is being lost by the uprising of Western Tradition. However, the word still means simplicity and elegance as Japanese ideals of beauty.

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What makes you American

I believe what makes me American is I was born here. Why because I believe what ever part of the world a person is born is what makes you part of that place, even if they move to another country. For example, if I were to move to another country and live there rest of my life, I would still consider myself an American. I would still adapted to the new country ways of doing certain things, but will always have my American roots which will never go away. No matter what country you were born into, I believe is where most of your beliefs and customs come from, and you keep them with you wherever you go.

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Blog #8- Eternal Zero

Sam Doria

1.     I noticed that the Japanese soldiers were not only trained in battle skills, but also the ideas of The Do Spirit, and staying loyal to the master. I think that Miyabe displayed this sense of insight through his actions, and no one could understand him because he did things differently. Many of his companions disliked him and called him cowardly because they thought Miyabe wasn’t risking his life in battle, while the other soldiers were. As we got further into the movie, we saw that a few of the fighter's began to understand why Miyabe was determined to get home to his family.

2.     The relationship between the three individuals was awkward, uneasy, and Kageura had no respect for them. They thought Kageura would say Miyabe was a coward because everyone they interviewed before him called him a coward. However, that did not happen, Kageura had a lot of respect for Miyabe, but he was so mad he kicked them out for assuming something that wasn’t true.

3.     Most people called Miyabe a coward. Bushido is defined by the way of the warrior.They describe him as this because they assumed Miyabe was more worried about his own life, and seemed unwilling to die in combat, while other soldiers would do anything for their country. The soldiers didn’t realize that Miyabe goal in staying alive was for his family not his own personal life.

4.     Miyabe was unwilling to die because he wanted to live for his family and wanted the same for the rest of the soldiers. However, at that time soldiers practiced bushido, and thus be fully willing to die in combat. Since Miyabe was not willing to die, nor let him and Izaki's partner kill himself, leading to his more painful death, Izaki viewed him as being against the socially accepted idea of a warrior, and hated him at first. 

5.     Miyabe was a skilled pilot and warrior, but was unwilling to die, which is the number 1 most important aspects of a warrior. The members of his team believed he was only looking out for himself. I think Izaki was mad because he was not doing his best or helping others around him

6.     The negative effect of groupism is following the groups lead rather than doing things on your own. Even if a bad idea is formed within the group, everyone seemed to conform to it because they do not want to be the outsider or the one who shows a different opinion. None of the Japanese men would stop fighting even though men were dying all around them.

7.     The connection between Eternal Zero and The Last Ronin is that most of the men in the movie were dedicated enough to risk and loose their lives for what they were doing. I saw Bushido in the way that the men would do anything for the person in charge. The soldiers in this movie and the man in The Last Ronin were very dedicated in their mission and did not want to let anyone down.

8.     Miyabe switched planes with Oishi.  Miyabe also knew that his plan had problems, so he switched knowing that Oishi would have to turn back.  I think that if he could save more men, Miyabe would have. He must have gotten upset seeing all the men dying in battle, and wanted to give Oishi a chance to survive.

9.     I believe it was Kageura because he said his sword thirsts for blood.

10.   Bushido and Giri I noticed in the movie Enternal Zero. Bushido and Giri were seen throughout when all the soldiers were risking the lives and dying in battle. Every man thought they had an obligation to fight in battle, not matter the outcome.

11.  It amazed me to see how brave and willing these men were in serving in the military. They had no problem risking their life and dying for the good of others and to serve their country.

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Blog #7

Sam

Blog #7

Hedataru to Najimu

“Hedataru means to separate one thing from another, to set them apart, and it is also used in human relationship with such nuances as to estrange, alienate, come between, or cause rupture between friends” p. 109.

I believe this means that there is a divide between people. There has been a break in the relationship between two people or friends. In American society people go through this all the time and it common in America. For example, when two people get divorced because the relationship isn’t working out, or there is an argument between friends that can’t be resolved. This sometimes happens because Americans sometimes rush into a relationship without really thinking. We like to keep our distance and separate ourselves from the people that made us upset, and sometimes the relationship cannot be fixed or restored. In the Japanese culture I feel it is less common to see hedatau because Japanese people are more loyal and close to the people they have a relationship with. They use patience and take their time before building a relationship with someone.

“Najimu means to become attached to, become familiar with, or used to. For instance, if one says that students najimu their teacher, it means they have become attached too and have close feeling towards the person” p. 109. 

I feel this is the complete opposite of hedataru. Najimu means there is a relationship between two people, and there is a connection. Before you can reach the najimu stage, you have to pass through two stages of hedataru. In America some people assume they are in the najimu stage before completing the hedataru stages. Some Americans rush into a relationship and it doesn’t always work out. In Japanese culture I feel they are more careful and take their time before having a relationship with another person. They get to know a lot about the person and keep a distance which helps build human relations between them. Why, because I believe this is how they were raised, and learned to never rush into a relationship.

Shudan Ishiki

“Most Japanese consider it important virtue to adhere to the values of the groups to which they belong. This loyalty to the group produces a feeling of solidarity, and the underlying concept of group consciousness has become the foundation of Japanese society” p.195.

To me this means that Japanese people are more loyal to the group in which they grew up in, rather than a single individual. I feel they are aware and do whatever to stay loyal to the group where they belong. In America we are also stay loyal to everyone especially the people in which we have grown up with. We try to earn and keep the respect that we have from others, and try not to break the trust. In the Japanese society this is very important. Loyalty to the group is one of the top things Japanese people stand by. Consciousness has become a establishment in Japanese society.

 “There is no doubt that the harmony of the group is vitally important in Japanese society. People often think and behave as a group, and what benefits the group is mostly regarded as the correct thing to do” p. 196.

I believe this means that Japanese view that without harmony a group cannot survive. They do whatever is best of the group even if their own feelings and values are not the same. In America society we do the same thing. We want to be part of group just so we can fit in. Sometimes we give up what we believe in or risk our values just to be part of the group. In Japanese culture being part of a group sounds like its almost required. If you’re not part of a group your viewed as an outsider. It is common for an individual to act in a similar way as the group, so they aren’t thrown out of the group.

 The Do Spirit of Japan

“The concept of do is thus deeply rooted in Japanese way of thinking, both traditional and modern, illustrating many of the most significant cultural values of Japan and providing insights into Japanese way of learning” p. 72.

This citation means to me that, the word “do” in Japan is very important in their language. There are many different ways “do” is used in Japan and they all have important meaning to them. In America society, I can’t think of a word that is as important as “do”. In the English language we have certain words that have several different meanings, but I don’t think it is as powerful as the word used in Japan. In Japan, the word “do” is greatly used and has many different meanings. It provides a way in which they learn.

“The spirit of do continues to pervade Japanese culture, and people in many walks of life can be seen seeking after perfection in certain basic patterns as a means of acquiring spiritual satisfaction in their lives” p. 77.

I think this citation means, that the spirit of do is rapidly being lost, from when it was first created. There are meaning meanings of “do”, some believe it to be spiritual satisfaction, and others view it as a powerful word in their culture. In America I feel we don’t have a word as influential as they do in Japan. The Japanese society views the word “do” in their language as having many different meanings and changes in the way they think. Someone would be accepting if they just follow the system and the rules they have in place when it comes to using “do” in Japan.

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Blog #6

1.      Magoza displays several characteristics of Bushido throughout the movie “the Last Ronin”. For one, you can tell that he is very disciplined in his commitment to serve the lord’s family. Here you can tell he is willing to sacrifice his own life to protect the lord’s family because he was willing to do anything to earn their respect. Another scene that shows bushido is when Magoza was specifically told to raise Kane and make sure that she stayed safe, and for many years Magoza upheld his duty from the lord.

2.     Giri can be similar to obligation in that both participate a burden of some commitment. Obligation I feel is needing to obey or comply with something because it is required. While giri is acting because of gratitude. It seems to be be more related to social norms on how your supposed to act.

3.     The difference is that with Bushido, someone is pledging themselves to someone of a higher status in order to fully serve them, not expecting anything in return. As far as Giri, if someone does something for you, then you are expected to return the favor either by a gift or lending a hand when that person is in need. Busido is shown, when Magoza is agreeing to protect his commander’s lover and unborn child, he is accepting this task knowing he will be considered not loyal for not accepting. He followed through with the task because the family is a higher status and under bushido it is frowned upon if you do not serve them. Giri is acting out of gratitude. In the movie it is shown when she wants a relationship with him, but he only views this as a mission and does not have deep feelings for her.

4.     The scenes that do represent the concept of the ie system though are the ones concerning Kane's marriage. He is commissioned Magoza to take care of his child, Kane, and ensure that she marries well. Another scene is when Magoza the head of his future household, Magoza has that power, and is therefore the decider of events that occur within is home.

5.     The contradictions are presented through their relationship when we learn that Kane has developed romantic feelings for Magoza. There are also contradictions with the hierarchical representation of the Ie system even though his feelings for her aren’t the same. Even though Magoza is the head of household he still struggles in telling her who she can marry. The Ie system is applied in an unusual way.

6.     In comparison to America I would say that it is more equal treatment here than in Japanese culture. I think this because men are still seen as the head of the household in Japanese culture and this has a great affect on how women are viewed and what roles they play within the household in their culture. In America I feel both parents have the same control. For example, when raising your family, I feel both parents work together to provide the best they can for their family.

7.     Kichi was confused because she did not understand why Magoza would escape. She viewed him as strong and determined, and never thought he would escape the battle. The term that fits most to the scene is Bushido which means “the way of the warrior”. He believed he gave all he got and determined he couldn’t go anymore.

8.     I think Mogoza's acting that way at the end because his last orders were to remain unknown and not tell his mission to anyone other then the lords family and Kichi. "As this case suggests, or suicide by self-disembowelment, was the most honorable death for a samurai”. I think that he told her what he learned about Magoza and the deal he had with her father. Otherwise, she wouldn't have told Magoza to accept the wish. 

9.     I defiantly think chinmoku is used effectively in this film. Silence is a form of expression especially in this film. In certain sense there is moments of silence to draw you in on how serious the situation is. It allows you to think what will happen next.

10.  The movie was interesting. I liked to see the different views they had in the Japanese culture and how it was different from American culture. The way Magoza handled raising Kichi for all those years was amazing to watch. I would recommend the movie to others.

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#3 Answer- Titan 

#withyukisensei

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Blog #5 Sam Doria

Bushido

“It is important to note Bushido involved not only martial spirit and skill with weapons, but also absolute loyalty to one’s, a strong sense of personal honor, devotion, to duty and the courage, if required, to sacrifice one’s life in battle or in ritual” (p.41).

This citation means to me that you are always loyal and honest with yourself and others. First, if you’re not truthful with yourself, how can others trust you. It is important to be true with others, and to never lie. You would be willing to sacrifice your life for someone else you have grown close to in a situation like your family. In America it is not uncommon to have personal honor or be willing to be devoted to someone like your spouse or the spiritual symbol you believe in. Your spouse is someone most people can trust, and they would risk their own life to save yours. In Japan they feel Bushido is very important. They apply this to the people that are included in their inner circle, like their family members. Japanese people stay loyal to people they can trust so the bonds they form can’t be broken.

 “Loyalty was thus a distinctive feature of feudal society in Japan: the relationship between lord and vassal was called that of obligations and service in the Kamakura period” (p. 45).

I believe this citation means that the Japanese definition of loyalty has stayed the same throughout history. Loyalty is a responsibility and is very important. Americans view something similar. They are loyal to who they worship, like God or other symbol and most are loyal to their family because that’s who they are close with. I think Japanese people think this way because they worship the lord and would sacrifice their life if they would be told to do so. It is not uncommon to see people having a deep relationship with the lord and would follow the advice that is given to them.

 Giri

“Giri can perhaps best be understood as a constellation of related meanings, the most important of which are as follows: 1 moral principles or duty, 2 rules one has to obey in social relationship, and 3 behavior one is obliged to follow or that must be done against one’s will” (p. 95).

I feel this means that there are rules you have to follow, and you must stick to them throughout your life and all the relationships you may encounter. Know what you stand for and your morals you set for yourself. I think Americans sometimes have a difficult time following their moral principles especially when we are in a group with our peers, they sometimes get persuaded by others to do the wrong thing. The Japanese however, have an obligation to do the right thing no matter in what social setting. They know their morals and are able to stick to them no matter what social setting their in.

 “According to Minamoto the term giri used by Nichiren at the beginning of the Kamakura period is the oldest attested case on record, but at the time, it meant the equivalent of meaning or reason, not the habit of returning something for goodwill.” (p. 96)

I think this means reason is important in making decisions. You have to think of the consequences it may cause and why it is important for your decision. The definition hasn’t change much over the years. In America I believe most of the time we use the same point, which is that we do things for a reason. On the other hand, some Americans do things without a reason that can result in consequences. In Japan I believe they do everything for a reason. They think will it benefit them or anyone else if yes then they will go along with it. If not, then they might pitch the idea and try something new. It is all for social obligation and will it have an advantage on society.

 The Japanese ie system

“The Japanese word has a variety of meanings: 1 a building that is used as a residence, 2 a family or household, 3 a group that is consists of a family according to the old Japanese civil code, 4 the family that descends from one’s ancestors and that will continue into the future” (p. 119).

I learned that is word has a variety of meanings over time. It is all focused around family and where they come from and live. It depends on what class you fall under during that time, and is passed down through generations. The only difference is what group do you fall under. In America a system like this one isn’t used, but you can tell what class someone falls under by where they live. It depends on their family and where they came from. I believe some Americans still value their ancestors, and were they went and ended up living. The Japanese society still feels it remains strong among families in many parts of Japan. They view it as custom or moral values.

“The foundation of are thought to be based on the worship of ancestors. For most Japanese except for the emperor and the aristocrats, the origins and names of one’s ancestors were not usually known, but households still had ancestors that they worshiped” (p. 119).

The ie system is very important. Most Japanese families I think worship at least one ancestor in their household. I believe this means they think it is significant to the Japanese knowing where they came from. I believe Americans do want to find out how they came to America and all about their ancestors. We Americans however do not worship our ancestors like the Japanese do. Japanese think this way because they believe that if they worship their ancestors that it provided the foundations of the existence of ie and looked after the family and guaranteed its welfare, but if they did not honor their ancestor it would thought to be cursed and really bad.

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Blog #4 Nobody Know’s

1.     The scene that I feel resembles aimai is when the oldest son Akira ask the mother where she has been, and why she hasn’t come home for a while. The mother gives a vague and roundabout answer. She doesn’t tell the whole truth, but just says “I’ve been busy working”. Akira is old enough to understand she is lying to him, but the younger kids believe the mother is just too busy to come home.

2.     The scene that stands out to me is when the mother takes the son out to lunch. Even though I don’t believe the mother is being honest, she is trying to thank her son Akira for all he has done in helping out with the family since the mother has been gone and away from home. You can tell Akira is upset with his mother and their mother/son bond that they once had has disappeared since she doesn’t come home and depends on him take care of his younger siblings.

 3.     One big difference between kids in the U.S. and kids in Japan is, most children especially in elementary and middle school in the U.S. don’t have much responsibility after they get off school. In Japan their parents rely on their kids at a young age to help out. For example, going to the store after school or taking care of their siblings while their parents are still at work. American and Japanese children I feel are set at different standards. In Japan parents are more hard on their kids, especially when it comes to performing at school. They want the best possible results, while American parents want their kids to try their best. One similarity both cultures have in common is the parents want the absolute best for their children.

4.     Uchi to Soto is described in the film when the mother tells the younger sibling’s they are not allowed to go outside or let anyone in the apartment. They don’t want to be caught be the landlord and also they believe that no one should enter your home if you don’t know the person. Also at the convenience store, the clerks at the check out seem to dislike Akira and treat him differently from the other customers.

5.     To me the most difficult chinmoku to understand is when the mother returns home with gifts for the younger children. The mother doesn’t seem to recognize Akira, even though he is the one who takes care of everything while she is gone. He stays silent watching the family interact with each other. I wonder what he is thinking, is he upset, angry, resentment or just doesn’t care. If I was in that same situation I would have gotten mad and would have spoken up. I would have asked where she has been, and would have told her how I feel about the whole situation.

6.     Yuki fell off a stool and died.

7.     At the end of the movie Akira and Saki take Yuki’s body to an open field and bury the suitcase. I think that the kids struggle to get money because the mom abounded them. They stick together through all the struggles they face, even when they loose the place.

8.     The film was good. It was sad to see how the children struggled without having the mom around. The oldest son Akira had to grow up fast to provide for his younger siblings. The younger children weren’t allowed to leave the apartment and none of them went to school.  In America kids that young cannot be unattended without a parent. The parents can get in serious trouble in neglecting their children and face jail time because of it.

9.     I was thinking the whole time that it is unsafe and illegal to have children that young living without a parent. They struggled to find food, and ran out of money to pay for the bills. I don’t understand why the mom could not take her children with her when she left the apartment or at least have someone check on the kids while she was gone.

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Blog #3

Sam Doria

Blog #3

Aimai

“Ambiguity or aimai, is defined as a state in which there is more than one intended meaning, resulting in obscurity, indistinctness, and uncertainty. To be ambiguous in Japanese is generally translated as aimaina, but people use this term with a wide range of meanings including vague, obscure, equivocal, dubious, doubtful, questionable, shady, two-edged and so on.” (p.9)

I feel that this term has many meanings and people have different interpretations. To me I feel the meaning resembles questioning of one’s thoughts and a way to express one’s feelings. In the social setting Americans communicate so that a person’s true feelings are expressed. We don’t like to hold anything back and want others listening to be able to understand what we are trying to say to them. Americans are more upfront and we are not afraid to speak what is on our mind. In the Japanese culture they want to have compromise. They carefully share their feelings with others because they feel it is impolite to speak openly about one’s assumptions or their true thoughts. Japanese seem to hold back because they don’t want to come off as knowing everything.

 “Aimai can result in misunderstanding, and people from other countries sometimes become irritated because the Japanese seem unable to answer yes or no directly. For example, if asked which will you have tea or coffee? A Japanese person will often reply either is ok. This is a reserved and polite answer, but it often causes the host or hostess trouble.” (p. 13)

 This citation means to me as a polite way for Japanese people to have conversation with someone without always giving a honest answer. I think they fear if they give direct answers, that they will be viewed by others as a know it all, and Japanese people dislike confrontation. In our society we Americans are blunt, honest, and always speak our mind. It would be confusing to us if we hear something else other than a “yes” or “no” response to a question like the one about the coffee or tea. I think Japanese people think this way because they feel that if they come off as being direct that their bond that they formed with others would be broken. They hesitate when given a direct answer, which can be confusing to some and some people might view it as incomprehensible.

 Uchi to Soto

 “Uchi can be defined as (1) inside (2) my house or home (3) the group that we belong to (4) my wife or husband; in contrast, soto means (1) the outside (2) outdoors (3) other groups (4) outside the home. The Japanese clearly distinguish insiders from outsiders in daily life, depending on whether the others belong to an uchi or soto group.” (p. 217)

 The term and citation means that the Japanese people are focused on setting apart the people who are the insiders and outsiders. It seems like they judge and discriminate some groups in their culture and place them on a ranking system. Most Americans I feel don’t distinguish insiders and outsiders, we try to view everyone equally but is still goes on in our country. I believe families in America use a ranking system in the household. The difference is, the male in the household does not always make the decisions, it is usually both adults in the household telling the younger people what to do. The Japanese people think this way because they have grown up in a system where you are placed in a group and based on your rank determines the power you may have. They use to believe that all the power needs to be in the hands of the male in the household, and to follow his directions.

 “The distinction between uchi and soto is obvious in Japanese psychological exclusivism toward other peoples, and discrimination against minority groups such as burakumin, the Ainu, and ethnic Koreans is still widespread in Japan.” (p.219)

 I believe this citation is saying that there is a problem with the uchi and soto distinction and how it is being used. They discriminate the minority groups in Japan and place them on a ranking system. They refuse to let certain groups find job or get an education based on their appearance. I feel this goes on in most countries around the world. In America this to goes on, discrimination and judgment occurs based on the color of someone’s skin. It is disrespectful because we should be viewing everyone equally. I believe Japanese think this way because it is how they were raised. They were taught by their parents and it was passed down to them, and I believe Japanese people use this ranking system on a daily basis.

 Chinmoku

 “Silence or chinmoku, in particular, can be viewed as a communicative skill, not just a form of emptiness between spoken words. As Tannen notes, silence can be a matter of saying nothing and meaning something.” (p. 51)

 I believe this citation means that some people can tell what you are thinking without saying any words. Silence is a skill and is viewed differently among cultures. Some places view it as respectful while others may think you are disrespecting them. In American society being silent is a sign of respect especially when others are talking. It is viewed as being rude or not paying attention when you are talking or interrupt someone who is. In Japanese culture silence is a form of communication from underlying values and how it appears in functions in their society.

 “There are both positive and negative aspects to the functions of silence in Japan. To begin with, it is important to note exactly when Japanese people are silent. Silence occurs when people have nothing to say, of course, but it does not always mean that they have no ideas” (p. 53)

This citation to me means that silence is powerful on its own. Silence is a form of respect. Not everyone wants to share what they are thinking. Americans on the other hand, I feel have a harder time staying silent, we like to speak our mind and do not always think of the consequences that might occur. We Americans do not always think before speaking. In Japanese culture they are more careful on what they are going to say. They think of the possible consequences from speaking, and sometimes choose to stay silent. The only bad thing about this, is that we don’t always know what they are thinking. In Japan they believe that silence is a powerful way of communicating to others.

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Blog #2 Jiro

Sam Doria

Blog #2

1. Jiro is very passionate of his restaurant and the quality of the sushi. He treats his sons like they are employees of his sushi restaurant. Jiro does not treat them any different than the other chefs, in fact he is seems more stricter with his sons regarding the quality of the sushi. He makes his sons practice making sushi everyday, to try to perfect the skill. I learned from watching the movie that it is hard to pleas Jiro because he always wants perfection. In the Japanese culture working hard and trying your best is a must when it comes in doing anything.

2. I do not think the oldest son Yoshikazu will ever exceed his fathers gambari because the father’s thought is even if the sushi tasted great, Jiro believes that there is something to improve to make it taste even better. Jiro is always challenging his son and himself when it comes to doing anything and to master something you have to work hard and never give up.

3. Jiro shows modesty throughout the movie, but what scenes stand out to me and display’s kenkyo is when jiro comes to work and examines and try’s all the sushi to see if the quality is up to his standard.  Another scene that displays kenkyo is when Jiro believes the customers of the restaurant deserve the best sushi because the people have waited many months to come eat at the restaurant. 

4. Jiro is very important and is why the sushi restaurant is very successful. He is a good mentor and teacher for the other chef’s that work there. Without his wisdom, modesty, and determination the restaurant would not be as popular as it is. 

5. Amae is definitely present between the father and the son. The scene that stands out to me is when Takashi ask Jiro in the restaurant  for advice on how to better his skills in sushi making. His dad is always there teaching his son how to become successful. They depend and are there for each other all the time especially when one needs help.

6. The advantages of Gambari in the U.S. is that it is motivation to work harder and to never give up. For example when the United States team plays a sport we always go all in and try our best. We never back down when it comes to our sports. Gambari is like saying, “ do your best, and keep trying”. Disadvantages of gambari is that we as Americans do not try our absolute hardest on everything. When it comes to education the Japanese are not satisfied until they get the highest score possible. On the other hand most Americans are proud if the do well but not perfect on something. I thing gambari is more used in the Japanese culture because they strive for the best.

7. “Once you decide on your occupation you must immerse yourself in your work. You have to fall in love with your work. Never complain about your job. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That’s the secret of success and is the key to being regarded honorably.” This quote is a great example of gambari and stands out to me when watching the movie because it is telling us to dedicate our life to whatever we are doing. If you work hard, good things will come and you will benefit from it, but it is not always easy. In order to do that though you must work, be true to yourself and never whine because those are signs of weakness.

8. The concept I believed to be most challenging is Amae “dependence” because I don’t always feel I need to be dependent on someone. I do however, am glad to feel dependent and can rely on my family when I need them and I believe they feel they can depend on me in a time of need. In America I feel most people feel the same way as I do. They do not always want to rely on someone, most want to try it on their own at first. It is true though Americans want to be able to count on someone in their life in a time of need.