Blog #9

Bigaku

"Japanese art focuses not on what is logically considered beautiful, but on what people feel is beautiful (37)".

               The Japanese find the changing seasons as beautiful, they pay attention to nature more than Americans do. beauty to them is vivid colors, in a direct, complete and explicit way. cherry blossoms have a large influence on beauty and poetry. As an American, we are drilled by the media and they tell us what we should think is beautiful. you can have your own opinion on what is beautiful. but it is proven that the media has a huge influence on what we think.

Kisetsu

"Cherry blossoms are the national flower of Japan and are seen as a harbinger of spring (155)".

               In Japan, an annual event that is celebrated is "hanami" or flower viewing. a event that people and eats and drinks under the tree while they watch the flowers bloom. In America, we do not have a holiday like this. the only think that i could try to relate to this is Groundhogs day. it is an event where in american tradition, if the groundhog sees his shadow that, that means 6 more weeks of winter/snow. we base something like a plant or an animal to determine how we respond to the season changing.

Otogibanashi

"Japanese folktales portrays two kinds of beauty: one is visual; the other is emotional (171)".

                 The visual is the physical aspect of what beauty may be, while feeling emotions like empathy or heart full of someone who lives a heroic life is also betrayed as beauty. In American culture, folktales display beauty as little girl finding her prince and how she is so beautiful that she has to be a princess. Also,  when someone is a hero they are beautiful and displays a light. while they show the villain to be ugly, and dark and evil, not beautiful.

Wabi Sabi

"People used to live simple lives free from materialism and had the opportunity to cultivate a sense of unity with nature (229)".

                  In Japanese and American culture; as society moves forward our old and formal traditions are disappearing and being something of the past. we are losing how to get back to nature. with technology taking over we are taking advantage of our community, we think that technology and the latest trends is what beauty is rather then seasons, nature and heroism. 

• After Reflection Discussion

My reflection on the discussion is that society enforced in us that World War II was a war that was necessary and how Japan and Germany were the issue. Going to war for the Japanese and Americans, many soldiers were drafted while some were glad to go fight for their country. so while both places are clear across the world both have common feelings.they are fighting for a family, a country, a religion and their life back at home.

• What makes me American......

Growing up in North America, becoming accustom to tradition and culture was internalized at a young age. I, today am a religious liberal. tradition and culture is to worship Jesus and love everyone, but still put yourself first and work to buy anything you want. network and keep your friends close and your enemies closer. so the term of being an "American" means to understand that we got the better end of the deal. other countries are looking at us to industrialize their country. people come to us to have that "American dream". so what makes me American is that i have an easy life and here you are expected to live out your dreams and you can do anything when you put your mind to it.

Blog #8

1. Zen Buddhism is integrated in the Japanese psyche like the part in the film when Saigo would reminisced and was determined to get back to his wife and unborn child.

2. Drinking for general Kuribayashi means maintaining and deepening hedatari with Nishi. They have a common interest because they both rode horses and they  were able to talk strategy, and bond before the battle.

3. The negative effect of uchi and soto is not giving someone with common interest a chance to become uchi. Saigo kept Shimizu at a soto distance. when he first arrived. he then later in the movie worked together.

4. The negative effects were some groups were better prepared and some groups were not and the groups that were not died and were not sent back up. They didn't have a say to if they wanted to commit suicide, they wanted to keep the harmony and follow the rules.

5. The distance started to come together because both groups saw each other human side. Realized they were forced into a horrid war. they could relate during this war, they had families that missed them they wanted to go back home.

6. The connection between Letters from Iwo Jima and The last Ronin was how both film believed they had a mission at hand and to complete that mission at all costs. Magoza from the Last Ronin ended up killing himself like many soldiers did in Iwo Jima after being ordered to. both the soldiers were  devoted and loyal. Bushido is in both movies, it affected this war because the soldiers committing suicide made them lose the war and gave it a higher chance for the Americans to capture Japanese soldiers.

7. They were keeping distances from each other because they knew they were destined to die. it was really a suicide mission, but giving up and committing suicide because they were told to showed Honne to Tatemae. they were loyal and didn't say anything or come up with another plan because they wanted to maintain the face of obedience.

8. Saigo was captured and became a P.O.W. Ito ends up surrendering. Saigo didn't want to go to war in the first place and was forced, so he felt the Emperor was not worthy enough for his death. He'd rather fight till the end. while lieutenant Ito was completely devoted and loyal to the emperor and the war.

9. Honne to Tatemae and Bushido were both concepts that were thoroughly used in the film.many soldiers just blindly followed orders and kept the harmony. they did as they were told and was loyal. they kept their true feelings to themselves from fear to disagreeing to the tactics of building the island defenses.  

10. I learned that we are still the same. both the american and Japanese died on a unnecessary war. and both were dealing with the same things. missing their families, and preparing for a suicidal war. the most striking would probably have to be when the soldiers died by  killing themselves with grenades.

Blog #7

My reflection to the discussion was my ending was different to others. i thought Kane would marry no one or she would end up marring the merchant son. my second prediction was right.though i was surprised that Magoza would kill himself, i am aware that is common and ethical in Japanese culture. Omiai shows that arranged married was common and Kane didn't really have a choice in who she really wanted to marry. a lot of concepts were used but Omiai and Bushido were the most common used.

Hedataru to Najimu
"If one says that students Najimu their teachers, it means that they become attached to and have close feelings for the teacher(109)".
     In America, we do have a distinctive separation of who we may know to who we are close to and have feelings for. we have a saying if you get attached or feelings for their teacher is a teachers pet.

"Three stages are considered important: maintaining hedatari, moving through hedatari, and deepening friendship by najimu(109)".
      In America, we also follow similar stages. we have to build a foundation to become acquaintances. then we don't want to seem too clingy to ruin chances of becoming better friends.so then to deepen a relationship you learn personal information about the individual, spend time with them and get to know ones family.
Shudan Ishiki
"In Japanese society, people are primarily group-oriented and give more priority to group harmony than to individuals(195)".
        Particularity college students are opposite to this statement you tend to stay by yourself and when you enter a classroom you tend to pick a seat and hope someone doesn't sit next to you, unless you can relate to them or have met them before.

"Japanese in groups are usually indifferent to outsiders. however, when outsiders are invited to come with appointments, they are treated courteously as formal guests(196)".
         In America, joining  a group or a circle of friends, you do have to check to see if they are worthy to be in the group. you have to have similar interests and sometimes on the same path. an outsider you do have to kinda be skeptical to see if they are true and loyal.
The Do spirit of Japan
"By far the most influential stream of Buddhist thought on Japanese culture was Zen Buddhism(73)".
           Zen Buddhism was a period when literature, painting,creative arts, and gardening was brought to the light. it was the period of the courtly age. Zen means meditation so meditation infusing with it spirit inspired Noh theater and literature and many other arts.

"simply learning patterns by rote, which has never been advocated in Zen thought, does not foster creativity, growth and development unless you go beyond the form(77)".
             Too many people emphasize outer forms.People focus more on the harmony that you can lose yourself. you never have an opinion, your just going with the flow and it doesn't have a impact on you Zen thought.The Japanese feel as though if they do not keep the peace and blindly agree then they will be cast out the group so they do just that blindly stay at a surface levels.
Haragei
"...is used in business and politics as a deceitful means of communication in which people hide their real motives in order to gain power and advantage(103)".
           Similar to Honne to Tatemae you tend to keep how you really feel to yourself. even if you are right you may just stay nonverbal. you keep the harmony. with Amae, you read in between the lines to decipher what one is thinking.

"in low-context cultures, people often ask questions to try to make everything clear because they are less tolerant about ambiguous situations(105)".
         In the west countries, we want all the information. even with gossip we want the whole scoop of whats going on with the situation.i can see how this concept can be confusing in america, we don't leave anything to the imagination. we don't even like to read between the lines to someones subtle gestures to see if they are just agreeing to keep the harmony.

Blog #6

1.  Magoza demonstrated Bushido throughout the entire movie. Magoza was extremely loyal, and completely devoted to Oishi. He did not tell why he did not fight with the other samurai's. even though they wanted to kill him. he went into finding and remained loyal.

2. Giri means a custom of returning something for goodwill. while obligation means you feel you must return the favor, you are in debt to someone. while they both in a sense want to return the favor, but they differ when Giri grants a blessing or hope towards a person. not necessarily physically return something but to give them good fortune or good vibes.

3. Giri is more of a obligation but not completely require, while Bushido is a stricter devotion. your heart is involved of protecting and serving your lord. When Magoza went to the cemetery and the other soldiers saw him, he could have easily told them he was given an order that made him not able to fight with his fellow warriors. he remained quiet showing Bushido and just said he was a coward. 

4.When the cloth merchant was asking Magoza who Kane was he acted like he did not know. it seemed like he wasn't ready to tell the merchant that his real father is Oishi. he was using ie, being the head and protecting his family. another was how the cloth merchant son fell in love right away and was ready to marry her before knowing her. that shows that the man really has to pursue the woman and then marry the woman to then continue om his father's business. 

5. Kane is technically adopted because her mother died. that is a contradiction because Kane falls in love with Magoza who is like her father he and Yu taught her manners and how to write and was there with her while she grew to a young lady. so you cant really fall in love with someone who was there when you were in diapers. 

6. In America, i feel as though it would be close to these numbers. in my opinion i do think men are treated better. that they must be the head and women come second. how woman are viewed as only being a help mate to their husband or boyfriend and not an equal.  women are now being the bread winners in their homes, women are now being C.E.O's of businesses and serving in the military finally being accepted as a ranger. times are changing. 

7. Magoza wish was for Kane to marry the cloth merchant's son. Kane's wish is still being ignored. though she wish to not marry the son and she wish that she didn't like the son. they were both ignored because Magoza wants the opposite. For her to to like the son and marry him.

8. "Many Japanese woman are much more selective in choosing a marriage partner, and large numbers are deciding not to get married." I'm guessing but i feel as though Kane disobey omiai and wont marry the cloth merchant's son.she will wait a marry who she chooses. even if it isn't Magoza. 

9. Danjyo kankei was used in the film. Kane didn't really have a say in who she wanted to marry. she is only being viewed as an object not a human being. Honne to Tatemae is also being used, Kane true intentions and feelings was to be with Magoza but to keep the harmony and be obedient she was going to marry the son. Gambari  was used, Magoza was so devoted and his only purpose was to serve. he worked very hard and was very loyal. 

10. in my opinion, i did find it weird that someone so close to you and someone who could be your father, even you grandfather you were in love with him. he has known you since diapers. in america today, if Magoza would have relations with Kane. he would be labelled as a pedophile or even a sex offender if he was charged in court. its just not normal. even if you have a crush on him OK. but to express your love to really think that they can be together. its absurd. 

Blog #5

my reflection on the discussion was that the students had similar opinions and feelings toward the film as mine. the film used all four concepts. it used gambari the most throughout the film. Jiro was very hard working and expected nothing less than greatness from his sons. the questions the students asked where more of a hypothetically questions. Like if Jiro had daughters would he want his offspring to take over the restaurant once he could not run it anymore. it was interesting to find out that girls aren't even aloud to a sushi chef.

Bushido
"Bushido involved not only martial spirit and skill with weapons, but also absolute loyalty to one's lord, a strong sense of personal honor, devotion to duty, and the courage, if required, to sacrifice one's life in battle or in ritual."
        As an american, knowing the military they do not follow this guideline to this extreme. soldiers  in america will die for this country. but it is different from just one person that they protect. the secret service protects the president but to build a bond and have absolute loyalty to him is where the Japanese and Americans differ. their are spies that can get close enough to the president. while to me the samurai is completely devoted to the emperor or their lord.
"The relationship between lord and vassal was called that of obligation and service."
       A samurai life was completely devoted to the lord. the samurai was the vassal. in return the lord gave protection security and assistance. in america, in the military you can go to school for free after your training and come out with a degree and hopefully have that financial stability once leaving the service but if the veteran returns home and doesn't take advantage of anything the army had to offer then the have no protection or assistance. it will be just as hard to find a job as if you only had a high school diploma.
Giri
"A custom of returning something for goodwill."
       In america we have charities and goodwill, salvation armies. we even have shelters to house the homeless. in american we try to help out and give back. even in relationships we feel obligated to repay people back and treat them to something nice to be even and to no longer be in debt.
"...In Japan only females give chocolates to their boyfriends or husbands."
        this is very backwards in my eyes and in western countries eyes. Valentines is for both the male and female to express their love for each other not just the woman. when do the man express that he loves his girlfriend or wife? whites day is not really a loving holiday. in america we also have a sweetest day and woman are suppose to return the favor on this holiday. if she does not give something to their boyfriend or husband on valentines day.
The Japanese ie system
"Japanese houses have family alters for this kind of worship, and household members also respect their obligations to preserve the graves of their ancestors and to visit them periodically, such as in the Bon festival during the summer."
      In america we just have cemeteries. for some families if they do not wish to bury their love ones, they have the option for cremation and you can have a nice vase for them and keep it in you home as a remembrance of them. it is not common to have a family alter or a prayer room strictly for the ancestors that have passed.
"It was believed that ending the family line was shameful for the family and a crime against one's ancestors."
         As a american, and being a woman once married i will no longer have my maiden name.so i couldn't keep my family line going unless i don't take my husbands name. which really doesn't follow american traditions. for males i feel you should want to marry so the family name and line will forever be in existence.
Omiai
"Many Japanese woman are much more selective in choosing a marriage partner, and large numbers are deciding not to get married."
         Japanese women are now breaking the tradition which i personally like. in america the same thing is happening, young women are focusing on their careers more than finding a husband and having kids. once they get to a certain age they can pursue a relationship or not but its up to them. woman are enjoying successful lives, and don't need men to fulfill their happiness.
"Omiai includes parents in the process of selection, thus avoiding later conflict."
In western countries, it is common for you to meet your significant other's parents in the stages of dating. you don't want your parents too caught up in your relationship because you want your privacy and make your own decision and mistakes. i know arranged marriage is also common throughout Asia, like India.

Blog #4

1. Jiro is harder on his sons than his apprentices because he wants them to have the same drive and excellence as he has. he also wants then to keep going with the family restaurant. he does not want them to fail. he expects nothing but the best from them both.

2. Well Jiro lives, breathes and dreams about sushi. it will be extremely difficult for Yoshikazu to surpass his father's gambari. Jiro knew he could not fail because he didn't have anywhere to go back to. i feel has though if he remains under his father's wing and really continues using the rice and sea fish dealers also continues to prepare the dishes and preparations like his father he wont surpass but he will maintain the excellence of his father, Jiro.

3. Jiro never gloats, he felt like he could always improve. when the food critic said he was a perfectionist, he insisted that something could improve or be perfected. also Yoshikazu could have easily bragged that he deserved the Michelin’s 3 Stars but used kenkyo to let his dad take all the credit even though he did the work in preparing the sushi.

4. Jiro is still an important person to the restaurant. he gives direction and discipline and structure on what and how to prepare the sushi. he is the performer, he does the presentation or the performance to the audience or in this case the customers. meaning he taught everyone how to do their parts, he just put the finishing touch on the sushi.

5. Jiro loves Takashi but told him if you leave you have no place to come back to. he was trying to teach his son to not fail. Jiro knew his son was ready though. Enryo is present in this case because he can't come back to his father's restaurant but he told him he could do it. he could run this restaurant on his own. Takashi doesn't depend on his father as much. Jiro used restraint. so they have a Enryo relationship.

6.Yoshikazu tatemae probably wants his father to retire. he wants to take over the restaurant and he feels as though he won the Michelin award technically but honne,he respects his father as a superior so he will be his right hand man until Jiro can't do his art anymore.

7. Americans believe in hard work, yes, but to keep going and perfecting your craft even after you have mastered your skill. is different. Japanese people view Gambari as a way of living and look down or displeasing to not working hard. In america we want to have time to relax and do nothing, but it can also be disadvantage because nothing can get improved or nothing can evolve. everything will stay consistent.

8. "I wake up in the middle of the night, having dreamed about sushi of how to make different sushi." i find the discipline amazing, about how he has mastered his art or skill but still loves what he does and still cares enough even at the age of 85 to be creative and expand his skill.

9. Amae would be the more difficult one to explain and understand in my opinion. depending on your parents is one thing. but in america we get to a certain age that we can't depend on our parents we have to become adults and make our own mistakes and take risks. my brother just moved out. my mother, father and i knew deep down he wasn't ready but we had to let him go and make his own decisions and mistakes.

Blog #3

My reflection on my fellow classmates opinions were similar to mine. Everyone seemed to be on the same page, about the film and the concepts. Aimai, Uchi to Soto and Chinmoku were all concepts that was in the film. i feel as though Uchi to Soto was used the most throughout the film and during the discussion, my classmates and i were able to recognize and decipher when it was used throughout the film.
 Gambari
      "Gambari has a lot of different grammatical forms depending on the situation, and it is used with a wide range of meanings, from the superficial to the profound (84)."
         Gambari is very encouraging,it is an expression used to motivate someone to perform their best.To do something will excellence. it is also used at the ending of letters to show high achievement. as an american, we write sincerely, yours truly or with love at the end of the notes. which doesn't show motivation but can show affection or seriousness of the letter above.
      "They tend to think that having free tie is wasteful, even shameful, and feel uneasy(85)."
          As an american i found this pretty funny because here we desire free time we desire and find happiness in not doing anything. we feel that sitting in front of the television or having your face in the phone, a relaxing and stress free experience.Being lazy isn't necessarily idolized but being able to just chill and watch a movie after a long day at work sounds nice to any american.
Kenkyo
      "It is often said that the Japanese people are poor at displaying their strong points and sometimes overly humble(146)."
           In america, people brag a lot and love to show off flashy things. they view that being modest or humble as being weird or being a Soto: an outsider or outcast. to be accepted in america, having nice things get you notice and even can get you in the in-crowd. while in the Japanese culture modesty is required. refusing a compliment or showing yourself as a inferior is proper etiquette. 
     "People's humility is a kind of social etiquette used not to harm the feelings of others, or sometimes to provide others with a sense of superiority, and has nothing to do with one's own identity(148)."
          It is an etiquette to be humble and modest. to make the person you are talking to feel better about themselves and make them feel like they are the hierarchy.you take yourself off the level they are on and honor them as being superior. as an american, i was raised to respect elders and be humble in certain situations but it just doesn't sit well with me to humble yourself to everyone I come into contact with. its just not me.
Amae
       "The concept of amae greatly affects all aspects of Japanese life because it is related to other characteristics to the Japanese way of thinking.... relationships in a inner circle, those in a kind of middle zone, and those in a outer circle(18)."
           This is similar to Uchi to Soto. you feel comfortable and depend on people in your ie or circle. the ones you depend on are like your parents, grandparents, and close friends. in america we are similar we depend on our family and friends.While with strangers it harder for us to stop and lend a helping hand. the Japanese culture feel as though people in their inner circle or group you have an obligation to help out or depend on them.
    "When the Japanese want to be close to someone, they offer a present or treat the other to a meal. as a result, the other is in their debt in a sense, and a relationship based on amae has been arranged between them(19)."
           In america there is a saying you cant buy friends, or you can buy love. so i interpret this as doing that. forcing someone to have your back or eventually pay you back somehow. Americans its common to stand alone. it may be sad and lonely, but Americans are more focused on themselves than to try to buy someone into their inner circle.
Honne to Tatemae
       "Honne is one's deep motive or intention, while tatemae refers to motives or intentions that are socially-tuned, those that are shaped. encouraged or suppressed by majority norms(115)."
              This is used in Japanese culture most of the time because if they feel a certain way like disagree with a statement they still have to agree, not expressing one's true feelings. so the use Tatemae. 
      "In japan people can understand the differences between honne to tatemae because they have grown up with these dual concepts(116)."
            As a American, this can seem confusing, the subtle gestures can seem misleading. we depending on the situation will agree to something when not meaning it ti hear someones feelings. but we as Americans like to debate and prove others wrong. so it is rare. we use honne as our true feelings.