When looking at ‘island culture’, it is important to recognize the different aspects that make island culture unique. One specific and unique difference has to due with the environment that island culture has. This unique aspect has brought about prominent features to islands, such as Japan. Japan’s Mount Fuji is the country’s most prominent feature, and is a volcano- which could lead to more natural disasters (Penn State OLEAD 2016). Additionally, food and water also are different on islands as there is limited access to what one can eat or drink. Lastly, the economies are different on island culture as most islands depend heavily on subsistence occupations where citizens work to support themselves fully, including food and clothes.
Take Japan for instance. Japan is a nation comprised of four main large islands along with roughly 4,000 smaller islands (Moran, Harris, & Moran, 2012). Japan is the 10th most populated country in the world, with just over 1 million people. It is crazy to think that the country is so populated with the small amount of space. It is also crazy to think that the textile industry was created during the origins of the country as well. In fact the textile industry began with the trading of silk fabrics, and later (and currently) has transformed to various other textiles.
Most workers in the textile industry worked long hours and got very little pay. With this in mind, most families had to become very subsistent and care for one another, and children’s education was often neglected. As technology advanced, less and less workers were needed opening up other opportunities for jobs, education and hobbies. Since Japan is various islands ( small ones at that), it is important to note the culture that has stayed in the country, due to low migration from the country. Many have migrated to the country, but few have left. As the textile industry slowly became more mechanized, other occupations like fishing, farming, opportunities in education and more because more subsistent for the Japanese people.
Knowing that Japan is a forward thinking country, it is important to note their subsistent way of living. This is important for global leaders to recognize because even after all that Japan has been through regarding nuclear attacks, racism and cultures meshing, the Japanese culture has stuck try to its roots. I don’t think this is something that a global leader should be concerned about, but more inspired from. If anything, a global leader should be concerned about other countries trying to infringe on Japanese lifestyle and culture. Additionally, a global leader may be alarmed for the lack of change and the amount of subsistent jobs that are mundane and “not educational” such as farming or fishing or transportation. A global leader may want to increase education opportunities to allow for more occupations such as medical providers, teachers, law enforcement and more to be what the country moves to next.
Retrieved from: http://www.islandstudies.ca/sites/islandstudies.ca/files/ISJ-CFP-Island-Textiles-Clothing-13-1-2018.pdf (Links to an external site.)
The Pennsylvania State University (2016). Lesson 11: Asia: focus on Japan. Retrieved from https://psu.instructure.com/courses/1802572/modules/items/21179129