As daughter of a Japanese mother, and an American father I have had the great opportunity to be part of two cultures. Although I grew up entirely in America, I am thankful to have had exposure of Japan by visiting there, going to school and learning the language at Japanese school in America on the weekends, and of course my mother. As I grow up and find my way in this world the contrasting viewpoints and ideals of both cultures will always be a part of me and give me a unique outlook on life. Aspects such as the Japanese mindset of working hard for the better of the groups you are part of such as your family, your job, and of course your country. This group-mentality is completely contrasting from the much more individualistic mentality in America. This mentality gives messages such as be yourself, find how you can succeed in this world, create a life for yourself. They of course overlap, but I believe both types of mentalities have stuck with me. Another hyper contrasting perspective is the level of forwardness. In the U.S., people are taught to be much more outspoken, forward, and opinionated. While Japan is more so to not cause conflict by keeping to one self, thinking inwardly, and be more reflective. However, some things are in common such as both communities being more male-dominated communities.

These types of subtle differences have made me who I am and I am grateful to be this way. From the culture and perspective of each country to the traditions and mannerisms I have fallen in love with the people of both these countries. Currently, I am working on learning to read and write the language. I can speak well, but reading and writing are about at a 2nd grade level. I have learned that reading and writing a language is completely different than being immersed in the country.  Reading and writing in a classroom is repetition, memorization, familiarization of grammar patterns, character patterns, and vocabulary patters. It isn’t about having fun all day in another country exploring. Yet, it is a part of the culture I want to learn

Language has a major influence on understanding a different country’s culture. The language brings people together and brings a sense of familiarity and home. In every language there are words that simply do not exist in any other language or cannot  describe the same exact feeling. Language is the gateway to communication, art, books, and beauty. Without language, humankind would have nothing. Each language with their unique pronunciations, writing, and style bring something different to the table. Without language, society would not exist. I want to learn Japanese to be part of this culture. I want to learn Japanese since that is what my ancestors spoke. Languages are a beautiful concept that are easily disregarded because they are simply the norm and what we just use to communicate. However, it is so much more than that.

Sumo wrestling has been a longstanding tradition in Japan dating back to over 2,000 years ago between 794- 1192 (The Heian period). Myth has is the ancestors of Japan had to Sumo wrestling was initially for ceremonial purposes and slowly evolved into entertainment purposes mainly for the imperial family. Due to its long history, it is considered the national sport of Japan and is open for the public to watch and enjoy.

Normally, sumo wrestlers are as much as 330 pounds. They eat an average of up to 20,000 calories per day. They wear whats called a Mawashi- a lioncloth that is around 10 yards long and 2 feet wide. They are folded into six and heavy silks are wrapped around the wrestler’s waist four to seven times.

The traditional sumo wrestling hairstyle is in a style that looks like a man bun. It is oiled back and shaped into a ginko leaf. It also provides some cushioning for their head when they fall.

The ring they wrestle in is called a dohyo and is about 18 x 18 feet and two feet high. The diameter of the ring is 15 feet.

Since the end of WWII, the role of the emperor is meant to be more ceremonial and symbolic rather than a world leader. Similar to the Queen of England and the Royal Family, the Japanese Emperor and his royal family are viewed as celebrity-like figures to the Japanese people.

Recently, a new emperor has emerged after former Emperor Akihito steps down. A former emperor stepping down from his role is very unusual in Japan and is the first abdication in 200 years to occur.

When a new emperor takes throne, the era is changed. Now that the 30-year reign of the Heisei era is over, the new Emperor Naruhito has arrived on the throne for the new Reiwa era. The new emperor is the son of Emperor Akihito.

Also known as the Imperial House of Japan, they symbolize the “State and unity of the people.” It is the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy.

Japanese myths believe that the first emperor of Japan known as Jimmu was a descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu and storm god Susanoo. These two figures are highly important within the Shinto religion. This is believed to date back to 660 B.C. and it is said that the royal hereditary lineage is unbroken although there is no real evidence to support this. However, there is proof that for the last 1,500 years beginning with Emperor Kinmei that they have continuously succeeded the next male heir in line.

The recent transition of power from father to son was more controversial than others due to the previous Emperor Akihito wanting to step down the throne which in Imperial law is illegal for emperors to abdicate the throne. At the age of 83, he was concerned that he may not be able to execute his duties as Emperor well and requested the Japanese government to make an exception.

This exception was allowed and a one-time bill was passed for Akihito with his eldest son, Naruhito becoming the newest Emperor.

This is also considered a big deal due two technically two different members of two eras existing. This is unheard and an exception to history to have a member of the Heisei and Reiwa era existing.

The family currently resides in the Tokyo Imperial Palace which is a architectural beauty and free to the public. It is about 5 minutes from the Tokyo station. The only times the Emperor will make a public appearance in the temple is on his birthday and on New Year’s Day.

The most recent and notable civic duty performed by the Emperor and Empress was visiting the sites after the natural disasters to support the victims in the 2011 earthquake.

Another tradition when passing down the throne is that the Emperor always becomes the first born son of the Emperor. However, this may become problematic due to the newest Emperor Naruhito only having one daughter, Princess Aiko. If this tradition is continued, Emperor Naruhito’s brother’s son, Prince Hisahito of Akishino.

There is a lot of controversy circulating the masculinity of the royal family sucession and also the the stigma of marrying commoners rather than members of royalty. The current Empress i is a commoner and caused a stigma for her presence causing her to be forced to keep a low profile throughout the years until recently when her husband became Emperor.

Although there is an understanding the Japanese do not want to stray away from long standing traditions, there seems to be a lot at cost in making sure they are instilled. From the limitations women have to the controversy revolving commoners, the Japanese Royal Family has an interesting and unique history.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/29/asia/naruhito-fast-facts/index.html

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3008361/japan-welcomes-emperor-naruhito-new-reiwa-era-begins

The season has come again around the  end of March and beginning April where little buds begin to appear and the sun comes out of hiding. In Japan, the biggest staple piece that announces spring is here are the cherry blossoms. In Japan, cherry blossoms are called sakura (桜). Most affiliate the cherry blossoms to Japan due to big festivals that occur revolving these trees and the excitement that comes with it. In fact, there are celebrations called Hanami that are celebrations solely held for the blooming of cherry blossoms. People gather under blooming cherry blossoms with food and friends to appreciate the beauty of the sakuras.

Many may not know the history and importance of cherry blossoms in Japan. They have been long embedded in Japanese history and are thought to have ties to the Buddhist religion with a symbolization for human life, transience, and nobleness. There are art pieces dating back to the 1700s of people viewing the cherry blossoms bloom and appreciating their beauty. A famously known piece ‘s hanami party scene. As mentioned before, this is depicting a “watch” party for cherry blossoms that are still common today.  

Many Americans are aware of these cheery pink flowers due to the renown cherry blossoms in Washington D.C. They are not natives in the nation’s capital so how did these flowers make their way to D.C.?

Mrs. Eliza Scidmore, a journalist, photographer, and traveler, traveled around Asia and eventually to Japan discovering cherry blossoms. She was taken aback by the beauty of them. In 1885, Scidmore went to the U.S. Army Superintendent of the Office of Public Building and Grounds proposing to bring the cherry trees to the Potomac waterfront. For the next 24 years Scidmore makes efforts to bring cherry blossoms to D.C. approaching every new superintendent. After some years, in 1909 Mrs. Scidmore continues to work hard for the purchase of cherry blossoms sending a letter to the new first lady, Helen Herron Taft.

Mrs. Taft had been to Japan and seen the beautiful cherry blossoms. She agreed to make efforts to bring them to D.C. and coordinated with Scidmore throughout the process. Around that time, Dr. Jokichi Takamine, a Japanese chemist who discovered adrenanline and takadiastase was in D.C. with Mr. Midzuno a Japanese consul in New York. They heard about the idea of getting the trees and made donations to Mrs. Taft to plant an additonal two thousand trees. They agreed that this would be a gift from the City of Tokyo, Japan.

After many years, Scidmore succeeded. Throughout the years, the cherry blossoms have endured lots from several being burned due to a bug infestation, women chaining themsleves to stopping the construction Thomas Jefferson Memorial which would cause the tearing down of the trees, a festival, a pageant, etc. The cherry blossoms were a representation of peace between Japan and the U.S. and in warring times the tension was also reflected through the cherry blossoms with four cherry trees being cut down in retaliation to Pearl Harbor on December 11th. This caused the need to address the trees as the “Oriental” Flowering cherry trees.

“Washington, DC at the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial during the spring cherry blossom season.”

They still stand today and have survived the history between Japan and the U.S. in both times of peace and war. They continue to be a symbolism of Japan and all that encompass the country including their tradition, culture, and history.

https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/history-of-the-cherry-trees.htm

https://washington.org/dc-guide-to/national-cherry-blossom-festival

https://jetfarer.com/cherry-blossoms-in-washington-dc/

With the Tokyo 2020 Olympics happening in less than 500 days, I wanted to give you a brief history of the past Olympics in Japan!

Japan has a unique history with the Olympics due to the first Winter and Summer Olympics being cancelled. There have been technically 2 Winter Olympics – in 1972 at Hokkaidō and in 1998 in Nagano and 1 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

If you look at the history of the Olympics there is a gap from the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany to the 1948 Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Within this 12 year gap Japan was supposed to have the Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan and the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan (originally the Winter and Summer Olympics were on the same year). This never happened due to WWII, and it would be 24 years until Japan would have their turn to host the Olympics.

a poster for the 1940 Summer and Winter Olympics

In 1968, The Summer Olympics were hosted in Tokyo, Japan. This was a huge opportunity for Japan to present itself on the global stage and display how they had rebuilt themselves as a economically strong and peaceful nation. This was not just the Olympics to Japan, but a sense of pride and passion for the Japanese people to display the rebirth of their country, be the first country in Asia to host the Olympics,  and play their part in contributing to the current international peace. This can be displayed in the significance behind each part of the Olympics. For example, a man named Yoshinori Sakai would be the one to hold the final torch. He was chosen to be the torch-holder because he was born on August 6th, 1945- the day the atomic bomb exploded in Hiroshima. This was in honor of the victims and a sign of world peace.

Yoshinori Sakai holding the Olympic Torch and the emblem for Tokyo 1964 Summer Olympics

The 1964 Olympics caused several infrastructure projects to be revealed and open to the public including the still renown Shinkansen bullet train. The opening ceremony of the bullet train happened 9 days before the Olympics with a route from Osaka to Tokyo. This train is a world wonder with ability to go 200 mph. Another new innovation was the first global satellite feed TV coverage. These type of groundbreaking inventions were a key part for the 1964 Olympics to  make the lasting impression upon the world.

a photo of a Shinkansen Bullet Train today

Now, with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics coming soon there is a lot of excitement circulating from the torch reveal to an all-time low budget in recent years. With the Tokyo Olympics at 7.7 billion dollars it is relatively lower in comparison to previous Olympics like Beijing ($40 billion), London ($14 billion), and Rio de Janeiro (14.4 billion). There will also be new sports including surfing, sport climbing, skateboarding, and national favorites like karate and baseball/softball. Lastly, there will be many new showings of advanced technology such as support robots.

the 2020 Tokyo Olympic torch 

new Game Robots 

When 2020 rolls around and your summer begins to come to an end, stay tuned for what organizers say will be “the most innovative ever organized, and will rest on three fundamental principles to transform the world (once again): striving for you personal best; accepting one another; and passing on a legacy for the future.”

https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2013/09/05/the-1964-tokyo-olympics-a-turning-point-for-japan/https://www.olympic.org/tokyo-1964

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poster_Olympische_Sommerspiele_Tokio_1940.jpg

The Winter Olympics that never happened.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Summer_Olympics

https://www.iaaf.org/news/iaaf-news/death-yoshinori-sakai-1964-olympic-games 

https://www.olympic.org/tokyo-2020

Hey guys, so last blog I left off at first grade and my experiences from my younger childhood. From second grade to high school I stopped going to Japan as often so I did not attend school as often. But here are a few general differences between the education system of Japan and America. Elementary school was from first grade to sixth grade. Meaning middle school began in seventh grade and was three years like the US, causing high school to be only three years.

In public elementary schools we had no uniform. However, in middle school and high school we had to were uniform in public schools. Each public schools had different variations of uniform, but they were generally the same. Here is me when I attended high school in Japan in a pretty generic uniform.

In elementary school what stood out to me the most was that the kids served lunch and cleaned every day. There were no custodians or cafeteria workers. In fact, there was no cafeteria. We had lunch in our classroom served by our classmates! I wanted so badly to serve lunch since you got to wear a white apron, hair net, and mask. I thought that was the coolest thing especially since none of this existed in the US. I finally had my chance in second grade and I was probably the happiest kid on earth that day.

The other big difference was cleaning. The students were put on a routine that changed cleaning duties each week. One week you could be mopping the floors, the next you could be sweeping the hallways. Everyone in the school was cleaning and it was kind of enjoyable since everyone was doing it together.

I went one year in middle school and the biggest difference was that there was a bigger emphasis on being respectful toward your upperclassman. I was unaware of this and saw my cousin in the hallways one time and just said, “Hey Kenske.” My friend nudged me and said, “He’s an upperclassman, you can’t just call him by his first name!” I shrugged and was confused until my mom explained how this was part of our culture and we had to address upperclassman as, “[their last name] Senpai.” We could differentiate which grade each student was in by the colored lining of their indoor shoes (the uwabaki). Here is a picture of some uwabaki.

High school, was the most vivid and fun experience of all. I attended my mother’s old high school and I was there right around the annual school festival (bunkasai.) It was unlike anything I had ever seen. Every grade put in tremendous effort for their booth whether it was a game booth, food booth, or a play they were putting on. The seniors, put on about 4 huge plays. Everything was made from scratch. From the food, to the backdrops of the play, to building the booths, they worked on it for months in advance and would perfect everything. There is nothing like this in US high schools where every single individual helps out to contribute to something bigger. I think the closest thing I could compare bunkasai to is THON at Penn State. It was amazing. I loved the opportunity to attend high school and walk in my mother’s footsteps throughout her youth even if it was for one summer. I appreciate both school systems and think that they each have their strengths and weaknesses. I am very blessed to have attended Japanese school and wouldn’t trade that experience for the world!

uwabaki pic: https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Japanese-School-Uniform-Uwabaki-Shoes-costume-Slippers-4-colors-from-JAPAN-/163369157834

As you can imagine there are differences between schools in every country. I was lucky enough to go to school almost every summer I visited Japan and started from preschool there. The reason I was able to go to school in Japan over the US’s summer break was because the Japanese school year is drastically different. They begin school in April and end in March. Their summer breaks are significantly shorter from ours which can range from two to three months while theirs last about one month. This is also due to having break after the school year ends and generally spreading out their breaks. Here are some more general differences between Japanese and American schools:

1. Normally, there are also no school buses because everybody goes to the closest public school and walks there or takes a train/public bus.
2. Everyone must remove their shoes at the entrance and wear indoor shoes called 上履き (uwabaki).
3. There are school entrance ceremonies called 入学式 (nyūgakushiki). This occurs in first grade, beginning of junior high, high school, and college
4. Normally, you have to take an entrance exam to get into a specific high school you want
5. Mostly everyone is involved in after school clubs or sports in high school

Another noticeable difference is that there is no “kindergarten” in Japan. Preschool is about three years and ranges from ages 3-5. Although I was young, I vividly remember the lunches. In the US, I feel as though the lunches are usually something like lunchables, or fries and burgers. In Japan however, they tend to have a nutritious meal with vegetables, rice, and a protein. There weren’t many sweets and they tasted like a home-cooked meal. Preschool in Japan and the US are pretty similar with the same goal in mind to have a healthy and safe environment for young kids so they cab learn and flourish. I remember drawing, playing, and the normal daily activities 3, 4, and 5  year olds participate in. In preschool, I think it varies whether you wear uniform or not. I remember wearing uniforms like this:

http://www.c-seibi.ed.jp/introduction/uniform.html

Once I was 6 years old, 1st grade was a big deal. It was considered your first official year of learning and they had a school entrance ceremony. It is similar to how kindergarten is viewed as the beginning of truly learning in America. In Japan, there is a whole song called Ichinensei ni nattara (When I become a first grader). It is a cute traditional coming of age song sung by 5 year olds. The lyrics talk about when I become a first grader I wonder if I can make 100 friends and eat rice balls with them at the top of Mt. Fuji. I sang this song all the time because it was so catchy and fun like these kids below:

In first grade, my mother wanted me to experience the school that my cousins went to. Normally in elementary school kids don’t have to wear uniform. However, since the school my cousins went to was a private catholic school, I ended up wearing this:

Since I went to catholic school in the US, I loved first grade in Japan. The nuns were so kind and the familiarity of going to a similar school made it memorable. Stay tuned for my next blog to tell you more about elementary school in Japan!

Throughout most of my blogs there are similar themes going on with talking about cultural differences between Japan and America, relying on personal experiences from my time there, and basically evaluating the meaning behind differences in each country. This time, I decided to spice it up a little and tell you a little about WHERE I visit:

I have only gone to primarily one area of Japan called Kamakura because my mother’s family lives there. Kamakura is a small town of almost 200,000. I used to ask my mom why everyone knew where Kamakura was and why it was relevant. When I was younger she made it sound like it was the old capital of Japan like in comparison to Philadelphia or NYC. Well, I did some research and it turns out there are two main factors of why Kamakura is relevant.

1. There’s literally a period called the “Kamakura Period”. Some dude named Minamot Yorimoto set up his military government, aka the Kamakura shogunate. So it was a huge military base for Japan from 1192-1333.
2. It has a LOT of significant Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Which I should’ve figured because I see a lot of these like everywhere:

they’re called tori and there are entrances for Shinto shrines.

Oh! And Kamakura is known for this big guy too:

He’s pretty sick right! His name is the Great Buddha, and he’s about 44 feet tall and probably needs should go on a diet considering he weighs about 93 tons. The Great Buddha is an impressive work to individuals at the time especially within the Buddhist religion representing the devotion to create the image of the Enlightened One.

So this is a major aspects of the historical side of Kamakura, but there are also really modern and fun aspects too!

Kamakura is actually located near the ocean and is known to be a beach town.

They are known for some of the best surfing sports on Shonan Beach and you can also get a great view of Mount Fuji which is actually the tallest mountain in Japan.

When I was a little kid I used to always go to the beaches of Kamakura since my grandparents lived so close and my preschool and elementary school often went on field trips there. The most distinct memory of the beaches in Japan that differentiated from any other beach was these small red shells they had on the shore. They are called Sakura Gai and as a little kid they were as valuable as gold in my eyes. They were translucent and shimmered in the sun so I thought it was some gift from mermaids or something.

Me when I was little in the pink hat searching for the sick pink mermaid shells

just rocking the bucket hat look with my cousin at the beach.

More recently in summer of 2017 I went to is Enoshima which is a small island 30 minutes from Kamakura. It is like paradise! Its small and adorable with views for days (including Mt. Fuji), a nice temple, an adorable little train (called the Enoden), and a cool lighthouse.

here’s is a picture of the walkway to the island. you can see the lighthouse peaking out.

some of the shrines on Enoshima

a picture of the cute train!!

also the train goes on the road which is kinda cool.

So yeah! IF you ever have a chance although it’s not places like Tokyo or Okinawa, Kamakura is a hidden gem with lots of fun, beauty, and is like a second home to me.

http://travelenoshima.jp/enoden.html

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/184577284706372448/

Kamakura Daibutsu (Great Buddha)

http://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Kamakura

During a typical Penn State tailgate with delicious food, music, laughter, and what not I was having a conversation with someone who had been to Tokyo recently. He was impressed by how clean the bustling streets of Tokyo were. I thought to myself, “huh, you’re right, I had never thought how clean Tokyo and overall Japan was.” I hadn’t even realized how clean Japan was, but more importantly how in the world is it so clean when literally there are so many people in one area!

First, there are no public trash cans. When I was a little kid in Japan I always gave my trash to my mom and she would keep it until we found a trash can at a restaurant, mall, or we got home. It had never come to mind, that she kept the trash because there are no trash cans! She still does this today in the US without even thinking and I have somewhat acquired this habit too. Constantly, I keep my granola bar wrappers or gum wrappers in my pockets of jackets and empty them when I get home, even when there are public trash cans.

Second, there are methods to keeping areas clean. Convenience stores tend to provide tiny plastic bags fo customers to put their empty yogurt cups or drinks in. This makes it more convenient and more likely for people to hold on to their trash rather than litter. I also notice how in the U.S. there are generally two big trash bins: one for waste and one for recycling (with the exception of Penn State that has like 8 bins that confuse the crap out of me even though they have pictures of what to throw away in each bin lol.) In Japan, they have like 5 different plastics waste bins in a typical household. It is crazy how they differentiate hard plastics and soft plastics and so on. I am not sure if this aspect is also in every Japanese household, but my aunt also tends to clean all her yogurt plastic containers and other plastic containers before she puts them in the correct bin.

Third, the level of awareness of keeping their individual area clean is drastically different between American and Japanese people. Generally, Japanese people make an effort to keep their area clean. They even have volunteer little cleaning organizations to help keep awareness, and neighborhood clean ups.

Lastly, the transportation is VERY clean. Honestly, I could probably eat a meal off the bus floor. That sounds gross and I still wouldn’t do it though lol, but thats how clean it is! I mean seriously, the busses and the trains are ridiculously clean. Even constructions sites are clean. Construction workers’ vehicles and even taxi driver’s vehicles are kept immaculately clean inside and out!

I never thought about how clean Japan is until the recent Penn State tailgate, and I think the U.S. is making strides in becoming a more cleanly and eco-friendly country. As I mentioned before, with just starting in local communities such as the Penn State community, there is progress being made in creating a cleaner country and globe!

(here’s a site that gave me an explanation of why Japan is hella fresh: https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/8-reasons-japan-is-so-clean)

When the topic of American food comes up, foreigners initially think hamburgers, hotdogs, and almost anything junk food. This could potentially be due to their idea of how the fast food industry is a huge part of the American culture. A stereotype that is also thought of Americans is that they are lazy and fat. Obviously, this stereotype does not pertain to every American. However, 39.8% of the American population is considered obese. This is unlike Japan, where only 3.6% of the population is obese.

Why are the rates of obesity so different from these two countries? Well, it all has to do with the lifestyle. In America, the most popular mode of transportation is car. Think about it, the American Highway system DOMINATES public transportation. This obviously isn’t in every place. New York for example is one of the few exceptions with most utilizing the subways. But most of the U.S. is rural with no easy access to public transportation.

Japan on the other hand, is jam packed. When I say jam packed, I mean a majority of Japan is suburban or metropolitan with narrow roads, and buildings touching each other. It is just more convenient to take any mode of transportation BUT car. Actually, most people don’t own a car. If you walk in the streets of suburban Japan, there are people walking, bicycling, and utilizing the train. Most Japanese kids go to the local public school where they walk to. It is very uncommon for kids to ride a bus or rdive to school.

Due to the different modes of transportations Japanese and American people utilize, it seems Japanese people have many more opportunity to walk. This tackles the issue of obesity tremendously with this subtle yet vital change in lifestyle.

The next aspect to look into is the difference in diet. Overall, Japanese people consume fewer calories and less fat than the typical American. This is partially due to Japanese people having overall smaller stature. However, the diet and intake of which type of foods is also quite different. A Japanese diet consists of rice, fish, vegetables, and very little fat. In America the diet can vary including  being extremely unhealthy ones consisting of fatty meats, heavy carbs, and lots of sweets.

Another less obvious aspect when it comes to food and diet differing is price. In the
U.S. food is generally more expensive and the cheapest most accessible food tends to be junk food. Within the Japan,  healthier food is more accessible and affordable.

These affects may also explain why the elderly population is so much bigger in Japan, and people generally tend to live longer. With such a normalized lifestyle of a healthy diet and a good amount of exercise, you are bound to live longer in Japan.

It’s crazy how each country has heavily influence on an individual’s  lifestyle.

http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/14321/files/tr06-02s.pdf