Changing impressions

My semester here in Japan is nearly over. Final examinations and graduation ceremony still to come. Now it’s actually very good time to stop a while and think and memorize all different experiences that I have been through. 

In my first blog post I described my journey to come as Mr. Maslow in his pyramid of needs. Fist stage were accomplished after about one month, I got used to Japanese mattress and could find and recognize good products from grocery store. Weeks went by very fast, some days I really missed my family back home. 

From Japanese people I have actually learned a lot. To outside they look nicely dressed and neat. While I have been here I have figured out, that Japanese are professionals when hiding their emotions and feelings. At the time of nuclear and tsunami catastrophe, people were acting amazingly calm and not nervous at all. Foreigners might think if they even care those victims of massive destruction at all. Answer to this is; of course they cried and felt bad, but they helped victims and their families the most, if they just stayed calm. Panic would have been the last thing they wanted to create. 

When I got here, first I figured out how polite and nice everybody was. Every house’s garden are so well done and full of flowers, though it was early spring time, plants were taking cared of. Still I always try to peak to peoples’ beautiful gardens. People are always nice, they care for each other, they take others into consideration, flora and fauna are important to them… This all felt almost too good to be true. In visual anthropology class we watched a film called The Cove, after he movie I knew what was wrong, everything is not what it seems. Japan has amazingly various and versatile culture with long history. It won’t open to everybody, it is very complicated and sometimes even possible to understand.  

I’m more than thousand ideas richer now when I leave here. I have learned much about myself, Japanese culture and Japanese people. I definitely have walk hard way, when conquering the top of the pyramid. Now I can say I have found my creative side more clearly than I could ever have expected.  

Japanse parks and gardens

Chinese techniques of garden construction became widespread in Japan at Heian Period (794-1192). In modern Japan both public and private gardens keep their legacy strong and alive. They play important role in busy, crowded and lively city as providing rest and solace.

 Since I got here, one the most appealing and fascinating thing has been beautiful gardens and parks. Japanese have definitely put a lot effort to these sometimes even breathtaking areas. To me nature is really close to my heart and nothing is more relaxing than go jogging to a gorgeous environment, enjoy fresh air and amazingly beautiful flowers.  Japanese parks are typically built around the theme of water.  Usually you can even spot some animals living in the areas. Ponds containing ornamental carp or gold fish are some of the basic features in gardens in Japan.

 

 

 In Japan there are 28 national parks that provide diverse geographic features. Japan’s total land area national parks cover 5,4%. Gardens in Japan are aesthetically pleasing, they illustrate how beauty can be achieved with simple objects, less can be more. Miniature waterfalls provide direct positive energy into the surroundings. There are also carefully nurtured bonsais or low lying colorful shrubbery and mosses. Of course these trace the seasons, so they will for example change their color. In some Japanese gardens or parks they have artificial island to enhance garden’s own spiritual aspect. They are connected to main area through different kinds of bridges, which can be made stone or wood. 

 

 

More information:

http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=421&pID=1523

http://www.mapsofworld.com/japan/japan-tourism/national-parks-in-japan.html

 http://www.mapsofworld.com/japan/japan-tourism/gardens-in-japan.html

Onsen, The Japanese Bath

This blog post will be little different, because in this time I will try to present and explain the feeling of onsen from a foreigners viewpoint.  I found that interviewing Japanese wouldn’t necessarily be that fertile.  I think they inherit their bathing habits in their genes, it would be hard them to explain or describe the bath process to outsider.

I have heard some wonderful stories about onsens, I felt like I really had to experience it by my self too. Bathing culture in Japan was totally unfamiliar to me, so it was a big leap to the great unknown. There is something really fascinating in onsen, maybe it’s all the good health affects and the feeling of total relaxation. One late Thursday evening me and two friends of mine went to solve the mystery of Japanese onsen.

 

Inside the onsen place we first left our shoes to shoe lockers.There was couple of machines where you could buy your entrance ticket and all possible accessory involving in bathing. Men and women hade their own sides in the onsen. This was a public bath, of course you couldn’t take any pictures inside. But now it leaves to your imaginary a space to think how it would be like there in the middle of many different onsens.  

We left your clothes to changing rooms lockers. When we entered to bathing area, a very warm and humid air welcomed us. First we needed to take a shower. There were many shower places next to each other with small chairs and buckets. I found interesting that showers were placed really low and in every shower place there were big mirror too.   

First we tried basic onsen, with massaging bubbles. The water was very warm, about 42 Celsius grades. Next we went to outdoor area, where there were three different onsen. To me the most fascinating was the milk onsen. You really could feel the tender touch of white water and good affect to your skin. At the same time you could watch some TV too. Vinegar onsen had some bitter smell, and water was brownish. This one too was really worth testing, again very relaxing.   

To me as a Finnish person, sauna is definately one of the most important things that I miss, when here in Japan. In bath entering to hot sauna made me feel cozy and actually little like home.  In sauna there were nice soft mats to sit on and of course there were also flat screen, you could keep up with your favorite soap opera.

The best piece of advice I can give is; do the same as Japanese do and follow their example.  All the signs in onsen were written in Japanese only, so without any language skills, just imitate others doings. Case mystery of famous Japanese onsen culture has now been solved (at least some part of it). I got purified, both my soul and my body are now clean and I’m ready for new adventures.

Some more information about onsen:

http://www.onsenjapan.net/onsenbasics.php 

http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/network/english/newsletter/things_japanese_32.html 

http://www.taupohotsprings.com/?PK_PAGE_ID=2107

Traditional Yuzen Dyeing

Arashiyama is a very famous place for springs' hanamis and some Japanese intend to have a picnic there also. Place is fantastic because there you can enjoy nice views and taste some local delicious foods, sweets and drinks. In Arashiyama there is this charming art studio called Karukaya. It’s near the river next to a beautiful sakura tree garden. 

I had amazing opportunity to experience a bit of traditional craft of Kyoto called ”Yuzen Dyeing”, the industrial art of dyeing Kimono cloth. This time, instead of Kimono cloth I used postcards made of Japanese paper called “Washi”.

On a Washi postcard, I printed with a brush a traditional Yuzen patterns with a variety of colors, such as sights of Kyoto and Arashiyama, wild local plants and flowers, and etc.

In total I had two sensees, teachers, who guided as well as they could. My lacking Japanese language skills made the situation a bit challenging, but when doing art, you can use the language of brush.

First I got to practice my print to an ordinary paper before moving to the real Washi. Washi felted smooth and soft, but it has some texture on it too. Then I replaced my pattern on the Washi, chose a color and used a brush to print it. My senses told me, that there are no stick rules about color using.  You should just go with your feeling at the moment. 

This whole experiment gave me actually feeling of ancient Japan, and the appreciation of a true handwork. 

 

I found this great webpage for those who are interested more about Japanese traditional art making:

http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/visitkyoto/en/theme/activities/cultural/crafts/ 

Leibovitz and Nachtwey

In this picture of Nachtwey I see a little, very skinny boy, who seems desperate. I think he tries to hide something about himself behind that white body paint. His body language tells he is calm and strong when needed. He is looking to left, to past. I think he is at he moment memorizing some bad memories from the past, maybe the white color refers to sadness and mourning toward people he might have lost. Also the blue sky with some clouds refers to calm peaceful moment after storm.

Next picture is from Leibovitz have famous lady in it, with very glamorous look. She is independent, seductive and fragile at the same time. Because of her gentle and light as a feather body language, she looks untouchable.

To me these two photographers represent totally different kind of intelligence. 

James Nachtwey seems to be always there where discrimination, chaos, death, poverty, sadness and cruelty happen. He definitely gets peoples attention with his pictures. On the other hand Annie Leibovitz has also eye catching photos, they also have strong message, but her vision is more towards to beauty also. Leibovitz don’t need any crisis to make fascinating pictures, good settings, make-up and costumes are enough. For me more innovative and more creative photographer is Leibovitz. When watching her photos in some weird way I usually get very inspired. Despite major settings for photo taking, in her work you notice how much attention she gives also to tiny details, that’s what I really admire in her pictures.

Images are from: 

https://www2.bc.edu/~wilsonc/43010.html

http://janicehasabadmemory.tumblr.com/

Japanese person

I have met Eri as early as the school here in Kansai Gaidai started. I hade some problems with my computer’s internet connection and Eri kindly offered her help. During the whole two weeks taken preparation process we spent some time together. I got to know her a little and found out how many things she has going on; lots of different projects, schools’ free time events arrangements and of course studies. After hearing our next blog assignment I realized that Eri would be perfect to my blog. I was very pleased to hear that Eri would gladly participate to my blog assignment. 

 We first met in cafeteria and from there we decided to go to have dinner. She suggested this quite new very elegant place. In the restaurant we were taken into private separate room, it was perfect for our conversation. We had very nice time there eating. We discussed about various matters, got to know more about other as a person, time went like flying. 

She will graduate after her Japanese language training, basically in three months. She told her dream is to become a Japanese language teacher and she is willing to work hard and make sacrifices to reach her goal. In Japan it’s very difficult to become a Japanese language teacher; you have to have good grades and Masters Degree without exception. She has it all already arranged and clear plans for the nearby future.  She is attending Kansai Gaidais’ Japanese teacher internship program, which takes her to Ecuador for a year. This program will start on next summer. After her one year in Ecuador, she has next challenge waiting, her Graduate School in USA. Her major there will be Japanese pedagogy.

 

We discussed about the meaning of family and when would be good time to start a family of your own. At first her family tried to convince her that there are easier ways to get a proper fixed job and career, but Eri worked hard and has now showed them what she really wants for the future.  Her family supports her and her decisions on every step toward to her dream. 

Having a family of her own is not relevant to her at this point of life. Many of her high school friends are already happily married and some of them have kids too. Eri represents more career-oriented person and wants to be good and successful in her career chosen. She also added that now many of her friends in school think this way also.  I found this information very interesting; shufu may not be new generation’s goal of life. Today’s’ young Japanese woman perhaps want to be economically stable, more independent, international and goals of life focuses mainly around career. I’m not making any generalizations, only trying to learn and understand Japanese culture better. 

 

 Eri is person whose strong willing to reach for goals I really admire. If she decides to achieve something I’m sure she will eventually have it. I wish I could have same kind of fearless and relentless attitude in life.

Information and statistics about Japanese woman career, marriage and much more can be found:

http://www.jiwe.or.jp/english/situation/general.html 

http://www.gender.go.jp/english_contents/women2004/statistics/s02.html

Neighborhood Hirakata

Sub-urban Hirakata

The first impressions about my new home-environment have been only positive. In words, I would describe the place I live as a beautiful sub-urban area which is peaceful, pretty, traditional, quiet, cozy, pleasant, comfortable, safe, though you can find Hirakata City center lively as well. 

Street view of Hirakata

Neighborhood I live now is easy to get accustomed to, adapt and I think it is just perfect place to my stay.  Actually, now when I think about it I don’t believe there is any better place to spend my exchange student semester. From here, many big cities are not far away, so also the geographical location is great. 

Beautiful entrance to Japanese home

Hirakata City Hall

In September 2007 Hirakata City has published The introduction of the Hirakata City civil Protection Plan. It has been prepared to protect lives and property of the residents from terrorist attacks. It also gives an explanation and understanding of the Civil law and a civil protection. In basic policies there are also foreigners taken into consideration. The content of the Civil Protection Measures gives the instructions, how to behave in case of emergency situations. There are mentioned lots of sources where to get more information, if needed. I definitely found this plan very important for just-in-case. You will never know what will happen and it definitely shows that Hirakata City cares deeply for their residents. This without doubt made me feel safer and even more like home.  

An old Japanese entrance

I didn’t expect to get this bonded to my living area in relatively short period of time, but yes  I feel like home! 

A rainy day's promise of blossoming in Hirakata

http://www.city.hirakata.osaka.jp/freepage/gyousei/hpcontent/eng/pdf/The%20introduction%20of%20the%20Hirakata%20City%20Civil%20Protection%20Plan.pdf