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Buzzfeed, you’ve done it again.

Tackling essentialised ‘Japanese’ Halloween costumes. Boom.

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Hitachi Seaside Park

When I first saw photos of Hitachi Seaside Park, I thought they were photoshopped or part of some elaborate fantasy dreamscape...

But it turns out that they’re real! It’s all real!

Located in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan, this park is host to vast flower gardens, showcasing millions of daffodils, 170 varieties of tulips, and an estimated 4.5 million baby blue eyes (Nemophila). 

Apparently, this sea of blue flowers blooms once annually, around April, and has become a special event; referred to as the “Nemophila Harmony.”  

This is definitely on my places to visit list! Stay tuned for more!

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What a blend! 

Professional shakuhachi (bamboo flute) player Yuko Watanabe and two koto players put a twist on Michael Jackson‘s Smooth Criminal.

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If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don’t like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it.

James Thurber

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To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life.

James Thurber

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Oi Ocha! (Tea please!) I’m sitting on a bench at uni, cooling off with a bottle of green tea. Two Australian students are sitting across from me, speaking in Japanese - wasn’t expecting that!

Cross-cultural encounters are fantastic.

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六 No. 6: Relatively Connected

After living in the bustling capitals of seven different countries, I have come to value subtleness, simplicity and grace.

We live in a competitive, fast-paced, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram era, where you “show your best and hide the rest”.

Being enveloped by consumerism and innumerable advertisements promoting popular gadgets, fashions, trends, diets and workouts; I’ve become frustrated. It seems so artificial, temporal and vacuous. 

Sure, you can turn a blind eye to it all, but the fact remains that these fads and followers scream for attention. They demand to be recognised and, at times, I would argue, glorified. 

Japan may be no different, but it does have a special characteristic called wabi-sabi. Broadly speaking, wabi-sabi is the opposite of the sleek, repetitive and mass-produced economy of modern societies.

In Western cultures this concept has no direct translation, but is often associated with physical characteristics and the notion of finding beauty in earthiness and imperfection; of valuing authenticity above all.

Although wabi-sabi may encompass these qualities, these characteristics are not sufficient to convey the quintessence of the far-reaching philosophy. It is a complex aesthetic consciousness that transcends appearance, and can be felt but rarely verbalized. 

I’m not saying that all of Japan adheres to this view and practice, it doesn’t. Nor am I saying that people in other places don’t adopt similar characteristics—they do. Thus, rather than imposing an ethnocentric and modernised Western perspective, I’m suggesting that wabi-sabi eloquently articulates the fact that we are all transient.

We work to improve and build upon ourselves, and that’s fantastic! But I think it’s equally, if not more, important to reflect upon why we do what we do. 

Wabi-sabi doesn’t require special skills, money, or training. It depends on slowing down and a willingness to accept things as they are.

Sounds pretty wonderful to me.

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Osaka, art, & sushi oh my!

As an art lover, a fan of sushi, and (one-day) Japan bound traveler, it’s no surprise that when I saw this appear on Facebook, my eyes lit up and my jaw dropped.

That’s right folks. Giant plates of floating sushi.

They went down Osaka’s Dōtonbori Canal as part of The Osaka Canvas Project, whereby artists and performers are honouring the city’s vibrant culture throughout October by using interactive art installations and outdoor performances. 

Commissioned by Rolling Sushi, this installation was rather fitting considering that Osaka is known as Japan’s  foodie capital, or tenka no daidokoro - ‘The Nation’s Kitchen’.

During the 19th century, Osaka was a hub for rice trading, and in 1958 became home to the world’s first conveyor belt sushi train restaurant - Genrokuzushi!

Pretty clever don’t you think? A sushi train floating through the gastronomical capital of Japan. If only they were real…

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I’ve become skeptical of the unwritten rule that just because a boy and girl appear in the same feature, a romance must ensue. Rather, I want to portray a slightly different relationship, one where the two mutually inspire each other to live - if I’m able to, then perhaps I’ll be closer to portraying a true expression of love.

Hayao Miyazaki

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五 No. 5: Big Issue?

As a 1990s kid, I was introduced to the world of Japanese anime through the TV and manga series Sailor Moon. She was so cool—fearlessly fighting crime whilst wearing her schoolgirl clothes!

In Japan there are several types of anime and manga, each catering to various groups, interests and purposes. 

Whilst these cartoons are a popular and internationally recognised industry, some are problematic; featuring children and child-like females in sexually explicit scenarios.

For instance, Lolicon, short for ‘Lolita complex’, can involve incest and rape; and Hentai, loosely defined as anything sexual and perverse, is about all kinds of sex.

A big issue is that hentai is often found alongside children's anime and manga, and female characters appear dis-empowered and not enjoying themselves.

Yet, Japan has decided against banning all such material.

Manga translator Dan Kanemitsu argues: “If it doesn’t infringe upon people’s human rights, what’s wrong with having a fantasy life?” 

As someone who revels in fictitious worlds, both novelistic and cinematic, especially those of Hayao Miyazaki, I partially agree with Kanemistu.

However, ‘fantasy’ portrayals of female characters are complex, as issues of gender inequality and sexual objectification are all too real.

Growing up, I was taught by my family to treat others with respect and to be true to my values. As such, I become troubled seeing what I perceive to be social injustices.

Nevertheless, I may be erroneously projecting my beliefs onto Japanese (anime) culture, and it is thus critical, when encountering any person or place, to see if it’s an issue from their perspective.

I’m thankful that artists like Miyazaki depict inspiring female characters that grow from their experiences, and despite Sailor Moon’s outfit being rather risqué, I believe that the series was progressive for its era and has some value in empowering girls.

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四 No. 4: Essential Japan

Land of the Rising Sun - beautiful, spiritual, peaceful.

Sounds enticing! But aren’t all countries technically lands of the rising sun? After all, the sun doesn’t just rise in Japan...

Popular romantic images of Japan as a solitary island of cherry-blossoms, unsullied nature and kimonos, imbued with tradition and mysticism, don’t fully account for its history, external influences, and current position as a technological and economic powerhouse.

As early as 57 A.D., China impacted upon Japan, a ‘younger culture’, through the sharing of its socio-political structures, food, architecture, religion, clothing and calligraphy.

When Japan was described during its early development, it was primarily from a Chinese perspective. Nihon (sun origin) was the Imperial Chinese name for Japan; as the sun rose eastward from China, coming from the direction of Japan.

This concept gained popularity and is the inspiration behind the nation’s iconic flag.

However, the strong symbolism of this lone red dot reinforces the essence of Japan as a simple and tranquil country. But what about it’s busy cities and vibrant (sub)cultures?

Japan thus presents two dichotomous sides to the same coin. On the one hand it’s an Oriental, old and historical nation, on the other, a modern and fast-paced metropolis offering a different set of experiences. 

So, would Japan – Land of the Rising Skyline be more appropriate?

No...  

For Japan to be, Japan, it should be taken as a whole. It is as much a product of its past as it is of its present. They co-exist, intersect and impact upon each other.

I would argue that Japan is not a single and stagnant red dot, but a bold starting point to an on-going story—of which you and I may play a part.

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