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Every form of art and entertainment
represents the culture from where it was created. In
America we can understand our culture in small portions
or even more from our entertainment and art that we
create, which is exactly true to be told in all other
cultures. Entertainment and art seems to hit the nail
straight on about history to social "contracts."
So where does this lead us in this topic, if the obvious
is already stated? This article was written to help
the audience learn more, or discover what they may or
may not know of the culture, and social issues of Japan.
Japan is a land of contradictions
and extremes, for it practices age old methods, but
has cutting edge technological abilities. The social
and cultural norm of Japan is very traditional in their
practices. Since it had an economic boom, from the 50's
to the mid 80's, the outlook of Japan was very pleasant,
but also creating an ethnographic view on others, for
them being the better as a side effect of this economic
boom. Thus the feel of "We are better" was
born. The outlook of change of this mindset does not
look appealing. However with satires and metaphors from
their entertainment, i.e. Anime, this may change with
the children of Japan, since they are the future of
Japan.
Traditional values are kept strictly
in Japanese culture. Much like the Chinese, they follow
the Confucian ideals mixed with their own. These traditions
are in Anime, whether they are very vocal about them,
or so subtle that one cannot tell. This is for the most
part very true with the Anime that depicts families,
and the interaction between them. Not only with the
families, but also the treatment of elders was to be
with utmost respect.
Authors, such as Homer, and Chaucer,
incorporate in deep detail of what they lack. In the
case of Homer and Chaucer, they wrote in intensive detail
of food. Including recipes of how to cook, and its taste
was showed to the readers in their epics, Odyssey and
in the Canterbury Tales. During their respective time
periods, there was a great lack of food, which is why
those authors wrote extensively on food. It was because
they did not have it themselves or most of the population.
-Dr. William Lutz, Rutgers University English and Literature
professor
As the fantasy and science fiction genre always produces,
they produce images and thoughts of which in reality
one cannot do, i.e. flying, or growing a ligament back
right after it has been cut off. One can only wish to
be able to do such things. But not only in fantasy images,
but simple and very real items as well, food being one
of the more important commodities. Depending on the
time period, or what natural event occurs, what is needed
is described. What is wanted is described. Thus producing
an effect on the audience to visualize and understand
the author and what has happened in the author's life
time. As quoted, both Homer and Chaucer wrote extensively
about food, since during their life they lived through
famine. In the Anime that we watch this "I want
this but don't have it" syndrome can be seen from
the obvious, quest for knowledge, money, and property,
to the simple aspects of life, such as happiness or
love.
One thing that anyone who been to Japan, or lives in
Japan, can tell you that hardly any of the females,
though lovely as they are, have higher than a 'C' cup.
However in Anime, almost every female cast member, most
of the time those who are created at the set age of
14 or older, have really excessively large breast size.
Something smelt fishy when I saw in every single anime,
where there were young cast members, has a rather large
chest size. When my friend, whom had just returned from
Japan, he related the facts to me that not a lot of
ladies in Japan actually have breasts sizes over C.
However there are a minority of women in Japan who do
have a rather breast size, but as I said they are a
minority. But why is this so important to understand?
This part is an assumption of mine, but I figure that
the men, whom are also the majority of those who create
the manga and Anime, create the characters with a larger
breast size, because they lack that there in Japan.
As stated earlier they are describing and creating images
that they do not have but want. Since we live in a world
with cultures meet and clash, the Japanese has seen
the American "ideal" female as one with a
fairly large breast size and elegant in appearance.
The average Japanese worker, work an average of eighteen
hours a day to make ends meet. The mother is the one
who is expected to ensure that the children get high
grades and get into a great university. Failing in doing
so would cause shame. Now these are very high in responsibility
and time consumption. But where does this leave the
mother and father to actually enjoy time together and
enjoy a good old time "rocking" in the futon?
They in fact have little time to themselves to actually
enjoy it, since they are occupied with their jobs. Now
since the economy of Japan, as well as the US, seems
down, there is a lot of recession in Japan, jobs are
becoming scarcer and the workers are working harder
and working longer hours, even past eighteen hours.
Birth rate of Japan is steadily decreasing with the
average amount of children is 1.19 per household. The
birth rate of Japan is low in comparison to other global
economic states around the world, i.e. the United States
of America. The ratio of older to younger Japanese is
steadily rising, where the older Japanese will be a
majority of its population. This serves a demographic
problem in Japan where the ratio is unbalanced and the
older Japanese are overwhelming the populace. Creating
questions and problems that should seriously be looked
into by the Japanese government, and people as a whole.
Why did I state that the children are the future of
Japan when data thoroughly contradicts that notion?
One can only hope for the better of a society.
This relates to Anime in the form of Anime known as
Hentai. Hentai is used as a catharsis of hormones of
men. Ever since they are working eighteen plus hours
a day, relaxation and family time is severely reduced.
Leaving only such amount of in-between time for each
average worker. One can only assume that this is true,
or otherwise the Japanese males are a very perverted
bunch.
There is also little time for romance for even the
youth, let alone the adults. Every single student does
nothing but study for their exams and school. These
exams are serious and very difficult to take. This leaves
little time out for joy and free time, the students
are becoming more stressed out than before. American
psychologists, and Sociologists debate this matter readily
in Japan and in the United States. Should there be free
time for the youth and children to build their motor
and social skills? This argument is still in debate.
Youth romance doesn't even start to kick into gear until
after the University years.
These exams are very important for they determine which
high school and university that you are able to get
into. For these tests and placements also determine
what job may hire you later after graduation. As seen
in "Love Hina," the two main characters do
nothing but study for their Tokyo University entrance
exams, which happens to be one of the leading universities
in Japan. Now take Keitaro Urashima's and Naru Narusegawa's
case and add in almost every day since fifth grade,
and then one may be able to realize that this is rather
harsh. Unless the person does not really care, which
is hardly the case, enjoyment and relaxation are hardly
available. The exams truly are difficult to partake.
The school system of Japan revolves around Rote learning.
Rote learning, for those who do not know, is studying
only to remember the facts, whereas in America, it is
much looser, and education leans more towards creative
thinking. The Japanese system of Rote learning has extensively
put a strain on the students. There are those who wish
to adapt the more western system. This has been debated
extensively by both American and Japanese sociologists
and psychologists on whether rote learning is effective
and beneficial for the students. The arguments against
rote learning are that all they are doing is memorizing
without being told what the use of what they are learning
is good for. However the fact Japan does have the higher
ranking students, and creates versatile students. Which
reputes ideas of losing the Rote learning.
So what is the problem now, you ask. The pent up stress,
and anger that students' feel and the system thereby
creates a heavily stratified society. Violence in schools,
directed towards the teachers and fellow students, developed
during intensive schooling. As of right now, almost
100,000 high school students refuse to go to school.
The school system is very resistant to change the Confucian
ideals of education, which focused on rote learning
and rigid and harsh disciplinary codes. Which does not
help the problem at all, since the one side is relunctant
to change even if they know there is a problem with
the system. That is why I included the fact that they
are very traditional, they do not want to change their
traditional methods. This problem is very troubling,
and if not taken care of in a timely and well done manner,
can create a period of time when people are not working.
There have been social commentaries criticizing this
by educators, and others to try to find ways to mend
this situation. But there has also been Animes and Mangas,
in which portrays this problem. In the more extreme
form is "Battle Royale," in a fashion where
the Japan has won the Pacific War and that the school
and education has been driven twenty fold from what
it is now. Closer to home kind of Anime, Manga, and
Live action, was "Great Teacher Onizuka."
The story depicts the school violence to both students
and teachers, and school refusals, but also how the
characters deal with them. This is a satire of the Japanese
educational system. As said by Uchiyamada Sensei in
GTO live, the teachers and government officials created
a system thought to be beneficial, but it is now wrong
and becoming a plague to Japan. Which the teachers should
now change and fix those problems. (Episode 11-12; GTO
live)
So how does this enlighten you of culture and the social
aspects of Japan? This would not be worth the while
to try and discover this kind of information if you
just watch Anime alone. Sure it would give you some
ideas, but if you want to see the references, you would
have to read a history text of Japan. In this article,
I have only touched the surface of Japanese culture,
and social issues. As with all other cultures, it is
so much more than the forms of art and entertainment
that is created. But also their myths, legends, food,
presence, and etc. which would help describe the cultures.
I find that I appreciate and enjoy Anime, or rather
the entertainment of Japan more when I read the histories
and do some research on the Social and Cultural bindings
of Japan. Hopefully Anime will help you want to further
your education on the culture and social standards of
Japan. And hopefully it will help make one aware of
the problems in Japan's society to look into one's own
society.
-Mango
Sources
Dr. William Lutz, Rutgers University English professor
Andressen, Curtis, A Short History of Japan, Allen
& Unwin, 2002
Akamatsu, Ken, Love Hina, Tokyopop, 2003
Arnett, Jeffrey Jensen, Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood,
Prentice Hall, 2001
Fujisawa, Tohru, Great Teacher Onizuka, 2003
Sternberg, Robert J, Williams, Wendy M, Educational
Psychology Allyn and Bacon, 2002
Takami, Koushun, Taguchi, Masayuki, Battle Royale,
Tokyopop, 2003
GTO live action episodes 11-12, based on Tohru Fujisawa's
manga.
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