The Japan Experience
Steven Lewington
It may be a hackneyed observation, but the Japan of my experience is a land of contrasts. I have only seen two major cities, Kyoto and Osaka, but that statemant is true of both. Ancient and modern, hectic and serene, secular and religious, rational and spiritual - all of these adjectives and more are equally applicable.
The Japanese aesthetic meets al the criteria of what Western critics regard as good taste - balance, harmony and an absence of vulgarity. However, this perfect simplicity is taken so far beyond Western standards that we are often left bemuesd at just what the Japanese find so fascinating in certain art forms. A good example is the Zen rock garden at Ryoan-ji Temple, the perfect representation of Zen philosophy at which many people can sit transfixed for hours in deep contemplation of its sublimity. All I see is a bunch of rocks amid grey stones. Although I cannot share in the wonderment I can appreciate the idea of what the garden represents. I hope that I may learn to see its secrets.
I have yet to encounter a single unpleasant Japanese. All are most polite and hospitable. A warm smile and a heartfelt 'Thank you' pay great dividends. Outside of the classroom, where a few students are reluctant to talk for fear of making mistakes, I have yet to witness the famous Japanese shyness. In fact, they are very eager to talk - but you have to break the ice.
As a fan of science fiction I love the futuristic environment of Japan. I was intrigued by the capsule hotel. I felt like I was in one of the hyper-sleep chambers from the film 'Alien.' The giant TV screens which adorn the sides of gleaming skyscrapers are reminiscent of 'Bladerunner.' Talking lifts, cars with automatic doors and computer navigation systems, Virtual Reality systems in abundance, disposable toothbrushes with toothpaste injected into the bristles, Gundam robots everywhere. One can almost believe that J.G.Ballard was writing about Japan when he wrote that 'Science fiction motifs surround us. We are living in science fiction. The job of the science fiction writer now is to create the reality.' Although I am excited by the technological wizardry which abounds in Japan, I am worried that it could engender a tasteless, decadent hedonism.
So far I have concentrated on what I like about Japan. However, there are some aspects which I am uncomfortable with. Whenever I enter a department store I find the formal courtesy of the lift operators most disconcerting. I do not like poople to bow and, apparently grovel, to me. I feel humiliated for them. And they do it like machines, without sincerity, so it also seems like mockery. I really want to say 'Please, its not necessary. Relax,' but I know that would be wrong.
Another aspect of Japan with which I am uncomfortable is the abundance and easy availability of violent pornography. Women are frequently portrayed as helpless victims of sadistic male agression, on TV, in magazines and in comics. However, having said that Japan is one of the safest countries in the world for women to walk at night so perhaps it is healthy for such images to be propagated in the mass media if they are safer in the real world. Perhaps the catharsis theory is correct.
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