Time has flown by for me here in Hirakata, as I’ve been abroad for over a month and a half now. With how crazy the last month has been for me, I almost completely forgot to post! At least now I have a full month and a half’s worth of experiences to write about.
Although there are definitely many things about the Japanese culture that are completely different from what I experienced growing up in Germany and the United States, I have not experienced any kind of “culture shock.” Instead, I’m more in awe at how different so many things are. While in the US we live with this principle of “freedom” in mind at all times (almost to a fault), Japanese society is rule based in comparison. While at times it can be annoying, like having to meticulously sort one’s trash or reserve cafeteria meals a week in advance, it impacts so many everyday things positively. Everyone adheres to the rules so well and respects those rules and other people so much that cleanliness, efficiency, and even peace and quiet are expected and normal in public. The streets and parks are virtually litter free, people wait in line to get on a train instead of savagely rushing the doors, and after dark even in many parts of cities it is far quieter than in the US. I guess it’s just the more collectivist aspects of Japanese culture compared to the individualistic nature of American culture that causes these striking differences, and it’s made me think that while it’s great to value being an individual and self-interests is important, the US could really benefit from its people having a somewhat more collectivist outlook.
On a less analytical note, I have done some travelling that I have really found fascinating. One thing I noticed in my travels specifically is that architecture lacks much of the flair and design that we see in the US. Space is such a premium that it seems most apartments, buildings, and even houses look like they are designed and built almost solely with efficiency in mind. This is simply my guess as to why much of the architecture lacks aesthetic appeal, but I plan to research a bit more as to why that may be. In stark contrast to this architecture is the look of the many ancient Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines I have visited. There are impressive religious buildings in the US and many more in Europe that I have seen, but the temples, such as Tōdai-ji in Nara, are simply awe inspiring. The preservation of these buildings is mind blowing, considering that the current standing iteration of Tōdai-ji (it was burned down several times in periods of war) is hundreds of years old. It is amazing to see the amount of detail, creativity, and craftsmanship it took to construct these temples and how much their preservation is valued. Soon I will be travelling to Tokyo with friends, where I hope to see more aspects of Japanese city life and culture.