Japanese Perspective

[salinator]

The first Kamikaze attack against the US was on 7 December 1941 during the attack at Pearl Harbor.

1st Lt Fusada Lida at Kaneohe Naval Air Station.

[cyberia]

I've seen both films, Nick. Yes, they are fiction but I think based at least in part on truth. "Empire of the Sun" is one of my favorites.

As a Westerner I don't think I'm as much appalled at some practices of the Japanese culture as I am intrigued. Granted the concept of beheading and ritual self sacrifice are concepts alien to me, but I'm sure many of the things I believe in would be equally strange to other cultures, so who am I to judge.

What fascinates me is how many of these ancient traditions and beliefs remained such an important part of Japanese society right up to the 20th century and, in many cases, still to this day.

It seems to me that many of the worlds other nationalities, Western mostly, have either shed or replaced their ancient beliefs and or customs over time.

Beheading would be a good example. Far from solely an Asian practice, beheading was, for lack of a better term, a popular form of execution through out the world. Yet, over time this practice (with exception of the French and for a brief period in WWII the Germans) phased out beheading and in most cases considered its use vulgar.

However, the Japanese not only held on to the practice, but continued to view beheading not only as an honorable death, but a privilege to bestow.

The same can be said of bowing. As you pointed out from the movie "Empire of the Sun", an ancient yet crucial Japanese courtesy still revered to this day.

Yet again, not a display exclusively Asian. Bowing was at one time a custom throughout Europe and even in the United States as late as the 19th century, but a practice rarely seen today.

Bow to a stranger on the streets of Brooklyn and the most you can expect in return is a knee in the nose.

I guess my question here is does anyone else agree that much of the Japanese ritual customs were not so much radical bravado, but at one point globally excepted time honored practices?

And if so, why did part of the world abandon these traditions while another part continued to embrace them?

[Geek44]

Interesting questions mate. I think I'll start my thesis right now.

Somebody once put a concept into words for me that I easily understood. Basically, because of what they said, I had a penny-drop moment (when you finally understand something). They said; 'Having good manners is for the benefit of other people, not so you appear better than them.' My point is that politeness and respect have played, and continue to play, a far more important role in Japanese culture than our own. It's actually one of the things about Japanese culture I admire. These people understand that humility is not a sign of weakness but one of strength. In many instances, ritual suicide was just the 'right' thing to do. Japanese practice of Zen (dunno as much about Shinto) takes care of the 'afterlife' thing. You'll be back after a few weeks to start over again as another being.
I wonder sometimes about how 'modern' Westerners really are Paul. Many won't walk under ladders, freak if they break mirrors...superstition is alive and well. Many Western festivals/holidays are pretty old in origin despite the fact that they may have been tweaked or changed to accommodate the political/religious climate of the times. Christmas used to be a midwinter festival and in Scandinavia, pagan symbols such as goats are used at Christmas. I have the family collection of straw goats here. The days of the week as used in English are derived from the names of Norse Gods too... My point is that I think we just held onto different stuff. I think the Japan we see today is very much a product of American administration after WW2 and what a great job the Americans did. Here's one 'tradition' the Japanese let go of after WW2...'war.'
Peace.