A historically proud country devastated by nuclear fallout and a traumatic defeat during World War II, leaving millions of Japanese families without loved ones, struggles to gain its place back in the world. With the overwhelming resilience of the Japanese people along with the aid of America, Japan arose to rebuild the unique and celebrating culture that they still practice today. With the end of World War II, the political realm of Japan began to change. Japan reduced the role of the emperor significantly and moved to a nation of democracy. With the changing of the politics in Japan, the overall social aspects stayed relatively the same. Japanese people still practice most of the customs and courtesies that historians say they did hundreds …show more content…
Japanese people are very much aware of age and social status. While some of these ideals continue to evolve in Japanese society, they are so deep-seated that they will continue to play a significant role in the conceivable future. According to Davies and Ikeno, an additional cultural aspect that stands out to many Americans is the conformity of the Japanese people. The need for Japanese to behave as society wished is a notable trait. (50) Non-verbal communication is extremely significant in Japan. Japanese people show disparity by frowning when another person is speaking. Davies and Ikeno state "An important aspect of Japanese interaction is bowing. Japanese will bow out of respect, to express apology, or as a sign of affection."(55) Japanese people also bow when meeting an individual, but it’s rude and inconsiderate to introduce yourself to another Japanese person. In the culture another individual that already knows the person you are meeting will present you. Japanese people are likely to invite newly met individuals to dine with them. According to Davies and Ikeno, a guest to a Japanese mealtime should delay sitting until directed to a place at the table. A traditional meal in Japan has low tables and pillows on the ground. Men naturally sit with their legs crisscrossed in front and the women sit with legs folded to the side. (23) Many Americans …show more content…
The changing of an imperialist political party to a democracy strengthened the relationship between the two countries and allowed the Japanese and American people to share the social aspects of their lives with each other. The culture and heritage of Japan developed and stayed consistent throughout the years, allowing American people to learn and live with the Japanese’s and encircle the history of such a great nation that was able to maintain a culture for many years despite such a traumatic defeat during World War II. Even after being on different sides of the battlefield 60 years ago, Japan and the United States have come together to train and learn from each other 's military and now have one of the strongest political and military relationships in the world that is growing every
I did not know that much about this culture until this paper. The Japanese people are very polite and respectful. The Japanese take education very serious and nature. Their langue is a lot different they have different styles of speaking even for different social status there is a certain way of thinking. In Japan there is a mixture of the Buddha religion and the Shinto. Both beliefs have the same influence on the Japan culture. Buddhism was brought o Japan in the early 6th century from China. There are five precepts that they go by which are no killing, no stealing, no lying, no sexual misconduct, and no use of intoxication.
-Nara’s Buddhist temples were another result of cultural diffusion, Buddhist began in India in 500s B.C.E. about 1,000 years later, it came to Japan from China by way of Korea.
1200CE. The Tang Dynasty Tales and The Diary of Lady Murasaki helped surface the Chinese
Reischauer, Edwin O., and Albert M. Craig. Japan, Tradition & Transformation. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1978. Print.
In 1900 Britain was in many respects the world’s leading nation, enjoying a large share of world trade, a dominant position in the international money market, and possessing a far flung empire supported by the world’s most powerful navy. Japan was a complete contrast, sharing with Britain only the fact that it too was a nation of islands lying off the shore of a major continent. Until the 1860s it had possessed a social and economic structure more akin to that of feudal, rather than twentieth century, Europe. By the 1990s, the positions were almost reversed. This paper sets out to examine the contrasting democratic political systems of the two nations and to explore the social and democratic consequences of the changes that have occurred.
From the animated mega city of Tokyo, to the serene zen gardens with rustic ponds home to the koi fish, Japan has a unique past, present, and future. The alcove ornament samurai houses called, shoin-zukuri are a symbol of the struggling past that Japan escaped. These samurai houses were training centers long ago of judo, sumo, and other martial arts. Lush trees envelope houses, and the religion Shintoism was developed back in 500 A.D. Paintings and drawings capture the grace and beauty the landscape portrays. The Japanese dragons reveal the legends held within themselves, many are associated with rainfall and the ability to reach peace. Seeking farther inland you witness the largest city in the world, Tokyo. Cars, buses, subway systems, taxis, and bicycles are buzzing through every street, going to and from work, quickly advancing technology.
A nation’s decision to go to war is not one that can be taken lightly. War requires a great deal of sacrifice and more often than not, results in a great deal of pain for an entire nation. For some, the humiliation of defeat may be worse than any physical pain one car endured. As Pearl Harbor and the Coming of the Pacific War by Akira Iriye shows, Japanese leaders decided that war with the USA was in the best interest of their nation, knowing full well the cost of war. The Japanese leaders` anxiety over the self preservation and self defence of their nation, their anxiety over perceived hostile attitudes from the west, and the importance of making a timely decision on war led them on a path that resulted in war with the USA.
Japan had always been an ally of the United States. Japan tried to collect their share of treasure from Versailles. Japan ran into some troubles, Woodrow Wilson. Wilson rejected Japan’s claim to German concessions in Shantung. Duan Qirui, a Chinese warlord and politician had borrowed money from Japan to make China’s army stronger. Japan used that loan and wanted it to be repaid by getting the concessions in Shantung. In 1921, at the Naval Conference the US pressured the Britain’s to end their 20 year alliance with the Japanese. Japan was now isolated, Stalin’s unhappy empire to the north, t...
From their eccentric music and sophisticated cuisine to their multiple examples of exciting pop culture, Japan is often renowned for its characteristic and traditional arts. Over the course of history, specifically during the Middle Ages, these arts began to thriving, and they continue to thrive to this day. The events in history surrounding these arts are correspondent to how these arts are put together, from literary techniques to borrowed concepts from other nations. Upon the wake of the Muromachi period in Japan, many art forms flourished in the nation; of these, the Noh theatre play, Kinuta, exemplifies the art of ritualism borrowed from Chinese dynasties.
Denison. B. (2002, January 1). A Basic Overview of Japanese Culture . . Retrieved May 3, 2014, from http://www.mizukan.org/articles/culture.htm
Imperialism has not only influenced colonial territories to better themselves or to further the mother country’s realm of power, it also had a significant impact on the people’s culture, education, environment, and political systems. Japan and Britain were two imperial systems that countered each other in many facets but also had strikingly similar qualities that had helped them become strong imperial powers that needed one another to continue their position amongst others. The Japanese empire was an inspirational country to other Asians that spearheaded the fight against the European imperialism. After the Meiji restoration, the emperors decided that the modernization of Japan was going to begin and in order for it to be a success, the government had to change along with their culture, “.restored authority faced new dangers in a new age.
When greeting others it is customary to bow, although the Japanese are familiar with our ways and would expect us to want to shake hands rather than bow (Bazzel, 2013; Angloinfo, 2014). Also, being too direct about what one is really thinking is not socially acceptable. Japanese use subtle language and rely heavily on non-verbal forms of communication (Aliasis, 2013). In contrast, the United States is a very heterogeneous society known for valuing freedom and individuality. It is the most ethnically diverse country in the world and is often referred to as the “melting pot” (Zimmerman, 2013).
Fifty years after the end of the second World War, it is easy to look back on the American occupation of Japan and see it as a mild nudge to the left rather than a new beginning for the country. We still see an emperor, even if only as a symbol. Industry, when it was rebuilt, was under much of the same leadership as before the war. Many elements of the traditional lifestyle remained–with less government support and in competition with new variants. The Japanese people remained connected to a culture which was half western and half Japanese. Nevertheless, it is irrefutable that the surrender in 1945 had a major impact on the lives of the Japanese. Political parties, elected by the populous, became a great deal more influential in the government. This changed the dynamics of Japanese industry, even if the zaibatsu were sill the foundation of the economy. Financial success took on a new character; the production of high tech goods for sale to the world’s most developed countries was now a better source of income. The affluence of the upper class was more evenly distributed. On a broader scale, for the first time, America had more influence than European powers. The prevention of the formation of a military put the focus of the government on trade, the United Nations, and the cold war rather than an empire in Asia. Simultaneously, social attitudes and lifestyle were more independent of the government and consumer led.
Japan is a large island off to the east of China it is a great country that has a rich culture. The Japanese religion is based off of two main beliefs, the belief in Shinto and Buddhism many Japanese people believe consider themselves both. The Japanese people were known to be around as early as 4,500 B.C. They have constructed their government style to a constitutional monarchy where they do in fact have an emperor, but he has limited power within the country. The main power of the country is held by the Prime Minister of Japan. Japan is made up of many islands that extend along the Pacific coast of Asia. The land area is made up of a lot of forest and mountainous area that cannot be used for agricultural, industrial or residential use. Japan also has one of the largest and growing economies in the world. They are growing every day and it is all because the people of Japan work very hard in order for their economy to flourish as it has.
Western people influenced Japanese people to follow the American culture. The western culture had a huge impact in the Japanese people because American’s were in Japan’s territory so they decided to follow the western culture. ‘’After Japan surrendered in 1945, ending World War II, Allied forces led by the United States occupied the nation, bringing drastic changes. Japan was disarmed, its empire dissolved, its form of government changed to a democracy, and its