- What things do people value most in Japan?
- What is Shinto? What does Shinto teach about the afterlife?
- What ideas and values does Japanese Buddhism emphasize? What do they believe about the afterlife?
- What is a samurai? What sort of code of ethics do they follow? How do samurai view their swords?
- What is seppuku? When would someone commit seppuku?
- Who are the following people: Akira Kurosawa? Hirokazu Koreeda? Isao Takahata? Yoji Yamada? What are themes that each of them like to focus on? What artistic choice characterize each of their styles?
Choose one of the questions above and do some research to find the answers to the question then write what you learned in the comments below. Answer an additional question for extra credit.
P.S.: if there is a question you are dying to answer (that has to do with Japanese culture or Japanese cinema) which is not included above then research that question instead and answer it below.
Seppuku is a ritualistic suicide by running a sword through yourself. Originally practiced by samurai, this practice was re-indoctrinated (unofficially) into the Japanese Military during World War II. Soldiers were to never surrender. Instead, they were to blow themselves up, jump off a cliff, or disembowel themselves with a sword. It was a sign of honor. Death was more honorable than surrender.
ReplyDeleteDuring World War II, only about 20,000 Japanese soldiers surrendered. The Japanese military had over 6 Million at its peak. Over a million German soldiers surrendered just in the closing months of the war! Seppuku became a part of the people of Japan in World War II, and its what most of us still remember them for, even to this day.
C.J. Barrett: Shintoism is considered Japan's "traditional religion", much how Christianity is considered the U.S.' . However; Shintoism isn't exactly a religion in all regards. Its also a philosophy, a way of life, and in some aspects, can even be considered a branch of Buddhism (and vice versa.)
ReplyDeleteThe most religious forms of Shintoism are based around the belief in spirits, or Kami, that inhabit the same world as we do. In general, everything has its own Kami, particularly things in nature. Mountains, wind, water, even each individual tree has its own Kami. Though, not every person who follows Shintoism is a religious practicer. In the Japanese record books, about 90% of the people in Japan are listed as Shintoist, because to be classified as a person who practices the religion/philosophy you only have to observe or practice only one part of the religion. For example, many people at birth are registered at a Shintoist Shrine.
Ashton Bowers:
ReplyDeleteSeppuku (Stomach Cutting) is a japanese ritual of suicide by disembowelment. A samurai would usually commit this ritual to die honorably then to be captured and tortured. sometimes the daimyo (fuedal lords) would perform the ritual as a peace offering.
Also to samurai who committed serious offences, they would be watched by spectators and a second man to slice the head off after it is done with just enough skin that the head stays on. sometimes if someone fought honorably but lost his opponent would offer to be his second man to salute his bravery.
The Japanese value respect. Respect for your peers, elders, and yourself. Competition is also huge for the Japanese. They expect their children to have high standards of themselves, bring honor to their family, and bring honor to their family name. Education is extremely important to them, also. The Japanese think it's very important to learn and have the ability to speak other languages.
ReplyDeleteJapan also has more clearly defined gender roles than the US does.
That's all I could really find on Japanese values.
Adios.
well according to a Buddhism website this is the definition of there religion:
ReplyDeleteBuddhism is a religion which does not have a God at its centre and was founded by an Indian prince, Siddartha Guatama, who became the Buddha, in the 6th Century BC when he found enlightenment. Buddhism has spread throughout the world. The ultimate goal for a Buddhist is to achieve Nirvana and stop the cycle of rebirth. To achieve this they must follow the Buddha's example and teachings.
Buddhism, since Buddha's death, has divided into different schools of thought. These are geographically and philosophically separate. Each are sub-divided into many different sects. The two main schools are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.
TAyia Groesbeck-
ReplyDeleteSeppuku is a Japanese suicide. samurai would do it to die in honor instead of getting killed painfully or slowly by their enemy's. They way you do this is to insert a knife or what they call it a tanto, into your abdomen and moving the blade from left to right. Seppuku is also known as harakiri "cutting the belly" its more familiar outside japan. The first person to perform Seppuku was Minamato No Yorimasa in the year of 1180.
- Tommy kiter- Seppuku is a form of suicide. It's commtining suicide by disembowlment. Also, refer to as "Stomach Cutting". The time a person commits seppuku is when they die in honor than to get torture by their enemies. Or when they commited serious offenses, or something they did in shame. The ceremonial disembowelment, which is usually part of a more elaborate ritual and performed in front of spectators, consists of plunging a short blade, a tanto, into the abdomen and moving the blade from left to right in a slicing motion.And what tayia said, Seppuku is also known as harakiri "cutting the belly" its more familiar outside japan.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize there were two forms of seppuku, one more ceremonial than the other. That makes sense since sometimes samurai would need to commit seppuku on the battlefield and other times they would do it in the court of their lords. Thanks for sharing!
Delete-Randi Ralston :3
ReplyDeleteOkay I'm seriously about to kill someone. This is the THIRD TIME I've had to write this..since the first time Google decided to be a jerk and delete it when I tried to post it, and the second time my computer spazed out RIGHT AS I FINISHED IT and reloaded the page -_____- GAHHH. SO HERE I GO AGAIN xD
Seppuku, also known as harakiri, is a ritual suicide by self-disembowelment of a sword and was practiced by the samurai in the traditional Japanese society, but was banned in 1873 (yet it continued to occur). It's meaning is "cutting of the belly." How it is performed is they take a small dagger and stab it into the lower left side of the abdomen, then bring it to the right. Then they'd be decapitated. Some of the reasons why samurais would perform seppuku was because of personal shame due to cowardice in battle, shame over a dishonest act, loss of sponsorship from a daimyo, or times they were defeated but not killed in battle, etc.
I'll give you some extra points for all your trouble ;)
DeleteAkira Kurosawa: Date of Birth 23 March 1910, Tokyo, Japan Date of Death 6 September 1998. Kurosawa was a film maker whose themes mainly focus on finding the faith in man kind. Kurosawa focused on using weather to set the mood of a film.
ReplyDeleteHirokazu Koreeda: Date of Birth 1962, Tokyo, Japan. Koreeda intended to be a novelist but wondered into the world of film. Koreeda's films tend to focus on a theme or loss and have a documentary style to them.
Isoa Takahata: Born: October 29, 1935 in Ise, Japan. Takahata is a Director, Writer, and Music Department worker for Ghibli studio. Takahata tends to have the protagonist in his movies ride trains.
Yoji Yamada: Born: September 13, 1931 in Osaka, Japan. In 1954 Yamada graduated from Tokyo University and became an assistant director. Late he went on the direct The Twilight Samurai.
15 things that Japanese people have passion for is:
ReplyDelete1. Karaoke
2. Pachinko
3. Traveling
4. Masks (when sick.)
5. Gossip
6. Small things
7. Fish
8. Aesthetics
9. Yelling
10. Not wasting things
11. Drinking
12. Manga
13. Team
14. Working
15. Onsen
I got this information here:
http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/15-japanese-passions