Culture of Japan - Manners

Before jumping into the fun facts of Japan’s culture, we should first have an understanding of what ‘Culture’ is, let's take a look at the definition of 'Culture'.

It can be defined as “the whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterize a community, society or social group. It includes not only arts and literature, but also modes of life, the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems, traditions and beliefs. Culture encompasses the living or the contemporary characteristics and values of a community as well as those that have survived from the past.” ICOMOS.

Got a grasp? Then let’s go!

The strong culture of Japan can be reflected in their outstanding manners that run from generation to generation. From the manners when eating to the manners when meeting people, the Japanese have great discipline over their manners and how they present themselves to others.

Let’s watch a brief video about Japanese manners.

Now let’s look at a few general everyday manners.

Starting off with one of the basics of manners: When making new acquaintances. In a business setup, it is a customary ritual for both parties to exchange business cards, and the receiving of the other party’s name card should be done with both hands as a sign of respect. Also, honorifics such as “-san” are always added to the person’s last name to show respect to the other individual, as seen when Sherwood and Mr Saito referred to each other with the honorific “-san” attached to the ends of their names.

Another common area that is rich in the Japanese manners would be when visiting others. When entering houses, it is absolute for visitors to remove their shoes and wear slippers meant for home use if provided. As seen from Sherwood’s demise, even foreigners are not forgiven if having committed this taboo.
Also, whilst not necessary, good manners call for guests to bring a small gift along when visiting another individual’s place. However, a point to note would be that gifts should be sensitive to not hurt the Japanese pride or face the consequences Sherwood did. Also, in accordance to Japanese superstition, one should never give gifts wrapped in black or in the numbers of four and nine as they carry negative meanings.
Although not mentioned in the video, or that perhaps Mr Saito made an exception for his foreign guest, good manners require one to say “O-jama-shimasu” when entering another’s house, and “O-jama-shimashita” when leaving. These phrases mean “Sorry for imposing” and “Sorry for having imposed” respectively and show respect to the host.

Now, enter dining manners. Japanese food is definitely a delicacy enjoyed by people around the world, but other than sharing the same food, do people share the same manners? It is of bad manners to eat without saying “Itadakimasu” and to finish the meal without saying “Gochisou-sama Deshita” as this is part of their table manners; similar to saying the prayer, “Itadakimasu” is said to give thanks to the food on the table. Also, there are a myriad of etiquettes to abide to whilst dining. One must not stick the chopsticks into the rice vertically, as it is seen as a funeral offering and may earn you at the very least a couple of stares. Also, do not pierce food with chopsticks or waiver over the bowl whilst deciding which dish to eat as they are seen as rude at the dining table. Contrary to western dining etiquette and culture, it is perfectly acceptable to make a slurping sound when eating noodles or drinking soups.

World traveler Kevin tells says it's okay to slurp!

Slurping the noodles or soup in a Japanese context far from rude. In comparison to Western cultures, slurping the noodles or soup in Japan is a way to show respect to the chef as well as to declare that the food is delicious, thus the slurping sounds.

Ending off dining manners would be the drinking etiquette. It is a norm in Japan for one to pour the drink for another individual, and having the action reciprocated. Pouring drinks for another individual is seen as a sign of respect and acknowledgement of the other individual, and letting him reciprocate allows for mutual respect.

Reference:

Maciamo, Guide to Japanese manners and etiquette. Retrieved on 7^th December 2010, from http://www.wa-pedia.com/culture/japanese_manners_etiquette.shtml

P. Tan (2009) Nihongo De Niko Niko. Singapore: Cengage Learning Asia Pte Ltd

Culture of Japan - Religions & Value

The main religions that are practiced by the Japanese are Buddhism and Shintoism.

Buddhism originated from India and eventually found its way to Japan in the 6^th century. Buddhism revolves around the cultivation of good deeds, purifying of one’s heart and being at ease with the world. Buddhism believes in karma and thus by doing the above, as explained by the prolific Buddha himself, would help one to break the cycle of suffering.


A traditional Buddhist temple, Todaiji Temple. Located in the city of Nara, Japan.

 

Source: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/japan/images/nara/todaiji/resized/hall-cc-sofafort-c.jpg

The oldest temple in Tokyo, the Asakusa Temple. The temple's trademark is the giant lantern that hangs from the great gates leading to the temple.

Source: http://www.nnanime.com/events/0110japanpics/0367-Asakusa.jpg

Shintoism on the other hand is the indigenous religion of the Japanese. Unlike in Buddhism, there are no sutras or single object of worship; Shintoism is centralized on the reverence of the multi gods that are believed to govern the equilibrium the world. These gods are believed to take on different forms, from tangible forms like prominent rocks to intangible forms like the elements of nature.

The Toyokuni Shrine located in the old Japanese capital of Kyoto.

  

Source: http://www.traveladdicts.connectfree.co.uk/Japan/Images/Wedding_in_Toyokuni_Shinto_Shrine.jpg


The famous shrine gates of the Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima, Japan.

Source: http://www.manywallpapers.com/d/7252/-/miyajima-shrine-at-sunset_1024_x_768.jpg

The value system of the Japanese revolves around the values of loyalty, being group oriented and harmonious, and being polite and respectful. The Japanese believe that the harmony of the group would increase cohesiveness of the group, thus they make effort to maintain the status quo. Also, Japanese believe in being polite and respectful to other individuals, thus the many honorifics that are used by Japanese to acknowledge their elders or peers.


The Japanese also adopted a way to not hurt another person's feelings by putting on the façade called “Tatemae" whilst hiding their true opinions, the "Honne".


Let's watch them in action.



As seen in the video, Japanese would silent their true feelings give opinions that are not what they truly mean. This is devised in a way to avoid hurting or sounding offensive to the other individual, a way of being polite when conversing with other individuals. In other contexts, it is also a way to maintain the group harmony by keeping the status quo.

With that said, the value system of the Japanese is also strongly affected by their religions, be it Buddhism or Shintoism. The religions generally promote the common principle of being at harmony and peace with nature, as well as not harming nature as much as possible. Thus Japanese are even fine with sharing hot springs with monkeys.

A Japanese Macaque enjoying the hot spring on a cold winter day

 Source: http://www.nickspics.net/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=37230&g2_serialNumber=2

Reference:

Japan Buddhism. Retrieved on 7^th December 2010, from http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2055.html

The Principles of Buddhism. Retrieved on 7^th December 2010, from http://www.japanese-buddhism.com/principles-of-buddhism.html#axzz17QOy7uN5

Shintaku (2010) Shinto: The Indigenous Religion of Japan. Retrieved from http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art19100.asp

Culture of Japan - Food of Japan

A more prominent part of the Japanese culture would be their food; well-known around the world are foods such as sushi, sashimi and ramen.

However, the true culture of Japanese food is much simpler, revolving around rice; sushi and sashimi are relatively expensive and are considered luxuries that are not enjoyed in a basic Japanese meal. In a basic Japanese home-cooked meal, there is rice, miso soup and up to three sides. This setup is called the “Ichi-Jiru San-Sai”, which means to have one soup and three sides for a meal. The sides are typically consisting of fish, meats or pickled vegetables.

A traditional meal of Ichi-Jiru San-Sai in a Japanese eatery

Source: http://www.photopassjapan.com/images/img%206656%20osaka%20eki%20shokuji%20washoku%20-%20osaka%20station%20japanese%20meal.jpg

Another food culture that is unique to Japan is the “Bento”, also known as packed lunches. Be it for when going to school or going to work, traditional wives and mothers would prepare a bento for their husbands and/or children.

From wives with love.                        "Work harder honey!"

Source:http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTPKRVja_LNXG2osIBkCbIu_f0TDnuKmnakrb2kdFQ0oa99Lu2PEw

Bentos have been commercialized in the years and is now commonplace as a meal-on-the-go that can be purchased at shops along the train stations or from convenience stores.

The presentation of food is also a focal point in the culture of Japanese food. The presentation of food often varies with the seasonality, with each season spotting its own colors and aesthetics. One of the more outstanding seasonality presentations would be spring, where inspirations from the cherry blossoms create dishes that are not only scrumptious but also a beautiful spectacle.

The spectacle to behold.

Source: http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTyNR5xb4JAsmrZXEGxFTtc48_O3MlLmg1oP-RNOp3PB9-N9AGCQw

Reference:

Japanese Food. Retrieved on 7th December 2010 from http://www.japanesefoodculture.org/food/

The Traditions of Japan

The traditions of the Japanese can be reflected in their traditional clothing. With a rich history that dates back into the 8^th century, the kimono is a traditional clothing that has transcended time and changing fashion trends to remain as an outfit that is commonplace in modern Japan. Kimono literally translates into “Something to wear”, and has a variety to it, ranging from the yukata for bathroom-wear to the houmongi that serves as visiting-wear. The kimono is worn with an “Obi”, a long piece of linen that serves as a sash, and with “Geta”, traditional wooden sandals that go along with the kimono. The colors and patterns on the kimono differ from season to season, as well as the status of the wearer. Married females tend to wear darker colored kimonos.

A traditional kimono with Spring colors.   "Stunning"

Source: http://en.secretchina.com/lifestyles_entertainment/3735.html

Traditions also apply heavily on the public holidays of the Japanese society. A more famous festival that has gained popularity even in other countries would be the Bon Odori festival. The Bon Odori festival takes place on a particular week in August; this week is called the “bon week”, which Japanese superstition believes is the week when ancestral spirits come back to the plane of the living. The Bon Odori festival is then a warm festival in memorial of the ancestors, where the Japanese would don their traditional kimono and dance to traditional music in the streets.

Another special occasion that the Japanese celebrate is the Setsubun, which is the celebration of the beginning of spring. Traditionally, Setsubun is held on either the 3^rd or 4^th of February, which is also the Japanese lunar New Year’s Eve. On this occasion, people would drive out evil and welcome happiness in lieu of spring, where new life begins. More contemporary activities are to visit shrines and temples on this occasion to pray for a good year ahead be it in academics or business-wise.

Japan also has its fair share of traditional rituals and ceremonies. One of these traditional ceremonies would be the Tea Ceremony. 

Let's learn a few basics of the Tea Ceremony

The origins of the Tea Ceremony dates back to the 13^th century where lords started to enjoy tea as a daily commodity. This was later incorporated into the Japanese tradition where the host to would prepare tea for guests. With many steps and etiquettes to abide by, as well as a wide variety of teas and their preparation methods, many Japanese now learn Tea Ceremony from certified professionals as a hobby.

Reference:

The History of the Kimono. Retrieved on 7^th December 2010, from http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0214080/Clothing/history_of_the_kimono.htm

Kimono – Definition. Retrieved on 7^th December 2010, from http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Kimono

Kimono – Houmongi. Retrieved on 7^th December 2010, from http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/fashion/houmongi_kimono.html

Bon Odori – Japanese Traditional Dance. Retrieved on 7^th December 2010, from http://www.japan-101.com/art/art_bon_odori.htm

Setsubun in Japan; A Lunar "New Years' Eve. Retrieved on 7^th December 2010, from http://www2.gol.com/users/stever/setsubun.htm

The indigenous people of Japan

Japan has one group of indigenous people called the Ainu. They populate the northern island of Japan, Hokkaido. Whilst their origins are still an object of debate, popular beliefs hold that they are of mixed European and Asian blood, thus their unique features of darker skin, larger built and more hairs on the body as compared to the Japanese.

A traditional Ainu couple. How charming.

Source: http://www.d.umn.edu/cla/faculty/troufs/anth1095/images/AinuCouple.jpg

Spiritual beliefs of the Ainu are relatively animistic, revolving around the environment and the belief that spirits and life energy exist in all objects, similar to the Japanese Shintoism. This results in the Ainu holding nature in great reverence. On an interesting note, the bear is revered as one of the sacred animals in Ainu beliefs, and is seen as an incarnation of the hero that taught the Ainu how to fish, hunt and weave.

This is also an explanation to their traditional way of life that revolves around hunting, fishing and agriculture as this allows them to keep in touch with nature.

However, spiritual beliefs are the only common factors the Japanese and Ainu have. The Ainu actually have a culture where males let their facial hairs grow as it is seen as a sign of beauty. Their female counterparts tattoo their lips with smut, to mimic beards. Both genders also spot earrings and jewelry as it is also a sign of beauty.

However, in more recent years, the Ainu are facing a certain potential of extinction due to the loss of roots. The Japanese society upholds group harmony and homogeneity to such an extent there is strong racism against foreigners and other races that are non-Japanese. Thus many of the Ainu of the previous generation hid their identities, rejecting and abandoning Ainu culture to hide the fact that they are Ainu so as to avoid being ostracized. Some of the younger generation are even unaware of their Ainu roots and identities due to the perfect facade that their parents have kept up, and thus believe themselves to be Japanese.

Whilst racism towards the Ainu has died down generally and is less visible in modern Japan, it is noted that there are still some who ostracize the Ainu.

Reference:

Schumer (2002) Ainu. Retrieved from http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/oldworld/asia/ainu.html

Thomason (1999) The Ainu of Japan: The History, Culture and Discrimination Against this Aboriginal Group. Retrieved from http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/fourth_world/22057

Japan - Ainu. Retrieved on 8th December 2010, from http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2244.html

Anitei (2008) 9 Amazing facts about the Ainu people. Retrieved from http://news.softpedia.com/news/9-Amazing-Things-About-the-Ainu-People-79277.shtml

The Languages of Japan

The Japanese language is unique in the fact that they have different dialects within the likeness of the Japanese language. These dialects are different slangs of the Japanese language that differs between regions of Japanese, and are identified by the region’s name along with the adding word “-ben” at the back. 

Amongst the long list of Japanese dialects, the two of the most famous are the Kansai-ben and the Kanto-ben.

Here's an example of how they differ

As can be seen from the video, the words that mean "Do Not" differ from each dialect.

But to make the distinction, the most prominent and commonly used amongst the two would be the Kanto-ben, which is also the commissioned as the official Japanese language over other dialects. 

The Japanese Writing system is made up of 4 methods of writing, namely Kanji, Katakana, Hiragana and more recently adopted Romaji.

Kanji is in actuality the very letters of the classical Chinese letters. This can be explained by historical facts: The Japanese did not have their own writing system before the 4th century, and when Chinese books were brought into Japan upon the beginning of the 4th century, the Japanese soon acknowledged classical Chinese as the official written language.

Further down the timeline, the Japanese found classical Chinese imperfect as it was unable to represent the verbs and tenses that the Japanese language use in varying scenarios. Thus the Japanese improvised their own writing system to incorporate their phonetic values: the Hiragana and Katakana. These written syllables were deemed as effective and representative of the Japanese language. To date, both still used in modern day Japan in unison, although Katakana is the main used writing system.

Lastly, the Romaji was adopted in lieu of western influences. It uses a Romanized system, where the vowels in the language are written in roman letters to reflect and pronounce the Katakana and Hiragana syllables.

Here’s a written example of the Japanese syllables for the phrase “Japanese Language”
Kanji:       日本語
Hiragana:  にほんご
Katakana: ニホンゴ
Romaji:     Nihongo

Reference:

The Japanese Writing System. Retrieved on 8th December 2010, from http://www.cjvlang.com/Writing/writjpn.html

Ager (2010) Japanese (Nihongo). Retrieved from http://www.omniglot.com/writing/japanese.htm

The Japanese Education System

The Japanese educational system is very affected by Western influences. This is due to the reforms of the educational system by the Americans after the second world war. 

Getting a glimpse of the Japanese educational system

Yes! Manners prevail in schools too!

The academic path of a Japanese youth would be spending the first six years in elementary school (Also known as "Shogakkou" in Japanese). This is commonly acknowledged by the Japanese people as a time where the fundamentals towards holistic growth are built, and thus the Japanese government has passed laws making this one of the two compulsory levels of education. The provision of public elementary school education is free to Japanese citizens.

After clearing the six years in elementary school, regardless of academic achievements, students are pushed up to the next compulsory level of education: Junior high school (Also known as "Chugakkou" in Japanese). At this stage, the curriculum starts to shift from one that is more focused on the students' growth in moral values to one that is more academic. Education in mathematics and Japanese language is continued with the introduction of other subjects such as English, music, art and physical health. Junior high school is no longer free and students are to spend 3 years in this institution.

Emphasizing heavily on the sciences and math, the third level of education in Japan is the High school (Also known as "Koukou" in Japanese). Highly competitive and ranked in terms of academics, students have to rely on academical achievements to get into a high school of their choice. Preparations for the university entrance exams are done over a period of 3 years where students study the regular curriculum as junior high, but at a much more advanced level. Some schools also include vocational training in various areas such as Business and Industrial work.

Another educational institution closely tied with the high school would be cram schools (Also known as "Juku" in Japanese). Whilst serving even elementary school students, a larger percentage of cram school students are from high schools as they prepare to get into universities. Cram schools offer additional lessons in relation to the curriculum covered in regular classes, and are highly similar to formal tuition centres.

The last leg of the Japanese youth's education would be university (Also known as "Daigakkou". Entrance exams are held every year where students try their best to get into the public universities, educational institutions more highly regarded than foreign universities. The most prominent universities in Japan are Tokyo University and Kyoto University.

Reference:

Japan - Elementary School. Retrieved on 8th December 2010, from http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-7144.html

Living in Japan - Education. Retrieved on 8th December 2010, from http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2150.html

Japanese Schools (2001). Retrieved from http://educationjapan.org/jguide/school_system.html

Japanese Leisure activities

The standard leisure activities that Japanese are involved in are domestic travel, visiting theme parks, dining out, enjoying time with family and friends and sports; although domestic travel is relatively expensive and thus not engaged on a regular basis.

According to research (Central Research Services Inc, 2005), the Japanese prefer dining out the most.

The Japanese usually spend time with their families and friends whilst playing sports, thus incorporating the two into a new paradigm. A most popular sport in Japan would be baseball (Also known as "Yakyuu" in Japanese).Many people love the sport and are raging fans, parents usually play the game with their children and the love for the sport is passed on. Baseball is offered at both junior high and high school level, where there are national level competitions, one of the most coveted competitions being "Koushien".

"They take their baseball very seriously"

A popular leisure activity especially among the youths is visiting theme parks. With Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japanese youths are flocking to Tokyo or Osaka during their school holidays or weekends to relax and have a great experience.

Other leisure activities revolve around traditional games such as "Shogi", a Japanese form of chess. Whilst its popularity is mostly upheld by the senior citizens, there is still a considerable amount of middle-aged people to youths playing such traditional games.

Festive activities are also alternatives of leisure activities for the Japanese. One of the major and most popular festivals in Spring that attracts many Japanese to participate is Cherry Blossom viewing (Also known as "Hana-mi" in Japanese). Viewing the Cherry Blossoms in their transient moments of glory and beauty is something that Japanese of all ages appreciate.

 An old couple viewing the cherry blossoms. How loving at such a ripe old age.

Source: http://www.ocada.jp/life/sakura.htm

Some would simply spread a picnic sheet and view the flowers for a day whilst having a picnic.

Picnic under the cherry blossoms

Source: http://www.ocada.jp/life/sakura.htm

Reference:

Ken Y-N (2005) Leisure time activities. Retrieved from http://whatjapanthinks.com/2005/10/27/leisure-time-activities/

Leisure Activities. Retrieved on 8th December 2010, from http://www.japanlink.co.jp/ka/cgorfr.htm

What Japan is famous for

Japan is famous for a multitude of things. Food, culture and electronics being the top 3 amongst the list.

The food of Japan has transcended time-space to receive a global embrace. People all around the world are now enjoying the fine tastes of sashimi, sushi and ramen, the more famous dishes amongst the great variety of cuisine that Japan has to offer. Japanese restaurants can be found in every part of the world, and there have been many successful Japanese food brands around the world, such as Gindaco and Yoshi-noya.

I'm sure you know these guys

Source: http://www.japanlink.co.jp/ka/cgorfr.htm

The cultures of Japan is definitely famous around the world, if that is not an exaggeration. It is common knowledge now that Japan is one of the richest countries in culture, and tourists flock there in the millions every year. The most well-known Japanese cultures around the world would indefinitely be the samurai and the geisha.

You may know these guys too

Source: http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT15tZkAgOPX7DkJtbzXq8wciaiuj-BVcrmXzyhqiKc86CIg8sY

Electronics made in Japan are known around the world to be one of the best, made to last and of good quality. The electronics industry in Japan is very extensive, producing electronics from industrial machines to domestic electrical appliances. Many of these electronics come in the form of everyday products and have infiltrated the world. For all you know, the electric fan in the living room could be produced by KDK, a Japanese brand.

"Yeap. It's KDK alright"

Source: http://www.doublehappiness.com.sg/uploadfiles/pro_2007720154644.jpg

Disneyization of Japan

"Disneyization is portayed as a globalizing force. In other words, the principles with which it is associated are gradually spreading throughout the globe." (Bryman, 2004) 

There is an increasing number of themed environments in Japan, thus showing clearly the effects of Disneyization in Japan.

What other example other than Disneyland itself. Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea are the very model examples Disneyization. Now to take a closer look at the dimensions of Disneyization

• Theming - Tokyo Disneyland successfully themes the amusement park by clothing it a sense of fantasy and marvel through the usage of the well-known Disney characters.
• Hybrid consumption - People can no longer differentiate the consumption of a regular theme park experience and the consumption of the experience of seeing Disney characters and performances by these characters. The consumption of these two experiences have now been interlocked and extremely difficult to differentiate. Even eating in a restaurant in Tokyo Disneyland would have a certain degree of hybrid consumption as one not only dines in the restaurant but also enjoys the performances happening in a close vicinity as well as the Disney themed interior of the restaurant.
• Merchandising - Disneyland is clearly the harbinger of merchandising. The characters of Disney are all copyrighted, thus the sale of Disney souvenirs and the Disney experience is reserved only for Disneyland.
• Performative labour - There is also a clear case of performative labour in Tokyo Disneyland, as in all Disneyland establishments around the world. The performers are all required to put on a persona befitting to that of the character they are acting as. Thus the princess Snow White would never get angry even if insulted by a guest as the actor has to uphold the fairy-like qualities of Snow White and her attitude.

A rival on par with Disneyland that has an establishment in Japan would be Universal Studios Japan. Also a foreign product that has spread to Japan through globalization, there is characteristics of disneyization observed in the concept of Unversal Studios.

• Theming - The Universal Studios cloths the amusement park with a theme that is largely unrelated to enjoying thrilling ride: Movie Characters.
• Hybrid consumption - Similar to Disneyland, the masquerade of movie characters and lookalikes are now an experience consumed together with the thrill of riding rides in a amusement park. Seeing Grinch walking around the site during Christmas season is now so commonplace that it is already interlocked with the consumption of the amusement park.
• Merchandising - A fair rival in all areas, Universal Studios bears its own copyrighted characters and sells copyrighted souvenirs and material.
• Performative labour - The employees who take on roles as acting as any of the movie characters view their work to be a performance, where they maintain the attitudes and characteristics of the character they are portraying. Thus there is great performative labour.

Another example would be the Maid Cafe. A concept originating from Japan, the Maid Cafe bears characteristics that fit some of the dimensions of Disneyization.

What you just witnessed is the standard greeting a waitress would give to a guest at a Maid Cafe. The words said are "Okaeri-nasai, Goshujin-sama", which means "Welcome home Master".

• Theming - Maid Cafes are themed with a homely feel, where the guest is the "master". The waitresses in a Maid Cafe wear maid costumes and refer to the guests as the "masters". The Maid Cafe has thus successfully clothed a cafe with a largely unrelated narrative of being the "master".
• Hybrid consumption - Guests at a maid cafe now engage in hybrid consumption. This is due to the fact that the consumption of food is now becoming more interlocked with the experience of being greeted as the "master" by waitresses dressed in maid costumes. The two forms of consumption are now becoming extremely difficult to distinguish and is generally becoming a new product of its own.
• Merchandising - However, due to the nature of the business, which still generally revolves around the sales of food, it is impossible to engage in merchandising as dishes cannot be copyrighted. But there is a certain level of merchandising in terms of the experience. Successful maid cafes now have their own brands and logos, thus they can promote the cafe under that brand.
• Performative labour - There definitely is performative labour in working at a Maid Cafe. Waitresses are to smile at all times, greet the guests as "master" as well as remain a positive attitude to serving the guests through and through. This fits the disneyization dimension of performative labour where there is a tendency for work to be viewed as a performance.

Changes brought about by growth of tourism

Many changes have been brought about, or alternatively, made by the growth of tourism in Japan. These changes take place in various dimensions : Infrastructure, the economy, the general environment and the Socio-cultural environment.

With tourism booming, the infrastructure of Japan has benefited. The Japanese government has come to build more tourist infrastructure as well as upgrade existing infrastructure to cater to tourist needs. Examples of this change in infrastructure are such as the addition of English words to existing signboards at areas that tourists most often congregate or use, such as at the airports and at the train stations.

Picture of signboard at a train station

Source:http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_LmqqQG0v1_A8_qT4_BHoA

The infrastructure also benefited in terms of the accessibility of the place. Not only the tourists would take scenic bus trips or use the new roads to bypass mountain trails to arrive at the destination quicker, the locals can use them too. With more roads being built and more train service coverage, the accessibility of certain parts of Japan also increases, thus locals benefit from it too.

The economy has also been affected and changed by the growth of tourism in Japan. 

First let's look at the positive changes.

• The growth of tourism in Japan would indefinitely lead to the generating of more tourism-related jobs and the need for more manpower to fill these jobs. This would help to reduce unemployment in the country. Thus the growth of tourism is positive in this aspect.
• Another positive change brought about by the growth of tourism in Japan would be the increase in tourist dollars flowing into the country. These tourist dollars would help bring about better standard of living as locals benefit financially from the sales of goods and souvenirs to these tourists.

However, there are also negative changes brought about by the growth of tourism for the economy.

• As tourists usually travel with travel agents, they would dine and shop at designated areas with which the tour operators gain commission from. Thus tourist dollars spent in Japan may not reach the locals, and instead is earned by already huge conglomerates or restaurants, where the money is not being spread around.
• Many Multi-National Companies (MNCs) would flood into Japan. This would then lead to leakage in the money cycle as when these MNCs take part in the tourism-related industry, they would remit their earnings to their home countries or the country they are based on.

The growth of tourism would also affect the general environment for sure. The development of basic tourist accommodation and amenities itself would result in considerable amounts of deforestation. A fine example would be the building of tourist attractions in an attempt to "breathe life into tokyo" (Tabuchi, 2010). Should the plan on the part of the government materialize, even more nature would be cleared to give way to the attractions such as the mammoth museum.

Not to mention the fact that there will also be noise pollution in addition to the negative impacts on the environment already.

Last of all would be the Socio-cultural environment of Japan. The growth of tourism in Japan has brought about many negative impacts on the society and the culture of the Japanese. Through tourism, Japanese come into contact with and have greater exposure to foreign cultures and mindsets. This may potentially result in change for the worse in the indigenous culture of the Japanese as they may pick up negative cultures such as binge drinking, or in some extreme cases encourage sex tourism.

Also, crime-rates would go up as thievery from tourists would increase due to the tourist tendency to carry considerable sums of money when traveling around.

However, the socio-cultural changes may not all be for the worst. Through the exchange with tourists as well as the general increase in tourism, locals may learn that it is important to protect their cultures and their natural environment so as to maintain a sustainable environment and tourism. Thus it would help awaken positive values in Japanese, which is positive.

Reference:
Cost, Language Barrier Still Keeping Tourists Away. Retrieved on 9th December 2010, from http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/cost-language-barrier-still-keeping-tourists-away

Economic Impact. Retrieved on 9th December 2010, from http://www.insidejapantours.com/economic-impact/

Tabuchi (2010) Old Vs. New In Japan Tourist Push. The New York Times

Is tourism the culprit of commodification of Japanese Cultures

First off, what is Commodification?
It can be defined as the process of turning something into a commodity, or to make something commercial.
In general, it is apparent that tourism is usually the main culprit behind of commodification of cultures and traditions.

This is due to the key that makes the world go round: Money.
It is understood that tourists want to have a taste of the food, the cultures and the luxurious experience that is provided by the destination. Thus to earn tourist dollars, people commodify their cultures into products that can be sold to tourists for money. Taking the Ainu for an example, they traditionally make handicraft for their various religious and cultural purposes, but it was never done on a near-mass-produced level. However, with the introduction of tourism and after learning that selling the handicraft would earn them extra revenue, the Ainu commodified their cultural object of handicrafts into a souvenir made to be sold commercially, without any traditional value or meaning.
Thus when relating to the context of tourism, it is due to the fact that there is a demand to see and experience the culture that the culture of Japan is commodified and made commercial.

However, whilst people generally write commodification off as a negative impact of tourism, when taking on another perspective, it can yet be argued that the locals themselves are also partly the cause of commodification of culture. Taking the Tea Ceremony as an example. The way of the Tea Ceremony has lost its standing in Japanese society as people slowly forget the ritual and the right etiquette in performing it. However, in recent years the Tea Ceremony is regaining its popularity and is being adopted as a hobby for some, as stated in the post "The Traditions of the Japanese". Due to the fact that there is high demand from many people in taking lessons to learn this ritual, classes are being created as a product and sold to the Japanese themselves.
No matter how noble the reason, this is in essence, the very same as commodification of cultures as where tourists pay to view the Tea Ceremony carried out by a professional.

Thus whilst tourists and tourism are the main culprits of the commodification of Japanese cultures, the locals have also contributed to this phenomenon.

Reference:
Commodify. Retrieved on 9th December 2010, from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/commodify