Kata – Part 2 – Way Of Doing

by cybersensei | December 16, 2020 | Blog, Culture, Language Study

Kata – Part 2 – Way Of Doing

One could say the most used and significant word in Japanese is shikata.

In particular, and most significantly, the form and order of the process.

The roots of shi, in shikata, is a combination of “support” and “serve” in the sense of an inferior serving a superior, and kata is roughly translated as “form”.

Add kata on to a word and you have started on a life long journey that will only end when it is one’s turn to cross the sanzu no kawa.

iki kata; way of living

kangae kata; way of thinking

kaki kata; way of writing

yomi kata; way of reading

tabe kata; way of eating

Door To The Universe

One is almost certain there’s hardly any area of Japanese thought or behaviour which is not directly influenced by one or more kata.

Kata also incorporates the physical and spiritual laws of the universe, which is seen by the Japanese as a well-ordered whole, and the uniquely Japanese protocols encompassing kata refers to the way things are supposed to be done.

Even more so and profoundly, both form and order are regarded as the fundamental means of expressing and maintaining harmony in society and in the orderly universe.

Historically, the Japanese have held the belief that form itself has a reality of its very own, and this form more often than not took precedence over substance.

The Japanese also believes that anything could be accomplished if the right kata was mentally and physically practice long enough.

One familiar with the esoteric coffee shops in the nooks and crannies of the metropolises of Japan can attest to the form and process going into what may seem like the mundane act of making coffee. However, to the coffee shop master, ingrained kata is a ritualized process which produces a cup of java that can only be tasted at said coffee shop.

古い喫茶店

This is all due to kata and the divine nature of the form and processes into the goal.

One can also observe kata at the Japanese cake shop, and one can know about the “wrapping” kata in action in the article “The Japanese Way of Cake”.

One can surely say the sum of all kata in Japanese life, can simply be referred to as “The Japanese Way”.

At some point in the evolution of kata, the proper observance of kata was equated with morality and one was either in kata or out of kata.

One being out of kata was a sin against society and was worthy of being ostracized, or worse…

Let’s be clear, kata mandated only one acceptable way to perform all the various actions of life in Japan, from using chopsticks, to wrapping a package, and through this, there being only one right way of thinking, and that is in no uncertain terms, The Japanese Way.

The Japanese think in terms of an inner order (individual heart) and the natural order (orderly universe), and these two are indelibly linked by form, by kata.

Orderly Universe

Indeed, kata serves to link and bind the individual into society.

If one did not follow the explicitly prescribed forms, one was not only out of harmony with one’s fellow humans, but also with nature.

The challenge facing the Japanese was to know their own honshin or one’s own “true” or “right heart”. After understanding this, one only needed to learn and follow the kata that would keep them in sync with society, and the orderly universe.

The learning of every day behaviour, proper etiquette, working skills, and professionalism became a codified process of learning the basics, and then developing one’s skills in accomplishing the necessary actions in the prescribe form, order, and manner.

Life-long conditioning in this finally meshed web of rules and form has made it second nature for the Japanese to expect that every situation would have its exact process and form.

The significant difference between The Japanese Way and the customs that developed in most other societies was that the Japanese create their own existence based upon kata with practically nothing left to chance nor to one’s personal inclination.

So, where did kata come from, and how did it evolve?

Come again next week for part 3 of kata as one explores the roots and history of kata, how it evolved, and the way it continues to mold the Japanese and our society up until this very day.

Kata – Part 1 – Form Order & Process

by cybersensei | December 9, 2020 | Blog, Culture, Language Study

Kata – Part 1 – Form Order & Process

Is one aquatinted with the Japanese term kata?

If not, one should very well be.

Having an awareness and understanding of kata is paramount to gaining comprehension of, and deal with the Japanese.

Perhaps one has heard this term used in the martial arts space, where it describes the formal process used in training.

Asian Boy Doing Kata

However, the essence of kata is far more important than this implies.

The entire traditional Japanese culture, starting with personal etiquette, and then in how one learns to do all routine things in life, was, and still is based upon precise kata.

In other words, the Japanese are shaped by an exact, prescribe way of doing things.

Throughout the history of Japan, the interjection of personal preference or any sort of deviation for any reason from the prescribe kata was taboo.

This prescribed and strictly enforce conformity to precise ways of doing things continues to have a profound influence on the character and personality of the Japanese up until the very day.

This makes them homogeneous to an extraordinary degree, and predictable as everyone was taught and trained to do things the same way.

Japanese Salaried Workers

One can easily observe in this in the Japanese school system.

For example, as you see the children cleaning their own schools, and serving their fellow students school lunch, you could say they are being trained in the kata of service to one’s fellow citizens, and the kata of responsibility for the upkeep and cleanliness of shared spaces (check about Japanese school lunch here).

Having kata drilled into one from the beginning of life can also be said to bear positive responsible for the remarkable manual skills and the dexterity that have long been typical of the Japanese.

One can also see this in the Japanese ability to focus on things with great intensity, the compulsion to get things right, and an incessant need to strive toward perfection.

Still today no one can fully understand and appreciate the typical attitudes and behaviour of the Japanese without realizing that the foundation of the Japanese Way is kata, and how this forges and forms those raised in the Japanese Way.

Kata is so vitally important for a deeper understanding of the Japanese people, our society, and the way things work here, one will be further exploring kata in depth so stay tuned for Part 2 of Kata, here, in Land Of The Rising Son.

Language is a Concept: Formal Greeting-Aisatsu

by cybersensei | November 25, 2020 | Blog, Culture, Language Study

Language is a Concept: Formal Greeting-Aisatsu

Language is a Concept-Formal: Greeting-Aisatsu

Japan’s traditional etiquette continues to be one of the most structured, refined, and sophisticated patterns of behaviour ever imposed on any people. From infancy, the Japanese were trained physically and verbally on how to behave in the prescribed Japanese manner.

An example of instilling important behaviours upon the Japanese would be how babies have transitionally been carried by the Japanese. An “ombuhimo” is where the baby is strapped to the back so one can use the hands freely. Going about the day, the Japanese greet each other with a bow, thus the baby is also instilled with this important cultural protocol, as they too by default, are bowing to the other party while strapped to the back.

おんぶひも

Being trained in proper etiquette and behaviour protocol is indeed an integral part of being Japanese right out of the starting gate. 。

Moreover, not behaving in the prescribed manner is a serious fail and could get one ostracized (read about the gravity of being ostracized in the Mask post here), if not eliminated from the earth forever.

The rules and forms involved in aisatsu are specially important between inferiors and superiors. The higher the rank of an individual, the more detail the prescribe manner of greeting him or her, the more rigorous behaviour was enforced, and of course this is true today as it ever was.

The first Occidentals to show up in Japan noted that the behaviour of the typical Japanese was the kind one might expect of royalty. One also recalls being treated in a royal manner in many situations even until this very day. However, for the Japanese, these polite, and to the Occidental mind somewhat strange behaviours, are culturally a matter of course.

Perry's Black Ship

The youth of Japan continue to absorb these important cultural conventions by witnessing it among adults as they grow up, and most of the traditional forms of etiquette are still followed by adults, particularly in formal situation.

Occidentals who really wants to “fit in“ in to Japan must learn a number of these crucial forms of aisatsu, and the formal greeting that takes place in the business world during New Year’s and on numerous other auspicious occasions, from weddings to funerals.

One can not understate the importance of understanding and adhering to these crucial social conventions, so as to make one’s relationship with the Japanese counterparts respectful and proper.

Even more so, while making the appropriate greeting following these Japanese protocols, one also can understand one’s own position in the most curious world of Japanese society.

Proper Bowing Technique-02

Koban: Police Box

by cybersensei | November 18, 2020 | Blog, Culture

Koban: Police Box

When one thinks of the police, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Watching recent events around the globe, it’s easy to see the police as adversarial, but are they?

Not where I live.

One common feature of the Japanese landscape is the ever present police box.

Called kōban in Japanese, this is a small neighbourhood police station found throughout Japan.

交番-06

These small kōban buildings are staffed by uniformed officers at around 6,000 locations all over the Japan.

Kōban are the foundation of community policing activities, which leads to community security and peacefulness.

The kōban in my neighbourhood also has a house attached to it where the single policeman in charge of the kōban lives with his family, making them a friendly and familiar part of our small community.

交番-03

One of the great things about the kōban is they are able to keep a general watch on one’s community, respond to emergencies, give directions, and otherwise interact with citizens on a more intimate basis. This truly leads to a community spirit which is safe and peaceful, and one of the main reasons why one has lived here for one’s entire adult life.

The earliest structure of what is now the kōban were built in1874, which were simple boxes where a policeman was stationed, and the citizen could call on for assistance concerning all sorts of matters.

交番-02

Interestingly enough, in 2017, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has been posting officers in kōbans who speak more than one language to help tourists and foreign expats. This is a welcome upgrade to the kōban as Japan continues to open up to the world, and becoming more foreigner friendly as time goes on.

交番-01

The success of this community policing system has not been unnoticed by other countries as kōban-style community policing programs have been implemented in several other countries, such as Indonesia, Brazil, and Honduras.

Often foreigner marvel at how safe and secure Japan is when they visit, and one believes this is in large part of the community style of policing, which is necessary for a harmonious society and peaceful community, which must be the goal of all communities, wherever they may be across our world.

交番-バナー

Bonus Story:
A dear friend of mine had a little bit too much to drink with his lunch one day. As he walked home over a deserted part of a small road, he felt the need to take a nap by the side of the road.

This slumbering foreigner was noticed by a gentle farmers in the area and called the local kōban. The friendly policeman came on his small motorcycle to wake the sleeping foreigner, woke him up and then sent him gently on his way, while admonishing him not to sleep by the side of the road, for his own safety.

交番-04

Language is a Concept: Kao-Face

by cybersensei | November 11, 2020 | Blog, Culture, Language Study

Language is a Concept: Kao-Face

Like many things in Japanese culture, coming to an understand of key social concepts and the significance of their meaning to the Japanese takes intention and awareness to fully understand.

One must say gaining an in-depth understanding of “kao” or “face”, and the gravity of protecting one’s face is of paramount importance to successfully interacting with the Japanese.

Always keep in mind, Japanese people tend towards being very sensitive to insults, slights, smears, and slurs of any kind, including many things Occidentals would usually ignore or simply disregard.

In the realm of protecting one’s name, reputation, and even more so one’s very honour, Occidentals usually seem to have very thick skin, while the Japanese often seem to have no protective skin whatsoever.

Reputation Is Everything

This cultural element apparently derived from the fact that until modern times (post-1945), generally speaking the Japanese were not allowed to express individualism or one’s own preferences, except in ways that were traditionally sanctioned by society, meaning doing only things Japanese society approved of, and only then when they were done in the accepted Japanese way.

Remember, these centuries old customs and protocols are ingrained societal conventions, which are woven into the fabric of Japanese society from the start of one’s life.

Historically, one of the few meaningful things the Japanese had going for them was their “kao”, which means one’s reputation.

So one can say that losing face for the Japanese creates extremely grave situation for both parties involved.

And one can see why protecting and defending the dignity and honour of one’s family is so very important in Japanese society.

In times past, when one’s face was trod upon one was not only officially or formally allowed to complain, they could in many situations get even, including officially sanctioned attempts to kill the offender.

One only needs to look to Japanese history for countless accounts of sleight and revenge.

Samurai Sleight and Revenge

For certain, kao and shame are inextricably intertwined into Japanese culture, and still play a significant role in Japanese life today.

When dealing with the Japanese, for whatever purpose, one must keep the important cultural protocol of kao firmly in mind.

When it is impossible to avoid saying or doing something that is very likely to smudge the face of a person, you can mitigate its effects by apologizing in advance, or quietly discuss some issue away from the group where the recipient will not feel a sense of shame or a lose of kao among one’s group.

Perhaps other societies around the world can take the importance of kao as an example, and leave out shaming others all together.

Even better yet, if it is necessary to say something, do so in a civil manner where, instead of tearing it down society while creating disharmony and lose of kao, one can building the society up and strive for harmony amongst the people, wherever one may live on our shared earth. Let the other person save face

Language is a Concept: Giri-Obligation

by cybersensei | October 28, 2020 | Blog, Culture, Language Study

Language is a Concept: Giri-Obligation

Understanding concept of “gi”, is to gain an understanding into the Japanese way.

All languages are a reflection of the emotional, spiritual and intellectual characteristics of the people who created them. One could say language is embedded into the speakers DNA.

In essence, all languages are social concepts.

The older, more structured and more exclusive a society and its language, the more expressions and terms it has that are embodied with cultural nuances which fundamentally control the attitudes and behaviour of the people.

Confucianism was infused into Japan early in its history, and Confucius philosophy exerted a profound influence on Japanese culture, and does so up until this very day.

Among the most important tenants of Confucius philosophy are the obligations children owe to their parents, the young owe to their elders, students owe to their teacher, and that all people owe to their superiors.

These obligations are natural and inherent. One is born into them as a result of one’s automatic relationship with ones parents, elders, teachers, bosses, in what is know as a “tate shakai”, which is defined as: a society in which vertical relationships are regarded as supremely important.

The natural obligations are mandated by number of powerful social, economic and political sanctions, resulting in them becoming so deeply embedded in the Japanese culture they were never called into question. You could almost say that adhering to these tenants is now burned into the DNA of the Japanese.

Interestingly, the most powerful of these sanctions is shame (understand about shame and being ostracized in Japanese society here).

Over time the Japanese became so sensitive about being shamed and avoiding shame became an overriding principle in their behavior; so powerful that many Japanese historically choose death, and often the death of their families as well, over shame.

These ancient set of obligations that Confucius prescribed for people have now diminished somewhat in modern day Japan, but they still hold strong roots in this society and one can see these protocols in place, both social and professional.

When dealing in Japanese society on any level one must always be cautious about putting you counterpart in a position where they would feel shame.

Moreover, one can have a deeper insight into the Japanese society, when one has a good understanding of giri, or obligation, and all that entails here in this complex and vertical society.

Responsibility and Obligation