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Taste Of Meiji

Taste Of Meiji

by | July 16, 2022 | Blog, Culture, Food

Taste Of Meiji

Taste of Meiji

The most exquisite sushi ever encoutered up-to-date was at a 5th generation sushi shop, established Meiji 4 (1871).

Daitokuya is a historic sushi shopis in the pristine Boso peninsula in one’s home prefecture of Sunny Chiba, which also happens to be full of magical mysteries throughout this extraordinary prefecture.Chiba Prefecture Michi No Eki Map - Land Of The Rising SonInterestingly enough, the son of the current sushi master, Kurihara-Taisho is now training in Ginza when once finished (apprenticeship may last 10 or 15 years), he will become the 6th generation to run his family shop, persevering these one and only immaculate flavours of a bygone era.

大徳家寿司-Land Of The Rising Son

In Japan, can one see the preservation of a family history embodied in their shop and the generation of these sushi artisans creating the same flavours of sushi handed down from generation to generation.

Imagine anywhere else in the world where one can go to an establishment and experience flavours created from the sea and the surrounding family farms starting from150 years ago.

大徳家暖簾-Land Of The Rising SonOne of the deep charms of Japan is, regardless of the modernization having taken place from the Meiji Restoration, there are still shops in the nooks and crannies in the Land Of The Rising Son preserving the way of Old Japan.
大徳家の明治時代の看板-Land Of The Rising Son大徳家のお店の暖簾-Land Of The Rising Son大徳家-千葉県房総市千倉-Land Of The Rising Son

Even as this is so, true to the nature of the Japanese, the essence of Meiji has been duly captured at Daitokuya.

Here, Kurihara-Taisho now invokes the spirit of kaizen—building upon previous generations—honouring his ancestors deliciously tweaking historic dishes—maintaining the divine heritage of this extraordinary art.

大徳家寿司屋-なめろう-Land Of The Rising Son

Speaking of extraordinarily old establishments, take the Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Yamagata Prefecture—the oldest hotel ever—run by the same family for 52 generations.

Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Yamagata Prefecture - Land Of The Rising Son

Where else can one find a business established in 705 CE still running today, while holding the Guinness Book of World Record for the oldest hotel?

Time marches on and stops for no one, and it is fascinating to watch Japanese food culture circling the globe over the last 30 plus years—in the form of sashimi and sushi.大徳家寿司屋-なめろう-Land Of The Rising SonSeeing these morsels of the Gods become loved by those around the world who understand the flavour and texture of raw fish warms one heart greatly.
大徳家寿司屋- 色々 - Land Of The Rising SonIndeed, if a true connoisseur of the delights of the sea, one would make their way to this extraordinary shop and taste the flavours of Meiji-era sushi, if at all possible.
For the truth will remain—one can never sample delicacies such as these anywhere else in the world—but for at this one shop—in the pristine picturesque town of Chikura in Sunny Chiba Japan.

大徳家訪問01 - Land Of The Rising Son 大徳家訪問02 - Land Of The Rising Son 大徳家訪問03 - Land Of The Rising Son 大徳家訪問04 - Land Of The Rising Son 大徳家訪問05 - Land Of The Rising Son大徳家大将-Land Of The Rising Son

Unfinished Masterpiece

Unfinished Masterpiece

by | July 9, 2022 | Art, Blog, Culture

Unfinished Masterpiece

Unfinished Masterpiece

One would best be served to look upon life as art.

Mona Lisa - Land Of The Rising Son

Art traditionally defined:

1 the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination

2 a skill at doing a specified thing, typically acquired through practice

Here is where one can put away any preconceived notions concerning the arts.

Life can be considered art as per definition 2, and beyond.

The goal of life is to die while creating a one-off extraordinary masterpiece, know as life…

Remember, artist don’t retire—they die or fade away.

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn - Land Of The Rising Son

Actually, Reiwa 4 (2022) happens to contain significant milestones—such as the passing of a generation—serendipitously reflected in the divine cycle of life as the newest member of our clan entered the atmosphere and joining the party on May 1, 2022.

Ogen Watanabe - Land Of The Rising Son

According to the indoctrinated standpoint of the Industrial Education Complex protocol, one would achieved all there ever is in life as specified by the unelected-overlords of this particular universe.

This means being sent off into retirement—a death sentence for those whose whole identity belongs to others, whether religious, corporate, or otherwise.

Indeed, there is now the foul stench of despair in the air, accompanied by hopelessness, which is the direct result of the disconnection from the true nature of oneself and the lurking purpose of destiny in the context on Oneness.

Ying-Yang-Oneness - Land Of The Rising Son

Recognizing that the art residing inside one’s subconscious-self has been obscured and weakened by the preconceived notions of life imprinted by others.

The reality of one own unique story and journey upon this mortal coil could be consider a piece of art hanging in a far away gallery for the satisfaction and pleasure of the Gods and Goddesses of Oneness.

The final results of one’s masterpiece can only truly be known after the full journey under the sun ends, and the exit into Oneness has transpired.

Most definitely, the quality of art left behind by each individual must be worthy of mention.

Sadly, most lives are lived in quiet desperation working and living someone else’s vision and desire, and the art within abandoned to die.

Rat Race - Land Of The Rising Son

Indeed, such selfless personal art can be considered gifts to honour ancestors while leaving signposts for those who come after.

The importance of one’s individual art created into this world cannot be understated as this beauty is all the more necessary in these turbulent times and are a beacon of light countering the bitter ugliness permeating our world.

Therefore, as of this turning point in life, one has felt the calling of a particular piece of art, which has now been recognized.

Like so many things in life—timing is everything.

There is no time like the present, and regardless of the lack of any particular skills to create one’s own masterpiece, consistent daily practice of any new skill is the path the enlightenment and creation of the Way Of One’s Art.

Clarity Over Time - cybersensei - Land Of The Rising Son

 

 

 

Care Factor Zero

Care Factor Zero

by | July 2, 2022 | Blog, Culture

Care Factor Zero

Care Factor Zero

One of the extremely prickly traits of the Japanese is over-sensitivity to language and perceive slights—intentional or not.

Most difficult to master, yet worthy of one’s precious and rapidly dwindling life, is to internalize the brilliant concept of Care Factor Zero.

One was most fortunate to have entered the atmosphere in late 1963 via a warm-fuzzy tree hugging earth mother—Canadian nonetheless.

Margaret Circa 1958 - Land Of The Rising Son

Good fortune to be sure, and like all things, there are two sides of the coin—the yin to the yang—one could say.

Yin Yang - Land Of The Rising Son

This is even more pronounced in the Japanese as the deeply ingrained societal protocol of tatemae and honne leave the Japanese acutely aware of the essence in the air and trusting their subjective interpretation thereof.

Truly, in Japanese society it is necessary to hone one’s air reading skills as this particular societal protocol is truly a brutal teacher, and an unforgiving mentor in the Way of the Japanese.

Having acute sensitive as to what others are thinking, was, and still is a highly valuable skill to navigate the murky air of the unspoken ancient protocols of the Japanese society.

Japanese Bowing To Each Other - Land Of The Rising Son

This is why Care Factor Zero is imperative for the Japanese to understand, internalize, and implement into their own lives as soon as possible.

With awareness of Care Factor Zero, the Japanese can gain a significant advantage over those trapped in the putrid dead-end decay of caring far too much about far too little.

The Japanese can also embrace the philosophy of Care Factor Zero to lighten their heavy self-inflicted burdens, which subconsciously maxes out the stress level of the long-suffering Japanese, while causing an unpleasant phenomena of Japanese known as jigyaku, or, collective -self-hatred.

Indeed, all benefit greatly when using Care Factor Zero protocol for one’s own peace of mind and serenity in this turbulent world.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck - Land Of The Rising Son

Of course, the opposite of Care Factor Zero is Care Factor 100.

Care Factor 100 protocol is to be used with the object of ones affection, and concerns their overall Mental—Physical—Spiritual textures.

Showa era Japanese family - Land Of The Rising Son

Care Factor 100 is simply another way to demonstrate unconditional love.

Unconditional love is the bullet-proof way to create a harmonious relationships with significant others leading to a deeply symbiotic relationship and harmony within the clan.

Besides, the personal agency granted to oneself via the Care Factor Zero protocol will reverberate throught a lifetime and leads to the ultimate state of serenity and enlightenment.

Enlightenment- Land Of The Rising Son

To be sure, Care Factor Zero protocol is an important tool to navigate the volatile waters of these turbulent modern times.

The default daily Care Factor protocol is Zero.

Objectively examining one’s own Care Factor levels allows accurate assessment of the worthiness of one’s attention, while always keep in mind—life is short, and you will be dead soon enough.

神道の葬儀 - Land Of The Rising Son

Truly, the masses care far too much about things beyond their control, creating negative energy while poisoning the innate human spirit all the while facilitating hatred and its repugnant partner in crime; bigotry.

Those who choose to constantly react to endless stream of events beyond their control will soon wake up to a bleak realization—your life is meaningless, and no one whosoever has ever cared that you cared about anything whatsoever at all.

Goddess of the Sun Amaterasu turns the seasons into years, here to understand Care Factor Zero leads to a peace of mind and a life of extraordinary events awaiting those who adhere to the enlightened protocol of Care Factor Zero.

Wabi Sabi Japanese Rock Garden - Land Of The Rising Son​

Lot In Life

Lot In Life

by | June 25, 2022 | Blog, Culture

Lot In Life

Lot In Life

Once upon a time, the fairy-tale story of a prince seemed like the ideal life.

Whether born into royalty or poverty, this is what is know as one’s lot in life—and just to be clear, royalty is not all it’s cracked up to be.

Sucks to be a prince that no one loves - Land Of The Rising Son

Here in lies a deep conundrum for the Japanese and their innate struggle between the instinct to advance an individual cause, or to join a collective for the betterment of all.

Even now, for the most part, the Japanese are conditioned to accept their lot in life—almost like societal programming, which is as old as Yamato itself.

When querying a spectrum of younger Japanese about their dreams, desires, and aspirations, one is mostly left with blank stares, or them fumbling around trying to understand exactly; “What does this all means?”

What are dreams and desires - Land Of The Rising Son

It seems as if having something to aspire to is an alien concept not worthy of further consideration, if not absent altogether.

Perhaps this is why the Japanese are fundamentally disadvantaged at inventing, but excel unlike any others when putting concepts and ideas into the machine of Form, Order, and Process.

For certain, Japan is a tate shakai, and the distinction between the Japanese classes is glaringly apparent for all to see—one only has to look.

Consider the tate shaka of Japan, and the class system embedded within it as the basis for the evolution of Japanese society.

As Professor R. Taggart Murphy saliently points out in his seminal work: Japan and the Shackles of the Past:

“In the West we like to say that if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well. In Japan, even if a job is not worth doing—and everyone knows it—it is worth doing well.”

Japan and the Shackles of the Past - Land Of The Rising Son

Regardless of the GHQ inscribing the foreign concept of “freedom and democracy” into the Japanese constitution after WWII, the Japanese cannot shake the Shackles of The Past, and will forever be enslaved by their lot in life via the rigid social class system in the tate shakai of Japan.

It is at one’s own peril to venture too far outside the acceptable prescribed parameters, and seeing past one’s lot in life.

Here is a cautionary tale to those who seek to challenge the system of Japan.

Takafumi Horie, also know as Horiemon, is a Japanese entrepreneur who founded Livedoor, a popular internet portal in 1995.

Horiemon - Land Of The Rising Son

Cultural point: It is often said “The wind blows from thew west.” This refers to harbinger trends originating in West Japan, and who are renowned as mavericks with superior business and entrepreneurial skills.

In 2004, Horiemon tried to buy the Kintetsu Buffaloes baseball team.

Keep in mind, Kintetsu has been serving its customers since September 16, 1910.

近鉄バファローロゴ-Land Of The Rising Son

To no ones surprise, the team flatly rejected the offer.

This incident brought him the attention of the murky figures who enforce the Form, Order, and Process protocol of Japan—particularly in matters of commerce.

It was after he attempted a hostile takeover of a major terrestrial television station in 2005, where the Japanese prosecutors then raided Horiemon’s home on suspicion of securities fraud.

This was seen as politically motivated and a stark cultural warning from the defenders of the status quo.

They successfully discredited him personally, along with his brash and aggressive American-like business practices, and deemed him and his ilk—“distasteful” and “un-Japanese.”

President Donald Trump embodies American Exceptionalism - Land Of The Rising Son

Humiliation and punishment of Horiemon was on the news blanketing the nation of Japan, for all to see, on terrestrial TV.

Meiji Era Execution- Land Of The Rising Son

This is a classic case of Japanese protocol and its application punishing those who dare to see, lest reach beyond, one’s own prescribed lot in life.

Never forget that it is always best to keep in mind in the nation of Japan:

The nail that sticks up will be hammered down.

The Nail That Stick Up Gets Hammered Down - Land Of The Rising Son

Call Me Grandfather

Call Me Grandfather

by | May 14, 2022 | Blog, Culture, Inspiration

Call Me Grandfather

Call Me Grandfather

In the case of one’s first grandchild, don’t call me jijī—just call me grandfather.

Which leads to a pronunciation conversation for those whose mother tongue is Japanese.

Mother Tongue and Identity - Land Of The Rising Son

English is the global communication tool and its pronunciation challenges will torment the Japanese until the end of time.

Most English pronunciation contains sounds which are aurally alien to native Japanese speakers.

Having grandson use grandfather will act as a permanent pronunciation exercise to haunt him throughout his life.

Along with the extremely vexing ‘r’ pronunciation at the beginning of grandfather it is also part of the double-consonant ‘gr.’

Moreover, the nasty ‘ther’ combination finishing off this pronunciation nightmare provides even more distress for Japanese speakers of English.

Language notes:
(1) Double-consonants do not exist in Japanese.
(2) For the Japanese, the most challenging pronunciation is ‘r’ and ‘l’ and ‘b’ and ‘v.’
(3) The Japanese language contains subtle intonation and complex ideograms—the torment of all Japanese learners.

常用漢字表 - Land Of The Rising Son

On the island nation of Japan, one’s grandson may be referred to as “half.”

This seems to be controversial terminology among the Occidental Anglophone, now shortened to “Occixies,” but is in fact how the Japanese innocuously referred to mixed citizens.

Growing up in the countryside of Japan, one’s own daughter, mother of grandson, was also referred to as “half.”

Sarah - Avatar - Land Of The Rising SonThis is where the contemporary and more appropriate term “hybrid” has now become a part of the Japanese lexicon, replacing the archaic “half” when referring to people of mixed race in Japan.

One can not help but consider this timely arrival of grandson to be of profound serendipity.

For this is the very year where one’s own father became god, just one month before the birth of grandson.

Now the spirit of dearly departed great-grandfather has incarnated into his own great-grandson embodying our clan’s DNA.

His great-grandfather exemplified the Milk of Human Kindness to his dying day, and endeared by all those fortunate enough to have met him.

Lawrence Joseph Filiatrault - June 15, 1935 ~ April 5, 2022 - Land Of The Rising Son

The burning question for all to consider in these extraordinary times is:

What kind of world will be left for the descendants of our Sun?

The fact of the matter remains true—all children are born pure and unadulterated.

innocence of a child - Land Of The Rising Son

It is only with the initiation of cultural and societal protocols do children internalize the notion of race and religion.

Unfortunately, this is accompanied with prejudice that come with seeing other’s differences instead of similarities, in particularly concerning religion.

For the sake of our world and future of our descendants, our children and grandchildren must have a holistic understanding of their own cultural touchstones.

Asian Values- Filial Piety - Land Of The Rising Son

They must also recognize the significance of other cultures and the unique protocols, narratives, and mythology contained within.

The Japanese have always had the notion of take things from other cultures and molding the object of their affection into something distinctively Japanese.

Now grandson has the opportunity to build a miraculous community of likeminded people from around the globe thanks to the miracle of technology.

The leaders of the future must guide us into our common humanity, representing all diverse cultural characteristics from around the globe, making our unified whole so much more than its frail parts.

Ogen-kun kore kara yoroshiku onegai shinagara, call me grandfather.

Be Japanese

Be Japanese

by | April 30, 2022 | Blog, Culture, Shinto

Be Japanese

Be Japanese

The Japanese are born and raised in an ancient culture based upon kata.

Under strict conditioning of kata over centuries, each Japanese naturally developed a sixth sense as to aesthetics in a strictly Japanese Way.

Form, order, and process are the three pillars of Japanese society and the foundations of their ancient system.

From centuries past, the Japanese were acutely aware of the aesthetics of design, extending into the sublime Japanese societal protocol of form, order, and process, which are critical for a successful life in Japanese society.

Japanese Rock Garden - Land Of The Rising Son

Island people are isolated by circumstance and over centuries of living within the kata system the Japanese were rarely exposed to other customs, behaviour, or habits.

This naturally led the Japanese to become acutely sensitive to any deviation from the Japanese way of doing things.

Even with the introduction of industrialism into Japan in the 1860s, the disappearance of the samurai class did not end Japanese kata culture.Industrial Japan - Land Of The Rising Son

The way of kata has been carefully nurtured and thoroughly curated over millennia and is an ingrained part of the Japanese spirit reaching into the very fiber of what it means to be Japanese.

The core philosophy of shi kata (way of doing) is evolutionary, and an integral part of the Japanese psyche.

The way of kata is expressed not only inside the nooks and crannies of the Japanese language, but is also deeply embedded in the habits and customs of the Japanese.

Japan’s ancient kata culture continued to evolve after the downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate as the unwritten protocol of the kata system were naturally infused into the industrialized economy of Japan starting from the Meiji restoration in 1867.

Those who did not conform to the traditional way of kata in both attitudes and behaviour were rejected by the higher levels of the evolving Japanese system.

Companies and organizations weeded out candidates who did not conform to the national mold.

Japanese fans cleaning up the stadium after soccer match - Land Of The Rising Son

One can still observe meticulously structured elementary and secondary education with very specific kata this very day in modern Japan.

From the start of Japanese compulsory education, protocol such as identical uniforms and bowing, strict routines for classroom performance, and serving fellow pupil’s lunch are all protocol of societal form, order, and process.

The system is designed to mold its citizens into a homogenized product of Japanese culture, shaping them into what it means to be Japanese.

The overall result of all Japanese being subjected to this strict molding process during childhood and their teen years was a strengthening of a common set of “Japanese” characteristics.

Bowing in Japan society protocol Form Order Process - Land Of The Rising Son

These unified characteristics play an innovative role in Japan, and even more so now, as the kata system applies to everyone, not just those of the privileged class.

One could almost say the Japanese are forerunners of the equality and diversity protocol due to the Meiji restoration, and those from any class who could conform to these strict societal edicts could be successful inside the “System.”

These characteristics included:

1. A compulsion to work together in clearly defined exclusive groups.

2. A fierce loyalty to their group and to Japan.

3. A highly developed sense of balance, form, order, and process.

4. An intuitive feel for precision, accuracy, and correctness.

5. Extraordinary manual dexterity and the ability to work especially well on small sophisticated things.

6. A predisposition to apply themselves with single-minded dedication to the task at hand.

7. An overwhelming desire to excel and to be as good as or better than anyone else.

Discipline, patience and loyalty - Land Of The Rising Son

On an important cultural note: Even if one excels, it is imperative to downplay the talent behind a mask of humility in order to maintain internal harmony.

Ponder this reality: An entire nation physically and mentally conditioned in form, order, and process have a significant advantage over people who are less trained, and work from a state of individualistic egotism as opposed to Japanese groupism and community.

Admirable qualities are also accompanied by negative characteristics as well.

1. Inability to think and act independently.

2. Stereotyping everyone in terms of family, education, university, company size, and position.

3. A tendency to do nothing rather than cause any kind of friction.

4. A tendency to maintain the status quo until pressured from the outside.

5. Inability to identify themselves with other nationalities and races.

The foundation of Japanese society is firmly rooted in kata culture, and embodies the spirit of form, order, and process of the Japanese Way.

Ise Jingu Banner - Land Of The Rising Son

 

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