Be Japanese

Be Japanese

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

 

Born Again

Born Again

Born Again

There is nothing like the innocent life of a new born child.

Alas, in most cases, this innocence ends abruptly as the indoctrination process begins in-earnest.

For many unlucky boys raised in the Occidental tradition, the indoctrination start with a blade and the male genitalia in what is known as the unkindest cut of them all; circumcision.

This vile edict from long dead self-appointed and regally anointed “people of god” is still carried out in the name of piety in some regions of our troubled world; female genital mutilation.

Cleave Off The Foreskin-The Unkindest Cut Of Them All - Land Of The Rising SonAll claiming to be in direct communication with monotheistic gods must be looked upon with deep suspicion and as suffering from megsalomania, delusion of grandeur, and rotten to their putrid core with deep-seated mental illness.

Moreover, fantastic fables of god and miracle are simply designed by Mammon to be in the service of the chosen “people of god” at the dear expense of the flock, or otherwise know in Christianity as “sheep.”

Let us all now reflect upon the fate of the majority of sheep……

Amen.

Flock Of Sheep - Land Of The Rising Son

Clearly, the original message of Jesus, from whence a beacon to the downtrodden once shone has now taken on a much more menacing and sinister meaning.

Here, the fraud is evident for all to see as the naked greed motivating these “people of god” is clearly rooted in the material sludge of this mortal world.

In case one did not know, the fleecers fleece the fleeced to the tune of 10% of their gross income; this is what is known as tithing.

Even much more heart-wrenchingly so, the gullible masses accept that they must wait for a reward in the afterlife, in what is refer to as “heaven.”

Joel Osteen-Charlatan And Fraudster From Heaven - Land Of The Rising Son

As is with all evolution, so it is with Christianity.

The modern Christians understand mandating the surrender of one’s own sovereignty can be clearly dismissed as dead mythology.

Here is something important to understand about “heaven” and now needs to be prudently examined for veracity.

According to Christian doctrine, unless one had received Jesus as their personal saviour, and to have been washed by the blood of the lamb (Jesus), one can not enter the kingdom of “heaven.”

The Rapture and the Second-coming-of-Jesus-Christ_Heaven-Opened-up-Delusion or Fact - Land Of The Rising Son

This is exclusionary in the extreme, and contra-humanistic.

If this Christian tenet is taken at face value, the Japanese are heading straight to hell, according to this particular Christian dogma.

Joyfully so, the message of love and harmony is still prevalent in certain circles of Christianity today.

Here is something that is universally applicable to ponder, no religion necessary:

Do not judge a book by its cover.

古事記と日本書紀

The Japanese do not judge others, it is not necessary, for we live in the tate shakai social structure of Japan.

Indeed, the Japanese citizens’ place in this complex society is most likely to be predetermined and accepted as the natural course of one own life.

Remember, Japan was an isolated island nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean until only recently (Commodore Perry and Japan [1853-1854]).

Commodore Perry Black Ship - Land Of The Rising Son

The resilience of the Japanese can not be underestimated, and the Japanese Spirit prevailed even when gravely threatened by the Jesuits during the sakoku period from 1603 to 1867.

As pointed out in Koizumi Yakumo seminal work; Japan, an Attempt at Interpretation, in the chapter entitled, Jesuit Peril, one can see the Japanese flatly rejecting any notion of a disconnection from one’s own ancestry in the service of a false god in a far away land.

What Yakumo saw, and saliently described during the birth of industrial Japan, was that the Japanese are not “religious,” but in fact, adhere to the Way of Ancestor Worship.

香取神宮 - Land Of The Rising Son

Moreover, the Japanese place the highest value on form, order, and process…one could almost say, religiously.

The Japanese are welcoming to all, they only ask for recognition of just a few commonsensical protocols while visiting the sacred land of Japan.

respectful of others
mind your manners
venerate ancestors
life’s ephemeral nature
live and let live

香取神宮へようこそ - Land Of The Rising Son

For further insight in to the Land Of The Rising Son, why not take a moment to check out the following nooks and crannies:

(あ)How the Japanese think about love in I Don’t Love You I Like You A Lot.

(い)Why is the personal seal of approval on mundane business documents necessary all the time. Find out in The Almighty Chop

(う)The most important film critic you have never heard of, meet Yodogawa Nagaharu here.

(え)Not your average American buffet, but plenty pork intestite and stinky fish, welcome to Akitaya – A Family Restaurant.

(お)Will Japan become just like the good old U$A? Ask Mickey Mouse.

(か)You are what you eat whether you like it or not, some RoundUp with your rice?

(き)An angel on earth disseminating joy, Who is Uehara Hiromi?

(く)Never would one have thought in a lifetime to have had the honour to meet a Kamikaze pilot.

(こ)What happens when one becomes bewitched and under a spell, Is My Wife a (Good) Witch?

Civilization Three

Civilization Three

Civilization Three

The chasm between “East” and “West” has never been as volatile since the enslavement of the Chinese nation with a massive opioid addiction pandemic early in the 20th century.

Western civilization evolved from the Greeks and Romans, and when considering Eastern civilization, China comes to mind as the representative of the East, as this is the birth place of Confucius.

Ma Yuan Confucius Interpretation - Land Of The Rising Son

Keep in mind, the moral tenets of the Asia nations are based first and foremost upon Ancestor Worship, infused with the peaceful teachings of the Buddha, and communal specific rituals passed down from generation to generation.

Let us now refresh our memories as to why this historical inflection point has now set up a showdown between these two civilizations.

There were two armed conflicts in China in the mid-19th century between the forces of Western countries and the Qing dynasty (644 to 1911-12).

These two wars are referred to as the “Opium Wars.”

The first Opium War was fought between China and Britain (1839–42).

La_bataille_de_Palikiao - Land Of The Rising Son

The second Opium War, also known as the Arrow War, was the Anglo-French War in China fought by Brits and French against the Chinese (1856–60).

These conflicts marked the start of the era of unequal treaties with the Chinese.

However, this malice and disgraceful behaviour toward Asians was not something unfamiliar to the Occxie overlords, and this sneaky technique is still used in many forms even until this very day.

On a colonial note, this is where the Brits came into possession of Hong Kong via the Treaty of Nanjing.

The Treaty of Nanjing - Imperialism In China - Land Of The Rising Son

The onslaught of these rabid and greedy merchants of death via their vile ploy to enslave Eastern Civilization using massive opioid drug addition, resulted in the Chinese continuing to resist this repugnant Occxie protocol, leading to the second Opium War.

These destructive Opium Wars arose from China’s attempts to suppress the opium trade, which was destroying the Ancient Eastern civilization.

Primarily it was the British traders that had been illegally exporting opium mainly from India to China since the 18th century, and that trade dramatically increased starting around 1820.

Moreover, the resulting widespread opioid addiction caused the severe decay of the social, moral, and economic fabric of Chinese society, which must be noted clearly, is founded upon the key humanistic principle of filial piety and ancestor worship.

Asian Values- Filial Piety - Land Of The Rising Son

Indeed, filial piety is the core tenet binding all Asian societies and their communities, and the fundamental principle of ancestor worship leave both the Japanese and Eastern civilizations on a very different spectrum conceptually than those with the myopic Occxie eyes.

The third pillar of civilization, civility, can be observed as an innate character of the Japanese.

Fundamentally, the ancient Japanese and Asian civilizations will continue to persist as they have for millennia.

Alas, civilizations built upon the false doctrine that separates the family, community, and humans from each other and their humanity, are destine to crumble under the weight of their dogma and fallacy.

Here, any rabid tribe now unhinged from reality will be forced to peer into the sacred mirror of one’s own soul, and face the emotions and the hunger pangs of life’s decisions.

However, one should not despair, for hope springs eternal.

Anyone can look to the third pillar of civilization, which is civility, an innate characteristic of the Japanese.

和室でのお辞儀の種類 齊木由香-和美人へのみち - Land Of The Rising Son

Indeed, the Japanese civilization has evolved its civility on these isolated Pacific islands for over 2 millennium.

One another colonial note, the Japanese barely dodged a fatal cultural bullet after wisely rejecting the Jesuit dogma out of Rome.

The Japanese then built their unique civilization over the next 200 years, free from Western influence.

Then, true to their innate Occxie nature, the Americans showed up at Japan’s door, and do what they do best, point a gun and demand “trade.”

History shows starting with the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese successfully integrated alien concepts, and forge them into something anew, and often, superior.

Japanese Imperial Family Meiji 1880

So it is with the advancement of the Japanese civilization today.

Vastly older than others, and more deeply cultured with timeless wisdom, there is also a capacity to be humble by the Shackles of the Past.

Lest we all need to be reminded, Japan is the only nation in history, thus so far, to have ever experienced the devastation of a nuclear holocaust first hand, twice.

Nuclear Holocaust Japan 1945 - Land Of The Rising Son

Here again, humanity stands at the brink of nuclear annihilation.

If once again the nation of Japan should suffer the fiery breath of nuclear weapons, it will not only be the end of Civilization T, but elimination of all human civilizations, once and for all.

In order to understand the pillar in which the Japanese civilization rests upon soundly, one must carefully examine the Japanese constitution written by Prince Shotoku in the 7th century.

JAPAN 5000 YEN P93a 1957 SHOTOKU-TAISHI RARE - Land Of The Rising Son

The concept of dōtoku 道徳 is the universal guiding principles and the spirit of dōtoku 道徳 is enshrined in Prince Shotoku Taishi’s constitution.

dōtoku 道徳 is the general rule for all people to judge themselves as to what is right and wrong, and to act appropriately and properly within one’s own place in society.

Unlike law, dōtoku 道徳 is not externally enforceable, but works as an internal principle for each individual to guide one along the Way.

⛩Welcome to Civilization Three―brought to you by Japan⛩

Japan Map with Ume-chan

 

 

 

Analogue vs Digital

Analogue vs Digital

Analogue vs Digital

Analogue vs Digital

“Hey hey mama said the way you move it’s gonna make you sweat it’s going to make your groove.”

These immortal words were first heard in 1977 at the age of 13.

Nothing can replace the memory of an eccentric older cousin passing through our small rural town in British Columbia, stopping by to take his little cousin to a record store to buy Led Zeppelin IV.

led zeppelin IV original cover -Land Of The RIsing Son
Arriving home after the purchase and not knowing what to expect, the plastic was stripped off and the fresh shinny vinyl was taken from its protective sheath and delicately put onto the thirty-three and one third revolutions per minute turntable.
Fenton RP105 2 Speed Retro Vinyl LP Record Player -Land Of The RIsing SonHere one’s life took a significantly profound change when hearing the opening line to the now immortal lyrics of Black Dog (see above), and the warmth of the needle on vinyl and the booming of the speakers.

Not the most profound poetry to be certain, but honestly what do lyrics really matter after being exposed to John Paul Jones Black Dog bass line and his virtuoso musicianship.

Let us ponder the difference between the above described music discovery experience, and one of the digital generation unearthing Led Zeppelin for the very first time.

First, one could honestly say discovering and buying music has never been more convenient, yet it is void of a meaningful experience, an associated fond memory and even more so, to understand the true value of music and those who create it.

Cranky Old Bastards Poster - Land Of The Rising Son

Alas, the shopping experience for music now merely involves the click of a button, where your download is then made instant available for one’s listening pleasure, probably just a few times as the digital generation flitters from one flavour of the day to the next.

Moreover, there is no sensory experience such as the touch and smell of a new record, nor the warmth of the needle on vinyl.

The transition of the telephone has also made a significant impact on most people’s lives, although a double edged sword to say the least.

smart phone zombies- Land of The Rising Son

Here in the Land Of The Rising Son, one’s own beloved mother-in-law finally made the transition just recently from a late 90’s model flip phone, to a “smart” phone where she uses her new phone, a computer in her pocket, for exactly what she has always used a phone for, and that is to talk to her friends on the phone.

Cellular Telephone Technological Developments - Land Of The RIsing Son

Now in the word as it turns, all are face the true reality of analogue vs digital.

Cash or digital money.

Just like the vinyl records of yore, the future of paper money is now obscure.

Could what we have all understood to be money up until now be replaced with digital money on the phone?

The next burning question is:

What happens when the electrify fails?

power outage - Land Of The Rising Son

This is where the reality of the Japanese, who unlike many places on the planet have not sold their soul to the gods of the digital ether, but still use cash as they have done, well, since the beginning of cash.

Even to this very day, many grocery stores in one’s neck of the woods do not accept anything other than cash.

Are the Japanese in possession of some mysterious secret compelling them to diligently save paper notes for the inevitable tough times which comes with living on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean?

For the Japanese also have a metaphor for their own personal bank full of cash, tansu chokin, and one can observe the fastidious Japanese with pile upon pile of brown-backs (¥10,000 note), stashed away in the nooks and crannies of their own home.

1万円札 - Land Of The Rising Son

Perhaps they also have a cache of precious metals as well, most likely 99.999% pure bars.

Indeed, the Japanese look upon The Land Of The Rising Son as the country of disasters, wazai no kuni, but along with this gloomy outlook, there is a pithy saying expressing a pragmatism concerning the true nature of life:

wazawai tenjite fuku to nasu
turning disaster into fortune

Perhaps the burning pangs of hunger still serve as a visceral reminder of the hard times and sacrifice the Japanese endured as they set about rebuilding Japan after the war.

One can be certain this trove of cold hard moola and precious metal will never be turn into bits or bytes
which can then be evaporated with a fickle-fingered flick of the switch.

No, the Japanese will keep this precious cash firmly gripped in their clenched fist while declaring:

You can only take our cash from our cold dead hands.

clenched fist holding cash - Land Of The Rising Son

Each Other

Each Other

Each Other

Each Other

A wonderful Japanese sentiment expressed in a simple, yet powerful ideogram.

Notice there are two of the same forms inverted upon each other.

互 - Land Of The Rising SonWithout each other, meaning ceases to exist, thus, each other is dependent upon the other to be whole.

The importance of trust in each other, and trust in one’s own community is embodied in the spirit of this magnificent ideogram.

Indeed, when wet rice farming was introduced to Japan at the beginning of the Yayoi period the necessity to cooperate with each other for the survival of the community took president over the fickle needs of selfishness.

日本水田歴史 - Land Of The Rising Son

The profound nature of tagai is embedded in the psyche of the Japanese, and the emotion and feeling attached to tagai can not be explained to, nor understood by those indoctrinated into the tenets of the Occidental.

Indeed, the Occidental tenets cleave the individual away from one’s own roots and ancestry, leaving a primitive jungle winner take all mentality.

Survival of the fittest - Land Of The Rising Son

Here soulless wolves in sheep cloth feed off, and draining away the charming world of traditions, national treasures, and ways of life. 

A deeper insight into the meaning of tagai came after running across a very informative book in Japanese entitled “Kabushikigaisha Amerika No Nihon Kaitai Kikaku” (America, Inc’s plan to dismantle Japan).

株式会社アメリカの日本解体計画 - Land Of The Rising Son

The take-away from this enlightning book by Mika Tsutsumi is the necessity for the Japanese to recognize a true enemy and marshal the Yamato spirit of tagai, to unite, and defeat this sinister and grave menace to the integrity of the Japanese and our way of life.

株式会社アメリカの日本解体計画-堤未果 - Land Of The Rising Son

All the more interesting, the roots of this consequential peril was astutely described by Patrick Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo), in the chapter entitled “Industrial Danger” of his deeply insightful book; An Attempt At Interpretation, published in 1904. 

Lafcadio Hearn - Land Of The Rising Son

As the Japanese take time for reflection in these turbulent times, we see the way to the future is based upon our past, and our modern reflection is that of the ancient Japanese civilization connecting each other by ancestor worship. 

神棚- Land Of The Rising Son

The ancient past still rules Japan today and the unspoken social conventions of the Japanese are held within a plethora of concepts, which can not be described nor explained, and can only be understood if one reads Japanese and has lived in Japan for any length of time.

It is here in the “Land of the Gods” the Japanese now manifest the power of tagai, and the potency of social trust, community dignity, and honour between, and among, each other.

Global Unity - Land Of The Rising Son

This Is Japan

This Is Japan

This Is Japan

The mantra to repeat when facing obstacles, navigating the nooks and crannies of the ancient system of Japan.

Use the philosophy of ichi go ichi e.

It is always best, to take each encounter as an extraordinary moment in time, regardless of the tone, timbre, or hue, contained within the encounter.

When the inevitable frustration wells up when confronted with unfamiliarity, and uncomfortableness and one needs to “change things” is where this mantra comes in very handy.

This Is Japan

This is Japan - Land Of The Rising Son

As one figured out along the way, encountering breathtaking bureaucracy and red tape, stress is a choice.

The endless requests of faceless bureaucrats, to present pointless papers to be approved by surly and vacuous bureaucrats, who have to yet conjure up an original thought, or a novel idea.

This is a Universal Truth, valid through the multiverse, wherever bureaucrats are encountered.

The protocol of “This Is Japan” needs to kick in.

Put on a mile-wide smile while bowing deeply, and know inside the nooks and crannies of your own soul:

The only available explanation of abject institutionalized piffle in which the only, yet bad explanation could be:

This Is Japan

Mt. Fuji Cherry Blossom - Land Of The Rising Son

Why are things done a certain way, and why is it necessary for several salaried clerks stamp their personal seals onto mundane documents before being allowed to proceed to the next corporate step.

One will never be able to know for sure, so repeat:

This Is JapanTorii-gate-Itsukushima-Shrine-Miyajima-island-Japan - Land Of The Rising Son

Over the years one has observed Occidentals Anglophones coming to Japan with an attitude that they can, change Japan.

These naive children do not last very long, and this immature and objectionable attitude toward the Japanese and our society soon wear extremely thin, with the ordinary citizens of Japan and the residents.

Sure, make one own important voice heard at the local PTA meeting, or perhaps making a suggestion for improvement in the community garbage disposal protocols, is surely in order.

For certain, these are examples of valuable contribution to one’s own community, facilitating necessary and positive changes for the future of Japan, and these constructive suggestions should always be encouraged to maintain chitsujo in our society.

One also must always seek to make progress in one’s own sphere of influence, and accept all things beyoned one’s own control.

For example, equality is a noble concept, but one that does not exist inside the psyche of the Japanese for we live in a tate shakai (vertical society), and (mostly) everyone, knows their role and place in society.

This Is JapanOld Japan - Land Of The Rising Son

Moreover, in the Japanese mind, there is nothing equal about men and women. 

Each has their respective roles in Japanese society, and this is a fact, the Japanese would never find a reason to think about. nor to entertain such a a nonsensical notion such as thing to even be considered.

Why do the Japanese think like this?

This Is JapanKago Traveling Chair - Land Of The Rising Son

We live in a harmonious society, distinctly because the Japanese are formulated from the very beginning of their lives to live in the real world of the mask, face, and role, all dependent upon the place in society from where one came.

For even the Japanese are somewhat mystified, by some of the ancient protocols guiding the Japanese society, into the future for no other reason other than:

This Is Japan

Japanese Flag - Mount Fuji- Land Of The Rising Son