Storyboard / Culture
The Japanese never fail to amaze me when it comes to KAIZEN. As I'm sure many of you already know as fans of Japan, the Japanese take things from the outside world, and refine them to an extraordinary degree and make them uniquely Japanese.
Having just landed on the Land Of The Rising Son, I barely spoke any Japanese, and my new friend’s English was basically zero. He invited me over to his house for my very first sukiyaki experience.
A few short days after my arrival on January 11, 1987, I was invited to a lovely girls house and what a surprises that awaited me there.
The beauty of the Japanese language never fails to take the breath away.
Historically, tattoos in Japan were associated with the yakuza (Japanese mafia), and, therefore, when the common citizens of Japan see people with tattoos, the red flags go up immediately, and caution mode is invoked.
Let’s think about it: Who in their right mind would think, “Why not – let’s eat fish raw”, said no one from the western world, ever. However, once you discover the delightful and subtle flavours of the “umi no sachi [delights of the sea]” there is no turning back.
Along my merry way in my neighborhood, I am always entreated by these Deities guarding the traveler. And indeed, for the thoughtfulness of the ones who created and set up these in order to "guard and protect" the wary travelers on the way.
There was something that burned inside of him that compelled him forward, no matter what. Even after one of the most devastating blows one could endure in old age, he got back up. Not only did he get back up, but he never lost his sense of humour throughout his many ordeals, which included growing up in poverty.
Coming from Zen Buddhism, this is a state where two parties need not language spoken or written to communicate between their heart for mutually unspoken understanding. i shin den shin is still a fundamentally unknown concept in the west, however, it is an ingrained Japanese cultural phenomena unparalleled anywhere else, it’s woven into the Japanese DNA, I don't doubt it.
