Japanese unique culture

Before when speaking of Japan, I would immediately picture a technologically advanced nation. Japan is a world economic power with global brands like Toyota. ‘Toyotism’ is the word created for Toyota’s unique production system (Pieterse 2004). Nowadays, I admired more of its rich culture which I learned watching anime.

Globalisation helps the export of Japanese anime to the world. Its popularity can be seen in recent anime, Attack on Titan, which arouses heated discussion in Asia, even in Europe. This helps to spread universal values, like humanity and moral values.

Talking about animation, Miyazaki Hayao’s name will definitely appear. He is legendary anime film maker. Through Hayao’s animation, I discovered the uniqueness of Japanese culture, of its past and present. 

Bathhouse in Spirited Away (2001)

(image from http://hayao-miyazaki.tumblr.com/post/560134537/spirited-away)

Hayao’s animation display strong traditional Japanese culture.  Like in award-winning film Spirited Away, which told story of a girl who wandered into place for gods and spirits to relax, brings forward Japanese folktales about myths of Shinto (Yoshioka quoted in MacWilliams 2008). It also reveals traditions, like Japanese clothing and ‘onsen’, hot springs culture. The setting, like bathhouse featured in the film, let audiences to glimpse into Japanese's traditional village and appreciated its architecture. European style is seen, but that’s exactly what makes Japan unique, of its hybrid culture. Recalling history, Japan was occupied by America after defeated in the Second World War, and that’s when Western culture influenced Japan. Though Japan retained its traditions, some Western elements were incorporated, developing into special culture. Hayao once said his aim is to produce film that present ‘Japaneseness’ (Yoshioka quoted in MacWilliams 2008). I think he successfully did it, which revealed Japan cultural past and firmed Japanese cultural identity (Kimball 2009). 

Hot springs

(image from http://spiritedaway.wikia.com/wiki/The_Bathhouse?file=BathhouseCustomer.png)

Princess Mononoke (1997)
(image from http://ani.me/zine/home/article/2095/)

Hayao’s animation also looked into modernity issue, like the development of technology. Princess Mononoke showed battle between ironworkers and gods of the forest. The beautiful scenic, calm and relaxing life created by Hayao is a reminder of Japanese to appreciate nature. Japan has natural geographical location, located on an island surrounded by water. It is also a reminder to balance between technology and nature, so that human and nature co-exist.

References
Kimball, M 2009, 'Global culture and diversity', Margaret Kimball E-Portfolio, accessed 1 August 2013, <https://cunyonline.digication.com/mmkimball/CC_404_Global_Culture_and_Diversity>
Pieterse, J N 2004, Globalization and culture: global mélange, Rowan & Littlefield, Lanham, Md
Yoshioka, S 2008, 'Heart of Japaneseness: History and Nostalgia in Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away’, quoted in MacWilliams, MW (ed.), Japanese visual culture: explorations in the world of manga and anime, M.E.Sharpe, England