Exploring the three themes nature/culture, global/local, and stasis/change is foremost an experiment in the power of terminology. It’s difficult to even begin looking at representations of “nature” in Japan, for example, without first discussing the infinite understandings of what it means to be natural. That being said, my goal is to base my analysis of my experiences here around this core investigation of the use of arbitrary terms. Hopefully as I begin to understand the various ways that these words are interpreted, it will become easier to apply them to the context at hand.
As we discussed today on the shores of Enoshima Island, the most prominent example of the complexity of the nature/culture debate arose during Seiichi Kondo’s lecture. As the sensei began his discussion of the Japanse aesthetic vs. the “Western” aesthetic, it became abundantly clear that the definition and treatment of nature is nothing more than a cultural construct that is in no way objective. However, Kondo seemed to believe that the Western aesthetic was far more “artificial” due to its symmetry and perfect geometry, whereas the Japanese were far more adept at creating a “natural” aesthetic through randomness and imperfect forms. I found this to be a fairly narrow-minded interpretation of the differences between the two styles. Firstly, while a Western garden may contain forms that aren’t readily found in nature, the Japanese style is not devoid of artificial elements. Their style calls for meticulous maintenance, which results in a landscape that is certainly artificially orderly and well-managed. The definition of “artificiality” in this case has been simplified to support a certain perspective in the debate, leaving little room for a discussion about the various ways in which cultures interpret natural forms. At the same time, I am uncomfortable with the term “Western,” as it does not seem fair to lump that many different nations and cultures together. As we have seen in Kellert’s article (1993), for example, distinct differences exist between nations that fall under this category. Kondo seemed to be very proud of the Japanese aesthetic, and while I do not blame him for this, his nationalistic tendencies were very apparent and maybe were not exercised appropriately.
Enoshima also presented several different examples of the intersection between the global and the local. Foolishly opting out of a lunch of grilled squid, I instead went across the street to try out a burger restaurant. To my surprise, there was not a single beef patty to be found. My burger consisted of a seafood patty topped with pickled vegetables and a “spicy” soy based sauce. While it ultimately was fairly delicious, I was struck by how different it ended up being from what I had expected to find. While the menu was in English and the styling of the restaurant was clearly American, their interpretation of the burger was uniquely Japanese. This experience harkens back to the reading by Raz which explored the concept of “glocalization” (1999). In his discussion of Tokyo Disneyland, Raz explains how, despite the common belief that globalization is homogenizing cultures, the reality is that these globalized concepts usually take on a local flavor. The fish burger is a perfect embodiment of Raz’s hypothesis.
Overall, this was a week packed full of brand new experiences, which were challenging, exciting and a bit overwhelming all at the same time. Japan’s culture is complex beyond belief, but I am beginning to see the usefulness in exploring this land through our three themes. They help me come to grips with the vending machines outside of ancient temples, help me find traces of home in the most foreign environments, and help me see Japan as it is today and as it once was, all at the same time. They are helpful in switching between perspectives large and small, new and old, and ultimately I believe that will lead to a far more enriching stay in this fascinating nation across the Pacific.
Kellert, Stephen R. 1993. “Attitudes, Knowledge and Behavior Toward Wildlife Among the Industrial Superpowers: United States, Japan, and Germany.” Journal of Social Issues 49 (1): 53–69.
Raz, Aviad E. 1999. Riding the Black Ship : Japan and Tokyo Disneyland. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Asia Center.