QuickNavigation - FF Odyssey Editorials Archive: March 2003 (Last updated on 11/14/2007)

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Japanese Culture, by wsim

            It would only be natural to be either intrigued or interested in the culture of Japan, especially being avid gamers and all.  That is not always the case but it is pretty evident that most gamers have shown great interest in the lifestyles and culture of Japan, not to mention get their hands on some pretty nifty import titles and other interesting stuff.  Anyways, I’ll just describe and explain more about Japan and the most popular things and trends, whether it be pop culture or about the country itself.  As you all know already, Japan has one of the most powerful economies to date and even with economic downfalls in the national economy, the technology of Japan is quite remarkable.  Impressive cell phones capable of playing SNES quality games are commonplace and offer a lot of unique features.  Not to mention that Japan has great high-definition plasma screen TVs and offers many cool gadgets and stuff that make North Americans think of the possibilities of the future.  Meanwhile, most Japanese teenagers are obsessed with the Western world and are quite interested in American culture and trends in return.  It is not uncommon to see a McDonald’s restaurant beside traditional Japanese shops and old buildings mix in seamlessly with new modern apartments and buildings.  So I guess it works both ways.

            When one enters Japan, he or she cannot help but notice that the cities tend to be extremely overcrowded and can make you stressed out rather easily.  It takes a bit to get used to it but the population is quite crowded and therefore, you realize that most Japanese people either live in small houses or apartments.  Everything seems small in Japan, from the rooms inside of houses, to current electronic gadgets and cell phones.  The Japanese are known to be very friendly people, perhaps their English is not that great but are willing to help out lost tourists and such whenever they are in need.  Public transportation seems to be the norm in Japan and a hint of advice to tourists, absolutely NEVER use a taxi in Japan as it’s expensive and inconvenient.  The overall transportation system is very organized and efficient and makes it more worthwhile than taking a cab anyways.  The myths and stories about how expensive things are in Japan can be true in some ways, depending on where you go.  It is obvious that the famous Ginza district is notorious for outrageously high prices for items, especially clothing and designer stuff but that is to be expected.  If you look hard enough, you’ll be able to find food for cheap and things like that.  But Japan is still one of the most expensive places in the world to visit, there is little doubt about that, especially in Tokyo.  The history of Japan is quite interesting to say the least, such magnificent buildings can be found in Tokyo, Kyoto and Nara as well as many other places.  Kyoto is pretty a must if you are looking for historic buildings, such as shrines and Castles, etc.  The colourful culture of Japan is one of interest too, from Geisha and their colourful and beautiful kimonos to the pastime of Baseball, there is almost everything in Japan that one can imagine.  From ancient customs to modern practices, Shinto can be practiced among other religions like Christianity and such and the politeness of Japanese people is greatly appreciated by foreigners.

At night in Tokyo, the sight of seeing nicely lit-up neon signs flashing all over the place and cars and people bustling to and from is quite nice.  From Tokyo tower, you can get a great view of the city and the skyline itself.  But that’s not to say that Tokyo is all of Japan, by any means no.  If you venture far enough, say to the northern island of Hokkaido, you could see some excellent scenery, definitely a nature lover’s paradise.  And there’s no missing out on cherry blossom viewing during the Spring time if you get the chance.  In all, Japan is an expensive place to visit but travelers and people visiting will really enjoy the country and what it has to offer.  A rich blend of history, traditions mix alongside the busy pace of modern life and a taste of the future too sometimes.  It is definitely one of the most interesting places to visit in my opinion.

What about Japanese entertainment you ask?  Well, it would be too much to list and explain everything that goes on but Japan has many good actresses and young singers that continue to entertain.  While I’m more familiar with J-pop, some good Japanese rock groups are the legendary X-Japan and there’s also Glay, Siam Shade and L’arc en ciel.  Most gamers are probably familiar with the concept of anime in general, Japanese animation continues to impress and interest many people overseas.  Japanese are mostly proud of their pastime sport of sumo, where huge men strive to toss the other out of the ring using their agility and strength.  Sumo is just as popular in Japan now as it was 500 years ago.  Some of my personal favourite J-pop artists are Ayumi Hamasaki, Mai Kuraki and Utada Hikaru among all others.  Maybe call me obsessed over liking Japanese culture but I think Japan has a lot going for it, I love the history, culture and entertainment of the country.  Visiting there once was a dream come true, hopefully it could happen again.  Japan should not be overlooked as far as tourist destinations go.