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Post by junkdna on Jul 1, 2008 14:06:06 GMT 8
search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20080701zg.htmlI've been saying this for a year or two now: Japanese culture is crushing its own people under the weight of the stress it places on them to conform to outmoded practices. And it's only going to get worse until the culture learns to adapt (ie change) and that is the Catch-22 in the situation... Japanese culture, by definition, abhors change.
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yopparaisaru
Englipedia Fana
I drink copious amounts of fire and piss excellence
Posts: 312
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Post by yopparaisaru on Jul 3, 2008 8:45:07 GMT 8
I agree with you in that its good that the japanese are finally coming to realiuze that many of these suicides and murdering sprees are directly brought about by the trappings of their own culture. But I don't think the Japanese need to completely change their culture to help avoid these unfortunate incidents in the future. You can keep the soldarity of inter-dependence that is so important in today's japanese society if you work to establish a sense of individuality in the japanese public. So ultimately I believe that the only thing that absolutely needs to change is the philosophy of the "nail that sticks out gets hammered down."
I think that if japanese kids/adults were given the oppurtunity to realize that they do not have to fit into the "perfect child" model they would be able to live much happier lives. It would give a sense of identity to the outsiders in mainstream japanese culture. Similar to the goth lolitas in Shinjuku. Or the cosplaying otaku. Both of these "anti-social" actions have actually been mainstreamed into normal japanese culture and you see this through the awesomely massive crowds of anime fans running to a convention, or the goth lolita bridge teeming with girls in costume. Through their "rebellion" they've placed themselves inside a larger group thus fulfilling their sole desires which is a feeling of belonging.
Individuality does not mean independence, it just allows for the indicidual to express themselves without the fear of being shunned.
While I concede to your catch-22, and since they only to try and prevent future incidents like this is to change, I feel that the introduction of individuality would offer the method of least total change to present japanese society.
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Post by Otaku on Jul 3, 2008 10:54:08 GMT 8
While it's easy to say Japanese culture doesn't need to have a makeover for random acts of violence to stop, wouldn't you agree that 'accepting individuality' is not part of Japanese history and culture?
Japan is the the closest thing to the borg as any culture could be. Black eyes, black hair, same body types, everybody wearing uniforms all throughout their lives to be part of the collective, trained (a.k.a., brainwashed) to think and come to the same conclusions, taught not to question because questioning requires individual thought, etc.
From the outsiders point-of-view, we understand that individuality is nothing to be frightened of, but I think from Japan's standpoint, it might be viewed as a weakening of the whole. I think they believe allowing AND accepting any type of independence within the collective society hammers at the foundation and values of the society. And, it only takes a majority of people to believe something for it to be true, whether in a vacuum or reality.
As far as the cosplay individuals and the other outside-the-group types people, I think they are great examples of how various cultures CAN co-exist and still find harmony. Since I mentioned them, I want to give a shout-out to all those 'outside-the-group' Japanese peeps cuz' it takes a strong individual to step out from the collective and stand on your own two feet.
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