7.7 Second week is over

This is the second week of this program and now half of the program is finished. I really think this week is a week of finding identity, both on citizenship, gender and history. This is not about only investigating Japan’s national identity, but also my own identity as an individual. I realize that as an Asian and with memory of history, I do have some limitations on examining issues. And this week’s lectures and excursion gave me a new perspective of looking at those things.

First is about citizenship. Who defines who is Japanese and who defines whether the society is homogeneous. I always felt there is nothing wrong to call Japan an ethnically homogeneous society and for it to set restrict on immigrants. Because that is what North-East Asia does. I thought. However, I realize the reason why we think our society is homogeneous is because we tend to separate groups in a binary way. If you have something different, then you are somehow welcomed as an outsider. I was really touched by the documentary on Hafu. I didn’t know that mix raced people are really in such large proportion in this society, and to ensure ones identity can be difficult. I was touched when I saw people go to the hometown of their father/mother, to explore the other part of themselves. I was also touched when I saw people tried different cultures and tried to figure out what is the society they really belong to. I can see the meaning of “Hafu”, since someone claims they don’t feel belong to any side and I can also see the meaning of “Daburu”, since people have emotional tie with both sides and they resonates with both while living in different culture. I’m glad to see the whole society is more open to them, while still at the same time, I wonder if the society indeed accept them as a part of it, or just because of globalization, there is less emphasize on nationality and ethnicity. The presentation on asylum seekers is also impressive. It reveals a side of Japan I never learned. I still understand Japan’s stand on security concerns and so-called purity, while the way they treat asylum seekers is just too inhumane and inefficient. The policies definitely need to be revised.

And finally gender identity. I have been watching Japanese TV program for quite long time, and I really like two of the commentators in the Terrace House. But I never thought of interpreting gender presentations in those programs. It is interesting to see how stereotypes and socially-constructed norms are presented and used to make program effects. And it is interesting to see how people with different background can view the same thing so differently. The professor’s research in gender presentation in horror film is also something I have been thinking for years, so I exchanged contact at the end, hoping to learn something more.

The trip to Yasukuni Shrine is really the single most important part to me in this week. That is the place I always wanted to go but simply too afraid to go. I cried in class when I watched the introduction video, for some reason I didn’t know. I even think it is unfair, when I saw people holding annual rituals as they do in every other shrine. And then I went in. I didn’t take any photo or request for a Goshuyin like I do in other shrine at the beginning, but then I felt something different. The Yushukan. The story told there keeps saying what Japanese army did was to liberate Asia from Europe and to protect Japanese citizens from discriminatory violence. It emphasized on how well-mannered Japanese soldiers are and how justified their actions were. And the end of the exhibition, photos of soldiers were hang on the wall, listed their hometown, their death and their letters displayed. I knew these soldiers were also boys, human, and men. Some of them went to the battlefield because country asked them to do so. They have family, and they have every emotion that every human has. But they still chose to die for the country. Did they really believe Japan would win? Or they pretend to. What were they thinking when they directly faced death. I would never forgive the army but I couldn’t help but taking the soldiers’ position. I believe the museum was advocating peace, so Japan will never face such fatality and devastation again. But it still feels to me that Japan regretted and mourned the war, because they lost. But again, I have a strange feeling that Japanese people nowadays are lucky that the government didn’t tell the whole story. I remember I talked to a Japanese, and he said he felt somehow lonely when he saw anti-Japanese protest in China online. I understand, but still, very complicated feelings. The impressive architecture, tranquil environment, dedicated artifact, interesting tradition, combination with modern culture, and the memory of wall together in Yasukuni shrine, is my image of Japan.

During the weekend, I went on a shrine tour and really experienced Tanabata in Japan. It was initially a Chinese festival, but just interesting to see how it is celebrated differently and similarly here. It is also the first time I try to visit each shrine strictly following the rules and searched for background information before visited each one. The tour really gives me a deep insight into how Japanese people view religion and how that associates with their daily life. This is almost half through, as I investigates more, I finds out more I want to learn.