Japan 日本社会相关问题.docx

Japanese Society FINAL QUESTIONS!Question 4In this paper, I argue that popular culture in Japan reflects the social changes of family and marriage losing their importance and attraction, individualism gaining importance, young people losing faith, and economic pattern changing into service sector and advanced technology.Firstly, herbal men and the maid caf or host clubs which are more common in Japan and account for a great part of Japanese pop culture now reflect that the concepts of family and marriage are now gradually losing its importance in Japan. The idea that a stable marriage as a criteria for success is no longer popular now in Japan. The phenomenon of herbal men is an epitome of todays Japanese young people unwilling to get married. Marriage is no longer valued that much. In traditional Japan, family is the place where people seek for rest, comfort and consolation when they are tired during work time. however, now people would like to go to maid caf and host clubs to enjoy themselves and release pressure from work.Secondly, as an important branch of pop culture in Japan, anime and manga reflect that the individualism are becoming important in Japan. The themes of anime and manga usually contain elements like violence and sex. These used to be considered as unhealthy and indecent for teenagers. However, the society is becoming more acceptable about this which is partly due to the prevalance of individualism. People tend to realize that they have the right and freedom to choose what they like to watch and read according to their own willingness. Mangas like One Piece which are popular with young people, though have scenes that are extremely violent, their main themes are all focused on individual happiness and success gained by the protagonists struggle. Thirdly, the as the product of pop culture like anime and manga, otaku and hikikomori reflect the mental condition of Japanese young people who are gradually losing faith in their nation and society. Otakus are a group of people who are indulged in fictional world of manga and anime. It is interesting that the image of otaku is changing from social outcast to mainstream society member or even icon. With the rise of otaku culture, salaried men and the pursuit of life-time employment are being despised. Influenced by fictional world, young people tend to be more indulged in fantasies and more unrealistic. This can be concluded as a kind of escape from the society and nation that they find hopeless. They no longer believe in the promise made by government or schools that they will obtain good lives if they follow the normal steps as their fathers. Losing faith in work, companies and other social institutions, young generations would rather hide themselves in fictional world. The radical verse of otaku, hikikomori is more typical in reflecting the condition of losing hope and faith in the outside world and their nation. These people would prefer hiding themselves in enclosed space, rather than going out and communicate with people in real world. The number of hikikomori is about 700000 according to a survey in 2010 made by Japanese Cabinet. The large number of people unwilling to face the real world is a direct reflection of losing faith and hope in their lives, nation and society. Lastly, pop culture is a reflection of changes in economic patterns. The prevalance of maid cafs and host clubs, and the popularity of the manga and anime are both reflections that Japan is now changing its way of developing economy. Traditional industries like manufacturing are gradually taking place by service sectors. Otakus and customers who are willing to consume in places like maid cafes and host clubs are now contributing a lot to the GDP. This shows that Japanese society now embraces the concept of consumer market. Manga and anime related industries are extremely profitable because there are huge amount of demands in this field. Potential consumers like stressed out salaried men and otakus are trendsetters in the market. They make the market alive and profitable. Also, technology is another important theme of manga and anime and otakus as icons are usually related with images who are good at sophisticated technologies. These reflect that the economy depends more on technologies today in Japan.Question 2:In this paper, we argue that, though Japan is now experiencing difficulties, Japan is still a hopeful place with people more united, government facing more pressure to improve itself, technologies developing rapidly, and rebuilding its national personality which all together will bring Japan an optimistic and bright future.Large disasters like Tokyo Subway Gas Attack and 3.11 Earthquake and Tsunami, though are devastating for residents in some places, help unite the whole nation together. With the bubble burst in 1990s, Japan is still suffering not only from economic stagnant, but also the side effects of people gradually losing faith in their nation. The concept of “family-nation” is being questioned and challenged. Large disasters serve as spur to make people unite as a whole group to confront large national tragedies. Jibun Sagashi (search for self) is a direct indication of Japanese people united as a group to help each other. Also, in the book of Murakami in which recorded the reaction of people who experienced the Tokyo Gas Attack, examples of people helping each other can be easily found. In a society that emphasizes a lot on individualism, people does not only care about themselves indifferently, but care for others and help others. This is partly due to the disasters that provoke the kindness and national identity which help unite Japanese together. Additionally, issues like extreme right wings nationalists, yakuza(gangsters), bozuku (biking gangsters) and religion groups like Aum Shinrikyo (a doomsday cult) are pushing the government to improve itself in providing Japan with a bright future. Rising nationalism and radical religion groups are different voices from the society. The society with problems of injustice, insecurity and uncertainty breed these different voices. These voices are challenging the government who holds the might and authority in big issues. On the one hand, they are threats to the society. On the other hand, they are laying pressure on the government to reform. These different voices from the society reflect that the social condition is not satisfying but the government is doing nothing about those dissatisfying issues. They, to a certain degree, serve as alarms and monitors to supervise the government in doing its job. For example, the right wing nationalists who promoting their ideas on street can force the Japanese government to be tough in diplomatic issues like conflicts in territories with Russia, Korea and China. Besides this, yakuza groups like Inagawa-Kai donated large amount of money and goods during 3.11 Earthquake which would make the government to examine itself if it is doing its best in solving urgent disasters. Besides uniting the nation and forcing the government to improve, the tragedies like Tokyo Subway Gas Attack and Fukishima Nuclear Disaster help the development of technology. The breakdown of Fukishima nuclear reactor is definitely a great lesson for Japan to learn from. Japan is a small country with limited resources. Thus, it is important for Japan to develop technologies that are both safe and efficient in order to support the daily life of its people. The lesson of this nuclear disaster will make this field of science and technology more disciplined and encourage Japan to concentrate more on how to make progress in sophisticated technologies in order maintain its peoples life and its societys development.Issues like hikikomori and high suicide rate in Japan reflect the common condition of Japanese losing faith in their nation. However, this is a transit between old Japan and new Japan. Japan is now building its new national personality which values more of personal freedom and happiness. People choose to become hikikomori or to suicide because they can no longer see hope in the old conventions. When the conflict between old conventions and new calls for freedom and individual happiness accumulate to a certain degree, there must be something revolutionary. Japan is now building its new national personality by breaking the old one. Question 1Right wing want to protect Japanese culture, traditional, territory. For example, they sensitive the problem that Russian and islands off the coast of Hokkaido. It is their opinion. Japan allow free thinking. Thats why japan cannot stop them.“Gaisensya” Japan does have noise pollution laws, it also has free speech laws. These vans are able to get the same licenses that allow political parties, and even religious groups drive around and broadcast their opinions.In addition, the right wing related with popular culture. (rooted in online communication)Japan continues to kill whales and sell the meat from its hunts, despite the ban (moratorium) on commercial whaling. Japan has a long history of whaling. In other word, whaling is one of Japanese culture now. (Eating whale meat is an old and impenetrable Japanese tradition.) Whales helped keep Japanese citizens fed both during and after World War II. After WWII, japan didnt have enough food. Then Whale meat has protein. It help people.Along with the process of globalization, nations around the world are becoming more connected. There is a tendency that most of the nations share the same system of value and morality. However, it is also important for each nation to maintain its own national identity by preserving their traditions, cultures and some unique practices. In this paper, we argue that each nation has its own right to preserve its traditions, cultures and some practices if these do not do harm to the society or are not against humanity and morality.Whaling is a tradition in Japan which arouses discussion and protest around other countries. We argue that if the species that Japanese hunt is not endangered, whaling is acceptable because it represents the Japans tradition and culture. The reason why people are against whaling is mainly because that whales are seen as endangered animals and whaling is cruel for these animals. However, there is no evidence that can prove that the species that Japanese hunt is endangered. Eating whale meat is an old and impenetrable Japanese tradition. Whales helped keep Japanese citizens fed both during and after World War II. After WWII, japan didnt have enough food. Then Whale meat has protein. It helped people. There is actually no distinct difference between killing stocks for meat and hunting whales for meat. They are just both sources of food which should not be considered as immoral.The noisy right wing nationalists are seen as improper by some commentators both home and abroad. However, we believe they should not be deprived from the right of expressing their own voices and opinions. Basically, the right wing, who are called “Uyoku” in Japanese, wants to protect Japanese culture, traditions, and territory. For example, the Uyoku are sensitive to the problem that involves Russia and islands off the coast of Hokkaido. However, Uyoku, in fact, says what most people want to but can not(think but