Commercialization of Japan

[RealJames]

I was reading another thread and Ryuurui said something that made me ponder on it;

Originally Posted by ryuurui

[...] Japan is so commercialized that this movie may be a complete waste of time. [...]

I'm taking this quote out of context, so I'm starting a separate thread on the topic, and I'm not pretending to assume what Ryuurui meant by it.

What is your take on the commercialization of Japan?

I have met over 500 Japanese people in the last year alone, I always ask them what their hobbies/passtimes/jobs are and what their families are like.

There's a wealth of knowledge I've learned from it, but it's obviously a statistically biased perspective due to the context in which I meet them, they are inquiring about learning English. Please keep in mind, though, that this is an enormous demographic in Japan and does in fact reflect a huge part of it's society.

To me, based on what I've seen first hand, Japanese people seem to be most concerned with keeping the peace and shopping.

[RealJames]

Oh and I don't care if this thread veers off topic.

[MMM]

I don't understand what you mean by "the commercialization of Japan".

[RealJames]

perhaps I should have been more clear on that point, thanks

well commercialization means something is used for profit,
it generally infers that it's at the expense of quality

when used in context with a country I presume for it to infer that it's at the expense of culture, or more popularly "it's roots"

in Japan's case, as it got more and more wealthy, it's people got less interested in it's traditions and cultures

The context I took ryuurui's quote from was how young people may not understand the virtue of calligraphy in the same way they might have in the past, presumably due to said commercialization

[MMM]

Originally Posted by RealJames

perhaps I should have been more clear on that point, thanks

well commercialization means something is used for profit,
it generally infers that it's at the expense of quality

when used in context with a country I presume for it to infer that it's at the expense of culture, or more popularly "it's roots"

in Japan's case, as it got more and more wealthy, it's people got less interested in it's traditions and cultures

The context I took ryuurui's quote from was how young people may not understand the virtue of calligraphy in the same way they might have in the past, presumably due to said commercialization

To me commercialization has a neutral meaning, as it is entering something into the marketplace. So when you say "commercialization of Japan" I am thinking of Japan being commercialized, and entered into [XYZ] marketplace.

But I accept your definition in the context, although the phrasing is confusing. It isn't "Japan" that is being "commercialized" but the market of Japan is flooded with distractions due to money.

I would take an alternative view, in that I am amazed at how much of Japan's culture is still embraced by the culture, young and old. We can say "Young people aren't as interested in calligraphy as they should be."

Yet, there are calligraphy classes and clubs in practically, if not actually, in all high schools. Kendo clubs, traditional flower arranging, tea ceremony classes... Not only is there nothing as historical or traditional to compare these to as, say, my American culture, but there is no outlet to them. Thousands upon thousands of Japanese school children practice calligraphy every single day. Thousands upon thousands practice kendo, karate, jiujitsu, and other traditional forms of martial arts. How many American school children learn how to churn butter or milk a cow or make a horseshoe?

How often in the US do young people wear "traditional dress"? Chances are, never.

However in Japan not only do they wear yukata to festivals and kimono on Coming of Age day and wedding ceremonies... these traditional clothes are still considered very cool.

I really have a hard time seeing Japan as an example of a country where tradition and culture is dying. If anything it is a country where, amazingly, progress is made, but not at the expense of tradition.

[RealJames]

It's true that it's hard to parallel Japan to North American culture, since we hardly have a history or culture to keep, if anything commerce is our culture lol.

Coming to Japan one of the things I felt was amazing was that I often saw women in Kimono or old temples and shrines scattered throughout a metropolis.
I really felt that old and new came together, Korea is quite similar in that regard actually, at least it was when I lived there.

These days, though, I feel a bit differently about it.
Perhaps instead of commercialization I should have said materialism.

The vast majority of people I meet shamelessly admit to their hobbies being shopping and talking with friends in cafes, and perhaps one or two other less popular activities.
I had a student last month who, not so coincidentally, does calligraphy in her free time. When she told me that, my reaction wasn't "yeah that's normal" it was more of a surprised reaction of "oh really? That's great! So few people are into these things now a days!" and she may or may not have agreed with me honestly, but she agreed none the less.

The concept of "at what cost" is common among businessmen here, who think life was better before. Granted they may not mean that when they realize it means no highspeed internet and smartphones to watch porn on in the train, but the notion still floats around that Japan's success was at a cost of it's culture.

One example, elderly people are increasingly living apart from their families, when up until even very recently it was commonplace to share a house with 3 generations.

[JohnBraden]

Would Christmas in Japan qualify as part of this phenomenon? The only two Christmases in was in Japan were up in northern Tohoku and both times I actually flew missions on those days (24th and 25th). In rural Tohoku I didn't get to see much there. But what I've seen in photos and people's blogs, the whole Christmas season in Japan is entirely blown out of proportion with commercialism. I do understand the whole religious aspect may be missing there, but "importing" a holiday celebration for its commercialism has to rank pretty high on the list of commercial 'oddities' this country has.

[RealJames]

Originally Posted by JohnBraden

Would Christmas in Japan qualify as part of this phenomenon? The only two Christmases in was in Japan were up in northern Tohoku and both times I actually flew missions on those days (24th and 25th). In rural Tohoku I didn't get to see much there. But what I've seen in photos and people's blogs, the whole Christmas season in Japan is entirely blown out of proportion with commercialism. I do understand the whole religious aspect may be missing there, but "importing" a holiday celebration for its commercialism has to rank pretty high on the list of commercial 'oddities' this country has.

in my opinion


Christmas never had a strong cultural/religious meaning in Japan to begin with.

I imagine that part of why it was "imported" was due to commercialism, but I think a larger part of it was due to a fascination with the west, more specifically America, which persists to this day.


I can't really think of any Japanese holidays that used to have meaning but are now just shopping days.
But
There are tonnes of holidays in Japan and most people just consider them days off, and if you ask them why that day is a holiday, they won't know most of the time.
A lot of those days I don't feel were ever important.

Golden week is famous in Japan, but try asking people here what holidays make up the days off in golden week and you'll be surprised how few know!

[JohnBraden]

Originally Posted by RealJames

in my opinion


Christmas never had a strong cultural/religious meaning in Japan to begin with.

I imagine that part of why it was "imported" was due to commercialism, but I think a larger part of it was due to a fascination with the west, more specifically America, which persists to this day.


I can't really think of any Japanese holidays that used to have meaning but are now just shopping days.
But
There are tonnes of holidays in Japan and most people just consider them days off, and if you ask them why that day is a holiday, they won't know most of the time.
A lot of those days I don't feel were ever important.

Golden week is famous in Japan, but try asking people here what holidays make up the days off in golden week and you'll be surprised how few know!

Yeah, but that's not only in Japan. People don't know why they have a day off, just that they know they have a day off. That happens here as well with some federal holidays.

[RealJames]

Originally Posted by JohnBraden

Yeah, but that's not only in Japan. People don't know why they have a day off, just that they know they have a day off. That happens here as well with some federal holidays.

yeah I think a lot of these holidays were introduced to just give people 3 day weekends so they would spend some of the money they're saving up all the time, stimulate the economy and all

In Canada I always knew why I had days off, I don't think I was special in that respect either.