Preview: Undokai

"Ganbare!"

This is a phrase that I've heard over and over again since I landed in Japan. It's a phrase that is translated as "do your best," and is used in nearly every day-to-day situation. Even in completing a task as simple as walking to the train station in the rain, my host mother calls after me "Laura, ganbare!"

More than a phrase, I feel that "Ganbaru" is a state of mind--a way of life in Japan. The idea of doing your best seems to be embedded in the minds of the Japanese people.

For the last two weeks or so, for example, my host brother and sister have been practicing for their school's undokai, or sports festival.

The undokai a day dedicated to physical activity and friendly competition between classes. This is an event of great focus in my host family, and is even important enough for my brother and sister practice for it at home.

To me it's an example of that same spirit of dedication and the desire to "do your best." Like education, like sports, and like life the idea is to work hard and be the best you can be. It's an optomistic outlook, I think, in that you're recognizing that there are some things that you can't control, so you just do the best you can.

On Sunday I'm going with my family to watch the undokai, and I'll post photos and additional comments on the event on Monday.

Shunkun, Amichan, ganbare!


Here's an example of an undokai from last year:


From: amazingpreston
Added: May 29, 2007

It's Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Japanese neighborhoods are what I would describe as small towns in big cities. Osaka, for example, is divided into 20 smaller “cities” that each form their own separate communities. My host family lives in Neyagawa-shi, which is much larger than I would consider a neighborhood to be. I find it interesting, however, that a group of people that large can have as strong a sense of community as my small rural town back home.

Last weekend, my family brought me to a local community center “matsuri,” or cultural festival. It was a very small occasion, located in what looked like an elementary school gymnasium. Several tables were set up inside displaying origami works and paintings, as well as craft-making areas for children.

In many ways, it was similar to state fairs I’d been to back home. The food, for example, ranged from popcorn, cotton candy and hot dogs to Japanese chicken on a stick. It was a nice surprise to be able to enjoy some familiar fairground food.

The shrine across the street from the community center was also part of the festivities, which separated the experience for me as purely Japanese. At this particular matsuri, the monks at the shrine were drumming and chanting for a ceremony in which people park their cars outside the shrine to be cleansed of evil spirits and receive the protection of the kami.

Hopefully during my stay here in Japan I'll get to become more familiar with the neighborhood I live in, and come to understand the sense of community that people here seem to innately share.

A Brief Overview

Welcome to the Peanut Gallery!



This blog was created as an assignment for my Visual Anthropology class at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan. In addition to a detailed documentation of my experiences, I will try to provide informed commentary about a variety of topics and subjects during my stay in Japan.

I must admit that my first impression of Japan and Japanese culture came long before I even arrived in the Osaka airport. Instead, I came to Japan with preconceived expectations and assumptions based on what I’d seen in imported Japanese media such as anime and manga. I have found myself basing my observations on whether my stereotypical views of Japan are being confirmed or challenged by reality.

For Example:

The “V” fingers my host sister is displaying in the photo are characteristic of Japanese people in photographs. The meaning is somewhat obscure, as I’ve been told by some that they stand for peace and by others that they represent “V” for “victory.”

Manga have become increasingly popular in the United States, and is where most of my personal understanding of Japanese culture comes from. In Japan, it's practically a way of life. Manga can be found everywhere from the largest bookstore to the nearest 7 Eleven (photo). And it’s cheap! You can buy new and used manga for under 500 yen (about $5.60 US).