Quote:
Originally Posted by Gahzirra
Hope this makes sense  |
Much more sense now, and I can see where you got some of what I was saying wrong.
I don`t think that I am drawing some sort of line... Or, well, I am but it isn`t between what is extreme and what is normal. It is between honest interest (and doing things to fulfill that interest) and "Japan is so cool, OMG, I`ll do all this cultural stuff because it will make me more like the cool Japanese people!! All you people who can`t do the traditional stuff don`t really deserve to be in Japan."
Columbine gave a wonderful example. While that example isn`t in Japan, the same applies to foreigners actually in the country.
There are (quite a number of) people who think Japan is just a perfect heaven on earth, and will go out of their way to do anything because it is "Japanese" and fits into their image of the country... And believe that it will bring them closer to the Japanese people, and make them more "Japanese"... As if they will turn into some godlike being with no problems should they manage it.
My point was never to say that people shouldn`t take part in traditional activities, or that they shouldn`t try new things. What I was saying is that wearing a yukata, even at a festival, isn`t going to make you fit in. Chances are, it will do the opposite. My experience and the opinions of everyone I have asked go along with it being "strange" to see a foreigner out and about in a kimono or yukata. While they might say it looks great, there is a line drawn between trying it on and actually wearing it about. The older people think it`s sweet that a foreigner is trying something traditional, but it stops at "trying" - the assumption is always going to be that it is some cultural experience class sort of thing.
Should this discourage someone from trying something? Of course not. But using that as a path to being "more Japanese" is just silly - which is what I have been trying to say. Normal Japanese don`t really do it on a regular basis, so it stands out even more when someone who already stands out to some extent does it.
As a tangent - There are a ton of people in Japan who are incredibly unhappy because they spend all their time trying to be someone they are not in order to assimilate to some level. (And feel even more frustration on top because even with all their efforts, they often cannot.) I feel that even if they don`t fit in, they would have a much better life and be much happier being themselves instead of striving for a goal that will leave them trapped in the same pattern of living a facade. Obviously everyone should be aware of the big cultural taboos and the basic rules to not cause
problems, but it isn`t necessary to force yourself into a life that does not fit in order to be happy in Japan. The only times I can recall being unpleasant to someone about their lifestyle in Japan has been when they made a point out of abusing the system or thought it was great fun to ignore the rules and inconvenience people.
I would go crazy if I were forcing myself to act like someone I am not, and would definitely not be happy. When I said that I don`t try to fit in, this is what I meant. I couldn`t pull off living some facade as I get irritated and frustrated with that sort of thing very quickly. The fact that I apparently fit in fairly well must be because I am just the type of person who fits in - not because I took some incredible effort to shove myself into a Japanese mold.