The SGI: Not a Religion but a Organization

(Photo Taken from: http://www.camnet.com.kh/cambodia.daily/Land_Mine/sgi.gif)

The SGI, Soka Gakkai International, is not a religion, but is an organization in which its members practice the same religion, Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism. There are members of the SGI in about 190 different countries and territories. The origins of the practice come from a Japanese monk, by the name of Nichiren Daishonin, who read the texts of the Lotus Sutra (The teachings of the Buddha himself, Sidhartha Guatama). The leader, whom is living in Japan, is Daisaku Ikeda.


(Picture taken from: http://sgi-houston.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/daisakuikeda.jpg)

Daisaku Ikeda is "an honorable man that has received over 250 honorary doctorates from universities around the world, (1)." Through the leadership of Mr. Ikeda, the Soka Gakkai was able to spread around the globe(2). "The core philosophy of the SGI can be summed up by the concept of "Human revolution." This is the idea that the self-motivated inner change of a single individual positively affects the larger web of life and results in the rejuvenation of human society, (3)."

However, in Japan, some may see it as a cult. Because of its rapid growth and many slanders in the media, some Japanese people have become weary of the SGI (4, 5). It has become reality that "some people in Japan will not marry a person if they are in the SGI. My friend quit because she wanted to marry and have kids, (6)."

Though there is controversy surrounding the SGI, many in Japan still practice Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism with the SGI. "I practice because I know that this Buddhism works for me. I know there is a lot of controversy about the SGI here in Japan, but it is libel. Time and time again, the people who circulate the libel end up to be proven Libelists in court, (7)." When asked why they decide to practice this Buddhism, most answered that they felt that this practice, with the SGI, works for them.


(Picture Taken By Rochelle R. at a Children's SGI Meeting in Hirakata City)

What exactly works for them? Who knows? The only way to find out is to ask the lay-practioners themselves, and not only believe what the media tells you.


Footnotes: (Sites to Visit about the SGI)
1. SGI member in Kansai, Hirakata City, Japan
2. http://sgi.org/president.html
3. http://sgi.org/philosophy.html
4. http://buddhism.about.com/od/nichirenbuddhism/a/sokagakkai.htm
5. http://www.sokaissues.info/home/media.html
6. SGI member in Kansai, Katano City, Japan
7. SGI member in Kansai, Kuzuha City, Japan
8. Japanese SGI members at Kansai Gaidai

We all Scream for ICE CREAM: A Globalization/Glocalization

Fig.1

I scream, you scream. WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM.


Ice Cream has been linked to Nero(1,2,3,4) and even in Ancient China 3000B.C. (3&4). Variations of an iced dessert has been found in countries all over the world, from China to Italy, and from India to Greece. Adding a sweet taste to ice has been love "as early as 3000 B.C." (1) Though the true history of who invented the version of iced dessert that we now call ice cream may have been lost in translation, the product itself has found it's way into the hearts and society of the Japanese people. This Global treat has made it to the country of Japan and has been changed to different flavors that have become popular with the Japanese people.



Though many people fear the Globalization, thinking that the world is leading to a total Westernization Movement, they also seem to fail to see the adaptations of "Western" things brought to a different country. There is a fear of a culture losing its identity through the influence of others. What isn't seen is that culture's adaption to fit its own criteria. For example, the ice cream that we, as Americans, know today has been thought of as a Western Idea, linking the invention to a carnival food merchant(3&4). However in Japan, along with the "regular" flavors of ice cream, there are flavors have been adapted to the Japanese taste and culture, such as Green Tea, Sakura Blossoms, and even Black Seasame Seeds. The modification itself seems to be a Glocalization of a Global dessert, changed to fit the taste of the Japanese Culture.



Bibliography

Fig 1 taken from: http://www.jewelryexpert.com/The%20Jewelers%20Blog/graphics/Ice-Cream-Cones.jpg

(Other photos were taken by Rochelle R.)

1. Marshall, R.T., Goff, D., & Hartel, R,; Ice Cream: Sixth Edition; http://books.google.com/books?hl=ja&lr=&id=DN9Ju6oiSWkC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=History+of+Ice+Cream&ots=ph5wo9DKxv&sig=Uxb2l6wOC8Ka4SpEzeMC1vnZz00#PPA2,M1
2. http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/IceCream/IceCreamHistory.htm
3. http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodicecream.html
4. http://www.makeicecream.com/hisoficecrea.html

Creative Commons

So being a newbie to the blogging world I have decided just to place the Creative Commons Attribution here. So this here post goes for all of my posts in the past and for the future!


この作品は、クリエイティブ・コモンズ・ライセンスの下でライセンスされています。

Chikashi Kasai: Photographer

Chikashi Kasai was born in Japan in 1970[1]. He began his photo career "after participating Photography Workshop "Corpus" fifth term in 1993 and International Summer Academy of Fine Arts/photography program in Austria and Saszburg in 1994[1]." He has made publications featuring his own photography; Tokyo Dance (1997), "Danse Double" (1997) and "Wave" (2001). He is a Tama Art University Graduate[2].

Tokyo Dance by Chikashi Kasai (book cover)

Copyright 2008 Chikashi Kasai

Kasai photographs various things mainly in Japan. The contents of his work ranges from landscape to sexual suggestive photographs. I feel that his work presents Japan from a different angle, than the stereotypical representations of Japan. Looking through his website and the collections that he has place on the site, his pictures show a very different side of Japan. From a photographic composition point of view, the angles Kasai uses creates two or more different moods at once. For example the Picture above (the opening picture to Kasai's website) gives a sense of wonder through the slanted angle, but also creates a sense of optimism through the light to dark ratio.

Personally, I find Kasai's work very refreshing. Considering most Japanese people I have encountered, there is a sense of self restraint among them. In fact, this self restraint is built right into the language itself. Through the passive voice can Japanese people express their feelings, without being considered "rude," (Miyama 2007, Riggs 2008, Matsumoto 2009, & Sakibara 2009)[3]. Some of Kasai's work show a more private view of life that is usually kept hidden. However, the amount of "private" life pictures, the more pornographic pictures are not what I, personally, find beautiful or "art." I personally love the composition of his landscape photography, each of his landscape pictures seem well thought out and clear, whereas his pictures with nudity seem more blurry, suggesting a spur of the moment feeling. Though, in my opinion, both life and photography are interesting when done at spur of the moment, it is the time we take to stop, set, and reflect on certain aspects of life which make it "beautiful."

I chose Kasai to report on because his sense of photography is one I can relate to, both spur of the moment and planned. I recommend all to visit his site. Though his own notes and blogs are in Japanese, the access to his pictures are easy and some are in English.

Footnotes:
1. http://www.gs-s.info/2007/text/prorile_kasai.html

2. http://www.photojpn.org/books/theme/kasai.html

3.

Names mentioned were all of my own Japanese Language Teachers, who were all born and raised in Japan, of Japanese descent, and lived in Japan for more than 25 years each.

http://www.kasaichikashi.com/ (Chikashi Kasai's own website) (WARNING: Mostly, IN JAPANESE)

Japanese Pop Culture: The Konbini

What is this, you and I see in the far distance? A bright sign illuminates the air space around it, and come night fall, it will one of few that will stay on for a very, very long time. Can you figure it out? It is the konbini (the convenience store)!

Because there are so many convenience stores in Japan, there has been a large debate on whether or not this convenience is good to have 24-hrs a day, ecologically speaking. (Fukuda, The Japan Times Online; http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080717f1.html).

Today, over 43,087 convenience stores provide the quick-stop shop for travellers and store neighbors alike. This trend in Japan started in the early 1970's with a few stores and now has become apart of neighborhood structures, being as close as up to one convenience store every 2-3 blocks. (Nagata, The Japan Times Online;
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080513i1.html)

Personally, the convenience store has provided me food and drinks for lunch and those late-night cravings. Though they are no substitute for the good old fashion supa, they do provide a fast and cheap service for the person on the go.

The question in debate of this popular part of Japanese culture, is whether or not people really need all of this convenient service. Are Japanese people, in general, leading the busy lives that is suggested by the amount of convenient stores in the small country? Personally I think, maybe just maybe, in some parts of Japan, but not all.

(All photographs were taking by me, Rochelle R., personally)

Japanese People...

Are not so different than many Americans like to think...
Take into consideration the Sports Family Life.

Here, at least in the Kansai Area, parents, at this match in particular, not unlike any other Sport's Families, take their kids to tournaments, watch their own kids match/game, constantly rooting for their child's victory. This picture, in particular was taken at a Karate Shiai (match) in Osaka. Officals sit and judge the game, while the kids have the Karate match, and the parents watch.

Not only did the families watch their own child's match, but also at other matches, to look at technique and skill, and for the pure enjoyment of the sport.

Though, today, these Japanese sports families are not unlike ones in the U.S., one is left with questions. "Is this the influence of Western society? What are the thoughts of these parents? What is the main focus and goal for one who practice the way of Karate, and one who supports the practioner?"

(All pictures were taken by me, Rochelle R.)