Discover the Mixing of Cultures in Japan

Sailing toward Asakusa, we passed Kototoi-bashi, Yogo Kubashi, Shino bashi and Nihonbashi bridges. In the middle of this last one stands the iron column that marks zero kilometers. The distance of Japanese, cities and towns is counted from here.

The imitation of foreign structures like the Eiffel Tower or The Golden Gate and the takeover of American lifestyle are all part and parcel of Japanese confusion and identity. On one hand, they're proud of their ancient past and culture on the other, however, they keep chasing the unattainable and try to create a present that is only considered to be a far future in other countries.

Long ago, their country was believed to be the eastern most point in the world. As they saw the sunrise earlier than any other nation, their land was named “The land of rising Sun.” the Chinese pronounced this name Nippon as Ipan. Marco Polo always said this name when he talked about the country and his experiences in court of the Great Khan. Hence, this name spread all over Europe. From that time on the national symbol of Japan has been a red circle on a white background which symbolizes the rising everyday renewing sun.

Looking at this country from abroad, many things seem turned around. For example the traffic or that the Japanese surname comes first and only then the first name. When they say yes, they shake their heads, when they say no, they nod. They start counting from their little finger. Their books have to read from the right to the left or downwards. Soup is often eaten cold while wine is drunk warm. Women but men go through a door first. When a Japanese person is sad, he smiles.

We do not need to study the history and artistry of the country to list all the things Japan made to enrich the cultural inheritance of humanity. Japanese architecture, design and space arrangement eco Gropius le cobicea and Frank Lloyd Wright though often indirectly.

The Far East country’s painting was adored by Gogah, Van Gogh and Cezanne. The movies of Akira Kurosawa, novels of Abe Kobo and the traditional Japanese theater gave immense stimulation to western artists.

Schelling’s words perfectly typified the complexity of the Japanese culture. The real future may only be the collective result of demolishing and preserving forces, therefore not the weak spirits getting into the tail of the modern age, but the only the strong spirits who are at the same time devoted to the past are those who have the ability to create a real future.