Weeping cherries, Heian Shrine, Kyoto.
Terraced rice fields, Saga Prefecture.
Carp streamers, Gunma Prefecture.
CONTENTS
| Foreword 7 | |
| A Variety of Landscape and Climate 10 | |
| 1. | LIVES SHAPED BY MOUNTAINS AND SEAS 12 |
| A Historical Perspective 18 | |
| 2. | THE YAMATO NATION 20 |
| Embracing the Spirits 26 | |
| 3. | THE ANCIENT CAPITALS 28 |
| A Natural Aesthetic 36 | |
| 4. | THE EASTERN CAPITAL 38 |
| A Language of Complexity and Beauty 46 | |
| 5. | THE VARIETY OF JAPAN 48 |
| A Rich Textile Tradition 54 | |
| 6. | RITUALS OF LIFE AND SEASON 56 |
| The Japanese House 62 | |
| 7. | THE JAPANESE AT PLAY 64 |
| The Way of the Warrior 70 | |
| 8. | INTO THE 21ST CENTURY 72 |
| A Visual Feast 76 | |
| About the Photographers 78 |
Path to Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto.
NOTE: Japanese names follow the traditional order, surname first; others follow Western order. Macrons are used to indicate long vowels in Japanese words, except in proper nouns.
FOREWORD
Michael H. Armacost, President of the Brookings Institution
Ask a Japanese in English to tell you what is special about his or her country, or what' values Japan should share with the world, and he or she may parry the question or express a measure of diffidence. She might suggest the tea ceremony; he might mention diligence or "fighting spirit." Typically Japanese seem uncomfortable explaining their society to outsiders.
Yet it takes little more than a few hours in Japan to recognize this country's special qualities. It is unique not for being an economic powerhouse, which is well known, but in its mood of endeavor, perseverance, and commitment to excellence that is reflected in its approach to business, arts, and sports, as well as its quest for a humane and harmonious society.
What is it about the country that sustains so many traditional arts and crafts? Judo and aikido as well as tea ceremony and Zen meditation, kendo as well as go, Kabuki as well as Noh, ikebana as well as bonsai. A country whose symbol is the immortal Mount Fuji, yet one that prizes ephemeral beauty above all, whether it be in the cherry blossom, the swing of a baseball bat, the vivid impressions of haiku or tartka, the morning dew, or the collision of two sumo giants.
The Japanese people's energy is relentless, yet it is matched by their reverence for delicacy, whether in traditional homes made of paper and wood, in woodblock prints, or in lighter-than-air melodies on traditional instruments like the shamisen and koto.
Ask a Japanese in Japanese what is special about Japan, and he or she will feel much more confident—not least because the language welcomes ambiguity of expression. They are likely to refer to gimu, giri, or wa: duty, responsibility, or cooperation and consideration of others. These treasured values help explain why Japanese streets are so safe, why poverty and social conflicts are relatively rare. At the same time, they also highlight the difficulties the Japanese have sometimes had in coming to grips with the outside world.
This book is designed to help break down Japan's isolation which, while providing the fertile ground for the development of a singular culture, has also complicated its relationships with neighbors, near and more distant.
To live in Japan and observe this society firsthand is to realize that criticisms of Japan are often exaggerated. This nation widely regarded as insular is looking outward, as it has many times in the past. Japanese not only listen to foreign criticisms, but make some of their own, both of their own country and foreign ones too. More and more, the average Japanese supports openness in the economy and genuine cooperation with foreign countries. The word "internationalization," which has caught the fancy of scholars here, has come to embrace all kinds of measures to widen horizons and expand contacts.
There is a much greater effort to try to balance relations with the world, to reach out as well as to take in, Japan is striving to become an import superpower as well as an export titan. This push for balance extends beyond the economic arena. For example, Japan plans to increase dramatically the number of foreign exchange students coming to the archipelago. Moreover, Japan is trying to export its technology as extensively as Japanese companies have absorbed it from abroad. Even on a personal level, it appears that Japanese are striving for greater balance in their lives. Young Japanese are more assertive, more concerned about the quality of family life, and less willing to devote their energies and attention so singlemindedly to their jobs.
Similarly, as the domestic attitude of Japanese changes, so does that of their government, I applaud the Japanese government's desire to be more assertive internationally, and its willingness to begin sharing the political risks as well as the financial costs of international cooperation. The Japanese are merging their self-reliant and harmonious domestic traditions with the universal values of freedom and democracy so that they can confidently play a proper leading role in crafting a peaceful world society.
Boat on the Katsura River, Arashiyama, Kyoto.