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As quickly as I entered Narita Worldwide Airport, I obtained “acquainted” with the tradition of bowing. After returning to Mongolia, I even seen that I realized to stroll on left facet of the sidewalk. Though I used to be in Japan for less than seven days, I realized about such a easy tradition. A rustic with an “immunized” tradition appears to have the facility to vary any particular person in a short while.
JENESYS (Japan-East Asia Community of Change for College students and Youths) Program applied by the Japanese authorities since 2007 gave this uncommon and precious alternative to get to know the tradition, historical past, and way of life of Japan to 50 individuals from Mongolia this time and fortunately I used to be one in every of them. We had been divided into three teams: sports activities, IT and tradition. The Japanese are principled individuals who fastidiously plan any process and act accordingly. Due to this fact, all duties, regardless of how small or huge, are hourly deliberate. Even they eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at mounted instances. It appeared to have a huge impact on their wholesome way of life.
As everybody is aware of, there are lots of issues to reward the Japanese like this. Nevertheless, in this quick time frame, I spotted many good qualities and abilities of Mongolians that Japanese individuals would not have. The Japanese seen this and accepted it, as nicely. Specifically, in accordance to Jun Miura, an official accountable for Mongolia’s transport, city improvement, surroundings and tourism on the East Asia and Central Asia Division of the JICA, Mongolians are good at making selections or managing. In addition they described that Mongolians have a excessive means to resolve well timed issues, enhance and replace work in a quick time frame. They assume that the Mongolians are higher at understanding one another and constructing relationships. In response to them, we are “worse” than them when it comes to administration and teamwork abilities.
In the meantime, what I by no means anticipated was the open angle of Japanese youth, which modified my notion of Japanese individuals as sensible and principled. When strolling via the bustling districts of Tokyo, comparable to Shibuya and Shinjuku, that are the facilities of vogue, tradition, leisure, commerce and companies for younger individuals, many of the younger individuals handed me by smiling and a few even got here as much as me for a dialog. They had been very pleased to listen to that I got here from Mongolia and requested many issues concerning the nation. That’s how I made three Japanese associates outdoors of this system.
One other factor that confirmed the openness of Japanese youth was the maid cafe, which is subcategory of cosplay eating places. In these cafes, waitresses, wearing maid costumes, act as servants, and deal with clients as masters (and mistresses) as in a personal dwelling, reasonably than as cafe patrons. There was an individual who got here alone, and the younger individuals had been having enjoyable collectively with out worrying about something.
I really feel like I visited the parallel world of Mongolia. It’s unbelievable that in Tokyo, the place hundreds of thousands of persons are bustling, there was no visitors jam throughout that interval. The streets and squares are as clear as the ground of my home. Even homeless individuals in subway stations had been seen carrying clear white socks. However to emphasise one factor right here, not all Japanese persons are ethical and civilized. Within the youth district Shibuya, there’s quite a lot of litter. However not like Mongolia, they clear all the rubbish at daybreak and even spray streets with water.
On high of that, the most important distinction was their mindset. For instance, it appeared that Japanese individuals wish to categorical that they’re working and residing like an adolescent. It might be associated to their way of life and longevity. In particular, our “tradition” of giving a seat to somebody older than us in bus is an insult for Japanese individuals. They defined if an individual is obtainable a seat on the subway, practice or bus, they really feel insulted as an outdated particular person.
MIRACLE OF ONE PERCENT – BENI
I spotted throughout my journey that the Japanese are a patriotic individuals who defend, protect and unfold their tradition at any price. The obvious instance of that is beni, which was utilized by geishas and Japanese girls from the start of the seventeenth century to color their lips, cheeks, eyes, and even their nails. Beni is a pure beauty that’s made solely from a purple pigment extracted from safflower petals. Immediately, there are numerous chemical-based cosmetics, however Japan is nonetheless producing pure cosmetics by hand since the Edo interval (1603 to 1867) till now, which is a precious and fascinating historic “artifact” of the nation.
Beni is alleged to be native to the Center and Close to East and Egypt, and launched to China by way of the Silk Highway. Nevertheless, Japanese protect it as its nice cultural heritage. So as to cross it on to their descendants and make it identified to the public, they extract it from safflower that grows in July in Mount Yamagata within the conventional manner. The most superb factor is safflower petals include solely one % purple pigment, which implies extracting beni is a time-consuming process and complicated talent and information are required to provide beni-based dyes. Specifically, the flower has many thorns, so it’s picked at daybreak when it’s smooth.
Some beni utilized in make-up shines iridescently when dry. This iridescence is alleged to be proof of excellent high quality, and the approach to obtain this has been stored a commerce secret by the respective beni retailers in order to not be leaked to outsiders. Beni fascinated to girls of the Edo interval, who favored a make-up referred to as “Sasa-beni” produced from iridescent beni, which shone inexperienced when utilized. Even modern-day science can’t absolutely make clear the mechanism behind this iridescence. With all of its mysteries, beni appeals to individuals all of the extra.
After all, there are few individuals who use it often, so the Beni Museum presents its artifacts at no cost to individuals on a voluntary foundation, with out the assistance or assist of the federal government. Furthermore, solely two masters in Japan produce beni and meet the wants of the museum.
We additionally obtained acquainted with aizome (indigo), a conventional Japanese technique of dyeing fabric. It’s admirable that they’ve taken out their “model” blue shade and unfold it to the world. For instance, there’s a world celeb who used this shade as the primary shade of his solo album and even named it “Indigo”.
Producing a fantastically deep blue shade, aizome is the results of two totally different fermentation processes the place indigo leaves are first dried and fermented, then fermented a second time with different pure elements earlier than ultimately turning into indigo dye. Aizome is outlined as Japan blue around the globe. A complete of 48 colours might be produced with Aizome, and amongst them, Asagi, or gentle blue, is the most well-liked. Varied designs might be painted and this method was utilized in historic instances for divination. For instance, if there are winged animals flying within the sky, dragons, or butterflies on the material when including shade, it symbolizes that good issues will occur quickly.
MEDITATION IS KEY TO LONGEVITY
As of final yr, the life expectancy of a Japanese particular person was roughly 85, whereas that of a Mongolian was 70. We all the time surprise how they dwell so lengthy. As talked about earlier than, it appears apparent that the Japanese individuals’s longevity is drastically influenced by their meals. The meals they eat is wholesome and recent. Their tradition could be very totally different from ours, the place they drink ice chilly water or inexperienced tea after consuming, and it was onerous to get used to. Possibly it’s as a result of the meals they eat is low in fats.
Other than meals, their faith and beliefs appear to be the primary secret of longevity. We visited Meiji Jingu Shrine and Sensoji Temple in Tokyo and Kenchoji and Kotoku-in temples in Kamakura and obtained acquainted with the nation’s conventional Shinto faith. These temples and shrines had been landscaped like gardens, offering the residents with the chance to relaxation, chill out and meditate. There, individuals pray by throwing 5 JPY cash into an enormous field.
We skilled Zen meditation at Kenchoji, which has strict guidelines and laws and the highest-ranking Rinzai-zen temple in Japan. Zen meditation, also referred to as Zazen, is a meditation approach rooted in Buddhist psychology. Its aim is to manage consideration. It’s typically referred to as a observe that entails “desirous about not pondering.” Through the first ten minutes of meditation, I thought of many issues, I couldn’t focus, and I ended up falling asleep with nice issue. If we fail to regulate our thoughts in this manner, we are able to sign to the priest and get hit on the again with a protracted stick. The priest of the temple defined that by doing this, every thing dangerous goes away and it helps to pay attention. The second time I meditated, I plucked up the braveness to get hit by him. It felt like a brand new delivery. The chirping of the birds, the whistling of the wind, the gurgling of the stream, and every thing that was taking place outdoors might be heard, and that’s once I felt the true sense of peace.
The Japanese realized the way to calm themselves down by meditating, and realized to be at peace. I actually appreciated it, and I sincerely wished each Mongolian to observe it daily.
It was a little bit of envy to see how they love, pre- serve and carry such cultural heritages as the primary line of their lives, whether or not huge or small. I want Mongolians would study at the very least a little bit from this.
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