Buddhism in Japan

 

What is Buddhism in Japan? It is not easy to explain it to people in other countries. The contents and doctrines of many religions are so systematic that even if we try to simplify them, it can lead to lack of clear explanation and misunderstanding.

From the point of view of non-Buddhists, there are many things that are not clear to them.

Buddhism in Japan is independent from other Buddhist countries. Unlike Catholicism, in which the Vatican is the central authority around the world, Buddhism has no such international hierarchy.

Buddhism in Japan is a separate entity, yet it respects and cooperates with Buddhist organizations in other countries. However, even within the small country of Japan, Buddhism has diversified and developed. It has followed a history so complex that it cannot be lumped together.

It is estimated that about 85 million people in Japan are Buddhists. However, many of the children are unaware of their Buddhist identity. Because their ancestors and parents were Buddhists, their children are naturally integrated into the Buddhist system.

The Japanese way of life would not be possible without Buddhism. It is such a deeply integrated part of Japanese culture.

When did this happen?

It is said that Buddhism was introduced to Japan around 500 AD. Before that time, Shinto was the main religion in Japan, and the origin of the Imperial Family was also derived from Shinto. However, the emperor at the time tolerated Buddhism. He judged its teachings to be noble and beneficial to the Japanese people. As a result, over a period of time, Buddhism and Shintoism were partially merged with each other.

The same thing has happened in other countries in the past. The indigenous religions mixed with religions from other countries to form new religions and sects. In ancient times, religion, culture and politics were inseparable. They became integrated into all aspects of life.

What did the Japanese people gain from the idea of Buddhism? This is too big a subject for me to handle. Buddhism has been accepted by the Japanese people and has developed in its own way over a thousand years. It is no longer possible for the Japanese people to live their lives without the practice of Buddhism.

Here are just a few examples.

Example #１. Obon.

This is an annual event that originated from the local belief that our ancestors would return from the next world. On this day, relatives gather together to pay respect to their ancestors and visit their graves. Ancestors' memorial service is performed in the Buddhist style. This is followed by a banquet to celebrate the return of the ancestors and pray for the blessings and prosperity of the family.

One of the events that has developed greatly during the ceremony is the Bon Dance. As the name suggests, the people gather in different regions to dance in celebration of their ancestors. This kind of behavior is similar to that of religions everywhere in the world, and is connected to the essential way of life of human beings.

Example #2. Civility.

The Japanese are admired by many foreigners for their civility. This, too, is a result of adherence to the teachings of Buddhism. Aside from modern people, our grandparents' era understood the importance of etiquette, rooted in Buddhist rituals, as a priority in life. A fundamental philosophy of Buddhism is the pursuit of peace, and this encourages Buddhists to practice polite and peaceful behavior. Incidentally, the gesture of many Asians, such as the clasping of hands before a meal or the bowing of the head to the other person, is derived from basic Buddhist rituals.

Example #3. Calendars.

Many Japanese calendars have Buddhist events marked on them. 

January is a day to reflect on the previous year and pray that this year will be a good one.

February is the day to throw beans to exorcise evil spirits (bad luck).

In March, there is the Ancestor Memorial Service, which coincides with the Spring Equinox.

On April 8th, we have the "Day of Celebration of the Birth of the Buddha.”

These are the kinds of annual events on every Japanese calendar.

Example #4: Good Luck & Bad Luck

The Japanese impose various conditions on themselves in order to make their wishes come true.

For example, students go to a temple to pray for admission to the university of their choice. Professional athletes also go to temples to pray for their team's victory. People buy talismans at temples to drive safely and give birth safely. Since good luck or bad luck cannot be chosen by human beings, people continue to seek help from the gods and Buddha, even today with the development of science.

In these ways, Buddhism has become an integral part of the life of the Japanese people as a source of spiritual support. If you want to understand the Japanese people, it is advisable to learn the basics of Buddhism.

The Real Life Robots of Japan

 

For about a century, the idea of robots living among humans has captured the imaginations of people around the world. Robots have consistently remained a popular subject in popular culture, gradually transitioning from a science fiction trope to a concept that is commonly found in the mainstream. But in recent years, real life robots have become increasingly common, bringing us closer than ever to the high tech visions of the future depicted by sci fi authors of the past.

Japan in particular has a unique relationship with robots, in more ways than one. In a previous article, we discussed the role of robots in Japanese media, in which they are popular fixtures in comics and animation. Today, we will take a look at the world of real life robotics in Japan, and how it ties in to Japanese culture.

Robots, as they are commonly defined, are machines which are able to perform a task autonomously, and usually operate based on sophisticated computer code and mechanical engineering. While this gives us a better sense of what a robot can be, it also leaves a lot of room for interpretation. A robot can look like anything from an abstract mass of metal and wires to an uncanny facsimile of a living creature. As a result, the design of a robot can vary greatly depending on who is making it, and for what purpose. In turn, we can learn a lot about a culture from the design of its robots.

Generally speaking, Japan is known for its sophisticated humanoid robots, or machines that in some way are meant to resemble humans. A good example is Honda’s ASIMO, one of the most popular robots in the world. Its form is similar to that of a human, standing upright on two legs, and is capable of walking, running, and even dancing. It also has articulate arms capable of performing simple gestures.

The technology that allows this robot to move so fluidly is absolutely impressive, but its visual design is also worth noting. It has the shape and demeanor of a chubby astronaut, with a rounded exterior and clean white finish. Its cute, approachable presentation is emblematic of Japanese robot design, which focuses on making robots that can interact with humans in a way that is friendly and polite.

For comparison, look at an American robot like Boston Dynamics’ Atlas. In many ways, its design and functions are similar to ASIMO, being a bipedal humanoid capable of running and jumping around. But its appearance is decidedly less friendly, featuring a headless torso, exposed cables, and arms with no hands. One can see that American robots tend to be more industrial and utilitarian, focusing more on what they are able to do than how they interact with people. This difference is even more apparent in videos showcasing these robots; ASIMO is often shown greeting crowds in public places, while Atlas is shown picking up boxes and literally getting kicked around in a laboratory.

The stark differences in how robots are designed goes beyond how they look. Robotic research in America is often funded by the military or designed for use in industrial work, leading to practical and utilitarian designs. It seems like Japan as a whole envisions robots having a wider range of applications, including public service, healthcare, and even entertainment. It is not uncommon to see robots in public while in Japan, performing mundane tasks like greeting people in malls or even serving food.

Another example of Japan’s friendly robots is AIBO, a line of robots produced by Sony. Unlike ASIMO, AIBO are small robots designed to look like cute animals, usually dogs. Designed to be sold commercially, they not only have advanced and somewhat lifelike movement, but are programmed to have a wide variety of interactions with humans. The most recent models are able to play with toys and explore their surroundings, and they react believably to human contact and other external input. The result is a robot that seems to have a mind of its own, with an appearance that is cute and appealing but not realistic enough to be uncanny.

There are countless other examples of robots in Japan, and of course, not all of them follow the same trends. Industrial robots resembling large mechanical arms are often used in the manufacturing of Japanese cars, a practice which is increasingly common in the rest of the world. There are also attempts to make androids, which are intended to resemble real humans as closely as possible. There are even prototypes for robotic surgeons, guards, and rescue workers. With so much innovation happening in so many different fields, its easy to see why Japan is consistently regarded as the leading country in robotics.

Robots have assumed a large role in modern life already, with over 250 thousand robots actively operating in Japan alone. It is estimated that this number will increase to over one million in the next fifteen years, and the implications of this would be vast and far reaching. Many in Japan see robots as a potential solution to the country’s declining workforce, while others simply see it as a way to improve the daily lives of everyday people. Regardless, the advancement of robotic research shows no signs of slowing down, and its progress will surely have a huge impact no only on Japan, but the entire world.

The Growing Trend of Vlogging in Japan

 

Recently, the word "vlog" has been frequently seen and heard in the world. Vlog is an abbreviation for Video Web Log, while blog was a shorthand for Web Log, which was in vogue not long ago. And it seems that this trend is only going to get stronger.

Although it is not known for certain, it is widely believed that the first video ever posted on a blog was a 15-second video shot by Adam Kontras in 2000 about sneaking his cat into a hotel where pets were not allowed. It’s easy to sympathize with Adam’s relief when he successfully brings the cat with him, and you can't help but watch it in spite of its trivial content.

These videos documenting everyday life came to be called "vlogs" later on. Already a popular genre in many countries, vlogs have made their way to Japan in 2019. Why is vlogging such a hot topic and what is the appeal of vlogging?

It refers to videos that are casually filmed of everyday life and uploaded to the web. Many of them use simple editing, connecting the footage and adding subtitles.

　

According to market research firm GlobalWebIndex, about 40% of the world's Internet users watch vlogs. Vlogs are particularly popular in Latin America and Asia.

How does vlogging fare in Japan? According to one survey, only about 10% of the Japanese have ever watched a vlog. Although it is still low, Google trends show that the popularity of vlogs on YouTube in Japan has been rising steadily, reaching an all-time high in 2020. In many cases, the vlogs are sent out by the general public, but of course there are also vlogs by celebrities.

In addition to YouTube, vlogs are also a popular genre of short videos on TikTok and other sites.

A search for "#vlog" on TikTok brings the total number of views to 2 billion, and while vlogs can be found on other social networking sites such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, it is TikTok that is the most well-known. The owner of the site suggests vlogs as a fodder for posts, and along with the tag "#everyone vlogger," he provides easy-to-understand instructions on how to make one.

Vlogs are getting more and more attention, but why are videos documenting everyday life so popular? People who watch vlogs seem to enjoy being able to relate to the lives of the people who post them. Many people leave comments on vlogs, as the natural expression of the vlogs makes it easy to relate to them and interact with them through comments.

　

Peeking into people's lives isn't just fun and empathetic. According to research platform JAKPAT, the most common reason for watching vlogs is to "gain new knowledge or information,” and vlogs can be a great way to learn about people's real lives in a way that can be useful to you. For example, in order to learn about cooking, you may look at the vlogs of others with knowledge in that area. 

If you send out vlogs documenting your hobbies, you may eventually connect with people who share your interests and values. Vlogging is also an easy way to express yourself.

　

For example, vlogging is a great way to capture memories of events you've been to. Videos can be used to capture the sounds, expressions, and gestures of an event in an instant. Concise editing also makes the highlights easier to understand and makes it fun to watch the video back. If you have too many videos in storage that you've lost track of, why not give vlogging a try?

Following this trend, the Japanese digital camera industry is also accelerating the development and release of cameras designed specifically for vlogging.

Sony has launched a portable, sleek line of cameras called the VLOGCAM, with the first model called the ZV-1G, which promotes the idea that anyone can easily become a video blogger. What makes this camera unique are a number of features which make it well suited to capturing high quality videos in a portable format. The higher-end model, the a7C, has an amazing full-size sensor. The a7C is also designed to be a video oriented camera, and with Canon and Panasonic doing the same, we'll see more and more cameras with enhanced video capabilities in the coming year.

It will be interesting to see how the vlogging industry continues to expand in the coming year. As the number of video bloggers continues to grow, their influence on the world mayl surpass that of written blogs. There have been many cases where a few seconds of recorded video has become the talk of the world. In the near future, it may not be long before ordinary citizens are at the core of video reporting.

The Origins of Karaoke

 

Karaoke is a popular activity for people around the world. It’s not hard to imagine why, given that it’s a simple, fun group activity that appeals to a wide variety of tastes. What some people may not know, however, is that karaoke originates in Japan. I’d like to share a bit of the history of karaoke, as its origin and development in Japan have gone on to influence entertainment in the rest of the world.

First, to summarise for those who may not be familiar, karaoke is a term that refers to a form of interactive entertainment that involves singing along to popular songs, usually in a designated area. The technology used to facilitate this varies from place to place, but usually involves a dedicated karaoke machine. These devices typically play instrumental versions of popular songs, while displaying the lyrics on a screen and providing a microphone and amplification for the singer. While personal and even virtual versions of these devices exist, they are typically found in dedicated karaoke bars or other places specializing in hosting parties.

Karaoke originated in Japan in the 1970s. The audio technology needed to create these machines were just beginning to become popular and affordable at the time. The identity of karaoke’s original inventor is disputed, and there are several people who claim to have come up with the idea during the same time period. One person widely credited as an inventor was musician Daisuke Inoue, a drummer who performed in restaurants and private dinner parties. After receiving requests from audience members for recordings of his music, he made a simple device that played recordings of his performances. Singing along to these recordings became a popular pastime, and then business expanded to include other songs and artists.

Initially, karaoke machines were mainly found in restaurants and hotels. As their popularity increased, more specialized facilities called karaoke boxes began to open, providing a venue for private parties to enjoy karaoke. Another type of venue to emerge as a result was the karaoke bar, which provided drinks and allowed people to participate in karaoke in a more public setting.

In modern times, karaoke is a huge industry, bringing in over 10 billion dollars yearly. It is a common activity for a wide variety of situations, from birthdays parties to casual weekend gatherings. As technology has continued to develop, so has the number of ways in which karaoke is experienced. Karaoke apps are available on mobile phones, and video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band have incorporated elements of karaoke successfully. While it is a fairly universal form of entertainment now, its name still hints at its Japanese origins, being a shortened phrase translating to “empty orchestra.” It remains even more popular in its home country than anywhere else, making it one of Japan’s most iconic cultural exports.

The Best Parts of Touring Japan

 

There are many things that travelers are impressed with when they visit Japan. Some of these things are obvious to the Japanese but surprising to foreign visitors. In this article, we'll introduce some of the strengths that foreigners admire about Japan.

Courtesy

The Japanese are known worldwide for their good manners. If the train is crowded, they always line up and wait quietly. They are quiet on the train, and clean up after eating in restaurants. These are the most important rules in public places.

Staff friendliness

The good service spirit by Japanese shopkeepers is a given for Japanese people. If Japanese people visit other countries, they will notice the difference. The reason for this may be because the Japanese have an ingrained belief that customers deserve a level of respect and politeness that is comparable to worship. This has even resulted in a common expression being “the customers are gods.” For foreign tourists, customer satisfaction is very high in the service they receive from Japanese staff. The great thing about Japan is the smiles and kindness you receive not only at the high end of the market, but also at the supermarkets, cafeterias and other ordinary shops in town.

Cleanliness of the city

Many foreign visitors say that Japan is very clean with little trash. They also feel that despite the lack of trash cans, there is hardly any trash on the streets, even though 100 million people live in a small area. The Japanese themselves still feel that there is a lot of trash, but it seems to be much cleaner than in other countries.

Safe City

Even the Japanese are aware that it's a safe place to live. Walking alone on the streets at night as a woman is not a problem in most places. It is hard for foreign tourists to believe that a dropped wallet can sometimes be found. Police patrols mainly use bicycles, so it's easy to talk to them in a friendly manner.

Punctuality

For Japanese people, it is normal for trains and other vehicles to run on time. If a train is even a few minutes late, it will be considered a problem. If a customer is late for work due to train delays, they will issue a delay certificate. I think Japan is the only country where this is the case.

Delicious Japanese food

There are so many foreign tourists who find Japanese food to be delicious. In fact, Japanese food is on the United Nations’ Cultural Heritage list, and Tokyo is the city with the most Michelin stars. There are some things you can't eat from the provinces unless you go there. Everywhere you go there is a different food, and you never seem to get tired of eating it. This can be attributed to the fact that Japanese people are highly interested in food. Also, many of the foods, especially Japanese sweets and Japanese dishes, are elaborate in color and shape. For foreign tourists, Japanese food is unfamiliar to them, and some say it is beautiful and delicious, although they have no idea what they are eating.

Strange taxis and services

In Japan, taxi doors are not allowed to be touched. However, I've heard that national tourists are really surprised about the automatic doors of taxis. The cleanliness of the cars and the manners of the taxi drivers are also quite high in the world.

Special toilets

Japanese toilets, such as washable toilet seats, are so popular around the world that some foreign tourists buy them and bring them home. One of the great things about Japanese toilets is that public toilets are just as good. The new toilets made in recent years have washable toilet seats, as well as amazing features such as lids that open automatically and motion activated flushing. Some even have pneumatic towels for hand washing. Such highly functional toilets are available in Japan for free. In other countries, you have to pay to use a slightly cleaner toilet.

Convenience Store

When you're in Japan, it's a given that there are convenience stores open 24 hours a day, but there are many countries around the world that don't have convenience stores. It is rare to find a store that is open 24 hours and sells a variety of hot food and other items. Bank ATMs and copy machines are also really convenient. This may be because Japan is a very safe country.

High quality stationery

Japanese stationery has been attracting a lot of attention from around the world in recent years. For a long time, Japanese products have had a reputation for being solid, hard to break and affordable. Recently, there has been a sharp increase in the number of products with good taste. Stationery is one of them, and many of them are functional, colorful and beautiful. This is obvious when you compare them with those made in foreign countries. Some foreign tourists come all the way to the city to buy stationery.

Iced coffee

Many Japanese drink iced coffee during the summer, but did you know that iced coffee is not as common in other countries? Iced coffee was invented by the Japanese nearly 100 years ago. In recent years, Starbucks Coffee has become well known for its iced coffee and Frappuccino. In Europe, coffee was available with ice cream or whipped cream, but not cold, delicious iced coffee. Foreign visitors who drink it for the first time are said to be amazed at how good it tastes.

These are some of the good and interesting things about Japan as seen by foreign visitors. The characteristics of Japan vary from country to country, but it should be noted that there are many things that are commonplace for Japanese people but rare in other countries.

A Brief History of the Playstation

 

Anyone who plays video games will have heard of Sony’s Playstation game console, and for good reason. In the last few decades, the Playstation has established itself as one of the “Big Three” consoles that dominate the modern video game industry, along with its rivals Nintendo and Xbox. Like Nintendo, whose history we explored in a previous article, Playstation has its roots in Japan, but has since spread to become an internationally known brand. Today, I’d like to share some of the background of the Playstation, and examine its place in modern gaming.

First, it is important to note that the Playstation is produced by the entertainment division of Sony, a huge Japanese tech company that is well known outside of the game industry for its cameras, phones, TVs and other electronics. Their history and range of influence is so vast that it probably warrants its own article. Suffice it to say, Sony was already a big player in the world of electronic entertainment before it started making game consoles.

Strangely enough, Sony would initially become involved with video games as part of an attempted partnership with their future rival, Nintendo. By the mid 80s, Nintendo had single-handedly revitalized a struggling video game industry, largely thanks to the success of their home console known internationally as the Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES. This affordable machine allowed people to easily play a wide variety of games from the comfort of their homes, which was a drastic departure from the public arcades that had defined popular gaming until then. Sony, like many other tech companies at the time, was eager to explore the opportunities that this new trend could provide.

To that end, Sony made a deal with Nintendo to develop a CD-ROM for Nintendo’s upcoming game console, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The idea was that a disc based system would be superior to the cartridge based system that was currently in use, and would allow for bigger and more complex games. However, at some point during the development of this technology, Nintendo pulled out of the deal over a disagreement related to revenue. Sony’s leadership was apparently angered by this turn of events, and decided to put the technology they had developed to use by making their own home game console.

This new effort, led by Ken Kutaragi, would eventually culminate in the creation of the Playstation, Sony’s first home console. Released in 1994, it used the disc system that was originally designed for Nintendo’s system. Ironically, this would prove to be one of the Playstation’s biggest advantages over the competition. Nintendo’s most recent console at the time, the Nintendo 64, still stored games on cartridges, an outdated technology that did not allow for games as large or complex as those stored on discs. As a result, the Playstation was more technologically advanced than most of its contemporaries, a claim that it would continue to hold going forward.

The success of the first Playstation allowed Sony to divert more of their attention to video games, both in manufacturing consoles and publishing games. The Playstation’s successor, dubbed the Playstation 2, was an ever bigger success, outperforming Nintendo’s Gamecube and Microsoft’s Xbox in both sales and popularity. To this day, the Playstation 2 is the best selling game console of all time, with over 155 million units sold. The brand continued to see strong sales throughout the years, with both the Playstation 3 and 4 following the same pattern of boasting the best hardware and most technically impressive games. Another big selling point, starting with the Playstation 3, was the console’s ability to function as a multimedia device, able to play DVDs, Blu Rays, and eventually even host streaming services like Netflix. This versatility made the Playstation an appealing product for the average household, boosting the console's popularity.

Playstation has the reputation for being a cutting edge game console, but it has also made other important contributions to the history of video games. The first Playstation introduced the Dual Shock controller, named for its two analog control sticks. This design was the first of its kind, allowing players to intuitively control characters in 3D environments, and served as a blueprint that has been imitated by almost every controller that followed. Sony’s role as a publisher has also spawned memorable game franchises such as Crash Bandicoot, Uncharted, and God of War. Even today, the Playstation boasts some impressive exclusive titles, such as Bloodborne and Spider-Man.

With the recent announcement of the Playstation 5, Sony seems to be continuing their practice of delivering a powerful home console with wide appeal. Over the years, the Playstation brand has demonstrated an ability to adapt to changing technology. They remain the most widely sold console brand worldwide, and if their next console is anything like their last, this is not likely to change any time soon.