Japanese Life at home: The older generation

I have noticed that Japanese older men are a special category of the Japanese population. the older Japanese men seem to worship religions much more then the current generation. I see the younger generation at shrines and temples, buying charms and sending off prayers. The older generation, especially older men, bow their heads in deep prayer complete with prayer beads in hand. The older generation seems to also love drinking. Now, I've noticed no matter the age most Japanese men and some women love to drink. However, enjoying a beer after dinner at home is typical for a older gentleman and not so much for someone in their 20s or 30s. I believe that older men simply have the time at dinner as young people do not. The husband is at work and the mom is tending to the kids. When the kids grow up and one retires, it seems only nature religion and relaxing would trickle into one's life.

Quiet little nooks: My neighborhood Hirakata

I enjoy the secluded corners of my old Japanese neighborhood. I have observed that the Japanese have opaque windows and shutters. I would gather because their is not much privacy when your living situation is much like the above image. This particular scene I find to be a true representation of a Japanese neighborhood. The skyscraper in the background is a aspect of Japanese neighborhoods. Japan, I believe, does no have many zoning laws. Neighborhoods end up in the middle of business districts and on the edge of shopping centers. Graveyards end up between company buildings and neighborhoods. The houses have very little space to park because land is so expensive. My neighborhood is a cozy Japanese neighborhood.

A little place called home: My neighborhood Hirakata

The river and streams around my neighborhood are one of the best parts of living in Hirakata. They change and mold depending on the weather and conditions. This picture was taken the day after a heavy rainstorm so it is moving swiftly. The neighborhoods around the river respect it in such a way that I think is uncommon around the world. Never do I see litter and food waste going downstream. The river is a place where fathers take their sons on weekends so they can spend time togehter enjoying the river. The river is much more then just some water in the town, it is tranquilty and beauty enhancing Hirakata.

Culture Clash: First Impressions

What do these two pictures have in common ? It's the same location, the beautiful and historic Ginkakuji. I've never been to Japan before and the number and variety of vending machines astounded me. What struck me the most, however, was that such holy places like shrines and temples could allow such conviences into the premisis. In America, I can't even imagine a vending machine in a church. I've always put a distict line between convience and holiness. They don't have a cathedreal with a Mc Donalds drive thru attached to it. It sounds ridiculous, atleast to me. Yet such a beautiful place had a carnival of vending machines for the convience of tourist. I did find them convient though, I became member of the guilty party that keeps them in shrines and temples when i picked my green tea out of the machine.

Culture Clash: First impressions

This particular picture was taken in Machida, Japan, home of Obirin University and a suburb of Tokyo. What strikes me about KFC in Japan is that here it is luxury fast food. When I think KFC i think of a Georgian family sitting around the dinner table digging into the wings and legs while talking about the hot weather in a Southern accent. The Southeast of America and Japan have nearly nothing in common, yet they both share KFC. Even more surprising is to see a large sculpture of Colonel Sanders standing proudly in front of each KFC. This particular aspect made me wonder if the Japanese either have a respect for the founder of KFC or are perhaps they treat him like trademark character and he is what Pikachu is to the Pokemon Corporation.