Japanese Nature
Where I’m from (I vaguely remember this place to be called “New Zealand”), seclusion is paradise. For example, when we used to go to the river, we would keep driving further and further upstream until we’d find a spot where no-one else is. It usually isn’t difficult to find these spots. Deeply rooted in greed and a distant longing for a one-ness with nature, there is nothing like having a whole beach to yourself. And if anyone else comes and crashes your beach the whole beach experience is ruined.
The Japanese are also said to be very proud to be close to nature. They claim the indigenous Japanese religion plays a large factor. Apparently, according to this thinking, ever object in nature has its own god, about 8 million in all. However, usually the Japanese appreciation only comes in the form of writing gay little poems. Pets are uncommon, I have never experienced so much air-conditioning, and there is a mortal fear of nearly all non-fluffy animals.
Speaking of fluffy animals, there is a TV show that I watch quite often. A weekly segment involves a Japanese celebrity (preferably a half-white female celebrity), living with a strange animal for a few days. It’s like Big Brother: Animal Edition. In the Japanese way (of nature appreciation), the celebrity doesn’t go and live at the zoo. Oh no. They build a house, complete with gaudy curtains, and they share the flat. So far I have seen shows involving a girl living with koalas, a tiger, a hippopotamus, an Alpaca, a turtle, a sloth, a beaver and a monkey. They just do everyday things, like go shopping...
But back to the point at hand... This somehow shows the nature of Japanese nature appreciation. It has to be clean (I have not seen on any of those shows the animals pooping, or the celebrities cleaning up the poop) It has to be on their terms. I remember going “camping” 4 years ago in Japan. This involved driving into the wilderness, where there was a log cabin, with all the luxuries of a real house. In fact, there were many log cabins. It was like a neighbourhood of people who don’t normally live there. (the nature experience was enhanced by one guy running around with a can of insecticide: outside)
I don’t think I have had anything similar to having a whole beach to myself, in all my time in Japan. It might be the population density, but I think it is something else. This began to show itself during the phenomenon of...
Hanami (lit. “flower look”)
The Japanese are also said to be very proud to be close to nature. They claim the indigenous Japanese religion plays a large factor. Apparently, according to this thinking, ever object in nature has its own god, about 8 million in all. However, usually the Japanese appreciation only comes in the form of writing gay little poems. Pets are uncommon, I have never experienced so much air-conditioning, and there is a mortal fear of nearly all non-fluffy animals.
Speaking of fluffy animals, there is a TV show that I watch quite often. A weekly segment involves a Japanese celebrity (preferably a half-white female celebrity), living with a strange animal for a few days. It’s like Big Brother: Animal Edition. In the Japanese way (of nature appreciation), the celebrity doesn’t go and live at the zoo. Oh no. They build a house, complete with gaudy curtains, and they share the flat. So far I have seen shows involving a girl living with koalas, a tiger, a hippopotamus, an Alpaca, a turtle, a sloth, a beaver and a monkey. They just do everyday things, like go shopping...
But back to the point at hand... This somehow shows the nature of Japanese nature appreciation. It has to be clean (I have not seen on any of those shows the animals pooping, or the celebrities cleaning up the poop) It has to be on their terms. I remember going “camping” 4 years ago in Japan. This involved driving into the wilderness, where there was a log cabin, with all the luxuries of a real house. In fact, there were many log cabins. It was like a neighbourhood of people who don’t normally live there. (the nature experience was enhanced by one guy running around with a can of insecticide: outside)
I don’t think I have had anything similar to having a whole beach to myself, in all my time in Japan. It might be the population density, but I think it is something else. This began to show itself during the phenomenon of...
Hanami (lit. “flower look”)
Hanami refers to cherry blossom appreciation, usually by means of a picnic at a park, with food and drink and family and friends. It sounds very pleasant, especially with the fresh spring weather after a long winter. In reality, there is a 2 week window where everybody wants to go to the park. It is like a locust plague of camera-wearing picnickers. The park in Takaoka, a nearby city, is apparently famed for its blossom. This simply meant the park was completely full. There were coach buses parked outside. Coach buses! To see flowers! Inside the park, it took a long time to find a place where we could even sit. Everywhere were people with mats, picnic baskets, tupperware, drinks, umbrella’s, games, children, small dogs... So, we too had our picnic and drinks, played some games and I played some songs on the ukulele. And that’s when, I think I understood. Sure the flowers are pretty, but it’s not about that. The atmosphere of the park was so pleasant. Everyone was happy. It was like a family concert, and the flowers were singing... and playing happy music. It was one of those rare times in Japan where everyone relaxes a little.
It doesn’t matter that this park, filled with cherry blossom trees, will soon be cherryblossomless for another 50 weeks. Because, it’s not about mother nature. It’s about human nature.
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