Before and After

(http://www.ryumurao.com/ryublog/images/hashi.jpg)

At first I tried to focus on the Japanese new culture such as otaku and anime, for I thought that today we touch more these new culture than the Japanese traditional culture in our everyday life. However after I started to observe Japanese life as a native visual anthropologist, I found that there are many kinds of traditional culture which we don't even notice is Japanese traditional culture, but which is deeply related to our everyday life. For example, a very small thing such a Hashi can be traditional culture, and by looking at such little thing, I could find that not only the new culture but also the many traditional culture are necessary for our everyday life.

In addition to the view of Japanese traditional culture, my thought on the pictures has changed by taking Visual Anthropology of Japan class. I regarded pictures just as a record of my memory, yet I learned that it also can be the material to analyze people and the life style.

I went back to my hometown during the break, and I felt that we cannot generalize the country itself. I introduced some Japanese culture through this blog, but I want to say that the best way to know the country is to experience many kinds of life within a country by yourself.

These pictures are taken at Amagi which is in the northeastern of Fukuoka.

This is a picture of Fukuoka city. ( http://www.kyushu-tourist.com/fukuokacity111.jpg)

As you can see, from the houses which people live in to the overall scenery there are many difference between this two city. Only within a prefecture we cannot generalize what it likes, so we cannot say what Japan likes in a few word. If you really want to know about Japan, just experience Japan!