One striking aspect about Japanese people is how much respect of tradition is deeply rooted inside their bodies and to a foreign eye are noticeable through everyday activities. Part of this respect is celebrating landmarks and folklore, being one with old surroundings as part of a daily passing. A reminder of the past is always present, and perhaps because this country is so old that there is too much contained. Many people and little space, the new and the old are constantly being layered and lost within each other.
From my perspective I grew up in the West of the United States and currently live and go to school In Connecticut in the East where it is one of America’s founding states with old history and first steps of immigrants. Out West sometimes there are old Native American buildings and carvings but things just simple looked out from hiking trail. In the East old institutions and places are only visited for tourist reasons and not done very often. The only time to every touch history without a guided display is again, hiking and climbing though what was forgotten.
These places and/or their stories don’t hold an everyday place in the local’s lives.
However, in Japan old temples and legends can be seen and felt if not every day through the hustle of work and school then on down time of weekend.
The question is, that on a Sunday day off, why not stay or home or shopping? If the weather is bad why not visit someplace in doors?
The first photo is of a couple at Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto on a rainy day, where there only thing I could really understand in passing is that the woman said she loves to come here. A rainy day would be a good day to opt out on a mostly outdoor spot but clearly it’s important.
The second picture is a girl reading outside of Osaka Jo Castle, also in raining weather although granted that this was only misting…she sat their content in front of the castle glancing over as elderly women dressed in kimono crossed the street.
I can’t be too sure what this says about Japanese people on a whole or maybe people who like to do some cultural exploring on rainy days.
But it seems to me that these places and their meanings go somewhere deeper than my day visit can understand and it maybe something not too profound or conscious to the people who live here. As Japan is known for technology and fast cities like Osaka and Tokyo, what I see and feel more often is just simply enjoying their environment, the past and present of what is. Taking things like a Temple and finding a regularity, a weekly a joy that maybe people for hundreds years have done before as well. Simply enjoying the presence of an old form that can represent Japanese history and developed culture is an aspect of Japanese people that stands out. Especially to this American where these kinds of places just normally stand.
There is a connection that doesn’t need a excuse and maybe to me that’s why historical places in the States seem very gimmicky because there are few who just appreciate than just stare at it.
