A COUNTRY OF MANY PARTS
One of the first things I’ve noticed about Japan is that it is divided into many distinct parts. The meals, as in the picture, are divided into many small dishes instead of the big single plate in the states. There are dirty floors (generally outside) and clean floors (generally inside the home) that are very distinct. I’ve found that navigating around Morioka is difficult because streets and, more specifically, addresses work very differently than in the US. Instead of your house being a specific point on a grid, in Japan the areas are divided into neighborhoods, which you are a part of and is much more important than the name of the street you live on, if it even has a name... Furthermore, when studying the basics of Japanese culture, you are introduced to the terms “honne” and “tatemae” which refer to the true self and the self presented to the community. Even the word for oneself is 自分 which is made up of the kanji meaning “self” and “parts.” Ones role in the community seems significantly more defined in Japan than in the United States. You will always have a neighborhood, family, or school that you are a part of and it seems to be a very important part of one’s identity.
WASTE CONSCIOUS
It is very difficult to miss out on the recycling game while staying in Japan. In the picture, the main recycling bins are shown. Note that there is no “trash” can. Others not shown are paper, aluminum, and other specific ones found at a local grocery store. Possibly it is because Japan is an island country with more limited resources, or perhaps they have faced an environmental crisis, or their lifestyle has created this, but the Japanese people are highly conscious of their waste and how they use the land. Cement does not override a city and small but lush gardens are grown around the house or in a community garden. When you buy a drink (which is so common it is almost expected of you) it will either come in a can, PET bottle, or paper. All of these items are expected to be recycled and have labels on them telling you how to do so. Along with this, the Japanese people seem to have collectively sacrificed convenience for waste conscious (or at least a cheaper electric/water bill). Baths in Japan take some getting used to, but they are designed to use little water. Also dryers seem to be almost nonexistent and families usually have very small washers that wash once a day and the clothes are hung up to dry.
