Japanese Culture: Traditional Meets Modern Class 4 · 1967: 100-yen coin was distributed for the...
Transcript of Japanese Culture: Traditional Meets Modern Class 4 · 1967: 100-yen coin was distributed for the...
Japanese Culture: Traditional Meets Modern Class 4 Jennifer Yoo and Samantha Yoo
MIT HSSP 2011
Government
Emperor Akihito Prime Minister Naoto Kan
Technology
What comes to mind?
Mostly focused and prominent in consumer electronics, robotics and the automotive industry
One of the leading nations in the fields of scientific research, technology, machinery and medical research
World's third largest budget for research and development at $130 billion USD
Over 677,731 researchers.
Japan has received the most science Nobel prizes in Asia
12
Technology: Transportation
Automotive Industry
Japan was the world's largest vehicle manufacturer in 2008 but lost one rank in 2009 to current leader China
Shinkansen
The Tōkaidō Shinkansen is the world's busiest high-speed rail line.
Carrying 151 million passengers a year (March 2008)
The Shinkansen has had a significant effect on Japan's business, economy,
society, environment and culture
Approx. 400 million hours, and ¥ 500 billion per year
Rejuvenated rural towns
Travelling Tokyo-Osaka by Shinkansen produces only around 16% of the carbon
dioxide of the equivalent journey by car
Saving 15,000 tons of CO2 per year
Transportation: Trains/Subway
Major means of passenger transportation
5 stations serve more than 2 million passengers each on an average day, making Japan the most railway using nation per capita
Most Japanese people traveled on foot until the later part of the 19th century
First railway was built between Tokyo and Yokohama in 1872
Mass transportation is well developed in Japan, but the road system lags behind and is inadequate for the number of cars
Road construction is difficult because of the high areas of population and the limited amount of usable land
Among the most punctual in the world
ACTIVITY Dos and Don’ts on a Train
Trains: Chikan
“Child Friendly” Trains by Eiji Mitooka
Omoden
Ichigo Ec
Riding the Omoden – “Toy Train”
Technology: Robots
Japan's oldest robot precursors - karakuri ningyo, or mechanical dolls.
Believed to have originated in China.
Edo period (1603–1867): a mechanical-puppet theater in in Osaka's Dotonbori district.
First idea of a robot: Tetsuwan Atomu (Astro Boy) by Osamu Tezuka
1973: Professor Ichiro Kato (Waseda University) made "WABOT-1" a full scale humanoid robot.
1996: Honda announced the P2 humanoid robot
Afterward a number of companies and institutes started to develop humanoid robots for many purposes.
Robots for Sale: Caregivers
Wakamaru $14,000
Paro $6,000
Robots: Looks Human
CB2 HRP-4C
Robots for Sale: Actroids
$20,000
Robots: The Future
Japan has the most industrial robots to reduce high labor costs and support further industrial mechanization.
Over ¼ of a million robots Japan
Fumio Miyazaki: Japanese scientists can provide thousands of humanoids that could be working alongside humans by the end of 2020s, if that is what the society wants.
Difference in view of robots from the West
A solution to the declining birthrate and shrinking workforce
Technology: Electronics
Akihabara - Tokyo
Electronics: Vending Machines
Highest number of vending machines per capita: 1 machine for every 23 people.
The first vending machine in Japan - made of wood; sold postage stamps and post cards
1967: 100-yen coin was distributed for the first time
Wending machine sales skyrocketed overnight, selling a variety of items everywhere.
1999: Estimated 5.6 million coin- and card-operated Japanese vending machines generated $53.28 billion in sales.
Electronics: Keitai Culture
Food
TRY IT! Japanese Snacks
Food: Dining Etiquette
Itadakimasu (“I humbly receive”)
Gochisōsama deshita (“It was a feast”)
Architecture: Housing in Japan
TRY IT! Dos and Don’ts in a Japanese House
Religion
Full religious freedom in Japan
CIA World Fact Book:
84% to 96% adhere to Shinto and Buddhism
Fewer than 1% of Japanese adults are Christians
64% of weddings done in a church
Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays in Japan
New Year’s, Obon, Tanabata are some others
Shinto
Ancient Japanese religion – 500 BCE Afterlife not a primary concern No founder, defined set of prayers… Collection of rituals and methods meant to mediate the relations of living humans and kami
Shinto: Visiting a Shrine
Ise Shrine Izumo Shrine
Yasukuni Shrine
Shinto: Visiting a Shrine
Temizuya
Shinto: Elements of a Shrine
Shimenawa
Torii
TRY IT! Omikuji Fortune Telling
Religion: Buddhism
Religion: Matsuri – Festivals
Seijin Shiki
Gion Matsuri Tanabata Matsuri
Obon Matsuri
Next Class…
Sports & Games
Music
Visual Arts
Media Entertainment
Otaku Culture