13. Japanese Culture and Aesthetics

Haiku embodies aesthetics in simple and short poems. However, looking past the words gives a broader understanding of what the Japanese hope to convey. Nature is revered, to be human is to be "sensitive" and like the seasons of the year or the dawn and dusk of the day, life is about transition from one phase to another. In Richard Wright's Haiku poems he shows these core values. A crow that leaves its caw behind typifies how everything is in a state of transition. You leave behind aspects of your life on a continual basis, it is how life works. The poem claiming I am no one reiterates this sentiment.

12. Japanese Religious Sites

Visiting the Shinto and Byodo-In Temples teach you more about the Japanese concept of aesthetics than any book or film could ever do. The Shinto Temple, an active place of worship, amazed me. Simple in design, it felt more welcoming than any Christian church I have been to. But simple does not imply the architectural design was lacking in creativity. My first impression was that it was rather imposing. Upon closer examination when entering it I realized it was quite small. Offerings to ancestors were present and varied greatly: cases of beer, bottles of Sake, rice, and whatever else people felt conveyed the honoring of generations past. I then understood that this temple represented a more individual spiritualism, rather than the congregational style emphasised by Christianity. The building was more of a meeting point rather than worship. A place to gather your thoughts and remind yourself of who you are and where you have been. I was happy the priest allowed us to ring the bell and be blessed. This showed me that Shinto was more a way of life and thought, rather than a doctrine to be strictly adhered to and unwelcoming to outsiders.

The Byodo-In at the Valley of the Temples embodied more of the aestheics the Japanese are known for. A feeling of peace surrounds you as you walk the grounds. With a large pond in front, stands of bamboo, a rock garden and the beauty of the Temple itself you cannot help but toss off the worries of everyday life. Absent is the symmetry involved in the construction of Christian churches. The temple and the grounds themselves seem to have more of a natural flow. The highlight is the large statue of Buddha inside. There are no priests present, so you are left to wander the grounds and find that particular area that suits you. Some of us lingered at the pond, some stood in awe of the golden statue. Once again, the impression is of spiritualism that lies within, rather than being instructed to you.

11. Perspectives on the Pacific War

John Dower is correct in describing WWII as a race war. It pitted America against what it viewed as a race of simians, or lesser humans, who proved to be ferocious fighters. The same attitudes were not held towards the Europeans we were at war with. Although Germany was our enemy, we as Americans did not express the same hatred for them as we did for the Japanese. At Pearl Harbor people from all walks of life, races, ethnicities, and nationalities can be seen. Surprisingly, given the amount of Asian tourists in Hawaii, very few could be seen there. Perhaps they feel they have no right to visit such a place...I truly do not know. What I did experience for the most part was people paying homage to fallen heroes. It is a somber place, and one that causes you to reflect on your own life. I am thankful for the opportunity to visit such a historic site. Hawaii is filled with places honoring the armed forces: Punchbowl Cemetery, The War Memorial, The U.S. Army Museum. Take the time to visit them all...Just seeing Pearl Harbor gives you a part of the story. Combined they create a powerful and moving experience that forces you to understand the sacrifice American men and women have made for our freedoms.

Random Thoughts:
This was the highlight of the trip for me. You can look at pictures or see films of Pearl Harbor but they do not convey the true emotion it invokes. To stand above what essentially is a tomb of over 1000 men (U.S.S. Arizona) humbles you. At first you question why these men were left in the sunken ship. But once you are there you realize it serves as a reminder of the impact it must have had on America's desire to fight to the end in WWII.

10. The Japanese and Hawaii: "Rhapsody in August"

This film is quite the opposite of "The Family Game". I attribute this to Akira Kurosawa, perhaps the most celebrated director in Japanese Cinema. It describes the attitudes both Japanese and Americans feel towards Pearl Harbor and the use of the atomic bomb in Japan. The older Japanese relatives feel it is wrong to bring up the atrocities of WWII to the American relatives in Hawaii. Yet the younger generation does not understand this. Since they did not experience the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, their view of history is more impartial. It is not until the Japanese meet their American relative that they realize that both sides have wounds that have yet to heal. The belief is still held that Americans have a great disdain over Pearl Harbor. The film shows that both sides must come to grips with the past and rejoice in the lessons learned from such a harsh war.

9. The Japanese and Hawaii: "The Family Game"

How does one go about describing this film? Bizarre, to say the least, but also enlightening. It depicts the Japanese obsession with furthering yourself in life with education. But it also shows the toll this obsession takes on the typical family: exorbitant costs for a tutor, personal shame at the hands of teachers and classmates, and the risk of dishonoring your parents by your own academic failures. The symbollism in the film can only be understand to its full extent by the Japanese. As Americans we do not deal with the same rigorous demands for achievement. The final scene depicts a murder-suicide that is incomprehensible to most Americans. Our culture does not have the high standards in relation to success and education that the japanese do.
Random Thoughts:
It is best to understand the symbollism before viewing this film: the helicopters and death, the parents going to the car to discuss family issues, the invasive attitude of the tutor, the young newlywed neighbor and her own struggles, the relationship between the classmates, the chaotic food fight at the end...But I think this film teaches us lot about a culture we truly do not understand. View it with an open mind, only then can you grasp the context of it.

8. American Missions and Businesses in Native Hawaii

The plantation sysem of Hawaii started in the 1850's. Sugar and pineapple production proved lucrative, and an influx of Asian immigrants occurred to fill the labor needs. Some might say laborers from Japan, the Philippines, etc. were treated fairly, but this was not always the case. Regardless, their conditions were much better than slaves forced to work on plantations in the Carribean. Sanford Dole helped foster the growth of such plantations in Hawaii. His backing of the Bayonet Constitution helped strip the natives of power and put control of the islands into the hands of Americans. Lorrin Thurston is credited with overthrowing Queen Lilioukalani through the Committee of Safety, paving the way for Sanford Dole to become president of Hawaii in 1894. With the subsequent annexation of Hawaii as a state by William McKinley in 1894, Dole was appointed governor. A cousin of Sanford Dole, James Dole bought the island of Lana'i in 1922 for the sole purpose of pineapple production. With increasing American control came missionaries and businesses. All sought to dominate the islands in their perspective areas. Hawaii was seen as an exploitable land inhabited by souls that begged to be saved.

Random Thoughts:

The Dole plantation can be seen in a fairly short time. It consists of pineapples, pineapples, and more pineapples. I spent more time in the gift shop than anywhere else. Although the maze seemed interesting, I did not choose to venture in . While the place is notable as having a profound effect on the Hawaiian islands and people, it almost seemed depressing. The thought of thousands of immigrants descending on the islands for the sole purpose of harvesting this strange fruit reminds you that the Hawaiians probably had no clue as to what was happening to their home in such a short time frame. And every time you order a drink or food in Hawaii you are reminded by that thick slab of pineapple that is a staple garnish.

7. Captain James Cook and Hawaii

Captain James Cook, sent on three expeditions to study the Pacific Ocean in the 1760's and 1770's, is credited with discovering the Sandwich Islands. These would later would be renamed Hawaii. Seeking the fabled "Southern Continent", he meticulously mapped the region, collected information on native cultures, and observed the Transit of Venus. Mystery still surrounds the death of Cook on his third voyage to Hawaii. Did he offend the natives? Did his return upset the balance of the kapu sysetm? These are questions which never may be answered.
Horowitz relates a story in which he first visits Kealakekua Bay and witnesses what he believes is a young man marring the memorial to Cook. Upon further investigation he learns the man, Gary, is merely cleaning the memorial much like his ancestors before him were said to do. This epsiode highlights the struggle Hawaiians have with there past. Gary explains his thoughts on Cook to Horowitz. It appears many Hawaiians believe Cook brought destruction to their society, yet many are compelled to honor something in their past (whether it is good or bad).
Marshall Sahlin argues Cook upsset the balance of the kapu system by acting as though he was the god Lono. His return to the island at a time when it was not welcome was seen as a disaster to the natives, inevitably leading to his demise. Gananth Obeyesekere believes differently. He finds it foolish to think the natives were naive enough to think Cook was Lono. The answer to this question can never be known. What stands to reason is that in some way Cook overstayed his welcome. Whether he was viewed as being divine or a mortal man, the Hawaiians felt his return was unacceptable.