Written Japanese has not one but three sets of characters. This simple zen-like logic on the transient nature of all things permeates all generations and facets of Japanese culture.Īlthough Japanese culture can be conceptualised as refined minimalism, the language, on the other hand, is complexity itself. But looking deeper we see the beauty of a fleeting moment. At first glance, Japanese literature can seem grim or passively nihilistic. Instead, the Japanese emphasis is on the present. It is a stark contrast to the Western culture’s emphasis on ‘hope’ or expectations for a better future. Another way of looking inside this enigmatic culture, from the everyday to the sensationalised, is through its literature.īroadly speaking, Japanese authors tend to write of their underlying acceptance of life. There is no denying that Japan has remained elusive, and people have travelled from all corners of the world to see for themselves just how unique this island remains. Once again there are kimono-clad maidens riding rickshaws in the streets of Kyoto, only now it is part of a tourist attraction. Eating raw fish was an idea once met with a certain grimace, yet sushi is now enjoyed globally. Understanding Japanese culture has fascinated the Western world ever since the country’s trading doors opened up in the 1800s.
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