They don't believe it is contradictory because Shinto and Buddhist believes are not mutually exclusive like they are in western religions. "Of importance for Japan is the fact that Shinto contains no absolute sense of values, such as the "words and rules of God" in the Judeo-Christian tradition." (P 128). This allows the traditional Shinto religion of Japan to welcome and embrace other religions such as Buddhism. However it isn't always so easy. When Buddhism first came to Japan it conflicted with the emperor system. "In the sixth century, the Japanese encountered a more sophisticated religion, Buddhism. With time, however, people noticed that if they believed in Buddhism, the emperor system would be denied."(P 128). This was eventually overcome by Prince Shotoku managed to find a way for all the systems to coexist he stated that, "Shinto is the trunk, Buddhism is the branches, and Confucianism is the leaves" (P 128).
2.What is iitokodori? Cite once from the textbooks and explain what it is. Choose the scene from this film in order to explain the negative effects of iitokodori.
Itoki-Dori is the ability of the Japanese to adopt and improve on foreign culture. A good example given in the text was the example of the Tomioka Factory. "In 1868 Japan adopted a new spinning technique from France, and in 1873, a model factory in Tomioka was built. everything was imported, not only the design and the machines but also the bricks for the buildings, desks, chairs, and so on. In addition, French technicians were employed, and the Japanese workers copied them." (P 129).
3.Daigo was a cellist, but his orchestra was dissolved, and he takes a job as “Nokanshi.” What kind of job is “Nokanshi”? From the film, what is the general perception of this job? How does Daigo feel about his job? Describe the transition of Daigo’s wife perception toward his job.
3.Daigo was a cellist, but his orchestra was dissolved, and he takes a job as “Nokanshi.” What kind of job is “Nokanshi”? From the film, what is the general perception of this job? How does Daigo feel about his job? Describe the transition of Daigo’s wife perception toward his job.
Nokanshi means casket-er in English. This casket-er will prepare the body in a ceremony that will help the spirit move on to the next life. From the film it seams as though the job is frowned upon and not considered a proper job. Daigo is apprehensive at first but finds an appreciation for the work and has respect for his boss who helped him learn the trade. Daigo's wife is grossed out and humiliated at first and leaves but latter returns and sees Daigo preform the ceremony for the bath house lady and his own father and comes to respect his new profession.
4.Japanese funerals have many rituals and customs. In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between the Japanese funerals you saw in the film and the kind of funerals you have been to?
The biggest difference is the way the body is cared for. In an American funeral no one touches the body during the viewing, we come up to the casket to pay our respects and give our last good by's. Their is nothing quite as elaborate as the ceremony performed in the movie in American funerals.
5.Movie---What does the stone that Daigo has mean?
4.Japanese funerals have many rituals and customs. In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between the Japanese funerals you saw in the film and the kind of funerals you have been to?
The biggest difference is the way the body is cared for. In an American funeral no one touches the body during the viewing, we come up to the casket to pay our respects and give our last good by's. Their is nothing quite as elaborate as the ceremony performed in the movie in American funerals.
5.Movie---What does the stone that Daigo has mean?
It probably means that his father loved him very much.6.Movie--- Was Daigo able to meet his father? What kinds of situation was it?
Yes but his father had already passed on and it was the first time Daigo had seen him in over 30 years. 7.What other Japanese key concepts do you see in this film? Explain what and why you think so.
Another key concept i saw in the movie was the idea of the Do spirit. When Daigo first started his job at the Casket-er company he witnessed his boss performing the cleansing ceremony. As he preformed the ceremony you could see that all the movements he made were meticulous and well practiced much like a martial art or flower arrangement skill. Much like an apprentice martial artist learns from a master Daigo had to learn casket-ing from his boss. Daigo literally learned the way of Casketing.
8.What did you learn about the Japanese culture through the film? What do you think about the movie
overall?
8.What did you learn about the Japanese culture through the film? What do you think about the movie
overall?
I learned that the Japanese can accept may religions and roll modern western and eastern traditions in with their own ceremony's. overall i liked the film, it was a nice look at how the Japanese treat their dead and the respect they have for them.
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