Friday, December 12, 2008

Fist draft: Japan

SORRY FOR THE LATE POST!!

Japan is mostly well-known by its modern technology. Some of the technologies are not even comparable to us. For instance, the most famous telephone brand in Japan, NTT Docomo cannot be used in other country except the country itself due to extensive and advanced features of the mobile phone. Apart from that, this country is also leading in the manufacturing of automobiles especially cars. I have watched one Television Programmed called Muccha Buri where one of the episodes shows the models of cars that are very unique. They are unique that some of them can function not only on land, but also on water. Apart from technologies, Japan gives a great influence to the countries all over the world with manga (comics) and anime. The influence is so great that the terminology “anime” is included in the English dictionary. Common people who do not know much about manga and anime would perceive them as merely forms of entertainment. However, the basis of manga and anime does not based on this purpose only. For Japanese, these two sources serve as mediums to inform the public about stories that are depicted from daily life, history that revolves around the shogunate era and so on. Some of the anime even consist of adult/mature contents that can only be watched by viewers above 18 years old. The elements of virtue, creativity and imagination, and knowledge are wrapped up inside anime where it plays important role in educating the community. The influence on other countries can be seen that there are even cosplays (costume playing) all over the world including our country Malaysia. Some of the fans or so-called die-hard-fans become obsessed with manga and anime that they are given the title otaku. Cartoonists from other countries are also influenced by the strokes and plots that are similar to manga/anime.

I am pretty much attracted to the educational system there. There are some similarities in Japanese school system compared to us. One of them is yochien, (kindergarten or nursery) as the earliest education that each child should receive at the earliest age of 5 years old. The teachers assigned are mostly college graduates. Unlike our country, children are enrolled in shogakko or elementary schools at the age of six which is one year earlier than us. Just like United States School system, there is only one teacher that will teach all subjects. The next level of education is chuugakko or middle school. The students enroll at this school at are mostly of the age of 12 or 13. Just like us, the entrance of the school is determined by examinations. The choosing of schools is important as schools play an important role in determining which Universities that they will attend later on. Up until this level the education is compulsory to them but at the age of 16, they are free to choose whether to end their education or proceed to kotogakko/koko (high schools). At this age too, they are given the permission to work. Again, there is an examination before the students are able to enter their target schools. Compared to our examination system, the students there need to take entrance examination that are set by the schools themselves. During the final year, which is when they are 18 years old, they again need to decide whether to end their studies and work or proceed to University. If they want to enter any Universities, they need to take an examination from respective Universities.

Japanese are the people who go for perfectionism in everything they do. I remember in one line in the Last Samurai movie, “from the moment they wake, they devote themselves to the perfection of whatever they do”, I find that this statement is true. In everything that they do in their daily life is done in certain procedures or steps with serious considering. If they do not do so, they might be considered as rude or has broken the balance of their life. Each child is brought up with strict disciplines. It can be seen vividly in their own language system. Just like our language, they have formal and informal language. Their language is much influenced by Chinese language and almost most of them are derived from Chinese characters. Most of the pronunciations are similar to the Chinese language. What surprises me when I first learn Japanese language is their writing system. Unlike Malay language and English language, Japanese language consists of characters just like Chinese language. They even have three different writings which are katakana, hiragana, and kanji. If you learn Japanese language you will know this. Unlike our language, one character in Japanese language does not represent a letter but is made of syllables. For example one character is pronounced as ka (ka:). The combination of characters will form a word. For instane, the character ka if combined with the character mi will form a word kami which means paper or God. I thought that I can just write the character freely on my own. However, when I attended Japanese class I learned that the strokes of each character needs to be written based on the fixed steps and with the correct measurement. Writing in the correct order is very important. Japanese take this matter seriously. I remember when I was scolded by my Japanese lecturer for writing them sloppily.

Apart from their language, the perfectionism can be seen in their own education system. If the examination involves memorization of lines especially in Japanese language subject or literature, the students need to memorize them one by one without leaving one word. Leaving one word of the line is intolerable. With just one mistake can affect their examination marks. Besides their education system, bowing (jigi) and greetings (aisatsu) are very vital in their daily life. If they do not do these in their daily life, they would be considered extremely rude. Saying the phrase itadakimasu before eating and gochisousama after a meal is compulsory as a form to show gratefulness to the person who prepares the food. When eating, they are not allowed to leave any chunks of food left and they do not pour soya sauce on the rice or dishes just like Malay custom. Instead, they will pour it on a plate and dipped the dishes on the food.

However, beyond the perfectionism of this country, there are also climbing rates of social problems. The main social problems in Japan are suicide, hikikomori (pulling away), ijime (bullying), makeinu (literally meaning failure but here it means women who refuse to get married), juvenile crimes, parasites (unemployed adults staying with their parents), furita (unemployed people) and lots more (Taylor, M., 2006). According to WHO, Japan is included as one of the countries who have high rate number of suicides. According to TIMES, June 19, 2008, suicide cases in Japan are escalating. The range of age is between 15 to 34 and mainly because of stress and depression. Well, seeing how high expectations certain parents on their children with tough disciplines and workaholics, I do not feel surprise that this social problem is at a rise. The adolescents too are lacking of virtue and respects towards the elder. However, this phenomenon does not only happen in Japan only but also in Malaysia. I still remember my Japanese teacher said that Malaysians are courteous people back on 1995 but the quality is degrading.

Even with the bad sides of Japanese society, they are still amazing in my eyes. Not because of their technology or achivements but their attitudes in preserving their own culture, their endless spirit to strive for the best, and also high disciplines make me think that this country is such a great country.

7 comments:

hanmie7227 said...

A very good draft. Rich with information which i found it is very useful. congrats!

maybe you should check the end of paragraph 4. The last paragraph.

yagami said...

check for what?

yagami said...

oh I got, it, thanx for telling.

babysbreath said...

Very informative. however in my opinion the introduction is a bit too long. the intro para is like a content para. maybe you can add introduction that sum up the essay as a whole.

lupikirlah sendiri said...

Overall your essay as usual didn’t disappoint me, full with facts of Japanese people and the Japan itself. But when I read ur first sentence, I thought it's going to be all about Japan's techno, but its not. So I hope u would mention what ur essay going to be bcos suddenly in 2nd parag u talk abt educational system cos previously abt manga am I rite. I can see ur enthusiasm talking abt Japan so much that u compare it to Malaysian. Yeah the social probs are everywhere, and the perfectionists too cant run from the fact. I like ur essay, when it's bit too long, its really informative, and the readers get many vocabs that would never been known, but I want to see it more in order, means that u may don’t want ur essay become too long, so u may trim the long paragraph to become shorter and keep it short and simple . ok keep up the good work!!

Ummi Nisrina Adni said...

When we look at the topic people will know what to expect from your writing. However, may I remind you that every essay begin with introduction and I found that your introduction is too long and does not tell readers the gist of the topic. This is because you jumped into the points from the first sentence.

I suggest that maybe you could first introduce Japan by stating its geography etc., and then list down its beauties.

I do agree with lupikirlah sendiri that this essay is informative but it is too long and maybe you could sum up a bit of your supporting details

"They even have three different writings which are katakana, hiragana, and kanji. If you learn Japanese language you will know this." Maybe you can cut down the second sentence and tell the meaning of the writings.

I also found that u did cite the second last paragraph. I wonder what about the other such as the educational system paragraph?

Please review a spelling, "for instance"

Keep up the good work! Gud luck for second draft!

yagami said...

minna san! hontou ni arigatou masu! tsugi wa zettai ni ganbarimasu! Thanx for all ur comments!