Changing Impression

It has been already more than three months since I came to Japan. Leaves are changing their colors and so does my impression on this beautiful island country. My belief about Japan that I developed through media and internet source was that Japan is one of the most modernized countries with big cities full of tall buildings and neon sings. When I first came to Osaka, my belief shattered. Myriad of tall buildings and sparkling neon signs were not there. There were more of bicycles than Lexus on the street. And, credit card was not accepted in many of the places, and I had to always bring cash with me.

My first impression has changed since I visited Osaka city and Tokyo. Luxirious buildings and brand shops overwhelmed me in Ginza. Tall red Tokyo tower that I saw in the movie impressed me. Great number of stores with neon signs in Shinjuku attracted me as well. Sparkling Chrismas decorations of enormous department store in Osaka city amazed me. Credit card was accepted in any shops in Omotesando too. Amazingly advanced and modernized buildings and facilities in Tokyo gave me different impression from Manhattan city view.

My impression I recieved from Tokyo city has changed again in Kyoto, Koyasan, and Kanazawa. Japan is surely advanced and modernized country. However, in Japan, modernization and tradition coexist. Great number of temples are well preserved in many of towns in Japan. Its tradition is also kept well, and Japan celebrates many of traditional ceremonies today as well. Many people visit Koyasan for religious purposes too. Traditionally preserved temples and conventions surely amazed me. Kanazawa is also famous for onsen, hot water spring. Onsen can be found in everywhere in Kanazawa, and most facilities are yet in traditional ways - wearing traditional yukata, traditional Japanese house-like hotels, etc. Japanese people try hard to preserve their traditions at the same time as Japan gets more modernized.

To me, now, Japan is the country with both tradition and modernization intermingling in harmony.

Conflict

Ijime is one of the serious problems in Japanese society. It literally means bullying. According to the survey, it ijime has been reported in 27% of elementry schools, over 50% of junior high schools, and 36% of high schools in Japan. Although bullying exists in other countries too, it is somewhat more serious and dangerous in Japan.

It has also been reported that one junior high school student committed suicide after being continuously bullied by his classmates. Ijime exists in various of forms. It includes hiding or destroyng property, verbal and physical violence, taking money, etc. There are several reasons that explain why ijime is so strong in Japan.

Japan is a collective country, which values conformity over individuality. In other words, people in Japan do not like something different from them. For example, in schools, students who are too brilliant and raise their hands too much can be attacked by others. Students who look differnt can also be attacked as well (too good looking or too bad looking for instance).

Schools in Japan also enforce many restictions to students, which can be very stressful. Students in Japanese schools are required to wear same uniforms, to cut hair to certain length, etc. Students become stressful, dealing with so many school restrictions, and this might be one of the reasons for ijime in Japan.

There isn't a single answer for ijime. Combination of many factors contribute to ijime in Japan. It is one of many serious issues to be solved in Japan today.