2009-02-21, 15:45 | Link #981 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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Hmm, been very quiet in this thread....
UNESCO reporting that 8 languages native to Japan are almost certainly going extinct, including the Ainu language. http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-...902210050.html
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2009-02-21, 16:51 | Link #982 |
進む道は武士道のみ
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Dying to get back to Japan (but currently near Chicago)
Age: 36
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Wow, that's the first I've heard of that volcano story. I wonder if some of my relatives and friends noticed it. I like how Tachikawa and Fussa were mentioned in the article.
And that's an interesting article about the endangered languages. I only thought there were two other distinct languages in Japan other than Japanese, Ainu and Okinawan. I'll definitely have to study up on those other languages some time. |
2009-02-22, 19:49 | Link #986 |
NePoi!
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Age: 43
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Ainu is the oldest known language to exist in the archipelago - it's a lot more likely that the people of the Jomon era (a far longer period of time than the post-Yayoi period) including the inhabitants of places like Sannai-Maruyama, were speaking it than anything like modern Japanese.
Indeed, after the Yayoi era, and for a long time afterwards, large parts of what is now Japan remained under Ainu control - northern Honshu was only gradually occupied over the course of several centuries, and Hokkaido was (mostly) holding out until the 19th century. (Ironically, most cities in Hokkaido, such as Sapporo, seem to echo the kind of colonial architecture and city layout used by the British and others in places like western Canada and Australia - which were colonised in the same era. Only Hakodate is much older, and even it was not much of anything before the colonial period.) Ainu is a living link to a part of the islands' history (and pre-history) that has been discriminated against, ignored and sidelined by Yamato-centric policies for far, far too long - in an unfortunate echo of the treatment that indigenous peoples from the Aborigines of Australia to the First Nations of Canada and elsewhere have been forced to endure (but, thankfully, have been at least addressed more fairly in recent years in those countries)... and it's long past time that these issues were addressed. But then, I suppose it's somewhat ironic that today, I find the kind of dismissive attitude by some towards Anew be echoed towards Ainu... sigh.
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2009-02-23, 22:20 | Link #987 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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Out with the "kogal" style, in with the "agejo" (bar hostess Yu-chan in Toradora!, Ryuuji's mom). The new style in Tokyo....
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-b...0090224f1.html
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2009-02-23, 23:17 | Link #990 | |
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Philippines
Age: 47
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2009-02-24, 07:02 | Link #991 | |||
On a sabbatical
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Wellington, NZ
Age: 43
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But as someone who's been from the Kansai/Chubu area, I think that what really needs preserving is the traditional Japanese way of life, like in Kyoto and Nara, I mean nowadays, Salaryman/OL is like the norm now, and there is very little focus on the past traditions on today's society. Foreigners respect our traditional heritage for its subtleties and its attention to detail. Also, the culture of zanichi Koreans/Chinese/Taiwanese also need to be protected. They are the people Japan bullied and took advantage of in the past - we should at least make up for it. I think that the Ainu question, like the Ryukyu question is rather problematic. Because if the central government [referred from here as Tokyo] takes steps to preserve these culture, independence movements that were lying low will spring into action and take advantage of Tokyo. That's why I think that Tokyo is not doing as UNESCO suggests. But when you take care of the zainichi people, you are also fostering ties with other nations [PRC, ROK, ROC], and that is a good thing. Quote:
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2009-02-24, 08:30 | Link #992 | ||
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Land of the rising sun
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Try hyping down the whole independence movement thing since there has been none for the last 100 years. I also wonder why the culture of zanichi Koreans/Chinese/Taiwanese needs to be protected? First of all, most of them are immigrants of their own wishes, the minor Koreans(alot of them came to Japan on their own which is documented) that were forced were able to leave after the war but decided to stay. The Taiwaniese and mainland Chinese were not forced in anyways. They can protect their own culture by themselves and I see no reason why public aid is needed in anyways. China town in Yokohama, Kobe and/or Nagasaki is thriving and Kanteibyo in Yokohama was errected through private donations. Neither the Ainu nor the Ryukuans were hurdled into reservation camps to rot unlike Canadians or Australian aboriginies. Quote:
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2009-02-24, 08:39 | Link #993 | ||||
On a sabbatical
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Wellington, NZ
Age: 43
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Kariyushi Club Although this is for Ryukyu, what's stopping Ainu from doing the same?? Quote:
True, there are man Chinatowns/Koreantowns, but still, this is all private efforts. Tokyo should first understand these people are victims of their circumstances. Quote:
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2009-02-24, 09:14 | Link #994 | |||
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Land of the rising sun
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Taiwan and Korea was PART of JAPAN during 1895/1910 to 1945 how could they be POWs? Korean immigrants were flocking to Japan by the millions before the war and immigration had to limit the number of Koreans coming to Japan. Mainland chinese immigrants were coming over to Japan from the end of Edo period to flee from war and/or proverty. The Japanese culture has adopted and adapted through time with a strong center core. Whather it be haiku, sado, kado, or any other heritage still thrives strong and is not some "Oriental" mythtical teaching that is handed orally since there are plenty of private schools that is willing to teach you. By the way I thought your tradition was other than Japanese. |
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2009-02-24, 09:57 | Link #995 | |||
On a sabbatical
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Wellington, NZ
Age: 43
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Well, it's up to you to think whatever - but at least you know something has been done.
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2009-02-24, 10:20 | Link #996 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Land of the rising sun
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Slavery??
How can it be slavery when most of them came at their own free will? As again Taiwan and Korea was part of Japan from 1895/1910. I had a friend in China town and he even invited me to his coming of ages ceremony, giving me the claws of of the bear paw that was served at the party. We have mutual respect to one another. I also have a friend being a Korean Nisei. We debate alot concerning the difference of the past BUT he never complained being DISCRIMINATED in the present Japanese society. Nor have I heard any nisei nor sansei complain concerning discrimination except for maybe from North Korean follower who worship Kim JonIl. Quote:
Adaptation and transition has always been Japan's strong point. Whether it be Kanji,religion, potery or what not Japan have always been able to diegest and localize to create something unique from the original. Sorry but Japan is an ongoing culture which does not tolerate nostagia, always looking for ways to refine the original content. |
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2009-02-24, 10:25 | Link #997 | ||||
On a sabbatical
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2009-02-27, 05:24 | Link #998 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Boston
Age: 35
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Yakuza are feeling the pain of recession in Japan.
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2009-02-27, 09:37 | Link #999 | |
On a sabbatical
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Wellington, NZ
Age: 43
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You know, it's time for some of those politicians who used them to repay. |
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2009-03-15, 07:14 | Link #1000 |
別にいいけど
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: forever lost inside a logic error
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I have a somewhat strange request. I've been always intrigued by the blurred difference between the words "destiny" and "fate" in the english language (and many other western languages).
These two words are similars in many ways, they both involve the concept of an unavoidable future. So sometimes they are seen as synonymous'. However in the western culture there is a difference between them. "Fate" usually involves a sort of fickle will that dominates our lives, no matter what a person does the fate will always reach its goal in a way or another. "Final Destination" is a good example of movie that deals with the concept of "fate". "Destiny" differs as it is seen more like a straight path, it's like a railroad, so it's not like it has a will of its own. Another notable difference is that persons's actions and wills are not necessarily considered unrelevant as for determining the destiny. Basically destiny is the incarnation of absolute determinism, fate is the incarnation of chaos. For that reason destiny is usually seen as something positive while fate is usually seen as something negative. The word "fatality" comes from "fate". When someone talks about an inevitable sad future he says "this is my fate", when someone talks about his own future objective whom he really strives for he says: "this is my destiny". When two people love each other they often say: "it's destiny that brought us together" they do not say that it was "fate". Even those that refuse the concept of predetermined future they often say: "i'll make my own destiny" they do not say "i'll make my own fate". So this big introduction is to ask if such distinction can also be applied to japanese culture. I know of the word "unmei" which should mean "fate" and the word "shukumei" which should be more similar to the concept of "destiny" But does that distinction actually exist? Are there words that actually reflect the difference between "fate" and "destiny" or are there completely different words who differs for another completely different reason?
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