Month: August 2018

While foreign tourists to Japan, including myself, find traditional Japanese culture fascinating, we can be led to wonder whether this has any real relevance for modern Japanese life. Sometimes, in unexpected ways, it can be revealed to us how deep continuity exists between the traditional and the modern manifestations of the Japanese way of life.

Travelling in the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo, I had time to reflect on the days past spent traveling in Japan. The previous night, I had slept in a capsule hotel, a true Japanese experience – quirky, different, as well mysterious “futuristic”. Dressed in a yukata, a traditional robe which looks like a mixture between a kimono and pyjamas, I squeezed into the space-age style cabin box. An unusual hybrid experience, I felt as if I was living my childhood dream of being an astronaut on a space mission, as well as, at the same time and quite by contrast, playing the role of the samurai from a Kurosawa movie. The modern and the traditional are truly ever present in every aspect of Japanese life.

Deep in my thoughts in the Shinkansen I got a call from my parents and had a short conversation in Russian. While ending the conversation I saw a Japanese man looking my direction and then, to my great surprise, he spoke to me in my native language. He was from Tokyo, but had studied semiconductor technology for 2 years in Russia (which struck me as quite a strange place for someone from Japan to study electronics).

He had a curious story of his motivation for traveling to Kyoto. He explained that in accordance with Shinto belief (“the way of the gods”), the indigenous faith of the Japanese people, the “kami”, or gods, take the form of natural properties such as wind, rain, mountains, or fertility. The god of lighting and thunder, ‘Raijin’, is one of the most important kami. As part of a general update to the responsibilities of the kami in recent years, motivated by Japan’s technological advances, Raijin assumed new responsibilities as the god of electricity and radio waves. The Dendengusha Shrine in Kyoto is devoted to Raijin, and sponsored by electronics companies (who may well anticipate a return on their generous support), and my new friend travelled to Kyoto in hope of obtaining inspiration for his research work.

It was at this point that I realized how Japanese traditions continue to be relevant, right into the present and onward into the future.

Why Russians were fascinated with Sbornja (Russian team) performance during World Cup

World Cup in Russia ended, few weeks gone, emotions calmed down. Russia exited in the heartbreaking penalty shootout against Croatia, but same time won the hearts of native fans. Even in defeat, Russian fans have been full of praise for the Sbornaja and cheered the team like never before. My foreign friends, you may wonder why?

1. First of all, unlike my German, French, Brazilian, Italian, Spanish friends, we are not spoiled with great successes on the soccer fields – last time we reached quarter final on the World Cup was in Mexiko in 1970 and it was USSR team.
2. Only the laziest guy has not criticized the team of Stanislav Cherchesov – one of the lowest ranked teams in advance of the tournament, which has not won any of the last 7 games. Fans and so-called fans missing any tactical idea of the coach, lacking team spirit, will to play and fight and saying that we have probably the less talented generation of Russian players in the history which will not be able even to get out of the group. Someone even proposed the coach to step down just a day before the World Cup, initiated by the situation in the Spanish team.
3. But as Russian saying states — not for sight, but in spite… in spite of all odds, criticism, lack of hope, Russian team surprised everyone and did what it did: showed character, tenacity, resilience, fighting spirit, determination, and focus and finally believed in itself and just played their game fighting until the last breath.
4. Last but not least, Russian team has won something much more important than a World Cup. It has won the respect and admiration if not of the world, but of the Russian fans (which was rare the case in the last years). Russia leaves the home World Cup with pride and dignity and fans are simply thanking Russian players for fantastic World Cup with a huge sincere emotional and passionate “SPASIBO”!

So, thank you Sbornja for all this incredible moments and joy, emotions, feeling of pride and unity, for restored Hope finally. You have not lost, but simply step aside as polite hosts, who gives all the best for their guests. You have reasons be proud of yourself, as we are proud of you. Sbornaja Forward!!!!!