If we look around the globe, we see that traditional activities and celebrations have been under attack for years. The last time I was back in the States was for Christmas over a decade ago. I was shocked by the dearth of decorations. Those that were in public view were complete devoid of religious imagery. My parents hadn’t really noticed, a product the gradual reduction over a span of years. But during the panic, this went into over drive. Churches and synagogues were closed, we were told not to travel for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Easter? Forgeddaboutit. Funerals, weddings als no go.
Same in Japan. We were cautioned against travel for the new year holiday, we were under shutdown for three consecutive Golden weeks. Summer travel halted. Matsuri and sporting events all cancelled. Here too, can not visit family in hospital cause covid. Funerals and weddings either cancelled or only the closest relatives allowed to come depending on when during the panic they were held.
I too believe it is by design. They want to destroy all that made any group unique and replace it with what they determine to be better.
It has been going on longer in the United States, blamed on commercialization, with stores being open Christmas Day even, see, it is just another day! Nothing special about it at all, with our poverty, nothing it is!
Yep. I remember when my mom was terribly worried she had forgotten something essential for Christmas and would run through the lists before the stores closed on Christmas Eve or earlier for the holiday. We had to gas up the cars too because everything was closed by 5 pm the 24th with most businesses earlier.
Just wanted to say that not all events are fading away. My local Tokyo 23 ward residential neighborhood matsuri was bigger and better than I can recall in almost 20 years. I even got a few compliments for my (atrocious) dancing…!
Community events require community leaders. If the events in your area are fizzling out, it’s because local ‘leaders’ decided that. Only way to fix it is to volunteer and influence planning directly. They will probably appreciate the help too.
I have been chronicling how my local matsuri group and the groups we are affiliated with have blown doing things these past four years. Cancellations, down sizings and alterations rule the past 4 plus years in all we do and those we help out with.
Glad yours is still thriving p. May it long continue to do so.
The places of practice are usually the oldest standing places in the city, are they not? One wonders why they even moved close to such a place, or even into a city, if they can't handle a bit of spirited shouting.
Perhaps but by happenstance. Many if not all schools are used by their community for various events and practices. Martial arts clubs have been utilizing them for probably since before the war. When they started using the current venues, they were problem newly built at the time. Decades later, they are old and amount the oldest in their neighborhoods.
I too wonder why they chose to live next to places long known to host such practices. In many cases though it may be that they have lived there many years but it was not until they retired that they were home during practice times or that they were young enough to not care. But we have plenty of people who cannot be happy unless they are ruining the happiness of others in Japan too.
"it may be that they have lived there many years but it was not until they retired that they were home during practice times"
Every time I've been over I have always come across elderly taking walks in the mountains and big groups doing things like "Radio Taiso" in castles and parks.
Makes me wonder if perhaps those activities ended with the lockdowns.
Speaking of lockdowns, come to think of it, those have a severe impact on the mental faculties so it may also be due to direct mental changes.
That is certainly true. But with this particular situation, as stated in the Japanese Times article and I think I repeated in my OP, the complaints are not new, but what is not given is why organizers are suddenly changing or cancelling events because of the complaints. That I thinks may be due to what you point put here, the lock downs have changed how everyone thinks.
As another reader pointed out, everyone was forced to undergo activities that were detrimental to them personally in order to not “Kill grandma” and for an extended period of time. Now, everyone in any position where blame for anything can be affixed are too scared to take any chances of causing complaint. If this is so, and I believe it is, this does not end well.
I always wondered about how toxic with mercury Japanese people must be. My hair stands up on end when I see those massive tuna fish on YouTube! Do me a favor and look up the symptoms of chronic mercury.
When the covid restrictions hit around the world, traditions were disrupted, the majority fell to accommodate the minority. Also, despite the narrative that it would be "selfish" to proceed through life normally, it actually is far more selfish to capitulate to the tantrums of grumpy neighbors.."but they are vulnerable too."
Why not we just stay home/stay safe and not do anything?
There has been a "great reset" on normal, and so everything is getting questioned. Here is my hope, that in lieu of expensive events, people adapt and make things personal. The good news is that here in the states when we were told to keep groups small, and do thanksgiving outdoors, some people said "pound sand."
At the same time, I am not the best person to speak to about traditions.
When I was in college one of the best times in my life was on a Thursday in the middle of Spring. For some reason, we all got together and headed out to our campus stadium, brought blankets, music, and beer. And many of us who might not normally got along, did for that night. We listened to Simon and Garfunkel, shot the shit, and enjoyed ourselves. It was a sweet respite from the rigors of academic life.
The tradition continued for a couple of subsequent Thursdays...but something was off or wrong. There was structure, there were rules, but fun and happiness, and moments like this, you really can't plan for them. The more you try to, the more structure you make and adhere to, the less spontaneous it can become...and not fun.
What am I saying?
Growing up, I questioned a lot of traditions, and I regret doing so. But I do believe they should be questioned. Because if you don't know why you do something, then it becomes ritual. Sit at mass with a bunch of Catholics and you will know what a ritual is. And it echoes through to a variety of cultures.
Ultimately I think it might ripple in unintended directions.
As you say, in some ways, it already is. Those that love the reason for the Holidays are still participating. And it may yet become a revival. Maybe new traditions will supplant the old ones.
On the other hand, I am also concerned about why the scaled up versions are "too much hassle." Seems like one of the legacies of Covid was that there was a lot of focus on avoidance. That mindset is a bad one. I know. It is less about "can do" than "what can we do to avoid..." and that's not good.
I believe, if we here in the states, (an any country can do this) just decided to stop listening to the "we can't" "it will overwhelm" "don't be selfish" crowd, then we could burn away this morass of melancholy like the grey haze of an LA afternoon cloud layer.
Jean, I also see that happening. So much intolerance. It is hard to teach or learn tolerance without a respect for God and His creation of which the greatest creation is His children.
The man is having difficulty coming down the stairs never mind "running" for election. I keep feeling all of it is a fictional story, they make up tales to appease the masses as if something true and organic is taking place, when in fact something completely different is going on behind the curtains. Most people think they are watching real events in politics unfold but we are not it is manufactured, scripted and with a known outcome. They already know what will happen.
Thanks for sharing your concern for loss of connection caused by loss of traditions. Traditions are the glue that connects us to one another. No wonder we are struggling so hard in getting back to a normal pre pandemic quality of life. We lost that glue. ❤️🩹
It is planned, to elimination. How many people could interact to the detriment of government. The number 2 is too many!
If we look around the globe, we see that traditional activities and celebrations have been under attack for years. The last time I was back in the States was for Christmas over a decade ago. I was shocked by the dearth of decorations. Those that were in public view were complete devoid of religious imagery. My parents hadn’t really noticed, a product the gradual reduction over a span of years. But during the panic, this went into over drive. Churches and synagogues were closed, we were told not to travel for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Easter? Forgeddaboutit. Funerals, weddings als no go.
Same in Japan. We were cautioned against travel for the new year holiday, we were under shutdown for three consecutive Golden weeks. Summer travel halted. Matsuri and sporting events all cancelled. Here too, can not visit family in hospital cause covid. Funerals and weddings either cancelled or only the closest relatives allowed to come depending on when during the panic they were held.
I too believe it is by design. They want to destroy all that made any group unique and replace it with what they determine to be better.
Complete agreement, 100%.
It has been going on longer in the United States, blamed on commercialization, with stores being open Christmas Day even, see, it is just another day! Nothing special about it at all, with our poverty, nothing it is!
Yep. I remember when my mom was terribly worried she had forgotten something essential for Christmas and would run through the lists before the stores closed on Christmas Eve or earlier for the holiday. We had to gas up the cars too because everything was closed by 5 pm the 24th with most businesses earlier.
"My parents hadn’t really noticed, a product the gradual reduction over a span of years."
But they are aware now of the new state religion of the US displaying its imagery everywhere at least?
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/rainbow-cross-walk.html?sortBy=relevant
The religion which were allowed to keep its events going and whose shock troopers were highly active during those "lockdown" years.
We’re years ago, back when even Obama was still publicly against same sex marriage.
Have they noticed the new religion of color, not during the lock down period as they were locked down but I bet they have since.
Just wanted to say that not all events are fading away. My local Tokyo 23 ward residential neighborhood matsuri was bigger and better than I can recall in almost 20 years. I even got a few compliments for my (atrocious) dancing…!
Community events require community leaders. If the events in your area are fizzling out, it’s because local ‘leaders’ decided that. Only way to fix it is to volunteer and influence planning directly. They will probably appreciate the help too.
I have been chronicling how my local matsuri group and the groups we are affiliated with have blown doing things these past four years. Cancellations, down sizings and alterations rule the past 4 plus years in all we do and those we help out with.
Glad yours is still thriving p. May it long continue to do so.
"kendo practice in school gymnasiums or dojos"
The places of practice are usually the oldest standing places in the city, are they not? One wonders why they even moved close to such a place, or even into a city, if they can't handle a bit of spirited shouting.
Perhaps but by happenstance. Many if not all schools are used by their community for various events and practices. Martial arts clubs have been utilizing them for probably since before the war. When they started using the current venues, they were problem newly built at the time. Decades later, they are old and amount the oldest in their neighborhoods.
I too wonder why they chose to live next to places long known to host such practices. In many cases though it may be that they have lived there many years but it was not until they retired that they were home during practice times or that they were young enough to not care. But we have plenty of people who cannot be happy unless they are ruining the happiness of others in Japan too.
"it may be that they have lived there many years but it was not until they retired that they were home during practice times"
Every time I've been over I have always come across elderly taking walks in the mountains and big groups doing things like "Radio Taiso" in castles and parks.
Makes me wonder if perhaps those activities ended with the lockdowns.
Speaking of lockdowns, come to think of it, those have a severe impact on the mental faculties so it may also be due to direct mental changes.
Sad whatever the case may be.
That is certainly true. But with this particular situation, as stated in the Japanese Times article and I think I repeated in my OP, the complaints are not new, but what is not given is why organizers are suddenly changing or cancelling events because of the complaints. That I thinks may be due to what you point put here, the lock downs have changed how everyone thinks.
As another reader pointed out, everyone was forced to undergo activities that were detrimental to them personally in order to not “Kill grandma” and for an extended period of time. Now, everyone in any position where blame for anything can be affixed are too scared to take any chances of causing complaint. If this is so, and I believe it is, this does not end well.
True, you did quote the article on that. Seems the mind gets oddly focused on the nearest present at times.
Perhaps you could find a paper for Japan like the one put out by the Society of Actuaries - https://www.soa.org/4a55a7/globalassets/assets/files/resources/research-report/2022/excess-death-us.pdf - which clearly show the huge upswing of deaths in the US *excluding covid* in the US.
As to show them that social isolation not only kills grandma but the youth too. Especially if you can correlate it to lockdown measures.
They know. They are not bothered by this.
I always wondered about how toxic with mercury Japanese people must be. My hair stands up on end when I see those massive tuna fish on YouTube! Do me a favor and look up the symptoms of chronic mercury.
Well, people here don’t eat tuna every day.
It is not just tuna. Tuna is just the worst offender.
This kind of obsessive compulsiveness you have been describing sounds very mercurial.
Maybe, but it is part of their culture. Goes back millennia.
You can tune a piano...
Kitsune: Do you ever read my comments. to you? What's Up? Looks like Japanese children having FUN :-)
In do and I often reply. It seems that you do not or cannot see my replies.
Yep, they were having fun. All photos taken years before the panic.
When the covid restrictions hit around the world, traditions were disrupted, the majority fell to accommodate the minority. Also, despite the narrative that it would be "selfish" to proceed through life normally, it actually is far more selfish to capitulate to the tantrums of grumpy neighbors.."but they are vulnerable too."
Why not we just stay home/stay safe and not do anything?
There has been a "great reset" on normal, and so everything is getting questioned. Here is my hope, that in lieu of expensive events, people adapt and make things personal. The good news is that here in the states when we were told to keep groups small, and do thanksgiving outdoors, some people said "pound sand."
At the same time, I am not the best person to speak to about traditions.
When I was in college one of the best times in my life was on a Thursday in the middle of Spring. For some reason, we all got together and headed out to our campus stadium, brought blankets, music, and beer. And many of us who might not normally got along, did for that night. We listened to Simon and Garfunkel, shot the shit, and enjoyed ourselves. It was a sweet respite from the rigors of academic life.
The tradition continued for a couple of subsequent Thursdays...but something was off or wrong. There was structure, there were rules, but fun and happiness, and moments like this, you really can't plan for them. The more you try to, the more structure you make and adhere to, the less spontaneous it can become...and not fun.
What am I saying?
Growing up, I questioned a lot of traditions, and I regret doing so. But I do believe they should be questioned. Because if you don't know why you do something, then it becomes ritual. Sit at mass with a bunch of Catholics and you will know what a ritual is. And it echoes through to a variety of cultures.
Ultimately I think it might ripple in unintended directions.
As you say, in some ways, it already is. Those that love the reason for the Holidays are still participating. And it may yet become a revival. Maybe new traditions will supplant the old ones.
On the other hand, I am also concerned about why the scaled up versions are "too much hassle." Seems like one of the legacies of Covid was that there was a lot of focus on avoidance. That mindset is a bad one. I know. It is less about "can do" than "what can we do to avoid..." and that's not good.
I believe, if we here in the states, (an any country can do this) just decided to stop listening to the "we can't" "it will overwhelm" "don't be selfish" crowd, then we could burn away this morass of melancholy like the grey haze of an LA afternoon cloud layer.
Being unique cannot be permitted. How long before all are gray-coloured?
Jean, I also see that happening. So much intolerance. It is hard to teach or learn tolerance without a respect for God and His creation of which the greatest creation is His children.
The man is having difficulty coming down the stairs never mind "running" for election. I keep feeling all of it is a fictional story, they make up tales to appease the masses as if something true and organic is taking place, when in fact something completely different is going on behind the curtains. Most people think they are watching real events in politics unfold but we are not it is manufactured, scripted and with a known outcome. They already know what will happen.
Thanks for sharing your concern for loss of connection caused by loss of traditions. Traditions are the glue that connects us to one another. No wonder we are struggling so hard in getting back to a normal pre pandemic quality of life. We lost that glue. ❤️🩹