Changing Impressions

When I started this blog activity, I didn’t know how to write visual anthropology blog. My view point has changed through this activity. Since I had started write my blog, I focus on ordinary and small things that represent Japan well. 

This is a supermarket called Fresco in Kyoto. You can see another one near the Kansai Gaidai, but appearance is quite different from Hirakata’s one. Kyoto one has Japanese old style appearance. It means Japanese style tiles on the roof and walls were made by mud like old style. I didn’t focus on ordinary thing like this before I was taking this class. This supermarket represents Japan well I think. Because of this appearance, it doesn’t spoil the Kyoto’s traditional atmosphere. It takes to the atmosphere of Kyoto. 

I can find a lot of Hello Kitty something in everywhere. This is natural for me and I have never thought about it before and I was surprised when I hear that other countries don’t have much Hello Kitty. I rediscover the things are natural for me is not always same if I see that through the different countries view. It is difficult to me to find that kind of things due to I grow up among Japanese culture, but I can find interesting matters if I try to continue. 

I look at foods in a new angle. Some of them have interesting points. I didn’t pay much attention to them, but now I see them with caution. A cook made this by sushi as if a flower. Attitude to discover something makes ordinary things to special. 

Through visual anthropology of Japan class, I learned culture is still changing. Culture evolves to incorporate what is needed from in and out of country. I mentioned about Japanese traditional stuffs mainly. Those are of course Japanese culture. Moreover foreign things are part of Japanese culture too. Thank you for this opportunity that think about Japan again.