Japan
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| Old traditional house. |
I am glad I joined a group of teachers and visited Japan this summer if only to dispel my misconceptions of this race of people. I had the impression from my reading that they were a rough harsh race of people with a reputation of fanatical courage in battle accompanied with barbaric cruelty towards prisoners of war. In 2014 I found a very good-natured, polite, pleasant, smiling most welcoming and courteous people. Bowing seems to be the traditional way of greeting people. Its depth reflects the status of the person. Their lives seem to be ordered by strict rules of manners and conduct. Group mentality seems to be the accepted way of doing things. One must conform to a higher authority. The group found this difficult yet it is a courteous culture with a warm hospitality. Loyalty is a virtue most prized to them. They seem to hide their feelings with a smile. They are short in stature with short straight black hair, brown–almond eyes and yellow brown skin. They shield themselves from the sun by using umbrellas and by wearing long gloves. Many wear white masks in the streets and while serving the public.
The Landscape
128 million inhabit this country. We traveled through the island of Kyushu en route to Nagasaki. The island is lush green with heavily forested hilly slopes (many prone to landslides) with maple, birch, cypress, cedar and bamboo groves which are used as building material and food stuff. Fresh water lakes abound and are used for industry and irrigation of the numerous paddie fields - a major part of the landscape. Small rice plots often take the place of gardens beside their homes as well as fruit and vegetable farming. At night we went up Mt. Inasa and looked at the splendour of Nagasaki at night. As well as viewing all the memorials at the Peace Park at Nagasaki we saw the stone with the image of the Blessed Virgin. Japanese torturers who wanted to suppress the Catholic religion asked citizens to stamp on this image. If they failed to do so it proved they were Christians and then they were crucified for their beliefs.
We visited the Shimabara Castle and climbed to the top after visiting the ancient houses of the Samurai district.