Japan and Poetry

In English class we've been working on quick, efficient, and sound analysis of poems, especially on initial encounter, in preparation for the AP Literature exam. While I won't be taking the exam (I already satisfied my whole humanities requirement for college last year!), the idea of poetic structure was interesting to me, so I did some research about poetry in Japan. While most grade school-aged Americans could tell you about Haiku, there are some other important forms.

Haiku- Old, shortest, originated by Basho. Have always contained a set number of syllables, even though originally had up to 100 verses versus the now common 1 verse of 17 syllables. Typically written about nature or daily life.

Here's one from Basho:

Fallen sick on a journey,
In dreams I run wildly
Over a withered moor.

Tanka- Older, longer. Typically written after an important event, focused on feelings and depth. Uses vivid imagery to discuss and issue of personal passion.

Here's a few verses from one:

as I sit in thought

she moves briskly

around the room,

stirring the chill

in the air

this complete enigma

of me wanting more solitude

then company in turn

on my terms

at just the right time

Ranga- More of a form of entertainment/game than poem. Allows two people to co-write a poem by adding on to each other. Can last up to 100 verses. Played at parties, and requires quick thinking and humor.

Here are a few verses from a poem:

silencing

the foursome at bridge

geese fly south

a rim of ice on the pond
oak leaves float on the water ** (Joyce Shriver)

silencing
the foursome at bridge
geese fly south
a splash on the river
circling ripples swirl ** (Donna Thomas)

If you're interested in reading more Japanese poetry in general, check here.

These styles of poetry have been adapted to English, but probably are more beautiful in the original Japanese. Regardless, poems in any culture express ideas personal and societal, and while the structure surely influences how ideas are expressed, the ideas themselves certainly do not change to the same extent. The skills we develop to understand poetry in one language are probably also applicable to analyzing poems from another. A poet's method of piecing together words and choosing them always reveals a deeper side of a poem than could be acquired by simply reading.

Democracy and Japan

I decided to play with format for this post, hope you enjoy.

What is American democracy and how do we promote it?

Be more specific.

How have American concepts of democracy affected Japanese democracy?

In a number of ways.

Care to name a few?

Yeah. First is the constitution. After World War II, the US occupied Japan and used this power to reshape Japanese government in its image. Militarism in pre-WWII Japan had damaged hopes at a more traditional parliamentary democracy, so the US took it upon itself build one after.

Is that all?

Nope, we also wrote Article 9 of their Constitution which banned Japan from developing aggressive military capabilities. Although the exact meaning is contested, the gist is that they can't build armed forces unnecessary for defense. No war allowed.

That can't be all that bad.

Beyond the restriction on Japanese freedom of action, the clause has also hindered relations with countries like Indonesia, and, to a lesser extent, the European Union, because the constitution is often interpreted as banning arms exports which many allies would love to get from Japan. Obviously, there are always exceptions when Japan wants to export arms to just the US. Japan's domestic military industrial base would also like to make some money, so they don't always like the ban. Interestingly, the ban has traditionally been popular in Japan, because it led to the three non-nuclear principles which prohibit Japanese nuclear activity of all kinds. Of course, the US still secretly visits Japanese ports with nuclear-armed ships. The Japanese public generally likes the pacifist sentiment. It might have something to do with WWII.

Does this have to connect with English class?

But of course.

How does it?

In Poisonwood Bible, our current book, there is an election. After months of missionary preaching and services, the Congolese village chief finally puts Christianity to a vote. The villagers are asked to democratically decide whether Christianity could be practiced in the village. Christianity looses. Immediately, the preacher declares the process blasphemous and rejects the results. Another example of American democracy internationally.

Bring it all together.

In both cases, we see America telling and forcing a foreign people to adopt democracy in America's image. Yet, rather than allow for the foreign people to have votes and control their own policies, we go by the outcome that suits us most, and, when that outcome isn't the will of the people, we do what we wanted to. Want a nuclear-free country? We'll base missiles in your harbor. Want a Christianity-free village? Elections over Jesus are blasphemous, the show will go on.

So what?

Maybe we shouldn't write ourselves into constitutions. Maybe we shouldn't force ourselves into spiritual lives. Maybe democracy is letting people do what they want to do, not forcing them to do what we want them to want to do.