Current Events #2

 My topic focuses on Japanese neighborhood infrastructure, in which I will specifically study the Sangubashi neighborhood in Tokyo rather than in a broader sense. Interestingly, the available articles regarding Tokyo neighborhoods do so in an economic sense (such as the affordability and availability of rental homes) or relate Japanese infrastructure to other parts of the world. For instance, the Japan News article titled With Knowledge Based on Experience, Japan can Provide Effective, explains how Japanese homes can be a blueprint for countries like Syria and Turkey. To explain, these two countries experienced massive earthquakes in February 2023, in which the death toll has reached a combined 57,000. The primary reason for such a high death toll were the laxed earthquake resistance building standards, which, subsequently, led to the deadly collapse of many inhabited homes. The article, though mentioning Japan through a lens of disaster prevention technology and reputable experience in reconstruction efforts, details the effectiveness of Japanese infrastructure in a unique way that I did not think of previously. It showcases the sturdiness and high quality of Japanese homes and other buildings, which adds to the intricately designed neighborhood and city planning that I will discuss in my presentation. 

Yoyogi Park Reflective Traveler

 

On Thursday, the class visited Yoyogi park, where we were instructed to "zoom in" on smaller things and "zoom out" on the world around us. I  found a spot on a bench on the outskirts of a enclosed dog park. I zoomed out on the park, taking in the trees, the small shrubs growing alongside the fence, and the blue sky emanating above the canopies. It was a peaceful day enjoyed by many others, as I saw people out on walks with their partners and/or pets. Zooming in, I saw a puppy that particularly stood out to me. It was so cute, small, and brown, with the brightest teal collar. It was so happy, wagging its tail and running around its owner.  

Current Events #1

 My topic centers around housing in Tokyo. The city is well known for its unique and abundant high-rise apartments. However, what is less known is the housing shortage due to the high costs of homes. The article titled Vacant Homes and High Rise Condos: Japan's Housing Dilemma, explains how COVID-19 led to many people working from home, becoming aware of their cramped rented apartments (often with thin walls). In turn, buying homes became more appealing. However, due to inflated costs, many average and young people cannot afford to purchase their homes in suburban neighborhoods. Additionally, there is a shocking 8.49 million homes across Japan that stand empty, mainly because of sentimental attachments to properties (i.e., not wanting to sell a home). 

This article interests me because it mentioned a possible solution for this housing issue: to build more affordable housing in less desirable, lowland areas. The issue, of course, is that these homes would be susceptible to flooding or being destroyed by other natural disasters. When I think of housing in Japan (specifically in densely populated cities like Tokyo), I think of the Sangubashi neighborhood. Essentially, neighborhoods where there are average-costing apartments above convivence stores and lots of foot traffic. It would be interesting to see if the government will invest in more affordable housing in less desirable areas, as they would likely not include many small businesses in a region likely to be destroyed by the natural elements. 

 

Reflective Traveler Blog Post

The location that I travelled to was the Yoyogi Koen station and back. While walking to the station, I couldn't help feeling and thinking about the walkability and how livable this city is; Seattle could only dream of having such convenience. I know such a comparison is not always a fair one to make, however, as the US is physically much larger than Japan, making it, what many would argue, to be more impractical to invest in such modes of transportation. 

There is a large fence that encloses the park, but I don't go in. Maybe I'll go some other time; have a small picnic with a few people from the program. If it weren't for the mosquitos,  I could see myself taking a nice little nap in the grass. 

The trees are so inviting, there is an enclosed field where teenagers are playing, and you see mothers on a stroll with their small children. It all feels familiar, welcoming, and safe. Cars are whooshing by, and a woman riding her bike merges onto the road without surprising/annoying the driver behind her. 

But, of course, things aren't always shine shine and rainbows. While on the train, I people watched. I noticed that many of those commuting do not look happy; they're asleep, they're on their phones with the most vague expressions, or they're staring off into space. Of course, I understand that no one is excited to go to work, no matter what part of the world you are in. But there is something very unique about how their expressions; I can't quite put it into words. 

Short Blog Post: Tokyo National Museum

 

This art piece (called "Mist") was very interesting to me, mainly because it depicts a nude woman.  Nudity is very common in European Renaissance paintings, but I have never seen any non-western artwork that includes it. I know that Japan is a very traditional and conservative society, and, just observing most of what Japanese people wear, they are very keen on covering up intimate areas of their bodies. 

Due to my preconceived notions about conservative clothing in Japan, I thought that the painting could have been a more recent one. However, this painting was finished in 1907, meaning that it was very ahead of its time. 

Art as Healing

 In truth, I do not believe that art plays a role in healing; at least, not on community and national levels. True, art educates and provides representation/a voice to those whose histories have been overlooked by the international community. 

In fact, it was not until my partner visited the Wing Luke Museum that he learned about Pol Pot and his Khmer Rouge's murderous campaign against their own people in the late 1970s. My partner learned, at a surface level of course, the conditions that innocent people had to endure, as well as the fact that over a quarter of Cambodia's population was killed during this period through the art displayed.

But art does not bring back innocent victims. Art does not truly convey the suffering that communities, especially communities of color, have faced. Art is subjective, meaning that it can tell a story from a false or misled perspective. 

Mattai, in their article "Can art bring healing?" stated that "Creating art, of any kind, is an active medication. Creative innovation leads to joy, and joy brings healing. This is where I do not agree with Mattai. Let's consider the meaning of "healed." Without looking at a dictionary, my definition of "healed" means to fully recover from injury, physical and/or mental. In cases such as these, how does one recover?

Additionally, similar to what Harlan Liu wrote in his "Reorient" article, art can often be very hard to understand without written background information. In cases such as these, subjective art can hinder making meanings of past histories, as many may not understand the meaning behind them

It is important to share the stories of all communities, and art (aside from the instances in which viewers are not given enough context on a given piece) is a highly effective method of doing so. But, in the end, nothing can bring slain family members back. Nothing can make victims forget or move past such tragedies, and that includes art. In other words, art, while playing an important role, does not heal, but educates instead.