In addition to my ordinary travel preparations like finding my passport, checking visa requirements, and making a list of things to pack, I have been doing some research about my destination. When deciding what to pack, customs and taboos must always be taken in to consideration. For example, when traveling to Turkey and Morocco, I packed long skirts, blouses with high necklines, and carried a scarf in order to enter a mosque. For Japan, I have found it is is important to dress modestly, particularly in the work place. No low cut blouses, sleeves are preferred, and Japanese women even wear hosiery in the hottest months when wearing skirts or dresses. At the advice of an AP Human Geography colleague, I began reading the book, "Confucius Lives Next Door: What Living in the East Teaches Us About Living in the West" by T.R. Reid. The book, written in 1999, may be a bit dated, but the underlying themes and questions of the book are worth considering. Among those ideas, I'm most interested in observing the following during my trip:
- How was Japan able to so quickly develop in to a key economic power after WWII?
- How are the Japanese able to have such high population density and yet one of the lowest crime rates in the world?
- What values do Japanese families instill in their children? Are these different than "American" values?
- How is the Japanese education system similar to the U.S. education system? What are some differences?
- With increased women's education and participation in the workforce, Japan's economy has benefited. At the same time, with women involved in the workforce, there are less babies being born, creating an uneven dependency ratio in an aging society. What solution are being pursued?
- Japan is one of the most homogeneous modern countries in the world. What advantages does this create? What challenges does this create? What is the Japanese view toward immigration?
- How does religion play a role in Japanese society? I have read a great deal about Shintoism, a religion exclusive to Japan, and have also learned about the diffusion of Buddhism to the area. In many parts of Japan, these two religions have merged. There is also the additional influence of Confucianism from China to consider. How do these religions/ideologies play out in modern Japan?