Japan. Making your wishes come true.
Hi Players,
Japan. In my first few days there, I was puzzled by the many contradictions I couldn’t understand.
On the one hand, there is a huge display of innovation and technology, and on the other hand, there is a big focus on old rituals and practices.
I saw crowded shopping centers and in the middle, as if just another shop, a Shinto shrine, or a Buddhist temple.
I saw thousands of men rushing to work, all wearing white shirts and dark pants. Others were dressed in traditional clothes or as manga (Japanese comic book) characters.
I noticed strict rules regarding where to go (up or down the stairs) and where to smoke (closed smoking rooms), and at the same time, an obsession with cute things (plush toys, animated characters, etc.).
I saw people pushed rudely to the already crowded subway, yet incredible politeness when people bowed to greet each other.
I spent half of the time in the 16th century (Edo period ) and the other half in the 21st century.
It was a mysterious mix of things that seemed to have nothing in common, but I must admit, I fell for the cuteness. (The picture on the left side is the fabric of the seats on a local city bus)…
Cute is big in Japan
I was mindful of everything and everyone to understand this strange phenomenon, which looked to me as a contradiction, unreal, and somehow artificial.
I was wrong. It was not a contradiction; on the contrary, it was a beautiful diversity. A kind of diversity that contributes to a well-balanced life. It encompasses respect for tradition and old rituals while embracing novelty and all the comfort that modern technology can provide. Seriousness with playfulness. Politeness and practicality. It was a display of harmonious diversity. All are welcome.
My primary thought that the Japanese way of life seemed confusing reminded me of how easy it is to fall into judgmental mode and narrow-minded thinking.
Our beliefs can easily limit our experience while rushing to form an opinion through our lenses and personal stories. (History and the present time provide daily too many opportunities to witness how this way of thinking can deteriorate to ignorance, hatred, and violence).
I was reminded again that the only way to truly acknowledge and appreciate the gifts and diversity of our world is through pure curiosity, an open mind and heart, and always choosing the learner’s path by asking questions, being curious, and respecting others, their stories, and their rituals over judgment and prejudice. Everyone and Everything can teach us.
Choosing Curiosity over Judgment is the key to growth. Always.
Don’t get me wrong. Without this observation, I could still enjoy my travel, but by acknowledging my one-sided opinion, I could fully appreciate the richness of the experience.
I could fully understand that the purpose of the order in the subway was to ensure everyone could get safely to work and home. (Train-Media says the daily number of train passengers in the Greater Tokyo Area is approximately 20 million).
I could fully appreciate the consideration of having a special car in the subway for women only and others who have disabilities during rush hour to avoid any discomfort. I could fully appreciate the clean and smoke-free streets. I could fully appreciate the power of the Japanese rituals. With an open mind and heart, I could fully enjoy and appreciate all that Japan offers. It's priceless.
Tokyo train
My first experience in Japan was when I entered my hotel room in Tokyo.
On the table, there it was: a Daruma Doll. (You can find lots of them in every Japanese market or on Amazon:)
Although I was already familiar with the Daruma introduced and given to me when I studied Positive Psychology at the Flourishing Center in NY ), seeing it in its original birthplace was exciting.
The Daruma is a great primer for goal achieving.
The history of the Daruma dolls has lasted centuries in Japan.
Based on the remarkable willpower of a monk named Bodhidharma, who never gave up, local farmers were inspired to create dolls in his likeness for a good harvest every year.
The meaning of Daruma eventually came to mean good luck and endurance to all Japanese people.
The shape of the Daruma will never let it fall, thus presenting grit and perseverance.
The regular Daruma color is red, which represents good luck, but it also comes in different colors. The hotel granted me with a pink one which depicts Love .:)
So, how can you use a “Daruma” to achieve goals? It’s as simple as that.
Have a goal you want to achieve in the future.
Paint in one eye with a pen or marker. Any eye is fine.
Now work on your goal! “Daruma” isn’t about empty promises. It’s about YOU committing to YOURself and your goals.
Once the goal is achieved, paint the other eye and celebrate your achievement.
You can have as many Daruma Dolls as you want. My new pink “Daruma” is waiting for its mission.
Many forms of wishing ..
My favorite “playful” activity in Japan was “Making a Wish”.
It was at the Meiji Shrine in Tokyo that I first encountered this fascinating tradition.
When we entered the path leading to the Shrine, a group of young people, boys and girls wearing traditional clothes, caught my eye, and I directed my camera and took a picture.
Once they noticed me, they approached and asked if they could join us in touring the shrine together.
I said yes gladly. (My son was less enthusiastic than me, but it was too late..).
We discovered that it was their community service and opportunity to practice speaking English. (Most Japanese don’t speak English.
Moving around was a bit of a challenge, but everyone was friendly and willing to help, and sign language and pointing pictures on Google proved to be a very effective way of communication ).
I asked them if they were Buddhist or Shinto believers. They said they believe in both, and all the gods are good, so they celebrate all of them.
I found this approach both simple and beautiful—diversity in religion.
Choose your God, or believe in all of them. (Unfortunately, this tolerance wasn’t present before the Meiji era, when Christians were prosecuted. The story is featured in the novel Silence.)
Hiroshima
Ok, so let’s go back to Making Wishes. What I call playful activity is a very serious issue.
The Japanese ask for help and make wishes whenever they can from whoever can support them.
Every shrine or temple provides an opportunity to make a wish. ( It’s called “Ema,” and it is usually a small wooden plaque with different pictures that you can buy).
We happened to be in Japan on their Valentine’s Day, so there was an extra opportunity for Love wishes.
I quickly fell in love with this habit of “Making a Wish” and I will tell you why.
At first impression, it may seem a corny and even childish habit, but there is so much more to this simple and vital practice. It requires three essential parts:
Get very quiet and clear about what you want. It is more challenging than it sounds.
I am talking about more than asking for “good health” or “good luck,” which is also great.
I am talking about asking for more specific things. It requires deep digging and reflection.
Acknowledge what I miss and need in my life. It can also be more of something that I already have. The more, the merrier.
I am open to and believe that there is someone or something that can support me. I am not talking from a religious point of view.
It can be a person, a technology, a book—anything. Help can come in many forms.
Magical shrines
You don’t have to believe it works to try it.
Like my Mom says, “If it can’t hurt, It might help, so why not do it?”.
Besides, experts say that there is a big difference between writing down your wish and just saying or thinking about it.
They say that the brain, through the writing process, rewires itself to believe it is real (the process of writing activates both sides of the brain, translating into a clear message of “I really mean it”).
So, what do you wish for?
Colorful people
I came across another interesting concept. Every shrine and temple offers “O-mikuji”.
It’s a “fortune-telling” tool. It’s a box that has wooden sticks inside it.
You ask a question, shake the box, and one stick falls through a hall in the box.
The stick has a number. You draw a piece of paper from a drawer carrying the number you received and read your fortune.
What I found interesting is that the paper can contain a “half fortune” or even “bad luck.”
The message is that things can go wrong in life, and you should accept it, but there is a remedy to everything, and you have to be patient.
The instructions for performing the ritual say that you don’t need to stress about receiving “bad luck;” it’s part of life.
You can tie your “bad luck” paper and leave it hanging in the shrine, and the gods will take care of it.
I loved that they don’t sell you BS; they tell the truth. Life is not perfect; it is what it is, but your misfortune will turn to fortune with more time, belief, and patience. “This too shall pass.”
Everything will be all right. Eventually. Simple Truth.
There is more color everywhere. Street Art and Open Museum
My two weeks in Japan were fulfilling and unforgettable. It is very hard to capture all of it.
I took so many pictures; here are some to include as much of the experience as possible.
The inspiring and magnificent shrines and temples. There is one on almost every corner of Japan’s cities.
The beautiful nature. The mountains, the gardens, the bamboo forests, the rice fields.
You can be very close to deer herds who wander in the temple grounds.
The deer is considered the messenger of the gods. I haven’t received any message so far or maybe I don’t understand “deer” language.:)
Japan's nature
The very busy streets. I now have a new understanding of the word “crowded.” The Shibuya crossing in Tokyo is a must-see.
Japan's streets
The amazing food. I wish you could taste and smell it.
The running sushi, the crepes, the ramen, the siphoned coffee, the bans. mmm…I can’t understand how the Japanese are so thin.
The art. The open museum in Hakone is where you can see Mt Fuji on a clear day.
We didn’t:(,
The street art, The Mori Museum in Roppongi Tokyo.
I encourage you to travel and see Japan.
Its Shinto Shrines and Buddhist temples. The Meiji Shrine, the Senso ji Temple, the Ginkaku-ji Temple ( silver pavilion), the Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) in Tokyo, the Tenryu-ji Temple garden in Arashiyama,
The magnificent Fushimi Inari-taisha shrine with more than 100o gates (tori) in Kyoto, The Itsukushima Shrine ( the “floating shrine”) on the island of Miyajima in Hiroshima. T
he views from the top of the island are breathtaking and not to be missed.
Enjoy the vibe of the Shibuya, Takeshit, and Shinjuku streets in Tokyo.
Don’t miss a Japanese folded crepe. Grab a sushi plate at one of the running sushi places (100 yen a plate; be prepared to stand in line).
Walk the narrow streets of Kyoto and don’t miss the philosopher’s path, an excellent place for silent reflection (despite all the tourists). If you are lucky, you may even spot a Geisha in the Gion district (I wasn’t).
Spend a night in one of Japan’s traditional hotels ( we were in Tsumago) to experience Japan’s hospitality and simple way of life.
Traditional stay
I will keep Japan on my bucket list for travel in the spring when the cherry trees blossom or in the fall to enjoy the colors of the foliage.
The only downside to the trip was the weather. August is hot and humid, and we also experienced a typhoon.
I also missed the opportunity to participate in a traditional tea ceremony by choice since the thought of drinking hot tea in the hot weather was unbearable.
Nevertheless, I have to mention one of the many qualities of this ancient ritual;
Every moment that is shared with people is an opportunity to connect more. Be mindful of every detail and use all your senses to honor the precious time together and be fully present.
“If a man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty.” Japanese Proverb
Awesome Experience. I will be back.
Playfully yours,
Rina:)
