Tokyo International Business College entry ceremony

Today I had the opportunity to attend the entry ceremony of the Tokyo International Business College. A very unique experience. Everything was really formal and regimented. Although there are such ceremonies in Germany too, they are slightly different.

The names of all new students were read out and all of them had to stand up and report their attendance. Very ceremoniously and you could feel that they are very proud to be students of this college. Everything seemed to be strictly planned. There should be no possibility for coincidences to happen. From the speeches to the timtable (yes, even the flowers at the front of the stage) everything seemed to be perfectly proposed.

Afterwards the teachers introduced themselves to the students. That seemed to be more relaxed and friendly. Also some students were honored for their good performances. One third of all students at this college come outside from Japan. The students are not only able to learn English. Also French and Italian are languages that are teached at this college.

Meiji shrine guiding

On Sunday Yuka and me guided an American man from Washington D.C. through the Meiji shrine. He told us that he is in the Navy and currently working as an mechanic on an aircraft carrier. He and his family are living in Japan for 3,5 years now.

After such a long time, he experienced a lot of the Japanese lifestyle and he shared his opinion with us. He especially likes the respect that Japanese people have for each other. They treat people in the right way. When the earthquake happened you could experience that there were no riots. All the people stayed calm and nobody lotted or rampaged. The people helped each other. If the earthquake would've happened in America it would have been different, he said. Because he's getting out of the Navy sometime this year, he and his family will return to America, but there are many things about Japan that he'll miss. Because of his job he visited many countries around the world, but Japan is very unique in his opinion, he told us.

神道 - Shinto

What do you know about Shinto?

A question that can be answered fast, if you just reply that Shinto is a religion. But does this answer fit?

For Hidetoshi Tojo Shinto is much more than just a religion. In his opinion Shinto is the origin of the Japanese culture. Gratitude, culture and respect are the main pillars of this worldwide unique religion, he said.

Compared with Christianity there is not such a strong hierarchy in Shintoism. All is on just one level and everything, even the smallest stone, got its own soul or spirit. The kanji letters for religion are vulnerable and wisdom (宗教 - しゅうきょう) which shows that it is build on freedom and harmony. For Shintoism the kanji letters are god and path (神道 - しんとう). Also a very interesting fact is that the Japanese word for mirror "Kagami" (鏡 - かがみ) contains the word for self "Ga" (我 - が) and the word for god "Kami" (神 - かみ).

In Shinto a written book, like the bible, does not exist. From the 6th century on Buddhism came from Korea to Japan. Because of no written guidelines, Shintoism was able to implement some parts of the Buddhism.

Every now and then Global Community has interesting conversations with him. You can read more about this interesting topic in every new edition of the Global Community free paper and my blog.