It’s taken me over three months to write this post. For a long time, I kept the title in my drafts folder, waiting.
I’m not sure why the hesitancy, though. Is it because, whatever little I know of the Japanese culture, I really appreciate it? Or is it because, being inherently non confrontational, I’m worried about backlash?
Ordinarily when it comes to the issue of climate change and protecting the environment, I’m the last person who sits back and says nothing. I’m sure my family is pretty fed up with me going on about single-use plastic and fossil fuels.
Yes, I know that not will be happen unless governments finally decide to make drastic changes to laws regarding carbon emissions, agricultural practices, deforestation, and my own pet-peeve, single-use plastic. Currently, in the US, any chance of that happening is more like fantasy than reality.
Anyway, since we’re on the topic of single-use plastic, I’ve noticed that Japan absolutely loves it. Everything comes wrapped in loud, crinkly plastic. Every! Thing!
Want a banana? No problem. First, peel off the plastic then peel the skin. Those sweet and salty Happy Turn rice crackers sure are delish. But each one comes wrapped in plastic. And they’re gone in two bites. They’re so yummy that it’s impossible not to eat five or six or ten. Then you have to scramble out from underneath the little mountain of plastic you’ve accumulated – dragging your guilt behind you.
Riding the bullet train or eating at most restaurants, you’re invariably given a wet towelette. This is wrapped in plastic.
People there don’t seem to mind plastic wrapped everything. It’s expected. Being clean is on thing. This hyper-cleanliness is another thing altogether. It’s as though without the plastic, no one will touch the product.
When I feel disgruntled about how slowly things move in the US when it comes to non-biodegradable wrapping, I think about Japan. Here in the US, co-op markets and certain supermarkets don’t shrink wrap everything, and allow you to use your own reusable cloth bags for your fresh fruit and veggies.
When I was in Fukuoka, I visited the Nanzo-in Temple. I was excited to get out of the city and was looking forward to it very much.
Nano-in Temple is known to have the largest bronze reclining Buddha in the world. I say this so you know that it attracts quite a number of visitors.
I noticed that up ahead, a large group of people were gathered in a clearing among the trees. I’m from the West Indies and I have FOMO so when there’s a group of people, I make my way there. If something’s happening, I want to know what it is.
We all waited on the sidelines. Several priests arrived and took their places for the annual Fudomyoo Saito Goma service. This fire service is done to destroy negative energy, thoughts, and wishes. The Goma fire ritual is not specific to the Nanzo-in Temple. It’s done all over the country and on different scales.
A prayer ceremony began, and soon, a fire was lit. Very quickly, smoke began billowing. And it continued to do so for what seemed like an eternity. Thick and grayish-white.
Reciting sutras, the priests toss handfuls of prayers written on wooden tablets into the fire. Beside them stacked boxes holding hundreds more wait to feed the flames.
These pieces of wood can be purchased with a “donation” made to the temple. They’re not free.
Where does this wood come from? Japan’s forests? Probably not. I suspect it’s imported from other countries. The internet tells me that much of their imported wood comes from Canada, the US, Viet Nam and Indonesia.
I could go on, but I’ll leave it there.
If you follow this blog, you know that I enjoy the Japanese culture a fair deal. I admire their aesthetic and many of their philosophies that guide their daily living. But I would be an ostrich, sticking my head in the sand, if I pretended that this did not also exist alongside everything else that I appreciate about the culture. As I am often reminded by my partner, everything has a shadow. Japan is no exception.
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I am struggling to come to terms with the sheer volume of items that we come into contact, day to day, that have some sort of relationship with plastic. I’ve gotten a water filter that can filter microplastics and while I drink my clean water, I look at my cardboard box of pure coconut water and sigh, because I know that the inside is lined with plastic.
Right there with you and the single use plastic. Here at work, it’s my pet peeve. They carelessly open bottles, take a sip and leave it, discarded all over. I’ve tried to reach out to managers to start recycling, but to no avail. Little steps add up eventually to big steps. Keep talking! One day, one day, but hopefully, sooner than later.
That kind of thing sends me over the edge. Corporations know that it costs a lot for them to start recycling ♻️ programs or better yet – try to start more earth friendly, green practices. Capitalism prevents most corporations from caring even just a little about the state of this planet.
I loved this blog entry. It was very informative. I also loved how you ended the piece, with everything having a shadow, (or a dark side). No one and no people are perfect. I think what’s important is when countries work on improving themselves and their practices, towards a better future.