amyandronicus:

I moved to Japan right after I graduated college. After years of idolizing such bands as Afrirampo, Melt Banana, Shonen Knife, and the Boredoms, I received a fellowship to study feminism and female musicians in Japan. For me, the experience was nothing short of magical. This was arguably the year that would determine the course of my life. 

For 13 months, I had the privilege of interviewing and attending concerts by some of Japan’s most innovative female musicians. The experience instilled in me a great desire to become an example to other women, like these women are to me. 

But, perhaps more significantly, living in Japan taught me the importance of personal responsibility to one’s culture. Culture in Japan is based on the group, rather than on the individual. Having grown up immersed in an American culture of individualism, it was difficult to understand all the ways in which people might fit together into something larger than themselves.

In the Japanese language, subjects are left out of the sentence, so that one does not speak of the actions of “I” or “You” or “Him” or “Her,” but rather of the existence of a certain mood, a certain feeling, that is shared among many. To say “I” too much in Japanese sounds selfish and rude, like a three-year-old child shouting “Me want this, me want that” all the time. That’s hard for us to understand here in America. I mean, isn’t the subject the most important part?

Whenever I watched TV, I remember being shocked at the sheer number of people I saw on television; in a typical talk show, the camera treats the facial expressions and comments of audience members with the same focus it awards to the comedian who tells the jokes. The laughter of the crowd is elevated to the same level of importance as the art of comedy; the joke exists in order for it to be reacted to.

As I made friends, I remember being shocked at the extent of people’s generosity. Although Japan is a capitalist country, it often seemed to me that possessions existed in order to be shared. I once pointed out a necklace that a friend of a friend was wearing at a party. “I like your necklace,” I commented, offhand, assuming it was easy conversation starter. The woman, whom I had never met before, took off the necklace and insisted on giving it to me. Although I tried to give it back, she wouldn’t take it, saying that she wanted me to have it. This was not the only time something like this happened to me in Japan.

In tragedy too, it is hard to separate the individual from the group who cares. When someone gets really sick, the sickness strikes not only the victim, but also the family. Death is similarly difficult to pin down. When someone you love dies, you lose a part of yourself. Tragedy is in the air, breathed in by everyone who feels themselves a part of it, the way the Japanese describe feelings.

I am impressed as I hear how Japanese people are working together to support each other through the ongoing crisis. I’m wondering what the best way is for Americans to try to support the relief effort in Japan. 

The Suzan, a Japanese garage rock band I’ve mentioned on my blog before, are currently living in NYC and are organizing a benefit concert here. I’ll keep you up to date on that as they finalize the details. 

In the mean time, I’ve decided to donate all the proceeds from my music to the relief effort. You can download my albums at http://amyklein.bandcamp.com and http://solanin.bandcamp.com. 

Lovely.,

(Source: amyrebeccaklein)