question: is it considered rude, bad manners, frowned upon, etc to film in or around a cemetery in japan? I always feel very self conscious filming or photographing around them, as I do not want to upset anybody... I understand that these are emotionally charged places that hold a great deal of significance for many people, and, being a foreigner, I feel that I don't understand this part of Japanese culture well enough to visit them with a camera in hand. Thanks in advance for your time & consideration.
I need to tell you about what religions are like in Japan before answering your comment. The way Japanese people think of religions is kind of unique. Somehow lots of them, especially the young, believe that they are not religious but I wouldn't say that is true. They just don't stick to a specific religion but they are pretty religious in the term of belief. They believe in "something" but it is sometimes not coming from the idea of their "main" religion Buddhism. It is often based on Japanese original religion Shinto although they stick to Buddhism the most custom-wise, including the way to visit graves. Well, what I meant by "main" is like... they could believe in multiple religions at the same time. Many of them visit Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines for worship, the culture here today is even influenced by Christianity too. Like people tend to hold their wedding ceremonies in a Christian style. Shinto is a religion where you are supposed to believe that every single existence in the whole universe has a spirit which is called god so you need to respect the existence whatever it is. This could have let people accept other religions easily. They were fundamentally fine to accept multiple gods. It is more like a primitive religion. You believe in/respect a mountain, a river, bread, milk and whatever. This idea is becoming less common generation by generation but I believe it is still the basic way of Japanese people think of things. They tend to stick to this idea much more when it comes to something they love or something important for them. Since it is applied to dead existences too, (I guess it is kind of based on an idea from Buddhism) it is pretty important to visit graves. They visit the grave of their family member on his death days, on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes and on a day in every summer according to Japanese Buddhist customs. They could visit more if the grave is close to their place. I feel like it is changing year by year though. I don't mean people are becoming atheist. It feels like atheism is like another type of religion in a way. Japanese people are just becoming indifferent. It's sad.
Planet Tokyo thank you for your reply! japan has always struck me as a country that lays a lot of values to the traditions of their people so i was interested in the significance of this practice
I've believe it's because in most cultures they believed if you put their favorite food and drinks, the person spirit, soul, etc. will enjoy it. Or it can also just be a traditional thing whether they believe it or not
![How to Make Umeshu, or Japanese Plum Wine [iPhone 4S/HD]](/img/n.gif)
There is much more respect for the elderly and the dead in Japan than western countries.
Thanks! :)
so beautiful ^^
question: is it considered rude, bad manners, frowned upon, etc to film in or around a cemetery in japan? I always feel very self conscious filming or photographing around them, as I do not want to upset anybody... I understand that these are emotionally charged places that hold a great deal of significance for many people, and, being a foreigner, I feel that I don't understand this part of Japanese culture well enough to visit them with a camera in hand.
Thanks in advance for your time & consideration.
could you tell about the cultural significance of how people tend to and visit graves?
I need to tell you about what religions are like in Japan before answering your comment.
The way Japanese people think of religions is kind of unique. Somehow lots of them, especially the young, believe that they are not religious but I wouldn't say that is true. They just don't stick to a specific religion but they are pretty religious in the term of belief. They believe in "something" but it is sometimes not coming from the idea of their "main" religion Buddhism. It is often based on Japanese original religion Shinto although they stick to Buddhism the most custom-wise, including the way to visit graves. Well, what I meant by "main" is like... they could believe in multiple religions at the same time. Many of them visit Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines for worship, the culture here today is even influenced by Christianity too. Like people tend to hold their wedding ceremonies in a Christian style.
Shinto is a religion where you are supposed to believe that every single existence in the whole universe has a spirit which is called god so you need to respect the existence whatever it is. This could have let people accept other religions easily. They were fundamentally fine to accept multiple gods. It is more like a primitive religion. You believe in/respect a mountain, a river, bread, milk and whatever. This idea is becoming less common generation by generation but I believe it is still the basic way of Japanese people think of things. They tend to stick to this idea much more when it comes to something they love or something important for them. Since it is applied to dead existences too, (I guess it is kind of based on an idea from Buddhism) it is pretty important to visit graves. They visit the grave of their family member on his death days, on the vernal and autumnal equinoxes and on a day in every summer according to Japanese Buddhist customs. They could visit more if the grave is close to their place.
I feel like it is changing year by year though. I don't mean people are becoming atheist. It feels like atheism is like another type of religion in a way. Japanese people are just becoming indifferent. It's sad.
Planet Tokyo thank you for your reply! japan has always struck me as a country that lays a lot of values to the traditions of their people so i was interested in the significance of this practice
Now just imagine. There are a bunch of cremated bodies just sitting underneath it all.
Why do they leave food? And drinks? What legends do they have over there when it comes to their dead?
we also leave their favorite foods at their graves here in the Philippines, i aslo don't know the reason
I've believe it's because in most cultures they believed if you put their favorite food and drinks, the person spirit, soul, etc. will enjoy it. Or it can also just be a traditional thing whether they believe it or not
:)