Then and Now - How Japan has changed since Medieval times
Japan has changed a great deal since Medieval times and European settlement. Values, religions and ordinary traditions were changed, shaping Japan into a different cutural country, where each man questioned his own teachings and know how.
For example, when the European settlers did come to Japan they introduced the population with Christianity and guns, and therefore chaged peoples opinions and the intricate system of Japanese warefare.
Although people throughout Japan still practice the deepest of traditions which date back thousands of years, it is also a society in a continual state of rapid change, with continually shifting fads and fashions and new technological development.
For example, when the European settlers did come to Japan they introduced the population with Christianity and guns, and therefore chaged peoples opinions and the intricate system of Japanese warefare.
Although people throughout Japan still practice the deepest of traditions which date back thousands of years, it is also a society in a continual state of rapid change, with continually shifting fads and fashions and new technological development.
- In medieval times people of importance without a high ranking, like the samurai, would have the privilege of a family name. People with Samurai family names are still treated with great respect in Japan today.
- People of power are now elected by vote of the people, as opposed to being passed down through the family, from generation to generation.
- Holidays used to be short and restricted within Japan, Japan, are now longer and to distant places.
- More elderly people live alone, instead of living with their children and grandchildren.
- Traditional houses built of wood with light sliding doors of paper have now been replaced with new homes built from aluminum, concrete and wood.
- Tall office blocks tower above crowed streets, differing from ancient temples and castles.
- Medieval activities like paper folding (origami), miniature plant growing (bonsai), pottery, weaving and silk have all been replaced with computer games, high-tech gadgets, cars electronic goods and robots.
- Sports like baseball and football have overthrown the traditional judo, kendo and sumo wrestling.
- Meals of raw fish (sushi) rice and green tea have been modernized to fast food, pizza and coffee.
- Clothing of business suits and jeans are worn instead of long robes (kimono) tied with a wide sash (obi) and flat shoes (zori).
- People of power are now elected by vote of the people, as opposed to being passed down through the family, from generation to generation.
- Holidays used to be short and restricted within Japan, Japan, are now longer and to distant places.
- More elderly people live alone, instead of living with their children and grandchildren.
- Traditional houses built of wood with light sliding doors of paper have now been replaced with new homes built from aluminum, concrete and wood.
- Tall office blocks tower above crowed streets, differing from ancient temples and castles.
- Medieval activities like paper folding (origami), miniature plant growing (bonsai), pottery, weaving and silk have all been replaced with computer games, high-tech gadgets, cars electronic goods and robots.
- Sports like baseball and football have overthrown the traditional judo, kendo and sumo wrestling.
- Meals of raw fish (sushi) rice and green tea have been modernized to fast food, pizza and coffee.
- Clothing of business suits and jeans are worn instead of long robes (kimono) tied with a wide sash (obi) and flat shoes (zori).