Japanese Civalization Notes
Japanese Civ
Movie Review of Departures
Departures is a movie about a young man named Daigo Kobayashi who has recently landed a job as a cellist in an orchestra in Tokyo. After finding out that the orchestra is shutting down Kobayashi decides with his wife Mika to return to his hometown.
This is a prominent feature of Japanese culture and family structure, since Daigo is the head of the house, she will follow him wherever he goes. It is her duty to follow him as the head of the house; this full obedience is a strong characteristic of the Japanese family system. Coming from the days where the father/husband had legal obligations over everyone in the family. Mika doesn’t have a choice per say because that's what her society tells her.
After returning to his hometown Daigo looks for work, he finds a job called “Departures” and believes it to be a travel agency. When he arrives at the job for an interview Daigo realizes the job is for an “encoffineer” a person who prepares the dead for burial in a coffin. Daigo is hesitant but accepts because the money is good and his boss is an understanding and gentle man.
Daigo is disgusted at the thought of the job, as is most of Japanese society, they look down upon the profession of Nokanshi the art of burial preparation. This has a strong connection with the religion of Shinto, in respects to the fact you are not allowed into a Shinto shrine if you have been around death as you are unclean. You can imagine the stigma this puts on a person who deals with death everyday, touching, preparing corpses for a living. Daigo’s friends and even his wife despise his job, Mika even refuses to let Diago touch her and moves out of their home upon learning what his job is.
Daigo continues to learn the art of Nokanshi and time goes on he earns a respect for the beauty of death and the healing it brings to the families he serves. Many families in the movie look down upon him even though he is preparing their dead.
Movie Review of Departures
Departures is a movie about a young man named Daigo Kobayashi who has recently landed a job as a cellist in an orchestra in Tokyo. After finding out that the orchestra is shutting down Kobayashi decides with his wife Mika to return to his hometown.
This is a prominent feature of Japanese culture and family structure, since Daigo is the head of the house, she will follow him wherever he goes. It is her duty to follow him as the head of the house; this full obedience is a strong characteristic of the Japanese family system. Coming from the days where the father/husband had legal obligations over everyone in the family. Mika doesn’t have a choice per say because that's what her society tells her.
After returning to his hometown Daigo looks for work, he finds a job called “Departures” and believes it to be a travel agency. When he arrives at the job for an interview Daigo realizes the job is for an “encoffineer” a person who prepares the dead for burial in a coffin. Daigo is hesitant but accepts because the money is good and his boss is an understanding and gentle man.
Daigo is disgusted at the thought of the job, as is most of Japanese society, they look down upon the profession of Nokanshi the art of burial preparation. This has a strong connection with the religion of Shinto, in respects to the fact you are not allowed into a Shinto shrine if you have been around death as you are unclean. You can imagine the stigma this puts on a person who deals with death everyday, touching, preparing corpses for a living. Daigo’s friends and even his wife despise his job, Mika even refuses to let Diago touch her and moves out of their home upon learning what his job is.
Daigo continues to learn the art of Nokanshi and time goes on he earns a respect for the beauty of death and the healing it brings to the families he serves. Many families in the movie look down upon him even though he is preparing their dead.