Western Influence on Japanese Women - Research Paper Example

Western Influence on Japanese Women Introduction Basing on the argument from Junichiro Tanizaki who is a Japanese writer, from his novel of Naomi it is evident that there is the influence of westernization to the Japanese women.Joji’s attempts to change Naomi to a westernized woman seems to be fruitful as Naomi is seen to be more fascinated by the westernization in regard to the Japanese culture of the era. These progressive influence towards westernization by Japanese women like Naomi leads to clash between older Japanese transitions into the modern time. The book illustrates how a young Japanese lady change from Japanese traditions and cultures for women but instead she is moved by westernization like its education, her love for theater, magazines, and dancing. These leads to a new class in Japanese for the moga Japanese ladies who are independent and can do what a man can do (Junichiro 46). The desire for the west to Japanese woman Naomi starts to be witnessed when Joji, who is a Japanese man and well educated, takes Naomi to his home and starts to raise her to a westernized girl. Naomi is more willing to the sameand Joji starts transforming by teaching her English education and she seems to have the effective pronunciation of words. He tries also to fund her foe western activities such as magazines, dancing and taking her to theaters. Naomi becomes more embodied to western culture to the extent of entertaining western visitors in her room. The above highlights the transformation of the Japanese women from their Japanese traditional ways of life to a western form of life. The novel furthermore reflects how Japanese women are transforming from traditional to modern and west way of life.(Junichiro 70) Earlier, in Japan there was rare contacts with western and women were traditional been assigned particular roles but representation of Naomi let to a new race of Japanese women with few inhibitions and no role models and this let to new sub-culture in Japan. The oppressed girls by the japanise culture are impressed by Naomi and follows the same to seek their freedom and this leads to a confusing Japanese culture as the women embrace westernization and disregard their traditions that they term it as outdated and slavery.(Junichiro 96) The writing of the novel according to Anthony H. Chambers, 47 the writing of the Tanizaki symbolizes how Japanese culture erodes due to westernization and its relations with foreign countries. The name Joji sounds like George, which an English word is thus representing how Joji is wishing to be westernized but retaining his traditional Japanese culture. Also, joji’s accent prevents him from mastering English although he has excellent knowledge of it. Naomi, on the other hand, is more comfortable with the western culture and theater, and the novel portrays how traditional Japanese men are seduced by Western culture and trapped by it. According to Tanizaki’s quote that as Japan grows, it interacts with foreign countries and philosophies and doctrines are initiated which results from both men and women adopting western fashions. This clearly shows the influence of Japanese women to the western culture. (Junichiro 102). The novel also leads to two groups of Japanese people where some are supporting the influence while others are against. The older generation is against since it destroys the traditional cultures and norms of the Japanese woman and their way of life. On the other hand, younger generation embraces it as it shows the modern lifestyle and Naomi acts as the role model to younger independent Japanese women. The novel also illustrates the Cultural Revolution as Japanese women embrace westernization. It was a Japanese tradition for young girls who wished to work to live in factory dormitories and sent their salaries home to their families but due to westernization a new class of boom of moga; who are working women. The new class chooses men for themselves and not for the sake of their families. The new class is independent, lives in the city, works to maintain their lifestyle, and does not recognize gender or class. (Osaka Morning News).This result due to the influence of westernization of Japanese young women. According to Robert N. Lawson(23), the novel represents Japanese obsession over European customs where it aims at liberating Japanese women by giving them freedom and influence to the west. It is evident when the twenty-eight-year-old Joji lays eyes upon the waitress Naomi; he is quickly attracted by her exotic and Western appearance. Joji transforms her into a better person who embraces western education. He exposes her many western activities and takes her as his daughter but after she transforms fully to a western young woman he marries her.She transforms fully to new ways of modernization hence the novel depicts the drastic change of the Japanese women to West ways. The novel is set after WWI in Tokyo Japan; the author uses the Japanese younger lady Naomi to explore modernity and effects of the influence of westernization on Japanese culture and traditions. The novel also acted as a poke in the face of Occidentals and their intrusion into Japanese culture. The influence of the younger Japanese women to westernization lead to bound by traditions or conventions and lack of Japanese grace but having tons of vitality, and holding a political views (Junichiro 56). Naomi as portrayed in the International Edition of the novel, she is seen as Joji’s daughter who has learned to dance western songs and to have the interest in them. This acted as start to Naomi’s influence to the western culture . (Junichiro 104) Woman’s role in society began to change radically due to the Japanese revolution. Japanese women were restricted to some jobs like working in fabric factories. Those who worked were provided with dormitories and were expected to send back their salaries to their families at home. However, as the revolution was in progress more population of women moved to the cities and women started doing jobs that were made for men. A new society for women resulted due to the modern urban living and the new influence on western culture. New fashions and lifestyles from West led to many job vacancies, and many women got the jobs an example is Naomi, who worked as a waitress. The lifestyles led women choose their men, become more independent and live their own without being subordinate of anyone. Naomi, who is seen as independent, lives in town, depicts a good example of the new class of women and works not for her family but her lifestyle (Junichiro 78).this depicts how currently the young women in Japan are being influenced by the West ways and how they are adopting it. Conclusion From the Junichiro Tanizaki’s novel Naomi and other sources, it is evident that the Japanese women have been influenced by western culture. Japanese traditional cultures are seen as slavery and unworthy by Japanese younger women and have embraced westernization that has led to migration that is more rural to urban. Women working Jobs, which earlier where termed to be for men and adoption for the western mode of dressing. Younger Japanese women are independent, are working class and can fall in love and marry the man they like unlike in their tradition. This influence by the West to the Japanese women has led to new cultural and social classes in Japan thus westernization has deeply affected the Japanese women. Works Cited . Anthony H. Chambers. "On Naturalizing and Making Strange: Japanese Literature in Translation." Journal of Japanese Studies (University of Washington Winter 1990). Tanizaki, Juni'ichrō;.Naomi. London, England: Vintage Books. (2001) [2001-04-10] Robert N. Lawson (n.d.). "Tanizaki Junichiro". Washburn University. 2008 Tanizaki, Jun'Ichiro; McCarthy, Paul; 1924, Japan, Osaka Morning News, serialization. March 1924. Read More