The Beauty of the Japanese

If one reads ancient folklore they will know it has been said that the people of Japan are descended from the Sun Goddess.  Not only is this so according to the legend, but the land itself has been described as divine!  There is some credence to this sentiment if you are looking down from the pine-clad promontory onto the glittering waters and clustered islands of the Inland Sea.  One might also feel this way if they are looking up the snow-capped cone of Mount Fuji rising out of swirling mist, while surrounded at its base by the vivid green of fertile rice fields.  It is easy to understand how the early Japanese might have come to feel this impression of divinity simply by the raw beauty of their homeland.

For natural beauty, the country of Japan has few equals in the world.  Its people are a very distinctive group.  They are conscious of their heritage, having some ties with the mainland but living their lives separately as a people of the "island."  One of the most interesting features of the Japanese people is their capacity to borrow and adapt and also to retain their own unique individuality including a particular "style."  It is no secret that they are heavily indebted to China for the general shape of their culture.  However, what has emerged is distinctively "Japanese."  This is, in itself, quite an accomplishment when one considers the flow of history in East Asia.  Japan is no doubt in a group by themselves!

Harlan Urwiler

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