Weird/Cool Globalization: RAPHA BOUNDZEKI's rendition of Tenrikyo's Mikagura-uta

I know nothing about this Congolese songwriter and singer, RAPHA BOUNDZEKI, other that he did a mash-up which includes Sections 1 - 3 of Tenrikyo's Mikagura-uta (The Songs for the Service) at approximately 00:26 - 03:30 (but do watch/listen to the whole video). Sections 1-3 are part of the seated service, one of Tenrikyo's main rituals done twice a day by followers. It is accompanied by a hand dance (resembling, but not quite sign langauge). Rapha's dance is... different. Apparently he visited a Tenrikyo mission station in the Congo and picked up the words (and perhaps spirit?). I doubt this is officially sanctioned by the church, but it is lively, catchy and a great example of Weird/Cool Globalization.

For more about the Mikagura-uta, including its lyrics, English translation and commentaries, see Tenrikyology:
http://tenrikyology.com/scripture/mikagura-uta-the-songs-for-the-service/

For more about Tenrikyo, see their official website: https://www.tenrikyo.or.jp/

Many thanks to Taiheiyo Church's Facebook page for sharing this. Aloha.

Happy Tachinomiya Halloween - and - (Pre-)Announcement: AJJ Presentation in December: "Tachinomiya: Photo Exhibition as Research Method"

Here's another post about Halloween in Japan. Again, Halloween has exploded here in the last several years in terms of celebrations, events and merchandise. Halloween has even touched the traditional tachinomiya that has been the subject of my latest research and photo exhibition. The photo above shows the Halloween decorations up now at the shop (yes, research continues - see below). The following shots are from my previous fieldwork in 2015. None of these shots have been showed before because I didn't want to deal with Halloween issues in the exhibition. So here they are for you now to enjoy. And if you can't make it to the tachinomiya to enjoy the Halloween decorations, the Christmas decorations will undoubtedly be up soon.

I have been informed that my paper presentation, "Tachinomiya: Photo Exhibition as Research Method" has been accepted for the Anthropology of Japan in Japan (AJJ) Fall Meetings in December at Doshisha University in Kyoto. As soon as the official schedule is announced I will post my formal announcement with the thesis for the presentation as well as information about the AJJ meetings. For more information about my project see the posts listed below.

And Happy Halloween from VAOJ!

Photo Exhibition and Visual Ethnography - "Tachinomiya: There Are Two Sides to Every Noren"
URL: http://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.jp/2016/01/photo-exhibition-and-visual-ethnography.html

"Tachinomiya" Photo Exhibition and Visual Ethnography: The First Week
URL: http://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.jp/2016/02/tachinomiya-photo-exhibition-and-visual.html

"Tachinomiya" - A Successful and Memorable Photo Exhibition/Event/Research Method
URL: http://visualanthropologyofjapan.blogspot.jp/2016/02/the-exhibitionevent-tachinomiya.html

「31st」- A Film about Halloween in Japan

Halloween in Japan has exploded in the last 10-15 years or so. Now, Halloween merchandise and activities start in August and sometimes even continue into November. I would even make the claim that Halloween sales and celebrations rival those of Christmas in Japan. Globalization moves quickly. The recent popularity of Halloween here is hard to convey to my students, after all many of them are used to such things in their own countries. But the numerous comments and observations of old-timers and long-term residents voicing their own surprise ("Where did all this Halloween stuff come from?") justify my comments here. One of my former students noticed some differences between the celebrations in Japan and the United States and decided to make a short film about the subject. I think the film is quite good in capturing the differences as well as student attitudes towards the holiday and their use of social media. I am happy he has made it available on YouTube. Watch, enjoy and get in the trick-or-treating mood.

Halloween at Tokyo Skytree... and the cats do not look happy!

Video from The Japan Times - Multimedia, Oct. 19, 2017.

Where are you going to buy some good bonsai outside of Japan? In Superior, Wisconsin, U.S.A.

From a recent trip to America. In Germany I grew tired of taking pictures of all the Japanese and sushi restaurants. But I couldn't resist taking this shot. One can get a short term loan and then buy some bonsai - how convenient!

My New Neighborhood in Frankfurt...

I'm still getting settled, so please be patient for more photos...

But it is good to know that Japan and America stand side by side if I need to purchase their respective products.