If one were to describe the characteristics of Japanese culture in a few words, it would be a “wa-you secchuu (fusion of Japanese and Western styles).” “Wa” stands for Japan, “you” for the West. “You ” often refers to things that are Western-style or of Western origin, and the word is prefixed with “you ” as in “you-fuku (Western clothes),” “you-shoku (Western food),” and “you-sho (Western books).” Houses, in particular, are transitioning to a more Western style; however, many houses still include Japanese-style rooms (tatami rooms). Although everyday attire has largely shifted to Westernstyle clothing, the tradition of wearing kimonos persists for special occasions like New Year’s Day, weddings, and funerals. We also wear yukata (light cotton kimono ) at firework festivals and in hot spring resorts. As for everyday meals, we eat bread but rice remains the staple food. Alongside traditional Japanese dishes such as fish and tempura , we also savor Western dishes and various other dishes, in addition to Chinese and ethnic cuisines from different countries. Cultures that come from abroad are assimilated into Japan by changing their forms. For instance, ramen , a dish originating in China, has now spread throughout the world as Japanese cuisine. This pattern is also evident in language, where while the native Japanese language is yamato kotoba (language), various foreign languages have been incorporated, including Chinese kanji in ancient times and English in modern times. In terms of ideology, Japan adopted Confucianism from China and Korea, while in the realm of religion, Buddhism, deeply ingrained in Japanese life, originated in India. These ideas and religions profoundly impacted the spirituality of the Japanese people, allowing the coexistence of the two faiths without losing their significance by blending and developing ancient Shintoism and Buddhism. The seven gods of good fortune, well-known to the Japanese, are said to have originated from Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism, and Shintoism. Zen , which has also gained global recognition, is a philosophical ideology that blends the Buddhist concept of impermanence with Bushido . In modern Japan, the streets are filled with Christmas decorations in December, with the Buddhist bells ringing on New Year’s Eve and people visiting shrines for hatsumoude (New Year’s shrine visit) on New Year’s Day. These three religious events - Christianity, Buddhism, and Shintoism occur within a week. As a result, Japanese culture has flourished through integration, harmony, and coexistence with foreign cultures. With such a “hybrid” culture, it might have been natural for Japan to pioneer the world’s first automobile that ran on a fusion of gasoline and electricity. The “wa-you secchuu ” represents not only a blend of Western and Japanese cultures but also embodies a new Japanese culture that emerged by adapting Western customs in a Japanese style. (From December issue, 2023 / 2023年12月号より)