Early Summer depicts a Japan in transition. Defeated and occupied by the Americans, the Japanese both cling to their traditional ways and embrace new ideas from their occupiers. How does the movie show this transition? Does this movie make a judgment about the new American influence? Is there a political slant, however subtle, in this film? What does this movie think about baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie?
Early Summer demonstrates the way Japanese citizens assimilated American ideas into their culture while simultaneously keeping their Japanese heritage. The first and most prominent concept that changes due to the acceptance of American ideology, is the slight advancement in marriage. In contrast to the rigid concept of arranged marriages, Noriko had some choice in her future. Noriko had no choice but to get married, however, she got to choose her spouse. That choice also came with extreme difficulty and pressure from her family members. As seen in the 1950s in America, arranged marriages had been outlawed. That influence started to trickle into Japan and displayed itself within Noriko. Arranged marriages not being outlawed in Japan allow room for, albeit bad, part of Japanese culture to remain. Equally important, the ideas of capitalism and its effect to make people more materialistic were shown through the characters of the little boys. The sons' demand for extra train tracks was an early implication of materialism. While other characters were focused on the happiness and marriage of Noriko, the boys merely wanted toys. When the boys found out their father had bought bread for the family instead of train tracks, they were outraged. The film comments on the ideas of materialism through the dialogue that followed between the father and mother. The father’s stance expressed that there was no place for materialism. Yet the boy’s mother’s stance expressed that materialism was okay, and it was growing within their community. The wife expressed that the father should accept the eventuality of materialism becoming the norm within Japanese culture. Overall, Early Summer displays American influence in Japan through the conflicts of the movie and expresses its perception of those changes through the thoughts of the characters.
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ReplyDeleteThe movie Early Summer depicts the shift in Japan following the war that involved sustaining Japanese traditions as well as adopting American ideas, especially in newer generations, including cultural objects, marriage norms, independence, and attitudes toward children. For example, the older characters mostly wear traditional Japanese clothing while the younger ones wear American clothes, especially at work. Usually in the movie, the houses of the characters are more traditional, with tatami mats and chabudai. Noriko occasionally eats shortcake, although she also eats at the chabudai with her family. Those scenes are in contrast with the one where Noriko and her friends go to a restaurant where the environment is much different. In this scene, the single and married women have a small argument, which shows the difference in opinion and cultural shift, although they are still very good friends and Noriko takes it lightheartedly when she talks about the incident. When Noriko and Aya discuss her marriage, Aya comments that she couldn't imagine Noriko living on a farm as a traditional housewife, like Fumiko, and instead sees her as more independent, as she even keeps a memento of Audrey Hepburn. This shows Aya has American values as well. Another way the movie depicts the transition is through the children. Minoru often plays with train tracks with his young friends, and Isamu is influenced a lot by him. Both the train tracks and shortcake are indicative of American materialistic viewpoints. When their father brings them bread, instead of being grateful, Minoru kicks it since he wanted train tracks. The father gets scolded for being harsh on him when he throws a tantrum. This shows the change in attitude toward children being more lax. Even when Isamu calls his family members names, they take it very lightly. At the end of the film, there is a scene where the family takes a photograph. The elders are in their traditional Japanese clothing, and at first Minoru can't decide if he wants to put on his baseball cap, a very American article. In the end he does, as well as Isamu, which demonstrates the impact American customs had on the younger generations in Japan. I think that the movie does not portray the mix of cultures as a bad thing. It rather depicts them as another form of mono no aware, where strict Japanese culture is turning into a more varied and modern way of life, which allows the characters to appreciate the cultures they see around them. This is also shown in the scene where the grandparents see the balloon in the sky. They do not seem to be apprehensive about the American influence, instead accepting that it will alter their expectations as an inevitable change.
ReplyDeleteEarly Summer demonstrates the cultural shift that the newer generations have towards American culture, which shows a generational divide as the older generations stay true to their traditional Japanese lifestyle. This is evident through the different choices the older and younger people take in this movie. For one, the kids in this movie dress very much like American kids, wearing t-shirts and shorts and baseball caps. Even with their parents, they wear a traditional suit and tie uniforms to go to work. Take this in contrast to what the grandparents wear, which is very traditional Japanese attire like kimonos and such. This shows that even when it comes to daily life, there is a clear divide in what each generation thinks is appropriate to wear, with the younger generations adopting more western-style clothing and the older generations sticking to their traditions. There is also a newfound sense of independence among the younger generations, as Noriko has gone out of her way to look for a husband, rather than relying on an arranged marriage. She also doesn't really listen too much to the input of those around her when it came to picking her spouse, showing her independence when it came to finding someone to love. This wasn't common for Japanese women in the 1950s, as the concept of an arranged marriage was very common back then. However in America arranged marriage was not very common during this time, as women were allowed to choose who they married. Noriko breaking the mold and becoming more independent as a result shows how American culture has influenced the younger Japanese generations. These two examples show there was a clear generational divide between how accepted and normalized American culture was in Japan during the 1950s, as the younger generation is more willing to accept them, while the older generation holds tightly to traditional values of Japanese culture.
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ReplyDeleteIn Early Summer, there are several clashes between Japanese tradition and American modernity, as well as modernity in general. There are also some interesting instances where American culture, although we expect it to be modern, actually happens to align with what is seen as more traditional. Among these clashes of tradition and modernity are the concepts of the modern woman, country life and city life, technology, and corporal punishment. In the film, the story of Noriko’s marriage exhibits both traditional Japanese characteristics and those of modernity. Noriko marries quite late compared to some of those around her. In a conversation with her friends, one of her friends mentions that modern women do not get married. Noriko, who is in no rush to marry, certainly exhibits aspects of modernity in this situation. Interestingly, however, this modernity is not necessarily American, as the 1950s were a time during which women married at higher rates and had more children than they had in previous decades. However, women choosing who to marry was a modern American concept that Noriko and her friends embody. Noriko’s family tries desperately to convince her to marry a certain Mr. Manabe, and when she finally does decide to marry Kenkichi, the family disapproves of the match and tries to convince Noriko to set her sights elsewhere. However, in a moment where the Japanese tradition of arranged marriage clashes with the modern concept of female autonomy, the family ultimately decides to let Noriko decide for herself who to marry. Noriko also chooses to marry a man who will live in the country, leading a more traditional way of life, rather than the modern city life that her friends had expected her to lead. Once again, American modernity actually aligns more with tradition. In the 1950s, many Americans actually began leaving cities (for a variety of reasons) for life in the suburbs. So, although Noriko chooses a traditional life over a modern life in this case, she does not choose a traditional life over an American modern life. Another case of a modernity meeting tradition is in the case of technology. The trains in Japan represent American industry and America’s influence on Japan, and there is actually a sign by a railroad crossing that has English as well as Japanese written on it. Not only is American technology finding its way into Japan, but so is the English language itself. A fourth instance of a clash between modernity and tradition is the case of corporal punishment. In more traditional Eastern cultures, corporal punishment is more widely accepted than in modern Western cultures like that of America. In the film, the father strikes the two children when they kick the bread, but he is later scolded by multiple people for his actions. One can see that modern Western values of not using corporal punishment are creeping into Japanese culture, and families such as Noriko’s family are starting to accept these aspects of modernity over tradition.
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ReplyDeleteWithout directly hinting at political changes caused by American culture, Early Summer depicts the younger generations resisting the traditional Japanese culture as they shift towards western modernity. At the age of 28, Noriko is at the point where by traditional means she should be married before it is too late. All of her family members that are older than her strongly believe that she should be married, or else no one will want her when she is older. Noriko, however, was an independent woman who didn’t follow the traditional thinking and found no need to marry under family’s pressure. Unlike traditional women, Noriko fell in love with a divorced father and rejected offered dates from her boss. The act of pursuing true love rather than marrying a wealthy, successful man was a rather American ideology, which was not seen often in Japan during the 1950s. The signs of influence of American culture can be seen throughout the movie with numerous clips. One subtle sign was the use of commercials and posters that were in English placed all over the office. Commercializing American airlines is definitely a sign of American influence on Japanese industries. Another subtle sign was when Noriko returned home with a shortcake, her sister in law asked if Chako wore a western dress, showing that western fashion has already become popular in Japan. The shortcake also is an American dessert, which Noriko and her sister-in-law loved. Both the shortcake and the western dress show that American fashion and cuisine has influenced Japanese people’s lifestyle. When Noriko’s friend, Aya, teased Noriko for how Aya imagined her to be when she is married. In her description, Aya said that Noriko would greet her speaking English, live in a house with a porch, own a Scottish terrier, and have Coca-colas in her fridge. These are all very typical stereotypes of American culture. For Aya to assume such things, she must be heavily influenced by American culture, which puts her away from Noriko’s family. On one hand, the more elderly people in the movie are ones who tend to think more traditionally and want Noriko to marry a wealthy man and settle early on. On the other hand, people at Noriko’s age and younger tend to be more accepting of the western modernity and didn’t pressure Noriko to marry traditionally. Obviously, the entire movie still demonstrates how the traditional roots of Japanese culture is still embedded in all the characters’ ideology, and only subtle changes exist in the young generations. Early Summer demonstrates that during this period of time, although it is very subtle, American culture has started to gradually affect Japan after the war.
ReplyDeleteEarly Summer demonstrates the conflict between modernity and tradition that post-WWII Japan faced. This conflict materializes in three different aspects of life: marriage, technology, and the role of women. The first example from the movie that illustrates the clash between modernity and tradition is the pressure of marriage from Noriko’s family and their disapproval of a non-arranged marriage. Throughout the movie, Noriko’s family makes several comments acknowledging their disapproval of her relationship status. The earliest example of this is when the uncle arrives in town. Upon seeing Noriko, he asks her age. After hearing that Noriko is already 28, her father responds that it is “about time to marry.” The uncle nods in agreement and asks if she is the type of woman that doesn’t want to marry, to which he receives no response. This interaction shows how deeply rooted the idea of marriage is in the older generation in two ways. The first is that this is the very first interaction that the uncle has with Noriko, implying that it is a top priority. Secondly, as the uncle gets older, he is shown to be hard of hearing and less competent overall. Despite his incapability, he can still tell Noriko that she should be getting married, which means that this is an idea that is deeply rooted in Japanese tradition. Another way marriage illustrates the clash between modernity and tradition is the conflict regarding who decides who Noriko’s future husband will be. Noriko’s family believes that she should marry Mr. Manabe as he would guarantee her a secure future in their eyes. However, Noriko wants to marry Yabe. When Yabe’s mother asks Noriko if she would marry Yabe, she impulsively agrees. To Noriko’s family, this seems like a terrible and hasty decision. Her family discusses whether or not she should be allowed to marry Yabe. This implies that her family should be given the right to decide who she marries, while Noriko not consulting her family implies that she should be the one who decides. This demonstrates the clash between modernity and tradition as arranged marriages, which are decided by the families of the bride and groom, are common in ancient Japan, while non-arranged marriages are more modern. Another aspect of life that illustrates the clash between modernity and tradition is technology. The main form of technology depicted throughout the movie is the train. Thus it serves as a symbol of modernization. The older and younger generations have different responses to this technology, illustrating their clash. The younger generation is very open to this technology, as symbolized through the kids’ fascination with model trains. There is one scene in which all of the kids play with their model trains. They are so intrigued by them that they demand that their family buys them more sets of trains, and they throw a fit when they do not receive them. On the other hand, the older generation is depicted as much more technologically inept. As the Uncle tries to catch the train, he seems to be continually outsmarted by technology. First, as he walks toward the train, the automatic gate closes right before he can get through. As he is waiting for the train, he sits on a bench and gazes at the sky. While he is gazing at the sky, another train passes by without him noticing. This symbolizes modernity passing by the older generation, demonstrating the clash between modernization and older generations.
ReplyDeleteThe final example of this clash is the role of women. In traditional Japanese culture, women are generally very submissive and domestic. Noriko openly challenges these two traditions through her economic status and independence regarding marriage. Noriko completely flips the gender roles, as traditionally, the men of the family would support them economically. However, Noriko’s job pays for much of her family’s needs. The setting of her job is very modern as the office has modern architecture, and the workers wear more modern clothing, while her home is depicted with more traditional architecture and the residents wear more traditional clothing. Noriko’s work symbolizes the new modern movement of women in the workplace. Another aspect in which Noriko challenges gender roles is her engagement with Yabe. As stated earlier, marriages are generally decided by the father and brothers of the bride. Noriko choosing to marry Yabe on her own breaks this tradition. Overall, Early Summer demonstrates the intense battle between modernity and tradition that was taking place in Japan through the examples of marriage, technology, and gender roles.
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ReplyDeleteThe 1951 Japanese film Early Summer, shows how the Japanese public have adopted a handful of modern American ideas while still keeping in touch with their traditional culture. A prominent aspect of modern culture that is ever present throughout the film, is the more modern American business person attire. While the elders in the film are constantly wearing a traditional robe, their younger family members wear more business casual in public, and the kids wear t shirts and ballcaps much like American children would. It is clear that American business attire heavily influences the general population in Japan at this time, but traditional clothing is still used in very formal settings such as the fancy restaurant Noriko and the other women in her family attend. They were long robes with floral designs that do not show any skin besides their faces, showing respect to others around them and to their traditional culture. Another concept of modern American life in the 20th century that started to assimilate into Japanese culture that is present in the film, is the idea that arranged marriage is dated. Although ideas of arranged marriage are still pushed onto Noriko by her family, Noriko seems to have more of a choice in who she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Furthermore, it is said in the movie that Noriko waited a longer time than her mother and sister to get married, making her a modern woman that demonstrates independence, reflecting that of a modern woman in America. Although aspects of modern American culture are shown throughout the movie through the actions and appearances of the characters, it does somewhat poke fun at how American people act. One instance of how the film mocks how Americans act is when Noriko and her friend are discussing what her married life would be like and they start mimicking how Americans, typically from the countryside speak. Although this is a small detail in the movie, it gives us an insight to how the Japanese public viewed and stereotyped the way Americans talk and carry themselves. As well as mimicking the way Americans talk, it can be argued that in the film the way Isamu and his brother act almost mimics the stereotypical and entitled American child. In almost every scene with Isamu and his brother, they are shown talking back to their parents and their elders, not following instructions, and being ungrateful. A particular scene where their entitlement and ungratefulness is present, is when their father comes home with a bag and they both assume there are toy train tracks inside. Much to their surprise however, the bag had a loaf of bread inside. After discovering that their father had not spent money on toys for them, they through a fit and begin to kick and through the bread until it is mangled. Isamu and his brother embody the stereotypical yet sadly true sense of entitlement many American children have due to the lack of strict parenting, and strict parenting is usually assumed to be more present in Asian cultures. In General, Early Summer depicts American influence in Japan through the characters conflicts and actions, and it does not detest or push that influence away.
Early Summer depicts the newer generations' cultural drift toward American society, revealing a generational divide as the elder generations stick to their traditional Japanese lifestyle. This is demonstrated throughout the film by the various decisions made by the older and younger characters. For one thing, the children in this film dress like American children, wearing t-shirts, shorts, and baseball caps. They go to work in traditional suit and tie attire, even with their parents. On the other hand, look at how the grandparents dress, which includes kimonos and other traditional Japanese clothing. This demonstrates that there is a clear disparity in what each generation considers proper everyday attire. Younger generations are dressing more western-style, while elder generations are holding to their traditions. Younger generations also have a newfound sense of freedom, as Noriko has gone out of her way to find a husband rather than relying on an arranged marriage. She also doesn't pay attention to the opinions of others when it comes to choosing her partner, demonstrating her independence when it comes to seeking love. This wasn't the case for Japanese women in the 1950s, when the concept of an arranged marriage was prevalent. In America, however, planned marriages were uncommon at the time because women were free to marry whoever they wanted. Noriko shatters the rule and creates new cultural norms. Both examples go to show how the newer generations are making a cultural drift towards a more western society and in the process creating a generational divide.
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