Comments | shiningshaunb: (без темы)

shiningshaunb

(Untitled)

Jan 27, 2005 15:14

Things are going well. I'm sick but dealing. Yesterday I took a long walk in the largest graveyard I've ever seen. It was a good couple miles of huge terraced hills, with all sorts of tomb stones and markers shoulder to shoulder. To anyone in the know, is it taboo in Japan to take pictures of graveyards? I don't wanna steal the souls of anyone's ( Read more... )

Comments 4

batsu_suzuki January 27 2005, 07:26:51 UTC

Dude, I just stalked you down because you were down as being Nagoya, but yeah, how de ye do. ^-^ I also wondered about the taking pictures in the graveyard thing, and apparently they do believe that you might bring out weird souls and stuff, or at least that's what my host mother told me when I asked.

Furthermore, Royal Host's OPEN at 5 in the morning!? This I did not know! *Shock!*

holidaymonster January 27 2005, 08:12:09 UTC

it seems like it should be ok to take pictures cause I have seen plenty of their graveyards in movies and in stuff like national geographic. but i would still be wary.

yugoslavian January 27 2005, 09:05:43 UTC

I think that belief is sorta overated.

Here is a rule of thumb. This does not only apply in Japan but everywhere. When you are a foreigner, locals will always tell you about their cultures "exaggeratedly." For example, when I first came to America, people told me that it is considered EXTREMELY rude to burp in public. Is it true? Well, somewhat...but people still do it. My point is...don't believe everything that people say to be true just because they are Japanese. They will always exaggerate their stories.

So, is it really taboo to take pictures in the graveyard? Maybe a long time ago but people today do not truly believe that souls would be bothered when you photograph them. Japanese people are smarter than that. People are probably trying to give you crap because you guys are naive foreigners. Just be smart about what to believe and what not to believe.

shiningshaunb January 27 2005, 21:04:36 UTC

I don't doubt the intelligence of the Japanese people but I don't want to offend anyone either. It was more a matter of politeness that I was concerned over.

But yes, I agree with you totally. I think I'll err on the side of caution though, meaning if I take pictures, I wont let anyone see me doing it. Just kidding.