Kaito Matsumoto

Japan Kyoto Sangyo University Kaito Matsumoto “Old Japanese Culture in the Modern World" I think a culture is changeable and losses some of itself day by day. Because the past is different compared with the present, modern times are always being updated. History witnessed the death and birth of countless cultures. Many Japanese people have forgotten much of traditional culture. I think losing a culture is terrible loss for not only Japan but for any country. Old Japanese culture is a crisis in Japan. For example, we are forgetting some of our traditional way, and in particular, some our dialects which are spoken all over the country. Sometimes, my friends asked me a question about Japanese culture or traditions, but I couldn’t answer them because I don’t know. I forgot. I felt this experience was mortifying, so I decide to study about our culture more and more starting locally. My hometown is Osaka, but I do not speak Osaka dialect, my hometown language. When I want to say “thank you” in Osaka dialect, I say ”Ookini”. But the majority of Osaka’s population are likely to say ”Arigato” instead. I think that local dialects are more interesting and colorful than the standard language. Not everyone may understand Japanese culture as well as me, and so Japan may lose its traditional culture. I think the traditions of Japanese culture have many good points and I want you to know them. You may already know Animation and Manga like “Dragon ball”, “One piece”, and “Doraemon”, but in order to keep Japanese traditions alive in these modern times, I want to teach Japanese culture to the next generation and hope it continues forever. Thank you for listening.