This weeks reading of Discourses of the Vanishing brought two main points of attention to mind. First was the idea of consumption. The book seems to paint the picture that one of the main parts of the Mount Osore festival, Sainokawara, has been altered over the years. Here the contention between Japanese tradition and modernity seem to come alive. In the past there was an emphasis to place stones at specific sites along the Sainkowara path, in order to pay homage to the dead. Now people have transitioned to leaving money, flowers, and food. Although for some this makes sense, others see it as wasteful and a contamination of the sacred grounds. What is interesting is how the over consumption of the modern world has translated to offers such as food and money. These can be seen as either "left-overs" of ones over consumption or as proper homage to those deceased.
Another statement made in this weeks reading that relay struck me was "Only the force of society can insure that the conventional is believable." This is a very powerful statement because it attests to reasons behind why people within certain cultures act a certain way. In the case presented in this book it would mean the reason behind people participating in the festival, giving memorial tablets (togas) and attending kuchiyose is due to a society which encourages them to do so. It would mean it is the society and the structural forces of community that instills belief. This brings into question why there seems to be such a striking parallel in the itako transitions from their own voices to that of the deceased to those in mourning exhibiting strong signs of grief. Is this due to something inherent? Social Structure? Spiritual connection?
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