LESCANT Photo Project
What is LESCANT?
The LESCANT model was created by Dr. David Victor for International Business Communication to illustrate areas in which cultural issues arise. LESCANT is an acronym for 7 categories which are: Language, Environment, Social Organization, Context, Authority, Non-verbal, and Time.
Samples
Language | Environment | Social Organization | Context | Authority | Non-Verbal | Time
You can find all examples of my LESCANT project here.
Victor, David A. 1992. International Business Communication. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers Inc.
The LESCANT model was created by Dr. David Victor for International Business Communication to illustrate areas in which cultural issues arise. LESCANT is an acronym for 7 categories which are: Language, Environment, Social Organization, Context, Authority, Non-verbal, and Time.
Samples
Language | Environment | Social Organization | Context | Authority | Non-Verbal | Time
You can find all examples of my LESCANT project here.
Victor, David A. 1992. International Business Communication. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers Inc.
Fall
Fall is, I think, one of the best times to visit Japan. Typhoon season dies down, and so do the temperatures, until the days and nights are pleasant. During my first month in Japan, I spent a lot of time adjusting to the new culture and environment, in addition to getting to know the city. When you're in a new culture, you can't help but compare it to your own. However, instead of feeling homesick or frustrated with the changes, I discovered a lot of new ways of doing things. Some of them were small, like shopping into a basket rather than a cart at the grocery store, or bagging my own items at the self-service station. A lot of the day-to-day things Japanese took for granted, I often found enlightening and efficient. For example, always carrying a handkerchief to dry one's hands, since there never were paper towels, but this meant not only did they not need to supply paper towels, there was no waste either.
I had a lot of cultural experiences during the fall. I got to dress in costume as a Heian lady and be in the Hikone Castle Festival Parade. I visited the famous Zen Temple of Eiheiji and observed the austere monks in their peaceful environment. I began assisting in English Listening classes at my University, and joined a creative writing seminar, supporting Japanese students writing stories in English. Japanese School Festivals are somewhat famous among students learning Japanese in the US since most American schools have no comparable event. The Japanese student body work together for months to plan food, showcases, and entertainment for the community. The International Students' Tea Ceremony club participated, and, in proper traditional attire, we served tea to guests. Tea Ceremony in the traditional setting is a very meditative, cultivated, and cultivating art. How one prepares the tea is just about as important as the tea itself. The structure holds meaning, the distinctions between one's own space and their neighbors, etiquette, and appreciation for the food, the labor, and the company. Fall was a time for field trips, and rightly so. The Japanese Maple trees change color, from vibrant greens to equally vivid yellows, oranges, and finally reds. I had the good fortune to visit 3 different temples, 2 local to Shiga Prefecture, and 1 in Kyoto. It is a yearly trip for some people to see the changing seasons in famous places. It is during this time you can get a good sense of just how populous Japan really is despite being an Island Nation. |
Winter
Winter is undoubtedly a cold time in most of Japan. Since I grew up in California, I had never had to live with snow before. It was a growing experience, to be sure. You learn how to walk in snow, cope with the cold and wet, and discover hot seasonal foods, like hot pot!
During this time, I volunteered at a Japanese Nursery School to expose the children to foreigners and help out with the English games. I did get a bit homesick during this time, but I got to see a Christmas themed concert and spent New Years with Japanese friends and their families. New Years in Japan is a family event, and one of the most important holidays of the year. Traditions abound, such as Calligraphy, and sending New Years postcards to everyone you know to wish for good relations in the new year. There is also the tradition of visiting a Temple and then a Shrine during the changing of the year; before midnight on December 31st at the Buddhist temple, people get a chance to ring the giant bell to "cleanse the 108 sins" and have a clean slate for the new year. Then, people go to a Shinto shrine, to burn the old charms, buy new ones, and pray for a good new year. It is a lively time, with game and food booths for the late-night goers. Other related New Years activities include inviting Japanese Shishimai, or "Lion dancers," to come into peoples' homes and offer protection for the new year. People get a "bite" on the head by a lion to ward off illness for the new year. In addition, I experienced the cultural sites of Nara, the former ancient capital of Japan, a special tour near the inner sanctum of the almost equally old Taga Shrine, and, perfect for the chilly weather, a Hot Springs retreat. It was a relaxing experience, but also an informative one. I have heard one of my friends say Japan has a "bath culture." While she used it to describe the lack of physical intimacy between father and child, it is easy to see how that term might otherwise apply. In a nation where many of the younger women talk about dieting and not being slim enough, in the communal public baths (not co-ed), there is surprisingly little body talk, perhaps out of politeness to fellow strangers. |
Spring
Spring, though cold, is another wonderful time to visit Japan. Plum blossoms begin early in the season, signaling the turning of the seasons, and the iconic cherry blossoms to come. Again, crowds flock to famous sites and have picnics under the falling petals, mimicking an old tradition of observing the bitter-sweet nature of life passing, as they did in ancient and less ancient times. These kinds of traditions and imagery still deeply affect the psyche of the Japanese public.
As winter waters flow down the mountains, this is also the time for planting rice, a staple food in Japan. Empty, tilled fields are flooded, and the little sprouts are planted, sometimes with machines, and sometimes laboriously by hand. Japan takes pride in its rice, and despite it's importance in daily life, Japan still imports a lot of it's food. Being a mountainous island nation means space is limited and split between housing needs and food production. This gives context to the claims that land is so expensive in Tokyo, for example, or why there are so many high rises. When one learns to live in a small space, one gets creative. I lived in a small apartment, and in comparison to what one might expect in the US, not only was it the right size, but it was affordable, for rural Japan. You learn how to get by with what space you have, and make the most of your space as you become conscious of it. At certain times during the year, the railway company offers a special any-5-days-all-you-can-ride pass. It seems designed to promote travel during school breaks. It was around that time I traveled around the Kansai region. Kyoto, Osaka, Nara - the usual touristy places - but I also traveled off the beaten path for foreigners, so to speak. Iga is known to have been one of many centers for Japanese ninja back in the day. It was a castle town, supported by a local lord. Nowadays it is a tourist attraction. In areas near the castle you can find ninja mannequins hiding in bushes and in rafters, as well as a "trick house" converted into a museum dedicated to showing a few of their traps and tricks to escape attack. |
Summer
Summer is the time of festivals, fireworks, and with the muggy heat, insects. Although I was aware how the difference of climate would affect their population and I had heard how Japanese boys go bug collecting, seeing them everyday during the hot months was eye opening. It almost made me want to try my hand at collecting the especially large bugs; the materials are easy enough to purchase at a local mall.
The theme of that summer was "creation." Japan has a long, venerable history with the arts. From the glass work in Nagahama, Flower Arranging, and Pottery making in Shigaraki, I was able to experience a wide range of talents and artistic visions. This general sensitivity to form was evident from the carefully sculpted gardens to the artificial lakes, that seem all at once natural and shaped. Even watermelons, the iconic fruit of the season in Japan as well as America, could come in cubed forms. Japan often capitalizes it's long history and the nation's sense of nostalgia in film, books, and even theme parks. The Toei Studio Park in Kyoto is modeled after an Edo town, where people can wander the streets, meeting costumed performers for an immersive experience. However, that only captures one part of the nostalgic quality Japan cares so much about. The Festival of 10,000 Lanterns at Taga Shrine couples that nostalgia along with a strong sense of community. It is also the time to visit the family graves. Similar to New Years, many Japanese return home and pay their respects. Local temples host Obon festivals, where people come to dance traditional dances around a center stage as musicians perform old songs. I participated in the dancing and there's really only one way to learn - sink or swim. This was one event where I saw significantly more older Japanese participating in than younger. Traditions like these can only be passed down if the younger generations play an active role in acquiring them. As Japan continues to play an important role in the modern world, hopefully it will continue to retain it's rich heritage. |