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Collecting souvenirs in Japan: a diary
Collecting souvenirs in Japan: a diary
Between 15 January and 6 February 2001, Sara
Pimpaneau, a curator in the Department of Ethnography, travelled in
Japan collecting objects for the BP Ethnography Showcase
Souvenirs in contemporary Japan
(14 June 2001 - 13 January 2002). The
display is based on research carried out in The British Museum and
by the co-curator, Inge Daniels, an independent researcher. It
explores the scope and variety of souvenirs in domestic travel,
their role as gifts and their place in the
home.
The most common
Japanese word for souvenirs is
omiyage.
'Miya', meaning shrine, is a reminder of the
religious origins of leisure travel in Japan. Shintō shrines are
dedicated to native Japanese deities, and temples are associated
with Buddhist gods, though distinctions are rarely made between the
two in everyday practice, and they offer similar goods for sale to
visitors. Omiyage now
refers more generally to a large variety of popular items which
convey the ephemeral memory of places and events. They are highly
specialized and illustrate the particular identity of local
communities. They are also based on recognized famous products, or
meibutsu. Souvenirs are
also crucial for new places to establish themselves as travel
destinations.
The media,
literature, advertising and transport networks combine to promote
the pleasure and convenience of domestic tourism. Most Japanese are
very well informed about historical and recent attractions.
Shopping for souvenirs is an essential part of the experience of
travel. Trips are remembered with photographs and videos, but also
with personal mementoes and gifts associated with places visited.
Food is a preferred souvenir, perhaps because it creates a social
occasion when later eaten, shared and discussed. Returning with
souvenirs is both a way of recording a trip and sharing it with
those who have stayed at
home.
Illustrated here is a
souvenir from Shikoku, a face towel showing Hello Kitty dressed as
a pilgrim in front of a suspension bridge.