I don’t think there is anything to ‘glean’ from your commentary other than it is your opinion of what others think, and that it sounds suspiciously inaccurate and out of touch. It comes across as a projection of your criticism of Japan from your own experiences. Which might be accurate for those living there, but it is not the opinion of outsiders.

It’s also rather ironic, since you are prolific in sharing a very common pictorial of Japan. The very kind of imagery that outsiders think, when they think Japan.

If I ask most people here, it is not a stark or plain Japan they speak of.

I don’t need an essay to let me know your delineation of culture and nature doesn’t even make sense. I’m talking about the natural environment and not ‘human nature’. The Japanese maple, the blossoms and so many animals are deeply entrenched in Japanese culture, in worship, in art, in thinking, in every day life. If you think it, even the distruction of the natural environment with the nuclear bomb has impacted Japanese culture. The ‘natural’ geological features of an island nation with limited realestate impacts on Japanese culture in living and travel.

I would say nature directly impacts culture, and have done so since we came into existence.

Further, just because something is not awash with a kaleidoscope of colors, does not mean it is less or plain. As someone who loves vibrant colors, and also loves the beauty in simplicity and contrast, I find it’s not about one or the other. It’s about the overall composition, the context and the balance. A stone wall next to a white building will only look beautiful framed by the blossoms and maple. I guess it depends on your point of view. Some choose to focus on the black circle on the white background, and with your Buddhist training, that would make sense. Others might take in the broader view and admire the complex relationships and contrast at play. I just think you are basing everything from your own lens. Which is fine, but it’s not mine, or that of people from outside looking in. My opinion of course, I could be wrong!

When I think of Japanese culture, I think of a traditional society clashing with modernity. I think of the rich history, the war time atrocities, I think anime, monkey magic, strange toilet habits, tiny living, weird hotels, Lolitas, kimonos, geishas, ninjas, samurais, blossoms and the red maple trees. I think of the zen in beautiful Japanese gardens. I think of a lot of things, but I do not immediately think:

some kind of zen image of nothing but stark black and whites

That’s you.

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EDIT: This reply was harsher than it should be. I honestly don’t have the energy to revise it to make it softer. Just ignore me, I should not have threw in the original jab. I was just fatigued by all the leaves. I’ll just unfollow so I don’t feel tempted to have another snipe.