Japanland — The Quest for Harmony
American travel writer and documentary maker, Karin Muller, has authored three travel books including Hitchhiking Vietnam: A Woman’s Solo Journey in an Elusive Land, where she spent seven months traveling alone through Vietnam by motorbike and on foot.
Her latest 2006 documentary film, Japanland: A Year in Search of Wa, she chronicles a yearlong quest to understand the Japanese concept of “wa” (harmony). Attempting to strip herself of her Western gaijin (foreigner) mentality, her journey helped her discover the ancient heart of modern Japan, including ideals such as unquestioning commitment, rule following, single-minded devotion to detail and the classic samurai code.
Along her route she learned life-changing lessons from 350-pound sumo wrestlers, thirty-seven naked and drunk fishermen, a group of fire-walkers, and a 63-year-old geisha; all helping her to discover the truth behind the tatemai (public or external face) of Japan.
Japanland
Arlington Central Library
1015 North Quincy Street
Arlington, VA 22201 (map it)
703-228-5990
Dates and Times - Thursday, Nov. 15th, 6:30 p.m.
Tickets - free
Nearest Metro Subway Station - Balston - Orange line, then a 3-block walk.
Parking - Free street and underground garage parking is available at the library.
___________________________________________________
Comments Off