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| The cherry blossoms arrive at Lake Kawaguchi near Mt. Fuji. |
The cherry blossoms are now starting to bloom, which means winter is definitely over and spring has begun. My most lasting memory of the past winter would be the views of Mt Fuji from Tokyo. The Tokyo winter often serves up brilliantly clear (but cold!) days which allow for wonderful vistas of a snow-capped Mt Fuji. Seeing Mt Fuji day-in-day-out from my apartment and the office led me to consider its iconic status. And I think “iconic” is certainly the correct word. A snow-capped Mt Fuji would be without doubt one of the most well-known images of Japan (particularly if there are a few cherry blossoms “photo shopped” in!) Every tourism brochure has to feature it at least once.
So why is Mt Fuji so iconic? Well, I thought I would consider that question in today’s post. I think there are several reasons.
First and foremost, Mt Fuji is physically unique. There are very few stand-alone mountains which can match its 3,776 metres and none which have its perfectly conical shape. There are many mountains which are higher than Mt Fuji, but almost all of these mountains are mere peaks amongst a larger mountain range. Very few mountains rise 3,776 metres out of absolutely nowhere like Mt Fuji.
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| The Sky Tree: impressive but still doesn't quite match Mt Fuji. |
Secondly, Mt Fuji is a naturally occurring wonder. It is like a gift from nature that was given to set Japan apart from other countries. I think that this gives Mt Fuji more gravitas than something built to attract tourists or act as a landmark, and there are plenty of examples of that! Just focusing on Tokyo, there is the Tokyo Tower (it’s a red and white Eiffel Tower!), the miniature Statue of Liberty on Odaiba Island and the most recent of all, the Sky Tree. The Sky Tree is a 634 metre tower which will open in May. I have been watching it being built for the last year from my office window. It’s certainly a very impressive building, but it can’t match Mt Fuji’s size nor can it match Mt Fuji’s status as a natural wonder of Japan.
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| Mt Fuji in summer: no snow to be seen. |
Thirdly, Mt Fuji changes significantly with the seasons just like Japan. The seasons are all quite distinct here. In summer, Tokyo is hot and humid like somewhere in the tropics, autumn brings koyo (autumn leaves), in winter it snows and spring is known for sakura (cherry blossom). Mt Fuji also changes significantly with the seasons, from being snow-capped in winter to completely bare in summer. In this way, it is a visible sign of the disparity between seasons.
Fourthly, Mt Fuji is a constant in an otherwise changing world. Like any modern country, there has been significant development in Japan over the last few centuries. Throughout that time, Mt Fuji has looked on unchanged. When you see Mt Fuji floating above the cityscape of Tokyo, it is obvious that it has been doing this since before Tokyo even existed. It’s seen the destruction of the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the bombing raids of 1945, the development of modern Shibuya and Shinjuku, and much more. I think that this has a powerful psychological effect on people. So many images of Mt Fuji present it as the ever-constant backdrop to a dynamic world. For example, there are many images of Shinkansen’s shooting along with Mt Fuji in the background and images of Mt Fuji looking out over a bustling Tokyo. The most famous image of Mt Fuji and probably the most famous piece of Japanese art, Hokusai’s The Great Wave Off Kanagawa, uses the same concept by showing Mt Fuji peacefully looking on as fisherman struggle in the foreground to avoid being engulfed by a huge wave. No matter what happens in Tokyo, Mt Fuji will continue to tranquilly gaze on as it has done for centuries.
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| Mt Fuji and a Shinkansen. |
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| The Great Wave Off Kanagawa. |
Fifthly, Mt Fuji possesses tranquil beauty like much of traditional Japanese culture. As far as I can tell (and I am certainly not an expert!), a lot of traditional Japanese culture is based around peacefulness and beauty. For example, think of Japanese gardens, ikebana (traditional flower arranging), bonsai, and hanami (a picnic for viewing cherry blossoms). The words raucous and ugly do not really seem appropriate! Mt Fuji is as tranquil and beautiful as all of these things whether you are viewing it from a few kilometres away or a skyscraper in central Tokyo.
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| Mt Fuji peacefully looks out over the modern world of Shinjuku. |
Finally, Mt Fuji could be seen as a visible reminder of the threat of natural disaster to Japan. Despite its tranquil appearance, Mt Fuji is a dormant volcano. It last erupted in 1707 scattering ash over what was then the beginnings of Tokyo. If and when it will erupt again, is unknown.
So there you have it. These are all of the reasons I can think of for why Mt Fuji is an icon of Japan. There are probably lots of other reasons, which I haven’t thought of. If you regard Mt Fuji as iconic for other reasons, please feel free to let me know. I would be interested to hear from you.
Thank you for reading and take care.
Our Man in Japan.
