--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a cultural map in my head, where I…" description: "\"I have a cultural map in my head, where I find similarities between different cultures. For example, domestic Japanese pop music sounds like Arabic mus..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/ryuichi-sakamoto-5498_different-cultures_i-have-a-cultural-map-in-my-head-where-i_2932793.jpg" --- # I have a cultural map in my head, where I find… ![“I have a cultural map in my head, where I find similarities between different cultures. For example, domestic Japanese pop music sounds like Arabic music to me - the vocal intonations and vibrato - and, in my mind, Bali is next to New York. Maybe everyone has these geographies in their head. This…” quote by Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/ryuichi-sakamoto-5498_different-cultures_i-have-a-cultural-map-in-my-head-where-i_2932793.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/ryuichi-sakamoto-5498_different-cultures_i-have-a-cultural-map-in-my-head-where-i_2932793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/ryuichi-sakamoto-5498_different-cultures_i-have-a-cultural-map-in-my-head-where-i_2932793.jpg) > “I have a cultural map in my head, where I find similarities between different cultures. For example, domestic Japanese pop music sounds like Arabic music to me - the vocal intonations and vibrato - and, in my mind, Bali is next to New York. Maybe everyone has these geographies in their head. This is the way I've been working.” [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cultural maps in our minds link disparate traditions, revealing hidden similarities that shape personal perception. **In simple terms:** Our minds map cultural similarities. Key Takeaway Recognize cross‑cultural connections. Themes culture perception creativity Mood curious reflective Type inspirational educational When to use this quote - music composition - travel planning - educational curricula Key Concepts cognitive mapping global awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do you discover new cultural links? - What influences shape your mental map? A Different Perspective Personal maps may be biased or incomplete. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Different cultures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-cultures/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Pop music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop-music/) ## Related quotes > [The only thing my father and I have in common is that our similarities are different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-berra/the-only-thing-my-father-and-i-have-in-common-is-that-our/) Dale Berra > [You can't compare me to my father. Our similarities are different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-berra/you-can-t-compare-me-to-my-father-our-similarities-are-different/) Dale Berra > [“When you see these deep similarities among different organs and bodies, you begin to recognize that the diverse inhabitants of our world are just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/when-you-see-these-deep-similarities-among-different-organs-and/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [The similarities among different kinds of audiences far outweigh the differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darwin-ortiz/the-similarities-among-different-kinds-of-audiences-far-outweigh-the/) [Darwin Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darwin-ortiz/) > [My audiences are generally mixed. Some people like techno, others are into the pop music, and others enjoy my film music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/my-audiences-are-generally-mixed-some-people-like-techno-others-are/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [Philadelphia might not want to hear this, but I grew up in Cleveland, and I think there are really a lot of similarities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-kelce/philadelphia-might-not-want-to-hear-this-but-i-grew-up-in-cleveland/) [Jason Kelce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-kelce/) > [“Understanding languages and other cultures builds bridges. It is the fastest way to bring the world closer together and to Truth. Through understanding, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/understanding-languages-and-other-cultures-builds-bridges-it-is-the/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [There are a lot of similarities between Jonathan Higgins and Juliet Higgins: they're both British, they both come from military backgrounds, and they're both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perdita-weeks/there-are-a-lot-of-similarities-between-jonathan-higgins-and-juliet/) [Perdita Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perdita-weeks/) > [We are fantastic and awesome in our own way. similarities in others make the differences of us from them special.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pheonysia-biden-missgerrard88/we-are-fantastic-and-awesome-in-our-own-way-similarities-in-others/) Pheonysia Biden á¦â« (@missgerrard88 > [Every cancer looks different. Every cancer has similarities to other cancers. And we're trying to milk those differences and similarities to do a better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-e-varmus/every-cancer-looks-different-every-cancer-has-similarities-to-other/) [Harold E. Varmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-e-varmus/) > [I have traveled down this path before - 'List of Seven' and 'Twin Peaks' both have thematic similarities - but 'Paladin' took me much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-frost/i-have-traveled-down-this-path-before-list-of-seven-and-twin-peaks/) [Mark Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-frost/) > [Ralph Angel, for me, was about getting in touch with the similarities between the characters. I felt like he was a human being that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-siriboe/ralph-angel-for-me-was-about-getting-in-touch-with-the-similarities/) [Kofi Siriboe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-siriboe/) > [ It's so funny, all the similarities that we have \[with David Copperfield\] of being obsessed young people and finding a way to be around… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-apatow/it-s-so-funny-all-the-similarities-that-we-have-with-david/) [Judd Apatow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-apatow/) > [Every single character and every single person in real life can all be 16 or 17 years old and maybe live in the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-sweeney/every-single-character-and-every-single-person-in-real-life-can-all/) [Sydney Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-sweeney/) > [“I’m not like her. I don’t steal people.” Mr. Tibbalt watched her, saying nothing. The silence made Victoria bristle. “Well, I don’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-legrand/i-m-not-like-her-i-don-t-steal-people-mr-tibbalt-watched-her-saying/) [Claire Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-legrand/) ## More by Ryuichi Sakamoto > [That's the meaning of 'The Revenant': It's a return from death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/that-s-the-meaning-of-the-revenant-it-s-a-return-from-death/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [In Japan, there has always been a small number of musicians who have been outspoken on social issues, but they tend to be dismissed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/in-japan-there-has-always-been-a-small-number-of-musicians-who-have/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [I was really into the music of Cream after I finished composing the music for 'BTTB.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-was-really-into-the-music-of-cream-after-i-finished-composing-the/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [I am worried that young Japanese people are not very curious about the outside world - which is so different to the way we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-am-worried-that-young-japanese-people-are-not-very-curious-about/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [My audiences are generally mixed. Some people like techno, others are into the pop music, and others enjoy my film music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/my-audiences-are-generally-mixed-some-people-like-techno-others-are/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [It's a very intimate, closed universe, doing my own music. It's just me, basically. I have to inspire myself; I have to do everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/it-s-a-very-intimate-closed-universe-doing-my-own-music-it-s-just-me/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [In Japanese culture, there is a belief that God is everywhere - in mountains, trees, rocks, even in our sympathy for robots or Hello…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/in-japanese-culture-there-is-a-belief-that-god-is-everywhere-in/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [I think there's a genuine difference between the real and the virtual in music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-think-there-s-a-genuine-difference-between-the-real-and-the-virtual/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [My interests are moving toward both 'sound and music,' not just 'music.' I have been doing lots of field recordings and also collecting lots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/my-interests-are-moving-toward-both-sound-and-music-not-just-music-i/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [The global view of cultures is part of my nature. I want to break down the walls between genres, categories, or cultures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/the-global-view-of-cultures-is-part-of-my-nature-i-want-to-break-down/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [I've realised that if it is to remain relevant, contemporary music needs to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-ve-realised-that-if-it-is-to-remain-relevant-contemporary-music/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [The piano is the closest instrument to me in my life, so it's just natural to play my pieces on the piano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/the-piano-is-the-closest-instrument-to-me-in-my-life-so-it-s-just/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [In the 1980s, Josef Beuys planted the seed that activism could be considered as art. I am influenced by the idea of his idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/in-the-1980s-josef-beuys-planted-the-seed-that-activism-could-be/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [I'm really bad writing the chase scenes or fighting scenes. I'm much better for writing, like, a more melancholic or tragic music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-m-really-bad-writing-the-chase-scenes-or-fighting-scenes-i-m-much/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [Art is often defined as a famous masterpiece in a gallery, and we are meant to visit the work and view it to appreciate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/art-is-often-defined-as-a-famous-masterpiece-in-a-gallery-and-we-are/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) [Explore all 100 Ryuichi Sakamoto quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) ## More Different cultures quotes > [LEGO is universal. So many people enjoy it, from all different walks of life, all different ages, all different cultures. When I was in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-sawaya/lego-is-universal-so-many-people-enjoy-it-from-all-different-walks-of/) [Nathan Sawaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-sawaya/) > [I was playing surf music with my band when a girlfriend of mine who had come from Los Angeles took me to a James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-b-schmit/i-was-playing-surf-music-with-my-band-when-a-girlfriend-of-mine-who/) [Timothy B. Schmit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-b-schmit/) > [We West Indian cricketers are always proud to play for the West Indies and we know we are made up of different islands and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-lara/we-west-indian-cricketers-are-always-proud-to-play-for-the-west/) [Brian Lara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-lara/) > [I wasn't paid a dime for my track career. But participating in the Olympics gave me the opportunity to learn about different cultures; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyomia-tyus/i-wasn-t-paid-a-dime-for-my-track-career-but-participating-in-the/) Wyomia Tyus > [I've always enjoyed traveling and having experience with different cultures and different people. But it's also a wonderful thing to be able to benefit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-clark/i-ve-always-enjoyed-traveling-and-having-experience-with-different/) [Laurel Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-clark/) > [“Latino history is like a river dividing the United States and Mexico. It is shared by several different cultures and called by many different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilan-stavans/latino-history-is-like-a-river-dividing-the-united-states-and-mexico/) Ilan Stavans > [My parents put me in the water very early, and also had me skiing at a very early age. They put me on skis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benoit-lecomte/my-parents-put-me-in-the-water-very-early-and-also-had-me-skiing-at-a/) [Benoit Lecomte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benoit-lecomte/) > [It's useful to be born in a different culture because you see things that are not obvious. I come from France. In France, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francoise-mouly/it-s-useful-to-be-born-in-a-different-culture-because-you-see-things/) [Francoise Mouly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francoise-mouly/) > [I like to travel, man. I been to Europe - you know, Spain. Dominican, Aruba, Costa Rica. Just to learn about different cultures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-ramirez/i-like-to-travel-man-i-been-to-europe-you-know-spain-dominican-aruba/) [Manny Ramirez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-ramirez/) > [There is the philosophy embedded in the culture we are living. It is quite clear for example that Arabs have a different culture than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/there-is-the-philosophy-embedded-in-the-culture-we-are-living-it-is/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [ Wisdom and white hair might not be as valued \[in our society\] as in different cultures. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karla-souza/wisdom-and-white-hair-might-not-be-as-valued-in-our-society-as-in/) [Karla Souza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karla-souza/) > [The role of globalization is to homogenize all cultures, and to turn them into commodified markets, and therefore, to make them easier for global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-mander/the-role-of-globalization-is-to-homogenize-all-cultures-and-to-turn/) [Jerry Mander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-mander/) > [In a world darkened by ethnic conflicts that tear nations apart, Canada stands as a model of how people of different cultures can live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/in-a-world-darkened-by-ethnic-conflicts-that-tear-nations-apart/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) > [“We talk about pluralism, multi-culturalism and tolerance. But I hope we are moving toward a time when we don't just "tolerate" people from different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-shelby/we-talk-about-pluralism-multi-culturalism-and-tolerance-but-i-hope-we/) Anne Shelby > [“The anthropologist Margaret Mead concluded in 1948, after observing seven different ethnic groups in the Pacific Islands, that different cultures made different forms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/the-anthropologist-margaret-mead-concluded-in-1948-after-observing/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) [Browse all 358 Different cultures quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-cultures/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have a cultural map in my head, where I find similarities between different cultures. For example, domestic Japanese pop music sounds like Arabic music to me - the vocal intonations and vibrato - and, in my mind, Bali is next to New York. Maybe everyone has these geographies in their head. This is the way I've been working.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryuichi Sakamoto" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-have-a-cultural-map-in-my-head-where-i-find-similarities-between/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Different cultures" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-have-a-cultural-map-in-my-head-where-i-find-similarities-between/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/ryuichi-sakamoto-5498_different-cultures_i-have-a-cultural-map-in-my-head-where-i_2932793.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/ryuichi-sakamoto-5498_different-cultures_i-have-a-cultural-map-in-my-head-where-i_2932793.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0c/ryuichi-sakamoto-5498_different-cultures_i-have-a-cultural-map-in-my-head-where-i_2932793.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have a cultural map in my head, where I find similarities between different cultures. For example…” — Ryuichi Sakamoto", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ryuichi Sakamoto", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have a cultural map in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-have-a-cultural-map-in-my-head-where-i-find-similarities-between/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-have-a-cultural-map-in-my-head-where-i-find-similarities-between/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```