Sumie Tsumatori is an old friend who has some strong ideas about a lot of things; a quality not often associated with Japanese people in general or Japanese women in particular. To show that such people do exist in Japan, I have rescued her latest remarks from the obscurity of the comment section to give her voice a more public forum.
Dane sama,
I enjoyed the Christmas “poems” Christmas 1958 and 1968, just Dane Degenhardt World.
My comments on Tenno Heika, Banzai seem to have given you the impression I am crazy about the Emperor. Actually, I don’t think of myself as a strong supporter of the Imperial family. I do however, believe it is necessary to have the Emperor as an anchor for Japan and as a way for us to live peacefully in this world.
Have you ever watched a commonplace debate in the Diet? It seems like an unruly class of elementary school children. It’s crazy; the politicians, the bureaucrats and all public employees escape their responsibility, and the prime minister is constantly being replaced. The fact is, the government is dysfunctional and is only good for arguing over theories. Does anybody think about the nation and the people and how to lead them toward more peaceful and happy lives? I don’t think so. As for our foreign allies, most countries look to Japan only for money.
Because of the Emperor, not only the Japanese politicians but also politicians of other countries hesitate to take the final plunge toward their real objectives.
In this country, the rich are seen as the only worthy people and parents advise their children to do all they can to become rich; they see money as the only way to secure supremacy over others. The Imperial Family at least presents a more human ideal for the people to look to.
Because of all this, I worry that without the Emperor, Japan would return to militarism or succumb to yakuza-ism . Don’t you think that’s true?
Sumie
Hi Dane:
Oh, I think you have described it rightly. I, like you, am an anti-monarchist, therefore, my original comment was a bit trite.
In other words, I really don’t think of the monarch much, similar to scratching one’s butt from time to time.
From your description, apparently, the Japanese don’t think about the monarchy that much either, unless, of course, it comes under attack from an inquiring mind trying to sort out the “hypocrisy” of it all.
I read once about “today’s” Japanese woman, those that aren’t married yet, believe in the independence of the woman and support the expanded rights of women, yada, yada, yada, ……. until they get married. Then all that talk of independence …… falls silent. The salaryman (cockroach) reigns supreme. Spoiled little brats.
Of course Reiko doesn’t fit that mold, nor, I suspect, does Kayoko.
Oh well, the Chrysanthemum Throne will hold its place for years to come in the hearts and minds of its servants, if for no other reason than no one takes the time to “critically” think about it. Kinda like having the yakuza around …. huh?
Oh, I found this humorous in your questioning of how others met their husbands. Is it because they were arranged marriages, or just the boy next door who had always been there, so why not, nothing better to do and a wedding cake past 25 years is spoiled and loses its value you know?
However, I understand that Japan is having a bit of a problem in that fewer and fewer are marrying and it is of great government concern.
Hmmmm, …. Japan will have to remedy its relations with Korea so that more Koreans can enter Japan as health caregivers, ‘cuz Japan won’t have any “youngsters” to do it.
Oh wow, that’ll dilute the gene pool won’t it?
Hah, what goes around comes around, I mean, after all, the Emperor’s roots trace back to Korea, …… don’t they?????
Breaking News: “The Chrysanthemum Throne turned to the Gimchee (sp?) Throne overnight.”
Epilogue: I thoroughly understand that what I have written above may, nay, probably, shows a total lack of understanding Japanese culture. Yet, maybe the Japanese don’t understand their culture either.
Oh well. ……….. Back to scratching my butt.
Happy New Year
Mark