2002  February

The Lost of Japanese Religious Sense  [020203-05]

Japanese religious base is Animism. Shinto is only a form of it. Old Japanese people had been felt the existence of God through individual natural beings. Since Buddhism had been introduced, Japanese old traditional religious sense has been formed as Shinto assimilating with Buddhism. Japanese Buddhism also contains the sense of animism and has express its world according the natural variety. Shinto represents emotional side of Japanese religion and Buddhism represents theoretical side. The both mixed style that is called ‘Sinbutsu-syugou’ is most natural style of Japanese religion.

It may seem absurd for western people. However, it should be remind that the God guarantees the indefinite variety of the world. The One to unify and the Many to be unified must exist at the same. We can find natural and original faith in Japanese tradition.

However, it is very sorry that Japanese people have abandoned this tradition since anti-Buddhism campaign in modern age. It was a eruption of nationalism, which demands us the worship of human society, nation. When Buddhism was denied and Shinto was regarded national religion, the latter also lost its original spirit. I climbed Hikosan (Mt. Hiko) that is famous for Japanese traditional religious training place. We can feel a little relic of our original religious atmosphere in Hikosan, although it has become a mountain for usual climbers.
 

Where is American Ideal?   [020210-13]

Since Bush’s speech American government has come out the attitude against terror nations, so to speak. I cannot but say it remains the consciousness of cold war in the age when the world had been ruled by the confliction among nations. In those days, western camp had possibility to be defeated by eastern. However, there is little danger that U.S. is defeated by terror nations, as long as it attacks them. Rather, the attack against them may justify the motivation of terrorists, because it is sure that many innocent people will die, if U.S. attacks these nations.

I cannot find the reason why U.S. government blames them as if they are only to be punished. Different from eastern nations during cold war, these nations will submit civilized nations after the death of dictator. Already Iran begun to be democratic country in their own way.

I cannot but think that Bush administration want to find enemies out of America. It may be because U.S. society cannot maintain without enemy that exits out of their world and justify the being of U.S. itself. However, it is usual practice of nations to veil the conflict in their own country. I will not deny the importance of U.S. society in our world. It is first empirical country to seek how we can exist each other beyond the difference of nationalities, religions and races etc. But it is ironical, if U.S. cannot maintain itself without the idea of nation. What American flags shows after the day of 11 September? American ideal to seek freedom should beyond the narrow idea of nationalism as well as stiff ideologies. It should shows us tolerance beyond narrow-mildness sticking to nationalities, religions and races etc. However, where can we find this ideal now in U.S.?

Have American people lost their ideal? I agree that the shock of 11 September was enormous and it is greatest trial for them. The key to overcome it relies on their consciousness to outer world. The idea between outer and inner is relative. If they try to avoid gazing on their own problems utilizing outer world, they will face on inner crisis that is caused by inner others in their society. If you can recognize other neighbor close to yourself truly, you will be able to know the world out of your society.
 
 

The Second Impact in Japanese History   [020216-25]

Japanese economy falls into recession now and it will aggregate more and more. As the result, foreign capitals may rule many Japanese companies, especially banks. They can be able to take over Japanese Kaishas (companies) in bottom price and obtain good Japanese manpower keeping their loyalty to the organizations. On the other hand, the advance of foreign managers will drive out old Japanese managements with their bond of Yakuza (Japanese Mafia).

However, many Japanese economic rulers fear it. Not only them, most of Japanese will loathe to be ruled foreigner managers. Nevertheless, it seems not so fearful for me, because Japanese people once experienced the rule of GHQ during the age of U.S. occupation, and reformed their system for prosperity. Perhaps, foreigner managers will tell them how to work in international society.

I fear, rather, the inflow of foreigner people from other Asian countries. In spite of Japanese economic recession, many Asian neighbors study Japanese. Sometimes it causes problems and recently a collage was detected to allow entering many Chinese students without concrete educating. Even now many Asian people seek for work eagerly in Japan. If Japanese companies ruled by western capitals, they will employee many excellent Asian foreigners and trade with the companies in neighbor countries. The chance for Asian foreigners in Japan will increase more and more. They will provide new Japanese companies the spirit of pioneer, which Japanese businessmen do not have well. Any way, it is convenient for Japanese new business world.

However, it is not hopeful for Japanese society, because their society has not experienced the inflow of foreigner people since they built the nation of Japan. It is said that Japanese people adapt themselves to new ages. But it is possible, as long as the unity of Japanese people depending on the idea of Japanese is maintained. This idea enables them to change their way of life rapidly under the idea of ‘same Japanese’. It may be possible for U.S. to be composed mostly of Martian, as long as they receive American constitution and English. But it is impossible for Japan.

The hopeful way for Japanese is to accept foreigners as Japanese. Even if many foreigners come and stay Japan, the number of them is limited. Making the rules to coexist with them, some people who accept Japanese language and Japanese tradition in their own way should be regarded as Japanese. So to say, Japanese people accept foreigners in Japanese own base respecting for foreigner’s individual characteristic.

Japanese people have kept their identity only by their historical fact: Same language, island country and no experience to be invaded other races. It is true that there are minority races in Japan, but their existence has not been noticed so much. Therefore, Japanese people do not have rational policy to maintain their own race. Although some Japanese people dare to make Japanese emperor and Shintoism as the core of Japanese race, they are only images of Japanese tradition. In adding, Japanese Imperial Household has its traditional root mainly in Kansai area and has been symbolized as Japanese authority only since the beginning of Meiji Period (1868-1912).

Most important bond for Japanese people to be Japanese is Japanese language. They had not needed to learn foreigner language for oral communicating until Meiji Period. Now many Japanese people will learn English for international communication. On the other hand, some foreigners, especially many Asian people learn Japanese eagerly. Unique language in Japan Island will not distinguish Japanese from other world as it did.

Japanese as a language has some characteristics that may hinder to be a international language. Firstly, it has complex system to distinguish self and others according to their position. For example, it has opposite expressions according to the relation between self and others, when we use ‘ageru (give)’ and ‘morau (receive)’. If other one is superior to me, ‘to give’ is ‘sasiageru’ and ‘to receive’ is ‘itadaku’. It is a kind of polite expression, but a little complex for foreigners. And Japanese writing system composed of Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana is also complex. I guess Japanese people use most complicated system to write and read.

However, the Japanese attitude to their language is more difficult to overcome. It is possible for understanding to avoid complex way of speaking. And the difficult writing system can be reduced by adding Hurigana (phonetic symbols) with the aid of computer. But Japanese people will not accept simple way of Japanese conversation so well, and I do not know yet useful Hurigana software-system for foreigners who want to learn Japanese.

Any way, with the decline of Japanese society, Japanese people will face the choice between two: to accept foreigner people in their society with the internationalization of Japanese language, or to reject it and submit the declination. If they opt the former way, it will cause Second Impact since Yayoi period (about 2000 years ago) when new people intruded to Japan Island. In those days, Japan had not formed as a country.