The book starts off with an episode of a Japanese student in Paris who made this
statement in front of his friends. “All of those guys eating here at the
university cafeteria will never understand the Marcel Proust.”
Proust,
the author of “In Search of Lost Time” was from a wealthy family who never had
to suffer from poverty or hunger. He himself was also a wealthy man, who was
said to have spent a large amount of money in a single night. The author of the
book “Classical Music as the Greatest Luxury” states that you wouldn’t
understand Proust’s feeling if you are the type of person who gets filled up
with the food you eat at a school cafeteria.
Mozart and Beethoven were
said to be the type of people who, even in financial difficulties, kept leading
luxurious lives.
The point here is “Don’t think everyone is equal. Don’t
even think an art can be understood equally by every group of people.” The
author states that this may lead to a misunderstanding but it is a truth anybody
hesitates to say openly.
The author extendedly states Japan had to be
luxurious people but far from truly appreciating classical music, such as
Beethoven or Mozart. He even says something fundamental is missing in the music
the Japanese create. Even NHK symphony sounds "fishy."
There were times
when they were seemingly rich and luxurious, but it was not a true richness. The
Roppongi Hills, the status symbol of the riches in that country, had not
produced any more true riches than the huge waste of garbage. Nothing beautiful
or precious had been created throughout the period.
The author decides
to take off the country to travel to multiple cities of overseas.
Chapter 1: Hong Kong, China The first place he chose is Hong Kong,
where he sees the people, stores, streets, and concert halls. He concludes that
the music was fishy because of the streets outside the hall that were filled
with smells, humid air, and sweating people, whereas the concert hall was kept
so clean without allowing any bugs, noise, or smells inside. He states “Brahms
in Hong Kong” is as fishy as when you see an ad such as “Beethoven in Tokyo.” No
matter how passionate they are about classical music, they are out of it.
I think I can understand what he is talking about. Although I have never
been to Hong Kong or anywhere in China, as far as Japan is concerned, I don’t
feel the people who push others and rush to the narrow gate of a train station
would ever be able to understand Bruckner’s symphonies. The same is true with
those who can’t wait to share a space or say a word or two in a shopping center
or on the trains.
Chapter 2: Vienna, Austria Vienna is one of the
notable cities of music. If you are fond of classical music, the city of Vienna
might come up to your mind in the first place. The author introduces Vienna as
the place of double standards just like the both sides of a coin. He states
there are always “praises” and “betrayals” in that city. Here in the city of
Vienna he decides to speak English instead of German, since he thinks it should
be more comfortable to be treated as an outsider. He wants to avoid any local
frustration out there but just focus on music.
The author introduces the
concert hall of Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra by explaining that the hall is not
really good when it comes to terms with the sound effect. It may sometimes make
a miraculous blend of sound when you least expect it, but he states it is not a
product of what the designers had wanted.
The author then writes about
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. He thinks this orchestra often doesn’t do its
best to perform music. It is a very popular orchestra. You cannot get a ticket
easily for their concert. They sometimes do poor performance. However, the
author admits their music, like their concert hall, can be incredibly passionate
and vivid when least expected. That music is what you could never be able to
hear from other orchestras.
It is said that baby names in Japan
have increasingly become misguided. You have no clue how to read them in Kanji.
Having inspected the tendency, I have come up with the following patterns when
the parents will name their kids. They call them "DQN names."
天空
normally reads "Ten-kuu" and is translated as "sky". For
some reason, this will be pronounced "Rapyuta" because there is a
movie titled "Rapyuta - Castle in the Sky". Rapyuta, by the way, is the name of the main character in the movie, and the name doesn't associate with "The Sky" (天空, Tenkuu) except appearing in the title. This is almost like pronouncing "World" as "Garp" after having been inspired by the movie (novel) "World According to Garp."
Or it might be similar to write
"Michael" and let you pronounce it "Moonwalk."
After having written this far, I
have just come up with "Moonlight Graham" in the movie "The
Field of Dreams."
It seems like Japanese attempt to
make nicknames be the legal names to their babies. Imagine many of the kids in
schools have "Moonlight Graham" kind of names. That's what's
happening.
About 莉音
(Lyon), I sometimes heard Japanese moms calling their daughter's names at a
restaurant. They were yelling out, "Lyon! Lyon! Hurry up!
Somebody else will get the seat over there!" This name seems kind of
popular to be a girl's name.
Also, there was a boy classmate
named "Clair" in my daughter's old elementary school in Japan.
Olga is a Russian name for girls and
Lyon a French name for boys, but in Japan they will be opposite. Olga would much more likely be a
boy's name out there, and Lyon should be a name for girls.
3. Some are not originally human names,
such as:
Boys: Koshien 甲子園 (a ball park's name)
4. Some names don’t sound so bad but
are spelled misguidedly in Kanji, such as:
Boys: 夢叶 (pronounced
"You-toe") Girls: 駈姒 (Kumi)
5. Some parents get the idea of
using complicated Kanji, such as:
For 煌凄,
the Kanji 煌 has never been included in the
Kanji required to learn in schools.
Let me get back to the Kanji above.
About 圭遼 (Keito), most Japanese most likely read it "Kei Ryoh." Nobody would be able to read that name correctly.
With the school curriculums, the
Kanji "遼" has NOT been taught to read "Ryoh." This parents used "遼" and read "To" because it might have been listed on some dictionary or encyclopedia. - One
of the features of Kanji is that many are read multiple ways, so parents
are able to find a cool Kanji that will be fitting with the sound they like.
6. Names sounding cute or cool (which
might be meant) such as:
Boys: 吐夢 (Cosmo) Girls: 苺 (Ichigo, meaning
"strawberry"), 春愛人(It is read "Heart" but the Kanji laterally means the "lover in spring"), 兎鈴魅 ("Do-Le-Mi" as in musical notes)
With Cosmo, 吐 means "vomit" and 夢
"dream". 吐 normally is not read
"Cos" (or Kosu), and 夢 will not
be read "Mo".
7. Bad names:
There was a public dispute in Japan
when some parents named their new-born baby "悪魔” (which reads "Akuma" meaning Devil).
The name was turned down at the
official facility but the parents insisted that it has to be accepted despite
the fact that it seems not good on the appearance.
It is true however that many people
don't like these parents naming their kids like that. They say that it looks so
crazy and stupid. Many of those misguided names which cannot be read at the
glance of them are said to be originated from uneducated, delinquent parents.
Typically they take "misguided inspirations" by using wrong or
improper (even immoral or ominous) Kanji for their babies.
But here is the truth. Seemingly
misguided names are as old as history. If you go back a little bit to the past,
there are even some famous or historical people who have this sort of name, or
named their kids just like the parents I have introduced so far.
1. Take an example of Reona Esaki (江崎玲於奈, 1925- ), a Japanese physicist who
shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1973.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Esaki
His first name reminds me of
"Leona," an English name for girls. And his Kanji cannot be read at
the first glance. It looks just like the name of these days.
2. Ogai Mori (森鴎外, 1862-1922), a Japanese Army Surgeon, translator, novelist
and poet named their sons 於菟 (Otto)
and 不律
(Fritz). His wife was Japanese who was born, lived, and died in Japan. The Kanji
used for these kids are not common to be person's names.
3. Nobunaga Oda (織田信長, 1534–1582), the initiator of the unification
of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, named his children 大洞 (Oh-borah) and 小洞(Coe-borah), which sound like “big lies”
and “small lies” when you hear it.
I will not mention if I like it or
not. That is not my intention here. I just want to inspect what is going on,
why this is happening, what that really means, and what the perspectives are.
The reason for all this (the baby
names issue), I assume, is just because every one of those parents want (or
want their kids) to be different from others. Japan is a group-oriented
culture, where you can't stand out and act (or think) differently. You have to
hide and be like everyone else. Otherwise, you will be hammered down and won't
be able to join the group. Being out of group means you are outcast and even
considered "wrong". Decisions in the group tend to be more powerful and
influential than the laws in their culture, which I guess is a big difference
from the one in the West.
When you think about it, if you
officially have a different stuff (such as names), you will automatically have
a chance to be treated or looked differently. You don't have to try standing
out by yourself. Anyone has a tendency to be different or special. You want to
be the center of something, and don't want to be part of the sand in the beach.
What would you have to do in order to come up with a solution? - That is the
answer I have for the naming preferences in such an environment. - Like it or
not, being "Passive-aggressive" can be the way to go. And this has
always been true throughout their history. It is generically different from
seeking "American Dreams" but they love watching the Hollywood movies
or soap operas. They will get fascinated when Lady Gaga visits Japan. Some love
to sing Beyoncé's songs at a
karaoke place.
I don't think Japan is a special
case. There is nothing unique about it. (They want to think they are more
unique and more different than the uniqueness of all the others, though.) I
imagine a similar tendency can be observed in other countries. Of course, they
don't have to use Kanji or anything to their babies. It wouldn't be just about
your babies.
Interesting thing here is their
preference has long been directed to America. It is even true now today. Many
people want to mention their culture has been "Americanized" in many
ways.
However, being
"Americanized" does not mean to be "American." - That's the
point.
When using the website or software,
I come up with a pop up which lets me do my environment settings. I prefer selecting
"International" or "Global" rather than "English
(US)". - Whatever you choose out of it, it's English anyway. (I don't
select "Japanese," by the way.)
Even more people or countries, I
assume, will be "Americanized" in their own way using English. I have
a friend from Indonesia who speaks fluent English. He has never lived in the
U.S. or anything except a couple of weeks. He is currently working in Japan as
a system engineer and his work environment is 100% Japanese. I made friends
with him out there. We would have some talks over lunch.
I am kind of anticipating what the
globalization trend may bring about. We all use English, but it's not American
or British. I think it's an interesting picture. If you focus on the positive
side, it could be more fun and exciting. It reminds me of connecting the
foreign pieces and American stuff together by using English. - Hope this
cultural perspective will help you think differently.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [Additional Note:] The YouTube video I have put up on top seems very silly but I find it is meaningful in many ways. The Japanese in general have inferiority complex toward their English accent. That is why that short drama came out. I also notice the teacher touches or points at one of the student's body. This mat be seen quite commonly in Japanese schools, which people of the Western culture may feel uncomfortable. The teacher even exaggeratedly coughs, clears his throat, and spits out. In the end they all say, "Oh, my God." They perceive these words differently than how English speaking people do. I have seen kids in Japan who go up to a foreigner and stick up the middle finger to say, "Fakku yuu! Hahaha!" and run away. They don't really know what they are doing. They know it's not good to say to someone else, but they think it may sound "funny" to foreigners. This is seemingly rude and nasty but they do that only because they want to break the ice and overcome with their shyness. (Of course, this still is not a pleasant experience to face.)
Winter in Michigan is really cold. It is colder than Tokyo when the temperature hits the lowest of the year. But it is very much pleasant to live here. Every time I drive a car in the morning or in the afternoon, I feel some sort of joy coming up from inside. This is also true when speaking with a shop clerk or someone in your neighbor. This is the same feeling as I have had when I listen to the last movement of Beethoven's 6th Symphony, where people in a rural place becomes so grateful for the sun to reappear after the storm was gone.
One of my good friends in Japan who has lived there for a long time asked me to send a white oak leaf. He spent his boyhood years in Ann Arbor and said a white oak leaf would carry good memories going back to his good old days. I went outside during lunch time in order to take some pictures of the apartment complex. I found oak leaves there when I quickly thought of this friend in Japan. I collected some leaves and put them in my car. It brought me to a silent joy as I was doing that.
"You can tell a White Oak because the tips of the leaves are rounded, like a bullet. Red Oak have pointed tips on the leaves, like the tips of an arrow. That's how we learned the difference." He explained to me.
This sort of friendship will not be limited to my private life. I even have a chance to speak with a guy I worked with in Japan over the telephone. We still work together via e-mail. It is thankful that I am able to do that, even though I have changed the company I work for.
When it comes to term with convenience, Japan should be so much better. However, it is interesting, at the same time, to be realized that there is no other country has obtained a higher standard of living than Japan with respect to the social system, infrastructure or customer services, but it is one of the worst places in some sense, where people are incapable of being connected with others. This is not a question of good or bad, but just whether you like it or not.
I personally think that if their demanding service quality are exported to other countries, it would make both Japanese and other nation become happier together.
21st century is pretty much different from the 20th or even before that era in that we are working for the same goal. I let go of my imagination and was feeling this way. If the world will come to an end some day, it would happen not because of a war or disaster but because of reaching to the point where people have finally settled down to a certain conclusion after all those striffles and conflicts. There would be pains, exhaustion, honesty, perfect forgiveness, and convinction for hope. If all these things are shared among all of the people on earth regardless of race and sex, then what would be left?
I liked this You Tube video I watched tonight. This appealed to me so strongly specially because it is understandable that one of the episodes in the video really can happen (although it is rare) where a clerk at cafeteria treats an Asian individual as if he were transparent or invisible. One of the participants shares his experience at around 23:45, where he (Asian American) was ignored by a shop clerk in the restaurant, and another person making a line on his back was served first in the restaurant. Each one has many things to say. The status quo of problem sharing across the border and race reminds me of the current trend of global business.
Soseki Natsume. - For no particular reason, I often think of this author who died in 1916. The first encouter with his work was when I happened to read "Kokoro" by chance in my teens. I remember the book was secured by a thick paper box, and the Japanese letters used were old fashioned. This literary work published in 1914 gave some dull shock to my mind. Some books can remain in your head a long time especially when you read them in your vulnerable years. Even if you think you have got much older and are not that sensitive anymore, the dull shock you once had can be retrieved inside of you to let you feel something more out of it.
The story is told by a student (the narrator) who start describing who Sensei was. "It was at Kamakura, during the summer holidays, that I first met Sensei. I was then a very young student. I went there at the insistence of a friend of mine, who had gone to Kamakura to swim." The narrator keeps an eye on this (presumably) middle-aged man who he doesn't really know of. "Sensei had just taken his clothes off and was about to go for a swim when I first laid eyes on him in the tea house. I had already had my swim, and was letting the wind blow gently on my wet body. Between us, there were numerous black heads moving about. I was in a relaxed frame of mind, and there was such a crowd on the beach that I should never have noticed him had he not been accompanied by a Westerner." Why does he do that? Does he like guys? - I doubt it. It might be understandable if you start thinking that people of similar social backgrounds with no specific religious orientation can be lead to this tendency, when they have to identify themselves.
This story consistently describes this middled-aged guy, who is never a super hero or anything but just a mediocre individual with a negative mindset. Why this guy? Why this author wants to pick up this person? Why this story has been read for 100 years? What's in it, anyway?
I think this is because the readers have a desire to be different from others, or want to find what is so special about themselves through tracing the descriptions. It appears to be written about somebody, but the focus is on the readers themselves in order to be satisfied to deeply know that this mediocre passive fellow is an extraordinary individual in disguise. Also, it is interesting to find that people of 1914 (including Soseki) thought of "Westerners" as frightening creatures as well as gorgeous celebrities. It might have something to do with how the Japanese today would think of "Westerners". "The Westerner, with his extremely pale skin, had already attracted my attention when I approached the tea house. He was standing with folded arms, facing the sea; carelessly thrown down on the stool by his side was a Japanese summer dress which he had been wearing. He had on him only a pair of drawers such as we were accustomed to wear. I found this particularly strange. Two days previously I had gone toYuigahama and, sitting on top of a small dune close to the rear entrance of a Western-style hotel, I had whiled away the time watching the Westerners bathe. All of them had their torsos, arms, and thighs well-covered. The women especially seemed overly modest. Most of them were wearing brightly colored rubber caps which could be seen bobbing conspicuously amongst the waves. After having observed such a scene, it was natural that I should think this Westerner, who stood so lightly clad in our midst, quite extraordinary." "As I watched, he turned his head to the side and spoke a few words to a Japanese, who happened to be bending down to pick up a small towel which he had dropped on the sand. The Japanese then tied the towel around his head, and immediately began to walk towards the sea. This man was Sensei." Reading up until this far, I feel the main character should be "I" the narrator, which most likely means the reader. - When I think about it, the dull feelings I had from this book in my teenage days might have been a process to recognize I was one in-dividual. If you replace this "self" with "your own country" or "nation", that would explain why many people (including myself) have a desire to mention different countries.
僕はその朝、目を覚ますが早いか滞在するホテルを出て、市街地の往来をはた目に、ミシガンの田舎の風景目がけてジョギングを開始したのであった。
僕の目に映ったものはいかにも亜米利加<<アメリカ>>らしい風物詩であった。辺りを支配するものは、たとい食料品店（グローサリ・ストーア）の中であれ、役所の待合であれ、保守的で善良に見える田舎者たちの佇まいに他ならなかった。
