What is important in your life?
Recently I read an article in the Japan Times about 11 Japanese who refuse to leave their homes in the evacuation zones around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
One man in his 50s said that he wants to live in his hometown for a shorter time instead of living in an unfamiliar place for decades. Electricity and tap water are not available in his home anymore. He lives with two other men who are seriously ill. I read a similar article of a man who decided to go home after he lived in a shelter with so many other people. He couldn’t take it anymore.
It has been a little over 10 months since Japan got hit by the huge earthquake and tsunami, and Japan continues to struggle. I have read many articles about what life is like in a shelter, how people lost their loved ones, and so on. I couldn’t read them without having tears in my eyes, especially right after the disaster.
I remember a mother was describing how difficult it was to take care of her baby and child in a shelter. There were not enough diapers and wipes in addition to many other things. When her child spilt food, all they could was just to wait for it to dry. She couldn’t change her baby’s diapers often and she didn’t have enough wipes to clean her baby’s bottom, which caused severe diaper rash to the point that the baby’s bottom was bleeding. You know how much even regular diaper rash could bother a baby. People still live in shelters and their life must be beyond what we can imagine.
Many old people in Japan wish to live out their lives in their own homes instead of a senior citizens’ home. In Japan, which has a low birthrate, taking care of old people is one of the challenges that the nation is facing. So I totally understand how those 11 people, who are senior citizens, feel about staying in their own homes.
Also, it’s very difficult for Japanese to live if they lose pride in their lives. I am sure it’s different now, but some samurai or warriors killed themselves because they lost a war. There is a good example from the opera “Madame Butterfly,” too. When Madame Butterfly found out that her husband, Mr Pinkerton, had a wife in the U.S., she was insulted and killed herself.
I am not saying that people who live in shelters don’t have pride in their lives. It’s not my point at all. For the Japanese, just living is not living.
So here is a question. Would you like to continue to live in a shelter without knowing when your life might get back to normal Or, would you like to live in your home which has all your memories and where you can be yourself for a shorter time, even if it is located within the evacuation zone?
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25 Comments
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5
whiskeysour
Yes it's a tragedy ! ! ! But usually old people who lived all there life, plus they are japanese they can't let go over their ancestral land (land rights). Another boring news article by makoto They ( senior citizens ) don't want to give it up. Would you Makoto ? Would you ask your father to give up his home, land and property rights ?
" One man in his 50s " it's hard for someone to start over, or deal with a new city. It's hard for that person.
**About the diaper story **-
The most important question to ask is - what happened to all the donations and charities ??????
Why can't this mother be located with her family so that she will get the right support. (from donations)
THAT IS THE NUMBER 1 QUESTION TO ASK.
4
whiskeysour
What happened to all the donations ?
What happened ?
Makoto i think you should go over there and donate your time to these people. I think you should step it up and deliver diapers and baby powder to the baby's mom.
8
Friendly Cove
For a start, the piece does not address anything more than a stab at the concept of pride. I think the author needs to realize that humans all share common feelings.
She mentions that the the Japanese just living is not living and something about pride. Did she mean dignity?
If those things are so important, why has the help from the government been so dismal?
Apparently those things are not more important than profit and saving face/ protecting one's position.
For someone who has read a lot of articles as the author states, the end question of the piece oversimplifies the scope of the issues facing those people.
What about other things? To name a few: grief, anger, depression..
I think the author needs to stop over-generalizing things as "Japanese are like this and that."
She still does this despite being removed from Japan for who knows how many years. Shows how strong the concept is a part of her whether she realizes or not.
My comments are not intended to slander the author. Just my thoughts over reading her pieces since they appeared on JT. Thought I would finally comment. Carry on.
15
choiwaruoyaji
This is not true... just look at the millions of salarymen... worked like slaves day in and day out, with no free time except for eating and sleeping...
They are "just living" and their lives are accepted as normal by themselves and everybody else in Japan.
That's the problem with these 'for the Japanese' or 'we Japanese' type comments... they almost never stand up under close scrutiny...
2
cubic
Well, these people who are refusing to move are just afraid of change. Like a lot of old folk that live in the countryside in ANY country. If it was me, I would obviously not want to risk my life and get the hell out of there. Then again, that would be the logical solution so that probably wouldn't work in Japan.
3
tmarie
Home is where the heart is and where you make it. I don't get this whole "this is my hometown" notions and thinking it is more important that their health and family.
What is important to me? Family. Health. Happiness. Friends. That is it. Money, hometown, jobs, flashy goods meaning little to nothing to me. Shame others don't feel the same.
2
Elvensilvan
Personally, I have mixed feelings about the article.
About the elderly who would rather go back to his hometown for a shorter time instead of living in an unfamiliar place for decades, it shows just how stubborn old people can be.
In my previous company, we were making software system migration from UNIX to Windows. Of course, there would be interface changes, as well as controls. We would consult the supervisors' approvals for all sorts of stuff, from how the new program would look, and where to put the new controls. After development and testing phases, we would now distribute the user guides. Some of the old timers would say that they would rather use the old system because they're used to it.
Lesson is, times change. People and the environment changes. Should we walk up and take on the challenge, or would we just sit back and pretend nothing's happening?
-1
cleo
I agree. I understand that people don't like change, especially change that is imposed upon them; but there are times when change has to be accepted because things simply aren't the same any more. Nothing stands still for ever.
Yes.
So his home is no longer the familiar comfortable place it used to be. And he doesn't understand that if you live in a place 'for decades' it tends to become familiar?
-1
tmarie
Indeed stubborn. These people 'can't go home" again. Their homes, community... are gone. Why is tax money being spent on rebuilding an area that was dying in the first place and will never be like it was? Move to safe location and start over. It is 'hard" (I'm in an area I really don't enjoy for my husband) but when it comes to it, you make it what it is.
1
zichi
I don't understand why anyone would expect the survivors in the earthquake and tsunami disaster areas to leave those areas which for many families has been their place for hundreds of years.
In America why do people continue to live in tornado alley or Florida, which is where my mother lives or the Gulf Coast which are frequently pounded by powerful hurricanes. My mother lived in Florida when it was struck by hurricane Andrew in 1992, which wiped out a very large part of Southern Florida. The people rebuilt.
What's important in my life?
Good health and time.
0
tmarie
I don't understand why anyone would expect the survivors in the earthquake and tsunami disaster areas to leave those areas which for many families has been their place for hundreds of years. Because they areas are inhabitable? Because the areas were dying anyway? Because tax money could be better spent at creating larger communities than a few middle of no where places full of old people with no income and nothing to prop up the area?
2
Sarcasm321
" For the Japanese, just living is not living."
Would the author care to point out any people who this does not apply to?
-4
Blair Herron
If I'm allowed to generalize things,
for men: home=land
for women: home=house
3
MaboDofuIsSpicy
Oxygen and clean air and water. Got to start with the basics and then move on.
3
MaboDofuIsSpicy
Zichi, my parents are down there too. Lost the screens around the pool 3 times so have given up.
But not giving up on Florida nor life.
Our victims up North should rebuild, but on high ground and collectively and not in radiated zones.
-2
Ben_Jackinoff
The not living?
6
tkoind2
I find it frustrating how confused Japanese sometimes seem over their own cultural legacies.
Example 1: Taro will go to work with raging Influenza Type B to show he is "Gamman-shite" and thus a good Japanese person facing adversity. Despite the obvious imposition of adversity via contagion on his co-workers and the obvious risks to his own health.
Example 2: This author suggests that living in a shelter is not living and cites the traditions of suicide as a past solution for such feelings. While not suggesting that people in shelters do away with themselves, she ignores the strident Japanese tradition in Example 1 of facing and working to overcome adversity. Which in example 1 is not only a way of living but an honorable and proud one by existing present day standards.
So which is it Japan? Loose face or pride or hope and do away with yourself? Or face any adversity with Gamman and demonstrate Japanese superiority in the face of trouble?
My answers are these. People should be up in arms over the government's pathetic handling of Tohoku and use Gamman to overcome this kind of adversity rather than working while infectious. It would be better for everyone concerned and may actually contribute something meaningful to the nation.
Second, this notion of suicide as an alternative to challenges should be dismissed if we are ever to hope that the 30K plus people a year who do away with themselves may be diminished.
Finally, get your story straight Japan. So I offer a proposal. How about real Gamman and work hard to do something positive, non-selfdestructive and make Japan great again? Much better than silly nonsense about how romantic it is to kill yourself off. And perhaps the only change Japan really needs to sort her problems is adopting this simple motto.
0
Blair Herron
hahaha, I got 4 (or more later on) thumbs down. I was thinking of "Little house on the Prairie" when I posted it.
Pa looked happy when he got the land. Ma looked happy when she got a window glass and a kitchen sink. That's my generalization 200 years ago. Doesn't apply to this thread for sure. m(_ _)m gomennachai...
-6
Speed
I don't think one should be too hard on this author. She's justing posting a question of whether you'd go back home or go to a shelter/new place.
Meanwhile citing some examples of the hardships of being in a shelter or moving on to a new place shouldn't invite comments such as, "another boring news article," or "why don't you go up there and help?".
5
tkoind2
Speed. I for one have been to Tohoku to help and have run a fund raising effort since March. So careful with your assumptions. Many people on this forum have pitched in and do care deeply about the people of Tohoku.
As for this article.
There are strong elements in the author's thinking that are a big part of the problem with Tohoku. Her thoughts clearly illustrate the need for people to channel their despair into action that may well lead to positive changes. Considering suicide as an option or going back to die in a deserted irradiated place, while dramatic and sad, is not rational thinking. Rational thinking is doing what many people in Tohoku are doing today, and that is surviving and working for the future. So I stand by less pointless Gamman and no more nonsense about death being a preference to change or hardship.
It is time for people to discover true Gamman which is to stand up, fight for what you know you need and what is right and make change happen. Japan has an equally long and recorded history of doing exactly this in time of need. Otherwise Japan would never have risen to the levels it has in such powerful and effective bursts of true endurance, activism and creativity.
If you
2
Ayler
I'm pretty sure it's different now too. Madam butterfly analogy? ....
4
gogogo
choiwaruoyaji raises the best points. The author thinks everything she thinks is what all Japanese think. Simply not true.
3
calm down
choiwaruoyaji raises the best points.
I think tmarie's 1st post does (for me as an expat.)
0
LH10
JAPAN, Alcohol, cheap freaken housing so expensive here in van.-_-# and money xD
-3
Nippon Nation
I took umbrage at Makoto's comment instantly when I read the above quote. Makoto. It is very difficult for you to live when you lose pride in your life. Don't try to pin that stereotype on the rest of the Japanese who have overcome worse situation than this. Maybe the weak and the decadent take the easy road.
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