"English and me" by Akio Kobayashi
Preface
I have been studying English for five years. But this is incorrect.
From a Junior high school, in Japan we study English for 10 years.
To be more precise with myself, I had been to an English school for kids for about a year when I was an elementary school student.
So, the total year is 16. It's a very long time.
But, all I can remember from the elementary school days is to sing ABC song.
So, that one year shouldn't be added on my English study career.
The ten years from the Junior high school to an University were almost for tests.
I used English to solve the questions about English. But, I had not used it for communication.
Thus, it is not wrong to say "I have been studying English for five years."
These five years are at Aeon. This is longer than my University days.
If anybody asks me which school I went to, "Aeon" may be a valid answer for me.
Through the English study, my thinking has widened and I have good experiences.
It gives me nice influences to communicate with others in English.
But there is a thing of wonder.
My interest is not strongly directed towards English-speaking countries.
In fact, I had never been to English-speaking countries in my life.
I had only been to Chinese-speaking country; China. But, even China visit was short.
Some students at Aeon are motivated to go abroad.
In my case, I don't have such a motivation. This is mysterious.
This doesn't mean that I am not interested in other countries. Now I am more sensitive to other countries’ culture and the relationship of other countries with Japan, than before.
Following my thinking, I start to write with China.
11/23/2007
Chapter one: China and me
Chapter one: China and me
My first visit to China was in 2001 summer. My old Aeon teacher moved to Shanghai and he invited me there. It was my first experience to go abroad.
I have had no idea about foreign trips. At first I had to get my passport. I had known that I needed a kind of license card, to go out of Japan. But I didn't know the difference of meaning between a passport and a visa. And, at that time we needed a visa to go to China. Moreover, I didn't know that I had to buy a flight ticket in addition to the passport.
When I get on a train, I buy only a ticket. But, I had to think about a triangle of passport, visa and flight ticket on the China trip. I was very confused and thought that this system was very inconvenient.
It was lucky that Aeon staff Ms.Y had worked for a travel company before.
She was kind to arrange my flight. The complexity above was solved automatically.
Before going to China, I had bought a guide book. But I didn't read that book so much. Because I didn't like to get together much information about the place I would go to. We shouldn't lose the surprises in a trip. So, I can't understand why so many tour guide books are published. And for same reason, I don't like maps. One of my least favorite corners in a book store is guide book and map corner. They are very boring. Mathematics book corner is less boring for me than them.
I compared China with Japan for 7 days during my stay. Some points were same. Some points were different. But the differences were not big. In Shanghai, people's life in 2001 were already Westernised and Japanised to some extent. They had McDonald, KFC, Sturbucks, Yoshinoya, convenience stores, TV game shops and so on. I didn't feel any inconvenience there. And their original life style and mentality were same as Japanese. They didn't wear shoes in a room. They ate rice and vegetable very much. They were shy but kind to a stranger. When they felt confused, they tended to smile.
I have never been to Korea. But maybe their life style and mentality are same like Chinese and Japanese. We have the same roots. Then, we can be easily combined.
The countries in East Asia can be closer.
However, there is a well-known difficult problem among us.
My first visit to China was in 2001 summer. My old Aeon teacher moved to Shanghai and he invited me there. It was my first experience to go abroad.
I have had no idea about foreign trips. At first I had to get my passport. I had known that I needed a kind of license card, to go out of Japan. But I didn't know the difference of meaning between a passport and a visa. And, at that time we needed a visa to go to China. Moreover, I didn't know that I had to buy a flight ticket in addition to the passport.
When I get on a train, I buy only a ticket. But, I had to think about a triangle of passport, visa and flight ticket on the China trip. I was very confused and thought that this system was very inconvenient.
It was lucky that Aeon staff Ms.Y had worked for a travel company before.
She was kind to arrange my flight. The complexity above was solved automatically.
Before going to China, I had bought a guide book. But I didn't read that book so much. Because I didn't like to get together much information about the place I would go to. We shouldn't lose the surprises in a trip. So, I can't understand why so many tour guide books are published. And for same reason, I don't like maps. One of my least favorite corners in a book store is guide book and map corner. They are very boring. Mathematics book corner is less boring for me than them.
I compared China with Japan for 7 days during my stay. Some points were same. Some points were different. But the differences were not big. In Shanghai, people's life in 2001 were already Westernised and Japanised to some extent. They had McDonald, KFC, Sturbucks, Yoshinoya, convenience stores, TV game shops and so on. I didn't feel any inconvenience there. And their original life style and mentality were same as Japanese. They didn't wear shoes in a room. They ate rice and vegetable very much. They were shy but kind to a stranger. When they felt confused, they tended to smile.
I have never been to Korea. But maybe their life style and mentality are same like Chinese and Japanese. We have the same roots. Then, we can be easily combined.
The countries in East Asia can be closer.
However, there is a well-known difficult problem among us.
Chapter two: East Asia and me
Chapter two: East Asia and me
The difficult problem between Japan and East Asian countries, especially China and Korea, is well known. It's the problem about perception of history.
Although the economical relationship between East Asian countries are becoming closer, the perception of history sometimes has a strong barrier. I think this situation is a miserable.
My interest in Asia was not strong before.
My old Aeon teacher happened to go to China and invite me there. After that, I started to think about Asia and Japan seriously.
Some Japanese think that Japan was not bad in the World War II.
I disagree with this opinion. However, it is understandable that Japanese bad would be softened when we think about the world situation at the time of war. Western countries had already invaded Asia. Japan was also their target. But Japan tried to get her own power after facing Western power. And Japan became their rival. If Japan had been still weak, it would have been invaded by Western countries.
This might be a good excuse for some Japanese.
But my opinion is different.
We became a competitor against Western countries. But we could be a protestant together with other Asian countries. I think Japan at that time chose her way wrongly.
It is difficult to interpret history.
Most Chinese people, most Korean people and most Japanese people think we have a barrier, to understand each other. The barrier is mostly related to the perception of history.
This problem is very deep, but on the other hand we could be optimistic.
Because nobody thinks there is another problem except for the historical perception.
In other words, if we can solve this only one problem, we can be combined easily and smoothly.
Actually our life style in East Asia is similar.
Recently a textbook of history was published.
The textbook was edited by Chinese, Korean and Japanese scholars, together.
It aims at breaking the narrow Nationalistic perspective of history.
I've never read the book but I think the aim of the book is the right one. We can carry on after solving this only one problem.
Some Economists think East Asia should be one community. I agree with it.
East Asian countries can make a community like EU in the future.
I know EU has many internal problems. The integration of economy created unemployment and low economical growth for some countries. It often causes strong political reaction.
Watching such a phenomenon, some people oppose merging of Japan with other countries. However, Japan can not escape from merging with other countries. The reason is her aged society and decreasing population.
I think Japan is one of the sexually open countries. But now people don’t make babies. On the other hand, people’s life span is still long. Consequently old people are increasing.
Who is going to support the old generation? This is the biggest problem in Japan.
In some years, Japanese population is going to decrease. It will be a chance for foreigners to come to Japan. The high housing cost now will get lower because the demand for houses will decrease.
I expect that many foreigners come to live in Japan and become a social power.
Considering the regional closeness, it’s easy for South Asian people to come.
Now Japanese have to think about this situation and make a good social infrastructure.
If Japanese mind is not open to new comers, East Asians will make small communities in Japan naturally. This is a bad scenario.
* * * * *
I know that it is not easy to mix different people and different cultures.
I had gone drinking with a Korean student at Aeon once. That person was strange. He had worked in Japan as an engineer for some years. His Japanese was very fluent and good. He knew about Japan very much.
When we started to drink with some teachers and students, he was very polite.
After finishing the first drink, I invited him to another bar.
In every drink, I want a second stage.
In the bar, his character has changed a little, may be due to alcohol, but he was getting aggressive and critical to Japan. His tone of talk had the looking down of Japanese.
I am not a lawyer for Japan. I didn't have to defend Japan at that time, and anytime. But I have to correct what I think is incorrect anytime, and I had to do at that time. That’s why he might have thought I defended Japan. Our argument began to heat up.
I have forgotten almost all of what we discussed there. The discussion might not have been interesting.
But I remember one thing.
He told me that he didn't want to stay in Japan, and would go to America in the future. It was his dream.
He had a long experience in Japan then. And he was good at Japanese. It was better than English. And he even had Japanese friends and colleagues. But he was not interested in Japan as a stage of life.
This was quite a thing to think about deeply.
I don't think this is only his case.
Maybe we are failing to construct real friendship with non-Japanese.
Now Japanese universities are getting many young foreign students.
The number is already over 100 thousands.
This is a good chance for both Japanese and foreigners, to communicate with and understand each other. And I think now they are enjoying together in campuses. But not many foreign students can stay in Japan after graduating.
Because, it is difficult for them to find a job here.
We are losing easily the people who are familiar with Japan.
Even though they are the best supporters for Japan.
What should we do?
My thinking about the ultimate solution is to break the barrier of some Asian countries and to mix them.
I think this idea is more acceptable for Japanese than for other Asians.
Because now Japanese people prefer Individualism to Nationalism.
Chinese and Korean may think that the nationalism in Japan is getting bigger.
Yasukuni Shrine problem looks like the symbol. But, politician's performance is not related to people's mentality. Most people are interested in personal things, not in history or nation; in short, public things.
So, I think the mixture of countries is possible.
But also, I know that things can proceed step by step.
Before destroying something, we have to construct a “New Road.”
The difficult problem between Japan and East Asian countries, especially China and Korea, is well known. It's the problem about perception of history.
Although the economical relationship between East Asian countries are becoming closer, the perception of history sometimes has a strong barrier. I think this situation is a miserable.
My interest in Asia was not strong before.
My old Aeon teacher happened to go to China and invite me there. After that, I started to think about Asia and Japan seriously.
Some Japanese think that Japan was not bad in the World War II.
I disagree with this opinion. However, it is understandable that Japanese bad would be softened when we think about the world situation at the time of war. Western countries had already invaded Asia. Japan was also their target. But Japan tried to get her own power after facing Western power. And Japan became their rival. If Japan had been still weak, it would have been invaded by Western countries.
This might be a good excuse for some Japanese.
But my opinion is different.
We became a competitor against Western countries. But we could be a protestant together with other Asian countries. I think Japan at that time chose her way wrongly.
It is difficult to interpret history.
Most Chinese people, most Korean people and most Japanese people think we have a barrier, to understand each other. The barrier is mostly related to the perception of history.
This problem is very deep, but on the other hand we could be optimistic.
Because nobody thinks there is another problem except for the historical perception.
In other words, if we can solve this only one problem, we can be combined easily and smoothly.
Actually our life style in East Asia is similar.
Recently a textbook of history was published.
The textbook was edited by Chinese, Korean and Japanese scholars, together.
It aims at breaking the narrow Nationalistic perspective of history.
I've never read the book but I think the aim of the book is the right one. We can carry on after solving this only one problem.
Some Economists think East Asia should be one community. I agree with it.
East Asian countries can make a community like EU in the future.
I know EU has many internal problems. The integration of economy created unemployment and low economical growth for some countries. It often causes strong political reaction.
Watching such a phenomenon, some people oppose merging of Japan with other countries. However, Japan can not escape from merging with other countries. The reason is her aged society and decreasing population.
I think Japan is one of the sexually open countries. But now people don’t make babies. On the other hand, people’s life span is still long. Consequently old people are increasing.
Who is going to support the old generation? This is the biggest problem in Japan.
In some years, Japanese population is going to decrease. It will be a chance for foreigners to come to Japan. The high housing cost now will get lower because the demand for houses will decrease.
I expect that many foreigners come to live in Japan and become a social power.
Considering the regional closeness, it’s easy for South Asian people to come.
Now Japanese have to think about this situation and make a good social infrastructure.
If Japanese mind is not open to new comers, East Asians will make small communities in Japan naturally. This is a bad scenario.
* * * * *
I know that it is not easy to mix different people and different cultures.
I had gone drinking with a Korean student at Aeon once. That person was strange. He had worked in Japan as an engineer for some years. His Japanese was very fluent and good. He knew about Japan very much.
When we started to drink with some teachers and students, he was very polite.
After finishing the first drink, I invited him to another bar.
In every drink, I want a second stage.
In the bar, his character has changed a little, may be due to alcohol, but he was getting aggressive and critical to Japan. His tone of talk had the looking down of Japanese.
I am not a lawyer for Japan. I didn't have to defend Japan at that time, and anytime. But I have to correct what I think is incorrect anytime, and I had to do at that time. That’s why he might have thought I defended Japan. Our argument began to heat up.
I have forgotten almost all of what we discussed there. The discussion might not have been interesting.
But I remember one thing.
He told me that he didn't want to stay in Japan, and would go to America in the future. It was his dream.
He had a long experience in Japan then. And he was good at Japanese. It was better than English. And he even had Japanese friends and colleagues. But he was not interested in Japan as a stage of life.
This was quite a thing to think about deeply.
I don't think this is only his case.
Maybe we are failing to construct real friendship with non-Japanese.
Now Japanese universities are getting many young foreign students.
The number is already over 100 thousands.
This is a good chance for both Japanese and foreigners, to communicate with and understand each other. And I think now they are enjoying together in campuses. But not many foreign students can stay in Japan after graduating.
Because, it is difficult for them to find a job here.
We are losing easily the people who are familiar with Japan.
Even though they are the best supporters for Japan.
What should we do?
My thinking about the ultimate solution is to break the barrier of some Asian countries and to mix them.
I think this idea is more acceptable for Japanese than for other Asians.
Because now Japanese people prefer Individualism to Nationalism.
Chinese and Korean may think that the nationalism in Japan is getting bigger.
Yasukuni Shrine problem looks like the symbol. But, politician's performance is not related to people's mentality. Most people are interested in personal things, not in history or nation; in short, public things.
So, I think the mixture of countries is possible.
But also, I know that things can proceed step by step.
Before destroying something, we have to construct a “New Road.”
Chapter three: Japan and me
Chapter three: Japan and me
In this chapter, I will write about the social future design of Japan.
My general idea is to open this country to foreigners. The most important thing is that foreigners couldn’t stay here for a long time.
Though misunderstanding might occur when I say this, but I don't need any more of the short stay foreigners. Generally speaking, the people who stay for a short time can not give anything to the society. And sometimes worse, they only get rid of the wealth of the society.
Many International companies and banks (including many Japanese companies and banks) are moving to Asia, but when the financial crisis in Asia happened in 1997, they escaped from Asia easily. It was a rational behavior. But it made the crisis worse.
We should learn from this.
Any society needs the long time supporters.
Now many foreigners go to China for business or for fun. Because China is the most attractive country in the world now. But I don't think most foreigners stay there for a long time. They will leave there soon when they are satisfied with the days of rapid developing society.
The foreigner who can stay in another country for a long time or forever must need three things. House, Job and a Partner.
The first and the second will not be a problem. It is an advantage that Japan is becoming an aged society. Now Japanese birth rate is around 1 point. It means that two parents make a child.
Someday the child will get married with another child made by other two parents. Therefore it becomes to mean that two families make one family.
If a family still owns a house, another house will not be used. So, the unused house can be opened to foreigners.
Next, I will talk about the jobs for foreign people or immigrants.
Immigrants often steal jobs from natives. Therefore it tends to become a difficult social problem. Some people think the immigrants should get away from their country. They sometimes insist on it violently.
But I don't think such a movement will happen in Japan in the future even if many immigrants come to Japan. Because, as I said above, the population of Japanese are decreasing now. And, Japan is becoming an aged society rapidly. Many Japanese will retire, but only a few Japanese will start to work.
So, there are a lot of seats left for work in Japanese companies. New comers from foreign countries can easily sit down the seats.
Then, I think the immigrant problem will be weaker in Japan than in other countries. The rapid aged society is our advantage.
Houses and Jobs are the matter of single-generation.
But we have to think about multi-generation's matter too.
Some Japanese still believe that Japanese are the single race. It is understandable because we all are very similar. But in fact, Japanese have a variety.
However, I think that we should get more varieties, as a race, in the future.
My final goal is to mix Japan with other Asian countries.
This has some levels; an economical level, law level, cultural level, knowledge level and so on. But, I think the mentality of race can always be an abstraction for these levels.
So, we have to encourage an international marriage in order to erase such a useless mentality.
Many people might think that marriage is a private thing. I think it's not true. Marriage is also a public thing. The rule, culture and policy of marriage makes our social design.
In other wards, when we think what kind of society we want to make, we have to think about the marriage system.
Japanese government can have a numerical goal of international marriage policy.
For example ten thousands of couples per year. This is a very progressive policy. Maybe no other countries have such a policy in the world. If so, Japan should be the first one. I would respect my country very much, in that case.
Of course, I know this kind of policy is not easy.
Because Japanese are conservative.
I know a few cases of international marriage of my friends. I know both a successful case and an unsuccessful case. Only for the cases I know, Japanese parents don't permit their sons or daughters to get married with foreigners, in the first place. I think it is not related to the foreigner's race. They just hope their son or daughter to be "normal".
My successful friend became Japanese. He tried to understand Japanese culture and language very much. He tried to eat Japanese food and to drink Japanese sake, with his wife's family. His looking is not Japanese, but his mentality came close to Japanese.
At last, his wife's family understood him. Now he enjoys his life with Japanese wife.
His approach to her family was step by step. I think this step by step approach is very annoying for English-speaking people, especially for American.
One of my American friends hated such an approach, and gave up to get married with Japanese. (Now he got a Chinese wife.)
Although Japan has been a progressed country, Japanese fail to throw away the Island country spirit. Island country spirit means the mentality of people being afraid of strangers, and being a stranger.
My conclusion at this point is that Japan has to have a kind of revolution.
My concrete idea is to IMPORT foreigners.
Japanese government should lead this idea more.
I have written my ground vision until this chapter. From next chapter, I will focus on what I should do or can do.
At first, I will write about my job and the publishing world.
In this chapter, I will write about the social future design of Japan.
My general idea is to open this country to foreigners. The most important thing is that foreigners couldn’t stay here for a long time.
Though misunderstanding might occur when I say this, but I don't need any more of the short stay foreigners. Generally speaking, the people who stay for a short time can not give anything to the society. And sometimes worse, they only get rid of the wealth of the society.
Many International companies and banks (including many Japanese companies and banks) are moving to Asia, but when the financial crisis in Asia happened in 1997, they escaped from Asia easily. It was a rational behavior. But it made the crisis worse.
We should learn from this.
Any society needs the long time supporters.
Now many foreigners go to China for business or for fun. Because China is the most attractive country in the world now. But I don't think most foreigners stay there for a long time. They will leave there soon when they are satisfied with the days of rapid developing society.
The foreigner who can stay in another country for a long time or forever must need three things. House, Job and a Partner.
The first and the second will not be a problem. It is an advantage that Japan is becoming an aged society. Now Japanese birth rate is around 1 point. It means that two parents make a child.
Someday the child will get married with another child made by other two parents. Therefore it becomes to mean that two families make one family.
If a family still owns a house, another house will not be used. So, the unused house can be opened to foreigners.
Next, I will talk about the jobs for foreign people or immigrants.
Immigrants often steal jobs from natives. Therefore it tends to become a difficult social problem. Some people think the immigrants should get away from their country. They sometimes insist on it violently.
But I don't think such a movement will happen in Japan in the future even if many immigrants come to Japan. Because, as I said above, the population of Japanese are decreasing now. And, Japan is becoming an aged society rapidly. Many Japanese will retire, but only a few Japanese will start to work.
So, there are a lot of seats left for work in Japanese companies. New comers from foreign countries can easily sit down the seats.
Then, I think the immigrant problem will be weaker in Japan than in other countries. The rapid aged society is our advantage.
Houses and Jobs are the matter of single-generation.
But we have to think about multi-generation's matter too.
Some Japanese still believe that Japanese are the single race. It is understandable because we all are very similar. But in fact, Japanese have a variety.
However, I think that we should get more varieties, as a race, in the future.
My final goal is to mix Japan with other Asian countries.
This has some levels; an economical level, law level, cultural level, knowledge level and so on. But, I think the mentality of race can always be an abstraction for these levels.
So, we have to encourage an international marriage in order to erase such a useless mentality.
Many people might think that marriage is a private thing. I think it's not true. Marriage is also a public thing. The rule, culture and policy of marriage makes our social design.
In other wards, when we think what kind of society we want to make, we have to think about the marriage system.
Japanese government can have a numerical goal of international marriage policy.
For example ten thousands of couples per year. This is a very progressive policy. Maybe no other countries have such a policy in the world. If so, Japan should be the first one. I would respect my country very much, in that case.
Of course, I know this kind of policy is not easy.
Because Japanese are conservative.
I know a few cases of international marriage of my friends. I know both a successful case and an unsuccessful case. Only for the cases I know, Japanese parents don't permit their sons or daughters to get married with foreigners, in the first place. I think it is not related to the foreigner's race. They just hope their son or daughter to be "normal".
My successful friend became Japanese. He tried to understand Japanese culture and language very much. He tried to eat Japanese food and to drink Japanese sake, with his wife's family. His looking is not Japanese, but his mentality came close to Japanese.
At last, his wife's family understood him. Now he enjoys his life with Japanese wife.
His approach to her family was step by step. I think this step by step approach is very annoying for English-speaking people, especially for American.
One of my American friends hated such an approach, and gave up to get married with Japanese. (Now he got a Chinese wife.)
Although Japan has been a progressed country, Japanese fail to throw away the Island country spirit. Island country spirit means the mentality of people being afraid of strangers, and being a stranger.
My conclusion at this point is that Japan has to have a kind of revolution.
My concrete idea is to IMPORT foreigners.
Japanese government should lead this idea more.
I have written my ground vision until this chapter. From next chapter, I will focus on what I should do or can do.
At first, I will write about my job and the publishing world.
Chapter four: Publishing and me
Chapter four: Publishing and me
I have worked in a sales division of a book store company for nine years. When I started to work, I didn't think that I would work for this company for a long time. For most people, Book is what to read, not to sell. Actually, I didn't have any interest in this job at first. Still now, I am not sure that this job is the best one for me. But humans are designed to be flexible to the condition we are in. I could find the interesting point of my job.
Books treat knowledge. Therefore, I can keep in touch with a lot of knowledge in my job. Some knowledge are useful, but some are useless and boring. But we can learn something from even useless knowledge. It is meaningful to know that it is useless.
My customers are University professors, Company engineers, doctors, researchers, teachers, lawyers, librarians and so on. They have their own special knowledge. I can learn many things through my daily job. This is the best point of my job.
I can say that book sales is to circulate knowledge in a society. Any great knowledge can't be conveyed freely in our society. It has a price. Once it has a price, it is conveyed very smoothly, because many people try to sell and advertise it.
We can watch the top ten rankings of books in a newspaper or a magazine. The top one is often a religious book in Japan. Even religion has to sell what it wants to say. So, I think that book-sales is very important job.
I can sell any kinds of book; novels, magazines, school textbooks, comic books and so on. But it is not my mission to sell them. These books can be bought in many bookstores. My mission is to sell minor books. These books are difficult to sell. This is why a book salesman is needed.
But, I haven't heard that a book salesman exists in foreign countries. Everybody knows a car salesman, a house salesman or an insurance salesman. But when they hear of a book salesman, they say "What is it?" I can understand such a question. The job to sell minor books, is also minor.
I am going to explain the background of publishing world in Japan at first. There are about 20 thousands bookstores in Japan. It doesn't include convenience stores, which sells many magazines and comics. In fact, the company selling publications most is a convenience store company; Seven-Eleven. But we don't regard a convenience store as an authentic bookstore. So, I can say that bookstores are about 20 thousand.
This number is twice as much as that in America. When thinking that Japan is small, we can know that there are too many bookstores in Japan. I don't know the exact reason for so many bookstores, but anyway we have good circumstances to know and buy a book.
About 60 thousands of books a year are published in Japan. This number doesn't include magazines and journals. So, 200 new books are born everyday.
Nobody can read all publications now. In addition, the staffs in a bookstore can't even put all books on a book shelf. The space of shelves is limited. The bookstore has to select what should be displayed. Therefore, some books aren't even put in a bookstore even after publication. These kinds of books are regarded as minor books.
Moreover, foreign books are regarded as minor books too.
As we know, Japan is an internationally popular country now. And, we study not only English but also other languages in a school. But the market of foreign books is small. Therefore, selling foreign books become my job.
Why doesn’t Japanese read foreign books? The main reason is clearly, the problem of our foreign language level. But I think that we have another reason. We have very rich translation culture in Japan. Many important foreign books are translated to Japanese soon. So, Japanese readers don’t have to read foreign books which are difficult to read for them. If they wait for a while, they can read the same books in easy Japanese. I think that this culture is strongly related to the first main reason, the problem of our foreign language level.
Too many translated books don’t motivate us to study foreign languages.
For an interesting example, many University students study English literature as their major, but many can’t read English. They graduate without reading original books, but reading translated versions only.
Computer book is a genre of book which is translated to Japanese in the fastest way, because IT technology is changing rapidly. My friend (He is an IT engineer.) told me that the technology of half a year ago has already been old-fashioned in the world.
So, publishers have to translate the books very fast. This is why the foreign language level of Japanese IT engineers are not high, even though their intellectual level is basically high.
This translation culture in Japan is certainly easy for us. We can get much information and knowledge very smoothly. But the bad point is the negative influence in our language study, as I said above. And sometimes we suffer from wrong translation, or bad translation. Some translated books are more difficult to read and understand than the original one. So, we can see the same book translated again and again, in a book store.
* * * * *
Going back to the explanation of the background of publishing world in Japan, we have about 5 thousands publishers. I think this number is very big. Thinking about other industries, most of them don’t have 5 thousand maker companies.
Why are there so many publishing companies?
It is related to our right of free speech. To insure the right, we must have not only the freedom to write, but also the way to spread out publications. So establishing a publishing company is free in our Constitution. Although making a new company is regulated by many laws generally, publishing is not. Thus it is very easy to be an owner of a publishing company.
But in fact, most of 5 thousand companies are small. Employees of a company are under 10, sometimes even one.
I know some one-person publishers. They are the presidents of the company. In addition, they are salesmen, editors, telephone operators and sometimes even delivery drivers. They have to do everything, so they are very busy. But they don’t look tired.
They make books they like, and sell them. If their sales go well constantly, their job should not be stressful.
Their weak point is that they can’t make popular books, because it is difficult for them to compete with big publishers, which release a lot of popular books.
So, small publishers have to find a minor area where big companies don’t exist. But on the other hand, minor areas are difficult for business.
One of my partner publisher published a translated “Sharlock Homes” book recently. It is a reprint of the translation of about 100 years ago, when Japan was in Meiji period. It’s so maniac. I guess that the copyright fee of the original is almost zero. So, the publication is very easy.
But, who wants to read such an old translation of “Sharlock Homes”?
From my experience of book sales, this book is going to be out of print soon, unfortunately.
However, I can understand the significance of the old “Sharlock Homes” to some extent. We might be able to trace the history of Japanese translation culture from it. The book might help us to understand modern Japanese language more deeply, compared with old Japanese.
Thus, even though the book wouldn’t be sold so much, the publishing of it is meaningful. I can say that my job, is to find the supporter of minor books.
For minor books, the biggest supporter is a library.
Therefore my biggest customer is a library.
I have worked in a sales division of a book store company for nine years. When I started to work, I didn't think that I would work for this company for a long time. For most people, Book is what to read, not to sell. Actually, I didn't have any interest in this job at first. Still now, I am not sure that this job is the best one for me. But humans are designed to be flexible to the condition we are in. I could find the interesting point of my job.
Books treat knowledge. Therefore, I can keep in touch with a lot of knowledge in my job. Some knowledge are useful, but some are useless and boring. But we can learn something from even useless knowledge. It is meaningful to know that it is useless.
My customers are University professors, Company engineers, doctors, researchers, teachers, lawyers, librarians and so on. They have their own special knowledge. I can learn many things through my daily job. This is the best point of my job.
I can say that book sales is to circulate knowledge in a society. Any great knowledge can't be conveyed freely in our society. It has a price. Once it has a price, it is conveyed very smoothly, because many people try to sell and advertise it.
We can watch the top ten rankings of books in a newspaper or a magazine. The top one is often a religious book in Japan. Even religion has to sell what it wants to say. So, I think that book-sales is very important job.
I can sell any kinds of book; novels, magazines, school textbooks, comic books and so on. But it is not my mission to sell them. These books can be bought in many bookstores. My mission is to sell minor books. These books are difficult to sell. This is why a book salesman is needed.
But, I haven't heard that a book salesman exists in foreign countries. Everybody knows a car salesman, a house salesman or an insurance salesman. But when they hear of a book salesman, they say "What is it?" I can understand such a question. The job to sell minor books, is also minor.
I am going to explain the background of publishing world in Japan at first. There are about 20 thousands bookstores in Japan. It doesn't include convenience stores, which sells many magazines and comics. In fact, the company selling publications most is a convenience store company; Seven-Eleven. But we don't regard a convenience store as an authentic bookstore. So, I can say that bookstores are about 20 thousand.
This number is twice as much as that in America. When thinking that Japan is small, we can know that there are too many bookstores in Japan. I don't know the exact reason for so many bookstores, but anyway we have good circumstances to know and buy a book.
About 60 thousands of books a year are published in Japan. This number doesn't include magazines and journals. So, 200 new books are born everyday.
Nobody can read all publications now. In addition, the staffs in a bookstore can't even put all books on a book shelf. The space of shelves is limited. The bookstore has to select what should be displayed. Therefore, some books aren't even put in a bookstore even after publication. These kinds of books are regarded as minor books.
Moreover, foreign books are regarded as minor books too.
As we know, Japan is an internationally popular country now. And, we study not only English but also other languages in a school. But the market of foreign books is small. Therefore, selling foreign books become my job.
Why doesn’t Japanese read foreign books? The main reason is clearly, the problem of our foreign language level. But I think that we have another reason. We have very rich translation culture in Japan. Many important foreign books are translated to Japanese soon. So, Japanese readers don’t have to read foreign books which are difficult to read for them. If they wait for a while, they can read the same books in easy Japanese. I think that this culture is strongly related to the first main reason, the problem of our foreign language level.
Too many translated books don’t motivate us to study foreign languages.
For an interesting example, many University students study English literature as their major, but many can’t read English. They graduate without reading original books, but reading translated versions only.
Computer book is a genre of book which is translated to Japanese in the fastest way, because IT technology is changing rapidly. My friend (He is an IT engineer.) told me that the technology of half a year ago has already been old-fashioned in the world.
So, publishers have to translate the books very fast. This is why the foreign language level of Japanese IT engineers are not high, even though their intellectual level is basically high.
This translation culture in Japan is certainly easy for us. We can get much information and knowledge very smoothly. But the bad point is the negative influence in our language study, as I said above. And sometimes we suffer from wrong translation, or bad translation. Some translated books are more difficult to read and understand than the original one. So, we can see the same book translated again and again, in a book store.
* * * * *
Going back to the explanation of the background of publishing world in Japan, we have about 5 thousands publishers. I think this number is very big. Thinking about other industries, most of them don’t have 5 thousand maker companies.
Why are there so many publishing companies?
It is related to our right of free speech. To insure the right, we must have not only the freedom to write, but also the way to spread out publications. So establishing a publishing company is free in our Constitution. Although making a new company is regulated by many laws generally, publishing is not. Thus it is very easy to be an owner of a publishing company.
But in fact, most of 5 thousand companies are small. Employees of a company are under 10, sometimes even one.
I know some one-person publishers. They are the presidents of the company. In addition, they are salesmen, editors, telephone operators and sometimes even delivery drivers. They have to do everything, so they are very busy. But they don’t look tired.
They make books they like, and sell them. If their sales go well constantly, their job should not be stressful.
Their weak point is that they can’t make popular books, because it is difficult for them to compete with big publishers, which release a lot of popular books.
So, small publishers have to find a minor area where big companies don’t exist. But on the other hand, minor areas are difficult for business.
One of my partner publisher published a translated “Sharlock Homes” book recently. It is a reprint of the translation of about 100 years ago, when Japan was in Meiji period. It’s so maniac. I guess that the copyright fee of the original is almost zero. So, the publication is very easy.
But, who wants to read such an old translation of “Sharlock Homes”?
From my experience of book sales, this book is going to be out of print soon, unfortunately.
However, I can understand the significance of the old “Sharlock Homes” to some extent. We might be able to trace the history of Japanese translation culture from it. The book might help us to understand modern Japanese language more deeply, compared with old Japanese.
Thus, even though the book wouldn’t be sold so much, the publishing of it is meaningful. I can say that my job, is to find the supporter of minor books.
For minor books, the biggest supporter is a library.
Therefore my biggest customer is a library.
Chapter five: Library and me
Chapter five: Library and me
In order to support the publishing of minor books, libraries are important customers and organizations. In fact, most books are published for libraries, not for individuals. This is why, I go to libraries everyday.
The orthodox function of libraries is to collect and preserve books.
They collect many genres of books systematically - to some extent -.
They have their own collection building policy, and choose which books to buy. So, publishers have to consider the policies of libraries.
Especially, most important libraries of all, are the University libraries, for minor books publishers. Because, the mission of University libraries is to collect academic books, which are always minor books.
After the World War II, University libraries in Japan had developed very much, corresponding to the growth of Japanese economy.
Two things can be pointed out. First, the number of universities and their libraries increased. Second, the budget of libraries increased.
And also, Japanese government encouraged libraries to buy many books, and gave them special grants.
Moreover, the existence of many regulations on Universities by the Ministry of Education, can not be ignored. Universities must reach the numerical goal of books they own, when a new school is built. Thus, the University libraries had to buy new books ,fitted to the scale.
The interesting point is that the government mainly weighed the quantitative goal, and didn’t care much for the quality of collected books.
The goal was not so hard and Universities could easily clear it. Their budgets were abundant by increasing income, which came from increasing number of students.
Especially in‘80s, strong Yen helped Japanese libraries collect many foreign books. For example, they bought a lot of antique foreign books.
Most famous book was the original of “Gutenberg Bible”, which was printed in about 1450. And, Keio University bought it for 800 billion yen!
I guess that it might be criticized by foreign countries, for Japanese libraries to buy a lot of rare books by the strong currency in those days.
Because many Japanese companies or individuals bought foreign lands, houses, buildings and so on at that time, mainly for investment, such deals were criticized strongly by foreigners.
Depending on the big budget and with the advantage of strong currency, the collection of Japanese Universities’ library became rich. However, the collection building had a problem.
We need specialists in a library, to collect books.
The specialists judge which books to get, or not. As I wrote above, a large number of books are published everyday, in the world.
Therefore, they must have a collection policy, based on their special knowledge.
However, Japanese librarian usually doesn’t have a collection building skill. Because, in Japanese university, it is a professor’s work, not a librarian’s work, to decide which books to buy.
Certainly professors are specialists in their own field, but they are not specialists for a library. Their knowledge is deep, but limited. Because the world of knowledge is larger than their field.
As the result, although librarians are not specialists for the written things in books, they can have the responsibility for the collection of books.
In western libraries, and maybe in other Asian libraries, librarians have an experience and knowledge to collect books, systematically and strategically.
But in Japan, it’s not enough.
When Japanese economy was going well, it was OK. Not now.
Because Japanese libraries have had an enough budget, they could collect almost everything, i.e. “Gutenberg Bible” etc. They didn’t have to choose books.
But, an economical situation in Japan has changed since ‘90s.
In the limited budget, libraries have to be selective in choosing books. However, as for the lack of the skills of choosing books, most libraries have not adjusted to the change of their situation.
* * * * *
I wrote about University library above. I think that it is facing a crisis and is on a turning point.
Other types of libraries are the same; School library and Public library.
School library means the library in a school, except for Universities.
Most of School libraries don’t have enough budget, and even librarians. Usually a teacher works in a library as a librarian. Of course, the job is not his or her main job, so it is difficult for students to get enough service there.
And the worse point is that, although School library is for the school, it is usually not related to the class in the school.
Teachers don’t use the library for their class. In other words, the library exists without the relation to the school’s education program. So, students come to the library for self-study or mainly for fun.
Of course, it is good to read a book in a library for their self-study or for their fun. But, when teachers don’t think seriously about a library for their educational use, nobody thinks the library should be richer.
Thus, actually, most of School libraries are poor in Japan.
Still now, many cities in Japan don’t have a public library, even though it is a very developed country. And the budget of public libraries is small, like School libraries.
Moreover, most of public libraries in Japan still can’t use Internet! So, IT skill of the librarians is very low. Now many publications are shifting from a paper version to an internet version: for example, dictionaries and newspapers. So, the luck of IT skill of librarians is fatal.
As I wrote above, librarian’s job has a specialty, originally. So, they can be respected as an information manager. But, Japanese doesn’t expect librarians so much. Our image of their job is always poor. We are thinking that their job is just to lend a book to a customer, sitting on a seat.
Our poor image of library does either help the budget problem, nor encourage librarians from growing up. On the other hand, their poor service doesn’t make us expect help from them. Therefore, the level of Japanese library is lower than other countries.
My job is to sell minor books. It needs high level customers who understand the importance or the utility of the books. So, now I am working to increase their level.
For example, recently a lot of libraries are outsourcing their service from private companies, including bookstore companies. So, I am making a collection-making plan for them, and arranging an opportunity to study high-level library service with IT.
Moreover, I organize a team of staffs to give customers many services directly. This is a very challenging job.
Of course, my contribution to Japanese library may be small and limited. And I am not certain of what kind of library is best for Japanese. But, I am sure that the people who have poor literacy can’t get along with different people in the world, so the best contribution I can give is to make Japanese libraries better.
In order to support the publishing of minor books, libraries are important customers and organizations. In fact, most books are published for libraries, not for individuals. This is why, I go to libraries everyday.
The orthodox function of libraries is to collect and preserve books.
They collect many genres of books systematically - to some extent -.
They have their own collection building policy, and choose which books to buy. So, publishers have to consider the policies of libraries.
Especially, most important libraries of all, are the University libraries, for minor books publishers. Because, the mission of University libraries is to collect academic books, which are always minor books.
After the World War II, University libraries in Japan had developed very much, corresponding to the growth of Japanese economy.
Two things can be pointed out. First, the number of universities and their libraries increased. Second, the budget of libraries increased.
And also, Japanese government encouraged libraries to buy many books, and gave them special grants.
Moreover, the existence of many regulations on Universities by the Ministry of Education, can not be ignored. Universities must reach the numerical goal of books they own, when a new school is built. Thus, the University libraries had to buy new books ,fitted to the scale.
The interesting point is that the government mainly weighed the quantitative goal, and didn’t care much for the quality of collected books.
The goal was not so hard and Universities could easily clear it. Their budgets were abundant by increasing income, which came from increasing number of students.
Especially in‘80s, strong Yen helped Japanese libraries collect many foreign books. For example, they bought a lot of antique foreign books.
Most famous book was the original of “Gutenberg Bible”, which was printed in about 1450. And, Keio University bought it for 800 billion yen!
I guess that it might be criticized by foreign countries, for Japanese libraries to buy a lot of rare books by the strong currency in those days.
Because many Japanese companies or individuals bought foreign lands, houses, buildings and so on at that time, mainly for investment, such deals were criticized strongly by foreigners.
Depending on the big budget and with the advantage of strong currency, the collection of Japanese Universities’ library became rich. However, the collection building had a problem.
We need specialists in a library, to collect books.
The specialists judge which books to get, or not. As I wrote above, a large number of books are published everyday, in the world.
Therefore, they must have a collection policy, based on their special knowledge.
However, Japanese librarian usually doesn’t have a collection building skill. Because, in Japanese university, it is a professor’s work, not a librarian’s work, to decide which books to buy.
Certainly professors are specialists in their own field, but they are not specialists for a library. Their knowledge is deep, but limited. Because the world of knowledge is larger than their field.
As the result, although librarians are not specialists for the written things in books, they can have the responsibility for the collection of books.
In western libraries, and maybe in other Asian libraries, librarians have an experience and knowledge to collect books, systematically and strategically.
But in Japan, it’s not enough.
When Japanese economy was going well, it was OK. Not now.
Because Japanese libraries have had an enough budget, they could collect almost everything, i.e. “Gutenberg Bible” etc. They didn’t have to choose books.
But, an economical situation in Japan has changed since ‘90s.
In the limited budget, libraries have to be selective in choosing books. However, as for the lack of the skills of choosing books, most libraries have not adjusted to the change of their situation.
* * * * *
I wrote about University library above. I think that it is facing a crisis and is on a turning point.
Other types of libraries are the same; School library and Public library.
School library means the library in a school, except for Universities.
Most of School libraries don’t have enough budget, and even librarians. Usually a teacher works in a library as a librarian. Of course, the job is not his or her main job, so it is difficult for students to get enough service there.
And the worse point is that, although School library is for the school, it is usually not related to the class in the school.
Teachers don’t use the library for their class. In other words, the library exists without the relation to the school’s education program. So, students come to the library for self-study or mainly for fun.
Of course, it is good to read a book in a library for their self-study or for their fun. But, when teachers don’t think seriously about a library for their educational use, nobody thinks the library should be richer.
Thus, actually, most of School libraries are poor in Japan.
Still now, many cities in Japan don’t have a public library, even though it is a very developed country. And the budget of public libraries is small, like School libraries.
Moreover, most of public libraries in Japan still can’t use Internet! So, IT skill of the librarians is very low. Now many publications are shifting from a paper version to an internet version: for example, dictionaries and newspapers. So, the luck of IT skill of librarians is fatal.
As I wrote above, librarian’s job has a specialty, originally. So, they can be respected as an information manager. But, Japanese doesn’t expect librarians so much. Our image of their job is always poor. We are thinking that their job is just to lend a book to a customer, sitting on a seat.
Our poor image of library does either help the budget problem, nor encourage librarians from growing up. On the other hand, their poor service doesn’t make us expect help from them. Therefore, the level of Japanese library is lower than other countries.
My job is to sell minor books. It needs high level customers who understand the importance or the utility of the books. So, now I am working to increase their level.
For example, recently a lot of libraries are outsourcing their service from private companies, including bookstore companies. So, I am making a collection-making plan for them, and arranging an opportunity to study high-level library service with IT.
Moreover, I organize a team of staffs to give customers many services directly. This is a very challenging job.
Of course, my contribution to Japanese library may be small and limited. And I am not certain of what kind of library is best for Japanese. But, I am sure that the people who have poor literacy can’t get along with different people in the world, so the best contribution I can give is to make Japanese libraries better.
Last Chapter: Communication and me
Last Chapter: Communication and me
I'm going to summarize my idea at this point.
For Japanese people, it is necessary to get along with different people in the world, especially Asian people, because Japan is a economically, socially and culturally matured country, and now she doesn't have the power of growth as before. In addition, the population in Japan is going to decrease. So, I think that we have to think about our immigrant policy seriously.
We have to have an attitude to understand different people more, in order to make the policy successful. As a book salesman, my possible contribution is to make Japanese libraries better. I think that it helps people get higher literacy, therefore we can understand different people more.
I am Japanese, that’s why now I am thinking about Japan and Japanese first.
But, of course, it is important in general for everyone to understand and work together with different people.
However, now, I have to ask me this. “Is it possible?”
After September 11th in 2001, we became pessimists. We know the importance of understanding of others, but the world is now filled with Terrorism and War. We can't find out the attitude to understand each other in the world. On the other hand, we can find easily the attitude to use violence to beat different people.
Although I hate and don't choose violence as the way to solve problems, I can, a little, understand Terrorism and War. (Safely, I add that I said not "accept" but "understand".)
We have different opinions, beliefs, viewpoints and policies. Sometimes the difference is very big. We sometimes think that it seems to be impossible to understand each other. But I think that the difference is from different information and knowledge, on which our thinking is based. Thus, if we can communicate with each other enough, we can share same information and knowledge. Then, our difference can be ignored or erased.
However, actually it is difficult to communicate with each other enough. Because we have to decide many things within a limited time. Our life time is short. We usually have to stop the dialogue with different people, before reaching a same viewpoint.
My point is that we can understand each other logically, but we can't communicate enough actually.
So, the people hurrying up to solve problems, can be violent.
I know that Democracy is the best way to reach an answer to many issues.
We can solve problems together in democratic rules, without using violence. I agree that Democracy should be spread out more in this world.
However, I don’t think that Democracy is perfect.
The reason is, as I said above, that we have to stop dialogue with the people with different opinion, before understanding each other.
Some time, Democracy is used as an excuse of suppressing minor opinions. Majority can call ”TIME OUT” when Minor is speaking, and can make a decision by the numerical power.
Democracy is not always patient.
We have to understand that some people are very skeptical about Democracy.
My question to myself is, that could we understand and get along with different people?
It is more difficult to understand others, than to get along with others.
So, it might be better for us to try to get an easier skill at first.
In fact, we can go well without understanding others.
The skill we have is to ignore each other. We might not be friendly to everyone. If so, it is wise to try not to keep in touch with the people we don’t like.
Hate can be amplified by Communication.
Or, I might be able to say that Hate is created by Communication.
I don’t think that American can be a friend of Arab by communication.
I don’t think that Palestinian people can enjoy to communicate with Israel people.
For them, keeping their distance for a while (maybe for about 100 years) could be better, to be friends someday.
But, there is a case when we can’t escape from the people we don’t like. Now most of countries are related to each other very much; economically and politically, on the government level and the private level.
In this case, we can’t choose the way to ignore each other.
As a Japanese proverb says, if we eat poison, we should eat even the plate with it. It means that we have to do anything fully after we have started it.
If we can’t escape from the communication with others, we have to communicate with them fully.
From now, I am going back to think about Japan-China and Japan-Korea relationship. What kind of communication is good for us?
These days, anti-China and anti-Korea books are sold very much in Japan.
The readers of such books were limited before, and ordinary people saw them as extreme. However, recently, Japanese began to prefer such books.
The feeling of hatred towards China and Korea is presented very directly and honestly in the books.
More is Net World. We can find many Japanese sites for giving dirty words to our neighbors.
It is obvious that this phenomenon is stimulated by anti-Japanese movement in China and the Korean president’s criticism of Japan.
The movement and the criticism were caused by Yasukuni shrine problem. But, Yasukini is just a trigger. The feeling of hatred towards Japan has been accumulated in the two countries for a long time.
Japanese look to catch up with the accumulation of hate now.
We are collecting a lot of “evidences” in history, to make a strong logic to defend Japan and attack “the lie” of Chinese and Korean.
It is generally right, to correct the wrong facts of history for the study.
But, we had better know that the motivation to defend or attack something is not needed for the study. For me, the Japanese preferring to this issue is too political or too emotional.
So are Chinese and Korean. Their perspective also looks far from a neutral position.
I think that our knowledge is limited about history. That’s why, for Japanese, it is easy to find out wrong facts about Japan from the Chinese and Korean’s opinion. We know about Japan-side well, but they don’t.
On the other hand, Japanese would have a lot of misunderstanding about Chinese and Korean history.
The important thing is to share each-side’s facts, than to attack others.
The problem among us is clear. Japanese, Chinese and Korean all are too much concentrated on making the opinion to beat each-side.
The solution is clear. We should give our attention to exchange and share our knowledge. We should communicate with each other more.
However, this solution is not easier than we think.
When I talk about the historical problem, I feel my unconscious tendency to try to defend Japan. I guess that Chinese and Korean have the same one.
Why do we have the tendency?
I think that the main reason is in our language.
Listening to Japanese idea, I can understand Japanese feeling TOO MUCH.
I can easily sympathize with it.
Although exchanging historical facts is easy, but sharing the feeling is difficult. So, our communication must not be led by an emotional factor.
My suggestion is this. When we communicate with different people, we shouldn’t use our mother language. It has a magical power. It discourages us to come close to the different way of thinking and feeling. It makes us attached to our familiar thinking. But, we have to know that too much understanding is as dangerous as no understanding.
For Japanese, Chinese and Korean, it is better to communicate with each other in English. I think that it can be the neutral zone for us. We know that it is a good way for hostile countries to meet in a third country. My idea is the language version of this way.
In the future, I want to make a publishing company in Asia. I will use English first for my publication. I don’t think that our difference will be erased even then. But, I can expect that we will make a new history of our communication. By this new experience, we could get over our differences.
This is the goal of my English study!
Fin.
I'm going to summarize my idea at this point.
For Japanese people, it is necessary to get along with different people in the world, especially Asian people, because Japan is a economically, socially and culturally matured country, and now she doesn't have the power of growth as before. In addition, the population in Japan is going to decrease. So, I think that we have to think about our immigrant policy seriously.
We have to have an attitude to understand different people more, in order to make the policy successful. As a book salesman, my possible contribution is to make Japanese libraries better. I think that it helps people get higher literacy, therefore we can understand different people more.
I am Japanese, that’s why now I am thinking about Japan and Japanese first.
But, of course, it is important in general for everyone to understand and work together with different people.
However, now, I have to ask me this. “Is it possible?”
After September 11th in 2001, we became pessimists. We know the importance of understanding of others, but the world is now filled with Terrorism and War. We can't find out the attitude to understand each other in the world. On the other hand, we can find easily the attitude to use violence to beat different people.
Although I hate and don't choose violence as the way to solve problems, I can, a little, understand Terrorism and War. (Safely, I add that I said not "accept" but "understand".)
We have different opinions, beliefs, viewpoints and policies. Sometimes the difference is very big. We sometimes think that it seems to be impossible to understand each other. But I think that the difference is from different information and knowledge, on which our thinking is based. Thus, if we can communicate with each other enough, we can share same information and knowledge. Then, our difference can be ignored or erased.
However, actually it is difficult to communicate with each other enough. Because we have to decide many things within a limited time. Our life time is short. We usually have to stop the dialogue with different people, before reaching a same viewpoint.
My point is that we can understand each other logically, but we can't communicate enough actually.
So, the people hurrying up to solve problems, can be violent.
I know that Democracy is the best way to reach an answer to many issues.
We can solve problems together in democratic rules, without using violence. I agree that Democracy should be spread out more in this world.
However, I don’t think that Democracy is perfect.
The reason is, as I said above, that we have to stop dialogue with the people with different opinion, before understanding each other.
Some time, Democracy is used as an excuse of suppressing minor opinions. Majority can call ”TIME OUT” when Minor is speaking, and can make a decision by the numerical power.
Democracy is not always patient.
We have to understand that some people are very skeptical about Democracy.
My question to myself is, that could we understand and get along with different people?
It is more difficult to understand others, than to get along with others.
So, it might be better for us to try to get an easier skill at first.
In fact, we can go well without understanding others.
The skill we have is to ignore each other. We might not be friendly to everyone. If so, it is wise to try not to keep in touch with the people we don’t like.
Hate can be amplified by Communication.
Or, I might be able to say that Hate is created by Communication.
I don’t think that American can be a friend of Arab by communication.
I don’t think that Palestinian people can enjoy to communicate with Israel people.
For them, keeping their distance for a while (maybe for about 100 years) could be better, to be friends someday.
But, there is a case when we can’t escape from the people we don’t like. Now most of countries are related to each other very much; economically and politically, on the government level and the private level.
In this case, we can’t choose the way to ignore each other.
As a Japanese proverb says, if we eat poison, we should eat even the plate with it. It means that we have to do anything fully after we have started it.
If we can’t escape from the communication with others, we have to communicate with them fully.
From now, I am going back to think about Japan-China and Japan-Korea relationship. What kind of communication is good for us?
These days, anti-China and anti-Korea books are sold very much in Japan.
The readers of such books were limited before, and ordinary people saw them as extreme. However, recently, Japanese began to prefer such books.
The feeling of hatred towards China and Korea is presented very directly and honestly in the books.
More is Net World. We can find many Japanese sites for giving dirty words to our neighbors.
It is obvious that this phenomenon is stimulated by anti-Japanese movement in China and the Korean president’s criticism of Japan.
The movement and the criticism were caused by Yasukuni shrine problem. But, Yasukini is just a trigger. The feeling of hatred towards Japan has been accumulated in the two countries for a long time.
Japanese look to catch up with the accumulation of hate now.
We are collecting a lot of “evidences” in history, to make a strong logic to defend Japan and attack “the lie” of Chinese and Korean.
It is generally right, to correct the wrong facts of history for the study.
But, we had better know that the motivation to defend or attack something is not needed for the study. For me, the Japanese preferring to this issue is too political or too emotional.
So are Chinese and Korean. Their perspective also looks far from a neutral position.
I think that our knowledge is limited about history. That’s why, for Japanese, it is easy to find out wrong facts about Japan from the Chinese and Korean’s opinion. We know about Japan-side well, but they don’t.
On the other hand, Japanese would have a lot of misunderstanding about Chinese and Korean history.
The important thing is to share each-side’s facts, than to attack others.
The problem among us is clear. Japanese, Chinese and Korean all are too much concentrated on making the opinion to beat each-side.
The solution is clear. We should give our attention to exchange and share our knowledge. We should communicate with each other more.
However, this solution is not easier than we think.
When I talk about the historical problem, I feel my unconscious tendency to try to defend Japan. I guess that Chinese and Korean have the same one.
Why do we have the tendency?
I think that the main reason is in our language.
Listening to Japanese idea, I can understand Japanese feeling TOO MUCH.
I can easily sympathize with it.
Although exchanging historical facts is easy, but sharing the feeling is difficult. So, our communication must not be led by an emotional factor.
My suggestion is this. When we communicate with different people, we shouldn’t use our mother language. It has a magical power. It discourages us to come close to the different way of thinking and feeling. It makes us attached to our familiar thinking. But, we have to know that too much understanding is as dangerous as no understanding.
For Japanese, Chinese and Korean, it is better to communicate with each other in English. I think that it can be the neutral zone for us. We know that it is a good way for hostile countries to meet in a third country. My idea is the language version of this way.
In the future, I want to make a publishing company in Asia. I will use English first for my publication. I don’t think that our difference will be erased even then. But, I can expect that we will make a new history of our communication. By this new experience, we could get over our differences.
This is the goal of my English study!
Fin.
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