Amid Crises, a Steadfast Character Amid unprecedented triple crises, Japan’s resilience amazes the world. IBARRA C. MATEO gives an insight into Japan’s character. Illustration by J.P. LAGASCA
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CULTURAL traits shown by the Japanese as they serenely struggle to cope with the challenges caused by the killer earthquake, massive tsunami, and radioactive risk is their orderliness or harmony amid the deaths and destruction following the the March 11 tragedies. The preservation of orderliness or harmony (wa in Japanese) at all costs is one of the proverbial unwritten golden rules of the Japanese society. There is even a famous saying that vividly depicts this strong adherence to wa: “The nail that sticks up shall be hammered down.” In other words, an individual’s personality must be subsumed under the greater good of a group or country. A person who violates the wa is considered wagamama (greedy) and is excluded from the group. At an early age, Japanese parents instill in their children to always conceal their genuine or true feelings (honne) when in public as they may cause a strain in the social fabric that strongly demands conformity. Honne is only revealed to one’s closest family and friends. A Japanese is expected to exhibit his or her tatemae (polite, self-effacing public behavior), even if it does not coincide with his honne. Japan watchers have suggested that the perpetuation of wa via the concepts of honne and tatemae in the Japanese etiquette is a cultural imperative due to millions of Japanese living in a relatively small geographical space. Wa is a daily necessity to avoid the outbreak of social conflicts or open hostilities. Open disputes are disapproved of in Japanese society, with the clashing personalities ostracized. 28 M A B U H A Y M a y 2 0 11
It is because of wa that there was no looting and rioting in the areas affected by the earthquake, tsunami, and radioactive menace. It is because of wa that stranded, sleepless people in Metropolitan Tokyo did not shove and push as they waited their turns to board the trains once services were resumed. Wa prevented, if not diminished to a very significant extent, a spate of open conflicts in evacuation centers overwhelmed by the thousands of evacuees urgently in need of food, water, electricity, and medical attention. They patiently and courteously waited to be given emergency supplies and other provisions. It is to the credit of the Japanese people that they courageously showed to the world that they can uphold their wa in the face of the unprecedented national triple calamities. With the whole world watching, the Japanese—amid their pains, sorrows, and hunger—proved that the traditional values of gaman (patience and perseverance) and konjo, a potent blend of “passive, stoic endurance” and “all-out drive to accomplish a goal” are still very much alive and practiced even in these times of unparalleled national misfortunes. The Japanese people have earlier manifested the same stoicism and strong sense of self-sacrifice in their successful undertaking to survive and rebuild their country after the atomic bombings. It is this stoic endurance, sense of self-sacrifice and willingness to put their national interests over their individual differences that will enable the Japanese people to overcome and remake their country into a better, stronger Japan.
EVERYDAY HEROISM Compiled by Celly Kamoi A group of young punk-looking guys were buying drinks at a store. When they got to the register, one of them realized that if he bought the beer, he wouldn’t have any money left to make a donation for tsunami victims. He returned it. While people waited in line in one store, the generator and the cash register stopped. The store was pitch-black. Everyone put the things they had in their hands back on the shelves and left, even though no one would’ve noticed if they had walked out with them. A conversation between two grandmas on the train: “The police are telling us to turn the lights off because there’s not enough electricity. We used to spend a lot of time without lights for the good of our country during World War II. This time, we don’t need to worry about bombs falling over us. We’ll gladly turn off the light, won’t we?”
Filipino journalist Ibarra C. Mateo founded the Asia Desk of Kyodo News, Japan’s largest news and information provider. He is the first Southeast Asian admitted to the Ph.D. in Sociology program of the Sophia University in Tokyo, where he was based from 1992 to 2002.