Japanese aesthetics 日本人の美学

While the continuous disasters have been occurring in Japan I have been receiving so many questions and comments about the Japanese behavior during the crisis. Many foreign medias have been talking about how "orderly" and "calm" we are. The Japanese line up politely anywhere - at shops, telephone booths, stations, etc. To me it is so normal because I am Japanese. That is just how we are. Many non-Japanese friends of mine have told me, "Oh my god. If that happened in my country people would steal, fight, and everything. There would be looting everywhere, and it would be a total chaos." "Why Japanese are so calm and polite during such a difficult time?"




日本で悲惨な状況が続く中、沢山の外国人の方々から危機に瀕した時の日本人の行動についてのコメントや質問を沢山いただいています。外国の報道も皆、コンビニや電話ボックス、駅などで行儀良く列を作り並んでいる日本人に驚いているようです。日本人の私にとっては当たり前のことでもあるので、逆にそれを聞いて驚いている私です。外国人の友人たちは、皆感心した表情で「いや〜もしも僕の国だったら、すぐに盗難、強盗、喧嘩が始まって、そこら中で皆が物を盗み出してカオスの渦になるよ」「なぜ日本人はこんな時に礼儀正しく冷静でいられるの？」



It is our aesthetics. It is our characteristic, and it is our culture. So, where does it come from? It seems that our aesthetics comes from "Bushido" (the way of the samurai warrior) and Buddhism.
Bushido emphasizes justice, loyalty, honor, bravery, obedience, duty, respect and self-sacrifice. Buddhism taught compassion and love for others. Also, there is a sense of "avoiding shame": you would not want to do anything that will bring shame to your name, face and your family. These elements are deeply rooted in our culture. Therefore, during such a disasterous time people behave politely and compassionately to each other.



それが日本人の美学で、国民性で文化なのではないでしょうか。それでは一体それはどこから来ているのでしょう？おそらく武士道の精神と仏教の教えかも知れません。武士道では、義、仁、勇、礼、誠、名誉、忠義などが重視され、仏教では利他への思いやりや愛が唱えられました。あと日本人には「恥の精神」がある。自分の名前や顔、家族を恥じしめるような行動を避けたいという慎みの精神がありますね。これらの要素は私たちの文化に深く浸透しています。だから日本人はこんな悲惨な状況でも礼儀正しく優しく行動できるのではないでしょうか。



On the 5th day from the first disaster I still cannot stop crying. The victims in north are very simple and good people, and most of them are farmers and fishermen. I am deeply moved by those humble people who have been so appreciative for what they have left right now. No one is complaining. It is just too amazing to me. I love my country, and I am so proud to be Japanese.

５日目になる今日も涙が止まりません。東北地方の犠牲者の人々は、とても素朴で真面目に一生懸命働いて来た人たちで、多くが農家や漁村の人たちでした。わずか残ったものに対して感謝の気持ちを表す謙虚な姿に心を打たれます。文句を言う人はいない。脱帽です。日本が大好きです。日本人でよかった。