[sumo] New videos, Princess Aiko

[Barbara]

Japan is one of the world's "longest" island countries - from Hokkaido 
to Okinawa, is a very long way even by plane.  Maybe that's why it's 
always been slightly harder for the Japanese to have a unified feeling 
for their country.  The Emperor provides that feeling of unity. We 
Americans get gushy about our flag (those who like getting gushy, plus 
politicians) for the same reason as the Japanese need their Emperor.  In 
their mind, he stands like a giant astride the island chain, holding a 
sword, a symbol of Japanese history and pride.  He's no longer a god but 
he is still revered.  When he smiles, the Japanese feel like it is their 
country that is smiling, and so his happiness is theirs.  Japanese like 
to speak to the spirit of something.  If they are going to build a 
bridge, they will (literally with priests, or subconciously in their 
mind) speak to the spirit of the river and ask for its blessing.  In 
that kind of way, the spirit of the whole country, as well as the spirit 
of the entire history, is seen as residing in the Emperor.  The Japanese 
will not end their monarchy in even a thousand years from now, no matter 
what.  Loss of their Emperor would kill something in their heart that is 
very precious to them, though it is hard to explain it to non-Japanese.

Barbara Murasakihana


Joshua Maciel wrote:
> They live on taxpayer money, travel like dignitaries, and provide
> absolutely nothing other than 'good feelings' in some abstract sense
> as far as I can tell.