[sumo] A Tokitsuskaze article with a little insight

[Mike Charlton]

On Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 7:09 AM,  <artist at aloha.net> wrote:
> Really well done article. But this is an iceberg floating deep and just out
>  of reach.

I'm going to have to disagree here.  I found the article to be
somewhat sensational.  It appeared to me that it was characterizing Japanese
culture as being violent.  The comments about authoritarian violence
in schools really seemed out of place to me.

I've been working in a Japanese high school for the past 8 months
and I have never seen any violence at all from the teachers.
They are a little more physical than I'm used to, although mostly
it is used to comfort students that are distraught (i.e., a hand on the
shoulder, head, or back).  Occasionally I've seen teachers playfully
pat a student's head when the student does something wrong, but
it is always in fun and the student is grinning or laughing the
whole time.

What frustrates me about this article and other things I've
read is that it gives people in the west the impression that Japan
is some cold hearted, ruthless, driven culture.  Nothing is
further from the truth.  *Especially* in high schools, the
atmosphere is ridiculously warm and nurturing.  Teachers
are literally second parents to the students (sometimes,
these teachers become the only *real* guidance that
a student ever has).  North American schools that I've seen
are cold and clinical by comparison.

Japanese culture is also very warm and fun loving.  This
is one of the friendliest places I've ever lived.  People
care about you here.  If I go into the convenience store
and have some trouble, people help me.  Not because
it's their job, but because it is in Japanese culture to
help other people.

So, I really can't say anything about sumo.  And I know
for a fact that Lynn knows more than I ever will about
sumo.  But it really hurts me when I see yet another
article that slams Japanese culture so hard.

        MikeC