[sumo] [off topic] A Tokitsuskaze article with a little insight [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[Catherine.Wallace at dfat.gov.au]

No society is perfect, each has its problems.  While I live in Japan, I 
have not had any direct experience of bullying, but the frequency of 
reported incidents, including suicides, seems to be higher than in 
Australia, where I come from.

At the same time, many of the kindest, most generous people I have ever 
met, I met here.  Not to mention (earthquakes notwithstanding) I feel far 
safer in Japan than I did anywhere in Aus.  Australia has serious problems 
in particular areas in relation to ethnic gang-related crime and violence 
that Japan thankfully does not experience. 

I think the more important issue is each societies' awareness of its 
particular problems, and what it's doing to fix them. 

Catherine Wallace
キャサリン　ウォレス



"Joshua Maciel" <joshua.maciel at gmail.com> 
Sent by: sumo-bounces at webtrek.com
11/03/2008 08:59 PM
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Re: [sumo] A Tokitsuskaze article with a little insight [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]






I have been here for a short time in comparison to many others on this 
list,
but I think that you will change your mind about how 'warm' and 'fun 
loving'
Japan is after you've spent time is. While there are certainly many 
positive
points, 'warm' and 'fun loving' are two of the ones I would least apply to
Japan in general.

There is a reason that suicide and 過労死 (karoushi - death by overwork) 
are
very prominent in Japan, far more so than most other developed countries.

Earlier there was a discussion about 'guilt culture' versus 'shame 
culture'.
I think that plays very heavily into the working attitude in Japan (and 
much
of Asia) versus the West. People, and I would assume sumo rikishi, are
shamed into working harder, beyond the limits of their ability, as the
knowledge that they've done their best is not enough. What's important to 
a
far greater degree is how other people think you've done.

I don't want to stray too far off topic, so I'll return to the article. I
think it is very well put. The pressures on people, especially in schools,
are far more psychological than physical. If you have been blessed with a
school filled with supportive warm teachers, then you've found an
exceptional place, but I'd hesitate about applying your experience to the
whole of Japanese society.

Sumo is facing/will be facing the same thing that companies are -- a
dwindling pool of applicants who are less willing to push themselves the
extra mile to get something done, and that should force positive changes 
on
companies, sports, and Japanese society in general.

On Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 5:56 PM, Mike Charlton <mikekchar at gmail.com> 
wrote:

> 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.
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