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私が日本を好きな理由
「禅と武術」をはじめとした「日本的なるもの」にひかれて、70年代に日本にやってきた筆者。
四季折々の風物が楽しめること、届け物が約束どおり届くこと、交通機関が時間どおり動くこと、そして清潔なことが、日本を好きな理由なのだそうだ。
What's good about Japan?
I have lived in Japan most of my adult life. Sometimes when I tell people this, they are surprised, even astonished. And I am surprised at their surprise. Why is it more strange to live in Tokyo rather than in Barcelona, Buffalo or Birmingham?
I came here in the 1970s for the usual reasons. I was interested in "things Japanese": Japanese history and culture, Zen and martial arts. I had a chance to train long and hard in the martial arts. Over the course of time I have made a life in Japan. Even today, I often catch myself marveling about something Japanese, and I realize that after all these years I am still delighted by Japan.
Here are a few of the things that I like:
The seasons. Japanese people will tell you Japan has four seasons. Foreigners are often surprised by this since most countries have four seasons. What I think Japanese people mean is that the seasons are observed in Japan. There are all kinds of seasonal markers, like the kadomatsu at New Year's, the plum blossoms in February, the cherry trees in April, the sunflowers in summer and the susuki in October.
Speaking of kadomatsu, my second favorite thing about Japan is Oshogatsu. In late December, people finish up their work for the year, clean up their houses and then celebrate. It is a time of energy and excitement. For a week, the spirit of old Japan is here. Everyone is given the chance for a fresh start, and the bonenkai is the party to forget the old year. Wonderful. Personally, though, I prefer shinnenkai where people celebrate the beginning of a new year.
By nature, I am an orderly person, so my next favorite thing is the way things work smoothly in Japan. Schedules are made and things go according to schedule. You buy a couch at a department store and they say that they will deliver it next Tuesday before noon. And at 11:45 on Tuesday there is a knock at your door and your couch is there. Showing up on time and doing what is promised is not the exception in Japan; it is the rule. And I appreciate it.
I also value the transportation system in Japan. I haven't owned a car for 30 years, and haven't needed one. I can get anywhere in Japan by well-maintained and modern trains. Also, the trains run on time. The 9:07 Shinkansen from Tokyo station leaves at 9:07, not 9:08 or 9:09. What about rush hour? Well, rush hour is rush hour. All cities have a rush hour, but the Japanese transportation system manages to move millions of people daily in an efficient manner.
And finally, I like the way Japan is clean. Once you arrive at Narita, you can see this. Come from any industrialized country to Japan and you will see the difference: clean streets, clean buildings, clean trains. I wonder if Japanese people take this for granted; I certainly don't.
Are there some frustrating things about living in Japan? Certainly. But I think each particular place has its pluses and minuses. And one has to balance them. I have done the balancing with Japan, and I am very happy to be here.
- adult life
- 成人期
- are surprised, even astonished
- 意外に思い、驚きさえする
- Barcelona, Buffalo or Birmingham
- バルセロナ(スペイン南部)、バッファロー(米国北西部)やバーミンガム(英国中部)
- usual reasons
- ありきたりの理由
- things Japanese
- 日本的なるもの
- martial arts
- 武術
- train
- 訓練する
- Over the course of time
- そうこうするうちに
- have made a life
- 生活の拠点を置いた
- catch myself marveling about 〜
- 自分が〜について驚いているのに気付く
- after all these years
- 長い年月を経てみても
- (am)delighted by 〜
- 〜に喜んでいる
- are observed
- 慣習に従って行事が行なわれる
- seasonal markers
- 季節を特徴付けるもの
- plum blossoms
- 梅の花
- cherry trees
- 桜の木
- sunflowers
- ヒマワリ
- By nature
- 生来
- orderly
- きちょうめんな
- according to 〜
- 〜に基づいて
- coach
- ソファ
- Showing up on time
- 時間どおりに現れること
- exception
- 例外
- appreciate 〜
- 〜をありがたく思う
- transportation system
- 交通システム
- well-maintained
- 整備の行き届いた
- manages to 〜
- 何とか〜する
- in an efficient manner
- 効率的なやり方で
- Come from 〜 and 〜
- 〜から来てみなさい、そうすれば〜
- wonder if 〜
- 〜なのだろうか
- take 〜 for granted
- 〜を当たり前と思う
- Certainly.
- もちろんあるでしょう
- pluses and minuses
- 長所と短所