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Opinion

Taking time to re-evaluate

By John Gathright


時間をかけて最評価すること

政治改革、経済立て直し、学校週5日制、と日本では皆が何かを変えようと急いでいる。しかし、そのように忙しくすることで本当に何かが変わるのだろうか。ここ数年に何が変わったのか何が犠牲になっているのかを再評価する時間も必要なのではないか。

Wow, Japan is going through some busy times. Every part of society is very busy!

Everyday, we are bombarded with news about politicians who are busy making changes. Businesses are frantically trying to rebuild the economy. The ministry of education is busy trying to devise a way to keep children busy when schools start the five-day school week in a couple of months.

The government is busy giving money to construction companies that are building bigger buildings, wider roads and faster transportation.

But are we really going anywhere? Is being so busy really making positive changes? And why is everyone so busy? I find myself asking this same question over and over. But until recently, I was too busy to seriously answer it myself.

I had to pull myself away from being busy and head for the treetops. Yesterday, I climbed 30 meters up a huge hinoki tree and found the answer. As I looked down on the smaller trees below, I saw some foresters working far off in the distance and it hit me. The answer was in the story of the woodcutter and his new job.

Once upon a time, a very strong woodcutter asked for a job at a huge lumber mill. The work was good and he would be paid for each tree that he cut down. The woodcutter was determined to make some good money.

The next day, his boss showed him the section of the forest he would work on. On the first day, the woodcutter cut down 18 large trees.

" Congratulations," his boss said. "You are doing an excellent job!"

Very motivated from the encouragement, the woodcutter tried even harder the next day, but he could only cut down 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder but could only cut down 10. The harder he worked the less trees he could cut down.

"I must be losing my strength," the woodcutter apologized to his boss, saying that he could not understand what was going on.

"When was the last time that you sharpened your ax?" the boss asked.

"Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my ax. I have been very busy trying to cut trees."

I can't help but feel for a country of so many busy people. I haven't been able to see any rapid recovery, or major policy and structural changes over the past few years. I believe that more time needs to be taken to rethink and re-evaluate. As a nation, we all need to sharpen our axes. Being so busy has dulled our sense of direction and purpose. Why are we busy? Is it worth the price we pay in sanity and health?

We are in need of a more pollution-free environment. But we are too busy to make the lifestyle changes that are needed to reduce pollution. We need more time with our families, but we are too busy to realize how important it is to spend quality time with loved ones. Parents are too busy to be involved in their children's education, and the schools feel that they have to keep the children out of their working parent's hair.

The slowing down of the economy, weakening of family ties and increased crime make it seem that Japan is loosing its power, like the woodcutter. I feel that, as a nation, it is time to slow down and sharpen our axes.


Shukan ST: Feb. 22, 2002

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