I cannot remember the amount of times I have been asked "why did you start Japanese?" or "why Japan?", and I find myself unable to answer. I started back at the start of second year (has it been 2 1/2 years already:!) and have been studying it slowly since then. Unfortunately I cannot afford it the time it deserves, especially these days with the quantity of work part that comes with a final year in college. It is real pity because everyday i forget more and more :( I have the worst memory ): .
So why Japanese? Is it the people? The culture? Escapism? The language? 女の子？
Yes it is these but there is something else about Japan that I cannot put my finger on. In fact I can't even explain it. Everytime I speak Japanese or do some Japan related activity I feel great! I'm not sure why or where it comes from. I wish I had a coherent answer for "why Japanese/Japan" and it actually really bugs me that I cannot explain why. I'm sure it encompasses lots of things but there must have been something that spurred me to feel this way.
Obviously Japan is not perfect, its got its flaws like every other nation, and there are things I do not agree with, e.g whaling, death penalty process (jury is still out on the death penalty itself, excuse the pun). But most of its culture is simply fantastic. The sense of loyalty amongst the population is remarkable, and the spirit of historic japan seems to be still evident nowadays.
There was the notion amongst samurai of being loyal to a master until death. Even if a samurai was disgraced in some way he would most likely commit the act of seppuku（切腹）which is death by disembowelment. The last known act of this was as recent as 1970! In modern Japan obviuosly people don't do this! However there is still the nature where once a Japanese person starts work at a company then that person will stay working there as long as possible and be completely loyal the company. I remember talking to some Japanese friends and they kept quoting things they had to do, calling it their "duty". I was shocked. A duty to whom? To a company, to Japan. It seems crazy and a bit like a totalitarain society but its these thoughts that help keep Japan so intimate and almost impermeable to foreign influence. Look at Ireland, what do you think epitomises Irish culture? When I am asked this question I cannot think of a suitable answer and just keep thinking of a pub with pints of Guinness splashing about. Don't get me wrong this can be great fun but its inherent to have a social scene as part of a culture. Ireland has lost its spirit in my opinion and been replaced by spoilt kids with too much
free money. Actually I am not going to get into the problems with Ireland here, it would take too long.
So why Japan, the divine wind, the land of the rising sun ? Why Japanese? Can you tell me?
