This observation appeared in the July 1991 issue of The Tatami Times, a JET magazine produced by myself for the AETs (Assistant English Teachers).
Here we go:
What have I learned in Japan? First and foremost, I have regained the long lost skill of: riding a bicycle with no hands.
Most of us (AETs) came from multicultural societies beyond the wildest imagination of the Japanese, and my stay here has given me a very strong insight into an immigrant's struggles on arriving in (my home country of) Australia.
Like the immigrant landing in Australia, the immigrant landing in Japan faces: unemployment, illiteratacy, culturall ignorance, victimization, scrutiny, etc. Was it worth it? Of course! The Japanese people we REALLy know are the kindest most generous people I have met. But, I am convinced this is a country for tourists. Tourists can not help but be impressed with the contrasts and amazed by the contradictions. Honestly, I couldn't live here much longer.
For me, that feeling has worn off and I long for the clear skies and beautiful beaches and water (of Australia). I spent four or five days a week on the river back home - it's a beautiful peaceful river, and I miss it.
In Brisbane (and basically Australia), winter is just a hiccup between summers, hence the winter here was THE time to be in Japan. I will always remember our visits to Nagano-ken (Province of Nagano), Kosatsu and Nikko-shi in winter - that was beautiful. Matsushima? Come to Moreta Bay or Frazer Island. Bushwalking in Nikko? Come to Warrumungles. But I'm biased. I think the most important thing I have learned is a deeper appreciation of my own country. It will not be difficult for me to vigorously oppose those who desire to damage or threaten it.
Well, off the soapbox for some humour. Perhaps. I am sure you have all noticed Japan has two faces: the simple peaceful attitudes of '-do' and Shodo (Japanese caligraphy); and the completely frustrating aspects of business, reading Japanese instructions in English, human relations and the desire to simplify household appliances and cars with a myriad of buttons, gadgets and sensors that we hardly ever use (Ed. Note... this was written in 1991!)
For example... the rice cooker. What's wrong with a pan and stove?; our CD player has two tape decks and buttons galore - we have used one of the tape decks and (my wife) Marina still asks: "What's this button for?" I really wanted a portable CD player. Anyway; why? Because of chopsticks.
Why chopsticks, you ask? Well, all you people who rode bicycles as kids will remember having a flat tyre (tire), getting a patch, some glue, a spanner (wrench) and two spoons. Spoons. Of course - to lever off the tyre to get out the tube so you can patch it.
Well, I had a flat tyre the other day. Have you ever tried to remove a tyre with hashi (chopsticks). The bloody things break and get stuck in the rim. Enough said.
So.... one day Toshiharu Suzuki had a flat tyre and tried to get the tube off with hashi. He couldn't, so he spent the next 30 years of his life developing the tyre lever in three exciting models, as well as the: self-inflating tyre, the tubeless tyre, the automatic tyre remover, the robot-operated model, and finally the anti-gravity bike, which doesn't need tyres. Of course, it costs 25 times as much and is completely disposable and is guaranteed to cease functioning after 2.13 years, at which time it will become a huge waste problem. And, yes, you guessed it, the bicycle with wheels is no longer produced.
Ahh... very nice Robert. It appears as though you love the simplicity of life. Something that Japan has long held dear, but for some reason continually tries to destroy with modern conveniences that nobody really wants. A perfect example of that is Japan's constant need to improve the Western-style toilet - see HERE for my take on it.
Somewhere glad I live where you spell tire with an 'i' - unlike Robert,
(also, I'm guessing that a spanner is a wrench)
Andrew Joseph
Today's blog title is brought to us by David Bowie: TYRE
