The Japanese people's openness, harmony, and spirituality

I decided to meet a journalist from Europe who contacted me through Couchsurfing. The initial idea was to create a video focusing on Okinawa's longevity, but I wondered if there were other topics worth exploring. I began thinking about it casually, but then I realized he wasn't just a YouTuber or video content creator; he was a journalist. That's when I thought about suggesting a deeper and more profound theme. As I translated this using ChatGPT, I realized it's something I want to share not just with him but with a wider audience worldwide, so I decided to post it on note.

Hey there!
I used to think of you as a YouTuber or a TikToker, but after reading your profile carefully, I realized you're a journalist. My bad!
If you're a journalist, I'd like to propose some deeper topics than I initially had in mind. This is just one idea, and if it doesn't resonate with you, I can suggest something else.
Before we dive in, I should mention that I'm using ChatGPT to help me with this text since I can't speak quite as fluently.
Now, about your mention of Okinawa having many centenarians, I haven't personally met them. Some may be in hospitals, bedridden, or simply not going out much. I haven't had much interaction with them, but I believe you could connect with some of these elderly folks through others.
On another note, the average life expectancy in Okinawa has significantly decreased. Especially among men, many pass away in their 50s, and Okinawa's ranking in national life expectancy has dropped. Excessive alcohol consumption and a decline in dietary quality, in my opinion, contribute to this issue. Okinawa residents don't consume as many vegetables and fish as you might expect; they tend to eat a lot of meat and fats. I don't think meat is the problem; it's the imbalance in their diets.
Not just in Okinawa but in Japan as a whole, I believe middle-aged and older men often lead less vibrant lives, which leads to excessive drinking and less-than-ideal mental well-being.

I moved to Okinawa from Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, about 10 years ago. So, I'm not a true Okinawan, but I have experienced both the mainland and Okinawa, which provides me with a unique perspective. For instance, many Okinawans aren't particularly interested in the sea. They see it every day, and some even think that the sea is as beautiful everywhere else in Japan as it is in Okinawa. While the mainland indeed has beautiful seas, they often don't compare to Okinawa's crystal-clear waters.

Now, let's change the subject a bit. I've been thinking since my 20s about how the world can achieve harmony. If people argue over religion, maybe we need something other than religion. Most Japanese people don't follow a particular religion. When a child is born, they go to a shrine for a one-month-old ceremony. Even if they aren't Christian, they have their weddings in chapels at wedding venues. When someone passes away, a Buddhist monk is called for the funeral, and they are often interred in a temple's graveyard. Nowadays, due to insufficient grave space, many people use city-managed cemeteries, but temples and monks are still involved. People enjoy Valentine's Day, Halloween, and Christmas with enthusiasm. This is partly driven by corporate and economic activities, but we incorporate these practices without deep faith.

In my 20s, I disliked how Japanese people seemed to lack integrity in this regard. However, I gradually changed my perspective. I started appreciating the freedom, tolerance, and open-mindedness of Japanese people. They exhibit these qualities not only toward other Japanese but also toward people from different countries and backgrounds. Although Japan has had a complicated history, today's Japanese people are generally not inclined to conflict with other ethnicities, nations, or specific religious beliefs.

When I realized this, I wanted to share the spirit and values of the Japanese with the world. There are various ways to do this, and being a music enthusiast, I'd like to use music as my vehicle. In my case, it's not about creating message songs; it's more about arranging traditional Japanese nursery rhymes and folk songs in a contemporary style to bring joy to people. I hope that from there, the energy of harmony can ripple out.

What I'd like to ask you to share with the world is this essence of the Japanese people. In Japan, there's a saying, "Yaoyorozu no kami," which means that gods reside in everything, and this belief forms the foundation of the Japanese spirit. While not everyone subscribes to this belief, it underlies the spirituality of the Japanese people.

Continuing...
Stay tuned for the next part coming soon. Catch you later!

coo

Photo：coo