When I feel tired of being Japanese

Sometimes I feel tired of being Japanese.

There are many Japanese who often act by emotion, not based on logic. So, some people say Japan is an emotion-driven nation instead of a law-governed nation.

That is why I feel uncomfortable living in Japan.

I think it is better not to act by emotion, for emotions cannot be shared by each other. When someone feels sad, I might feel happy. Something that makes someone feel happy might make me feel disappointed.

Therefore, acting on emotion could cause friction. Pushing through with an emotional majority can lead to unreasonable violence against a minority.

On the other hand, logic can be shared perfectly. So, I hope all Japanese will learn logic, share logic, and act based on logic.

As is often said, Japanese society is too much of a collective community and has too much peer pressure.

I wonder what is so interesting about being like others. I usually don’t do as others do, but so many people want me to do the same as everyone else.

No matter how much I dislike Japanese society, the reality is that I was born and raised in Japan and have lived neck-deep in Japanese society as such.

So, when asked whether I can speak logically as Americans or Europeans do, assert myself in a group, and say yes or no clearly, I think I can speak logically, but I am not sure I am fully capable of the other two.

On the contrary, in Japan, not asserting oneself is the most efficient way of getting along with people, which makes me uneasy.

There have been many moments in my life when I have become disillusioned with the Japanese people and society, and I would like to write here about one that comes to mind.

I worked for a broadcasting company in Osaka, for 15 years in the sales department.

One day, I guess it was in 2003 or 2004, a primary advertising agency moved its offices.

On such occasions, we always send congratulatory gifts. However, unusually at that time, the company offered in advance to decline any congratulatory gifts.

So, my boss, my colleague, and I talked about what to do about it. I thought now that they declined our gifts, we don’t need to do anything. But my boss and my co-worker insisted on sending something to celebrate, even if they declined.

It was very Japanese!

I was puzzled a little, but after all that, the decision was made to send a potted white orchid, as is customary, which cost us around 50 thousand yen.

On the morning of the day of the office move, we visited their new place to congratulate them, as is customary as well.

Then I was astonished to find tens of pots of white orchids here and there at the entrance, the reception area, and the hallways.

Can you believe this? What the hell was their offer to decline? Had all the clients decided to ignore it?

And there was one more thing I cared more about.

I found tens of flowerpots there, but we had more than 100 broadcasting stations in Japan, all of which did business with that ad agency, so it was that some companies did not send orchids.

I’m quite sure the person in charge of such a company was no doubt heavily rebuked by his boss. It was quite illogical, but I think it is the way the Japanese are.

Man, give me a break! I don’t want to work for such companies, or in such circumstances.

Well, it’s Okay. I have already retired. But I felt tired of being Japanese millions of times.