Sorry for the trouble
Japan Today - News - Iraqi militants say they have Japanese man - Japan's Leading International News Network:
"I'm extremely sorry my older brother's actions have caused trouble to the government and people of Japan.
These are the words of the brother of a Japanese national currently believed to be held by some Iraqis group. These words are not unusual. On the contrary. The parents of a Japanese captive who was beheaded in Iraq apologized for the fuss while virtuous citizens expressed opinions that the poor foolish lad traveling in Japan almost got what he deserved. The interesting thing is that this apologetic brother is referred to as being 34 years old. I have no clue on where is this man socially positioned. In the land of conformity and formalism, it may be that those words are uttered as a ritual where looking for a meaning, a trace that this brother really believes that the people of Japan, as a massive single headed monster, exists. I would rather bet that a belief there is indeed that some 100 millions Japanese are discomforted, that is, disturbed in their communal routines by the deed of a single individual far away from the island-village.
In some related manner I cannot pinpoint clearly despite living here for 20 years, the relationship there is between this above, and that here: the media are reporting that there are a growing number of cases of train conductors harassment, including physical brutality instances, following the appalling train accident of two weeks ago. The train conductors, as a creed, a caste, are the pariahs at whom some daring individuals - some seemingly encouraged by a shot of booze - express indignation and furor. There is something profoundly disturbing in this show of crass stupidity, of social hooliganism based on perceived right and virtue to slap the culprits.
"I'm extremely sorry my older brother's actions have caused trouble to the government and people of Japan.
These are the words of the brother of a Japanese national currently believed to be held by some Iraqis group. These words are not unusual. On the contrary. The parents of a Japanese captive who was beheaded in Iraq apologized for the fuss while virtuous citizens expressed opinions that the poor foolish lad traveling in Japan almost got what he deserved. The interesting thing is that this apologetic brother is referred to as being 34 years old. I have no clue on where is this man socially positioned. In the land of conformity and formalism, it may be that those words are uttered as a ritual where looking for a meaning, a trace that this brother really believes that the people of Japan, as a massive single headed monster, exists. I would rather bet that a belief there is indeed that some 100 millions Japanese are discomforted, that is, disturbed in their communal routines by the deed of a single individual far away from the island-village.
In some related manner I cannot pinpoint clearly despite living here for 20 years, the relationship there is between this above, and that here: the media are reporting that there are a growing number of cases of train conductors harassment, including physical brutality instances, following the appalling train accident of two weeks ago. The train conductors, as a creed, a caste, are the pariahs at whom some daring individuals - some seemingly encouraged by a shot of booze - express indignation and furor. There is something profoundly disturbing in this show of crass stupidity, of social hooliganism based on perceived right and virtue to slap the culprits.
Technorati Tags: Japan
posted by Lionel Dersot at
5/11/2005 12:11:00 AM
