Dignity of the Nation

I picked up Fujiwara Masahiko’s “The Dignity of the Nation” with a cautious mind. I had a little worry that it would be another ranting of authors I call “politically inclined”.

But I was happily surprised.

Famous Japanese mathematician, Fujiwara makes a many fantastic remarks about Japanese lifestyle, values and traditions, the core of Japan. And after re-reading it, I sense that he makes a good point and doesn’t underline too much. This book can be called a book written by an author who honestly loves his own country and is not afraid to show it.

Perhaps, if I am forced to put this book into political scale, it would lie down a little on the right side. But this is not rant, but a beautiful, sensitive, yet easy to read note of Japan’s past and current situation.

Dignity of a Nation was second best selling book in Japan in 2006 and now the bilingual edition is available. Japan, Be Abnormal!

I was especially moved about few sections of the book.

The book begins with Fujiwara questioning the modern rational and logical spirit, and free market economy.

Throughout the centuries, Japan has been following the principles of love and respect towards one’s ancestors and family, and tradition, and chosen a certain action based on those feelings. Logic has been the next step, but Japanese have chosen the starting point from their inner spirit, rather than logical values.

Now, through the globalization and capitalism and all the jazz that’s going on, Japan seems to be on a verge of losing this fragile spirit.

“Logic Alone will Lead the World to Ruin” says Fujiwara, and states that one and zero does not exist in the real world. What he means that there is something more than l0gical concepts and definitions.

Questioning the western concept of freedom and equality and democracy, Fujiwara says that logic cannot provide the actual solutions to the big problems at hand, and offers a solution from samurai ethics, bushido.

In addition, he asks a very good questions about media’s power in Japan, how much TV, magazines big ad campaigns really influence to people and how Japanese young people seem to have lost their interest to books.

Are people really free? If not, where did the word freedom came from? It couldn’t be another piece of fiction created by the west?

"This emotion of nostalgic longing is the foundation of what I call the "four loves". The first three loves arem in order, family love, love of one's hometown, and then love of the land of one's ancestors. Last of all - and only after the first three kinds of love are firmly in place - comes love of humankind."

The first half of the book deals about the problems at hand, the second half suggests a result. Japan is the land of emotions (respect for the one’s family, sensing beauty of nature and seasons, feeling longing for the lost) and forms (tradition, ethics, form of conduct).

When Japanese hear the autumn insects, they stop what they are doing, and turn their head, as if listening to a distant music. For Japanese ears, nature sounds are never noise, but music.

Fujiwara says Japanese are known to feel four kinds of love, family love, love of one’s hometown, and then love of the land of one’s ancestors. And then, for the last, comes love for the human kind. Taken out of the context, this doesn’t sound quite right, but Fujiwara’s intention is sincere.

Japanese people love their homeland because their ancestors used to live there. Seeing many Japanese living abroad, I’m always astonished how “Japanese” they have remained. Even most multilingual Japanese I’ve met, prefer to speak Japanese if possible. Feeling it’s their identity, like an invisible context around them, Japanese never seize to feel their national identity.

A rumor tells that Fujiwara’s son got bullied in school during their days in Cambridge, and that the actual reason of moving back to Japan was Fujiwara’s disappointment to Cambridge. Maybe what triggered the final decision, was the bullying. Some suggested that his son’s bullying in foreing country, was his reason to write this book.
Fujiwara makes good points. For example, he says that patriotism is “a noble emotion, and something that all the peoples of the world should aspire to have.”

“Nationalism is a foul philosophy that ordinary people should steer clear of” he continues.

By saying, “Japan, Be Abnormal!” I think the author ment that Japan should be proud of it’s traditions and origins, and try at least a little, to be less like America.

Politicians probably don’t like his writing, but it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t.

At last note, I would like to suggest that the book felt a little like a school’s textbook to me. I wished there would have been more emotion.

This book is a very good and recommended reading for all foreigners living in Japan or interested about Japan.
It opened my eyes to see many things in Japan more deeper, and clearer way.

Great reading.

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