TLTR

Kizuna: All together for Japan

        

March 11, 2011 – I was in South Korea when the 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit Japan and was followed by a tsunami. I was at the office doing some paper works when suddenly my boss turned on the television, and there I was astounded by what I saw. Old people crying, cars floating, and the numbers of death was increasing. My empathy was short-lived, not everyone in the office was that troubled by the incident. Perhaps, that was the “complex” feeling that Koreans have towards Japanese people. Nonetheless, I tried my best to contact everyone that I know who were in Japan that time.

        March 11, 2012 – Commemorating the first year after the Tsunami Incident was also complicated for me. I wanted to grieve for the lives that were taken during that incident but then I looked at my own country, and I felt embarrassed by how well the Japanese have redeemed themselves in less than a year.

   The Japanese Prime Minister was thanking the municipality of the help that were offered during those days. Ironically, when the Malacañang representative gave his speech, he was congratulating Japan for its fast recovery yet mentioning new projects here in the country that is being funded by Japan. The Japanese Prime Minister gave a heartfelt speech while the latter was very political about what was going on. Right there and then, I exclaimed, “Oh, the Filipino Brain!”

            Ayatosan! Ayato-yato! The Japanese taught us this folk dance named Awa Odori which they say was an act of thanking the God above for the blessings that they have received. We marched around Quezon Hall while performing the dance and it was a funny yet interesting experience. While enjoying the dance, I realized how I should perceive things. I should look more on the brighter side, be more grateful, yet still remember the heroes that were taken by the Tsunami. The Kizuna also encouraged me to serve my country that someday it will become as great as Japan 

photo: screencapture from local TV news program segment. I am the one with bangs on the right corner, beside Marc, the guy with glasses.

Not so Random Rants

Japanese Studies 101 class (Yesterday)

 Professor: I am pro-Japan. They paid for my education. The government was just an instrument. If East Asian countries unite, Japan will be the leader... (VERBATIM)

Me to self: I love Japan. The Philippines and South Korea (for a year) paid for my education… but that doesn’t mean that I am obliged to say that South Korea should be THE leader when East Asian countries unite. You see, both governments taught me that I should responsibly represent my own country and be proud of it.

Brainwashed or voluntarily identifying myself with Koreans - My feelings towards Japan has become complicated. 복잡해요. Trust me, I love that country ;)

Me: Ma’am, I don’t think that is a good idea. Besides, why is it just East Asia? I mean, why not the whole Asia? There’s Middle East which is very rich because of their oil reserves,  India with their advancement in technology as well, and I believe you get what I mean? I mean, I went to a similar forum called, “New Asia through the eyes of the Youth” and…

Professor: Really?? Where??

Me:  Yes,  in South Korea.

I couldn’t describe how the professor reacted – I mean, she thought that everyone in class will be very passive at her statement --- all of my classmates love Japan, and I do too, but we have to be sensitive and considerate sometimes...

Me: Well… we talked about this borderless world also – however, we found several factors that could possibly hinder this thought about “new asia” I supposed everyone is aware that even though we are pretty modernized – some countries still exist to be conservative…

 *lack of time*

 … How do you think other countries would feel if Japan would pronounce itself leader of Asia? How do you think China would feel? Ugh. Teacher, what is wrong with you. You’re belittling your own country. You should suggest a better idea with a more logical reason.

 ---

PS. I have many Japanese friends. I met them at school, inside the plane, at backpackers’ inn, at my dorm, and almost anywhere else. I respect them and I’m very close with them. I studied Nihonggo first and fell in love with it. I go to Japanese film festivals, watch Japanese movies and dramas, and even chose Japan as the country I wanted to visit when I was given that opportunity. So there is no way that this post poses a bad impression to that country… this is just me, ranting about how illogical my professor was.

photo: taken at Shibuya Tokyo, Japan last October 2012. thanks to Gwangju International Center's Asia Culture Forum Youth Camp for this opportunity :)