JAWing On – Life on Okinawa

The Japanese equivalent of spring break is coming to an end. Golden Week is an annual week of vacation for almost all businesses in Japan. The week consists of several back to back holidays (including Children’s Day, Greenery Day, Constitution Day and something simply called “national holiday”). Golden Week reminds me of what February used to be like before George Washington’s Birthday and Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday were combined to form President’s Day. For many tourist industries, the week is similar to the unofficial start of the summer season. If you live in an area that kowtows to tourism, the roads are packed with looky-loos; the shopping areas are overflowing; and there are massive lines everywhere. For many people, the end of Golden Week signifies a return to the normal hustle and bustle of everyday life. (Until summer break in July that is!)

I don’t know what the weather is looking like for you, but over here there’s been a constant struggle between the sun and the rain clouds for the past few weeks. All this never ending up and down of sun/rain, rain/sun leads to is a brief prelude of what the summertime humidity is like. In a few weeks, since it’s May, the official rain season will be announced. And along with the May announcements will be the official start of the typhoon season. (The only relief we get from the ever increasing humidity!)

One often hears the locals say it’s all about happiness. But in modern times it isn’t uncommon to find people whose idea of happiness is causing other people misery. Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to say you wish tranquility (an inner calm) for others?

This is a cute, but imperfect, picture of another one of mama’s boys…

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And sometimes the problem isn’t you, but the sign maker or simply the font used that creates confusion!

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One of the interesting facets of life on Okinawa is the usage of English words applied to that particular culture’s philosophies. Such as this sign:

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I’m not the world’s greatest anything, but every once in a while I actually capture a picture that comes out just the I want it to. Here’s a pic of one of mama’s boys…

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When an adult (say someone over thirty years of age) spends all night partying, drinking, and neglecting the consequences of that behavior seven days a week, do you really think babying is going to help anything? When that person ends up sick, why shouldn’t he or she take responsibility and be held accountable for their own choice to neglect their health?

One aspect of the locals that most foreigners quickly notice is the “enthusiastic” and “fun loving” characteristics projected in almost every situation. But that seems to be one of the more confusing aspects of the culture as well. This animated behavior can be cute in young women up to the mid-twenties. However, the inability to communicate in a straightforward, non-catty manner after that age is less attractive, and almost ridiculous. The fact that this type of behavior is promoted in both men and women well over the age of 30 as “cute” somehow tends to undermine the ability to take anything these types of locals do or say as anything other than nonsense. Is it possible for an entire culture to be “histrionic”?