What we have lost in the 20th century

TAKEKOSHI Chie

"Dad, I don't want you to work so hard just to earn money. I want you to spend your time with me, give your love to me, and get to know me." You can hear this kind of cry from every corner of Japan. Japanese people, especially the male population, worked long hours during the recent high-growth period. And, what was the reward? Only money and loneliness that comes from not understanding your children. Many older workers have now lost their jobs due to age discrimination, after having worked for companies for many years. Now he is free, he wants to spend time with his children. But where are they? Oh, they have gotten married and no longer live at home.
"Daddy, do you think it's worth it to pay money for cram school? Maybe it's not. The time I need your help the most is when I get a bad mark on a test. It is then that I want you to stay by my side and support me. I want you to think about me more. I'm sure you will understand me, and accept me. You are really important to me."

Is Japan really rich? Surely it's wealthy in terms of money and material goods. But is it spiritually and mentally? In the past, Japanese tended to have big families, which were like a microcosmic society. In a big family we learned to be patient. We could get a lot of love from many people, and we also could give them much love. Through our families, we learned the feeling; "I love my family so much." To most Japanese, their family was the most important thing.

Japan is said to be in a recession now. But is the recession necessarily a bad thing? It is difficult to say so. Because of the recession, we are being made to learn how to manage with less money. We now strongly feel the importance of re-using and recycling. What is more, this is an opportunity to ingrain the importance value of the family deeply into our minds. The family seems to be a good place to support us during this recession.

"I don't want you to make money just for 'MY HOME'. I'd be satisfied with a small house. I'd be OK without pocket money. These are of secondary importance. Your being at home, your spending time with me, is the most important."

Money, things, 'MY HOME'...... Let's stop thinking only about these things. We have forgotten something very important in our busy lives -- the value of the simple things in life. To play with children, to enjoy our hobbies, to go for walks, to relax at home. All these things are necessary to feel real satisfaction and contentment in our hearts. That is how to make our minds rich. This is the only way we will find true happiness.

Stop sticking only to work. Instead, spend your life doing things you really enjoy. As we move into the twenty-first century, this wat of life will be the most important thing for us to remember.