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| Thursday, 2 December 2004 |
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Egalitarian Japan - where the boss sweeps the office floor by Afreeha Jawad That the Japanese society remains a non-politicized one is evidenced in the retention there of many absolute values. Whatever lost could be attributed to high degree Westernization which has caught on in a big way, among Japanese youth. These are some observations of two Sri Lankans - Shirani Colombage and Anuradha de Silva - who were hosted by the Japanese Language Programme for Research and Postgraduate Students for a two year stay in that country. Seventeen countries sent 33 students on this scholarship where they spent their time into Japanese culture, lifestyle and the study of Japanese language teaching methods including a survey of that period starting 1868 - 1912 when Japan passed through major historical happenings inclusive of much political reforms. Cultural activities taken to by the visiting team was the famous tea ceremony, Japanese calligraphy, flower arrangements, homestay, wearing Yukata, the Renki fireworks festival and trips to Kyoto and Tokyo. Significantly, the Western impact they said was so great that the traditional Kimona is now extinct and many English words have found way into the Japanese langauge, not to forget the widely possessed cellular phones, particularly by Japanese kids. The Sri Lankan representatives were also taken up with the high degree egalitarian society emerging there. "The boss even sweeps the office floor!! they exclaimed. Coming perhaps as an agonizing example to status conscious societies with vanity so very rampant giving rise to structured divisiveness, polarization and sidelining of classes and individuals, the message from Japan's power elite is a point to ponder. Being a heavily work-oriented society it is not without it's accompanying ill effects. Tension and restlessness have led to slight increase in suicide. The deprived segment is not very conspicuous and if at all gets government sponsorship. Very prominent is Japans' upper and middle classes. The regard for values has made Japanese elders get many plus points. Social development reportedly at high levels has brought on a certain degree of balance - believably essential for societal stability. |
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