Donald Keene Reflects on 70-Year Japan Experience 2015 Marks 70 Years Since Japan’S Defeat in World War II

The Japan Times Thursday, January 1, 2015 17 new year special Donald Keene reflects on 70-year Japan experience 2015 marks 70 years since Japan’s defeat in World War II. Renowned writer and prominent U.S.-born Japanese literature scholar Donald Keene, 92, looks back on Japan’s postwar period, which he saw firsthand.

Donald Keene to study at Kyoto University, but in fact, I Special to The Japan Times did not spend much time there because the professor so seldom appeared. As it My first visit to Japan was very short, grew colder in the unheated classroom, I only a week or so in December 1945. felt less and less ready to wait in vain for Three months earlier, while on the is- the professor, and was glad to spend my land of Guam, I had heard the broadcast time in Kyoto sightseeing instead of shiv- by the Emperor announcing the end of ering in a classroom. the war. Soon afterward, I was sent from I enjoyed wandering at random in Guam to China to serve as an interpret- the city, fascinated by the names of plac- er between the Americans and the Japa- es I knew from works of Japanese litera- nese military and ture and history. civilians. The streets were After four surprisingly quiet, months, I received probably because orders to return to at the time there my original com- were no privately mand. I was aware owned cars in that the original Kyoto, only compa- command was in ny vehicles. I was Hawaii, but when delighted one day the plane from when I saw two el- Shanghai landed at derly ladies hap- Atsugi I felt a strong pening to meet desire to visit while crossing in Japan. Every day the middle of during the previous Kawaramachi, the four years, ever busiest street in the since entering the city. They politely U.S. Navy Japanese removed their haori Language School, I jackets and bowed had thought about to each other, not in Japan. I yearned to the least worried by see it, but I was possible traffic. Of afraid of being Donald Keene courtesy of donald keene course, not every- caught if I violated thing in Kyoto was orders. In the end, I persuaded myself so pleasing. I saw slum areas not only Canadians and British. cluded Osamu Dazai, Yukio that, now that the war had ended, my around the railway station but in the The Japanese, mainly economists, Mishima, Kobo Abe and crime, if detected, would be treated as middle of the city, and there were many were convinced that Japan’s future was Kenzaburo Oe. I wonder if minor. I informed a naval officer at Atsu- boys eager to polish one’s shoes. But I dismal. They were sure that if there were there has ever been such a gi that my original command had managed to accept these sad results of any improvement in the economy, it group of novelists working moved to Yokosuka. He believed me and the long warfare that the Japanese had would result in demands by workers for at the same time. I was for- I was safely in Japan. suffered. rises in pay, and if they obtained more tunate to know almost all The drive from Atsugi was bleak. As I was captivated not only by the city, money, this would make Japanese goods these writers and became the jeep approached the city of Tokyo, but the surroundings and I visited every more expensive. They seemed to believe friends with several. buildings grew steadily fewer until all temple on the tourist map. I enjoyed that cheap prices were the one factor in Not only literature, but that were left were smokestacks and drama of many varieties sheds. Once in the city, I found the flourished during the post- building where the other interpreters ‘The extraordinary outburst of major war era. I went regularly to were quartered, and was told by my Osaka to see bunraku. The friends that there was an empty bed. literature was largely the result of the performers — singers, pup- They described the destruction they had pet operators and shamisen seen in various Japanese cities, but they freedom that had come with the end of players — have never been had not yet realized the terrible signifi- equaled since then. cance of the atomic bomb. Japanese military rule.’ Kabuki and noh were per- They all agreed that it would take at Donald Keene formed by actors who be- least 50 years for Japan to recover its came legendary. However, pre-war status. Nobody spoke of a possi- walking along streets with rows of shops, the sale of Japanese goods abroad. the most popular play was ble revival of Japan. This may be why all selling the same article, whether The non-Japanese participants did “Twilight Crane,” by Junji only 20 or 30 of the thousand or so bamboo baskets, stone badgers, or dusty their best to suggest ways for improving Kinoshita, based on a Japa- young men trained in Japanese by the secondhand books. Most of these shops the Japanese economy. An American, nese folk tale. This work Navy and Army attempted to find a ca- no longer exist, victims of progress. after praising the Japanese for their skill deeply moved audiences at reer which involved knowledge of the My main occupation in Kyoto was with their hands, urged them to concen- a time when Japanese tradi- language. studying Japanese literature, but on one trate on making delicate objects like fish- tions seemed to have been My second visit to Japan was in 1953, occasion I was asked to be a “reporter” hooks. The Japanese delegates did not negated by defeat in the this time in Kyoto as a graduate student. at a conference sponsored by the Insti- seem to think that their economy could war; Kinoshita’s discovery of I chose Kyoto not only because of its his- tute for Pacific Affairs. My task was to be rescued with fishhooks. A British dele- modern meanings in the old Clockwise from top, Tokyo, which had burned during the war, has arisen from the devastation over tory, but because it had escaped bomb- make summaries of the statements gate proposed that the Japanese should traditions made audiences the past 70 years; Donald Keene is seen at a house in Kyoto’s Higashiyama in 1955; Two “maiko,” or ing. My wartime friend, Otis Cary, then made by the distinguished people who give more attention to molecules, but no understand the value of apprentice geisha, pay a round of visits to their teachers of traditional Japanese arts and teahouse teaching at Doshisha University, found attended. About half the participants one else showed his enthusiasm for mol- what had seemed to be a owners during the annual summer ‘‘hassaku’’ event in Kyoto’s Gion district on Aug.1. Kyodo, an ideal place for me to live. I intended were Japanese; the rest were Americans, ecules as a cure for a poor economy. disgraced culture. courtesy of donald keene The general impressions of the con- I joined a group in Kyoto ference, at least to an outsider like my- of people who worked in various arts. In 1959 many Japanese emigrated to The beautiful houses in Gion grow self, were of resignation on the part of All were eager to revive Japanese culture Brazil because there was not enough fewer each year and will never be re- the Japanese and friendly but unhelpful and the starting point of their discus- work in their country. I described the placed. The side streets lined with Japa- attempts by non-Japanese to cheer sions was often “Twilight Crane,” as a jobs that seemed to have been created nese-style houses are either mixed with them. I could not detect anything posi- model of the use of Japanese traditions to give work to surplus people. dreary apartments or totally destroyed. tive arising from the discussions. in new art. “There are girls whose sole function is Kyoto streets on a Sunday are now At no point in the discussions was Painting was stimulated by exhibi- apparently to keep a cup of tea filled in jammed with cars. No old lady is ad- Japanese culture mentioned. This was tions of works from foreign museums. front of every customer and employee; vised to cross a street without caution. perhaps natural in a gathering of econo- Some painters were attracted by their girls to stand at the entrance to shops Greed and a demand for convenience mists and politicians, but someone first experience of avant-garde modern- and bow a thousand times, ten thou- have taken the place of beauty. might have pointed out that, despite the ism. I remember a painting created by sand times a day, with the uniform But, I tell myself, the people of Kyoto hardships that the Japanese people had an artist who made a toy car drive greeting, ‘Thank you for coming’; girls to are probably healthier and lead more undergone, the postwar period was a around on a canvas. Black paint leaking pass back and forth interminably on all agreeable lives than the people I knew golden age of Japanese culture. from the car became the painting. the trains, sweeping and selling sweets 60 years ago. I have resolved to remem- The extraordinary outburst of major This work did not inspire my admira- and soft drinks. …” ber this whenever I feel like complain- literature was largely the result of the tion, but I shared in the excitement of Such women have mostly disap- ing about changes. freedom that had come with the end of the artist’s freedom to paint whatever he peared, their jobs taken by machines. It Japanese military rule. Junichiro Taniza- chose. is more pleasant to be welcomed into an Donald Keene is a professor emeritus at ki had begun publishing serially his In 1959, after another stay in Japan, I elevator by a young woman than by a New York’s Columbia University and a masterpiece “The Makioka Sisters” in wrote “Living Japan,” a book intended to machine with its endlessly repeated famed scholar of Japanese literature. Born 1942, but after three episodes had ap- introduce Japan to non-Japanese read- message, but young women have now in 1922 in New York, he has written peared, the magazine was ordered to ers. I did not expect it to be read by Japa- found better, less monotonous work. numerous books on Japanese literature, cease publication of the work, on the nese, but it was translated and sold Some unpleasant features of life in the history and culture, including “Meiji grounds that it was unsuitable to war- unexpectedly well. Japanese readers Tokyo of 1959 no longer exist. I wrote Tenno,’’ a biography of the Emperor Meiji. time Japan. were intrigued to learn about life in about taxi drivers “They send their cars In 2008, he received the Order of Culture Tanizaki continued to write and pri- Japan of 10 or 20 years earlier than I had racing through the streets with all but (Bunka Kunsho), which is given by the vately published the first volume. The described. The changes in Japan that oc- suicidal abandon. They are not simply Japanese government to those who have whole novel could be published only curred even in a short period were star- reckless: they are desperately anxious to greatly contributed to Japanese art, after the war ended. Kafu Nagai, an ex- tling and people quickly forgot the past pick up even one additional fare.” I do literature or culture. Following the Great tremely popular writer, refused to pub- or remembered it with nostalgia. not miss the terrifying experience of ka- East Japan Earthquake in March, 2011, lish a single work during the war, but in Some things changed completely. mikaze taxis. Keene moved to Japan permanently and his diary (later published) he expressed In 1959 there was not a condominium I do miss Kyoto as it was when I first became a Japanese citizen in 2012. his anger and contempt for the military. in Tokyo (or anywhere else). Almost ev- arrived in the city. He returned to publishing in 1949. Tani- eryone lived in private houses. State- zaki and Naoya Shiga, a writer wor- ments I made in my book on the basis of shipped by his admirers, were awarded what I had seen or heard from friends in 1949 with the Bunka Kunsho, the came to be mistaken or even absurd be- New Year Special highest decoration given by the govern- cause conditions changed drastically. ▶ ▶INDEX ment, an unmistakeable indication of For example, I wrote that several Japa- the importance of literature in the post- nese employees were needed to do the Renowned expert reflects on 70-year Japan experience p17 war period. work of one stenographer in an Ameri- Donald Keene (front center) poses for a photo with Haru Reischauer (front left), wife Two of the best novels of Yasunari can office. I had evidence for this state- Major genomics program underway p18 of then U.S. Ambassador to Japan Edwin Reischauer (third row, left), renowned Kawabata, the first Japanese author to ment, but it soon became untrue, and I Activities to ring in year of the sheep p19 author Yukio Mishima (second row, right) and others in front of the U.S. win a Nobel Prize, appeared about the naturally could not imagine what one Female entrepreneurs lead way in employing women Ambassador’s Residence in Tokyo upon receiving the Kikuchi Kan Prize in time I was living in Kyoto. Younger writ- Japanese stenographer could now do p20 1962. courtesy of donald keene ers who wrote in the postwar period in- with a computer.

PAGE: 17 18 The Japan Times Thursday, January 1, 2015 new year special Major genomics program underway

stairs now.” British government Her 22-year-old elder daughter, Sarah, will marry in June. project may lead to If Graham had been found to have misprinted genes, the daughters may custom treatments have given up on future childbirth, she said, adding that it would be unbearable Ken Sasaki to see her children in the same situation LONDON as hers. Kyodo “I think I could cope with it being me, but not my children,” she said. A revolutionary project by the British Even if genomics becomes widely government will get fully under way in practiced, nobody should be “forced 2015 to realize “personalized medicine” into” it and there should be choices for for cancers and rare diseases by analyz- people, Graham said. ing as many as 100,000 genomes from “A lot of patients don’t want to know patients and their relatives. (if they have misprinted genes) because The project is aimed at promptly de- they don’t want to spend all their lives tecting mutations in genes that cause worrying,” she said. diseases and pinpointing their origins. It The use of genetic information in will enable the development of new huge quantities will totally upset the treatments and drugs matching the indi- conventional method of treatment in vidual nature of diseases. which doctors prescribe the same drug A genome is a set of genetic informa- for patients with the same symptoms, tion handed down from parents to off- instead enabling them to find an opti- spring and is recorded in a double mum, personalized treatment for each helix-structured deoxyribonucleic acid A researcher operates a computer analyzing genomes in this undated file patient. (DNA). photo. courtesy of genome research LtD./kyodo Sir John Chisholm, executive chair of In 2003, American, European and Jap- Genomics England, a company wholly anese scientists completed mapping the describes delays in language, cognitive in offspring. owned by the British government and human genome, which has 3 billion and many other or all skills, at 21 Kathryn Graham, 53, from Kneb- charged with conducting the project to pairs of bases. While more than 10 years months old. worth, Hertfordshire, is a former ele- sequence 100,000 whole genomes, fore- and an estimated $3 billion were spent Alysia went through numerous medi- mentary school teacher who retired cast that the day will come when com- to sequence the DNA of one person, the cal examinations throughout her life to because she suffered from a disease puters check types of disease from a equipment adopted by the British proj- determine whether her development called idiopathic pulmonary arterial hy- patient’s genome and clinical data and ect can now transcribe 18,000 human delay was attributable to brain damage, pertension. produce a prescription for the patient’s genomes a year for $1,000 each. a difficult pregnancy or protective injec- The disease, which causes increased doctor. With technological advances, genet- tions. In 2013 genomics eventually blood pressure in the pulmonary artery, They will also calculate the inherited Alysia Sherley-Price (front right), 11, is seen with her family in front of their house in ics, or the study of the way particular found Alysia’s genetic mutation. in some cases occurs due to genetic mu- risk of diseases such as diabetes and Petersfield in Hampshire, England, on Oct. 31. Kyodo features or diseases are inherited The discovery is a “move forward,” tations. help doctors work out instructions for through genes passed down from one said Alysia’s father Edward, a 44-year- Graham’s health began deteriorating eating and other lifestyle habits so as to For patients of rare diseases consid- In British society, there remain con- generation to the next, is nearing full- old business manager. “Lots of ques- rapidly after giving birth to her second prevent them, according to Chisholm. ered ascribable to genetic mutations, cerns about the government holding scale application to medical treatment. tions we had before, are now answered,” daughter. When a baby is born, if the parents their own genomes and those of their clinical and genomic information on in- Alysia Sherley-Price, an 11-year-old he said, expressing hope that effective “Climbing the stairs could feel like agree, a heel prick is conducted to col- closest blood relatives will be compared. dividuals. girl from Hampshire who enjoys music new drugs can be developed by utilizing conquering Everest,” she said. lect a small sample of blood for testing Some 75,000 people will be involved The project will collect data from peo- and playing ball, was found to have a data collected from a large number of Her condition was classed as “end for a small number of serious disabili- as two genomes per cancer patient will ple with their consent and ensure their rare mutation in the gene STXBP1. Aly- patients like Alysia. stage,” progressive and incurable with- ties, Chisholm said. be examined. The project will sequence anonymity. The leaking of data will be sia has motor skills matching her age, A lot of people are concerned that a out a heart and lung transplant. “In principle, the same could be done, 100,000 genomes by the end of 2017. subject to a fine of up to £500,000. but is mentally 5 years old or so because “Big Brother Society,” as described in Graham worried that if her disease and the genome could be taken from Taking breast cancer as an example, But once digitized data are leaked, it the mutation hampers the neurotrans- Gorge Orwell’s futuristic novel “1984,” was the result of genetic mutations, her that,” he continued. “So at birth, then, Chisholm said there are “at least seven will be impossible to recover. mitters in her brain. The diagnosis gave will be created if the government holds two daughters might have inherited every child would have their whole ge- different types” of the disease. Genom- “Lots of people are worried about in- her family a sense of optimism. genetic and other personal information, them. She told them of the possibility nome recorded, and that would go ics is making it possible to find the “best surance,” Vivienne Parry, head of en- “We actually needed a diagnosis, so Edward said. “But really, in our view, it’s when they were 18 and 16 years old. throughout their lives. … It’s a piece of method of treatment” for each type, he gagement at Genomics England, said. we could research it and see what can a health issue, it’s a health screening.” At the daughters’ urging, Graham ac- information that’s going to be useful for said. “If you’re on this project, you don’t help her,” said Alysia’s mother Stepha- While people who cooperated with cepted genetic testing, which found in the whole of your life.” In fact, the completion of the project have to disclose this information to your nie, a nurse. research prior to the 100,000 Genomes 2013 that she did not have misprinted As far as cancer patients are con- will enhance the effectiveness of medi- insurer,” she added. Stephanie, 42, became aware of Aly- Project, such as the Sherley-Prices, pin genes, a huge relief for her family. cerned, the project will compare ge- cal treatment by making a drug for each The British life insurance industry has sia’s delayed development before her hopes on advances in treatment of diffi- Graham also had a heart and lung nomes of tumors with those of healthy type available and enabling doctors to decided on a temporary policy to allow first birthday. Alysia was confirmed with cult diseases, they also worry because transplant in the same year, something cells in order to determine mutations in take into account patients’ separate con- participants in the project not to dis- global developmental delay, a term that genomics can also uncover disease risks that has enabled her to “run up the the genes. stitutions for adverse effects. close their genomic results to insurers.

PAGE: 18 The Japan Times Thursday, January 1, 2015 19 new year special Activities to ring in year of the sheep

Mayumi Koyama STAFF WRITER

Usually, the New Year holiday season in Japan is a time to spend with family and many people go back to their home- towns, while others stay indoors for tele- vision-watching marathons. Therefore, with the exception of some shopping areas, Tokyo is relatively quiet compared with the usual hustle and bustle. If you’re staying in the capital and are looking for something to do, there are plenty of vibrant events taking place at the beginning of the year. The following events and activities are being held in the Tokyo area. Roppongi Hills From Jan. 1, Roppongi Hills will wel- come visitors with big bargains, as well as some exciting events and food to cheer people into the New Year. Restaurants in the complex will open from 11 a.m. to allow people a chance to reinvigorate themselves after hard bar- gain hunting. From Jan. 1 to 4, some res- taurants will offer special items in the hope of bringing people good fortunes in the coming year. Popular hamburger restaurant AS Classics Diner will offer a burger resembling “kagami mochi” (mirror mochi rice cake), a traditionally Traditional Japanese “shishi-mai” lion dances will take place at Roppongi Hills on Jan. 1. courtesy of roppongi hills decorated rice cake for ¥1,404. Eggcel- lent, a restaurant popular for its break- Visitors can have a drink of sake and the traditional Japanese New Year’s games, sion. fast items, including eggs Benedict, will first 800 people will have it served in an such as “hanetsuki,” a badminton-like From 1 p.m. on Jan. 1, a free “mochit- prepare a 15-layer stack of pancakes col- original “masu” square wooden cup. game, and spinning tops until 3:30 p.m. suki” (rice cake pounding) event will be ored in the celebratory hues of red and As in past years, attractions such as Park staff will be on hand to explain how held with the park’s mascot, Land Dog, white for the first 15 customers each shishi-mai lion dances and live classical to play the games. and the first 300 people can join. After day. Other, newly opened restaurants, music performances will be held in the At the park’s cafes, Nakanojima-no- pounding the rice, the fresh rice cakes including Brazilian churrasco restaurant Galleria. ochaya and Matsu-no-ochaya, Japanese can be tasted. Barbacoa, are also good options for a This year, a special rack will be set up green tea will be offered for ¥510 (from On Jan. 2 and 3, at 10 a.m., noon and rest. on the first floor of the Galleria through ¥720 with snacks) at Nakanojima-no- 2:30 p.m., sheep will be brought to the On the first day of 2015, the Hills Jan. 12. People can write their New Year ochaya, and for \820 at Matsu-no-ocha- park’s grassy square and people can pet, Arena event space will resound with an resolutions or wishes on a colorful rib- ya, including snacks and a tour of the feed and take pictures with sheep. upbeat atmosphere. A popular rhythmic bon and tie it to the rack. After Jan. 12, tea house. For this occasion, Matsu-no- Japanese drum performance by percus- the rack will be dedicated to a nearby ochaya will open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Roppongi Hills is connected to Roppongi sion group Dondoko will be held and shrine. and tea will be served to 15 people every Station (Hibiya and Oedo lines). For traditional Japanese “shishi-mai” lion 30 minutes. more information, visit www.roppongi- dances will be held from 1 p.m. and 2 Hama-Rikyu Gardens hills.com p.m. Additonally, from 1 p.m., the first If weather permits, there will be Japa- Yomiuri Land 200 visitors to the event space will be nese traditional events in this quiet oasis On the very first day of the New Year, the Tokyo Midtown can be accessed directly treated to a cup of sake. On Jan. 2 and 3, in the midst of the vast Tokyo metropo- Yomiuri Land amusement park in Ka- from Exit 8 of Roppongi Station. For free workshops, including ones making lis. wasaki will be open from 10 a.m. more information, visit www.tokyo-mid- New Year’s decorations and doing cal- On Jan. 2 and 3, there will be New Through some New Year’s celebratory town.com. ligraphy, will be held from 11 a.m. Year’s events at one of the biggest tradi- events, the theme park is set to welcome The venue’s iconic 400-meter-long tional parks, Hama-Rikyu Gardens, people to 2015 with a fun and exciting Hama-Rikyu Gardens is 7 minutes from Keyakizaka Galaxy illumination will which was used for falconry during the start to the year. Shiodome Station (Oedo and Yurika- continue to shine bright through Feb. 16 Tokugawa Shogunate. From 11 a.m. and There is a pleasant surprise for some mome lines) or 12 minutes from Shim- from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. 2 p.m., Japanese falconry demonstra- lucky people right at the front gate. bashi Station (various lines). For more Please note that from Jan. 5 to April tions will be conducted in the inner From Jan. 1 to 4, people who were born information, visit teien.tokyo-park.or.jp. 24, the facility’s museums and observa- moat area. In the morning, people can under the same Chinese zodiac sign as tory areas will be closed for renovations. enjoy watching falcons dive from the 2015 will be admitted to the park for Yomiuri Land is a 10-minute bus ride Denstu Headquarters Building near the free. The zodiac animal for 2015 is sheep from Yomiuri-Land-mae Station on the Tokyo Midtown park. The demonstrations will last about and anyone born in previous years of Odakyu Line, or 10 minutes by cable car People can write their New Year resolutions or wishes on a colorful ribbon at Tokyo Tokyo Midtown’s New Year will start an hour, so those interested should the sheep (2003, 1991, 1979 and so on at from Keio-yomiuri-land Station on the Midtown. Top: A “mochitsuki” (rice cake pounding) event will be held at Yomiuri Land with a sake treat at Sake Shop Fukumit- dress warmly. 12-year intervals) can show their identi- Keio Line. For more information, visit with the park’s mascot, Land Dog on Jan. 1. courtesy of tokyo midtown, yomiuri land suya from 10:45 a.m. to noon on Jan. 2. In the open square, people can enjoy fication at the entrance for free admis- www.yomiuriland.com. Looking back on, preserving traditional New Year’s activities

Minoru Matsutani fly a kite and very few items to sell in winter,” the mu- century, according to the website. Staff writer spin a top dur- seum says on the website. The oldest top was found in Egypt and ing oshogatsu,” A top stands up as it spins, and people is said to date from about 2,000 B.C. to “Shogatsu,” the term for the New Year’s the koma, or associate it with the Japanese phrase of 1,400 B.C., according to the website. holidays in Japanese, is a time when top, is tradition- “standing on one leg,” which connotes a people take the first three days of the al entertain- person becoming recognized as a re- Tako-age (Kite flying) New Year off to spend time relaxing with ment over New sponsible adult. A top, therefore, carries Kite flying is one of the traditional activi- their families and engaging in tradition- Year’s in Japan, a positive image and toy shops decided ties done over New Year’s in Japan. It al activities to remind themselves of along with kite to promote tops at New Year’s, accord- was a children’s favorite at New Year’s their heritage. flying. ing to the website. until a few decades ago, when computer Japanese children, especially those in The word Dani/Flickr After that, the “Oshogatsu” song de- games and other entertainment options rural areas, play some shogatsu-specific koma, when used buted and newspapers and TV pro- became popular, leading to fewer chil- games. In urban areas, adults teach them in haiku poetry, is taken as a descriptor grams featured playing with tops as a dren flying kites today. how to play as they are becoming less meaning January. New Year’s activity, according to the However, convenience stores and toy and less familiar with those traditions. Tops became popular entertainment museum website. Eventually, tops came shops still begin selling kites in mid-De- Below are some examples of these at New Year’s because toy shops worked to be regarded as a New Year’s toy. cember, ahead of the peak demand peri- traditional games. to market them that way, according to Tops are said to have come to Japan od. the website of the Japan Spinning Top from China and the first written men- Kites are not necessarily a worldwide Koma-mawashi (Spinning top) Museum in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. tion of a top in Japan was in a 10th-cen- thing for New Year’s. Only in Japan is it A worker is surrounded by many decorative kites. Another side of yukita from As sung in the Japanese traditional song “In other seasons, there were many tury document. The first time the shape popular at the beginning of the year. Asakusa/Wikimedia “Oshogatsu,” in which the lyrics, “Let’s toys and things to do, but toy shops had of a top was clearly drawn was the 12th The reason for this is because the Tokugawa shogun in the late Edo Period attached whistles to them to frighten or ed on their face as a penalty. (1603 to 1868) only allowed people to fly confuse opposing armies, Fukuoka said. The hagoita looks like a short cricket kites during the New Year’s period, said Kites are said to have come to Japan bat with a wider blade. The shuttlecock Masami Fukuoka, the secretary general from China in the Heian Period (794- is made with feathers and a spherical of the Japan Kite Association. 1185) and were mainly flown as enter- piece of wood. “Kites became extremely popular tainment for aristocrats, he said. It is believed that hitting a shuttlecock then. People had kite battles and some- back and forth will help one to avoid times kites fell on daimyo and aristo- Hanetsuki bad luck or evil, according to the web- crats as they were traveling, and they got Hanetsuki, tra- site of Japanese Culture Iroha Encyclo- angry,” Fukuoka said. “So the govern- ditionally a girl’s pedia, and playing hanetsuki over the ment decided kites should only be al- activity, is a New Year’s holidays is believed to en- lowed over New Year’s, when traffic was game in which sure a year free of bad lack. not so heavy. Also, New Year’s is a spe- two people each Also, flying shuttlecocks resemble cial time of a year, so they probably hold a “hagoita” dragonflies, which eat mosquitos, and thought ordinary people should be al- wooden racket thus it is thought that the longer the lowed to fly kites at that time.” and hit a “hane,” hane remains in the air, the greater the While kites nowadays are solely for or shuttlecock, protection players will have from mos- entertainment, they were used for mili- to the other per- nESnad/Wikimedia quitoes throughout the coming year. tary purposes when they were invented son, who has to Commons Hagoita are often sold around the end in China more than 2,000 years ago. On hit it back without of the year as decorations as well. Ex- battlefields, people flew kites to mea- letting it drop to the ground. Whoever pensive hagoita can cost tens of thou- sure the distance to their enemies and misses traditionally gets black ink paint- sands of yen.

PAGE: 19 20 The Japan Times Thursday, January 1, 2015 new year special Female entrepreneurs lead way in employing women

Yumiko Doi friends quit their jobs after they got mar- Kyodo ried or once they had children. Govern- ment statistics show that even today, Long before Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about 60 percent of working women in declared empowering women in the Japan quit their jobs upon the birth of economy to be an essential pillar of his their first child. “Abenomics” strategy, Kyoko Higashiya- “So I thought if I am going to start a ma made it a rule in her company to business, I’d want to proactively employ create opportunities for women to land women who are raising children or car- full-time employment and be able to ing for sick or elderly family members, work while raising children. and make it a company where they can While the number of female entrepre- continue to work” without having to quit neurs in Japan is still less than half that of due to such commitments in their pri- males, many like Higashiyama, 42, are pi- vate lives, she explained. oneers in their own right in creating busi- Keeping her business running under ness models that address social issues, such considerations is not easy, howev- such as the underutilization of women’s er. For example, Higashiyama and her skills and waning rural economies. only male employee — her elder brother Higashiyama’s Estrolabo is a small — must shoulder the burden of any Rina Sakai (front row, center), smiles alongside local rice and egg producers in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, on Nov.5. KYodo machikoba, or town factory, that spe- overtime needed to complete unfin- cializes in precision metalwork drilling Megumi Shiotani, an employee at ished work by deadlines. Meanwhile, miles away in Oshu, Iwate Sakai’s company, Fermenstation Co., to sen out and returning on the last train at in Higashi-Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, a Estrolabo, operates machinery used in Finances are also tight. Despite hav- Prefecture, another female entrepreneur extract ethanol. night, while her husband takes care of city known for its high density of facto- precision metalwork drilling at the ing made a profit from the third year successfully established a new business Branded as 100 percent natural etha- the children for the day, she said. ries. Of its four employees, three are company in Higashi-Osaka, Osaka after opening the business, her compa- producing bioethanol from rice, making nol from a traceable origin, it is sold to Local farmers welcome the new busi- mothers with young children still in ele- Prefecture, on Nov. 14. KYodo ny slipped into the red due to loans use of idled farmland and stimulating cosmetics makers at about ¥25,000 per ness. mentary school, including two who are taken out in the aftermath of the Lehm- the local economy. liter. Demand from different outlets is “For us farmers, nothing is more cruel single mothers. cued her from despair and exhaustion. an Brothers bankruptcy and is expected Rina Sakai, 41, used to work in the fi- growing, even though the market price than to be told ‘Don’t grow rice!’” said Just like craftsman at other machiko- “(At first) I was worried as I am rather to take another year or two before it can nance industry until she quit 10 years of ordinary ethanol is only several hun- farmer Tsutomu Sato, apparently refer- ba factories, they work with extreme clumsy with my hands,” she recalled. return to the black, she said. ago and enrolled in the Tokyo University dred yen a liter. ring to the government’s policy since precision and care, maneuvering large “But when I saw how the other women Still, Higashiyama is optimistic and of Agriculture to study brewing. Additive-free soap made from the rice 1970 of trimming rice production to machinery while reading complicated worked hard on this craftsmanship, I has set her vision further down the road. After being asked for help by Oshu lees after extraction is also enjoying brisk keep surplus rice off the market to pre- blueprints to drill holes as minuscule as also felt like giving it a try.” First, she started a business importing municipal officials and local farmers, sales at department stores and other vent prices from falling. “She saved us.” 0.1 millimeters in diameter into metal. Shiotani has since turned into a sundries, which has nothing to do with Sakai launched a project to make etha- shops in Tokyo. Surplus lees are also pro- Similarly, Kunie Oikawa, who runs a “Sure, there is the pressure that I must skilled artisan at Estrolabo. She works metal processing but will provide a nol fuel from rice. They did manage to vided to local poultry farmers in Oshu as farm stay, said, “Not only did she find a not mess it up, but at the same time it from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., which en- means for staff members to work from extract ethanol, but the production costs feed, given its high nutritional value. new use for our rice. She came to this also brings a sense of satisfaction,” one ables her to make it in time to pick up home should circumstances require were way too high to make ethanol fuel “This is a full-cycle ecobusiness that land as a complete stranger, got us all of the workers, 35-year-old single moth- her daughter, now in the third grade of them do so. a profitable business. makes use of every bit (of the rice) to the united together and enlivened the er Megumi Shiotani, said of her job. elementary school, from after-school She also envisions expanding her staff Then, something from daily life fullest,” Sakai said proudly. whole community.” Shiotani and her husband divorced day care. It is Higashiyama’s policy not to over 30 members by hiring people caught Sakai’s eye — cosmetics. “The A mother of two, aged 3 and 7, Sakai Sakai’s business model of involving when her daughter was just 1 year old. to ask her staff to work extra hours or on from different generations, so that they market for organic cosmetics is ap- usually works from her home office in the local community in her endeavor To make a living, she looked for a job, holidays, so they can attend to their chil- can have the flexibility to establish dif- proaching ¥10 billion. There will be de- Tokyo and communicates by phone sev- has won various business contests both but was turned down wherever she drearing needs. ferent work styles according to the mand (for bioethanol) even if it’s eral times a day with the female staff at in Japan and abroad, and is beginning to went. Company after company told her Higashiyama launched her business needs and commitments at their stage expensive,” she thought. Oshu Labo to check on the ethanol ex- gain attention. Her next goal is to apply they would not hire her because she had at age 33, after an acquaintance suggest- of life. Local farmers cultivated organic, in- traction processes such as temperature her knowhow to utilize other idle farm- a child and would likely often take leave ed that she open a machikoba with only Eventually, she would like to “let one dustrial-use rice on paddies that had control. land across the country. at short notice, causing an inconve- female workers. of the mommy artisans take over as been left idle due to the government’s She also goes to Oshu in person about “There are a lot of challenges, but I am nience. While she herself is single, Higashiya- company president and I will become rice acreage-reduction policy. The rice is three times a month, leaving Tokyo in excited about it,” she said with a big Her encounter with Higashiyama res- ma said she has seen many of her company chairman,” she said. then fermented at Oshu Labo run by the early morning on the first Shinkan- smile.

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