Japan is not Tokyo - A Chinese Housewife's Tale in the Land of the Rising Sun

Author: Wang Zi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: It is said that the lecherous nature of the Japanese is world-famous. Let's talk about the notorious Japanese custom of mixed-gender baths (honzoku, infamous). Facing a large group of strangers, men and women of all ages, naked and chatting merrily in a pool, even the supposedly liberal Americans cannot remain calm. According to my American friend, "This scene feels too shameless." Sometimes I often forget that Paris is French, New York is American, and London is British. Those places belong to the world, and it's hard to find a truly unique sense of belonging to a city there. Tokyo is not Japan; true Japan lies in the countryside. Life is made up of small details, so these little chapters have accumulated over time. There's no deep philosophy, nor any grand joys or sorrows. If you enjoy flipping through them, we'll become friends, no matter how far apart we are.
In the book Japan Is Not Tokyo, Wang Zi, a Chinese woman who married into Japan, attempts to unravel why there are so many frictions and misunderstandings between Chinese and Japanese people—even between married couples who have become family. In her view, culture is the "culprit." She realizes that everything has a tendency to extremes: the superficial bowing at first creates a need for slightly intrusive patting later to compensate for the initial restraint, leading to reflections that compared to bowing and hugging, a handshake is more in line with the Chinese philosophy of moderation. However, behind the bowing and hugging lies a cold heart, while behind our moderation lies a warm and generous spirit. To say the least, the hand we extend carries a hint of warmth, though sometimes this warmth feels like a burden or even pain, yet it remains cherished.