「さようなら」って言おうか？

「さようなら」って言おうか？

Of the many stories covered through the course of the class, among those I had a hand in, the most impacting was the one related to the possible imminent legalization of gay marriage in Japan. Beyond its context in Japan, I am amazed by this article in a more global scale. Writing this article, my initial inclination is to consider Japan as being behind in matters related to the civil rights of diverse peoples due to its considerations of itself as homogenous. However, my second reaction was one of surprise as I remember that America was only a few years faster. It's hard to believe, and, in fact, it's unbelieveable. I am in a stable relationship with a man, and it is highly possible and even likely that I will marry this person one day. I accept this as casually as I do heterosexual marriage. And in essence it is. But had I been born just a few years earlier, I might not have even known that this would ever be possible let alone casual. The law met me with good timing, before I was concerned with the situation it amended. I cannot imagine how it must have been to those who were born earlier (I am not being figurative to express empathy; I literally cannot imagine). With Japan entering the fold, it feels that much of the world is moving forward together.

This class, along with the others I have taken in my time here, has greatly changed my views of Japan. In many ways this change has been toward to the negative, but I think this is only this is only natural. Before going to a new place we often have a preconceived image of what it will be and this is perhaps never more true than in the case of Japan which is nothing short of magical to many American eyes. The truth of a place is rarely as good as the ideal image, but this is natural as we learn more of the reality of the place. Reality is good and bad. Here are some of the things I realized about Japan:

Japan is dying, but it won't die. As the population diminishes, Japan is innovating to sustain itself, its tradition, and its culture. However, this will undoubtedly come with changes to the definition of "Japanese".

Japan truly believes that it is homogenous, that it is a country of people of the same ethnicity, values, language, ways of thinking, and ways of behaving.

I have not given much thought to the US in my attempts at immersion in Japan, but upon return, I am certain that I will be flooded with thoughts about the contrasts.