Chapter Thirteen
In which the Japanese High Rise speaks.
Chapter Thirteen
It is a common Western misconception that, during the Tokugawa era, Japan was a closed country. Hardly so. Japan traded with China, Korea -- even the Dutch. But what Europe and America remember is Commodore Perry, blowing open our ports with diplomacy, intimidation, and big boats.
Those were shaky times, but we were in our souls lovers of technology even before we opened our ports to the West. How quickly we modeled our boats after Western boats; how quickly we learned Western philosophy; how eager we were for the novelties of Western thinking and Western learning. Suddenly we were no longer an early modern country. We were a small island, yes, but how quickly we were taught, and how rapidly our resources grew!
I am not a bitter house. Somewhat sarcastic, yes -- but so are all young things, modern and high-rise. Today, with all our potential, the West knows we make delicious candy and fantastic computers and our men are strangely, androgynously attractive. Today, with all our potential, the West thinks Lost in Translation with finger-quotations. Today, with all our potential, the West thinks of Bill Murray and pointy-nosed animation.
Ah! The irony.
Perhaps our doors should have stayed closed.
Unfortunately, I am not a historian; I am only an apartment. But I have an electronic toilet, and I know just how to use it.
Chapter Thirteen
It is a common Western misconception that, during the Tokugawa era, Japan was a closed country. Hardly so. Japan traded with China, Korea -- even the Dutch. But what Europe and America remember is Commodore Perry, blowing open our ports with diplomacy, intimidation, and big boats.
Those were shaky times, but we were in our souls lovers of technology even before we opened our ports to the West. How quickly we modeled our boats after Western boats; how quickly we learned Western philosophy; how eager we were for the novelties of Western thinking and Western learning. Suddenly we were no longer an early modern country. We were a small island, yes, but how quickly we were taught, and how rapidly our resources grew!
I am not a bitter house. Somewhat sarcastic, yes -- but so are all young things, modern and high-rise. Today, with all our potential, the West knows we make delicious candy and fantastic computers and our men are strangely, androgynously attractive. Today, with all our potential, the West thinks Lost in Translation with finger-quotations. Today, with all our potential, the West thinks of Bill Murray and pointy-nosed animation.
Ah! The irony.
Perhaps our doors should have stayed closed.
Unfortunately, I am not a historian; I am only an apartment. But I have an electronic toilet, and I know just how to use it.