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Person with No Aspiration Is Like a Ship without a Rudder, a Horse without Reins.
Takanori Nakajo, Honorary Advisor of Asahi Breweries, Ltd.
■Japan Guilt Theory That Is Still Prevalent
The Japan Youth Research Institute, a foundation of which I am a member of the board of directors (Mr. Tamotsu Sengoku is the Head Director), is often asked by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to conduct a survey on the attitudes of young people. Every time I see the results of a comparison survey among Japan, the U.S., China, and South Korea, I am surprised to find that the youth in our country have such small dreams for the future. Their pride and love for the country is also extremely limited.
Each time I face the reality of the youth in our country, the bearers of tomorrow, my heart aches and is troubled.
More than half a century has passed since Japan lost WW��. However, the occupation policy which continued for 6 years and 8 months after the war, especially “the War Guilt Information Program” (the policy to imprint the guilt of war onto the population) upon the initial stage, thoroughly penetrated the Japan Guilt Theory through the population, which has been prevalent for long periods.
Caucasians were colonizing other countries on a global mass scale for 5 centuries. Amid such movements, our ancestors succeeded in establishing a modern state from the end of the Edo Period*1 to the Meiji Period*2. It was a significant milestone of our people in the modern history to have become one of the top 5 countries in the world despite being a colored race. There is no doubt that this great accomplishment is the result of high aspirations and big dreams of our ancestors.
However, our country fought with great power and was defeated in the Showa Period. It was 62 years ago. Japanese people were overcome with the tremendous shock of the defeat. Then a tactful occupation policy followed, making Japanese blind to the essence of winning or losing the war.
As Clausewitz described, war is “a continuation of politics by other means”, and is a conflict of national interests of both sides. Winning or losing the war has nothing to do with justice. Once one side wins, “Might is right.” Everything is controlled based on this theory, and all the history is written by the hand of the winner. Japanese people couldn’t even understand this reality. Even now, after half a century from then, Japanese are not aware of this fact, and many are still inflicted by masochistic view on history.
With such a “woeful state” of adults, it is extremely difficult for youngsters to love their county and have dreams for the future. How can they live with high aspirations?
*1The Edo Period: 1603-1868
*2The Meiji Period: 1868-1912
■What We Have Lost in Exchange for Affluence
I find that another big reason explaining the survey results is the affluence of this country.
Although Japan is a country with few natural resources, it has established world-leading wealth now. All the 6.5 billion human beings hate poverty and are aiming at affluence. In view of this reality, affluence itself is nothing of concern. Whether it is a result of working hard or God-given, you just need to simply thank God.
However, Japanese people intoxicated with affluence need to modestly listen to what global intellectuals have to say:
“Although affluence is the goal for all the human beings, strangely, once you get there, inevitably the energy to aspire will weaken, and the ability to persevere will wilt.” Without doubt, “the energy to aspire will weaken” means to become unable to visualize dreams. “The ability to persevere will wilt” refers to the loss of patience. Reflect on the reality of our country. The above mentioned survey results. Suicides exceeding 30,000 every year according to government press releases. Phenomena of killing those you find disgusting without a bit of patience and hesitation. These are exactly as pointed out by the global intellectuals.
Looking back on the status of Japan before the war, we were incomparably poor. There was no need to tell the then youngsters to envision big dreams, as they used to head for large cities such as Tokyo or Osaka, with abundant spirit of “Come to me, more difficulties. Although my ability is limited, I will try and see what I can do.”
Some of the mothers seeing off such youngsters were illiterate, but used to talk to their sons, “Please make sure to avoid doing anything that could be an object of contempt.” The sons had strong aspirations to be successful and cure the chapping that their mothers had been suffering from. Therefore, they could endure whatever hardships. As many as 600,000 Japanese in Manchuria (Northeastern China) upon the defeat in WW�� were detained in Siberia. Among them, 60,000 people died from hunger or were frozen to death.
When the cenotaph of the victims was established in Khabarovsk, Mr. Ryuzo Sejima, the former Chairman of ITOCHU Corporation, who used to be detained for as long as 11 years, his wife, and I visited the place. Mr. Sejima stood in front of the former concentration camp and told me that it was difficult to survive without having dreams and firm resolve: “Whatever happens, no matter how tough it might be, I will set foot in my motherland.” “I will never die until I see my beloved wife.” His remarks were infinitely painful, very heavy, and very noble.（Mr. Ryuzo Sejima passed away in the early morning of September 4. May he rest in peace.）
■What Saves Japan from the Current Status
When I was leading Asahi Breweries, Ltd. at the time its performance was at rock bottom, I used to be enchanted by the pictures of Vlaminck. Many of his pictures are dark, mostly painting muddy roads or stormy scenes. However, the pictures never fail to have a strong light spotting from the upper right. When you are at rock bottom, you can’t help but searching for even a modest ray of light. A ray of light can give you the power to live, when you are in darkness.
The famous Shoin Yoshida*3 preaches: “Once you have aspiration, your vital energy will become even more vigorous.”
I was taught the words of Wang Yangming*4 at military school: “Person with no aspiration is like a ship without a rudder, a horse without reins.”
Dogen*5, the founder of the Soto school of Zen, also teaches us: “You are sure to achieve what you think desperately. If you are desperate, you are sure to come up with the means to achieve your goal.”
I firmly believe that there is nothing but education and discipline that can save Japan from the current status.
Let me tell you this, the readers of “Chichi”. Even without citing the above examples of ancient times, Mr. Shinmin Sakamura, with whom you are familiar, always preached in his life of 96 years: “Pray, and any flower of yours will bloom.” “Where there is aspiration, there is a way.” The light you shed on a corner around you is sure to become countless waves illuminating this country, giving birth to youngsters with many dreams and high aspirations one after another.
*3Shoin Yoshida (1830−1859) was a Japanese scholar and teacher. He is cited as the spiritual leader/opinion leader of the Meiji Restoration.
*4Wang Yangming (1472 1529) was one of the most influential philosophers in the Confucian tradition. He is best known for his theory of the unity of knowledge and action.
*5Dogen was a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher and the founder of the Soto school of Zen in Japan. He was a leading religious figure of his time, as well as being an important philosopher.
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