Well, most every one interested in Japan has probably heard the news by now. Yay! Congratulations, Princess and family!
(Well, that solves that, I guess. Whew, lucky no one had to change any rules over it--having an empress would have been terrible for so many people, for sure!! And to think, the pressure to have a male heir only caused the princess to have a nervous breakdown once! At least she could get pregnant again, right?
What's the big deal about all this anyway?
Really, there have been empresses in Japan before(eight of them, actually). I think a lot of people believe either males or females are innately good leaders. And I personally don't think the strengths of men are more powerful than the strengths women possess. I'm talking innate strengths, the stuff nature gives us. I wonder why having an empress would have been such a horror.
To tell you the truth, and my own gender aside, I hoped she would have a girl. Just to have something change around here, and to make people look at their own biases, which seem to be based in fear. I see this as a chance lost for many Japanese to go through some quite interesting and challenging introspection. And of course, for Princess Mako, a.k.a. the one who got pushed aside, as a chance lost to change the hearts of those people.)
That said, (yet, regardless of how I personally feel,) may the prince and Emperor-to-be, live long, and be healthy and happy. Bansai!!!
I tell of my day-to-day experiences in a funky Japanese town from my American viewpoint. This blog could also be called 'Bizarro World', 'Notes From Kyushu, a Smaller Island', or 'Teaching English in Japan: Smash Your Ego in 10 Easy Lessons."
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
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4 comments:
"to have something change around here, and to make people look at their own biases, which seem to be based in fear. I see this as a chance lost for many Japanese to go through some quite interesting and challenging introspection" Do you realize that Americans elect their leaders, and yet have never had a woman president or vice-president? Which country is biased??? Many countries have elected female prime ministers and presidents, but not America. I realize that you are very young, but try to examine your own cultural biases - 'having a female president would be terrible for so many people, for sure!!'
Change is always good and something we should all embrace with open heart and open mind and not just open eyes and open arms...
I agree with you completely jet. There wouldn't be anything wrong with an empress at all, hmmmm? That really gets me tinkering about things...
Now see what you have gone and done.
Later...
Anon--thanks for you comment. It's true that we in America have not yet had a woman president or vice-president. But our country is young(like myself, which is relative by the way :) ). The Japanese Imperial Family has been ruling Japan in some fashion for millenia, so maybe our country hasn't had its time as of yet.
And although we haven't had a woman president, and we certainly have biases, opinions, and prejudices on that topic as Americans, I was specifically aiming this towards the Japanese situation, though it may have been suitable to include some remarks about the state of our country, or my own biases, perhaps, also.
Although it may have appeared differently, when I wrote, 'having a female president...' was meant somewhat sarcastically. I was trying to convey what I believe many Japanese feel about the issue. I can see how it could be interpreted in other ways, though, but this is more how I meant it.
To blu--tinkering sounds like you've got some workshop hidden away in your basement where you go and conduct experiments. In this case, though, I know it's that little workshop in your mind. Let me know your results; and be careful--this topic has been known to produce volatile reactions, ;-0 !
Tinkering in my lil' wprkshop in the basement would have to be in reference to the bottom level of somewhere unspoken. In this case, I would have to say it would be the bottom of my heart, and as for my mind the machines are constantly on overload so that is no stranger to the rule.
I am strong and agile and some may even sy swift so I believe I can handle the volatile if need be. Do you believe? Of course you do, you are the infamous jetblossom...
I enjoy this sooo much!
Later, my favorite girl in Japan...
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