Clinton News-Record, 1974-10-10, Page 394.1111...111.1111.1M
PAGE 23
Heritage
Japan not a land of mystery,
but a land of people
Japan is a mountainous country about half the
size of Quebec, but it has a population of 110
million with some of the most expensive real estate
in the world. Here in Canada, we've complained
about land prices, food costs and a general rise in
the cost of living, In Japan, the cost of living rises
twenty percent each year, and it is now the third
richest country in the world. The first Japanese
came to Canada around the turn of the century,
landing in Vancouver. Most of them were bachelors
who sought work in the mines, as fishermen or as'
loggers. The bachelors' Jives were lonely, so home
went the letters to arrange marriages and as their
brides settled in Canada, their families and their
businesses grew. The first Japanese in Canada came
from Nagasaki, the harbour that has been witness
to many great events in the history of Japan. It is
here in Japan that the first episode of CTV's
heritage series begins, airing Tuesday, October 15,
9:00-10:00 pm on CKCO—TV. 0
In this first episode of the HERITAGE series, en-
titled JAPAN, producer Ron Kelly delves into the
richness of the Japanese complexity. Herman Kahn
says that the 21st century belongs to Japan. Its
genius is apparent, but it comes from hard work and
group accomplishment. In Japan an adult is con-
strained by his obligations of loyalty, dedication
and obpdience. They may be to his family or his em-
ployer, but they are always to someone. For the
Japanese these obligations are paramount and it is
the observance of them that holds the society
together., From the ruins of World War II, this
miraculous country has risen to become the third
richest in the world. The Japanese seem to drive
Westerners who try to understand them into ex-
treme positions.
Westerners were kept out of Japan for hundreds
of years, which sealed itself off from our influences.
This exclusion is a mixed blessing. We might call
Japan's loss Of progress great, but the advantages
are as great, if not greater. The Japanese always
know exactly who they are, Today, when dressing
for a parade in almost any town, they know their
direct ancestors paraded those same streets. It is a
feeling we in Canada cannot share and only vaguely
understand. Because of this strength of self-
identity they can afford to adopt ideas and
methods from the rest of the world and not feel
threatened. This is proving a great benefit. Now,
something new is happening. The flow of ideas is
reversing. We in North America are staggered at the
Japanese success at our own game called progress.
Now we in turn are starting to adopt their ideas on
things spiritual.
The Japanese are now modern, but not Western.
It is an important difference. It may well prove true
that the next century does belong to Japan.
BETTY KENNEDY
Betty Kennedy is back as the distaff member of CBC TV's
veteran series Front Page Challenge (Tuesdays at 9.30 p.m.)
along with the other regulars Pierre Berton, Gordon Sinclair and
moderator Fred Davis.