<< magazine top >>









Pro-Japanese and Urawa Reds


Japanese often define certain people or country as "Pro-Japanese" However in real world, is there the person who deeply loves specific foreign country and people somewhere on the planet?
In Tehran, there are many people who use to be in Japan as a migrant workers. They are very friendly and also help me out to be enjoyed traveling in the country. "Oh, Iranian is a pro-Japanese people" You may say so. But I recall something. Most of the foreign tourist whom I met in Iran told me Iranian people were very kind. I think Iranian is not kind only for Japanese.
Let's say, there is a sick person in front of you. Will you make a decision whether help them or not by which country the person comes from? Maybe the person who lives in normal society and has love of humanity must not care about it. So if you decide it over "Who is the person?" or "Where the person comes from?", the society around you must be in hazardous situation. Not normal, at the war, for example.


"No. Pro-Japanese doesn't have such a serious meanings" You may say. Exactly it must not. However the thing that I most worry about is the fact people who tend to use the word "Pro-Japanese" easily use the word "Anti-xxxx" too. The both words caused by common misunderstandings. Which is mixed up people and politics together. Now a days here in Japan, there are many people who don't know the difference between
them. It's same for Japanese politicians or media.
I remember once a Japanese minister made a comment "I impeach their MINDO" against Korean government's official statement. Firstly I hardly believe it. Cos I had thought "Mindo" was only word for online right-wingers in the internet blog. As far as I know, the Japanese word "Mindo" means "people's level" or "cultural level"
Apparently now Japan swings to the right. But more over, it's quite serious these kind of discrimination is actualized in the society. Maybe "Hate speech against neighboring country's people" in Tokyo also a example of them.


Through that recently there was the incident which relate to this very issue. Some supporters of J-League football club Urawa Reds put the banner which was written "JAPANESE ONLY" on the stands' gate in the stadium. Although other supporters reported about it to the club, it's left over during the game. I was so disappointed. Cos I'm big fan of the club. According to the number of my ticket stub, I went the stadium eight times last year. Urawa Reds was winner of Asia Champion's League in 2007. And the final match was against "Sepahan" of Iran. So there are Iranian football fans who still remember the name of Urawa even now.
I'm not interested in national team's game which is played under the name of the nation. I cannot support the team whose members are changed every match. I'm really impressed with Urawa Reds, both team and supporters who make the away game to the home game. On the other hand Urawa knows very well the fact that there are many teams playing football better than them. In another words, the club and supporters has universal standard. At least I believed so. Then I heard the news. I'm really disappointed not only for the supporters but also for the club.


However I think ignoring the discriminatory act becomes more common attitude in Japan. It's in same way Chief Cabinet Secretary nervously reacts for the bashing by other nation, although he ignores the discriminatory speech for a foreign country by the cabinet members or other executives.
Following the banner incident Urawa Reds got a strict penalty by the J-League commission. The relevant supporters will be never allowed admitting any J-League matches in the future. The club got a behind the closed door match.
On the other hand, how about the relevant politicians or the executives. Without any penalties, they safely sat on the seat of the power. Most of the Japanese media showup the hate campaigns while reporting how much the "Pro-Japanese people abroad" loves Japan. I feel even commentators who used to analyze diplomacy in a dispassionate manner become more radical. Even so most of Japanese still believe the fishing float is still there and never imagine it's carried along by the current of the river far away from where it used be.
Am I too much nervous about it? Anyway for me living today's Japan is so frustrated. "Get out here if you don't like!" Well. But quitting to be Japanese is not as easy as quitting a Urawa reds' supporter.


Finally it's quite sure that Japanese people have to know the fact "People or the world cannot be clearly define as Pro or Con"
Basically Japanese doesn't have a sense of diversity. So they need one definition, one text book, one manual or one standard to follow. I think that's one of the defects. But it's also the key to solve the question why Japanese do so, why a leader try to changing the rule itself without discussion.



Mar. 2014



Today's piece
" From 2013 Asia Champions League " Saitama Stadium, Japan 2013
Note: Flash Movie with SOUND




fumikatz osada photographie