Monday, November 23, 2009

Bittersweet reflections

In Japan, the Meiji era is known as a great time of change. Under Western influences, Japan tried to catch up, importing many ideas and technologies from Europe.

At such a time, it is psychologically natural to focus on new things to come. The bright images of a new civilization. Steam locomotives. Brick and stone buildings. The electric lights. These novel sights astonished people and moved their hearts. They testify the irreversibility of time.

On the other side of the coin, however, there must have been people who looked on the past era with nostalgia and longing. The Edo era was a unique civilization in itself. Perhaps even more harmonious and balanced than the decades that followed from the aesthetic point of view.

Yesterday, a series of events made me wonder how the Edo era must have appeared to people in the Meiji era. This exercise in imagination led to reflections on my own life.

Naturally, I am concerned about my future, as future is the only available degree of freedom for a living organism. I also look back on the past. The bittersweet reflections. Things that are gone for ever into the enigma of time.

6 comments:

Petrusa de Koker said...

Indeed the future is the only available degree of freedom for a living organism, since one can still do something about it. Of course I would have loved to see Japan before all the Western influences, but I was born too late and far away for that. However, that is part of your proud heritage and I can only marvel at what I read about the Edo era.

Tak said...

Bittersweet reflections...
I recall the taste of bittersweet chocolates that a girl gave me.
She gave me a box of chocolates, and she threw over me in a single month...

yuzu said...

Dr.Mr.Mogi
This is beautiful that the future is the only available degree of freedom for a living organism.
If now is the best time , past is all of matters and time is best time. You told me that present is present.
A life is wonderful and lovely.

Anonymous said...

If I have been not sence of belonging of a Japanese, I would not be a Japanese.If I were not an Amerazian, I could have a Japanese licence.A blood is mixed with the other,but I belive that I am a Jpanese.What is a Japanese?Is it to face Estan?I must be a Japanese,because I use Japanese wether I am a Japanese or not.Is it ture thing?I dont't khow where I am.I dont't know What I am.I make a search of Japan for missing myself.

Anonymous said...

make a correction

If I have been not sence of belonging of a Japanese, I would not be a Japanese.If I were not an Amerazian, I could have a Japanese licence.A blood is mixed with the other,but I belive that I am a Jpanese.What is a Japanese?Is it to face westean Eorope?I must be a Japanese,because I use Japanese wether I am a Japanese or not.Is it ture thing?I dont't khow where I am.I dont't know What I am.I make a search of Japan for missing myself.

Anonymous said...

make a correction

If I have been not sence of belonging of a Japanese, I would not be a Japanese.If I were not an Amerazian, I could have a Japanese licence.A blood is mixed with the other,but I belive that I am a Jpanese.What is a Japanese?Is it to face westean Eorope?I must be a Japanese,because I use Japanese wether I am a Japanese or not.Is it ture thing?I dont't khow where I am.I dont't know What I am.I make a search for Japan for missing myself.