The first thing I thought about when I found out we were going to read this book about Japan and its culture was pride. All throughout the book Kazou Ishiguro has displayed the pride that this culture carries through inheriting it from the generation before them. An example of this would be when Ono's father tried to turn him into a profound man that would carry out the family business, but at the same time he made sure Ono wouldn't make a fool out of himself by becoming an artist. "Tell me Masuji, have you any idea what kind of a world artists inhabit?.. They inhabit a world which gives them every temptation to become weak-willed and depraved"(46). Also when Ono's father was talking to his wife about the same matter he said, "..there is a weakness running through our son's character"(46). From this we see that having honor, dignity, and pride is a major trait of the Japanese culture for the men and soon-to-be men.
Focusing more on pages 153 when Ono tells his grandson Ichiro he is eight and about old enough to get his first taste of sake, beer. Ono goes on telling Ichiro how men believe they are stronger when they drink when in reality they are no more than they are sober. This ties into the floating world for Ono where all the artists would gather at the Midgi-Hagi to drink and converse while being nurtured amongst the spirit of rebels and patriots.
When Ono tells Norikio about his offer to Ichiro of his first taste of sake on page 156 and 157, she corrects his tradition of introducing boys to the realm of men. After being criticized by both of his daughters, Ono begins to question his on way of doing things, but doesn't admit it out loud. “You women may not understand, but these things mean a great deal to a young boy.. it's a question of pride.. you women just don't understand about pride”(157). Then we see where Ono begins to have a change of though of his ways for both Ichiro and his son, Keniji. “I believe I was quite annoyed with myself..to be fair it is possible I misinterpreted entirely what she actually said”(157 & 158).\
From this mini-section of the book, I believe it is a short interpretation of the entire book. Through out the beginning of the book, Ono inherits pride from his farther and became a patriotic artist within the floating world. In this world like he told Ono, he felt stronger than he really was along with the rest of his pupils. Then as his surroundings and culture began to change after the war, so did Ono. He began to accept his failure in the past and the new changes around him through being criticized from the younger generation, and former colleagues just like how he was criticized by his daughters about giving Ichiro a taste of sake. In the end he admits his mistakes and moves on with his life just like he does with his son, Ichiro, and his losses from the war.
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I agree that this would've been a huge honor for Ichiro to have been able to taste the sake. I think that its not important to show that his grandson wanted a taste, but I think that it has some sort of connection to Ono's life. I think that the sake is a connection to Ono's paintings. He thought that his paintings that would make him and Japan stronger. He thought they did. At the end... they didn't. I think that the whole section on strength is the connection with how Ono believed that the war would make Japan stronger (just like sake and spinach make Ichiro think that he could be stronger). But at the end they realize that it really doesn't make them stronger.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it isn’t about being physically stronger, but just in a sense where they are mentally stronger. When they get drunk, they build a barrier that protects them from any intruders who wish to destroy someone’s self-esteem. This barrier is practically difficult to penetrate, which is what makes these drunken men “strong.” Drinking isn’t what brings pride to the young men; instead, making their mind stronger is what brings pride. As you say pride is a major deal with the Japanese. They take pride in every act they do to the point where it would affect how they take advise from people. Their pride can also effect their actions. For instance, Ono took great pride in his artworks when he was younger. It was his passion to paint. Even though his father warned him about the flaws and “depraved” ways of an artist, Ono still chose the path of an artist. He took so much pride in paintings that he ignored his father’s advice on the rough path an artist most likely will take. It turned out that Ono’s father knew what he was talking about because Ono, being an artist, had a rough life.
ReplyDeleteSake doesn't make anyone strong, or should I say any kind of alcohol. I've tasted sake when I go to a sushi restaurant with my family and friends and its a pleasant drink that does offer a warm sensation once the content is gulped down.Yet, in Ono's case, to let Ichiro do such a thing wouldn't be recommended since, like the younger generation, he didn't grow up with Japanese customs. Kenji was Ono's son and was able to enjoy and be part of a culture where it was proud of its tradition and people, but since the war, the Japanese developed a Westernized life. Ichiro doesn't have that mentality or lifestyle to be the same as Kenji was. I think at that moment Ono was just remembering the his life in the past and couldn't help but try to bring in a little of that past by offering Ichiro a drink.
ReplyDeleteA strong bond is created when sharing something important with someone. This bond is what was intended by Ono's actions. He wanted to share the sake with his grandson so that they could share a special moment that they will both always remember. Many people remember the first time they were given a taste of alcohol with their father. In my case, I remember the first time I ever shot so father's handgun. It wasn't just the fact that I was shooting a powerful weapon, but the fact that he trusted me with the gun and was enjoying the time with me made it memorable and empowering. I never forgot that moment. This is what Ono wanted from sharing the sake with Ichiro, but there are times for everything. He is too young. My father waited until I was 13 to let me shoot his gun. He wouldn't even let me touch it at age 8. His time will come, and when it does Ichiro will truly appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I connect sake and the floating world I think of intoxication. When men drink too much sake or any alcohol for that matter they begin to act crazy and do things that they normally wouldn't do. My theory is that Ono believes that sake makes men strong because when they get drunk their world begins to "float", as in everything is up in the air and they don't know what will happen next or what they will say next. Their strength comes from the fact that they believe they can handle whatever is thrown at them in this world afloat.
ReplyDeleteThis is another point in the book that shows how the American culture is starting to make its way into Japan's world. The old customs of Japan are ending with the end of the war. Japan lost more that just men and the war, it's losing its culture to younger generations. Maybe that is what the entire book is about, how one event can truly alter an entire country negatively.
ReplyDeleteOno doesn't see what he believes in as mistakes. He realizes that back then what he believed in may have been more accepted now and vice versa. Now people accept his paintings. But now his customs aren't accepted because the world has changed. For example, Ichiro drinking sake isn't accepted by Ono's daughters. Back then if Ono said he could drink, he would, because the men had more power.
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