”Japanese smile" - Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn)

"Japanese smile" - Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn)(1392-1573)

1)

In Koizumi Yakumo's 'The Face of Japan', there is a sentence describing the 'Japanese smile'.

Koizumi Yakumo said the following:

2) 

"The Japanese can smile even in the face of death.

But they smile at death and other occasions for the same reason.

There is no sense of challenge or hypocrisy in smiling."

3)

"It should not be confused with the dark smile of resignation, which we tend to interpret as a sign of weakness of character.

The Japanese smile is a carefully crafted and long-established way of smiling".

4)

Yakumo said,

"The warmth of the heart that produces a smile, which is innate in the Japanese child, is nurtured throughout the entire period of family education.

And it is taught in the same way as a polite bow with the hands on the floor".

5)

And he goes on to consider the following:

"The most pleasant face for the other person is a smiling face.

Therefore, it is customary to smile as pleasantly as possible at parents, relatives, teachers, friends and those who think well of you.

In addition, it is also considered a standard of life always to show a cheerful attitude to the world and to give others a pleasant impression of you."

6)

"It is a social duty to keep a dignified smile on your face even when your heart breaks.

Conversely, it is disrespectful to appear serious or unhappy.

For it causes worry and suffering to those who favour you".

7)

The Japanese of the Meiji era, as Koizumi Yakumo saw them when he came to Japan, were people who never stopped smiling.

Then the following words make me think deeply.

8) 

"No other civilized people know the secret of a happy life as well as the Japanese.

Joy in life depends on the happiness of those around us.

Therefore, selflessness and patience must be cultivated in us.

No other people understand this more widely and generally than the Japanese."

(9)

I often refer to these words in my speeches.

"Today, happiness is thought of as the happiness of the individual.

But for the Japanese of the Meiji era, happiness was the happiness of those around them."

10)

"That is why sarcasm, cynicism and mean-spirited wit have no place in Japanese society.

One might even say that such things have no place in cultured life.

One's shortcomings are not subject to ridicule or condemnation, one's frivolous actions are not criticized, and one's unexpected mistakes are not laughed at".

11)

It is how Yakumo saw the Japanese people one hundred and twenty-three years ago.

And how about us today?

"Sarcasm, cynicism, wicked wit, etc." are rampant worldwide.

Many personal faults are subject to ridicule and condemnation.

12)

Reading Yakumo's "The Face of Japan" makes us think deeply about what we have lost now compared to the Meiji era.

Once again, I am reminded of the following words from Matsui Touru's 'Smiling Zen'.

13) 

"Do not sow a single seed, however tiny, that will not smile, but carefully nurture the germ of a smile.

If we do these two things without ceasing, our innate smiling heart will shine forth at all times, in all places and all things.

Everything necessary in life is contained in these words".

Add info)

When did Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa last?

Meiji period until 45 years. 1868-1912 AD

Taisho period until 15 years. 1912-1926 AD

Showa period until 64 years. 1926-1989 AD

Heisei period is until 31 years. 1989-2019 AD

Reiwa started in 2019

"Japanese smile" - Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mLOkdDiG_k&t=12s

Lafcadio Hearn, 1850-1904

https://www.hearn-museum-matsue.jp/hearn.html

Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo): a writer who captured the essence of Japanese culture with his well-honed senses.

https://www.nippon.com/ja/views/b07208/