Fading - A Japanese Soliloquoy

(NOTE: The following is NOT autobiographical, though it is based on true-to-life examples.)

When the soroban (abacus) clubs disappeared from the schools, I didn't mind. Calculators do the job better anyway.

When the hōgaku (traditional Japanese music) clubs also went away, I didn't really care. The punk rock played by the "folk rock" clubs is much more fun anyway.

When the music classes replaced kotos with recorders and harmoniums, I said fine. Kotos are bulky and expensive anyway.

When the kids started using English words as their "hip slang", I just went along with it. Kid culture never makes much sense anyway.

When the news said kids were rapidly losing the ability to speak and write their own language, I wasn't surprised. They're more interested in video games and the internet anyway.

When they held a Hyakunin-Isshu (a traditional card game from more than a thousand years ago) tournament at the school and only a few kids showed up, I said it figures. That old poetry is just boring anyway.

When they held the Torioi (an annual children's event) in our neighborhood a few years ago, and it turned out none of the kids knew the traditional song, I laughed. They should just ditch that old thing anyway.

When all the local tatami makers but one disappeared, I didn't notice. Anyone who is anyone uses carpeting anyway.

When the shops in the old town hub started shutting down, I wasn't even there. The big, one-stop supermarket down the street is so much more convenient anyway.

When they announced that yet another long-historied street market in Tokyo had been eliminated, I paid no attention. The big, multi-national shopping and entertainment districts like Shibuya and Shinjuku are a lot cooler anyway.

When the high-quality sake went undrunk at the neighborhood parties, I didn't give a damn. I was too busy drinking cheap low-malt beer anyway.

When people stopped wearing yukata (summer kimono) to the summer festivals, I was perfectly happy. Changing clothes is a pain in the butt, and I feel silly wearing those things anyway.

When people stopped having traditional boat weddings in Itako, I was not concerned. I think I'd feel stupid doing something like that anyway.

When the famous Ayame Matsuri (Iris Festival) in Itako announced that it was terminating its long-historied Yatakebi Fune (Parade Boat) event, I just laughed. People would rather stay at home and watch ball games on TV anyway.

When my neighborhood stopped holding a Bon Odori (Bon Festival dance) every year, I happily helped them throw all the gear away. That thing was such a bother, and no one gives a damn about it anymore anyway.

When the Bon Festival came around last year, I didn't bother going back to the old family homestead or visiting my family's ancestral graves. It was so much easier just to order a gift for my grandparents online anyway.

When I had a vacation, I traveled to Hawaii and Guam and stayed at Western-style tourist hotels. The old-fashioned inns at the hot spring resorts here are small and crowded with drunk, old men anyway.

When they asked me if I'm proud to be Japanese, I said of course. No other culture in the world is as rich and unique as ours anyway.