I me [Watakushi]

A Japanese personal pronoun one uses to denote oneself. The essential meaning and essence of the subjectivity of oneself as an individual are symbolized in the hieroglyphic character 私(watakushi) which implies oneself as an existences of a group and an individual can be redesigned with desire as their axis.In Japan&sbquo this counter concept is brilliantly expressed in the term messhiboko (sacrifice oneself for the nation).Ooyake means a large house. In a group in a house&sbquo abstinence from individual desires and assignment of individual roles are determined traditionally for an individual&sbquo or watakushi. This Esternor Confucian relationship between the public and an individual and hissense of value&sbquo especially in ethics&sbquo has been transformed drastically through changes in the time and social climate. In mordern ages&sbquo the colloquial term watashi(instead of watakushi) became more general&sbquo and the presentation of individual characters. of reversion of the relational values between the group and individual occurred with the establishment of the relational values between the group and individual occurred with the establishment of self-indentification and self-existence against the "house" and "public." After WWII&sbquo the American style of placing importance on "privacy" led to the denial of the "house" and "public" and a consciousness that places the subjectivity and subjective view on oneself (watashi) become prevalent. It meant rejection of self-denial for the nation and nationalistic awareness&sbquo or messhiboko&sbquo and led to prioritizing "privacy"(watashi). Privacy originally meant "maintenance of individual security free from the observance of others&sbquo" and with the advancement of the information society&sbquo assurance of protection and presentation of privacy has gained importance. In other word&sbquo privacy as "the right to reject infringement and alteration of private information by others&sbquo or the preservation and management of private information&sbquo on the premise it is not observed by others&sbquo" that is the freedom of oneself(watashi) has become the foundation of modern democracy. However&sbquo messhiboko&sbquo or nobles oblige&sbquo is an extremely appropriate logic for oneself(watashi) toward the public(ooyake). In my notion&sbquo the significance that it is the most important ethics for bushido&sbquo chivalry&sbquo and the ethics of the lady and gentleman. has not changed at all as the ethics of the human being.

Copyright © 2009 Kazuo KAWASAKI All rights reserved.