And I hope it's evident that the customer was not American. In my essay I mention he was "Asian" as my therapist broadly described him. (I got the impression he might have been Malaysian, Indonesian or Thai.) Sorry you were "infuriated" -- but no need in this case ... be well!
I hope it's evident that there are many (many!) Americans who are not like that customer. I'm infuriated on behalf of your massage therapist. I am so sorry (embarrassed, even) that the country's current administration is the cause of so much angst, but I'm glad you found a practitioner who knows how to heal.
Great writing, as expected. And I've often been finding myself feeling the same. Substack alone is enough to fill my day with grim news that leaves me first with outrage and grief, and then feeling dry and empty.
But a few years ago, I cam upon a new (for me) name of another tactic used by the all-too-clever to weaponize our compassion against us. 'Kando-porno'. A portmanteau of Japanese and English from the word for compassion 'kando' (感動) and the English word 'pornography'.
The discussion came up in an after-hours beer after one of my weekend jaunts with 'Soup no Kai' (a non-denominational NPO serving the homeless in Shinjuku https://soup1994.com/) ... when the discussion turned to those ubiquitous United Nations commercials about how our paltry donations can send this particular kid to school or feed that particular kid for a week.
The irony, and term, came up when I shared with the group my experience from a few years previous. Back in maybe '88 or '89, I was working for the personnel department of a trading company, Nissho Iwai (now Shojitzu), trying to start and run an English program. After a long day at the office, I would unwind at the local 'Tipness' fitness center in Asakusa, where I befriended a small group of Japanese guys into the weight-training thing. But a new, foreign face, a fellow American, turned up for a few weeks ... a thoroughly unpleasant expat in a high paying management position for the U.N. With no intention of learning enough Japanese to make any friends among the locals, I lent an ear to his gripes in between sets, but he soon left, for greener pastures I presume.
When I shared that story with the other Soup no Kai regulars, they nodded in recognition of how even supposedly altruistic 'volunteer' NPOs ... once they become institutionalized ... become magnets to those attracted to concentrations of power, and eventual corruption.
Come to think of it, I recognize the above in the history of TUJ. Back when we were at the Shimo-Ochiai campus, Nukui san, who was among the chief of managing staff, heard through the students how well I got along with them and went above and beyond mere transactional obligations as a teacher. So he asked if I was interested in teaching a few students (would-be college kids and adults) in the evening. Me, always up for meeting new people, agreed. That was the beginning of the soon-to-be renamed 'Continuing Education' program. But after a year or so, I became too busy being reshuffled to teach writing, then biology labs (even a geology lab), public speaking, and trouble-shooting off campus classes ... so I passed the job on to husband-wife team Bob and Kathy Bayers, who after returning back to the U.S. passed it on to Genie Endo (now divorced and resuming her original family name Eugenia Medrano), and now it has been passed on to someone who entered TUJ after I left ... someone with the 'appropriately competitive' credentials. The irony ... out of a bit of altruistic empathy, I began the program. Now, I would not even qualify to be a part-time teacher in that program.
(sigh) That is a trip down memory lane I'd just as soon forget because of where it led.
Steve, you've covered a lot here ... I got a laugh out of the "Tipness" fitness center! I remember Genie Medrano and the TUJ Continuing Education program, as I was at one time the Director of the [short-lived] Intercultural Communication Center at TUJ.
I looked up Genie and found she is still connected to TUJ, teaching writing as an adjunct. But other than her and Mike Williams, I'd probably see a sea of unrecognizable suits there if I were even allowed on campus.
Your beautiful words make me miss Japan so much!! Do you still stretch after the bath? I find walking helps keep my back somewhat okay--like when I don't walk after a few days I start feeling twinges, mainly in my upper back!
Well, when you stop missing Japan and come again, I hope you'll visit me! No, too lazy to stretch after the bath. But I swim in the pool for an hour every weekday morning--that seems to take care of all "twinges" --!
And I hope it's evident that the customer was not American. In my essay I mention he was "Asian" as my therapist broadly described him. (I got the impression he might have been Malaysian, Indonesian or Thai.) Sorry you were "infuriated" -- but no need in this case ... be well!
I hope it's evident that there are many (many!) Americans who are not like that customer. I'm infuriated on behalf of your massage therapist. I am so sorry (embarrassed, even) that the country's current administration is the cause of so much angst, but I'm glad you found a practitioner who knows how to heal.
Hi Karen,
Great writing, as expected. And I've often been finding myself feeling the same. Substack alone is enough to fill my day with grim news that leaves me first with outrage and grief, and then feeling dry and empty.
But a few years ago, I cam upon a new (for me) name of another tactic used by the all-too-clever to weaponize our compassion against us. 'Kando-porno'. A portmanteau of Japanese and English from the word for compassion 'kando' (感動) and the English word 'pornography'.
The discussion came up in an after-hours beer after one of my weekend jaunts with 'Soup no Kai' (a non-denominational NPO serving the homeless in Shinjuku https://soup1994.com/) ... when the discussion turned to those ubiquitous United Nations commercials about how our paltry donations can send this particular kid to school or feed that particular kid for a week.
The irony, and term, came up when I shared with the group my experience from a few years previous. Back in maybe '88 or '89, I was working for the personnel department of a trading company, Nissho Iwai (now Shojitzu), trying to start and run an English program. After a long day at the office, I would unwind at the local 'Tipness' fitness center in Asakusa, where I befriended a small group of Japanese guys into the weight-training thing. But a new, foreign face, a fellow American, turned up for a few weeks ... a thoroughly unpleasant expat in a high paying management position for the U.N. With no intention of learning enough Japanese to make any friends among the locals, I lent an ear to his gripes in between sets, but he soon left, for greener pastures I presume.
When I shared that story with the other Soup no Kai regulars, they nodded in recognition of how even supposedly altruistic 'volunteer' NPOs ... once they become institutionalized ... become magnets to those attracted to concentrations of power, and eventual corruption.
Come to think of it, I recognize the above in the history of TUJ. Back when we were at the Shimo-Ochiai campus, Nukui san, who was among the chief of managing staff, heard through the students how well I got along with them and went above and beyond mere transactional obligations as a teacher. So he asked if I was interested in teaching a few students (would-be college kids and adults) in the evening. Me, always up for meeting new people, agreed. That was the beginning of the soon-to-be renamed 'Continuing Education' program. But after a year or so, I became too busy being reshuffled to teach writing, then biology labs (even a geology lab), public speaking, and trouble-shooting off campus classes ... so I passed the job on to husband-wife team Bob and Kathy Bayers, who after returning back to the U.S. passed it on to Genie Endo (now divorced and resuming her original family name Eugenia Medrano), and now it has been passed on to someone who entered TUJ after I left ... someone with the 'appropriately competitive' credentials. The irony ... out of a bit of altruistic empathy, I began the program. Now, I would not even qualify to be a part-time teacher in that program.
(sigh) That is a trip down memory lane I'd just as soon forget because of where it led.
Steve, you've covered a lot here ... I got a laugh out of the "Tipness" fitness center! I remember Genie Medrano and the TUJ Continuing Education program, as I was at one time the Director of the [short-lived] Intercultural Communication Center at TUJ.
I looked up Genie and found she is still connected to TUJ, teaching writing as an adjunct. But other than her and Mike Williams, I'd probably see a sea of unrecognizable suits there if I were even allowed on campus.
Your beautiful words make me miss Japan so much!! Do you still stretch after the bath? I find walking helps keep my back somewhat okay--like when I don't walk after a few days I start feeling twinges, mainly in my upper back!
Well, when you stop missing Japan and come again, I hope you'll visit me! No, too lazy to stretch after the bath. But I swim in the pool for an hour every weekday morning--that seems to take care of all "twinges" --!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️