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下のスクリプトは事前提出されたものですので、ビデオの音声とは一部異なる場合があります。 |
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Working－to Die or to Live?
YAMAGUCHI, Takaki (Sasebo National College of Technology)
The front seat of upper deck of double-decker and the bench in Hyde park. These were some of my favorite places in London. I spent the year 2008 studying English in London.While I was in London, I met so many people. Some people drink beer from weekday’s afternoon in a park and some young man go to their office by Roller Blade. Anyway, they always seemed to enjoy their lives.
One day, I was taking the class and that day's topic was "working style in all over the world". At the beginning of that class my teacher said “I know one Japanese word”. I asked what it was. Then he said it’s “karoshi”. I had no idea what he meant. And actually I was wondering which language’s word it was. But I misunderstood him. He meant “karoshi（過労死）”－dying from working too much. I wondered why he knew that word. But after that, I found the interesting fact. Almost all of my classmates knew that word. According to them, the news which reports “there are some Japanese people who die from working too much” sounds like a joke and it is unbelievably shocking news for them. And this kind of news is broadcast as quite big news in their countries. Japanese people’s “karoshi” is known to all over the world. After this class, I was hit by barrage of question from my classmates. “Why the man, who died from working too much, had worked until he died?”, “Japanese people work for what?”, and “what the life is for me?” I could not answer.
We can find decisive difference between Japanese working style and European one. For European people, the most important things of their lives seem to be “to spend a good vacation or weekend with their families”. Working sometimes seems to be just a “source of money” for them. Of course there are so many people who work with passion. But even for them, “to spend a good vacation or weekend with their families” or just “taking vacation” are still very important factor of their lives. So, how about Japanese people? What is a job for them? One time, I read an article on newspaper which was about the questionnaire that asked Japanese workers why they work. The majority of people answered “to keep their families” or “for society”. And I have never met any Japanese person who takes long vacation. But I think it could be a good thing. But at the same time, newspaper said there are so many Japanese workers who are tired of their lives. I can’t say which is better, Japanese style or European style. But I am sure nobody wants to work until they get tired of their lives or until they die from “karoshi”.
I remember another impressive episode that happened at the pub. Suddenly one guy screamed, “Hey today is her birthday hooooooooooooooo!!!” 2 seconds later, things happened at the pub were clapping and singing “happy birthday” for the person who have not talked with before. This kind of things could often happen there.
Then I realized.
They have yoyu in their mind. I mean peace of mind. Although yoyu is one of typical minds of Japanese language and it is difficult to translate, Japanese people tend to forget the mind. On the other hand, people in London have yoyu to care about others. Even the small things of others or even the things not concerned with them, they are willing to accept them as their matters. I think Japanese people can learn from their attitude. Is it only Japanese people sometimes have big problems? Of course not. People in London also sometimes have big problems or worrying, whatever. But they have more yoyu in their mind than Japanese people. And that’s why they always seemed to enjoy their lives.
Nowadays, Japan has so many problems which are really complicated, and which do not seems to be easy to solve. And I assume there are so many Japanese people who are tired of their lives because of those reasons I mentioned. But I want to try not to forget “to always have yoyu in my mind”. And if I am asked the question “what the life is for me” again, I will definitely answer, “Life is enjoyment for me, like you. But for me, jobs can be a enjoyment as well. Future is not clear as you know. But we do not have to be afraid. The important thing is “to have yoyu in our mind, then we can forward even if we are at any difficult situations”.
