In "Ten Things We Can Learn From the Japanese" number one is "The Calm". It seems to me that Japanese people are very calm. They learn from an early age not to show their emotions. The British might be known for their "stiff upper lip" but the Japanese extend that to their whole face! Poker faces abound in this country. Emotional displays are rare, reserved for the stage or for young school girls. Emotionalism is equated with immaturity. Adults have more sense and self control.
Buddhism teaches that "desire" (which is largely the same as "emotion") is the reason why we are caught in this endless succession of illusionary reincarnations and to escape this, one must escape all "desire". Consequently emotional expression is very muted in this society. Most Japanese don't think about buddhism as clearly and directly as this but buddhism nevertheless has an enormous influence on the people especially in stifling emotional expression.
Japanese are amazed, shocked, amused, embarrassed to hear that God is passionate, gets angry, gets sad, rejoices etc. How can that be?! Impossible!
In "Ten Things" we read that there's been "not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. No, of course not. That would be inviting ridicule. Other people would look down on you if you did that and you yourself would lose face. If such a strong emotion has to be expressed at all, it is done strictly in private. Emotions are kept bottled up. So a foreigner sees "calm".
The conclusion that "Ten Things" draws is that: "Sorrow itself has been elevated."Hmmmmm.... is that the conclusion you draw?
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