The Three Enigmas of Japan Things I still haven't managed to understand about this country. ENIGMA 1: Japan, a country that has developed such excellent food habits. Eating food at the right time, eating properly and in a healthy manner. Good balance of all food groups. Healthily lifestyle that includes, many a time, a regime of exercise. How, pray how, do you reconcile this with the heavy, and I mean heavy, smoking and drinking that I see every day in this country? One out of every two males smoke. One of every four females smoke. Most alcoholic drinks are available in vending machines at any place, any time, for any person. Cigarettes too, of course, are available in vending machines. So tell me ... ENIGMA 2: Japan, a country that has developed such excellent inter-personal relationships, respectful and dignified, showing the right humility where it is due. How, pray how, do you reconcile this with the way the women are treated in this country? Women are considered as 'office decorations' essentially there to find a husband and is expected to leave (resign, that is) after getting pregnant. Very few in positions where decision-making is involved. So tell me ... ENIGMA 3: Japan, a country with almost 100% literacy, intelligent and hard working people that have created one of the worlds leading economies since the World War II. A country with an international standing that is the envy of many an emerging tiger economy in Asia, etc. etc. How, pray how, do you reconcile this with the fact that 35-40% of all published material in the country is comics? Yes, 35-40%. Of course the justification is that the comics deal with real world, contemporary societal issues. And, being so busy, the only little free time left is for a quick hog of comics. Sure, but 40%? So tell me ... Hari Srinivas hsrinivas@gdrc.org Return to my homepage