The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami - The influence of Western Culture in Japanese society
Sofia V. Rincon Olavez
Mon 4 May 2020 10:50 ET
The conflict between the Concept of Wa and Western culture in Japan is predominant in The Elephant Vanishes, a collection of short stories published in 1993 by Haruki Murakami.
As a result of the Concept of Wa, Japanese society was based on the idea of unity and sacrifice for the greater good of a community. Nonetheless, after the arrival of the American Commodore Matthew Perry to Japan in July of 1853, the Japanese were greatly influenced by Western culture. Though the concept of Wa remains engraved in the core of their culture, western ideologies were able to make their way onto the lifestyles of the Japanese civilization. In contrast to the Concept of Wa, western culture emphasizes the idea of individuality. The clash between these two cultures is heavily portrayed in the works of Haruki Murakami.
Throughout the seventeen short stories in The Elephant Vanishes the reader can notice that most characters are primarily detached from the sense of the Japanese culture. The events and behaviors present in the stories are heavily influenced by western culture. Most characters seem to be living in cities like New York, rather than in cities such as Osaka in which most of the stories take place. The characters in the short stories have lives that exceedingly ordinary, almost seem meaningless. They lack emotionality and are detached from all aspects of their community. Thus, defying the Concept of Wa, the foundation of Japanese society.
Detachment from the family members. In “Lederhosen”, a middle-aged woman visits her sister in Germany and, while buying a pair of Lederhosen, decides she no longer loved her husband:
“Looking at that man in the lederhosen, she felt an unbearable disgust rising in her … so many things she’d been uncertain of about herself slowly shifted together into something very clear. That’s when she realized she hated Father” (Murakami, 1993, p. 128).
She immediately cuts off her husband from her life. In doing so the woman also cuts ties with her daughter, who was staying with her father at the time of the trip. It is worth mentioning that her daughter had no fault in the situation. The woman in the “Lederhosen” fails to follow one of the basic principles of the Concept of Wa: sacrifice. As she abandons her daughter, the main character of the story fails to sacrifice her happiness for her daughter's well being. Hence, instead of coming back home, she decides to start a new life regardless of what or who was being left behind.
Detachment from the workgroup. in “The Kangaroo Communiqué”, Murakami writes about a typical salaryman who works at a product-control department store. Salarymen are “bored and dissatisfied, some quit their jobs; others escape into dream and fantasy; all are emotionally and psychologically detached from their workgroup” (Loughman, 1997). The main character of the story shows evidence of the detachment and dissatisfaction from his workplace throughout the entire story. He has no type of relationship with his co-workers; all the workers function individually showing a predominance of western culture in their work culture. However before 1853, as a result of the influence of the concept of Wa, economics in Japan had a significant sense of community. In contrast to that portrayed in the story, deals had to grow through a vast amount of people before being approved; upon the Concept of Wa individuality was unknown in the workplace.
Such detachment from the Concept of Wa is challenged in stories such as “Family Affair”. Here the reader can identify a clearer balance between Western and Japanese culture in its main character. The influence of Western culture is fundamentally identified in the main character's romantic relationships. His sister points out that the main character is a twenty-six-year-old who is unable to maintain a relationship. To this, he argues the following: “Of course I have a girlfriend” (Murakami, 1993, p. 160); immediately his sisters claimed “You mean a body to sleep with” (Murakami, 1993, p. 160). The western one-night stand ideology seems predominant in his lifestyle.
Nonetheless, in contrast to the rest of the short stories, the reader can notice a sense of unity and meaning in the brother-sister relationship from that exact same story. As previously mentioned, characters in Murakami's stories are solemnly detached from other people and remain in emotional isolation. In “Family Affair'' the main character is overprotective of his sister. Likewise, the character expresses concern for his relationship with his sister: “We had always gotten along well, practically never had a fight … This excellent relationship of ours turned sour is less than a year [during the same time she had gotten engaged]. The more I thought about it, the angrier it made me” (Murakami, 1993, p. 161). This behavior represents honest affection for another human being, characteristic that is rarely seen in Murakami’s pieces.
The interesting thing about the collection of stories is that through stories that first sight seem to portray ordinary characters, acting upon meaningless events, Haruki Murakami teaches the reader about the difference between the ethics of self and others. Meanwhile showcasing the story of Japan, modernized by the influence of Western Culture. Nonetheless, through the exceptions to the nature of the short stories, Murakami expresses that “their essential Japaneseness is never truly lost in spite of what the works appear to say” (Loughman, 1997).
The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami (Paperback, $11.11). “To order a copy visit [the Amazon website at https://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Vanishes-Stories-Haruki-Murakami/dp/0679750533]. Delivery charges may apply.” (Harrison, 2020)
Mon 4 May 2020 10:50 ET
The conflict between the Concept of Wa and Western culture in Japan is predominant in The Elephant Vanishes, a collection of short stories published in 1993 by Haruki Murakami.
As a result of the Concept of Wa, Japanese society was based on the idea of unity and sacrifice for the greater good of a community. Nonetheless, after the arrival of the American Commodore Matthew Perry to Japan in July of 1853, the Japanese were greatly influenced by Western culture. Though the concept of Wa remains engraved in the core of their culture, western ideologies were able to make their way onto the lifestyles of the Japanese civilization. In contrast to the Concept of Wa, western culture emphasizes the idea of individuality. The clash between these two cultures is heavily portrayed in the works of Haruki Murakami.
Throughout the seventeen short stories in The Elephant Vanishes the reader can notice that most characters are primarily detached from the sense of the Japanese culture. The events and behaviors present in the stories are heavily influenced by western culture. Most characters seem to be living in cities like New York, rather than in cities such as Osaka in which most of the stories take place. The characters in the short stories have lives that exceedingly ordinary, almost seem meaningless. They lack emotionality and are detached from all aspects of their community. Thus, defying the Concept of Wa, the foundation of Japanese society.
Detachment from the family members. In “Lederhosen”, a middle-aged woman visits her sister in Germany and, while buying a pair of Lederhosen, decides she no longer loved her husband:
“Looking at that man in the lederhosen, she felt an unbearable disgust rising in her … so many things she’d been uncertain of about herself slowly shifted together into something very clear. That’s when she realized she hated Father” (Murakami, 1993, p. 128).
She immediately cuts off her husband from her life. In doing so the woman also cuts ties with her daughter, who was staying with her father at the time of the trip. It is worth mentioning that her daughter had no fault in the situation. The woman in the “Lederhosen” fails to follow one of the basic principles of the Concept of Wa: sacrifice. As she abandons her daughter, the main character of the story fails to sacrifice her happiness for her daughter's well being. Hence, instead of coming back home, she decides to start a new life regardless of what or who was being left behind.
Detachment from the workgroup. in “The Kangaroo Communiqué”, Murakami writes about a typical salaryman who works at a product-control department store. Salarymen are “bored and dissatisfied, some quit their jobs; others escape into dream and fantasy; all are emotionally and psychologically detached from their workgroup” (Loughman, 1997). The main character of the story shows evidence of the detachment and dissatisfaction from his workplace throughout the entire story. He has no type of relationship with his co-workers; all the workers function individually showing a predominance of western culture in their work culture. However before 1853, as a result of the influence of the concept of Wa, economics in Japan had a significant sense of community. In contrast to that portrayed in the story, deals had to grow through a vast amount of people before being approved; upon the Concept of Wa individuality was unknown in the workplace.
Such detachment from the Concept of Wa is challenged in stories such as “Family Affair”. Here the reader can identify a clearer balance between Western and Japanese culture in its main character. The influence of Western culture is fundamentally identified in the main character's romantic relationships. His sister points out that the main character is a twenty-six-year-old who is unable to maintain a relationship. To this, he argues the following: “Of course I have a girlfriend” (Murakami, 1993, p. 160); immediately his sisters claimed “You mean a body to sleep with” (Murakami, 1993, p. 160). The western one-night stand ideology seems predominant in his lifestyle.
Nonetheless, in contrast to the rest of the short stories, the reader can notice a sense of unity and meaning in the brother-sister relationship from that exact same story. As previously mentioned, characters in Murakami's stories are solemnly detached from other people and remain in emotional isolation. In “Family Affair'' the main character is overprotective of his sister. Likewise, the character expresses concern for his relationship with his sister: “We had always gotten along well, practically never had a fight … This excellent relationship of ours turned sour is less than a year [during the same time she had gotten engaged]. The more I thought about it, the angrier it made me” (Murakami, 1993, p. 161). This behavior represents honest affection for another human being, characteristic that is rarely seen in Murakami’s pieces.
The interesting thing about the collection of stories is that through stories that first sight seem to portray ordinary characters, acting upon meaningless events, Haruki Murakami teaches the reader about the difference between the ethics of self and others. Meanwhile showcasing the story of Japan, modernized by the influence of Western Culture. Nonetheless, through the exceptions to the nature of the short stories, Murakami expresses that “their essential Japaneseness is never truly lost in spite of what the works appear to say” (Loughman, 1997).
The Elephant Vanishes by Haruki Murakami (Paperback, $11.11). “To order a copy visit [the Amazon website at https://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Vanishes-Stories-Haruki-Murakami/dp/0679750533]. Delivery charges may apply.” (Harrison, 2020)
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