Column: It’s always all right—“Daijoubu”

Mr. Takao Ogiya
Director General of APIC
Mr. Takao Ogiya

Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, “Go for it Japan!” has been a catch phrase for theJapanese people. However, many people now feel uncomfortable with these words.
If we are told to “go for it” when we are in a painful or diﬃcult situation, we feel morediscouraged because we do not know what else we should do. Although these words meanthat we will work together to do our best, it still depresses us because it is derived fromnegative thinking about the actual situation.
Rikuzentakata City in Iwate prefecture suﬀered severe damage from the earthquake andsubsequent tsunami, as have other aﬀected areas. Although the beautiful pine forest comprising
as many as 70,000 pine trees was washed away by the tsunami, just one pine tree miraculously
survived. This pine tree has become symbolic of the hope for restoration, inspiring courage inmany victims.
Seeing the miracle pine tree, many people interpreted the message as, “Here I am. Itʼs allright,” which oﬀered them peace, hope and courage to start on the path to restoration. In thisway, the term “Itʼs all right” sounds positive, allowing people to view their actual situationfrom a positive perspective.
It is often said that experiences help us grow into better people. However, I wonder if thatis true. Even if we have discouraging experiences that are similar to others, our future mayvary from theirs depending on what attitude we adopt toward these experiences. Somepeople may take a negative view, blaming themselves or others, and remain discouraged.
Obsessed with such negative feelings, they may live unhappy lives.
On the other hand, some people may see similar experiences positively, considering that theexperience should mean something to their lives. They may develop from their own experiences
and cultivate their character. Such people are almost always tolerant of others, ﬁlling thosearound them with warmth, hope and energy. It is as if they were radiating a golden aura.
It is not experience itself, but attitudes toward experiences, that help us grow into betterpeople. I believe that what is necessary for todayʼs Japanese, as well as for people all over theworld, in going through various life experiences is the key term “Itʼ s all right.”
Since we are given the gift of life, our existence must have meaning. If we ﬁnd meaning ineverything we experience, and believe that all experiences will be beneﬁcial to us, so indeed
they will be. Therefore, it is important to always say, “Itʼs all right,” no matter whathappens.
Certain Japanese terms have become common throughout the world. A recent famous termis “Mottainai ”, which was introduced by Ms. Wangari Maathai, who was a Kenyanenvironmentalist. She won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in the area of the environment,
which was the ﬁrst time the prize was given for work in this ﬁeld. At this time, the term
“Mottainai ” became widespread around the world. Similarly, “tsunami” is also used across the38

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world.
It is my great hope that “Itʼs all right”̶“Daijoubu ” in Japanese̶will become a commonterm that is utilized around the globe as we all work to make our world a better place.

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