Sadako Sasaki imagined it.

Makoto Otsuka imagines it.

And it is a beautiful wish.

Notes: 1. “Narratives of A-bomb Experience.” Video Room. Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. 20 Sep 2010.

2. Ibid.

3. Otsuka, Makato. Personal Interview. 8 Nov 2010.

4. “United Nations: On the wings of paper cranes, UN staffers aim to spread message of peace.” M2
Presswire 9 August 2010 ProQuest Newsstand, ProQuest. Web. 30 Dec. 2010.

5. “Peace Park.” Seattle Park and Recreation Web. 30 Dec 2010.

. Bibliography
“About the Holocaust Education Center.” Holocaust Education Center, Japan. 2007. Web. 30 Dec 2010.

. “Narratives of A-bomb Experience.” Video Room. Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. 20 Sep 2010.

Otsuka, Makato. Personal Interview. 8 Nov 2010.

“Peace Park.” Seattle Park and Recreation Web. 30 Dec 2010.

. “United Nations: On the wings of paper cranes, UN staffers aim to spread message of peace.” M2
Presswire 9 August 2010 ProQuest Newsstand, ProQuest. Web. 30 Dec. 2010.

44



Japan--An Own World of Peace
Spencer Kirsch (Lynbrook Senior High School)
After crawling into the teahouse with the twenty-five other students from my introductory Japanese
class, I was respectfully asked to sit on the ground, with my knees on the floor, hands on my thighs, and to
wait for the grandmaster to serve me the usucha, or Japanese tea. With a bow, I was first in line to receive
the rather bland-looking liquid served in a ceramic bowl. As soon as I took my first gulp, I had the urge to
push the bowl away and say “no thank you.” However, as the grandmaster of the ceremony treated me with
the upmost respect, I felt obligated to act in the same manner and drank it willingly. An enlightening smile
took life on the grandmaster’s face when he saw me accept his gift. The chado, or tea ceremony, is just one
way the Japanese people emphasize their way of life, often characterized by four general principles; kei
(respect), wa (harmony), sei (purity) and jaku (tranquility). Although I do not carry any Japanese descent, I,
like the people of Japan, have been taught to incorporate these same ideas while communicating with
others. The grandmaster’s smile that resulted from everyone finishing his or her tea revealed the importance
of respect in the Japanese culture. Kei (respect) relies on the notion that it is achieved through sincere
thoughts and gentle words. Though all are equal in the tearoom (represented by every person, no matter
rank or wealth, crawling through the doorway), the practice of bowing and the ritual of turning the utensils
help to foster respect and minimize potential for conflict. The hospitality of the grandmaster and the caring
of the guests for one another aids in promoting this principle. Wa (harmony) corresponds to the harmony
between people and also refers to the relationship people have with nature. Greeted with a beautiful garden
directly after crawling into the teahouse, one is expected to feel a special connection with and appreciation
for all nature that exists in the world. Sei (purity) represents orderliness and cleanliness, both spiritually and
physically. The host of the ceremony cleans all utensils and the tearoom itself before they are used, also
cleaning his spirit. Through calm insight, it is thought that the true reality and purity is only perceived in a
life where everything is “clean” and “in order.” Lastly, jaku (tranquility) is identifiable with one’s
enlightenment, bliss, innocence, and a state of total calmness. These four characteristics that I experienced
in the tearoom are ones that I constantly try to display to others through my daily actions.

In today’s world, violence and crime is undeniably present, and continues to exist. Through events as
small as robberies or as large as world wars, people often choose to promote characteristics that are directly
opposed to the four characteristics included in the Japanese way of tea. In only a dream can one imagine a
world in which respect, harmony, purity and tranquility exist in all people and take precedent over the will
to do evil. Personally, I live by the four principles of the Japanese people by doing my part to put a smile on
others’ faces. I am the co-founder of Pink Ribbon Teens, a charitable initiative that provides free in-home
babysitting/tutoring services to families experiencing illness. By providing safe and compassionate care for
their children, parents who are ill have an opportunity to rest or recuperate. For those parents who have
children with special needs, my initiative allows them to focus their attention on that child while their other
children are being cared for. Through this service, I am able to bring harmony to children whose lives are
otherwise disrupted. Stress for these families is replaced by a new sense of calmness.

To most of us, the rituals the Japanese people practice to show their beliefs may actually be thought of
as “out of the box.” For instance, believing that the way they set their utensils on a table contains a
respectful meaning in spirit may seem unusual to those of us from different cultures. However, it is perhaps
that very sense of ritual and belief that if followed by others, would lead to a world that is less violent.

Perhaps we should ask this question to ourselves; Would one rather live in a world with people whose
thoughts are out of the ordinary or would one prefer a world filled with chaos and a lack of respect?
45