我孫子市国際交流協会

Date: Sunday, June 10, 2007 1:00pm-2:00pm
Venue: Abista Hall
Lecturer: Ms. Datin Akiko Aw
Organized by: Abiko Gakko Council and AIRA

The Abiko area was hit by thunderstorm with over 50mm per hour torrential rain at noon on that day, and the street along the Tega lake was partially flooded by 40 cm.
The parking lot was also flooded so deeply that the writer agonized to reach the building being drenched to the skin. Members in charge worried about a thin audience, however, the hall was filled with zealous listeners arrived under the harsh weather.
People were welcomed by exquisite tones of a piano on the stage. They were the music by great composers like S.S. Back, F.F. Chopin, F. Liszt, and so on.
When the piano playing was over, Mr. Kazufumi Koizumi was introduced as the pianist. He works in the Abiko city office. The whole audience gave a big applause for the unexpected mini concert performed by him.

By the time the lecture started, approximate 100 seats prepared were almost occupied. That told of the high popularity of the lecturer, Ms. Datin Akiko Aw.
Prior to the opening, a brief introduction on her profile was given by Ms. Fumiko Kitajima, Vice President of Abiko Gakko Council, as follows.

Ms. Datin Akiko Aw was born in 1927 in Tokyo, now 80, and at 19 married to Mr. Aw Yi Hu, the third president of the Tiger Balm Inc.
Residing in Singapore, she aggressively plays a role of a bridge over Japan and South East Asian countries.
Her English name, Datin is the courtesy title for noblewoman in Malaysian.

Remarks: The Tiger Balm Inc. was established in early 20th century by Mr. Aw Boon Haw(1882-1954). He was successful in selling painkiller "Tiger Balm" and amassed great riches. He also contributed greatly to the economy and the society in few Asian countries as a Chinese entrepreneur and philanthropist. Mr. Aw Yi Hu, the late husband of Ms. Akiko Aw was his elder son.

The following is the summary of her narration on Japan and its people.
1. I have married 60 years to a Chinese, but I have never been bullied by Chinese people. Meanwhile it was not rare that I was tormented by female members of the local Japan society. They are still malicious against Japanese new comers.
2. It is notable that the nearly all Japanese suicides in foreign countries are men but not women.
3. It is often observed among Japanese that a man, even though he once gave a consent to a certain subject or at least did not disagree to it in an official meeting, tends to repeat lengthy argument on the phone with someone else about what had been concluded in the meeting, saying " That guy said that way, but I guess he was wrong, wasn't he?" or like. Most Japanese are not so sufficiently self-established that they are poor in expressing themselves in formal occasion.
4. A proverb, "The child is the father of the man" is widely quoted in the same meaning in 25 countries. Needless to explain, one must be trained in his/her infancy.
5. Be sure to go to vote. Even though you don't find a person of choice, just go to the poll station and cast a white slip to show your determined mind anyhow.
The French presidential voting rate hit nearly 85 per cent, meanwhile that of Japan shows always quite low.
6. Japanese are superior in intelligence but have a kind of weakness in mind.
When a Japanese marries to a non-Japanese, their child evidently inherits character of the non-Japanese parent but not that of the Japanese.
7. Food supply will be a significant issue from now on. Japan depends its food supply on import from abroad by 94 %. Can you expect that the other countries would dare to help Japan by saving their own bread?
Please don't hesitate to work hard at a nearby kitchen garden.
8. Chinese are one of "gourmet" people, so they don't care about paying any amount for what they like to eat. I like to suggest Japanese to promote selling valued products to China, like the costly Yubari melon, since there are many well off people. I am sure it will pay.
9. Young people in ripped jeans are still seen in Japan, but that looks slovenly.
It used to be the 70th American trend, but not popular now there and in France as well. Please engrave in your mind that the fashion is based on the beauty.
10. There is no other country than Japan that is gifted with the beauty of geniality and tranquility. I do wish you to treasure it for ever.
Take maple leaves for instance. Solar ray can go through Japanese one because of its thinness, but not for that of foreign kinds because of their thickness and that lacks tenderness as well.

Many audience felt big surprise at her severe outspoken remarks at first.
However, she only talked on daily subjects in a reasonable manner.
Her views and comments should be accepted as sympathetic suggestions for Japanese being soaked in tepid water in daily life.

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