niime 百科

Encyclopedia of niime

In the last discussion, we talked about what we were going to do with the ‘niime encyclopedia’ which recently got stuck in a rut. Tamaki, Sakai and I exchanged our opinions hastily and decided to set a 20-minute time limit. We changed the location to a rest area, just outside the Shop & Lab in front of the storage area, where you can see the bright green Okanoyama mountains.

-I like this location. Being outside allows us to express our feelings better.

Tamaki

It’s very different. Very refreshing.

– What topic do you want to talk about this time?

Tamaki

How about an abstract one? Sakai likes that kind.

– How about ‘progress’? You can say ‘to move on’ in niime’s terms.

Tamaki

Mr Koshikawa will ask us for a topic, and we will talk about it for 20 minutes.

-I got it.

Tamaki

(to Sakai) Please, focus! We only have 20 minutes.

Sakai

Sakai: Don’t worry. I will focus on it.

Tamaki

Please say “Ready? Start!”

– Okay. Ready? Today’s topic is … “Nature”!

Tamaki

Nature!!

Sakai

Nature?

– I think “natural attitude” is good, as well.

Tamaki

Which is better, nature or natural attitude?

Sakai

I vote for “natural attitude.” The word of nature sounds too broad.

Tamaki

You said you like abstract one.

Sakai

I think the topic: natural attitude, is abstract enough.

Tamaki

(ignoring Sakai’s comment) Recently I’ve been telling you that when I talk to people, whosoever that is, it doesn’t make any difference, even if it is a mayor.

Sakai

It doesn’t make any difference what position they have?

Tamaki

I may still be nervous, but my stance is that I am who I am, and that doesn’t change, because it is bothersome.

– Oh, because it is bothersome? (laugh)

Tamaki

Of course, I consider respecting people or being professional to talk to customers, but basically, I don’t like being dishonest.

Sakai

Basically, you don’t speak with honorifics.

Tamaki

I’m not good with them.

Sakai

I believe in my philosophy, what ‘natural attitude’ is. People want to define who is stylish or not.

– Yes.

Sakai

With a natural attitude, it does not matter if you are stylish or not. You do not care to be cool. I believe you can be the way you are if you don’t have such intention to be a cool person.

– I see. That explains it.

Sakai

By showing off your coolness, as a result of bad aspects, you candy-coat it, and people cannot see you or your true character. If you are open and sloppy, people feel closer to the natural you.

Tamaki

That’s true when we were young….

Sakai

You can say that again if you think about businessmen when they wear their suits and stand in front of customers, they make thick walls between them and you cannot see their personalities at all.

Tamaki

It looks like they are wearing armor?

Sakai

Yeah.

Tamaki

I used to say that we should be naked. Not making us look good with clothes on, our nakedness without wearing anything has beauty, purity, and cleanness. It wouldn’t be much worth if you paste, paint, and dress it. He or she wouldn’t be beautiful if there is not much inside.

Sakai

In a sense, “The Emperor’s New Clothes” is great.

Tamaki

Yeah, definitely. (laugh) I am not sure if he is great or not.

Sakai

Because the Emperor doesn’t think he is naked? However, from the people’s watching sight, he is naked.

Tamaki

Don’t you think if he doubted if he was naked? However, he heard the people saying that he looked great, so he might have been ashamed. I am not sure about that story. How does the story go?

Sakai

My ideal story is that even though the Emperor was whispered by people “Majesty, you are naked”, the Emperor could respond,” I know it. It is all right, I am naked.”

Tamaki

You want to say what is wrong with being naked, don’t you?

Sakai

I believe that is a natural attitude. At the point you feel ashamed of being naked, you are not the way you are.

Tamaki

However, being ashamed of your nakedness is the starting point of a human being.

Sakai

It is Adam and Eve.

– Is it more like self-consciousness?

Tamaki

You awake to yourself.

Sakai

Having excessive self-consciousness is the result of trying to look better in the public eye.

– I see.

Tamaki

Excessiveness causes it, uh-huh?

Sakai

Yeah, that’s it.

– You two, Tamaki and Sakai, haven’t changed at all since you started a small Shop & Lab. You take a neutral stance, but stay true to who you are.

Tamaki

If we could change us, how do we change?

– Something like… being arrogant.

Tamaki

I don’t know. Aren’t you worried every day?

Sakai

Yeah, I feel uneasy every day.

Tamaki

Being uneasy. We are a team of uneasiness. (laugh)

Sakai

I guess many people change their stances who they face.

Tamaki

Is it for protecting themselves?

Sakai

I think it is for defending themselves and having strong desires to make themselves known.

– To make yourselves look better?

Tamaki

I think that the reason behind why you want yourselves to show others better is because you know you are not that good in your heart. You want to show yourselves bigger than you really are, right?

Sakai

Yeah, but it may be an illusion in some sense.

Tamaki

People are all the same. There is not much difference between the good or the bad, higher position or not.

– There is bragging to talk bigger over what you do in your real ability.

Tamaki

On the contrary, some people evaluate yourselves lower.

Sakai

Some people stick up their noses themselves, but most people become so by the praise of others.

Tamaki

That’s how they misunderstand them.

Sakai

That’s right.

Tamaki

After all, we human being may have our original nature to want to show ourselves as better to others. I am sure that we are happier with ourselves in a natural attitude.

– Presenting yourself as being natural makes you feel easy and comfortable, you don’t have to stretch yourself. You can be yourself.

Tamaki

Yeah, it is better not to use unnecessary power. That’s good for society and the earth.

– One thing I am sure is we all have a desire to want others to understand ourselves.

Sakai

Oh, yeah, that’s it!

Tamaki

I don’t understand why you want to have other’s high evaluation?

Tamaki and Sakai with a natural attitude give us a frank talk about natural attitude. We couldn’t expect how their next talks develop to the next stage. It will continue to follow the 2nd half. Please look forward to reading the next one.

Original Japanese text by Seiji Koshikawa.
English translation by Adam & Michiko Whipple.