Japanese adjectives

[imomus]

Flying over Japan in the mist and sun of a hot July morning, approaching Narita, the following adjectives occur to you:

Tidy
Neat
Lush
Prim
Detailed
Advanced
Bijou
Idyllic
Industrial
Manicured

The contrast this tidy, neat, lush, prim, detailed, advanced, bijou, idyllic, industrial, manicured little island of 120 million people presents with the featureless wastes of Siberia and China is startling. I think of the opening scenes of 'The Wickerman', where the plane crosses from barren hills and flat seas to a lush vegetation of orchards, palm trees, vines. These people prosper with nature because they respect her, venerate her, make sacrifices to her. And yet, looking down on Japan, you get the impression of a model where Nature has not really been allowed to intrude. The mountains of immaculate trees (punctuated with temples and transmission towers) abutt tidy bright green valleys glinting with rice paddies. Even the sea is tamed with barriers, which bring to mind the splints Japanese afix to trees and the concrete banks they build around their rivers. Nature is venerated here, but strictly controlled.

Train from Narita to Tokyo. New adjectives zip into view:

Spruce
Douce
Miniature
Sexy
Efficient
Tender-minded
Commercial
Super-legitimate
Air-conditioned
Hot
Humid

And, as Tokyo increases:

Exciting
Familiar
Strange
Loveable

Later, in the night:

Sensual
Consensual
Super-quiet
Enchanted
Breezy
Refreshing

Comments

When I think of Japanese adjectives...

[febrile.livejournal.com]

...I cannot help but remember the Joyful Carwash.