Shiatsu society send a copied message to me
This afternoon, I have received a message from Elaine Liechti, the current chair of Shiatsu Society UK.
She sent me exactly the same message as the one sent through Facebook on Friday, to say bamboo has been used since Jomon ear in Japan.
She also added a link to an article, written in Japanese. This is so patronising action made by her, left me furious. If she doesn't understand an article, why she would send it to me? Just because I am a foreigner, doesn't mean she has to reply in my language.
I have lived in the UK for the last 20 years. This is so insulting sending me an article written in Japanese.
This is a reply to her comment:
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I am not interested in reading an article, which YOU WILL NOT UNDERSTAND. If you are writing to a person, just reply to the person in English with a link writing in English, please.
I know there are some areas using bamboos in Japan. We use bamboos and there is also a fairly-tale using bamboo. We have lived with bamboo from ancient time.
However, this doesn't support the fact we recognise bamboo as Japanese culture.
Symbols unique to Japan are cherry blossoms, mt. Fuji, Lotus flower, Perseverance, Crane.
By looking at bamboos, we clearly see China, with an image of a panda. Panda is unique to China, and their symbol, with an image of bamboos.
The fact we lived with bamboo, doesn't mean Japan's symbol is bamboo. This is similar to this, English people have been embracing Italian food, French food, Spanish, German and architecture. However, this culture will never be British culture. What you are shamelessly doing is, claiming Spagatti is British culture, because British people have been eating Spaghetti for a long time.
You are happy to use the Chinese symbol as the Japanese culture's society's logo. Yes, you won't get hurt by this, however, there are Japanese and Chinese people hurt by the fact you are mixing our culture wrongly and spreading this misconception in the UK.
I am so appalled by your action because you just do whatever you want to do, and don't care about these 138 people, signed up for this petition. The number will increase in the next few months as I will actively promote this petition.
I have spoken to some Japanese people and Japanese Shiatsu practitioners about this. Every single one of them, are feeling hurt. (They won't directly tell you, as this might break the relationship with you. So please do not tell me your Japanese business partner's view)
I was amazed to see how many Japanese people signed up for this petition, mainly written in English. I have seen a couple of Japanese shiatsu practitioner's names on the list.
I kept asking this question. Will you care about these people feeling hurt by your logos and your insufficient education? or will you just ignore us and do whatever you want and hurt more people?
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I will carry on talking to this society. Please support me by sharing, talking about this petition. Let's make a change. We won't just surrender this mixture of Asian culture, which will lead to discrimination. You and your children might be hurt by this misconception of Asian culture. Let's stop this injustice now!