Anita Pujari

It took several weeks from the time I landed in Nihon(Japan) and someone greeted me Hajimemashite Yoroshiku onegaishimasu (This is the first time we are meeting. How do you do? It's nice to meet you) to the time I learnt to respond "Yoroshiku onegai shimasu." (It's nice to meet you, too). Within those several weeks of illiteracy to some learning there was one word that caught my ear besides Sumimasen and that was Ganbatte kudasai!

At that time I thought Sumimasen was the complicated one. For long I thought its usage was an apology - like 'I am sorry'. It took awhile to fathom that with the situation and the lilt in the tone Sumimasen could also mean 'thank you' and could also mean 'excuse me', 'may I please?' and 'yes, what can I do for you' if appended to some words. There may be more meanings.

Ganbarimasu! Ganbaru! Ganbatte kudasai! Now these were variations of a word, a rather 'heavy word' whose meaning went deep and seemed to live in the psyche of the Japanese and their attitude to life. Ganbarimasu means to carry through one's task, putting up with difficulties and striving to overcome all hardships. The Japanese love the word and use it all the time. It is ingrained from childhood as a valuable human attitude

Practically from birth the Japanse are introduced to Ganbarimasu and it continues until you die. Children are told it as they do their homework, when they fall over in the park, when they don't like the food they have to eat, when they fall out with a friend, when the weather is too cold. Students hear it as they sit for exams, when they break up with boyfriends, as they line up at the start line for school races. Adults say it as they go to work, attend meetings, when they have the cold, anything that might be less than perfect is expected to be endured and approached with the spirit of Ganbare!!

I got to understand this through the many experiences during my 2 year stay in that beautiful country. The Shinto shrines, ancient tombs, Buddhist temples, arms and armor, castles and famous gardens, Kabuki and Noh theatre, tea ceremony and ikebana, martial arts and sumo wrestling is not all that Japan is about. It is the Japanese philosophy of life, the Japanese spirit and fabric of a homogenous society that left its indelible impression on me. Intensely private and fiercely protective of their inner thoughts, understated in their expression it was not easy to understand or befriend them at first. Friendships grew gently and they have endured the passage of time and endeared so dearly that I can say Japan resides in a corner of my heart

As news came in that a massive earthquake and tsunami had struck north-east Japan a word sprang to my mind Ganbatte kudasai! 'Please do your Best'/ 'Good Luck'/ 'Persevere'. Day after day the telling visuals coming out of devastation and distress have touched hearts across the globe. One visual would have stood out, that of serpentine queues lined up patiently outside Supermarkets waiting their turn knowing fully well that stocks were meager and may not last. Such is the Japanese spirit of forbearance and exemplary discipline. Anywhere else the situation would have led to looting and riots and the survival of the fittest. Every Nihonjin (Japanese) in that queue would be saying to himself/herself Ganbaru!

Fortunately all my Japanese friends are fine but much shaken and very disturbed with the long drawn battle this is turning out to be with radiation and contamination adding to the devastation and loss of life which has crossed 19000. Some of them have joined volunteers from unaffected parts of Japan to clear the debris, reach aid and sustenance and help restore, rebuild. They would all have one word of encouragement to each other Gambarimasu!

Can there be a more meaningful word for all of those who are today facing a situation outside of our normal tolerance levels. Nihon Ganbatte Kudasai!