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is (in contrast to depth which is shallow and commonplace) a fascinating realm located at the edges of the body and the spirit, the outlying regions, where there is nothing perhaps, save a few ribbons, dangling down into the void.

I am one who has always been interested only in the edges of the body and the spirit, the outlying regions of the body and the outlying regions of the spirit. The depths hold no interest for me... I leave them to others, for they are shallow, commonplace. What is there, then, at the outer most edge' Nothing, perhaps, save a few ribbons, dangling down into the void. Yukio Mishima

is a level of society whose cultivation influences deeper levels. By first keeping the rules which define the form, even if one's understanding is incomplete or one disagrees with them, that a sincere attitude is eventually born.

But it is by first keeping the rules which define the form, even if one's understanding is incomplete or one disagrees with them, that a sincere attitude is eventually born. . . . . . At some level, as long as one is outwardly true to the form, it is not important what one feels at the 'depths' of one's being' (Kondo 1990:107).

is essential and just because, say, politeness, is merely appearance does not make it insincere. If you disturb the surfaces you may lose a lot more than you account. You shouldn't play with rituals. Masks are never simply mere masks.

There is another notion, that is popular now amongst American sociologist, the civilizations of guilt versus civilizations of shame.The Jews and their inner guilt and the Greeks with their culture of shame. The usual cliche now is that Japan is the ultimate civilization of shame. What I despise in America is the studio actors logic, as if there is something good in self expression: do not be oppressed, open yourself, even if you shout and kick the others, everything in order to express and liberate yourself. This stupid idea, that behind the mask there is some truth. In Japan, and I hope that this is not only a myth, even if something is merely an appearance, politeness is not simply insincere. There is a difference between saying 'Hello, how are you'' and the New York taxi drivers who swear at you. Surfaces do matter. If you disturb the surfaces you may lose a lot more than you account. You shouldn't play with rituals. Masks are never simply mere masks. Perhaps that's why Brecht became close to Japan. He also liked this notion that there is nothing really liberating in this typical Western gesture of stealing the masks and show the true face. What you discover is something absolutely disgusting. Let's maintain the appearances, that's my own fantasy of Japan.'

is, in Japan, of such importance that there is no more powerful symbol of the perfected inner life than that of outward composure. . . . To be neat, proper, and orderly whether in housekeeping, factory routines, personal.

Rohlen (1978) comments on this phenomenon:... There is no more powerful symbol of the perfected inner life than that of outward composure. . . . To be neat, proper, and orderly whether in housekeeping, factory routines, personal' (Kondo 1990:107(')).

Japan

is of such importance that there is no more powerful symbol of the perfected inner life than that of outward composure. . . . To be neat, proper, and orderly whether in housekeeping, factory routines, personal.

Rohlen (1978) comments on this phenomenon:... There is no more powerful symbol of the perfected inner life than that of outward composure. . . . To be neat, proper, and orderly whether in housekeeping, factory routines, personal' (Rohlen, Thomas) (Kondo 1990:107(')).

is the level on which all art occurs. Those who go beneath it do so at their peril.

All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Oscar Wilde

is underestimated. The soul is often in the surface. The importance of 'depth' is overestimated.

The soul is often in the surface, and the importance of 'depth' is overestimated. Italo Calvino

is all there is. We live amid surfaces, and the true art of life is to skate well on them.

We live amid surfaces, and the true art of life is to skate well on them Ralph Waldo Emerson

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