Lovely article that reminds me how much I miss sincerity in culture which I think is somewhat brought along for the ride in the lovely Japanese expression. As a Gen-X'r I feel partly responsible for ushering in the age of snark and (to some degree justified) cynicism. It wasn't always that way. As a kid the first book I ever asked for was Carl Sagan's Cosmos. Sagan was a guy who really did unabashedly embrace sincerity. I love this little clip of him explaining how some of the ancients figured out the shape and size of the planet
I'll be showing my age as someone who was deeply engaged with the 1990s multicultural moment as a high school teacher in a multicultural community (and, amazingly, a US-Japan program for teachers) when I say I loved this post. There is such a deep truth to this, including how fulfilling it is for young people like your daughter and the mariachi competitors to fully engage without ironic disengagement in something they and their community value. Add to that the way these sorts of things bring folks together in a spirit of cross-appreciation rather than fearful anxiety.
Thanks for the Netflix tip, even with the plot spoiler spelled out. It reminds me of why I like singing in a choir: it’s the dedication to a common, collaborative outcome, with the pressure of performance spurring the effort everyone puts into learning the music. I’ll be sure to link this article when I write something for my own Substack newsletter. Majime!
“And that, ultimately, the best way to manage our differences is to set up our societies that enable that to happen all the time.”
A noble sentiment—but it only works if our societies also teach the moral weight of effort and accountability.
In Going Varsity in Mariachi, Drake wasn’t coddled or excused when he let the band down. He experienced what might be called a “soft shunning”—not cruel, but clear. His peers and director Abel Acuña expected more. That discomfort became a moral inflection point. Drake chose to work harder, improve his playing, and re-earn his place in the ensemble. That’s character.
In Japan, China, and many Asian societies, this ethic is foundational: effort is a moral duty. Here, we often say, “That’s OK, Billy—sorry you can’t spell ‘dog,’ but we’ll give you a star and pass you anyway.” And we won’t post grades or acknowledge poor performance, because honesty might hurt feelings.
Maybe restoring honesty—and the dignity of effort—is the first step toward getting our society back in tune.
I just was rewatching the "Breaking Bad" episode where three singers playing acoustic guitars perform a ballad featuring "Heisenberg" - the title character Walter White's nom de guerre. Not my favorite type of music, but the enthusiasm and joy was captivating. I noticed the camera focused most often on the bass guitar (4 strings) and was curious about the difference I'm used to where the six string lead is usually showcased most prominently.
Lovely article that reminds me how much I miss sincerity in culture which I think is somewhat brought along for the ride in the lovely Japanese expression. As a Gen-X'r I feel partly responsible for ushering in the age of snark and (to some degree justified) cynicism. It wasn't always that way. As a kid the first book I ever asked for was Carl Sagan's Cosmos. Sagan was a guy who really did unabashedly embrace sincerity. I love this little clip of him explaining how some of the ancients figured out the shape and size of the planet
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/T0f6u39jlRA
Its just pure and simple admiration and respect for discovery.
I'll be showing my age as someone who was deeply engaged with the 1990s multicultural moment as a high school teacher in a multicultural community (and, amazingly, a US-Japan program for teachers) when I say I loved this post. There is such a deep truth to this, including how fulfilling it is for young people like your daughter and the mariachi competitors to fully engage without ironic disengagement in something they and their community value. Add to that the way these sorts of things bring folks together in a spirit of cross-appreciation rather than fearful anxiety.
Thanks for the Netflix tip, even with the plot spoiler spelled out. It reminds me of why I like singing in a choir: it’s the dedication to a common, collaborative outcome, with the pressure of performance spurring the effort everyone puts into learning the music. I’ll be sure to link this article when I write something for my own Substack newsletter. Majime!
“And that, ultimately, the best way to manage our differences is to set up our societies that enable that to happen all the time.”
A noble sentiment—but it only works if our societies also teach the moral weight of effort and accountability.
In Going Varsity in Mariachi, Drake wasn’t coddled or excused when he let the band down. He experienced what might be called a “soft shunning”—not cruel, but clear. His peers and director Abel Acuña expected more. That discomfort became a moral inflection point. Drake chose to work harder, improve his playing, and re-earn his place in the ensemble. That’s character.
In Japan, China, and many Asian societies, this ethic is foundational: effort is a moral duty. Here, we often say, “That’s OK, Billy—sorry you can’t spell ‘dog,’ but we’ll give you a star and pass you anyway.” And we won’t post grades or acknowledge poor performance, because honesty might hurt feelings.
Maybe restoring honesty—and the dignity of effort—is the first step toward getting our society back in tune.
I just was rewatching the "Breaking Bad" episode where three singers playing acoustic guitars perform a ballad featuring "Heisenberg" - the title character Walter White's nom de guerre. Not my favorite type of music, but the enthusiasm and joy was captivating. I noticed the camera focused most often on the bass guitar (4 strings) and was curious about the difference I'm used to where the six string lead is usually showcased most prominently.
It’s probably an acoustic bass guitar not a Mexican style guitarron . They play the same as the electric bass guitar
Yikes, it was actually an electric base: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ykOTpzuZN0&list=RD_ykOTpzuZN0&start_radio=1
American kids clearly need a lot more of majime!