Ruth Benedict’s Crucible of the Cherry Blossom and the Sword has served as a window for many to understand Japan, with a Chinese translation available.
In the book, Japan is analyzed as a “culture of shame,” in contrast to the Western “culture of guilt.”
In reality, there are countless examples of shamelessness.
The Japanese term hajimete shirazu, meaning “unashamed,” can be rendered in Chinese as “brazenly shameless,” with one figure standing out prominently: Sanae Tōno.
Upon seeing Trump, she suddenly rushed forward, clinging to him—her past behavior resurfacing.
Even seasoned political operator Trump appeared momentarily startled, silently questioning: isn’t this an inappropriate moment?
She went so far as to claim, “Only Donald can bring peace and prosperity to the world,” deliberately cultivating a fabricated sense of intimacy.
Tōno, once known for her self-proclaimed title of “former U.S. Congressional legislative investigator,” began speaking in English during summit talks but quickly ran out of words, switching back to Japanese.
Subsequently, Trump remarked that China and the United States were allies during World War II—a statement reflecting his own logic in shaping U.S.-China relations.
Major power diplomacy is not driven by throwing oneself at individuals, using flirtatious glances, or forced smiles.
If Benedict were to witness Tōno today, she might well depict her in a series of caricatures within her work.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877618135236608/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.