Japan and Brazil Through A Traveler's Eye
by George Mikes
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- Main Idea: A humorous and observant account of the unique social manners and cultural quirks of Japan and Brazil.
- Japan Focus: The culture of bowing, respect for privacy in public spaces, and the etiquette of eating soup.
- Brazil Focus: The chaotic traffic, the "murderous" expense of cars, and the "war" between drivers and pedestrians.
- Key Animal Encounter: A deer in Nara that bows to tourists before snatching their food.
- Theme: Cultural diversity and the subjective nature of "manners."
Detailed Summary
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George Mikes provides a witty exploration of the distinct social landscapes of Japan and Brazil. He begins by characterizing the Japanese as "exquisitely well-mannered people" who live in a highly crowded environment yet maintain a deep respect for each other's privacy. He notes that in Japan, a man's telephone receiver is truly his "castle," as people engage in private conversations and even "love-quarrels" in public booths without anyone else listening in.
The defining feature of Japanese culture, according to Mikes, is the "mania for bowing". Bowing is far more complex than a Western handshake. It involves a complicated hierarchy: who bows to whom, how deeply, and for how long. Even babies carried on their mothers' backs are taught to bow. Mikes recounts a theatrical scene on the Tokaido Line where conductors bow to the entire carriage before checking tickets. Most amusingly, he describes a deer in the park of Nara that approached him, looked him in the eye, and performed a "proper and courteous bow" before jumping at him to snatch his food bag. He concludes that even Japanese animals are "genetically" polite.
In terms of dining, Mikes observes that eating soup in Japan has its own set of rules. While a European might be considered ill-mannered for making noise, in Japan, making a "fearful noise" while eating soup is a sign of appreciation for the hostess. If you eat silently, she may think you are an "ill-mannered lout".
Shifting to Brazil, Mikes focuses on the country's chaotic and aggressive traffic. He observes that while nobody hurries in Brazil, once a Brazilian gets behind a steering wheel, they become obsessed with speed. Despite cars being "murderously expensive" due to import duties, the number of vehicles is growing "by leaps and bounds". He describes a perpetual "war" on the streets where drivers regard pedestrians as "fair game". When a driver spots a pedestrian stepping off the pavement, they do not slow down; instead, they "take aim and accelerate". This creates a bizarre game of survival where pedestrians must dash across the street for their lives while drivers smile at them with "predatory" amusement.