Benriya

As an independent and stubbornly self-sufficient sort, I find articles like this, about "Benriya" (sellers of convenience) a bit bloody disturbing.

Let me start by saying that, of course, it is not only Japan's society ills which are fucked up, but because I live here, and most of all, because I feel like it, I use this case, a Japanese case, as an example.

I understand that there are times when people become overwhelmed by all of life's minutiae, but I can't help but think that paying for someone to be your guest at your wedding, or to tie your shoelaces is an ominous sign that personal responsibility will one day be a thing of the past.

The reliance on benri-ya and the phenomenon of "shut ins" (people who can't face the outside world so exile themselves in their homes) are, in my opinion, just two signs that this country (be it through cultural expectations, politics, economic decline or a lack of education... I'm just not sure) doesn't prepare its people for independent thought and self-reliance.

And dare I even mention the Japanese reluctance to admit to something that will "lose them face"? This pre-occupation with face and the inability to ask for help, seems to be in opposition with the inability to do certain things and thus needing help. Its a vicious circle.

It's all very great that Benriya have found themselves a little enterpreneurial market in the Japanese dependency cycle, but these people are no better than bookies who take money from compulsive gamblers. There is no addressing the problem, only band-aiding it (and more revoltingly, making money out of it). Oh yes, they act as a "counsellor" for those too scared to look their neighbours in the face, but these people are not professional psychologists. If I went around trying to fix broken down cars, I can guarantee that there'd be a shitload of car accidents.

You could argue that any business, to some extent, feeds off a client's inability to do something for themselves, but when that inability is a deep-rooted sickness, like not having a big enough social circle to invite actual friends and family to your own wedding, but feeling that you have to make up numbers on your side of the church aisle, then something is very fucking wrong...

So ends today's tirade.