The Japanese have an expression for human relations that are sticky with the mutual obligations and dependencies of the collective life. They use the English word wet. Traditional Japanese family relations are wet. Yakuza gangs are wet. Behavior that is more detached, more individualistic, often associated with a Western way of life, is dry. Terayama Shuji was dry. Kara was most definitely wet.
In "A Tokyo Romance: A Memoir," Ian Buruma explores the concept of human relationships in Japan through the lens of the terms "wet" and "dry." The Japanese word for "wet" denotes the intricate web of mutual obligations and interdependencies that characterize collective life, exemplified by traditional family ties and the bonds within Yakuza gangs. These relations highlight the emphasis on community and collective responsibility in Japanese culture.
In contrast, Buruma identifies the qualities of being "dry" with a more individualistic Western approach to life, marked by emotional detachment. He juxtaposes the characteristics of Terayama Shuji, representing a dry persona, with Kara, who embodies the wet essence of human connection. This exploration sheds light on the complexities of cultural identities and the varying degrees of intimacy and obligation that define relationships in different societies.
