Sympathy for Thailand!

Hirokazu Kobayashi

CEO, Green Insight Japan, Inc.

Professor Emeritus and Visiting Professor, University of Shizuoka

According to TripAdvisor's travel information website, Japan is the country that people from overseas would most like to visit. On the other hand, when it comes to leaving Japan, neighboring Asian countries and Europe are the most popular destinations. In addition to individual differences in how some people are more or less likable when working together, I think Thai people are easier to get along with in terms of national characteristics. Where does this likability come from? Researchers are connected worldwide, and their research results are shared in a common language, English. When I completed my postdoctoral research in the United States and secured a position at Nagoya University, where I had earned my Ph.D., the first international student I supervised in research was from Thailand. She was more proficient in experiments than any other researcher I know. This is a personal quality, but I also found that my human relationships were very Japanese, and I did not get tired of them. She graduated from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand's top-ranked university. In other words, her knowledge and English skills were impeccable. After earning her doctoral degree in Japan, she worked at Mahidol University, one of Thailand's leading institutions. Afterward, her impression was so good that I asked her to accept an exchange student from Mahidol University into the University of Shizuoka. The international student was also excellent; her personality seemed to have adapted to Japan.

Where does sympathy for Thailand originate? The first point to note is that Thailand is a Buddhist country, as is Japan. Although many Japanese people do not consider themselves Buddhists, Buddhism has dramatically influenced history and culture. Thailand has a deep-rooted culture of politeness and respect for others, and in Thailand, people greet each other with their hands together, saying “wai." On the other hand, in Japan, there is a difference: the practice of bowing. Second, one reason this culture has been maintained is that neither country became a colony of Western Europe. Thailand (then known as Siam) was located between British-controlled Burma (present-day Myanmar) and French-controlled Indochina (present-day Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos). Therefore, it acted as a “buffer state" between Britain and France, and both countries probably thought it was better to keep Siam independent than to rule it directly. Siam's leaders, especially Rama IV (King Mongkut: 1804-1868), who was famous as the model for the musical "The King and I," and Rama V (King Chulalongkorn: 1853-1910), also displayed shrewd diplomatic skills. They adopted a balanced policy between Britain and France, maintaining Siam's independence through treaties with each country. Thirdly, there is a commonality in food culture. Rice is the staple food in both countries, and although Thai and Japanese cuisines have distinct characteristics, both are committed to fresh ingredients and traditional cooking methods.

Thailand (formerly Siam) and Japan have a rich history of exchanges. From the 1400s to the 1500s, trade between Japan and Siam flourished. Siam exported spices, ivory, silk products, etc., to Japan, and Japan exported swords, silver, etc., to Siam. After 1583, the era of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) began, marking the start of the red-seal ship trade, and Japanese merchants expanded their trade to Siam. In particular, interaction with the Ayutthaya dynasty of Siam deepened, and a Japanese town was formed in Ayutthaya. It is said that more than 1,500 Japanese people lived there at its peak. One of them, Yamada Nagamasa (ca. 1590-1630), demonstrated his talent as a trader. He remained prominent as the captain of a Japanese mercenary force in Ayutthaya and gained recognition in the battle against Ayutthaya's archenemy, the Burmese. As a result, Nagamasa and his mercenary army gained the trust of the imperial court. They even served as the king's bodyguard, and in 1629, he rose to become the king of Rigor under the Ayutthaya dynasty. Then came the modern period; in 1900, the Buddha's sarira (relics) were donated to the Japanese people by King Rama V. Kakuozan Nissen-ji Temple was built in Nagoya City in 1904 as a place for this enshrinement, and was renamed Nittai-ji Temple in 1949, when Siam officially became Thailand. The name "Nittai" combines “Ni” (from Nippon, meaning Japan) and “Tai” (from Thai). In the same year, an elephant named “Hanako” was sent from Thailand to Japan, and it suffered physically and mentally from World War II, giving courage to people all over Japan. Hanako lived until 2016, making her a long-lived 69-year-old.

Japanese folk tales are replete with the spirit of philanthropy toward animals, such as "Tongue Cut Sparrow," "The Story of the Old Man Who Made Withered Trees Blossom," and "Crane's Return of a Favor." Similarly, in Thailand, elephants are affectionately called "Chang," a name that resonates with their gentle sound. The reverence for elephants in Thailand, as evidenced by "The Legend of the White Elephant," "The Tale of Pra Ajahn," and the contributions of "Elephant Nature Park," mirrors Japan's spiritual connection to its wildlife. My experiences in Thailand, including riding elephants and visiting Ayutthaya, have been truly enriching. On these trips, former exchange students from Thailand have graciously acted as guides, deepening my understanding of their culture and history. The journey from Japan to Thailand, which takes over six hours by flight, may not be short, but it serves as a reminder of the proximity and the irreplaceable bond we share with our Asian neighbor, Thailand.