Flower Vandalism & Japanese Society
A bizarre wave of flower-vandalism has swept Japan since the beginning of the month, with vandals destroying thousands of flowers on display in Gunma, Fukuoka, Saitama, Miyagi, Shizuoka, and several other prefectures.
What are we to make of this slaughter? An Asahi Shinbun editorial has declared that the tulip vandalism is a sign of an oppressive society, drawing a connection to a recent event in Nagano:
Is our society becoming a place where strangers cannot be trusted? Spray-paint graffiti were discovered on Sunday in the main hall of Zenkoji temple in Nagano Prefecture. The temple had just declined to be the starting point of the Olympic torch relay for the Beijing Olympics.
The temple premises are said to be open to the faithful 24/7. But now that it is obvious that not everyone is a pious worshipper, calls may be made to review this arrangement.
With the “torches” of benevolence being put out one by one, society is growing more oppressive, as if everyone should be suspicious of one another. In the shadows cast by suspicion, cynical sayings of old glitter unpleasantly.
The individuals who vandalized the tulips and the temple are contributing to this unacceptable social trend.
