Jeepney Press / Geraldine Limpo

FORTUNE HUNTING

Bago mag-bagong taon, kaugalian nating mga Pilipino ang magnilay. Tradisyong Kristiano ang pagmumuni sa mga nangyari sa 2022—unang-una na ang kahirapang idinulot ng COVID virus. Datapwa’t mas marami na ang may bakuna, marami pa rin ang nagkakasakit lalu’t lalo na at mas marami at mas madaling makahawa ang mga bagong variant. Noong simula, Greek letters ang mga covid variant—omicron na ang pinakapopular. Lately, mas mabangis na ang mga variant names, katulad ng kraken.

Nakatulong ang pagbibigay-ayuda ng gobyerno noong kasagsagan ng COVID spread (tinawag na stimulus bonus sa US) ngunit nakakagambala ang in ation. Marami sa atin dito sa Japan ang nagrereklamo sa pagbaba ng purchasing power ng Japanese yen sa taong 2022; subali’t kapag inihambing natin ang in ation rate ng Japan (3.7%) sa world average (9.8%) o sa US (7.7%), at sa statistic na 43% ng mga bansa sa buong mundo ay may in ation rate na double-digit (halimbawa: UK, 11.1%), nababawasan ng kaunti ang ating pag-aalala. Marahil ay marami sa atin ang hindi nakakaalam na ang foreign exchange reserves (in other words, the nancial assets deposited in the Central Bank of a country) ng Japan (1,227 MN USD) ay pumapangalawa lamang sa China in the world rankings for 2022. Ihambing natin ito sa US na higit na mas malaki sa Japan, pero number 13 lamang sa world rankings. Sa madaling sabi, mas manageable (pa rin) ang pamumuhay sa Japan compared to most countries.

Sa pagdami ng foreign workers sa Japan, dumami din ang split family set-ups. Mahirap ang mangibang-bayan para humanap ng trabaho para maitawid ang mga pangangailangan ng pamilya, at marami ang sakripisyo ng napapahiwalay na tatay o nanay o anak o asawa sa kanilang mga pamilya at kaibigan. We recall the many adjustments we made (and continue to make) transitioning life from the Philippines to Japan. Do we remember arriving with feelings of loss and confusion and muster every ounce of courage to make friends? We quickly realized that learning Nihongo becomes necessary for us to get around, buy food and necessities. In addition, we adjusted to the temperate climate which has four seasons (and thus, require different modes of clothing). Sa Pinas, the tee-shirt/denims/ sneakers can be worn all year round; these cannot be worn in Japan where the winters can see snow.

Such are my thoughts and re ections as I slurped the toshikoshi (buckwheat noodles) during omisoka ( final day of the year/New Year’s Eve) that symbolize a yearning for a long and healthy life. Everyone excitedly gobbled up the meal, regarding it as a fitting reward after backbreaking oosuji. Japanese houses are cleaned top-to-bottom because the traditional (Shinto) belief is that the gods (kami) visit homes during the New Year. After the meal, we donned our overcoats and wore our mittens and trekked to Kashihara Jingu. The biting cold was somewhat assuaged by the crowds flocking to the temple to hear the bells ring 108 times (joya no kane)-- the number represents the 108 desires that pious Buddhists endeavor to cut attachments to by means of meditating on the teachings/Dharma. We followed the lead of our Japanese counterparts who performed the ritual sequence of clapping their hands and praying for health and good fortune, and thereafter exchanged their old charms (which they left at the temple) with new ones (omamori) which will be hung later on doors to ward off evil spirits and bad luck.

The walk back home takes about half an hour, and we reward ourselves with cups of hot chocolate (no traditional symbolism here), chat a bit and retire to bed, once again failing to catch the rays of sunrise of the first day of the new year. It is common belief that seeing them is considered auspicious.

The Japanese new year is celebrated for three days during which the Japanese visit the temples and shrines (hatsumoude) and eat special dishes called osechi ryouri that celebrate the abundance of land and marine produce.

Prayers lifted up and tummies filled, my family members and I somehow forget COVID-19 and inflation. As if by magic, the world looks bright again. After all, hope springs eternal, as they say.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Geraldine Limpo