Why don't the Japanese do away with this old custom of
seeing people off? To be frank, it is a great waste of time and
energy, and is meaningless. Seeing-off, like photography, is one of
Japan's national sports. I have come to the conclusion that the
5 Japanese are lacking in imagination and unable to put themselves
into the other person's shoes. People go to seeing-offs as to a party
or a show, where the person being seen off is subject to endless
snap-shotting and present-giving. Especially when a person is
traveling by air and luggage is limited to a certain weight, it is
10 foolish to force presents on the helpless traveler, who is obliged to
pay *extra for the *excess luggage.
? Actually I can't help feeling for the person being seen off, who
must spend his last precious hours bowing and smiling, being
photographed over and over again, and saying meaningless
15 things.
> *Leave-taking should be a *solemn moment shared, if at all,
17 with only one's dearest friends
