Young lovers’ season and May disease

April 23, 2009

Young lovers’ season and May disease

May is one of the most beautiful seasons in Japan. The days of spring fever and pollen have gone, but the depressing “tsuyu” rainy season in early summer is yet to come. Young lovers go out to enjoy themselves in fresh air.
A waka poem composed by Princess Nukada and included in the Manyoshu (ten thousand leaves) poem anthology of the early eighth century goes:

Out on the madder-colored purple meadow,
Out on the marked sacred meadow,
I am afraid the meadow keeper might have seen you, my lover; wave your sleeves toward me.
(A personal translation)

This love poem is one of the most favored verses in Japan’s first wake poem anthology. People in ancient times made it a custom to go picking young greens in the early spring to celebrate the arrival of spring. The poem, earlier believed to be one extended to Prince Ooama, indicates the two took the occasion to meet secretly at an Imperial meadow. But researchers say the verse must be an imaginary poem composed at a court party.
Young lovers today must be careful to developments in the rude real world. Young working people, especially rookies, tend to contract May disease, a slight depression-like syndrome which follows a period of strong stress in a new environment following the start of the new business year. But rookies this year may be relatively lucky.
University graduates had a tough time landing jobs this year amid the global recession. As of Feb. 1, two months before their graduation, 14 of 100 university students had not been able to find jobs, according to a government survey.
Japan’s economic illness has made a dent in young people’s daily life. Most Japanese youngsters have been apathetic to politics, but they are coming to realize they cannot be free from the political situation. Japan’s economic plight may help enhance young people’s awareness about their voting rights. This should be a welcome development amid the current dark atmosphere enveloping Japan.