An Interview with Mr. Karel Žebrakovský, the Ambassador of the Czech republic to Japan
How would you evaluate modern life in Japan? What was the biggest surprise in Japan for you as a European?
I have an invaluable opportunity to get to know Japan, its inhabitants and their mentality from a wide range of perspectives.
If I had to choose just one word to describe the basic characteristic of the Japanese people, that word would be "politeness."
In my experiences, extreme politeness is the dominant and characteristic national trait of the Japanese.
And the biggest surprise? Probably that after only a few days or weeks, visitors to Japan acquire a very valuable and pleasant
sense of security knowing that Tokyo and all of Japan is very civilized and well organized, economically advanced and completely
safe and day-to-day living here is quite easy, so in a matter of time it's quite easy to feel at home.
In your opinion what ties Czechs and Japanese together?
There is for instance our interest in classical music and the arts in general. A passion for classical music is almost universal
for the Japanese. Their natural inclination towards brass and marching band music is also interesting. It's interesting to see
during marches by Julius Fučík or other composers of that genre (perhaps the best example is the Radetzky March) that the
Japanese spontaneously begin tapping their feet to the beat. There is also an appreciation - at least by the male half of the
population - for the taste of beer. No Czech and no Japanese can resist the bitter taste of beer. More common characteristics
or traits could certainly be found.
What do you see as the biggest opportunity for the Czech Republic at Expo 2005?
The Czech Republic is clearly well known in Japan. Almost all Japanese know Czech classical music and the composers Dvořák and
Smetana, the sporting giants Věra Čáslavská and Emil Zátopek; Czech artistic glass and cut crystal is famed and is considered
to be the best in the world. Many people also know our literature (particularly children's) and animated films. We have a
reputation as a beautiful and interesting country and Prague and some other cities are considered to be architectural
and historical treasures. Not surprisingly about 130,000 Japanese tourists are now visiting our country annually.
The main opportunity for the Czech Republic at Expo 2005 is to show that our country is interesting for other reasons as well,
that interesting historical monuments can be found in other cities and picturesque countryside can be seen in southern Bohemia
and in Moravia, etc. The Czech Republic is also well known for its remarkable industrial and technological quality and
traditions - we should also show visitors more in these areas.
What do you consider to be our primary "hard currency" from the Japanese point of view? What about our country have the
Japanese you've met been most interested in?
Our cultural tradition, well-known and high quality education (the fact that Charles University has existed continuously since
1348 is a source of amazement), architectural monuments, our technological and industrial traditions, the high standards of
our technical education and of course music, etc. The positive development of the Czech economy has confirmed the forecasts of
Japanese investment experts that selecting the Czech Republic as a destination for cutting-edge technological and production
lines in Europe is a sure bet. Now we need to show the same things in the areas of scientific research and technological
development.
What do you most admire about Japanese culture?
I enjoy classical music and for that reason the unbelievably strong interest of the Japanese population in European classical
music fascinates me. For anyone with a strong interest in classical symphonic music, Japan is a paradise.
I have to say one more thing that I consider to be a part of the national culture and its "life philosophy." Children of all
nations and cultures are beautiful and in all cultures children are the object of wonder and great care. However, I have the
unshakeable feeling, that Japanese children, in particular little girls, are exceptionally, indescribably beautiful! You may
admire their famous gardens and parks, Mount Fuji, the temples, cultural and architectural monuments, wonderful concerts and
technological miracles - but that's all nothing in comparison with the beauty of small boys and girls in their marvelously
colorful and beautiful kimonos. In all modesty, I would recommend to anyone visiting Japan that they save a few shots on their
film and take some pictures of small children in traditional Japanese kimonos.
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