I’m the king of things I’ve always despised
I’m the gingerbread man who got eaten alive
I’m half-baked! I’m fake!
But see I’ve got hotels on Park Place and Boardwalk
And two hundred bucks
I pass go but, oh! Life’s taken its toll
Have I won Monopoly to forfeit my soul?
I’ve got the company car
I’m the one swinging at two below par
Yeah, I’ve become one with the ones
That I’ve never believed in
But I’ve got the company car
I’ve wanted to write something about Usagi Drop all season, but nothing particularly came to mind, even three episodes in. But wouldn’t you know it? I had two posts’ worth to write on episode four. This one pertains to the main action of this episode, in which Daikichi asks for what amounts to a demotion so that he can better care for Rin.
Daikichi’s sacrifice is admirable, I think almost all of us would agree. We might even go further and say that it’s the right choice. And yet…I don’t think many would do it – either in the career-driven culture in Japan or a not-altogether-unlike culture in the U.S. Dual income households are the norm and other than maternity/paternity leave, most parents don’t make major work adjustments after having a child.
Children become a part of our lives. They may be at the top of our list, but they remain in the same category as a number of other items – career, life goals, relationships, and material goods, possibly among them. There’s push and pull in this category of “important things in my life,” and sometimes the children have to make sacrifices so that careers can advance and so that they and the family can have more of…well, everything. But make no mistake – the children do sacrifice.
The thing is, what we are sacrificing for really isn’t that sweet in the end. For most, our careers give self worth, but they rarely make a major, positive difference in the world. Our material goods provide us pleasure, but these pleasures are temporary and superficial. I was reminded of such in the past week, when I reaped some minor worldly rewards from a new job, which in turn reminded me of “Company Car,” the Switchfoot song I quoted above.
On the other hand, Daikichi’s sacrifice and those by others who give up their ambitions and pleasure-seeking for the sake of children, family, or other objects of more significance find this – it’s worth it. It’s rare to find a person, for instance, who regrets sacrificing career for family. After all, who, at the end of their lives, says, “I wish I had spent less time with family and more time in the office”?
The idea, I think, is similar for Christians. People get this idea that living a Christian life is like stripping away all the fun and living a life of boredom and stuffiness. Those who seek to live like Christ find the opposite – they realize that as they strip themselves off and let Christ take over more and more of their hearts, they’re opening themselves to more fulfilling and significant lives. By decreasing, they ironically increase.
In the end, Daikichi’s sacrifice is no sacrifice at all. The more he loses, the more he’ll gain. We should all be so lucky to gain what he’s gaining, and we should all be so blessed to be a person who really gets it.
Well said. I don’t have a huge amount to add, but I would like to say that little reminders like this are very helpful when we live in a world driven by careers or material goods.
Thanks – Usagi Drop certainly functions in that reminder role for me.
I was hesitant about this show at the start since I found the first episode a bit too drab, but the following episodes warmed me up and reminded me that I had become a bit too accustomed to fast-paced shows. Daikichi’s actions for and around Rin amaze me, as he demonstrates a heart with unfathomable depths all for a little girl who has the barest line of connection to him. I don’t know if I could be so caring even for a 1st cousin from a less-communicative side of the family. I hope some day in the future when I’m more ready, I’ll feel more open about starting my own family.
Oh! And congrats on your guest showing in 2D’s first podcast 🙂
I think the show’s become more and more enjoyable as the series has progressed, and it has certainly become warmer. This progression almost seems necessary, though, matching Rin’s development – she’s cold and distant at first (no surprise) and as she comes to accept and love Daikichi, we as the viewers also feel the series warm up.
Oh, and thank you! I was surprised and glad he asked, and was real happy to do my small part.
” Quote.. After all, who, at the end of their lives, says, “I wish I had spent less time with family and more time in the office”? Unquote
Very enlightening quote…. I’ve never thought of it that way. ! ! Thanks !
You’re welcome! Those words, I have to say, are probably straight from my pastor’s mouth. 🙂
I don’t know if you can call Japanese society career-driven. The people here always say how important it is to them to give it their all at work (even fun-loving students feel this need) but the idea of a “career” almost never pops up in those conversations. Maybe that’s because with the Japanese seniority system, you are more or less guaranteed a promotion if you just work at a single place long enough. The Japanese make sacrifices for their work not out desire for “more” but because of a very strong (and, admittedly, somewhat mysterious to me) feeling of responsibility and duty.
But yeah, “work-driven”, certainly.
I agree – “work-drive” is a more appropriate term. Thanks for adding that important contextual information!
[…] “In the end, Daikichi’s sacrifice is no sacrifice at all. The more he loses, the more he’ll gain. We should all be so lucky to gain what he’s gaining, and we should all be so blessed to be a person who really gets it.” – Beneath the Tangles […]