Bookstore shelves all over Tokyo are stacked with shiawase hautsū bon (幸せハウツー本, how-to-be-happy books), which, surprisingly perhaps, outnumber the dire-prediction books that spin tales about what's ailing the global economy and how Japan will chinbotsu (沈没, sink) in five years or less. Apparently, shiawase (幸せ, happiness) has become all the rage, as it has never before, which is a little disconcerting to a crank like me.

Just a decade ago, philosopher/writer Takaaki Yoshimoto (Banana's dad) declared the Japanese temperament was completely unsuited to the pursuit of personal happiness. Dutch journalist and writer Karel van Wolferen has written that it's practically impossible to experience happiness in the Japanese system. Though plenty of Japanese may disagree, there's evidence to indicate that these guys had it right; shiawase may be the concept of the moment but it and the Japanese ultimately don't gel. Besides, the characters for shiawase, consisting of sachi (幸) and fuku (福), basically mean honor and prosperity. No mention of happiness.

Truth be told, the Japanese have traditionally placed their priorities elsewhere, and it seems the majority of the nation's adults would choose fumanzoku no manzoku (不満足の満足, the satisfaction of discontent) — an ancient Buddhist concept — over personal gratification, and anzen (安全, safety) over adrenaline.