The Rise of "Yankee" Boom

Likewise the eruption of “obaka” boom, recently the Japanese people seem to be captivated by another peculiar boom ― they have started to derive fascination in any tincture of “vicious propensities” in various kinds of fields. Perhaps the most notorious example showing the rise of this boom is seen in “Gokusen”, a famous Japanese drama in which some young actors playing roles as high-school juvenile delinquents overtly show a number of apparently immoral behaviours without any restriction, such as minor smoking, vehement fighting, grotesque vandalism, and so on. Despite every strenuous inclination of Japanese police’s to prevent genuine and pure children from being tempted with such unprincipled lifestyles, this “Gokusen” show willingly reveals us what juvenile delinquents are like in a completely complimented manner. It seems as if it appeals that all viciously-looking boys and girls, though it is true that they sometimes get out of control, have sort of idiosyncratic virtues in their own, all of which obviously result from their being so-called “gangs”. Actually, it is true: gang-ish youths, though in a little bit weird way, have their own creditability. As is often said, it is a universally acknowledged fact that many of young gangs in Japan choose to become members of motorcycle gangsters, called “bousouzoku” in Japanese. Paradoxical as it may sound, actually it is in this kind of group that such seemingly wicked youths begin to learn moral responsibilities in their own manner. Scarcely as it is known, usually there are very strict rules in Japanese motorcycle gangsters; no one gets into their territory and finds himself being there for a few minutes, without being aware of their strictly managed propriety, rectitudinous integrity, and incessant respectfulness to others. Totally contrary to the deeply stereotyped image of their depraved and hedonistic way of life, in fact gangster members survive a really brutal environment. What perhaps we have to bear in mind is that after all they “have” very vigorous energy and enthusiasm which rightly used, should contribute to improving our society: the only problem is that they wrongly use such creditable resources by staging a reckless driving demonstration without caring others’ feeling. In conclusion, all-in-all, I personally feel this what we Japanese call “yankee boom” is not so unpleasant as that stupid “obaka boom”, given the possible merit we might enjoy, of children’s learning such fortitudinous spirit of theirs in an appropriate way.