日本とフランスは同じレベルで両想いだと思う。歴史的背景は、まったくといって言いほど共通していないけれど、フランス人は日本文化の侘び寂びやカワイイの感覚を理解しているように感じる。とは言え、フランスはラテンの国。彼らの立ち居振る舞いを見ていると、日本人のこじんまりとした島国の生き様とは対極に映ることの方が多い。熱情的で、周りの目などどこ吹く風、横柄なところもなくはない。お互い、自分にはない所に惹かれ合っているのかしら。

パリの地下鉄のドアにこのステッカーを見つけた時、両想いがここまで募っているのか！？と笑ってしまった。日本の電車のドアにも、これと酷似したステッカーが貼ってあるから。本家はどっち？

I think Japan and France love each other at the same level. Though our historical backgrounds are completely different, it seems to me that French people understand the feel of Japanese culture such as Wabi-Sabi and Kawaii. However, France is a Latin country. Their attitude with European mentality is the polar-opposite to Japanese one, which is modest and quiet with the island mentality. A common stereo-type of French is confident and emotional, seemingly indifferent about what others think, and sometimes quite arrogant, which is nothing but being Japanese… I guess we both maybe attracted by the characteristics which we don’t have in ourself?

When I found this door sticker in the Paris subway, I laughed, wondering “how much we love each other!?” Believe or not, we also have a door sticker in the trains in Japan which is identical to this. Which is the origin?

photographed in dec/2017