Values can change... perhaps.
I am writing this after returning to work.
In my case, I feel a change in myself after taking a leave of absence and going through re-work. This is a story about how I thought such changes might happen to various things as well.
Tokyo Game Show and the Pokémon Center
Last weekend, my family and I went on an overnight trip for the first time in a while, feeling like a "late summer vacation."
We went to Makuhari Messe for the Tokyo Game Show.
On the way back, we stopped by Shibuya and enjoyed the Pokémon Center and the Nintendo Shop.
Playing demos of my favorite Dragon Quest and pre-ordering the new Pokémon game.
We were able to spend a weekend where we could innocently enjoy ourselves as a family.
Deeply reflecting on the change in values
The venues in Makuhari and Shibuya were overflowing with all kinds of people.
There were plenty of adults, not just the younger generation.
Seeing that, a few days later, I felt something deeply.
"The change in the status of games, or rather, the change in how society views them, is amazing."
Around the time I was in the upper grades of elementary school, the Famicom was released.
At that time, games were the enemy of society (or rather, adults ≒ parents).
What was often said was:
"TV is limited to 2 hours a day"
"Games are limited to 1 hour a day"
They were treated as if TV and games were the enemies of a child's growth.
Now, 40 years later,
"Anime and games are a culture Japan is proud of"
"Oshikatsu" (supporting one's favorite)
They are now at the center of being proud to the world and cherishing one's own "likes"!
I deeply felt the "change in values" of society toward games.
Changes in values can happen to me too
I feel a change in my own values through my two leaves of absence, returns to work, and re-work.
There have been many situations in these past two years where I thought, "I wouldn't have been able to think this way before."
This change in values has made me feel at ease. It has made me richer.
I am surprised myself.
It's not that young people are flexible and old people are stubborn and cannot change.In the end, it depends on yourself, I realized.
That said, I cannot say
"The experience of taking a leave of absence was good in the end."
The process leading up to the leave of absence, and during the leave. It was painful. I was anxious.
And, right now, there is the fact that I have been demoted and had my salary reduced.
It is just that my change in values has changed how I perceive this fact.
Changes in values can also happen in society... right?
The way companies and colleagues/superiors treat those who have taken leave or returned to work is harsh.
I'm sure they just don't know what to do. That's how I feel.
However, if you look at society's values regarding those returning to work over a long period of time.
they might just change.
The scenes I witnessed at the Tokyo Game Show and the Pokémon Center made me think that way.
Well, it probably won't go that smoothly, though.