“Walking through the town dressed beautifully, with a beautiful face, is a kind of urban beautification movement.”
- January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970
- Born in Japan
- Novelist, playwright, critic, political activist
- He became a representative figure of postwar Japanese literature, and was highly acclaimed both at home and abroad. He pursued his own unique aesthetic with themes of beauty and death, and ultimately committed seppuku at a Self-Defense Forces garrison. His life, which combined literature with action, continues to have a strong influence today.
Japanese
「美しい身なりをして、美しい顔で町を歩くことは、一種の都市美化運動だ」
English
“Walking through the town dressed beautifully, with a beautiful face, is a kind of urban beautification movement.”
Explanation
In this quote, Mishima makes a provocative statement about the connection between aesthetic appearance and social responsibility. He suggests that personal beauty—both in terms of appearance and dress—serves a larger purpose within the public space, functioning as a form of urban beautification. The act of walking through town while presenting oneself with careful attention to appearance is, in Mishima’s view, not merely an act of vanity but a way of contributing to the overall aesthetic of the city. By enhancing the visual environment with one’s presence, individuals participate in the beautification of urban life itself. This could be seen as a metaphor for how personal behavior and public appearances can influence the atmosphere and culture of the broader society.
Mishima’s view here also touches on the idea of public decorum and civic duty—the belief that one’s personal presentation should not just be for personal satisfaction, but should also reflect and respect the public space. This aligns with his broader themes of discipline, honor, and the importance of aesthetics in everyday life. Mishima often believed that beauty and order should be upheld as virtues in both public and private spheres, and that individuals should carry the responsibility to maintain and enhance the cultural and moral fabric of their environments.
In the modern context, this quote can be interpreted as a commentary on how appearance and presentation in today’s society often carry social weight beyond just personal preference. In an age where image and aesthetic presentation are increasingly tied to identity and social success, Mishima’s perspective can be seen as a critique of how surface-level beauty influences social dynamics, whether in the realm of fashion, media, or even public behavior. Mishima’s notion of “urban beautification” reminds us that the way we present ourselves in public spaces has the potential to shape the visual and cultural environment we collectively inhabit, emphasizing how even individual choices in appearance can impact the aesthetic and moral health of society.
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