In Tanizaki's essay, "In Praise of Shadows," he argues that Japan has begun to lose its ancient cultural values because of following to closely in the West's footsteps. The tone Tanizaki uses throughout his essay is one of compassion and sympathy. He only hopes to capture the reader's attention to ensure they understand his values and needs. Tanizaki expresses these values with sympathy to the reality of changes already taken place, and in the end compromises to allow readers to take their own stand with or against his arguments.
             When describing the china used in the west compared to the china used in Japan, Tanizaki stressed the importance of the tarnished look to Japan. Japan waits for their china to tarnish so it can finally be accepted with its "elegance of age" (341). Tanizaki then goes on to explain that the beauty of age gives them a mysterious sense of peace and repose. Tanizaki claims that Japan has that specific love for antiques, and holds that beauty above the materialistic aspect the west holds. The specific example he uses strengthens his point by showing the reader exactly how much Japanese culture treasures age and beauty.
             The age and beauty in their china, that is so widely respected by the Japanese, also holds true with their technology. Tanizaki believes that because Japan has followed the West in technology, the Japan art is at a disadvantage. With technology better suiting the West's arts, Japan's seem to be distorted, and made utterly lifeless (340). More specifically, the radio was something described as a machine that strips the music of its charm, and fails the Japanese of their much appreciated "silence and pausing" (340). These silences are the understatement and the most important aspect of their conversation; they define that "special character" in ones voice. The way Tanizaki illustrates the importance greatly impacts the in...