Ryuichi Sakamoto on Left-Handedness
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April 16, 2015

Ryuichi Sakamoto on Left-Handedness


Part 4: On Being Left-Handed


Ryuichi Sakamoto's Anything Goes Advice Corner.
The Professor answers questions about left-handedness from two parents.
The pros and cons of being left-handed, and bitter memories...


Summary by OPENERSPhoto by JAMANDFIX





My son, who is 2 years and 3 months old, seems likely to be left-handed.
As a passionate fan of the Professor, I'd love for him to be, but
I intend to let nature take its course regarding whether he's right or left-handed.
From your own experience, please tell us the advantages and disadvantages of being left-handed.


I have six-year-old twin sons.
During their pre-school entrance health check-up, because both my sons were left-handed,
the school asked, 'Would you like to correct their left-handedness?'
It's not an illness, so I don't think there's any need to correct it.
To a school that considers left-handedness something to be 'corrected' like cavities,
how should we respond?


The Biggest Disadvantage of Left-Handedness



I'm not an expert, but I've heard that forcing someone to switch from left-handedness to right-handedness can, in severe cases, lead to psychological problems. I don't think it should be corrected.

I'm left-handed too, but as for advantages... I can't think of any.

The biggest disadvantage I experienced was 'calligraphy.' As a child, I had no choice but to write with my right hand, and of course, I couldn't write well. My handwriting was as bad as a right-handed person trying to write with their left. As someone from a culture that uses Chinese characters, it's the biggest drawback. It was a real struggle...

Incidentally, I recently tried some left-handed scissors and can openers, but they were incredibly inconvenient! I've been using right-handed tools with my left hand for so long that I can't use the left-handed ones properly now.

I Can't Believe They Asked 'Correct It?'


While not to the extent of India with Hinduism, there's a notion in Asia that 'the left hand is impure.'
In Japan, until before the war, there was a strong push to 'correct' people to be right-handed, but after the war, that trend changed, and left-handedness began to be accepted.

...Or so I thought, but I can't believe the school would ask, 'Correct it?'




Outrageous!
Ignore them! There's no need to correct it!



That's what you should insist.

As a side note, because I'm left-handed, I once wondered if my brain functions were reversed, so I looked into it. They say the left side is for language and the right for spatial reasoning, but when I tested myself, it wasn't reversed (laughs).
So, why I am left-handed remains a mystery.



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