What Did the Mice in Paradise Warn Us About?

What Did the Mice in Paradise Warn Us About?
 
 
As the autumn breeze whispered through the air, my editor arrived at the café with a peculiar grin on his face. Whenever he wore that expression, it was a sure sign he had an intriguing story to share. Over time, I had come to understand the topics that piqued his interest, and fortunately, none had ever been a disappointment. So, I decided to listen to his tale without any preconceived notions.
 
“Mr. Kuzei, have you ever heard of this kind of story?”
 
He leaned over the table and began his narrative.
 
“It’s about an experiment with mice. They created a paradise-like environment for the mice, with ample space, plenty of food, air conditioning, and no predators like cats. The number of mice kept increasing, but what do you think happened then?”
 
At this point, I had a hunch. It seemed to be about “Universe 25.” Recently, NHK aired a program on “Universe 25” late at night. He must have watched it. However, I already knew quite a bit about “Universe 25.” Even so, it would be rude to cut him off just because I knew the story. So, I listened attentively, nodding along to his enthusiastic explanation.

“Universe 25” is an animal experiment that is said to have discovered the dangers of a prosperous society. I won’t go into detail here, but there are many explanatory pages on the internet, and it has also been turned into books. If you’re interested, please check them out.

 The mice, who had reached the peak of prosperity, faced a tragic end, and his story ended there. Like the death march of lemmings, they might not be able to escape their fate of heading towards destruction.
 
“Even though they were living in paradise, they didn’t realize it while they were there. It’s scary, as if we’re being shown our own future.”
 
For living creatures, an increase in the number of individuals of the same species is synonymous with the prosperity of the species. Indeed, Japan has a large population, is one of the world’s longest-living countries, and is a safe and wealthy nation. It can be said that Japan has reached the peak of prosperity. If people from centuries ago saw Japan, they would surely see it as a “paradise.” And we are now living in that “paradise.”
 
The Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare have announced that Japan’s population is expected to decline in the future. Furthermore, if this trend continues, there is a theory that the Japanese will become extinct around the year 4000. This theory, calculated mathematically, shows a population trend line that converges to zero in pessimistic graphs. Will the Japanese become a species that exists only in museums and encyclopedias? We don’t want to end up like the Japanese wolf.
 
My editor asked for my thoughts.
 
“Interesting story, but if you ask me if that’s the future of humanity, I think it’s an absurd and fanciful tale.”
 
It must have been an unexpected answer, as a huge “?” appeared above his head.
 
“Think about it. That’s an experiment with mice in a completely controlled environment by humans. Is there ever a situation in real life where there are zero external influences or changes?”
 
My perspective seemed to deepen and expand his interest. “What do you mean by that? Please tell me more.”
 
If the entire world were fixed, or if every day were just a repetition of the same thing, humans would surely march towards destruction like the mice. This is because daily life activities are adaptive behaviors in response to changes and fluctuations in the surroundings. If the source of these activities were taken away under the guise of “paradise,” it is not hard to imagine what would happen. The mice were sent to a place that was not a “paradise” where everything was fulfilled, but a “prison” completely isolated from the outside world. There was no discipline or autonomy. Even the concept of stress disappeared. A “prison” without guards naturally became dominated by abnormal behaviors that would be unthinkable under normal circumstances.
 
Projecting the future of humanity onto the mice heading towards a tragic end in “paradise” is a mislead caused by the keyword “paradise,” which makes the experimental results seem sensational. Whether it was manipulation by the experimenters or later exaggerated interpretations, it has become like an urban legend that cannot be verified.
 
Humans have built civilizations as a safe haven by constantly resisting the dynamically changing environment. If this is called the construction of “paradise,” it is an amorphous “paradise” that is subjectively controlled, not a given and fixed “paradise.” In other words, even in the face of unforeseen circumstances, humans use their wisdom to overcome hardships. Broadening the perspective, all living creatures always choose avoidance behaviors in the face of impending disasters.
 
The death march of lemmings is actually nothing more than an over-the-top fabrication. When lemmings unexpectedly come to a cliff, they turn back without panicking. They do not plunge into the abyss without a plan.
 
 
Greetings, I am Kuzei Ryosei, a novelist who delves into a diverse array of genres, spanning from the historical to the contemporary. My aim is to enchant readers with tales that breathe life into history and explore the intricate issues of modern society. I warmly invite you to reach out to me.

Greetings, I am Kuzei Ryosei, a novelist who delves into a diverse array of genres, spanning from the historical to the contemporary. My aim is to enchant readers with tales that breathe life into history and explore the intricate issues of modern society. I warmly invite you to reach out to me.