tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-349426742024-03-06T11:37:23.202+09:00Walking in The Pleasure GardenFAQs about Japanese culture and my favorite things - books, music and trips.Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-12364857633159653162022-09-23T16:31:00.002+09:002022-09-23T16:46:53.131+09:00“Kuyo” Memorial Service for victims, animals, dolls, needles in JapanWhen Japanese people pray and give something for the spirits of the dead, it's called "kuyo" or "irei".
It is not only for a dead relative or friend but also for the victims of natural disasters or incidents like murders, traffic accidents, and war.<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a title="No machine-readable author provided. Mikeo assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cenotaph_Hiroshima.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Cenotaph Hiroshima" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Cenotaph_Hiroshima.jpg/256px-Cenotaph_Hiroshima.jpg"></a></div><br clear="left">
<small>"Irei-hi", the memorial cenotaph for the Hiroshima atomic bomb victims including 12 American captives.</small> <br>
<br>
In addition, "Kuyo" or "Irei" are also for animals and non-living materials. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">For animals</h2><br>
Some temples in Japan implement funeral and prayer services for pets. <br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtbtLf8JFHquwDJVh5LDkDdrse4Os8SQ8GydyKVzy0DafykFlnkI8nSK48j8uYupd1M43PUM07VOwPxIyJKswWqUr88upD5uXSbsziMdht8ge824j5sZdsIgj43xY7skB8kUsVpY3YqwxOYAcwozCITLrsULUDDYqEHxiWKe-2E3MIU4X_g/s1600/animals.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtbtLf8JFHquwDJVh5LDkDdrse4Os8SQ8GydyKVzy0DafykFlnkI8nSK48j8uYupd1M43PUM07VOwPxIyJKswWqUr88upD5uXSbsziMdht8ge824j5sZdsIgj43xY7skB8kUsVpY3YqwxOYAcwozCITLrsULUDDYqEHxiWKe-2E3MIU4X_g/s1600/animals.jpg"/></a></div><br clear="left">
<small>a tombstone for pets in a temple in Kyoto</small><br> <br>
<br>
Many Japanese institutes which use lab animals exercise irei or kuyo for lab animals every year.<br>
<br>
e.g. <a href="https://groups.oist.jp/ars/event/memorial-service-laboratory-animals-%E5%AE%9F%E9%A8%93%E5%8B%95%E7%89%A9%E6%85%B0%E9%9C%8A%E7%A5%AD%E3%81%AE%E3%81%94%E6%A1%88%E5%86%85-1">Memorial Service for Laboratory Animals (Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University)</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a title="Sakaori, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oncomelania_nosophora_cenotaph._Chikugo_River_area.A.JPG"><img width="512" alt="Oncomelania nosophora cenotaph. Chikugo River area.A" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Oncomelania_nosophora_cenotaph._Chikugo_River_area.A.JPG/512px-Oncomelania_nosophora_cenotaph._Chikugo_River_area.A.JPG"></a></div><br clear="left"><small>the memorial cenotaph for a certain kind of water snail.</small><br>
<br>
In the past, in some districts in Japan, a serious disease infected many habitats for a long time. A study in the early 20th Century found the cause of the disease to be parasites which grow in water snails called "Miyairi-gai". Therefore, the government and habitats exterminated all "Miyairi-gai".<br>
<br>
The cenotaph indicates as follows;<br>
Miyairi-gai Kuyo Cenotaph (This is the spot where the last living Miyairi-gai was found)<br>
<i>We pray (kuyo) for Miyairi-gai (the intermediate host of the parasite "Nihon Juketsu Kyuchu") which were exterminated by humans, for human society's safety.</i> (Established in 2000)<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">For non-living materials</h2><br>
"Ningyo-kuyo" is a memorial service for dolls. When Japanese people dispose of dolls they love or they get dolls by inheritance, some of them ask temples to pray and burn them.<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a title="田頭寛, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E4%BA%BA%E5%BD%A2%E4%BE%9B%E9%A4%8A%E7%A5%AD.JPG"><img width="512" alt="人形供養祭" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3c/%E4%BA%BA%E5%BD%A2%E4%BE%9B%E9%A4%8A%E7%A5%AD.JPG/512px-%E4%BA%BA%E5%BD%A2%E4%BE%9B%E9%A4%8A%E7%A5%AD.JPG"></a></div><br clear="left">
<small>Ningyo-kuyo at Nishino Shrine</small><br>
<br>
<br>
"Hari-kuyo" is to pray for needles. On 8th of Feb. or 8th of Dec. (ancient people thought these dates were the first and last of everyday life), at some shrines or temples, people put broken or rusted needles to very soft things (tofu or something) with thanks.<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a title="hiro_y, CC BY 2.1 JP <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.1/jp/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Harikuyou_at_Sens%C5%8D-ji_Awashima-do_2800822_org.jpg"><img width="512" alt="Harikuyou at Sensō-ji Awashima-do 2800822 org" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Harikuyou_at_Sens%C5%8D-ji_Awashima-do_2800822_org.jpg/512px-Harikuyou_at_Sens%C5%8D-ji_Awashima-do_2800822_org.jpg"></a></div><br clear="left">
<small>Hari kuyo; needles on a big tofu</small><br>
<br>
Why soft things? Needles have seen hard life on clothing or some hard things, therefore people think needles deserve thanks for all their hard work and should finally rest in something soft. <br>
<br>
There are other "kuyo" for other things - kitchen knives, scissors, mirrors and wallets in Japan.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">My personal feeling</h2><br>
I was born and have lived in Japan for over 50 years so I don't feel strange about these customs. Pets and dolls are similar to family members. Lab animals and exterminated snails are victims of selfish mankind. Of course, the best is not to kill them, however if you can't do so, you have to feel guilty, apologise and thank them.<br>
<br>
"Hari-kuyo" and other kuyo for materials are a little bit strange for me, but I understand it. In the past, before the mechanisation of society, these things were like close friends and partners for people. It is natural that people thank and pray for friends and partners, I think.Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-62227232301635907432021-08-19T14:23:00.018+09:002021-08-19T14:29:23.177+09:00Things to do When I’m 50When I turned 50 last year (2020), I was more shocked than when I turned 40. The average life expectancy for healthy Japanese males is 72.14. That means I only have 20 years left. Therefore I began to do as follows;<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Use memorabilia</h2><br>
I have a lot of memorabilia of musicians, video games, manga characters, T-shirts, mugs and old magazines. Until now, I've kept them and never used them because I don't want them to get worn out.<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p8UKvgFmylk/YR3kvWhIqKI/AAAAAAAA77U/_sJGXFw_u2Qc6LI5q550BN3CipkHc45tgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/20210704211551.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="540" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="1200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p8UKvgFmylk/YR3kvWhIqKI/AAAAAAAA77U/_sJGXFw_u2Qc6LI5q550BN3CipkHc45tgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/20210704211551.jpg"/></a></div><br clear="left">
Now I have begun to use them because my body might wear out sooner than the memorabilia.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Get excellent earphones</h2><br>
Your knees, chest, ears and eyes. Different things wear out for different people. As for me, it is my ears. I find myself asking the speaker to repeat what they've said more and more in conversations.<br>
<br>
This means that I'm in my final days of being able to listen to music in high-fidelity sound, I think. Therefore I've bought excellent earphones (<a href="https://electronics.sony.com/audio/headphones/all-headphones/p/wh1000xm3-b">SONY WH-1000XM3</a>). It makes my favorite music sound even more brilliant. I really enjoy them.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Get a good desk light and computer display</h2><br>
Fortunately, I don't feel any problems with my eyes, except for being near-sighted (since my teenage years) and my aged eyes (since my 40s). Nonetheless, it may be good for my eyes that I have prepared a good desk light and computer display (<a href="https://www.eizoglobal.com/products/flexscan/ev2460/index.html">EIZO EV2460</a>) which is equipped with non-flickering, auto-light volume control. <br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l__hHTvfv4s/YR3qhnft-EI/AAAAAAAA774/YIsh16pt9SExH-g7Mnq-F3eBYt-AipZTACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_1818-2.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="540" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l__hHTvfv4s/YR3qhnft-EI/AAAAAAAA774/YIsh16pt9SExH-g7Mnq-F3eBYt-AipZTACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_1818-2.jpg"/></a></div><br clear="left">
<br>
Using a new desk light and display, I feel it has reduced the tiredness of my eyes when I finish my work in my room. It isn't a dramatic change, but it must be good for the health of my eyes because this change affects me every single day of my life, in particular on these telework days due to COVID-19.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Changing my career</h2><br>
I've been in charge of sales for over 25 years. The work gave me a sense of fulfillment and a lot of time. For example 400 hours overtime per year for my last 10 years of this career. After 45, I feel seriously tired in this work environment. Therefore I consulted with my boss and a manager of the personnel department about this problem and we agreed about changing my career.<br>
<br>
My current work involves the management of our fiscal plan and contracts with suppliers. My overtime work is reduced to one fifth compared to when I was a salesman. This situation gives me much more free time.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Organising my room and playing the electric drums</h2><br>
<br>
Right around the time of this career change, the coronavirus catastrophe started affecting everything. This had me staying in my room for longer periods of time than ever before. Therefore I organized my room from top to bottom.<br>
<br>
It provides not only a clean and neat feeling for me, but also a more free space in my room. I recalled that I once wanted to play drums but I gave up because of little space of my room, so I put an electric drum set in the empty space and I practice playing them every day since February 2021.<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7xJvnyvM6Mg/YR3poa3dV6I/AAAAAAAA77o/z-l7l4x5FzMj5N261hkZ43P49e1GwveQACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_1822.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="540" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7xJvnyvM6Mg/YR3poa3dV6I/AAAAAAAA77o/z-l7l4x5FzMj5N261hkZ43P49e1GwveQACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/IMG_1822.JPG"/></a></div><br clear="left">
<br>
<br>
<br>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Time with my mother</h2><br>
All of the above-mentioned topics are about myself. However, more important topics are the time with my children and parents because they are limited. <br>
<br>
Five years ago, I asked my father to visit our family's home town (100 years ago, my grandfather left the town. I had only one opportunity to visit there 40 years ago). My father and I visited the temple which has our ancestors' cemetery and other memorial spots. Two years after the visit, my father died.<br>
<br>
I also asked my mother to go to the town where my mother lived until her wedding. She seemed to really enjoy this visit so I made an album of this visit and gave it to her it. Now she told me, "It was a very good memory, thank you my son for asking me to go there. Because of my current old body problems, I can't go there anymore"<br>
<br>
Spending time with my children isn't difficult because they live with me, but spending time with my mother who lives far from my house isn't easy.<br>
<br>
One of the most important things to do for me in my 50s is to have time with my mother, I think.Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-55545589707911080682021-05-16T10:17:00.002+09:002021-05-16T11:43:17.467+09:00Why is Osaka called Osaka (big slope) with even no slope?An American man who lived near Osaka asked me: "Why is Osaka called Osaka (big slope) even though there is no big slope?" This question is difficult for me, even though I've lived near Osaka for over 50 years.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<h2>Osaka is a big slope</h2>
<br>
Look at this picture. <br>
This is a current topographical map of Osaka. Red means high elevation (114 metres from the sea), yellow is moderately high, blue means sea level.<br>
A ; Umeda area, which is the most densely populated area in Osaka<br>
B ; Osaka Castle<br>
<br>
From this picture, you can see that Osaka is a big slope, which is from Umeda or the seaside area to Osaka Castle. However, this big slope is so large and is beneath many tall buildings, therefore people have trouble to perceive that this area is a big slope.<br>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVuPizA0TxY/YKBwt1g7uQI/AAAAAAAA3Es/1dYcpUWtUPEohf70Qwv1_TDx0bvXkXnkACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/osaka.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="600" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XVuPizA0TxY/YKBwt1g7uQI/AAAAAAAA3Es/1dYcpUWtUPEohf70Qwv1_TDx0bvXkXnkACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/osaka.jpg"/></a></div>
<i>quote from <a href="https://www.gsi.go.jp/kankyochiri/degitalelevationmap_kinki.html">Geospatial Information Authority of Japan</a>, addtional captions by Yoshiteru</i><br>
<br>
FYI: <a href="https://www.osaka-city-callcenter.jp/faq/detail.aspx?id=397">The Osaka City official website</a> explains the origin of the name of Osaka is not clear, however the oldest paper in which "Osaka" appeared was the letter written by the high buddhist priest "Ren-Nyo" in the 15th century. (He was also the establisher of the temple Ihiyama-honganji which was located in the same spot of Osaka castle)<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<h2>Geography teaches us about history</h2><br>
<br>
<h3>Osaka castle (B)</h3><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMz1X5Uh9HU/YKCEymgXTbI/AAAAAAAA3E0/Oyb_-OS2YK8iZuZOyhWx8GfpSl0YtJeDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s597/osakacastle.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="597" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SMz1X5Uh9HU/YKCEymgXTbI/AAAAAAAA3E0/Oyb_-OS2YK8iZuZOyhWx8GfpSl0YtJeDQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/osakacastle.jpg"/></a></div> <br clear="left">
Osaka castle was the most important spot in Osaka among the leaders in the Age of Civil Wars (around the 16th century). You can realise the reason why by looking at the picture above. The location of the castle is easy for both offence and defence during a conflict. <br>
<br>
<br>
<h3>Daisen-kofun (C)</h3><br>
<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d6538.795684462332!2d135.4838853198601!3d34.56344314259652!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x0%3A0x0!2zMzTCsDMzJzUwLjEiTiAxMzXCsDI5JzE0LjMiRQ!5e1!3m2!1sja!2sjp!4v1621132751052!5m2!1sja!2sjp" width="600" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy"></iframe>
Daisen-kofun is the largest tomb in Japan (the length is 840 metres). The era the tomb was constructed was the 5th century. That means the pale blue area of the above picture was the sea at the time. It shows the reason for the location of the tomb. The leaders at that time had intended to show this big tomb as the power of Japan to people on the ships who were from Korea or China.<br>
<br>
<br>
<h3>High elevation spots (D and E)</h3><br>
D and E are the unique points in the picture. What are they?Both spots are manmade mountains. <br>
<br>
D is Tsurumi-ryokuchi park. Now it is a popular green park, also the site of the International Garden and Greenery Exposition in 1990. Before that, however, the spot was a large accumulation of the rubbish. The park is 39 metres from sea level, the highest spot in the entire Osaka city area, constructed by old rubbish.<br>
<br>
E is chishima park, also the manmade mountains. It was constructed with the soil from subway construction in 1970.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Geographical features teach us both the origin of the name of the city and the history, even though native people don't know.Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-13758376193745627732021-04-18T10:42:00.002+09:002021-04-18T10:56:08.113+09:00The traditional Asian manner of counting one's age called 'kazoedoshi'(数え年)<h2>What’s kazoedoshi(数え年)?</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5gSnHUZoW6yJ0gUwNgkmu7zcCUQrBx6SbJwKGtKza6GvNVifhnfs3ODsnbMr_pguYuzL_GyX5JzLR0P9bdbnaDwtsXBJIJILIt_u0UoprqiNg6-UX21EffiNn-7Au9VI3nkt0A/s0/jisun-han-sCAnkqFHNl4-unsplash.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5gSnHUZoW6yJ0gUwNgkmu7zcCUQrBx6SbJwKGtKza6GvNVifhnfs3ODsnbMr_pguYuzL_GyX5JzLR0P9bdbnaDwtsXBJIJILIt_u0UoprqiNg6-UX21EffiNn-7Au9VI3nkt0A/s0/jisun-han-sCAnkqFHNl4-unsplash.jpg"/></a>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@hanzlog?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Jisun Han</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/old-calendar?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>
</div><br>
<br>
<li>Age counting method</li>
<li>When you’re born, you are 1 year old</li>
<li>When the new year comes, you turn 2 years old</li>
<li>ex. You’re born on the 31st of December in 2020, you will be two years old on the 1st of January in 2021.</li>
<br>
<h2>History</h2>
<li>Old custom from China</li>
<li>In 1902, the Japanese government made a law that set the rule "a man gets one year older at the last moment of the previous day of his/her birthday" ("man-nenrei"(満年齢) system)</li>
<li>However, Japanese people continued to use kazoedoshi</li>
<li>In 1950, the new law, which said "obey the 1903 law system, not kazoedoshi" took effect</li>
<br>
<h2>Why?</h2>
<li>Kazoedoshi includes the period of development in the womb</li>
<li>Some people say "the first number is one, not zero". For instance, the 1st day, the 1st grade, the 1st century, and so on.</li>
<li>Getting one year older on new year’s day for the viewpoint "elderly is respectable" in Buddhism and Confucianism</li>
<li>Some people say the reason why is the lunar-solar calendar which Japanese society used till 1872. The calendar has a "leap month" due to a complex calculation method (7 times in 19 years). Therefore kazoedoshi system is easy to count age. <i>Source: <a href="https://eco.mtk.nao.ac.jp/koyomi/wiki/CDD7C1C72F1C7AFA4C8A4CFA1A92FC7AFCEF0.html">National Astronomical Observatory of Japan</a>(in Japananese)</i> </li>
<br>
<h2>Still used in modern Japanese society</h2>
<li>"nenki"(年忌); the anniversary of the death of family in Japanese Buddhism. The third anniversary is held in two-year-after of the family member death, the seventh anniversary is held in six-year-after of the death. All Japanese people hold nenki under kazoedoshi count.</li>
<li>"Shichigosan"(七五三) (Seven, five, three); festival in November for 3-year-old boys and girls, 5-year-old boys and 7-year-old girls at a Shinto shrine or Buddhist temple. Some people count their child’s age in kazoedoshi, others in man-nenrei</li>
<a id='bcK1S7t3RdtDjg2-mxyBPA' class='gie-single' href='http://www.gettyimages.co.jp/detail/84032889' target='_blank' style='color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;'>Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'bcK1S7t3RdtDjg2-mxyBPA',sig:'ywWXj0hhe9FyRWtfJlQlCIzVjC7pPOMQuutOIzv1Zls=',w:'488px',h:'351px',items:'84032889',caption: true ,tld:'co.jp',is360: false })});</script><script src='//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async></script><br>
<br>
<h2>In the world</h2>
<li>In the past it was popular in other east Asian countries; China, Korean peninsula, Vietnam</li>
<li>South Korea is the only country that usually uses kazoedoshi system now</li>Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-36049784066807584712021-01-24T09:36:00.004+09:002021-01-24T10:23:08.527+09:00Crime nation U.S.A. or earthquake nation Japan: which is safer?The U.S. sees around 15,000 victims of murder every year. <div><br /></div><div>Japan sometimes sees vast number of victims from a single earthquake; 6,437 in 1995, 22,252 in 2011. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you wanted to live a safe life, which would be the better choice: the U.S. or Japan?
See the following slide.</div><div><br /></div><div> (In 2020, the following slide was presented at the Earthquakes and Disaster-Prevention Research Study Group, at Kanazawa University in Japan)</div><div><br /></div><div><br clear="left" /><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o6VnZHUfiHDHkY7GFkI-Z8PAq6IX6_Ub/view?usp=sharing">See all PDF slides;</a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KcR1mmj1Dvw/YAzHQyNyh-I/AAAAAAAASMM/OP_CJ5WLktYqLzA4nvU7duT1R5riBAfNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KcR1mmj1Dvw/YAzHQyNyh-I/AAAAAAAASMM/OP_CJ5WLktYqLzA4nvU7duT1R5riBAfNgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx.jpg" width="560" height="420" /></a></div><br /><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U6bHcO6mxVs/YAzHcgO79wI/AAAAAAAASMQ/MtsmkcowbDswfJ3kzmwoZmNMp1hcdm93QCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U6bHcO6mxVs/YAzHcgO79wI/AAAAAAAASMQ/MtsmkcowbDswfJ3kzmwoZmNMp1hcdm93QCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="560" height="420" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xNiANr8yME8/YAzHdVYCHlI/AAAAAAAASMc/VflcN0gpRdMrEibYqYPBZfnIh3KGzQ2mwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xNiANr8yME8/YAzHdVYCHlI/AAAAAAAASMc/VflcN0gpRdMrEibYqYPBZfnIh3KGzQ2mwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="560" height="420" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJgkfrpgaP8/YAzHd56Tt7I/AAAAAAAASMg/dnCic_6SxvEvA2vSSn4lj_V-XHcI6vMCACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pJgkfrpgaP8/YAzHd56Tt7I/AAAAAAAASMg/dnCic_6SxvEvA2vSSn4lj_V-XHcI6vMCACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%25283%2529.jpg" width="560" height="420" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GMlFBndAF_M/YAzHeEkYLBI/AAAAAAAASMk/mhCsLwJeJVgDRjF3X4gQrIbe7FMNG8aZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GMlFBndAF_M/YAzHeEkYLBI/AAAAAAAASMk/mhCsLwJeJVgDRjF3X4gQrIbe7FMNG8aZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%25284%2529.jpg" width="560" height="420" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8p_xRfoCDYT6PIgyGvWkFQm0m9oS9Rpw-fVuhuF5NF11x18EHeOwBrWopFUHw5JJRo2997x1MK9max7LHY8KH00-7Aa9L5-jNrtshiG6SJuLbNaM36RqRpc7PJXZq7C3mnU6foQ/s960/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8p_xRfoCDYT6PIgyGvWkFQm0m9oS9Rpw-fVuhuF5NF11x18EHeOwBrWopFUHw5JJRo2997x1MK9max7LHY8KH00-7Aa9L5-jNrtshiG6SJuLbNaM36RqRpc7PJXZq7C3mnU6foQ/w640-h480/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx+%25285%2529.jpg" width="560" height="420" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I6gPCq5aR_I/YAzHeug2PZI/AAAAAAAASMs/9AnihfqkzTweudxJX-mnOG_n9iaBKz5EwCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I6gPCq5aR_I/YAzHeug2PZI/AAAAAAAASMs/9AnihfqkzTweudxJX-mnOG_n9iaBKz5EwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%25286%2529.jpg" width="560" height="420" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pKa2-tmFSfQ/YAzHe0pLUjI/AAAAAAAASMw/WcZWil85mz04nU8zIxWQTbKrZAySpClAgCLcBGAsYHQ/s960/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pKa2-tmFSfQ/YAzHe0pLUjI/AAAAAAAASMw/WcZWil85mz04nU8zIxWQTbKrZAySpClAgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%25287%2529.jpg" width="560" height="420" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EnbDPzGkKoA/YAzHfCtwG_I/AAAAAAAASM0/E62r1ognT9cg60plez0XCzh7woo0pAq6ACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EnbDPzGkKoA/YAzHfCtwG_I/AAAAAAAASM0/E62r1ognT9cg60plez0XCzh7woo0pAq6ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%25288%2529.jpg" width="560" height="420" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeCw078DiC12gM1ffmEcteu8_ZQeUeN70EDWjhCUzIxWzCYM7xfXzserCf9Xsrag2k9nzGabldgbrv2CtBcJMFIx5QYJxqY4YAniBobHzQPoNQPe3eVgGJ7x2VUsEdpIeDygCTw/s960/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx+%25289%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfeCw078DiC12gM1ffmEcteu8_ZQeUeN70EDWjhCUzIxWzCYM7xfXzserCf9Xsrag2k9nzGabldgbrv2CtBcJMFIx5QYJxqY4YAniBobHzQPoNQPe3eVgGJ7x2VUsEdpIeDygCTw/w640-h480/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx+%25289%2529.jpg" width="560" height="420" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CSq8TDuPasQ/YAzHcktlx4I/AAAAAAAASMY/ddIkNEX3iWEJP9yNHLxVvuUmwPctS1dAACLcBGAsYHQ/s960/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%252810%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CSq8TDuPasQ/YAzHcktlx4I/AAAAAAAASMY/ddIkNEX3iWEJP9yNHLxVvuUmwPctS1dAACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx%2B%252810%2529.jpg" width="560" height="420" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpH7eOsxrfFXfcofjAK0F8p_0gRBBXPs79vVTqOV9CBKRs8v6qiIKYpZf77n4-ABTrtt0kkT8gDy4HWXSqvKjbrwrj_fAZobsp1YmlqKG4d4LqVwWFOXvKoErOKzOPnF5NaHY7ZA/s960/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx+%252811%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpH7eOsxrfFXfcofjAK0F8p_0gRBBXPs79vVTqOV9CBKRs8v6qiIKYpZf77n4-ABTrtt0kkT8gDy4HWXSqvKjbrwrj_fAZobsp1YmlqKG4d4LqVwWFOXvKoErOKzOPnF5NaHY7ZA/w640-h480/200125_victim_rates_of_murder_and_natural_disasters.pptx+%252811%2529.jpg" width="560" height="420" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>
</div>Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-41820808839909447182020-08-15T08:36:00.003+09:002020-08-15T09:12:09.129+09:00How Japan started the war with the US<img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-12923%2C_Kaiser_Hirohito.jpg/256px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-12923%2C_Kaiser_Hirohito.jpg" style="display:none;">
This article is based on Kazutoshi Hanto's "Showashi (The History of Showa) " for organizing a part of Japanese history with a certain viewpoint. I don't think that this is the one and only truth.<br>
<br><br><br><h3>1928</h3>
<br>
Kwantung army (Japanese troops in northeast China) assasinated Zhang Zuolin, the warlord of Manchuria.(Japan had supported him, however he began to get out of Japan's control, therefore the Kwantung army murdered him secretly without permission. After that, many people were suspicous about the Kwantung army imvolvement.)<br>
<br>
<br clear="left"><a title="carpkazu [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zhang_zuolin.jpg"><img width="512" alt="Zhang zuolin" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Zhang_zuolin.jpg"></a><br clear="left">
The Zhang Zuolin assasinated place (All pictures in this article are public domain from Wikipedia Commons, unless otherwise described)<br>
<br><br><br><h3>1929</h3>
<br>
(1) The emperor ordered the prime minister Tanaka to survey the Zhang Zuolin incident. However, Tanaka couldn't complete his mission because of the army's interruption against Tanaka's survey, therefore the emperor reprimanded him. After that, Tanaka resigned as prime minister and died three months later. (At that time, Japanese people were taught that the emperor was God. Tanaka was heavily shocked from emperor's reprimand.)
<br clear="left"><a title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giichi_Tanaka_posing.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Giichi Tanaka posing" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Giichi_Tanaka_posing.jpg/256px-Giichi_Tanaka_posing.jpg"></a><br clear="left">PM Tanaka<br>
<br>
(2) The emperor blamed himself for Tanaka's death and he made up his mind to accept the cabinet's consensus on proposals or reports if he was against them. → The emperor became "speechless"
<br clear="left"><a title="Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-12923 / CC BY-SA 3.0 DE [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-12923,_Kaiser_Hirohito.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Bundesarchiv Bild 102-12923, Kaiser Hirohito" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-12923%2C_Kaiser_Hirohito.jpg/256px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-12923%2C_Kaiser_Hirohito.jpg"></a><br clear="left">Emperor Hirohito(1932)(Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-12923 / <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)">CC BY-SA 3.0 DE</a>)<br>
<br><br><br><h3>1930</h3>
<br>
(1) The delegation for the London Disarmament Conference got the agreement which Japan would be able to construct 69.75% of the support vessels compaerd to the US numbers, for the original target of 70%. Therefore they sent telegraph instructions for the navy's directions for the acceptance.<br>
<br>
(2) At first, the Navy agreed with the delegation's instructions.<br>
<br>
(3) The emperor approoved the delegation's instructions.<br>
<br>
(4) After the Emperor's approoval, the Navy went against the instructions.<br>
<br>
(5) The emperor was surprised at the Navy's change.<br>
<br>
(6) For the London Disarmament Conference, the nongovernmental parties declared the theory "Never interrupting the Emperor's right to control the armies" → the parliament accepted the rule "Even though the PM never be against the army about war affairs"<br>
<br>
(7) The government ratified the treaty of disarmament.<br>
<br>
(8) Their opinion was normal as mass media: "The nongovernmental parties theory was merely a campaign to topple the government."<br>
<br>
(9) The navy were separated to supporters and opponents of the Disarmament Conferece result. The supporters left the Navy and the opponents joined of key posts of the Navy.<br>
<br><br><br><h3>1931 to 1932</h3>
<br>
(1) Yosuke Matsuoka (The vice president of Manchuria Railways) declared "Manchuria and Mongolia are the lifeline of Japan." → this was spread among the masses.
<br clear="left"><a title="犬養内閣編纂所 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yohsuke_matsuoka1932.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Yohsuke matsuoka1932" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Yohsuke_matsuoka1932.jpg/256px-Yohsuke_matsuoka1932.jpg"></a><br clear="left">Mastuoka(1932)<br>
<br>
(2) The tone of mass media was "the problem about Manchuria and Mongolia shouldn't be solved by the military power." <br>
<br>
(3) The emperor ordered the minister of the Army, "The military discipline looks loose, therefore you should dicipline the Army to observe the military discipline."<br>
<br>
(4) The Plannning Director of the Army Takekawa, who was ordered by the Minister of the Army to dicipline the Kwantung army, went to the office of the Kwantung army by train, not by airplane, because he was worried about persuading the Kwantung army.<br>
The Kwauntung army got him drunk and he didn't persuade the army. After that, the Kwantung Army broke up the invasion to Manchuria (The Ryujoko Incident)
<br clear="left"><a title="関東軍関係者? [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mukden_1931_blast_spot.JPG"><img width="512" alt="Mukden 1931 blast spot" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Mukden_1931_blast_spot.JPG/512px-Mukden_1931_blast_spot.JPG"></a><br clear="left">The Ryujoko Incident place
<br clear="left"><a title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tatekawa_Yoshitsugu.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Tatekawa Yoshitsugu" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Tatekawa_Yoshitsugu.jpg"></a><br clear="left">Tatekawa<br>
<br>
(5) Suddenly the newspapers began to support the Kwantung army. Asahi and Mainichi (Japanese big quality papers) released many ads of them with a large budget and increased their number of sales.<br>
<br>
(6) Prime Minister Wakatsuki said, "Did the Kwantung Army enter Manchuria? So we can't stop it anymore." (The approval of the Ryujoko Incident)
<br clear="left"><a title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reijiro_Wakatsuki_posing.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Reijiro Wakatsuki posing" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Reijiro_Wakatsuki_posing.jpg/256px-Reijiro_Wakatsuki_posing.jpg"></a><br clear="left">PM Wakatsuki<br>
<br>
And the emperor ordered Prime Minister Wakatsuki, "As for the problem about Manchuria and Mongolia, you should maintain the strengthening of Japan-China relations."<br>
<br>
(7) The US noted that Japan's invasion of China is a violation of the non-belligerence pact. (Before that, it was relatively conciliatory to Japan.) <br>
<br>
(8) The emperor declared "The Kwauntung army did a good job" * *The author of this book said, "This is the biggest mistake of the Emperor.<br>
<br>
(9) Manchuria (virtually Japan's puppet state) was established.
<br clear="left"><a title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Inauguration_Ceremony_of_Chief_Executive_of_Manchukuo.JPG"><img width="512" alt="Inauguration Ceremony of Chief Executive of Manchukuo" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Inauguration_Ceremony_of_Chief_Executive_of_Manchukuo.JPG"></a>
<br clear="left">Inauguration Ceremony of Chief Executive of Manchukuo<br>
<br>
(10) Commander Honjo and Staff Officer Ishihara, the main manipulators of the Ryujoko Incident, who should have gotten the death penalty according to the militaly rules, got a promotion instead. *The author of this book said, "This is the moment of the Showa era collapses."<br>
<br clear="left"><a title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shigeru_Honjo_01.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Shigeru Honjo 01" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Shigeru_Honjo_01.jpg"></a>
<br clear="left">Honjo (1933)<br>
<a title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kanji_Ishiwara2.JPG"><img width="256" alt="Kanji Ishiwara2" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Kanji_Ishiwara2.JPG"></a>
<br clear="left">Staff Officer Ishihara (1934)<br>
<br>
(11) China had difficulty confronting The Japanese Army because it was in the middle of the civil war (Chinese Nationalist Party vs Chinese Communist Party) <br>
<br><br><br><h3>1932</h3>
<br>
Prime Minister Inukai was assasinated by young navy officers The Navy Genereral Saito became the PM (The end of party Government)
<br clear="left"><a title="Osaka Asahi Shimbun [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:May_15_Incident.jpg"><img width="512" alt="May 15 Incident" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ce/May_15_Incident.jpg"></a><br clear="left">Osaka Asahi Shinbun<br>
<br><br><br><h3>1933</h3>
<br>
(1) When the emperor heard the cabinet's plan to leave the League of Nations, he said "I think that Japan doesn't have to leave the LN and should stay in the LN."<br>
<br>
(2) Japan left the League of Nations → It became difficult for Japan to get overseas information for proper political judgements.
<br clear="left"><a title="インターネット [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E5%9B%BD%E9%9A%9B%E9%80%A3%E7%9B%9F%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E3%81%AE%E8%84%B1%E9%80%80.jpg"><img width="512" alt="国際連盟からの脱退" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/%E5%9B%BD%E9%9A%9B%E9%80%A3%E7%9B%9F%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E3%81%AE%E8%84%B1%E9%80%80.jpg"></a><br clear="left">Tokyo Asahi Shinbun on the following date of left the League of Nations<br>
<br>
(3) "Go-Stop Incident" (The Osaka Police confronted the Army for their ignoring of red lights during their training then they were compromized.) (It was the last confrontation among the Army and civilians. After that, all the people in Japan never went against the Army) <br>
<br><br><br><h3>1935</h3>
<br>
From 1910s to this year, the citizens, the government and emperor Hirohito supported the "emperor-organ" theory, which means that the owner of the sovereignty of Japan is the citizens, not the emperor, and the emperor is one of the organs of the nation. <br>
That year, Prime Minister Okada declared that Japan is a nation whose ruler is the emperor. After that, the government began to strictly control theories which were against the declaration including the "emperor-organ" theory."<br>
<br clear="left"><a title="朝日新聞社 / Asahi Shinbun [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prime_Minister_Keisuke_Okada_cropped.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Prime Minister Keisuke Okada cropped" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Prime_Minister_Keisuke_Okada_cropped.jpg"></a><br clear="left">PM Okada(1936)<br>
<br><br><br><h3>1936</h3>
<br>
(1) The February 26 Incident broke out. (The incident was the abortive coup d'etat by young officers of the Japanese Army. They thought that they killed the old ministers and the emperor ruled directly then that Japan's social problems such as political corruptions or poverty in rural area were solved. They killed some ministers and occupied some mass media buildings. After that, the emperor quickly commanded they eliminated. The leaders of the incident were then executed.) <br>
After this incident, the army began to controled the government and took advantage of fear of terrorism like this incident.
<br clear="left"><a title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2_26_Incident.jpg"><img width="256" alt="2 26 Incident" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/2_26_Incident.jpg/256px-2_26_Incident.jpg"></a><br clear="left">Officers at the February 26 Incident <br>
<br>
(2) From the beginning, he commanded the army and police to deal with the incident.<br>
<br>
(3) The cabinet (PM Hirota) implemented a rule which let only an active service military officer be assigned to minister of the army or of the navy. This rule gave the army strong power to control the cabinet.
<br clear="left"><a title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kohki_Hirota_suit.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Kohki Hirota suit" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Kohki_Hirota_suit.jpg/256px-Kohki_Hirota_suit.jpg"></a><br clear="left">PM Hirota<br>
<br><br><br><h3>1937</h3>
<br>
(1) The regimental commander of a area of China, Mutaaguchi, commanded his soldiers to resist The Chinese army, which fired two bullets at them during training at night. However, his boss, the brigade commander Kawabe, admitted it without speaking. Then, the second Sino-Japanese War began.<br>
<br clear="left"><a title="本人撮影。 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mutaguchi_Renya.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Mutaguchi Renya" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Mutaguchi_Renya.jpg/256px-Mutaguchi_Renya.jpg"></a><br clear="left">Mutaguchi
<br clear="left"><a title="不明 [Public domain], ウィキメディア・コモンズ経由で" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Army_29_Fighting_1937.jpg"><img width="512" alt="Army 29 Fighting 1937" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Army_29_Fighting_1937.jpg"></a><br clear="left">Chinese army against Japanese army<br>
<br>
(2) The German Ambassador to China, Oskar Trautmann, attempted to make a peace between the Japanese Army and Chiang Kai-shek of the Chinese Kuomintang Government. (Trautmann Mediation) .<br>
<br><br><br><h3>1938</h3>
<br>
The Japanese prime minister Konoe refused the Trautmann Mediation. He declared, "We have decided not to negotiate with the the Chinese Kuomintang government anymore."
<br clear="left"><a title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fumimaro_Konoe_suit.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Fumimaro Konoe suit" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/Fumimaro_Konoe_suit.jpg/256px-Fumimaro_Konoe_suit.jpg"></a><br clear="left">PM Konoe<br>
<br><br><br><h3>1939</h3>
<br>
(1) The National Spiritual Mobilization Law takes effect. (The government began to control its citizens' lives and thoughts to save resources and to use them for the military. They refrained from a luxury lifestyle. For example, perms for hair were prohibited. Propaganda phrases like: "Luxury is our Enemy" "We never want anything till we win [wars]" "Kill our selfish minds and let our nation prosper")
<br clear="left"><a title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Luxury_is_our_enemy.JPG"><img width="256" alt="Luxury is our enemy" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Luxury_is_our_enemy.JPG"></a><br clear="left">"Luxury is our Enemy!"<br>
<br>
(2) German-Soviet Non-aggression Pact concluded.<br>
<br>
(3) The General staff office of the Japanese army was shocked at German-Soviet Non-aggression Pact (They were lacking the ability to research and analyze the movement of world affairs.) <br>
<br>
(4) The Emperor commanded the government to cooperate with the UK and the US.<br>
<br>
(5) World War II broke out (Germany invaded Poland.) "<br>
<br><br><br><h3>1940</h3>
<br>
(1) Representative Takao Saito criticised the Army that it didn't end the Japan-China war, and was expelled from the diet by the Army. (This was the last critical comment from the Diet to the army.)
<br clear="left"><a title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SaitoTakao_2.jpg"><img width="256" alt="SaitoTakao 2" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/SaitoTakao_2.jpg/256px-SaitoTakao_2.jpg"></a><br clear="left">Rep. Saito(1929)<br>
<br>
(2) The US declared the abolition of the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation between Japan and the USA and prohibited the export of steel from the US to Japan.<br>
<br>
(3) The Japanese army entered the northern area of French Indochina (Vietnam) <br>
<br><br><br><h3>1941</h3>
<br>
(1) Japan signed the Tripartite Pact between Japan, Germany and Italy.<br>
<br>
(2) The US proposed an improvement plan for US-Japan relations from two Americans, Bishop Walsh and Father Drought, to a Japanese banker, Ikawa. <br>
<br>
(3) Both the Cabinet and the Japanese Army accepted the improvement plan. However, Prime Minister Konoe decided to wait for the opinion of Matsuoka, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had been abroad. After his arrival in Japan, he ended up refusing the plan.<br>
<br>
(4) Hull, the Secretary of State told the US policies to Nomura, the ambassador to the US that Japan had to "withdraw from the Tripartite Pact, China and Northern area of French Indochina", and "give the US the opportunity for getting involved in Manchuria concessions."<br>
<br>
(5) On the 2nd of July, the second supreme conference in the presence of the emperor decided the direction of "We won’t hesitate to enter into a war against the US"<br>
<br>
(6) The Japanese army made an entered the southern area of French Indochina.
<br clear="left"><a title="Japanese Army [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Japanese_troops_entering_Saigon_in_1941.jpg"><img width="512" alt="Japanese troops entering Saigon in 1941" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/Japanese_troops_entering_Saigon_in_1941.jpg/512px-Japanese_troops_entering_Saigon_in_1941.jpg"></a><br clear="left">Japanese army in Saigon<br>
<br>
(7) The US froze Japanese assets in the US and prohibited the export of oil to Japan.<br>
<br>
(8) Seeing the agenda of the supreme conference in the presence of the emperor, the emperor asked Sugiyama, the Army Chief of Staff.<br>
Emperor: You wrote "First: preparing for war. Second: diplomatic negotiation". Is it a reverse sequence, isn't it?<br>
Chief: We (army) are able to solve the problem in Southeast Asia within three months after the beginning of war against the US.<br>
Emperor: When the Japan-China incident (war) began, you said you would end the war in China within one month. However, now four years have passed, you didn’t end the war in China.<br>
Chief: China is vast therefore the plan hasn’t progressed as planned.<br>
Emperor: The pacific is larger than China, isn't it?<br>
Chief couldn't reply to the emperor.
<br clear="left"><a title="Unknown [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sugiyama_Hajime1.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Sugiyama Hajime1" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Sugiyama_Hajime1.jpg/256px-Sugiyama_Hajime1.jpg"></a><br clear="left">Sugiyama(1944)<br>
<br>
(9) Prime Minister Konoe proposed a summit conference with President Roosevelt.<br>
<br>
(10) President Roosevelt refused a summit with Japan.<br>
<br>
(11) PM Konoe resigned as Prime Minister. Just two days after, Tojo (war plan supporter) constructed his cabinet.
<br clear="left"><a title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tojo2.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Tojo2" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/Tojo2.jpg"></a><br clear="left">PM Tojo<br>
<br>
(12) Every newspaper supported the start of Tojo cabinet. For instance, Tokyo Nichinichi (daily) News wrote "The beginning of all one-hundred-million-Japanese people army progression"<br>
<br>
(13) The Japanese government asked the US to "Export oil to Japan, in exchange for withdrawal from French Indochina"<br>
<br>
(14) The US refused Japan's request and told them that "Japan must resume Asia as the condition in 1931"
<br clear="left"><a title="Mainicni Shinbun /『毎日新聞』 [Public domain], ウィキメディア・コモンズ経由で" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hull,_Nomura_and_Kurusu_on_7_December_1941.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Hull, Nomura and Kurusu on 7 December 1941" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Hull%2C_Nomura_and_Kurusu_on_7_December_1941.jpg"></a><br clear="left">Hull, Nomura and Kurusu on 7 December 1941<br>
<br>
(15) On the 1st of December, Japan decided to declare war against the US at the fourth supreme conference in the presence of the emperor.
<br clear="left"><a title="Abbie Rowe[Public domain], ウィキメディア・コモンズ経由で" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Franklin_Roosevelt_signing_declaration_of_war_against_Japan.jpg"><img width="256" alt="Franklin Roosevelt signing declaration of war against Japan" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Franklin_Roosevelt_signing_declaration_of_war_against_Japan.jpg/256px-Franklin_Roosevelt_signing_declaration_of_war_against_Japan.jpg"></a><br clear="left">Franklin Roosevelt signing declaration of war against Japan<br clear="left"><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<h2>The chart of "How Japan started the war with the US"</h2>
<br>
"(1) " and (2) "… in the box mean the order of incidents in the same year.
-Red ink means the reasons that began the war, green ink means the important incidents that changed Japanese society or conditions.<br>
<br>
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-VsaFkb0X81DS2Mxa90WoEIIs1TB-O3F/"><img align="left" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Xflp0BY9vFLGrJ2j0z8UAGG9oGtsou2f50kiK_QpAnLnjmy2iLHcYePd0XtcFqMIyAI_KssdNs9PvDgTFTTPGBY7mo2KMA0KOzNOcDFF5tbyZNYi-cx-ty7-OTpVYeBJTg0jQlH-mOUYBjNvnNLiWDTcVnFF-c3LtBl1xJV4xs2jf9ol5vLSL9wuzlv2YsRnCGtEBAMLpPvHbHMhCrek-VdER96fIxAFydC51pN1Jg9eawRuH7y1iZdRn8rx5VIzO2-1RuWrpCEww8MRUvU554tdEzQfEgdzKjY0EyMP2EgfxCW0eEHl4bIJjnwCP8a6w0cA5Lv9XEfVaV8lzVrcFpHGjX23jcqxmtmHI3qi4fWnRJ0fpVO5H_I0HSprOw6E7gfqgRX5qzPn7_IkJiuu9iiH4LwU0_V5zOZXL3Hb9DAov3QSWOLr0HNpO2FM2tCsvofBLkYQun2YKBUkGGJRqS8NeHLaSCRRn96C76IKqkmn8Pih6rshn_4ttgIuOSVWSrbTAAZxJDt94HV5680l3Rqyf3o2nAr-K07Bnppinj1Sgffa6Z6y2d_Tme6UTMLbB9MABf9AMKdNteOcHw4Cd3OXaPNruQ4hoj9aVur8Dpu4ghzWa8K6LhdDhwh2o7VmcOaA8WS38h3VZFdxHytQivMN7WMmQmq177Q3BP72yWp9_BW5hkdeJY5YxQDDag=w600-h451-no?authuser=0" alt="How Japan started the war with the US"></a><br clear="left">
Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-62384226414218034822020-07-19T16:08:00.006+09:002020-10-04T16:23:54.285+09:00How common are job transfers away from their family in Japan?It is not rare that Japanese businessmen (not including businesswomen) experience job transfers away from their family. They live alone away from their family for about three years in exchange for their new position in an office far from their home.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>How common are such transfers in Japan?</h2><br />
A government survey said, "men who have a family but live alone and aren't divorced" in all Japanese family numbers is 2.5%*.<br />
<br />
However, I disagree somewhat. As a big company (means it has many offices all over Japan) worker, my feeling is about 10 to 20% ("tanshin funin" (Japanese word for job transfer away from their family) of men among my all headquarters offices) or 5% (among my all regional offices). I have never met any businesswomen who have experienced tanshin-funin in my company except only one case.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N7cTUQR3-LQ/XxPu_VeDXSI/AAAAAAAARlE/6oSaUYrHivgNr1kW1ZqMNNV5s0VoyNSgACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/pawel-janiak-8UzhdypkVzg-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" width=550 src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N7cTUQR3-LQ/XxPu_VeDXSI/AAAAAAAARlE/6oSaUYrHivgNr1kW1ZqMNNV5s0VoyNSgACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/pawel-janiak-8UzhdypkVzg-unsplash.jpg" data-original-width="640" data-original-height="357" /></a><span>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@pawelj?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Pawel Janiak</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/asian-business?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>Why do Japanese big companies mandate such transfer of their workers?</h2><br />
Actually, companies never command their workers to live apart from their families for work. Companies prepare their new home and pay for the move. However, workers choose to live alone after discussing with their families. They value "not changing the children's school and friends" or "not changing the environment for raising kids. (frequently means their wife's mother living near their home) than "living family together" . <br />
<br />
Anyway, such hard choices in families never appear if big companies never mandate such transfers. Why? Many companies including my company say the reason why is "the result of thinking what is the best position for workers to suit their abilities". I have never heard a clear reason from companies. In my opinion, a part of company's reason is true but the cost (workers' and their family members' quality of life getting worse) is so high, therefore the tanshin-funin system is very unreasonable.<br />
<br />
How about me? In my company's custom (with no documented rules), if you become a manager, the first position will be far from your current area of residence. If you have family, you will experience tanshin-funin. Therefore I declined to receive the examination for a promotion.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>One of some good results</h2> <br />
This month (July of 2020), a famous Japanese confectionary maker has decided to abolish tanshin-funin because the telework environment has become popular. Fujitsu has also decided to switch from tanshin-funin to telework. The Coronavirus is causing huge problems all over the world but leaving some good results. Reduction of tanshin-funin must be one. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
*<a href="http://honkawa2.sakura.ne.jp/2700.html">The numbers of tanshin-funin</a>(in Japanese)<br />
Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-40717183579918728872020-05-17T15:27:00.002+09:002020-05-17T15:38:30.651+09:00World Coronavirus death rate per capita yields a discoveryIn communicating with friends overseas, all of them talked about Coronavirus. In Japan, people also talk about the virus daily.<br />
<br />
Therefore, when I compared the world’s Coronavirus death rates per capita, I found a correlation in the data. It is neither the race of citizens nor government action against the virus.<br />
<br />
(All data and comments accurate as of the 9th of May, 2020)<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>Countries where friends of mine live</h2><br />
The Coronavirus death rate per 1 million capita on a country-by-country basis (Data and graphs generated by <a href="https://web.sapmed.ac.jp/canmol/coronavirus/death.html">the website of Department of Medical Genome Sciences, Research Institute for Frontier Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine</a>.) <br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WINIuBaZMf8/XsDVoJo1KuI/AAAAAAAARXA/QdIFFxL3BW05b1EU7rIn_wfk95nKx5m_ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/01myfriends.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WINIuBaZMf8/XsDVoJo1KuI/AAAAAAAARXA/QdIFFxL3BW05b1EU7rIn_wfk95nKx5m_ACPcBGAYYCw/s640/01myfriends.jpg" width="568" height="640" data-original-width="689" data-original-height="777" /></a><br />
<br />
You can see the tendency on the graph - "Europe and the US are high, Asia is low and Poland is in the middle."<br />
<br />
Is this a result of government action? Italy, France and Spain are under strict lockdowns, Japan never entered into a lockdown because of not having the law to do so, however, the death rate in Italy, France and Spain is very high compared to Japan.<br />
<br />
Why? Next, let’s examine the ten worst-hit countries.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>The ten worst-hit countries</h2><br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OQyiOIlcRtI/XsDVoKYbRLI/AAAAAAAARXE/x7X0j_nYJ98SM-ISNBPu3GmFuvyy0ca-QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/02worst10.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OQyiOIlcRtI/XsDVoKYbRLI/AAAAAAAARXE/x7X0j_nYJ98SM-ISNBPu3GmFuvyy0ca-QCPcBGAYYCw/s640/02worst10.jpg" width="572" height="640" data-original-width="694" data-original-height="776" /></a><br />
<br />
Western European countries and the US. That’s all.<br />
The government action taken is very different. Sweden is famous for its lack of action in that the government never mandated a lockdown and still opened schools. Some other countries are under lockdowns. However, the death rates are similarly high.<br />
<br />
Of course, I think that government action is effective and important. Germany isn’t among the worst 10 countries, and I suppose that it is a result of its government action. <br />
<br />
However, the graph shows "the ten worst-hit countries are in western Europe and the US, including different actions against the virus." <br />
<br />
If it is true, does the clear result depend on race or location?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>Eastern European countries</h2>(for comparison, Belgium continues to have the worst rate per capita) <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOA0CK-X_kww1_G7Lxox0kORJuIlRC2wj1lc3XgtiFbjghz_9pCBEvz0egsFASRkvAtkXZAC04Epmz83dVV34MarTtWLGScACY3WyCjYyv9ie9Qzv5kak6hUp7hU9hP7PAQCfvg/s1600/03easteurope.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOA0CK-X_kww1_G7Lxox0kORJuIlRC2wj1lc3XgtiFbjghz_9pCBEvz0egsFASRkvAtkXZAC04Epmz83dVV34MarTtWLGScACY3WyCjYyv9ie9Qzv5kak6hUp7hU9hP7PAQCfvg/s640/03easteurope.jpg" width="572" height="640" data-original-width="697" data-original-height="780" /></a><br />
<br />
Needless to say, Eastern and Western Europe are adjoining. Races and locations may be not quite different. <br />
<br />
However, the death rates are different.<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>Eastern and Southeastern Asian Countries</h2><br />
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0DFxolB91E/XsDVo3h1d5I/AAAAAAAARXE/MEyZnsAoeXA9GFTT_U5VbhOr6GhEE3JgQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/04eastasia.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k0DFxolB91E/XsDVo3h1d5I/AAAAAAAARXE/MEyZnsAoeXA9GFTT_U5VbhOr6GhEE3JgQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/04eastasia.jpg" width="592" height="640" data-original-width="723" data-original-height="781" /></a><br />
<br />
Clearly a lower rate than European countries.<br />
<br />
I think that the Japanese government’s actions against the virus are not enough. Some actions were appropriate (for example, checking the emerging virus clusters early on and treating people) but many other actions are not strict enough. No lockdown, late compensation for shops and restaurants (almost all shops and restaurants haven’t received compensation yet). <br />
<br />
What is the reason for these differences? Race?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>North America and Oceania</h2><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUr4m3YxF2o/XsDVpFyarJI/AAAAAAAARXM/oqnYegOXg8MsvmwwbVF_H7UYRIFWtMDXQCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/05northamerica_oceania.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wUr4m3YxF2o/XsDVpFyarJI/AAAAAAAARXM/oqnYegOXg8MsvmwwbVF_H7UYRIFWtMDXQCPcBGAYYCw/s640/05northamerica_oceania.jpg" width="579" height="640" data-original-width="705" data-original-height="779" /></a><br />
<br />
All the countries are ex-British colonies. (Now these countries have racially diverse populations)<br />
<br />
However, the tendency is clear - "North America is high like western Europe, Oceania is low like Asia"<br />
<br />
I can’t understand the reason.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>South America</h2><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDlvB3aL5OsZGOq89a633nB8sXgUgp1wbFtszntZz4M12iMx8Y5_YY8dBClPFMNICCpCgGpgrsirvWotJyDx8bpU3Bc53nVBQFlbdi3BOB7YTGN2iGkND_xfaVS7Mrvh73EkV7A/s1600/06southamerica.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDlvB3aL5OsZGOq89a633nB8sXgUgp1wbFtszntZz4M12iMx8Y5_YY8dBClPFMNICCpCgGpgrsirvWotJyDx8bpU3Bc53nVBQFlbdi3BOB7YTGN2iGkND_xfaVS7Mrvh73EkV7A/s640/06southamerica.jpg" width="576" height="640" data-original-width="705" data-original-height="784" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>Africa</h2><br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7duzqoRvFJY/XsDVpscbyrI/AAAAAAAARXM/WQurgn2y-EEv0UTvOXBClaV4ewlmyqw3QCPcBGAYYCw/s1600/07africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7duzqoRvFJY/XsDVpscbyrI/AAAAAAAARXM/WQurgn2y-EEv0UTvOXBClaV4ewlmyqw3QCPcBGAYYCw/s640/07africa.jpg" width="579" height="640" data-original-width="704" data-original-height="778" /></a><br />
<br />
These two regions also have tendencies - "South America is in the middle like eastern Europe, Africa is low like Asia."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>After comparing the rates of various regions</h2><br />
I found the tendencies among the death rate of Coronavirus victims of per capita as follows;<br />
- Western Europe and North America are high<br />
- Eastern Europe and South America are in the middle<br />
- East and Southeast Asia, Oceania and Africa are low<br />
<br />
The government action against the virus is effective, however, the difference of the death rate seems to depend on what region of the world the country is in.<br />
<br />
Thus, not the race and government action, but the region has the most impact on the difference of the coronavirus death rates.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I cannot understand the reason why region is so related to the coronavirus death rate.<br />
<br />
I’m eagerly awaiting for the researchers to make it clear, sincerely hope the world can recover from this hard time.<br />
Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-44162050288696168592016-07-30T17:25:00.001+09:002020-06-27T06:43:08.832+09:00Which was the best era in Japan? An interview with my grandparents who were born in the early 20th century(Interviewing them and writing this article in May 2001, adding pictures in 2016)<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Introduction</h4><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MGntZMYlAks/V4lW0_F6hXI/AAAAAAAAKEY/ydbAYtz2HhAsF_U_nXDH3HOfM1yxRuVPACLcB/s1600/IMG_3047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MGntZMYlAks/V4lW0_F6hXI/AAAAAAAAKEY/ydbAYtz2HhAsF_U_nXDH3HOfM1yxRuVPACLcB/s400/IMG_3047.JPG" width="400" height="376" /></a></div><br clear="left">My grandparents on the day of their town's traditional festival<br />
<br />
My grandparents will be 90 years old soon, three times my age. I wanted to know how the world they have seen has changed, so I interviewed them. (cooperating in creating questions by a friend of mine Mr.Kinami)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Profile of my grandparents</h4><br />
<h5>Grandfather</h5>Born in 1911. He worked for Japanese National Railways, and was in charge of the planning office of the Osaka Administrative Bureau of Railways, etc.<br />
He enjoys playing music. He plays the violin, trombone, and shamisen (Japanese guitar). He also likes collecting coins and stamps, and gardening. He is a heavy smoker, and a coffee-drinker. But amazingly, he is very healthy, he even smokes the strongest nicotine cigarettes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5wfjppFl7NJDWjYQxWzREDQxRFcN_fhgAzOZ21Ml8huJ6Q3hr7yx5LGabTDAgUMf_tlE1BiIQOEbc6PdWxZjiHTuUsDFs4HXPoEnfHXB1z0MyH6YF5FGuUwcZyyacC6Ofgpl6A/s1600/IMG_5954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5wfjppFl7NJDWjYQxWzREDQxRFcN_fhgAzOZ21Ml8huJ6Q3hr7yx5LGabTDAgUMf_tlE1BiIQOEbc6PdWxZjiHTuUsDFs4HXPoEnfHXB1z0MyH6YF5FGuUwcZyyacC6Ofgpl6A/s400/IMG_5954.JPG" width="400" height="269" /></a></div><br clear="left">My grandfather practicing the violin in their junior high school days in the 1920s <br />
<br />
<h5>Grandmother</h5>Born in 1912. After graduating elementary school, she was put to work. After getting married, she brought up one girl and four boys. She likes reading novels and gardening.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Interview Part 1: About the public at large</h4><br />
<h5>Q: In your opinion, which was the best era in Japan? : Before the war*, soon after the war, "high growth of the Japanese economy" era**, "bubble" era***, and the present.</h5>* World War II <br />
** circa 1955-1970<br />
*** circa 1986-1990. Boom economy made stocks and real estimates incredibly high. This unsubstantial prosperity left some huge problems in the Japanese economic market, afterwards.<br />
<br />
A: (Grandfather) I like the present days because we have lived without restraint.<br />
(Grandmother) I like the present days because we live in an affluent society.<br />
And I also think "before the war" era was good. People didn’t covet material belongings.<br />
<br />
<h5>Q: Do you feel that there has been a moral degeneration in Japanese society? They say there is a marked decline in public morality, On the other hand, some other people say that we have embraced the process of reducing discrimination, etc.</h5>A:(Grandfather) I think it is getting better. I feel that we are in the process of reducing some discrimination.<br />
(Grandmother) On a superficial level, I think the present society is the best. There are many problems in society, but I don’t think that juvenile delinquency has increase as they say on the news.<br />
<br />
<h5>Q: What has changed the most in the world?</h5>A:(Grandfather) Cars have changed the world very much. But I think that motorization is the subject of discussion. First, it isn't effective that people use a car when they don’t really need to. People don’t realize problems (traffic jam, traffic accident, etc.) of using car. People should use public transportation. Second, They have caused a lot of environmental pollution. At least, diesel cars must be banned.<br />
(Grandmother) When water pipes were laid, I felt it was very convenient. And I will never forget the way I felt when we bought a TV set and a washing machine.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Interview Part 2: About the war and Hirohito, the emperor</h4><br />
<h5>Q: What did you think when the Pacific War started?</h5>A: (Grandfather) I thought that it was a very serious thing, but I wasn’t surprised, because the Manchuria Incident, etc. had already broken out and had escalated into the Pacific War. Therefore I didn’t feel that the Pacific War broke out suddenly.<br />
<br />
<h5>Q: How did you feel when the war was over?</h5>A: (Grandfather) I only felt that I had escaped death.<br />
(Grandmother) I gave a sigh of relief.<br />
<br />
<h5>Q: In your opinion, did you think Japan could win the war?</h5>A: (Grandfather) I thought Japan couldn’t win against the U.S. After many air raids, when I saw Kobe city from the second floor of a building in Osaka* I felt it was the end of the battle.<br />
* It is 30km (20miles) from Osaka to Kobe. Osaka has many tall buildings, so normally you cannot see Kobe even from the tenth floor of a building. <br />
<a title="See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AOsaka_after_the_1945_air_raid.JPG"><img alt="Osaka after the 1945 air raid" width=500 src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Osaka_after_the_1945_air_raid.JPG"/></a><br clear="left">Osaka station after the 1945 air raid (quote from Wikipedia Commons)<br />
<br />
(Grandmother) I thought Japan couldn’t win, too. During the war, when I said to a neighbor “Can we trust news releases from the Imperial Headquarters*?" she reproved me for the carelessness in saying so because it was unsafe to criticize the Imperial Headquarters.<br />
<br />
*The top of Japanese Army. It released untrue news of Japan’s victories in the war despite their continual defeats during the second half of the war. Even now, Japanese use the word “the Imperial Headquarters’ releases" when companies, or the government releases untrue public announcements.<br />
<br />
<h5>Q: When people were called into the army, was it really an honor for them?</h5>A: (Both of grandfather and grandmother) In our opinion, nobody was happy to be called up, instead this usually meant their call to death yet it was honorable. However, men who couldn’t pass the standard and were not called up because of their physique were ashamed.<br />
*People in Japan had a wartime custom in which they celebrated the man who was called into the army.<br />
<br />
<h5>Q: Why did people accept the U.S. Occupation Army without rebelling soon after the war, even though the Japanese government had said, “The U.S. and the U.K. are the evil ogre and the beast" during the war?</h5>A: (Grandfather) My co-workers and I discussed how Japanese National Railways welcomed the Occupation Army at a conference when they landed at the port of Wakayama (next to Southern Osaka). One of the reception members said, “I will attempt to wreck the train the Army members ride!" Of course his proposal was rejected, but he remained a member of the reception. Surprisingly, he later said, “The U.S. Army is great. They are gentlemen." when he was back from the reception.<br />
I hadn’t heard what had happened in detail at the reception, but, in my opinion, the first members of the Occupation Army were picked based on their previous knowledge of Japanese people and culture. I didn’t hear any bad news about them during the occupation era. And I think that it was brilliant that the Army was very plentiful when the Japanese has no material things. It made it easy for the Japanese to open their hearts to the Army.<br />
But, on the other hand, I think that the Japanese people surely feared the Army. When I went to a station to welcome the Army, there were no Japanese people near the station. Maybe they stayed in their homes all day long. However, three days after the arrival of the Army, I saw almost all the GIs accompanied by Japanese women in a train.<br />
(Grandmother) They say, “When the Army comes, women never go out" very often.<br />
<br />
<h5>Q: Did you think the Showa Emperor (Hirohito) was a God*?</h5>A: (Grandfather and Grandmother) We didn’t think that the emperor was a transcendent human or the descendant of God. But we thought the Showa Emperor was an excellent man, so, we thought most Japanese people respected him at that time. Or else riot would break out.<br />
*The Japanese government stated and educated pupils that the emperor was the descendant of God. But soon after the war (in 1946), the Emperor himself declared that he was a mere human.<br />
<br />
<h5>Q: After the war, did you think that the Occupation Army would execute the Emperor?</h5>A: (Grandfather and Grandmother) We didn’t think so. We thought the American Government didn’t tend to go to extremes, so they would not be so severe.<br />
<br />
<h5>Q: Were you shocked by the picture of the small and neatly dressed Emperor posed next to the big and relaxed posture of General MacArthur?</h5><a title="By U.S. Army photographer Lt. Gaetano Faillace (United States Army photograph) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMacarthur_hirohito.jpg"><img alt="Macarthur hirohito" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Macarthur_hirohito.jpg/486px-Macarthur_hirohito.jpg"/></a><br clear="left">MacArthur and Showa Emperor<br />
<br />
A: (Grandfather) I felt that the emperor had no choice but to take the picture posed this way. And I found that the picture showed the Emperor’s determination to save Japan.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Interview Part 3: about life</h4><br />
<h5>Q: What is the most important aspect of life?</h5>A: (Grandfather) First, it is health. Next, you must have a good partner. A woman is the power source of a man, I think. A man’s life is based on a woman. And it is key to be loved by people. Friends are very important.<br />
Enjoy your life. I think it is meaningless if you don’t enjoy your own life.<br />
(Grandmother) Health. I always take care of my husband’s health.<br />
<br />
<h5>Q: What was the happiest event in your life?</h5>A: (Grandfather) It was the time when I passed a promotion exam and became a proper government employee. And, it was when the war ended.<br />
(Grandmother) It was the time when a spinning mill that I worked for gave me “allowance for filial piety" when I was a teenager.<br />
My salary at the mill was one yen per day, so I earned 30yen per month. (I took only one day off per month) But I paid 18yen per month for medicine that my father needed.<br />
One day, an employer called me suddenly and asked me how much I paid for my father’s illness. "I receive enough salary", I said, but he raised my pay to 50yen per month as "allowance for filial piety" starting the next month.<br />
<br />
<h5>Q: What is the sad or sorry events of your life?</h5>A: (Grandfather) When I was transferred to a rural station because of my boss felt me as insolent at my newcomer age.<br />
(Grandmother) I cannot remember any sad events.<br />
<br />
<h5>Q: What are events that you were surprised especially?</h5>A: (Grandfather) I had no events that I can remember soon.<br />
(Grandmother) I was anxious about my husband’s surgical operation (It succeeded)<br />
<br />
<h5>Q: In your opinion, what is the key that you can maintain happy married life?</h5>A: (Grandfather) I think it is love, even it is a conventional comments. I believe that a secret key is generally conventional.<br />
(Grandmother) I think it is thankful mind. And, I thank that parents in law were very kind.<br />
<br />
<h5>Q: What do you think you should have done?</h5>A: (Grandfather) I am satisfied with my own life. Especially I feel lucky because I spend my business period that was substantial.<br />
(Grandmother) I should have taken practice to write sentences formally.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My grandmother died in Dec 2003, my grandfather died in Dec 2011. Both of them passed away suddenly - without pain.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TyTgAOGBApY/V4oXmK02HVI/AAAAAAAAKEw/XRIvgrrL5DQThxwa_M-w27uELCHjxjS1wCLcB/s1600/CIMG0910-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TyTgAOGBApY/V4oXmK02HVI/AAAAAAAAKEw/XRIvgrrL5DQThxwa_M-w27uELCHjxjS1wCLcB/s400/CIMG0910-2.JPG" width="500" /></a><br clear="left">Osaka station in 2016Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-92216219613819847632016-04-24T16:01:00.000+09:002019-02-03T09:01:35.473+09:00The Great Tokyo Air Raid - More Victims than the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb<img align="left" width="500" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Tokyo_kushu_1945-4.jpg/640px-Tokyo_kushu_1945-4.jpg" alt="The Great Tokyo Air Raid"><br clear="left">The Great Tokyo Air Raid on March 10, 1945 from <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tokyo_kushu_1945-4.jpg">Wikipedia Commons public domains</a><br />
<br />
<br />
On the day following my business trip to Tokyo, I visited <a href="http://www.tokyo-sensai.net/english_page/index.html">The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage</a>. I learned the following.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>The scale of the Great Tokyo Air Raid</h4><br />
According to the contents of The Center, the US carried out its bombing raids on 120 of Japanese cities. The death tolls were 410,000 including atomic bombs / 200,000 excluding atomic bombs / 100,000 in one night of the Great Tokyo Air Raid, on March 10, 1945. That means the amount of the victims of the Great Tokyo Air Raid accounted for a half of all victims of normal bomb air raids in Japan.<br />
<br />
cf. <a href="http://nation.time.com/2012/03/27/a-forgotten-horror-the-great-tokyo-air-raid/">TIME - A Forgotten Horror: The Great Tokyo Air Raid</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>The contents of the Center</h4><br />
<img align="left" width="400" src="https://cdn-ak.f.st-hatena.com/images/fotolife/y/yositeru/20160505/20160505110937.jpg" alt="The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage"><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
Many photos are displayed in the Center. The most shocking ones were as follows; (from Wikipedia Commons public domains)<br />
<br />
-<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tokyo_kushu_1945-3.jpg">burned bodies</a><br />
-<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tokyo_kushu_1945-2.jpg">burned bodies of a mother and her baby. Mother's back wasn't burned because of having carried her baby.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
The Center has a good collection of data, chart and maps. I appreciate that the collection includes not only Tokyo but also ther places in Japan, as well as victims of non-Japanese.<br />
- The records of air raids all over Japan<br />
- The records of air raids in other countries, for instance, Dresden, Berlin, Hong Kong and Guernica. <br />
- The records of air raids that Japan did (Chongqing, China)<br />
- The records of Korean victims in Japan<br />
<br />
<br />
<h5>Other Exhibits</h5>- goods for air defence among regidents<br />
- burned cap of a baby<br />
- melted dishes sticking a roof tile<br />
- a miniature of a room of standard home at that time<br />
- leaflets of the US airborne propaganda (The Japanese government prohibited to pick such leaflets out, however, some of them remain. The contents of them were interesting. They were well-informed about Japan and Japanese history but too logical for Japanese people, I think. I think that Japanese people have tendencies to feel strongly logical explanations as offensive pursuits.) ( To be clear, personally I love logical explanations.)<br />
- Things related children education, for example textbooks, magazines and posters. You can see a big change at the end of the war. <br />
- many others<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Curtis Emerson LeMay</h4><br />
At a small video booth, I watched the TV program about the Air Raids, which was broadcast by NHK (Japan's public station) in 1978/<br />
<br />
The TV crew visited the mansion of Curtis Emerson LeMay, who was the planner and the commander of the Great Tokyo Air Raids. When I saw the scene, I remember the movie "13 days" describing the 1962 Cuban Crisis. In the movie, LeMay (of course an actor played as him) appeared as the top of the US Air Force. I presumed that one of the reasons why he got to the top was the success of the Tokyo Raids. (By the way, LeMay insisted on the air raids to Cuba at the Cuban Crisis. If President Kennedy accepted LeMay's argument, WWIII would have broke out, I think.) <br />
<br />
LeMay said to TV crew of NHK, "I have nothing to say for Japanese reporters","No interviews" and "You may film my medals."A glass cabinet appeared. It is the showcase of his many medals. One of them is the one from the Japanese government in 1964. Why did the government give the medal to the man who commanded the massacre its citizens? The reason why was his cooperation to build Japan Air Self-Defense Force.<br />
<br />
After watching the program, I checked this award out. When the government decided on the award, many diet members and citizens, including victims of the Air Raid, were against that. The Prime Minister Eisaku Sato (Liberal Democratic Party) gave an account to them, "Now, Japan has a friendly relationship with the US. If a US person earned an achievement, it is natural to reward for that, in spite of the past." I think that this incident is one of the symbols of the LDP's policy of "subservience to the US".<br />
<br />
cf. Related Post; <a href="http://yositeru.blogspot.jp/2014/08/why-is-us-military-in-japan.html">Why is the US military in Japan?</a><br />
<br />
Meanwhile, the Showa Emperor didn't give the medal to LeMay directly, despite in the ordinary course of decoration events the Emperor gave medals directly to receivers.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>The couse of the damage spreading</h4><br />
After learning above in the Center, I looked over the fire protection policy at the time of WWII as follows;<br />
<br />
-In 1937, the Japanese government released the Guideline of Air Defense. It contained the principle "In the event of an air raid, never evacuate except for old people, children and sick people.<br />
-In 1941, The Air Defense Law released, including "prohibit to evacuate" and "duty to fire extinguishing" This law was never changed till the end of the war.<br />
-After the Great Tokyo Air Raid, newspapers said, "Never Run, Guard", "Protect Our Homeland"<br />
<br />
Why did the government release such a policy? Was it better a policy of evacuation in order to keep soldier power and labor power than the "non-evacuation" policy? The committee of The Air Defense Law answered on Nov. 20, 1941, "The damage won't be massive. We have to be more afraid of confusion among citizen and corruption of people's will to accomplish the war than the real damage." <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>My opinion</h4><br />
The leader of the Great Tokyo Air Raid was the US Air Force. Therefore, the US Air Force at that time had direct responsibility for the Air Raid. However, the Japanese Government also had a big responsibility because of its decision to provoke war with the US and its policy not to protect its citizens' lives. I, as a Japanese citizen, must bear watching the current Japanese Government intending to do some of the same actions.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Related posts</h4><br />
-<a href="https://yositeru.blogspot.com/2007/06/how-do-japanese-think-about-pacific-war.html">How do Japanese think about the Pacific War?</a><br />
-<a href="https://yositeru.blogspot.com/2007/12/how-do-japanese-think-about-pearl.html">How do Japanese think about the Pearl Harbor attack?</a><br />
-<a href="https://yositeru.blogspot.com/2008/06/why-did-japan-attack-pearl-harbor.html">Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?</a><br />
-<a href="https://yositeru.blogspot.com/2012/04/what-do-japanese-people-think-of-korea.html">What do Japanese people think of Korea and China? And unlike Korean and Chinese people, Taiwanese people tend to be fond of Japan,Why?</a><br />
-<a href="https://yositeru.blogspot.com/2016/07/which-was-best-era-in-japan-interview.html">Which was the best era in Japan? An interview with my grandparents who were born in the early 20th century</a>Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-9771374192689511792016-04-10T16:00:00.000+09:002017-01-07T06:57:44.338+09:00Visiting The Residence Restriction Area in Fukushima<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hag25wk8IGY/V0jEXd-K1SI/AAAAAAAAKBg/N1NwUW80oaI1eSyceoydCrM-NcOMFPe6QCLcB/s1600/IMG_6934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hag25wk8IGY/V0jEXd-K1SI/AAAAAAAAKBg/N1NwUW80oaI1eSyceoydCrM-NcOMFPe6QCLcB/s400/IMG_6934.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left">"Road Restriction: Difficult-to-Return Zone"<br />
<br />
The 2011 Tohoku earthquake had a death toll of 15,894, 2,561 missing and 6,152 injured (<a href="http://www.npa.go.jp/archive/keibi/biki/higaijokyo.pdf">Natinal Police Agency (in Japanese)</a> as of March 10, 2016). What's more, 171,000 evacuees from their devastated homeland as well as radiation from Fukushima nuclear power plant.(<a href="http://www.reconstruction.go.jp/topics/main-cat2/sub-cat2-1/20160329_hinansha.pdf">Reconstruction Agency (in Japanese)</a> as of March 29, 2016)<br />
<br />
Fukushima, located in northwest Japan, is far from my home in central Japan. Many people may think that Japan is small country, it is true, but it takes several hours to go from my home to Fukushima. Therefore many people in central Japan including me don't have chances to go there. So I didn't realize the reality of Fukushima. A friend of mine who lives in adjoining prefecture of Ibaraki invited me to go around "The Residence Restriction Area" in Fukushima. I accepted his invitation. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>The Three kinds of Limited Area in Fukushima</h4><br />
<img align="left" src="https://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/img/portal/template02/img_26-1_1.jpg" alt="Limited Area in Fukushima"><br clear="left">Quote from <a href="http://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/site/portal-english/">Fukushima Revitalization Station (Fukushima Pref. Official)</a><br />
<br />
In order of the amount of radiation;<br />
<br />
-Difficult-to-Return Zone (pink); Off limits. The government made the barriers and the gates with help from the police. Residents cannot return their homes for the foreseeable future. Tokyo Electronic Power Company (TEPCO - the owner of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant) compensated 14,500,000 yen (136,100 dollars or 119,700 Euro) for residents' suffering.<br />
<br />
-Residence Restriction Area (yellow); The government permits residents to come to their homes (staying for the night is prohibited). TEPCO compensated 2,400,000 yen (22,500 dollars or 19,800 Euro) for the residents' suffering for two years.<br />
<br />
-Zone in Preparation for the Lifting of the Evacuation Order (green); The government permits residents to come to their homes (staying for the night is prohibited) and operate their agricultural or forestry businesses. It proceeds with preference reconstruction and decontamination. TEPCO compensates 1,200,000 yen (11,250 dollars or 9,900 Euro) for the residents' suffering for one year. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>No-Restriction (Normal) Area</h4><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9VvGFF235Y/V1PIWede9fI/AAAAAAAAKCI/pjxXm3avsqEWd4UGkSejDTA3LzXAhhL7wCLcB/s1600/IMG_6899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G9VvGFF235Y/V1PIWede9fI/AAAAAAAAKCI/pjxXm3avsqEWd4UGkSejDTA3LzXAhhL7wCLcB/s400/IMG_6899.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left">Hisanohama area. Compared with my first photo (taken in 2011), all debris was demolished.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Zone in Preparation for the Lifting of the Evacuation Order</h4><br />
<img align="left" width="400" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/JR_Tomioka_station_20070309.jpg/640px-JR_Tomioka_station_20070309.jpg" alt="Tomioka Station"><br clear="left">Tomioka Staion in 2008.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OqxL89XKhFs/V1PG5tys-JI/AAAAAAAAKB4/W8aWTAm8yQQTLHyrGv5o7Z9Lp1RP9BBggCKgB/s1600/IMG_6914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OqxL89XKhFs/V1PG5tys-JI/AAAAAAAAKB4/W8aWTAm8yQQTLHyrGv5o7Z9Lp1RP9BBggCKgB/s400/IMG_6914.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WT_RRXcsVGU/V1PG5yQ_rOI/AAAAAAAAKB8/1lMhxId-8PQx0KeUfJQE1bQFDcepkUeYgCKgB/s1600/IMG_6912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WT_RRXcsVGU/V1PG5yQ_rOI/AAAAAAAAKB8/1lMhxId-8PQx0KeUfJQE1bQFDcepkUeYgCKgB/s400/IMG_6912.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left">Tomioka Station in 2016.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Residence Restriction Area (Tomioka)</h4><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMH1eIYCWRk/V1PIW1c73hI/AAAAAAAAKCM/JMHIZWZ9pV8GsxHPeafMRevCS-jb6aFrwCKgB/s1600/IMG_6917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AMH1eIYCWRk/V1PIW1c73hI/AAAAAAAAKCM/JMHIZWZ9pV8GsxHPeafMRevCS-jb6aFrwCKgB/s400/IMG_6917.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left">A Poster advertises The Cherry Blossom Festival of This Town in 2011, is still here in 2016 <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jyT3U5lhOHY/V1PIW-k4SXI/AAAAAAAAKCU/fDU_sa3QepAMtCD817HbLv8qTguGQEzTgCKgB/s1600/IMG_6923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jyT3U5lhOHY/V1PIW-k4SXI/AAAAAAAAKCU/fDU_sa3QepAMtCD817HbLv8qTguGQEzTgCKgB/s400/IMG_6923.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left">A crashed Police Car from when policemen guided people evacuees.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m_CS20XF_ec" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br clear="left">Driving in Residence Restriction Area<br />
<br />
<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d1586.107602486631!2d141.01266928699374!3d37.337413505418986!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x0%3A0x0!2zMzfCsDIwJzE0LjciTiAxNDHCsDAwJzQ4LjQiRQ!5e0!3m2!1sja!2sjp!4v1465097426952" width="540" height="405" frameborder="0" style="border:0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Cherry Blossom Road</h4><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A_zJzvxu5xs/V1PIZA4fonI/AAAAAAAAKDg/6u3xGfXgrDA7FB-SRw-m7tTSbWQin8fSQCKgB/s1600/IMG_6969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A_zJzvxu5xs/V1PIZA4fonI/AAAAAAAAKDg/6u3xGfXgrDA7FB-SRw-m7tTSbWQin8fSQCKgB/s400/IMG_6969.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OI69L_Lvqi4/V1PIX2BvwKI/AAAAAAAAKDg/0K_WZypoYtEE9UwiyhhGNX6z2WehtEXXQCKgB/s1600/IMG_6939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OI69L_Lvqi4/V1PIX2BvwKI/AAAAAAAAKDg/0K_WZypoYtEE9UwiyhhGNX6z2WehtEXXQCKgB/s400/IMG_6939.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left">This Signboard which says "Plesase view the cherry blossom from your car due to the high radiation levels in this area."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_lv7MMKeBdA/V1PIXuytt4I/AAAAAAAAKDg/FPRIwqKN0SQtK7MPOS8tWqaZ_peJ0uxhwCKgB/s1600/IMG_6933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_lv7MMKeBdA/V1PIXuytt4I/AAAAAAAAKDg/FPRIwqKN0SQtK7MPOS8tWqaZ_peJ0uxhwCKgB/s400/IMG_6933.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rZPMl3RXpDU/V1PIX1R0KuI/AAAAAAAAKDg/LXC0BOaYVOUTeGJPRa506RqD2-y8S-r4QCKgB/s1600/IMG_6937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rZPMl3RXpDU/V1PIX1R0KuI/AAAAAAAAKDg/LXC0BOaYVOUTeGJPRa506RqD2-y8S-r4QCKgB/s400/IMG_6937.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left">Beyond this point "Difficult-to-Return Zone"(Off-limit)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Return way</h4><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3SR9NSw6ImI/V1PIYd7BcgI/AAAAAAAAKDg/CVkJhx6bRkoXQIy0YQ5aqHy2sv2AU2HOgCKgB/s1600/IMG_6955-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3SR9NSw6ImI/V1PIYd7BcgI/AAAAAAAAKDg/CVkJhx6bRkoXQIy0YQ5aqHy2sv2AU2HOgCKgB/s400/IMG_6955-2.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left">The Sign telling "No Bikes" in order to prevent direct contact from radiation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QwXKM8-eMhM/V1PIYtVBxYI/AAAAAAAAKDg/mG4TnvGtvooMrPuI3BU2DIheB2aEErEYACKgB/s1600/IMG_6957-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QwXKM8-eMhM/V1PIYtVBxYI/AAAAAAAAKDg/mG4TnvGtvooMrPuI3BU2DIheB2aEErEYACKgB/s400/IMG_6957-2.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dYfvEEg3aQI/V1PIYlI6piI/AAAAAAAAKDg/76o1uBFehLMPUzMf9mDXDyKaUjQUP94YACKgB/s1600/IMG_6960-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dYfvEEg3aQI/V1PIYlI6piI/AAAAAAAAKDg/76o1uBFehLMPUzMf9mDXDyKaUjQUP94YACKgB/s400/IMG_6960-2.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left">Monitoring Posts. The Japanese Government tells to avoid to working outside if over 3.8 microSV/h <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Changing my perception</h4><br />
Before visiting, my understanding about the area was merely limited to "map" and "data". However, driving throughout the area, I have physically realized the real size of the restriction area. Walking in the abandoned town, I imagined the ex-residents' whose everyday lives were destroyed. When I hear the news about people who evacuated from the area, I always recall scenes from this trip. Now I think that all the people who discuss the nuclear power plant issues, regardless whether pros or cons, have to visit the area. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Other Fukushima Towns outside Restriction Area</h4><br />
After visiting the restriction area, I took a trip to Aizu in Fukushima, which is over 120km from the area. Aizu and many other cities located in Fukushima but they still have normal everyday lives in these cities. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t268mSMsysU/V1PIZeout5I/AAAAAAAAKDg/WkC7ZEg6F90oHeEeKoZbAZkNogB_Y6oQwCKgB/s1600/IMG_7047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t268mSMsysU/V1PIZeout5I/AAAAAAAAKDg/WkC7ZEg6F90oHeEeKoZbAZkNogB_Y6oQwCKgB/s400/IMG_7047.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UhBWajsBrbs/V1PIaGsd1FI/AAAAAAAAKDg/_JWQ1AircycZ4aoJgedmMMBxF3Z0tLgfwCKgB/s1600/IMG_7065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UhBWajsBrbs/V1PIaGsd1FI/AAAAAAAAKDg/_JWQ1AircycZ4aoJgedmMMBxF3Z0tLgfwCKgB/s400/IMG_7065.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9VAXxcqUkK4/V1PIaRSbfaI/AAAAAAAAKDg/djX8RlJkUcg6OPakg7wAIslPFQ-tW7pkQCKgB/s1600/IMG_7084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9VAXxcqUkK4/V1PIaRSbfaI/AAAAAAAAKDg/djX8RlJkUcg6OPakg7wAIslPFQ-tW7pkQCKgB/s400/IMG_7084.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--5Jd16H5tj0/V1PIZc7sdNI/AAAAAAAAKDg/3FrLS49kHjA1M7vKX3vHL004F0GgdHQhgCKgB/s1600/IMG_6990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--5Jd16H5tj0/V1PIZc7sdNI/AAAAAAAAKDg/3FrLS49kHjA1M7vKX3vHL004F0GgdHQhgCKgB/s400/IMG_6990.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Related Posts</h4><br />
-<a href="http://yositeru.blogspot.com/2011/11/blog-post.html">A Day in Fukushima</a> Nov 6, 2011, 8 months after the Big Earthquake<br />
-<a href="http://yositeru.blogspot.jp/2013/06/the-second-trip-to-fukushima.html">My second trip to Fukushima</a> June 02, 2013Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-39632869086255383132015-09-12T17:54:00.000+09:002017-01-07T06:54:17.170+09:00Shirakawa-go Traditional Houses in the Gassho Style<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-milyXItNHsc/VypwKoG88pI/AAAAAAAAKBM/GK2kOovEufcS31WxlsWXeOgO3-jFJ8oTQCLcB/s1600/IMG_4361-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-milyXItNHsc/VypwKoG88pI/AAAAAAAAKBM/GK2kOovEufcS31WxlsWXeOgO3-jFJ8oTQCLcB/s400/IMG_4361-2.JPG" /></a><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
Shirakawa-go (village) is special for three points as follows: First, there are many old Japanese style houses which are very difficult to see any other place, what's more, these houses are used by village people in their actual lives.<br />
<br />
Second, the style of the houses "Gassho Zukuri" is unique. "Gassho" means "palms placed together", "Zukuri" means "style" or "structure". Gassho Zukuri is <i>a feature of the houses is the steep roof (of 45 degree to 60 degree), and the structure is called gassho zukuri because the houses resemble palms placed together and fingers pointing upward in prayer. No nails or other metal materials are used.</i> (quoted from <a href="http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/spot/histarch/gassho-zukuri-houses.html">Japan National Tourism Oraganization</a>)<br />
<br />
Third, the houses (including Gokayama area, near Shirakawa-go) are registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. This status is the only one in Japan for old houses.<br />
<br />
As for me, I like the shape of Gassho zukuri very much since I was a child. I have many reasons as mentioned above, I decided to go to Shirakawa-go. This village is just what I'd expect.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Access and Entrance</h4><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HsiYeag90Dg/VwYoA720E9I/AAAAAAAAJ98/WNtSzl0WJgc-57W4-fVJJuSXAgh98_MLQ/s1600/20151003160511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HsiYeag90Dg/VwYoA720E9I/AAAAAAAAJ98/WNtSzl0WJgc-57W4-fVJJuSXAgh98_MLQ/s400/20151003160511.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">Many tourists may choose the way to Shirakawa-go, from Tokyo or Osaka to Nagoya by Shinkansen bullet train, then to Shirakawa-go by bus. It takes about three hours from Nagoya to Shirakawa-go.<br />
<br />
FYI:<a href="http://shirakawa-go.org/en/access/">Access to Shirakawa-go - Shirakawa village office</a><br />
<br />
I like train trips, so I got in a train directly connected between Osaka and Takayama (nearest train station of Shirakawa-go). It takes 50 minutes from Takayama to Shirakawa-go. This way costs more than the way from Nagoya to Shirakwa-go by bus, however, I enjoyed this better way.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aRXBFFibbLg/VwYjUfdpWoI/AAAAAAAAJ78/wDeuddn9lqQD3BSoE7ikG0JUGmDrBUCiw/s1600/20151012175321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aRXBFFibbLg/VwYjUfdpWoI/AAAAAAAAJ78/wDeuddn9lqQD3BSoE7ikG0JUGmDrBUCiw/s400/20151012175321.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">Many shightseeing spots in Japan have poor guides for foreigners. As for Shirakawa-go, tourist maps are available in seven languages at Tourist Information Center, which is located in front of the Shirakawa-go bus stop.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquiFfLzAilkZHlITcndaz5-uvmt8pQQAANuKsRghdy-ECHV_Kq9OGdujnCOauhztrxrIdZC5U0OAFd5oqLnosq5Y0WeH50MO7HFAbn2_dPTJBHhA5Vfg73BBy5yWJGMVASInv4Q/s1600/20151012183211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquiFfLzAilkZHlITcndaz5-uvmt8pQQAANuKsRghdy-ECHV_Kq9OGdujnCOauhztrxrIdZC5U0OAFd5oqLnosq5Y0WeH50MO7HFAbn2_dPTJBHhA5Vfg73BBy5yWJGMVASInv4Q/s400/20151012183211.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">When you walk over a bridge near the bus stop...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dPb9WeV-Hn8/VwYjUKu0CvI/AAAAAAAAJ8A/R-llGFH45JAl8MlAOJ2mTPVDLmCCF7h1Q/s1600/20151012183537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dPb9WeV-Hn8/VwYjUKu0CvI/AAAAAAAAJ8A/R-llGFH45JAl8MlAOJ2mTPVDLmCCF7h1Q/s400/20151012183537.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">The scenery totally changes from modern to old, with many people. (this day was Friday.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Inn</h4><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCV2W7Rbblk/VwYjVc84OiI/AAAAAAAAJ8Q/y6SeAWfAKfUzQFTBR3F-w9M5DrAaXwVKQ/s1600/20151012190715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCV2W7Rbblk/VwYjVc84OiI/AAAAAAAAJ8Q/y6SeAWfAKfUzQFTBR3F-w9M5DrAaXwVKQ/s400/20151012190715.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">I had reserved this inn "Furusato" (home village). It isn't equipped with air conditioners. The TV is only in the dining room. Guests rooms are divided not by walls but by shoji (partitions / doors made by thin wood pain and paper), therefore everyone can hear you and vice versa.<br />
<br />
Such "inconvenience" didn't make me disappointed. The climate in Shirakawa-go in September was comfortable (in Osaka and Tokyo, still hot and humid), other guests who stayed this inn the same night were polite and quiet.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, rest rooms are modern and convenient. I feel this attitude - going together "maintain old good things" and "bring modern things" at other spots of Shirakawa-go. It seems to be the theme of this village.<br />
<br />
The landlord recommended that you should use an external spa facility because the bath of this inn is small. She gave me a discount ticket of the facility.<br />
<br />
The accommodation charge was 8900yen including dinner and breakfast, I think it is reasonable.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9K6AMWWgY6tlvqYI4bRep07-bbycVGOGqq27dOYtkwDxgQ-Wv7mViGHycj2mK3Wc8pov9tPQgO5kRmT8rKFPHJdqjlMjV6SKd0Sq0Y45qA1HxdDsnVfOnJ7I1Rcmf4b6aH0-9g/s1600/20151012185537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9K6AMWWgY6tlvqYI4bRep07-bbycVGOGqq27dOYtkwDxgQ-Wv7mViGHycj2mK3Wc8pov9tPQgO5kRmT8rKFPHJdqjlMjV6SKd0Sq0Y45qA1HxdDsnVfOnJ7I1Rcmf4b6aH0-9g/s400/20151012185537.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">The men in these pics are the sons of the Japanese Emperor. (center is the crown prince, right is his younger brother) The landlord said they stayed at this inn when they were university students. I know that the Japanese Emperor family is relatively modest and non-gorgeous but was surprised at these pictures which showed such people stayed at this common touch inn.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sY-COV46eaA/VwYjU4eLRqI/AAAAAAAAJ8I/mfXcl-lwU4ka1asKkuj88tOt0cBmVLzYA/s1600/20151012185654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sY-COV46eaA/VwYjU4eLRqI/AAAAAAAAJ8I/mfXcl-lwU4ka1asKkuj88tOt0cBmVLzYA/s400/20151012185654.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhvI3LoqJ7Zkyza394D9XWsI6lSXA5-kJY4iax-SVHKNhC1VEyzcOGBcCDfY-Z9FEsdfKafObyuTLg3RbqmSGi8yoqsIMQM_PCzNumCYzGv2mGv8YtrV6JNDxsbqV4h5dOCw1AQ/s1600/20151012185729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhvI3LoqJ7Zkyza394D9XWsI6lSXA5-kJY4iax-SVHKNhC1VEyzcOGBcCDfY-Z9FEsdfKafObyuTLg3RbqmSGi8yoqsIMQM_PCzNumCYzGv2mGv8YtrV6JNDxsbqV4h5dOCw1AQ/s400/20151012185729.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">A guest room for me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Soba noodle</h4><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pI54l8lxZCM/VwYjVSHA2jI/AAAAAAAAJ8U/uRRsMauYpB0l8CoyeouwtVJ2Rr-nckhMA/s1600/20151012191148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pI54l8lxZCM/VwYjVSHA2jI/AAAAAAAAJ8U/uRRsMauYpB0l8CoyeouwtVJ2Rr-nckhMA/s400/20151012191148.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EcD5XnNU9Nc/VwYjVkG2N1I/AAAAAAAAJ8Y/hiUMTp7rRfQYNio6hIJWaNOY0jy7LjKaA/s1600/20151012191425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EcD5XnNU9Nc/VwYjVkG2N1I/AAAAAAAAJ8Y/hiUMTp7rRfQYNio6hIJWaNOY0jy7LjKaA/s400/20151012191425.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">Soba noodle for lunch at "Nomura". It was good - never "a typical dull restaurant at a sightseeing place"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OCmfO_pLQUQ/VwYjWLwwFsI/AAAAAAAAJ8c/Kbyys4YeglA5rKHNTKZe_UNGObxeE5BTg/s1600/20151012200810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OCmfO_pLQUQ/VwYjWLwwFsI/AAAAAAAAJ8c/Kbyys4YeglA5rKHNTKZe_UNGObxeE5BTg/s400/20151012200810.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">Flowers and Gassho-style houses<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>The Wada House</h4><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx4Dv42cOC0/VwYjV8KFS1I/AAAAAAAAJ8g/QnbR9GNOgbs6lTHaKfwqQQyi4_Ako78Pw/s1600/20151012200710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xx4Dv42cOC0/VwYjV8KFS1I/AAAAAAAAJ8g/QnbR9GNOgbs6lTHaKfwqQQyi4_Ako78Pw/s400/20151012200710.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">The Wada family were the leaders of this village. Nowadays, Wada family members live in this house. (you can see the Satellite antenna on the roof in an above pic) This house is designated as "Important Cultural Property" by the Japanese Government because this house is well preserved even for being constructed over 300 years ago. In addition, the size of this house is the biggest in this village. This is well worth seeing.<br />
<br />
FYI: <a href="http://shirakawa-go.org/en/sightseeing/">The Wada House - Shirakawa village office</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-05GgNGR1f2k/VwYjXNeLCvI/AAAAAAAAJ8w/N2B2MzkZm1EGLCw0WFUHB-8lBtXDe9_IQ/s1600/20151012202304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-05GgNGR1f2k/VwYjXNeLCvI/AAAAAAAAJ8w/N2B2MzkZm1EGLCw0WFUHB-8lBtXDe9_IQ/s400/20151012202304.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XTwKCWTeO4M/VwYjWlv_WAI/AAAAAAAAJ8k/xQxhpXJDIHwd73AfV3e_GCAy_KcnSGnuw/s1600/20151012201544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XTwKCWTeO4M/VwYjWlv_WAI/AAAAAAAAJ8k/xQxhpXJDIHwd73AfV3e_GCAy_KcnSGnuw/s400/20151012201544.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ehqe-F_K4go/VwYjWlLiv_I/AAAAAAAAJ8o/6CL9CXYLQQYh40ah2ZiJg0WFyIOe-Q9vQ/s1600/20151012201935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ehqe-F_K4go/VwYjWlLiv_I/AAAAAAAAJ8o/6CL9CXYLQQYh40ah2ZiJg0WFyIOe-Q9vQ/s400/20151012201935.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">This sign says, "Beyond this point, Wada-family's living space. Please do not open the door"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aMs8sjy-mls/VwYjW6_85NI/AAAAAAAAJ8s/XBY2SvQJk8kxLdz4Py8V3I617XIHzTzyQ/s1600/20151012202121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aMs8sjy-mls/VwYjW6_85NI/AAAAAAAAJ8s/XBY2SvQJk8kxLdz4Py8V3I617XIHzTzyQ/s400/20151012202121.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">A silkworm factory floor.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Overview</h4><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y-hf0IzuO9s/VwYoLnjGnxI/AAAAAAAAJ-A/n_2snEvt_Ho9pJme1VzKgzqtnwOBKfwtw/s1600/20151018214512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y-hf0IzuO9s/VwYoLnjGnxI/AAAAAAAAJ-A/n_2snEvt_Ho9pJme1VzKgzqtnwOBKfwtw/s400/20151018214512.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">Path to the hill which you can see the overview of this village from. Buses available to the top of this hill, but a healthy adult can walk to the top of the hill for only 10-15 minutes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh3wkYQvhEU/VwYjXbQcerI/AAAAAAAAJ80/OeWz2CNk-dUZtxDCiGL4w-O7UbBJzWTJA/s1600/20151018185109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh3wkYQvhEU/VwYjXbQcerI/AAAAAAAAJ80/OeWz2CNk-dUZtxDCiGL4w-O7UbBJzWTJA/s400/20151018185109.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">Overview.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Bath</h4><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zk0nOtty7kg/VwYjX8N-16I/AAAAAAAAJ9A/T7rw7oJAx-oyBVLHhCLYp7AW-SAyFHTtg/s1600/20151018185502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zk0nOtty7kg/VwYjX8N-16I/AAAAAAAAJ9A/T7rw7oJAx-oyBVLHhCLYp7AW-SAyFHTtg/s400/20151018185502.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">"Shirakawa-Go-no-Yu", the bath which the landlord of "Furusato" recommended. It is in the gender-segregated. New and comfort.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jZoJhwFxQws/VwYjXnT1k5I/AAAAAAAAJ88/Txpz_xYWqGsnCK2UZHNO-FpMZlFHCBXHA/s1600/20151018185450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jZoJhwFxQws/VwYjXnT1k5I/AAAAAAAAJ88/Txpz_xYWqGsnCK2UZHNO-FpMZlFHCBXHA/s400/20151018185450.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">Outside view from the rest space of the bath.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Inn Dinner</h4><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rMD8f-yeuJk/VwYjYAJCqwI/AAAAAAAAJ9E/DFpcudrUxKQ6SOp-ZDJQ9ZjE-lIkB2hrg/s1600/20151018185514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rMD8f-yeuJk/VwYjYAJCqwI/AAAAAAAAJ9E/DFpcudrUxKQ6SOp-ZDJQ9ZjE-lIkB2hrg/s400/20151018185514.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2oFb1Vy_nqIWaMfbHH1fpiapCHpkscnVeoFyRNRMz1isDn7MSEGQ-XpF3JQODv6KsfIk4arkpqZo33NfftOxTbsM824OWRSSTvAPsuy2DFkwYOvgPn3KmwSmfTC4LBrKX8ca3w/s1600/20151018185524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2oFb1Vy_nqIWaMfbHH1fpiapCHpkscnVeoFyRNRMz1isDn7MSEGQ-XpF3JQODv6KsfIk4arkpqZo33NfftOxTbsM824OWRSSTvAPsuy2DFkwYOvgPn3KmwSmfTC4LBrKX8ca3w/s400/20151018185524.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">The main dish was "Hida-beef", famous tasty beef of this area. Worth a try.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bs92I2IXASQ/VwYjXXIBiII/AAAAAAAAJ84/2hLJPz8go2QEPxG48UyCR5blpO8XUFcDQ/s1600/20151018185412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bs92I2IXASQ/VwYjXXIBiII/AAAAAAAAJ84/2hLJPz8go2QEPxG48UyCR5blpO8XUFcDQ/s400/20151018185412.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">In my room, I drunk a bottle of sake which was made at the local brewery. Staying at a genuine Gassho-style house, it was my dream from my childhood.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Next Morning</h4><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V4qlOdhV9VI/VwYjYTGgRhI/AAAAAAAAJ9M/U4-DvOCQnBsmpO7kWPabMcwY1dnQnZsZg/s1600/20151018190656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V4qlOdhV9VI/VwYjYTGgRhI/AAAAAAAAJ9M/U4-DvOCQnBsmpO7kWPabMcwY1dnQnZsZg/s400/20151018190656.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">Sunny day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ARNUCf9094/VwYjYiCI2CI/AAAAAAAAJ9Q/uK-mstsV4pQzLe9IWRf6nw1CiktdSF3ew/s1600/20151018190721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ARNUCf9094/VwYjYiCI2CI/AAAAAAAAJ9Q/uK-mstsV4pQzLe9IWRf6nw1CiktdSF3ew/s400/20151018190721.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">Breakfast.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MG01OngoRNM/VwYjY6mE5ZI/AAAAAAAAJ9U/LnfJklSqinwr09NNPydrIMAyLbnzCY73Q/s1600/20151018200327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MG01OngoRNM/VwYjY6mE5ZI/AAAAAAAAJ9U/LnfJklSqinwr09NNPydrIMAyLbnzCY73Q/s400/20151018200327.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">Next visit to the hill.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tE3p6DFvqrCfK-WQcwtoFC-ZpGFwt7TyUM2tP0GKC93UH2Wcga5ySOlP068Fa9lYIuyWk3iE7MdktdArowJlnMvzv2pZPBbUoQtWB2I1s1igHGm0adVZsxosfcQZwqfzgWWStA/s1600/20151018195802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tE3p6DFvqrCfK-WQcwtoFC-ZpGFwt7TyUM2tP0GKC93UH2Wcga5ySOlP068Fa9lYIuyWk3iE7MdktdArowJlnMvzv2pZPBbUoQtWB2I1s1igHGm0adVZsxosfcQZwqfzgWWStA/s400/20151018195802.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">Gassho-style barns. I was surprised that Gassho style also applied to such small barns.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Takayama</h4><br />
At noon, I went back to Takayama station by bus.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELtcULF9T_Q/VwYjZNF7oyI/AAAAAAAAJ9Y/58Ry6CtsoXksOA3QO6pG_h795Auk1qgIQ/s1600/20151018201803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ELtcULF9T_Q/VwYjZNF7oyI/AAAAAAAAJ9Y/58Ry6CtsoXksOA3QO6pG_h795Auk1qgIQ/s400/20151018201803.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">I love ramen. I appreciated this ramen of restaurant "Kyo-ri" with fascinating soy-source flavor of soup.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cx8OiuMswNc/VwYjZZwgi3I/AAAAAAAAJ9g/SREmrXIZpPsuUY_hmFxi-Ly1nUbougtqg/s1600/20151018202137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cx8OiuMswNc/VwYjZZwgi3I/AAAAAAAAJ9g/SREmrXIZpPsuUY_hmFxi-Ly1nUbougtqg/s400/20151018202137.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">No crowd was in this road from the station to the popular spot Sanmachi street...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7727UNtfLjc/VwYjZGKKBhI/AAAAAAAAJ9c/4w0UFHHYRoc183vu2XLBGQtOQPjC1fnOw/s1600/20151018202124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7727UNtfLjc/VwYjZGKKBhI/AAAAAAAAJ9c/4w0UFHHYRoc183vu2XLBGQtOQPjC1fnOw/s400/20151018202124.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">When you walk into the street, you find such a crowd. Many tourists were there. (this day was Saturday.) I admit that this street has classical beauty, however, congestion made the value worse. In Shirakawa-go, many people also gathered, however it is a village, it has many streets and spaces. Sanmachi main street is only one, so many people concentrated on one narrow street. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fuSHDa2mAHA/VwYnF0kzO6I/AAAAAAAAJ9w/r8CeHwCw5bsMfNKhrldWY-XDPK_BnENmg/s1600/20151018203027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fuSHDa2mAHA/VwYnF0kzO6I/AAAAAAAAJ9w/r8CeHwCw5bsMfNKhrldWY-XDPK_BnENmg/s400/20151018203027.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left">You can go through Sanmachi street in only ten or less minutes by foot. At the end of the street, there is the Takayama Municipal Government Memorial Hall, which used to be the city office in the past. At this spot, you may enjoy the classical beauty of this area with a smaller crowd than in Sanmachi street.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I went back to Osaka on the return train of the outward one. Throughout two days, I really enjoyed the old Japanese houses and streets, with many tourists.Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-2586798229058281962015-04-28T21:30:00.000+09:002016-06-12T11:21:49.595+09:00He said this was the Legendary Night - Paul McCartney at Budokan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTXHQK202eo/VvPl-NC4cVI/AAAAAAAAJ4w/QiEmj7rOVhcf4eAqU8IK7XGhPzSPQHiuA/s1600/IMG_2687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTXHQK202eo/VvPl-NC4cVI/AAAAAAAAJ4w/QiEmj7rOVhcf4eAqU8IK7XGhPzSPQHiuA/s400/IMG_2687.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<h4>Background</h4><br />
Budokan, the hall for Japanese martial arts in Tokyo, has special meaning for beatlemaniacs in Japan. It was the place of the first and the last concert of the Beatles in Japan, in 1966. Some Japanese old men criticized, "The foreigner pop stars use the holy place of Japanese traditional sports", however the administrator of Budokan admitted the Beatles to play in the hall. (Actually, at that time Budokan was the largest hall in Japan, and it was suitable for accommodating a big audience) <br />
<br />
In 1975, Paul McCartney was scheduled to play there but the Japanese Ministry of Justice banned his entry to Japan. In 1980, Paul entered Japanese Customs for his concert at Budokan but he was arrested for cannabis possession. In 1990, 1993, 2002 and 2013 he played his music in Japan but not at Budokan. He finally released his plan to play at Budokan in 2014, however, he canceled all his concerts in Japan and Korea because of his sudden viral inflammation.<br />
<br />
Such history makes this day so special - Paul sings his songs for the first time in 49 years after many incidents.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Inf_1EjTZ40/VvPl98uzt9I/AAAAAAAAJ4s/El4sJTW3tIsb8mL-jicL_zGNHjQ9eXyug/s1600/IMG_2684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Inf_1EjTZ40/VvPl98uzt9I/AAAAAAAAJ4s/El4sJTW3tIsb8mL-jicL_zGNHjQ9eXyug/s400/IMG_2684.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left">The Iconic Venue<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Wating for the Show to begin</h4><br />
Yes, it is special even before starting. My music lover friend who has been to Budokan over decades said, "This is my first experience to see such big crowd surrounding Budokan four hours before the concert." The crowd is waiting for Paul to come.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0r7xY_ZqHeQ/VvPqwIXce7I/AAAAAAAAJ5Q/5SvGCXGUszo6TO0vw48hPdbGLJ26aBZgg/s1600/CIMG0488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0r7xY_ZqHeQ/VvPqwIXce7I/AAAAAAAAJ5Q/5SvGCXGUszo6TO0vw48hPdbGLJ26aBZgg/s400/CIMG0488.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lsrVBR0UKYs/VvPqwOZgIsI/AAAAAAAAJ5M/18u_ak6q3OQOL1ykHaHZETrOLrkcBV-sw/s1600/CIMG0489-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lsrVBR0UKYs/VvPqwOZgIsI/AAAAAAAAJ5M/18u_ak6q3OQOL1ykHaHZETrOLrkcBV-sw/s400/CIMG0489-2.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
The place around Budokan is also like the place of "the reunion party". Many beatlemaniac friends of mine from all over Japan gather here. What's more, I meet a Korean beatlemaniac friend. I enjoyed renewing my friendship. It also makes today more special.<br />
<br />
<br />
After waiting in a long line, at last I enter Budokan.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L1mcVsnEAhY/VvPvb6kSnlI/AAAAAAAAJ54/5Tu-uyqMXUw9B8csPF81CkK_KNSVllVPQ/s1600/IMG_2695-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L1mcVsnEAhY/VvPvb6kSnlI/AAAAAAAAJ54/5Tu-uyqMXUw9B8csPF81CkK_KNSVllVPQ/s400/IMG_2695-2.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6l-AP79r79RqMScn35ql0MAjUb12dSi-ljJSUngBLna5MCbJYKWZPl_fs-Rylt8dRt8EWHLmp3xQJZp8WYsiMk4D3g5gSS8xAw2ipE2BXl2cDNbsGJbQYDjh-Sojx10_N1EWY2A/s1600/IMG_2718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6l-AP79r79RqMScn35ql0MAjUb12dSi-ljJSUngBLna5MCbJYKWZPl_fs-Rylt8dRt8EWHLmp3xQJZp8WYsiMk4D3g5gSS8xAw2ipE2BXl2cDNbsGJbQYDjh-Sojx10_N1EWY2A/s400/IMG_2718.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rinXZsyPuyI/VvPtAm3SUII/AAAAAAAAJ5k/eDYNhfXmcdQJmD0mxX4KeEA2IlnIBtWpw/s1600/CIMG0495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rinXZsyPuyI/VvPtAm3SUII/AAAAAAAAJ5k/eDYNhfXmcdQJmD0mxX4KeEA2IlnIBtWpw/s400/CIMG0495.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"> <br />
<br />
All of the audience members find a small device and a explanation sheet on their own seats. The sheet says "Turn on and have this wrist band. This is a surprise for Paul McCartney-san. Thank you for your cooperation from Kyodo Tokyo (promoter) and The Beatles Club (fanclub)" What is this?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hKa8VRGuMh0/VvPvbz1UOHI/AAAAAAAAJ50/Fhtf0KDE59kZ_OORXPeU_iSxYwtwcpI1A/s1600/IMG_2719-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hKa8VRGuMh0/VvPvbz1UOHI/AAAAAAAAJ50/Fhtf0KDE59kZ_OORXPeU_iSxYwtwcpI1A/s400/IMG_2719-2.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"> <br />
<br />
Sitting in the stands of Budokan, we are waiting for the show to begin.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Concert</h4><br />
Paul appears on stage.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CCoQugdIm70/Vvabk2bGoeI/AAAAAAAAJ6M/-4yoguNrK2s3b22oRbN7F4I2fqslFZSag/s1600/CIMG0498-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CCoQugdIm70/Vvabk2bGoeI/AAAAAAAAJ6M/-4yoguNrK2s3b22oRbN7F4I2fqslFZSag/s400/CIMG0498-2.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
The first song is, surprisingly, "Can't Buy Me Love". It is different from the other concerts of this present tour. This fact makes us feel impressed. We guess that Paul also might think this gig is special.<br />
<br />
Not only the song selection but also other factors make this concert feel exceptional. Obviously Paul is surprised at our eagerness and passion. I realize that from his reactions - his talking on stage, guitar playing and singing. It's different from other concerts. In other concerts, he used many Japanese messages on stage with prepared scenario, but maybe he now talks with his unprepared messages and he concentrates on his music performance.<br />
<br />
Our presumption is that "Paul feels this concert is special" turns out to be true when he says "Sekai-hatsu! (The first in the world)" and plays "Another Girl". Yes, it's the first performance! Big surprises from him!<br />
<br />
After that, when Paul plays the piano for "Let it Be", suddenly all audience's wrist band light. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZtChq5Mi0I-qSnk8GeYJ-vPB7ucPhCx184T-hjOQF9GNltmyX_Wjgx5iKoIJKrtK3DjVpgNIyg71IN8I2slZTdEu6s9kmyo67CtZ89l1Q9HN14MLGQiMDasHvQm16mzjST7VzA/s1600/CIMG0528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZtChq5Mi0I-qSnk8GeYJ-vPB7ucPhCx184T-hjOQF9GNltmyX_Wjgx5iKoIJKrtK3DjVpgNIyg71IN8I2slZTdEu6s9kmyo67CtZ89l1Q9HN14MLGQiMDasHvQm16mzjST7VzA/s400/CIMG0528.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<br />
Paul seems to be surprised by this. It could be seen on his face. Our turn now. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tFzJdc31CoY/VvcpO3Z5D-I/AAAAAAAAJ6k/CgRifO8-IDECIdf_BeVx8rB5jhzqjr7dQ/s1600/CIMG0531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tFzJdc31CoY/VvcpO3Z5D-I/AAAAAAAAJ6k/CgRifO8-IDECIdf_BeVx8rB5jhzqjr7dQ/s400/CIMG0531.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
Our wristbands become more colorful and audience becomes more excited.<br />
<br />
Our wristbands show the Japanese flag and the Union Jack.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wumoJmbW-iM/Vvcr-eGT0zI/AAAAAAAAJ68/MA9UNo59xbgEBNSBT30ezyHv0VuQiLrzQ/s1600/CIMG0537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wumoJmbW-iM/Vvcr-eGT0zI/AAAAAAAAJ68/MA9UNo59xbgEBNSBT30ezyHv0VuQiLrzQ/s400/CIMG0537.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YFv8Eg1Znpw/Vvcr-e8eliI/AAAAAAAAJ60/6NLMTcgsi6QTmCEZ9mfDHWqh7iF3QrNfQ/s1600/CIMG0538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YFv8Eg1Znpw/Vvcr-e8eliI/AAAAAAAAJ60/6NLMTcgsi6QTmCEZ9mfDHWqh7iF3QrNfQ/s400/CIMG0538.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChGZtGZUYAAKAwp.jpg:large" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" width="400" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ChGZtGZUYAAKAwp.jpg:large" /></a></div><br clear="left">(photo by Mr. I. Yamano)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In response to us, Paul and his band members are gaining steam.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8X03T3qqbAE/Vvcr-DheX2I/AAAAAAAAJ64/8STmhn1bqfMouVIfwN0vgbli3oL6Hh7vw/s1600/CIMG0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8X03T3qqbAE/Vvcr-DheX2I/AAAAAAAAJ64/8STmhn1bqfMouVIfwN0vgbli3oL6Hh7vw/s400/CIMG0539.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<br />
On the last track, the wristbands change their color every second and Paul, and his band and audience are reaching the high point of this gig.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-avXxuzKrNcE/Vvcui4I9_5I/AAAAAAAAJ7I/RR7Aj0Z6pIYtpR4JC64Htwbu0jZIkK0Xw/s1600/CIMG0541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-avXxuzKrNcE/Vvcui4I9_5I/AAAAAAAAJ7I/RR7Aj0Z6pIYtpR4JC64Htwbu0jZIkK0Xw/s400/CIMG0541.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<br />
Paul's face at the last moment of his playing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Kpii0UcGUg/Vvcui_DB5fI/AAAAAAAAJ7Q/-AB6NPFSMc0GuXt1iEwuccwfu5q9VLeoQ/s1600/CIMG0543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Kpii0UcGUg/Vvcui_DB5fI/AAAAAAAAJ7Q/-AB6NPFSMc0GuXt1iEwuccwfu5q9VLeoQ/s400/CIMG0543.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<br />
The show ends. Paul says "This was the Legendary Night!" <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UlpkNSL86tI/VvcwULQ6X5I/AAAAAAAAJ7c/wLocNciwI4cPCEWYYnbIn6mymxLTlIhrQ/s1600/CIMG0544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UlpkNSL86tI/VvcwULQ6X5I/AAAAAAAAJ7c/wLocNciwI4cPCEWYYnbIn6mymxLTlIhrQ/s400/CIMG0544.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<br />
After the show<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DPFgVzZWhtc/VvcujCvjIwI/AAAAAAAAJ7M/Mr3ATmo2igQyf0RW3YlIMUVQGOx48Wddg/s1600/CIMG0545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DPFgVzZWhtc/VvcujCvjIwI/AAAAAAAAJ7M/Mr3ATmo2igQyf0RW3YlIMUVQGOx48Wddg/s400/CIMG0545.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<br />
With my beatlemaniac friends, we talk over this "Legendary Night" till midnight<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MWDKDLLlztE/VvcxQZGCWUI/AAAAAAAAJ7k/zZq8dAftA7Us2Kg6OaP0i8QtHiLsKgsDQ/s1600/IMG_2727-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MWDKDLLlztE/VvcxQZGCWUI/AAAAAAAAJ7k/zZq8dAftA7Us2Kg6OaP0i8QtHiLsKgsDQ/s400/IMG_2727-2.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
Newspapers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OR7ADC1B_k/VvcxQhmHqOI/AAAAAAAAJ7o/V826FMfCJ34hcGbvDlbo4WswBDv3AUiCA/s1600/IMG_2737-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OR7ADC1B_k/VvcxQhmHqOI/AAAAAAAAJ7o/V826FMfCJ34hcGbvDlbo4WswBDv3AUiCA/s400/IMG_2737-2.JPG" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>My impsession</h4><br />
This show reminds me of a scene in the movie "13 days", which described the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. When the US tried to impose a naval blockade against Cuba, the Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara said; <i>"This, all this, is language, a new vocabulary the likes of which the world has never seen. This is President Kennedy communicating with Secretary Khruschev."</i><br />
<br />
Like that, Paul McCartney and Budokan audience were communicating together with no words but "new vocabularies" - music, airs of excitement and illuminating wristbands. It made the show unique.<br />
<br />
In my opinion, all arts are also communications. Among them, This "Paul McCartney at Budokan" is the best art, aka communication.<br />
<br />
Paul's action on the following day of the Budokan night is the symbol of our communication. He revisited Budokan. He must have been impacted from the Legendary night.<br />
<br />
(quote from <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulMcCartney/status/593712098678591488">Paul's official Twitter</a>)<br />
<img align="left" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CD1KAczUIAAHoSS.jpg" alt=""><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
It also reminds me of this lyrics of the Beatles song "The End", written by McCartney; <i>And in the end, the Love You take is equal to the Love You make.</i>Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-49371318689755628132015-02-11T16:06:00.002+09:002021-02-11T07:25:54.714+09:00The Day for National Foundation, not the National Foundation Day of JapanThe 11th of February is a holiday in Japan. Many Japanese people recognize it as The National Foundation Day. However, if you see any calendars in Japan, the precise name of the day is indicated as "The Day for National Foundation." This slight difference has a story as follows:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>History around The National Foundation Day</h4><br />
Japan's first official history book "Nihon Shoki" which was written in 720 said that February 11th was the day that Jinmu the first Emperor of Japan ascended the throne in 660BC. <br />
<img align="left" width="560" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/Emperor_Jimmu.jpg" alt="Emperor Jimmu"><br clear="left">"Emperor Jimmu" Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)<br />
<br />
However, it wasn't true history. Almost all of modern studiers of Japanese history think that the oldest existing emperor was in the 3rd century. However, from the 1870s to 1945, the Japanese government had told citizens that it was true history, because the dignity of the old Emperor system was needed to rule Japan smoothly. In 1872, the 11th of February was set as "the National Foundation Day." The government enhanced the dignity of the Emperor by, for instance, educating citizens that the Emperor was the descendant of gods. Using this entitlement, the government began to say that Japan, the nation of the gods, should rule Asia.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Abolition and revival</h4><br />
After WWII, the US occupation army banned the political usage of the Emperor. In 1946, the Emperor Hirohito (the period of his reign: 1925-1989) declared as follows: The tie between citizen of Japan and the Emperor doesn't depend on unreal thoughts, such as, "The emperor is the living god" and "The Japanese race is more excellent than other races, therefore the Japanese race should rule the world." <br />
In 1948, The National Foundation Day was abolished. <br />
<br />
As time passed, some diet members of the administration party (the Liberal Democratic Party which it is conservative, and does not live up to the name) submitted the bill of the National Foundation Day. The members of left sided parties were strongly against them. In 1963, when a member of the LDP tried a forcible passage of the bill, opponents tackled him and this LDP man was carried to a hospital.<br />
<br />
After that, the LDP members proposed an alternative plan to opponents. "How about we change the name of the February 11th holiday from The National Foundation Day, to The Day for the National Foundation," they said. "This name doesn't mean that the national foundation occurred on the 11th of February. People can think that this day is for thinking of and respecting the nation." In 1966, opponents compromised to this idea. Since 1967, the 11th of February in Japan has been made a the holiday again.<br />
<br />
The communist party reacted with slight resistance. The party didn't admit the day as a holiday, therefore members and staff of the party worked on the 11th of February. Some people felt it was a proud act. but some other people didn't like it. For example, children of the staff hated the system because they weren't able to go on vacation on the day like other non-communist families. In 2004, the party began to treat some "controversial" days as holidays -- the 11th of February, the 29th of April (Showa Emperor's birthday, in 2004, it was called "Greenery Day", but now has reverted back to "Showa Day") and the 23rd of December (the reigning Emperor's birthday)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>My Opinion</h4><br />
I also don't think the 11th of February as the real national foundation day. On the other hand, I think that the existence of the Day for National Foundation is good. Another date is better, however I can't conceive of a more proper date. The 3rd of May, the day the present Constitution came into effect in 1947 may be the best, but the day is already established as the Constitution Memorial Day, a national holiday.<br />
The 11th of February is the Day for National Foundation - it is not proper, but I reluctantly admit it.Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-10815002659719425212014-08-15T12:36:00.000+09:002017-01-07T06:27:01.207+09:00Why is the US military in Japan?Why is the US military in Japan? Some non-Japanese people seem to think it is because the US monitors Japan. However, most Japanese people don't think this.<br />
<br />
Generally, Japanese people think as follows:<br />
<br />
<h4>Reason 1: The constitution of Japan states that Japan can't have an army. Therefore, Japan needs the US army for its defense. When thinking about if Japan needs the US for it's defense, it is important to look at, "The Constitution of Japan"</h4><br />
<i>The Constitution of Japan, Article 9<br />
Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.<br />
In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.<br />
</i><br />
<br />
According to Article 9, Japan is supposed to have renounced it's right to war. However, as stated by "<a href="http://www.globalfirepower.com/">Global Firepower</a>*", Japan has the Self Defense Forces whose military power ranks 10th in the world, surpassing Israel's. <br />
<br />
<i>*Global Firepower (GFP) provides a unique analytical display of data concerning today's world military powers. Over 100 world military powers are considered in the ranking which allows for a broad spectrum of comparisons to be achieved concerning relative military strengths.<br />
</i><br />
<br />
Global Firepower -2014 World Military Strength Rankings (nuclear capability is not taken into account)<br />
<i>The GFP Top 10: 1. United States 2. Russia 3. China 4. India 5. UK 6. France 7. Germany 8. Turkey 9. South Korea 10. Japan 11. Israel 12. Italy 13. Egypt<br />
</i><br />
Therefore, Japan does not actually need the US for its defense.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>FYI: Why is the Japanese government able to state the Self Defense Force as non-military despite its strong military power?</h4><br />
<a href="http://www.mod.go.jp/e/d_act/d_policy/dp01.html">Ministry of defense: The Government's View on Article 9 of the Constitution</a><br />
(Extract)<i> The self-defense capability to be possessed and maintained by Japan under the Constitution is limited to the minimum necessary for self-defense.<br />
<br />
The specific limit has a relative aspect of varying with the international situation, the level of military technology and various other conditions. It is defined in the Diet, the representatives of the people through deliberations about each fiscal year budget etc. However, whether or not the said armed strength corresponds to "war potential" prohibited under paragraph 2 of Article 9 of the Constitution is an issue regarding the total strength that Japan possesses and maintains. Accordingly, whether or not the SDF are allowed to possess some specific armaments is decided by whether the total strength will or will not exceed the constitutional limit by possessing such armaments.<br />
<br />
But in any case in Japan, it is unconstitutional to possess what is referred to as offensive weapons that, from their performance, are to be used exclusively for total destruction of other countries, since it immediately exceeds the minimum level necessary for self-defense. For instance, the SDF is not allowed to possess ICBMs, long-range strategic bombers or offensive aircraft carriers.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Reason 2: The location of Japanese islands was, and still is important for the balance of power in Asia. Therefore America, the world's police, needs to have many military bases in Japan.</h4><br />
In the era of the Cold War, it was a probable theory that America needed Japan to police Asia. South Korea and Japan bordered the Soviet Union, China and North Korea, which were communist powerhouses at the time. Japan could therefore have been an important frontline country for the West. <br />
<br />
Many Japanese people believed this theory, my father being one of them. I remember a conversation with my father in the early 80s. I was junior high school student. I told him that the US should set up more military bases in Hokkaido, the northern large island in Japan. I knew it was not far from Hokkaido to the nearest island of Soviet Union (only 42km or 26miles). My father said, "Boy, do you know the reason the US never set up a base in Hokkaido? If it does so, the Soviet Union will think it is not a deterrence but take it as a war declaration. Very sensitive topic." To me, this experience represents the fact that Japanese people were aware of the tensions between the West and the East in the Cold War era, and Japan's important role in this conflict. <br />
<br />
At that time, many Japanese people believed the US bases were necessary on islands in Japan. Now however, many people think that the current situation with China is the same as Japan's relationship with Russia during the Cold War. Therefore, they think that Okinawa is key for Japan's defense and the balance of power in Asia. The area size of the US bases in Okinawa accounts for 73.9% of all the US bases in Japan*. The large concentration of American power in one area (Okinawa) could be seen by some as America using Japan as a barrier against Asian countries such as China.<br />
*http://www.pref.okinawa.jp/site/chijiko/kichitai/documents/kadai.pdf (in Japanese)<br />
<br />
My opinion differs from this viewpoint. I agree that the US bases in Japan are located in Okinawa because of the Cold War, China and North Korea. However, the Cold War is now over and the likelihood of attack from China or North Korea is much lower than during the Cold War era. I therefore do not think that American still needs US bases in Japan to keep the balance of power in Asia.<br />
<br />
My main opinion about the reason of the existence of the US bases in Japan is different from the above reason. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>My opinion</h4><br />
The USA does not need Japan to keep the balance of power in Asia. The biggest reason for America's presence in Japan is that it costs less to locate US bases in Japan rather than in other countries. As can be seen in the graph below, Japan contributes more money to US bases and soldier salaries than any other country.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A_-cx76kyt0/U_AoXednH-I/AAAAAAAAIic/izFHphdMg3g/s1600/usbases.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A_-cx76kyt0/U_AoXednH-I/AAAAAAAAIic/izFHphdMg3g/s1600/usbases.jpg" /></a></div><br clear="left"><br />
Allied Contributions to the Common Defense (United States Department of Defense 2004)<br />
<br />
It can then be seen that Japan contributes more to US bases and soldier salaries than any other country. <br />
<br />
Why Japan does this can be explained through events surrounding the establishment of Article 9?<br />
<br />
The US wrote the first draft of The Constitution of Japan, including Article 9, in February 1946. At that time, the Cold War hadn't started yet. However, one month later, the Prime Minister of the UK, Churchill, first spoke of "The Iron Curtain", which is famous for signaling the beginning of the Cold War. In June 1950, the Korean War broke out. One month later, the US made Japan establish the National Police Reserve, which would later become the Self Defense Force. In short, I believe the US may have been anxious about Japan's remilitarization at first, but then used Japan as a wall against communist countries. After the Cold War ended, the US continued to take advantage of Japan simply to maintain the US bases at a low cost.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Conclusion: One more question</h4><br />
I believe America's military presence in Japan is not needed for Japan's defense to maintain the balance of power in Asia. It is simply because Japan provides a large amount of money for the US bases and soldier salaries. I must ask, why does Japan continue to support the US bases and provide them with a lot of money? Such policies are decided by the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan. They are conservative and many members have a nationalistic mindset, however they choose to be dependent on the US. I can't understand why. I understand only that Japan has virtually been subordinate to the US from the end of World War II.Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-41311797306284785602014-04-14T23:43:00.001+09:002018-02-02T06:21:42.747+09:00Why is Japan's unemployment rate so low? <h4>Japan's unemployment rate and the recession </h4><br />
Japan's unemployment rate is lower than other developed countries.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ovV6A9kVHao/U0v0oz14eGI/AAAAAAAAIPg/_azt_A9KzAE/s1600/chart1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" width="500" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ovV6A9kVHao/U0v0oz14eGI/AAAAAAAAIPg/_azt_A9KzAE/s1600/chart1.gif"></a></div><br clear="left"><i>United States Department of Labor "<a href="http://www.bls.gov/fls/intl_unemployment_rates_monthly.htm">International Unemployment Rates and Employment Indexes, Seasonally Adjusted, 2009-2013</a>"</i><br />
<br />
People say that Japan has been experiencing a long recession, called "the lost twenty years", since 1992. If in a recession, then why is Japan's unemployment rate so low?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Japanese workers may be employed under harsher circumstances than unemployed people in the other developed countries</h4><br />
The reason why, has a strong relationship to the following chart.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuo6tr17D6kv5bYvP-eLwrcn6EkzfPM91cGYQlmSbstBrcfzWb1Oog-8Yn5j-aF6oJ5Gd9SgdDLYfRz98Xoaf-lzLZmbflZlVA3yPC0z74dCha0q8B3gFI6uhSB4baXHguC-C2GA/s1600/fig5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuo6tr17D6kv5bYvP-eLwrcn6EkzfPM91cGYQlmSbstBrcfzWb1Oog-8Yn5j-aF6oJ5Gd9SgdDLYfRz98Xoaf-lzLZmbflZlVA3yPC0z74dCha0q8B3gFI6uhSB4baXHguC-C2GA/s1600/fig5.jpg"></a></div><br clear="left"><i>International Labour Organization (International Institute for Labour Studies) 2009<br />
<a href="http://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---dgreports/---dcomm/documents/publication/wcms_104074.pdf">The Financial and economic crisis: a Decent Work Response P.16</a></i><br />
<br />
In 2009, to receive unemployment benefits, you would have had to have worked for over one year, have paid for employment insurance, be willing to work as soon as a company offers you employment and now be seeking a job. The amount of benefits received is about half of the amount of the applicant's former salary.<br />
The period of receiving benefits is as follows: for applicants who quit his/her job, they can receive a max of 150 days pay. For applicants who were fired by a company, they can receive a max of 330 days pay. Disabled applicants can only receive a max of 360 days pay.<br />
<i>Labor Department of Japan, Osaka <a href="http://osaka-roudoukyoku.jsite.mhlw.go.jp/library/osaka-roudoukyoku/topic/employment_insurance_system.pdf">To persons intending to receive unemployment benefits of employment insurance system</a></i><br />
<br />
Considering the bad conditions for those seeking unemployment benefits in Japan, many job seekers have no choice but to apply for a company which has bad (sometimes illegal) work conditions.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>My opinion: The Reasons why Japanese society doesn't like to help unemployed people</h4><br />
Many young people, who feel the harsh reality of employment, never participate in elections. In the election for the lower diet of Japan in 2012, the ratio of people voting in their twenties was 37.89%. For voters in their seventies, the ratio was 74.93%.<br />
<br />
Japanese people in older generations – in my opinion, over about 60 years old - have tendencies to think "If a young person is in good health and yet unemployment, he or she is idle. Why do we have to pay our tax for such lazy people?" They spent their youth in the 60s to 80s. At that time, Japanese society kept the unemployment rate at 2%, while in European countries the unemplyment rate was 10%. That generation of Japanese citizens could get jobs easily. I got my job in 1993 (the first year of Japan's "lost twenty years"), after 6 job interviews for the same company. Three people, including me, got a job in my company out of 300 applicants from my university. After starting my job, an older co-worker in my office said; "I can't understand why my company is now "the narrow gate". He said he found it easy to get his job, "I only found a recruitment ad in a newspaper, applied, got this job. Maybe almost all of the applicants at that time could get jobs."<br />
<br />
However, people from older generation have experienced other harsh realities. In their youth, Saturday wasn't a holiday. The words and concepts, "abuse of power" and "sexual harassment", didn't exist. More than in modern Japan, older people had absolute power – if a boss said something irrational, young people couldn't object, and had to simply obey him. Now such harsh realities have gone and people work under more favorable conditions. Therefore, people from older generations often think, "modern young people work in such favorable conditions, but they can't get jobs. They must be lazy."<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
My opinion about Japan's low unemployment rate can be explained through the following example. Miki Watanabe is the founder of a big pub-chain company. The company is notorious for its bad labor conditions. For example, their corporate identity is: "Work 24hours a day, 365days a year, till you die." A worker of this company committed suicide. Her work condition were: 140 hours overwork per month. On her designated "holidays", the company forced her to receive training from 7am, do "volunteer activities" and write a report about the "volunteer activities".<br />
<br />
Watanabe, despite being such a notorious executive, was surprisingly <a href="https://www.watanabemiki.net/english/">elected for the upper diet in Japan</a>. Among people in my generation (under 40 years of age), it was unbelievable. Many people from older generations feel the same way. However, some people from older generations wanted Watanabe to be in power. They thought modern Japanese society needed a severe leader, who says, "Work hard, don't be a spoiled child". In the end, 1 million voters voted for Watanabe, showing support of this work ethic. Clearly, older generations who supported Watanabe participated in the election, however younger people who were against Watanabe did not.<br />
<br />
Japan's low unemployment rate compared to other developed countries', never means Japan's economy is in good condition. It means there is a big generation gap in understanding the real possibility of getting jobs in modern Japan and about their voting rates.Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-3429319088943500072013-11-22T14:14:00.000+09:002016-06-12T11:22:13.094+09:00Paul McCartney in Japan, 2013<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aJ1m8HzTwaE/UrZ9-2hx82I/AAAAAAAAC1I/Si18IKluVog/s1600/IMG_7702.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aJ1m8HzTwaE/UrZ9-2hx82I/AAAAAAAAC1I/Si18IKluVog/s400/IMG_7702.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-42K2K1SDZOlApCPg95MaSV0Gn0YIf6Udr1ZtoygsnNtopo51-5mswVl5xJa0c6ddPnmAavGAuzZQkUa7IT1K-yWITI0Qs2ygNAXxE51AZ_Q4UHuH9_BHaXmNN0Ia99R3Xv4Kw/s1600/aftertheball.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-42K2K1SDZOlApCPg95MaSV0Gn0YIf6Udr1ZtoygsnNtopo51-5mswVl5xJa0c6ddPnmAavGAuzZQkUa7IT1K-yWITI0Qs2ygNAXxE51AZ_Q4UHuH9_BHaXmNN0Ia99R3Xv4Kw/s400/aftertheball.jpg"></a><br clear="left"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6gcCm6Z9ITI/UraBolYi5TI/AAAAAAAAC10/dtc6mo55ONw/s1600/IMG_7754.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6gcCm6Z9ITI/UraBolYi5TI/AAAAAAAAC10/dtc6mo55ONw/s400/IMG_7754.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Preparation</b><br />
<br />
Paul McCartney's concerts were a rare opportunity for Japanese fans. Paul has only held his or his band's concert in Japan 5 times in the 51years since The Beatles debut to this year, 2013. Therefore, I prepared something special for his concerts in November, 2013.<br />
<br />
First, I did my best to take time off in order to attend all six concerts in Japan. The first and second concerts were held in Osaka Dome, which is located near my office. However, the other venues are a long way from my office. Fukuoka Dome is 500km West of my office, and Tokyo Dome is 500km East of my work place. It is almost the same distance as from London to Edinburgh, or New York to Niagra Falls. Therefore, I had to take days off. It isn't easy to take days off during the working week for Japanese businessmen. Fortunately, I could take enough day off to see Paul's concerts with my co-workers and clients understanding and smiling.<br />
<br />
Then, 38 fanatical friends of mine and I, made red T-shirts which you can see below. They express our delight at Paul's first visit to Japan in 11 years. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9v69c6jcOUE/UrZ1qGyoXrI/AAAAAAAACyo/VEEh8a6_z8w/s1600/IMG_7022.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9v69c6jcOUE/UrZ1qGyoXrI/AAAAAAAACyo/VEEh8a6_z8w/s400/IMG_7022.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YF-2YO3VFl4/UrZ2OIOGJSI/AAAAAAAACyw/jqaV2rNfAGk/s1600/20131124182621.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YF-2YO3VFl4/UrZ2OIOGJSI/AAAAAAAACyw/jqaV2rNfAGk/s400/20131124182621.jpg"></a><br clear="left"><br />
The "McCartney weeks", as I like to call them, from the first concert on 11/11/2013 to the last one on 21/11/2013, have come and gone. I have written down my personal impression and experiences from these weeks.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>General Impressions</b><br />
<br />
Paul is so young and energetic. He sung his songs, in the same key as he did 50-years ago, with no water and very little rest. He depends not only on his talent, but also his good health. I recognize that good health is an important base for good work. <br />
<br />
If his condition was not so great, his concerts would still be fantastic, because the songs he composed were fantastic. <br />
<br />
He has a tremendous numbers of fans. Some of them are very good friends of mine. His concerts were a rare and precious opportunity to see them. My group of friends included people who hadn't seen each other since Paul's last concert in Japan, in 2002. What's more, Paul gave me a new opportunity to meet new friends at these concerts. Paul's music makes me happy, not only by how good it sounds but also because I can socialise with many amazing people. I think this is great.<br />
<br />
I really appreciate Paul's consideration. He made many speeches in Japanese. One of his first speeches in Japanese was, "I will manage to speak in Japanese on this stage, but actually I'm good at English". In addition to this, he spoke in different Japanese dialects according to the area where the venue was located. Sometimes he spoke English, but at that time, Japanese subtitles appeared on big screens on stage. I have never known any other foreign musician to make such an effort. We enjoyed his showmanship and appreciated his consideration, along with his music. I think that he is taken for granted and should be more popular worldwide.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Special Memories</b><br />
<br />
<b>November 12th: 2nd concert in Osaka</b><br />
<br />
I went to this concert with my six-year-old son. He lives with me, and since I frequently play Paul's CDs and DVDs, he has become a fan of Paul. When I asked him, "Do you wanna go to Paul's concert?", he quickly replied, "Yes! Yes!". Therefore, I got two tickets for that night. However, I had thought that the concert would be too long for him. After all, it wasn't for children. I had thought my son would get tired or bored and say, "I wanna go home."<br />
<br />
However, my son enjoyed Paul's songs from the first to the last (so he could get a good nights sleep for going school the following day, I had to go with him before the encore). He jumped up when Paul began to sing his brand new single, "NEW". He also enjoyed, "All Together Now", because of his memories of when he first saw the animated movie, "Yellow Submarine". My son was astonished at the flames and fireworks on stage for the 007 theme song, "Live and Let Die". On his way home, he said, "I enjoyed the concert! I love Paul!!", repeatedly. Because of his comments and smile, I was on cloud nine. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-42G1ESkZyNI/UrZ3_gR_EtI/AAAAAAAACy8/gYHg8M67aqc/s1600/p10.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-42G1ESkZyNI/UrZ3_gR_EtI/AAAAAAAACy8/gYHg8M67aqc/s400/p10.jpg"></a><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>November 15th: 3rd concert in Fukuoka</b><br />
<br />
I got a close to look at the Tour Trucks.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c-VWfB-76tg/UrZ4w4XsaAI/AAAAAAAACzE/xEnJMbbg8FM/s1600/20131124182618.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c-VWfB-76tg/UrZ4w4XsaAI/AAAAAAAACzE/xEnJMbbg8FM/s400/20131124182618.jpg"></a><br clear="left"> <br />
Shaking hands with Paul's bronze hand made my day on my first visit to Fukuoka in 1993.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jBumKXewtKA/UrZ5IoHWu2I/AAAAAAAACzM/6T834Y9kaSQ/s1600/IMG_7263.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jBumKXewtKA/UrZ5IoHWu2I/AAAAAAAACzM/6T834Y9kaSQ/s400/IMG_7263.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
Paul shouted, "saiko!", again and again on stage that day. 'Saiko', does not mean 'psycho'. It has similar pronunciation, but means, terrific/fantastic. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>November 18th: 4th concert in Tokyo</b><br />
<br />
Tokyo is located closer to Fukushima than the other concert venues. Even now, 140,000 people who once lived in Fukushima had to evacuate and cannot go back to their homes after the big earthquake and nuclear plant accident in 2011. Paul gave a message to people from Fukushima and sung, "Yesterday".<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yOzrpG_6ej4/UrZ5l-WhTXI/AAAAAAAACzU/z-OejNs-uPU/s1600/IMG_7737.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yOzrpG_6ej4/UrZ5l-WhTXI/AAAAAAAACzU/z-OejNs-uPU/s400/IMG_7737.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
Subtutile: "I dedicate the next song to Fukushima people…"<br />
<br />
A friend of mine who lived close to Fukushima (the roof of his house was broken by the earthquake) said he was moved by Paul's message.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>November 19th: 5th concert in Tokyo</b><br />
<br />
I purchased a Sound Check ticket for this day. I was able to see Paul's rehearsal and was guaranteed front rows seats in the same venue as the main concert. The price was 80,000yen (800 dollars / 480 pounds / 560 euro). It was expensive for me, but I think it was worth the price.<br />
<br />
The rehearsal was the same quality as the main concert. Paul and his band played some different songs to the main concert. The set list of the rehearsal changed every day, and many songs played on that day were old rock n' roll and blues songs. He seemed to be relaxed while singing and playing songs that he had listened to in his teenage years.<br />
<br />
On this day, he was late for the Sound Check because of heavy traffic. He said, "Sorry, it's Kennedy traffic". His way from the hotel to the venue was affected by cars being controlled because of the new-appointed U.S. ambassador of Japan, Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of the slain president. He gave all of us guitar picks as a token of apology. It was a special token given only on this day, a small one, but nonetheless a big souvenir for me and other fans.<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AZBiEp1SjKA/UrZ6IpW3xwI/AAAAAAAACzo/2hBbIY7ei2E/s1600/IMG_7821.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AZBiEp1SjKA/UrZ6IpW3xwI/AAAAAAAACzo/2hBbIY7ei2E/s400/IMG_7821.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pN686DUy9Ws/UrZ6HrhJDWI/AAAAAAAACzk/3pQVunAqPhM/s1600/IMG_7602.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pN686DUy9Ws/UrZ6HrhJDWI/AAAAAAAACzk/3pQVunAqPhM/s400/IMG_7602.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FVQQXWRO9Nk/UrZ6Hnp96TI/AAAAAAAACzg/BOriQYtnNE0/s1600/IMG_7617.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FVQQXWRO9Nk/UrZ6Hnp96TI/AAAAAAAACzg/BOriQYtnNE0/s400/IMG_7617.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-frgTqMXzvQs/UrZ6Hi9zBcI/AAAAAAAACzc/yb25PBJcRyU/s1600/IMG_7618.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-frgTqMXzvQs/UrZ6Hi9zBcI/AAAAAAAACzc/yb25PBJcRyU/s400/IMG_7618.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
My seat was in the midst of the 55,000 seats of the gigantic Tokyo dome! I was in the 4th row!<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1MmhpzDqiRA/UrZ6zcy5Z-I/AAAAAAAAC0E/SKSAAViR950/s1600/IMG_7628.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1MmhpzDqiRA/UrZ6zcy5Z-I/AAAAAAAAC0E/SKSAAViR950/s400/IMG_7628.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zH8qX4mFod8/UrZ6zQ-qURI/AAAAAAAACz8/x5ugqVQOobo/s1600/IMG_7635.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zH8qX4mFod8/UrZ6zQ-qURI/AAAAAAAACz8/x5ugqVQOobo/s400/IMG_7635.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
I had a great experience and cannot explain it in words.<br />
<br />
I saw a halolike light when Paul was alone on stage and sung "Blackbird", which was explained by Paul as a song of support for the civil-rights movement for black Americans in the 60s.<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zl-XsW30qSg/UrZ7RLCh7UI/AAAAAAAAC0M/t7Z6ZeqZ6CM/s1600/IMG_7658.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zl-XsW30qSg/UrZ7RLCh7UI/AAAAAAAAC0M/t7Z6ZeqZ6CM/s400/IMG_7658.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>November 21th: the last concert in Tokyo</b><br />
<br />
In the morning, my wife made these sandwiches even though she isn't Paul's biggest fan. Her lovely idea and concern made me even happier.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQl-no22NBE/UrZ7dsyiFeI/AAAAAAAAC0U/J70AgQQgXWE/s1600/IMG_7810.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQl-no22NBE/UrZ7dsyiFeI/AAAAAAAAC0U/J70AgQQgXWE/s400/IMG_7810.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
(below is Paul's brand new album , "NEW".)<br />
<br />
The promotion company for this concert gave red bar-shaped lights to all 55,000 audience members. This present included a piece of paper that said: "This is a surprise present for Paul. When he begins to sing "Yesterday", pick it up and wave it. Never use it before this. Thank you for co-operating."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-54cd0WH-TP0/UrZ7sx4-gXI/AAAAAAAAC0c/wShCOuwHVU0/s1600/IMG_7775.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-54cd0WH-TP0/UrZ7sx4-gXI/AAAAAAAAC0c/wShCOuwHVU0/s400/IMG_7775.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
Paul was obviously surprised at this scene.<br />
<br />
The last song "The End", made me sad and moved me. I decided to stamp the scene forever in my mind. When he stop playing the guitar,his guitar was pulled to his body. It was the last of his playing. When he went downstairs off to the side of the stage, his hands were raised up to his breast. I wish it was not the last scene of Paul for me.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwaxRj3qFxxBYhdCz53XHkQUR5oJTDEAhChI8UiGjRHnqSYX6vc7yC6zWNaUHqSocjxFmVzVCjsZyOP98uPjDdQuj0qPsE64dyRQ0gM4w0qYl8JNfVxn589Fx4cViQMD1bCSWGA/s1600/IMG_7778.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwaxRj3qFxxBYhdCz53XHkQUR5oJTDEAhChI8UiGjRHnqSYX6vc7yC6zWNaUHqSocjxFmVzVCjsZyOP98uPjDdQuj0qPsE64dyRQ0gM4w0qYl8JNfVxn589Fx4cViQMD1bCSWGA/s400/IMG_7778.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
I drunk with many fanatical friends after every concert. In particular, the last one was the most impressive event. I saw close friends, friends I hadn't seen in a long time, and foreign fans. When a Korean fan and I talked together we both said, "Between the Korean government and the Japanese one, the relationship isn't good these days. However, we can both enjoy talking about the same musician peacefully". I felt the great power of his music!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oGZknRZfR7Y/UraTbBV8ReI/AAAAAAAAC2c/_0HnOGaC9TA/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oGZknRZfR7Y/UraTbBV8ReI/AAAAAAAAC2c/_0HnOGaC9TA/s400/DSC_0016.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2cIYrFDLkMQ/UrZ_AUjv9LI/AAAAAAAAC1k/ql8IEnT9Muo/s1600/IMG_7792.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2cIYrFDLkMQ/UrZ_AUjv9LI/AAAAAAAAC1k/ql8IEnT9Muo/s400/IMG_7792.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-ZH_tO_MMBS7dyaNoyS9OHlcqhgWh7fdsO9LVMaufmP6bacgmtLQdrumd6MVrRgyF3wxej9ZCo8IIOOum1obYNutdNbk1dWR818yfhu79iTsWz8I30vfiFotBLFXhgD_dH8-xw/s1600/IMG_7799.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-ZH_tO_MMBS7dyaNoyS9OHlcqhgWh7fdsO9LVMaufmP6bacgmtLQdrumd6MVrRgyF3wxej9ZCo8IIOOum1obYNutdNbk1dWR818yfhu79iTsWz8I30vfiFotBLFXhgD_dH8-xw/s400/IMG_7799.JPG"></a><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
I'm grateful to Paul, the members of the band, the stage crew, promoters, my co-workers and clients. In particular, all my fanatical friends, fans who I met for the first time, and my family. These "McCartney weeks" were a special memory in my life.Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-54020101584284643202013-11-03T07:39:00.001+09:002017-01-07T06:52:32.009+09:00I don't agree with the article "Why have young people in Japan stopped having sex?"<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/20/young-people-japan-stopped-having-sex">Why have young people in Japan stopped having sex? - Guardian</a><br />
<br />
I sometimes see such articles about Japan from only one viewpoint. The contents of this article may be true, however, only about a few young Japanese people, not all of them. I'm disappointed that such an article appeared in a respected newspaper. <br />
<br />
Whenever I see such articles and opinions, I recall the book; <br />
Edward W. Saïd "Orientalism" (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orientalism_(book)">Wikipedia</a>) (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Orientalism-Edward-W-Said/dp/039474067X">Amazon</a>)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Orientalism-Edward-W-Said/dp/039474067X"><img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51k6n6ma-NL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" align="left" /></a><br clear="left"><br />
I understand that it is easy to read and trust information from trusted news sources such as the Guardian. I also wonder, if I myself, have some prejudice towards people from foreign cultures and wish to be aware of this. I think it's important to do thorough research before forming opinions about a culture and hope people who read about Japan will do the same.<br />
<br />
<br />
FYI: I think that the following links are proper comments for the Guardian's articles.<br />
<a href="http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/10/25/guardian-article-japan-sex-trends/">The Guardian's (Mis)guide To Japanese Sex Trends - Global Voices</a><br />
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/sex-myths-without-substance-mislabelling-japan-8911325.html">Sex myths without substance: Mislabelling Japan - The Independent</a>Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-61686279109324547942013-08-12T09:57:00.001+09:002017-01-07T06:52:32.022+09:00Why some people say that Japanese and German people are similar in character, and not Spanish people?<b>Introduction</b><br />
<br />
Some people say that Japanese and German people are similar in character. For instance they are both punctual, diligent, and having had totalism government during the WWII, became mass producers of products after the war. I only partially agree with this view, however it raised an important question. I wondered why Japanese and German people are similar, and not Spanish people.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I have found the answer to this question through <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FEmmanuel_Todd&ei=pDIIUpOqCMOulAX80YGQBg&usg=AFQjCNEhxvqrEDOIo3BOvTEVgOQOEOBZIw&sig2=JeNAIK4ycGgXPeF1-qr_ug&bvm=bv.50500085,d.dGI">Emmanuel Todd</a> in the book "Sekaizou Kakumei" which roughly translated means, "A revolutionary way to understand how the world works" This is a book designed for Japanese readers. It contains Emanuel Todd's basic theory and Japanese social scientists commentary on his theories about social structures. This book asks questions such as why communism is more widely accepted by Russia and China and not by Western European countries and the Far East. It also resolved my question, family structures affect the ideological tendencies of countries and thus explains why certain countries are similar to each other ideologically. In order for you to understand this theory, I will describe four family structures, how their structure affects them ideologically, and state in what parts of the world you can see these structures.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Emmanuel_Todd_img_2278.jpg/600px-Emmanuel_Todd_img_2278.jpg" width=300 align="left" /><br clear="left">Emmanuel Todd (from Wikimedia Commons)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>1. Authoritarian Families</b><br />
<br />
-Parents have the authorities in the household. Their sons and daughters are unequal status.<br />
Ex- The chosen successor will stay in their parent's home while the other sibling must leave the home.<br />
Ideology tendencies: authoritarianism to their own citizens<br />
Area: Japan, the Korean Peninsula, German language areas, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the east coast of England, Rwanda and Jewish communities.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>2. Community based Families</b><br />
<br />
Parents have the authorities in the household. Their sons and daughters have equal status. All sons and daughters stay in their parent's home even after marriage. Therefore, family structures that are community based are usually large. Heritage is divided between all sons and daughters equally.<br />
Ideology tendencies: Communism<br />
Area: Russia, China, Vietnam, Northern India, Finland, Tuscany (Italy), Bulgaria, ex-Yugoslavia<br />
*Arabic households are structured similarly to community based families. However, in Arabic families, marrying cousins is popular.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>3. Egalitarian Nuclear Families</b><br />
<br />
Parents don't have strong authorities over their children. Sons and daughters are equal.<br />
Ex- When sons and daughters come of age, they will leave the household and having their own families. Heritage is divided between all sons and daughters equally.<br />
Ideology tendencies: Egalitarian individualism<br />
Area: Northern France including Paris, most of the Iberian Peninsula, Northwest Italy, Poland, Romania, Greece, and Latin America<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>4. Absolute Nuclear Families</b><br />
<br />
Parents don't have strong authority in their homes. Their sons and daughters are unequal in status.<br />
Ex- When sons and daughters come of age, they will leave the household and have their own families. The sons and daughters heritage will be decided based on their parent's will. <br />
Ideology tendencies: Liberal individualism<br />
Area: Large parts of England, the Netherlands and Denmark. This structure can also be seen in Bretagne, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa<br />
<br />
<br />
This theory convinced me, in particular, about Community based families. It's structure is similar to the structure of communism. However, I have a question. Tuscany has Community based families and yet Italy is capitalist. It seems a contradiction. Actually, until recent years, the strongest communist party in the western world was in Italy. In 2006, a member of this party was elected as the President of Italy. Also the strongest supporters for the Italian Communist Party were in Tuscany. Todd's theory can once again be applied in this case.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The history of the family structures</b><br />
<br />
What is the history of the family structures? Unexpectedly, I found out that Community based families are the newest because they are located in the center of the continent Eurasia and Nuclear families are on the edge of the continent. Todd says that family structures are born in the center of the world and spread to the edge. The locations of the family structures show us their history. He also said that Community based family structures are suitable to construct strong armies therefore this family structure can easily overcome other family structures.<br />
<br />
I don't agree with the former idea presented here, that the newest family structures spread from the center of the world. However, I agree with the later. However, nowadays, the countries which have the Absolute Nuclear families seem to be the strongest in the world. The later theory of community based families being the strongest in the world is suitable when applied to the past. In the modern world, one of the most important things to survive is quick adaptation to new situations, not strong power. Absolute Nuclear families are hence, the bases for the world's modern strongest countries, while in the past, the world's strongest family structure, was the Community based families.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>People's senses of values still remain</b><br />
<br />
Will Absolute Nuclear families conquer the other family structures? Will all people's senses of values become the same? Todd says this will never happen. He emphasizes that people's senses of values will remain the same. <br />
<br />
For instance, this can be seen in 1990 through the marriage of natives and immigrants.<br />
French (Egalitarian Nuclear families) and Algerian: 25%<br />
German (Authoritarian families) and Turk: 2%<br />
England (Absolute Nuclear families) and Pakistanis: unmeasurable little<br />
<br />
In France, it is more popular to marry immigrants than in German and England. The author may want to say that French people think that equality is more important than their uniqueness, or that people from Germany and England are not interested in foreign people. <br />
<br />
I think that the French way of thinking results from their style of colonization. France controls through "direct ruling" or "assimilation" - the French government gives the same rights to its mainland citizens as to people from its colonies (however, people from the colonies rights are usually imperfect). On the other hand, England's control of its colonies is through "indirect rule" - England controls its colonies through administrators, not through controlling the people directly. This style means that English people are not interested in people living in their colonies and don't thrust their culture on people in those colonies.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The last and biggest question</b><br />
<br />
Through reading this book, I have come to have one last and very important question: Why did family structures occur in the first place? For example, why did people from Tuscany construct Community based families, unlike any other Italian states? There is no answer to my question in this book which was released in 2002. Has Todd found the answer already? I will seek out his new book which has the answer.Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-48009817915915969162013-06-02T13:04:00.000+09:002017-01-07T06:57:31.114+09:00My second trip to Fukushima-above: 6th of November,2011 (See <a href="http://yositeru.blogspot.jp/2011/11/blog-post.html">my entry "A Day in Fukushima"</a>)<br />
-below: 2nd of June, 2013<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-30Uf4oao9I0/Un8Gwex70CI/AAAAAAAACl0/-YVa0uYMGrk/s1600/IMG_5574-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-30Uf4oao9I0/Un8Gwex70CI/AAAAAAAACl0/-YVa0uYMGrk/s400/IMG_5574-1.JPG"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SmBg2iQeUSM/Un8GwXgyklI/AAAAAAAACl4/I83YQpyKvJI/s1600/IMG_5574-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SmBg2iQeUSM/Un8GwXgyklI/AAAAAAAACl4/I83YQpyKvJI/s400/IMG_5574-2.JPG"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wZTrEYJ7GxE/Un8GwYZKJbI/AAAAAAAAClw/C0BPmDG1ES0/s1600/IMG_5574-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wZTrEYJ7GxE/Un8GwYZKJbI/AAAAAAAAClw/C0BPmDG1ES0/s400/IMG_5574-3.JPG"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-23tULEppTqU/Un8GxDInhZI/AAAAAAAACmM/ukqrkgT4aJw/s1600/IMG_5574-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-23tULEppTqU/Un8GxDInhZI/AAAAAAAACmM/ukqrkgT4aJw/s400/IMG_5574-4.JPG"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ziv5VLU5LrCydswJDW_ASlvNFGTQSy8JDp_wcIIMjdPPWDKtPmBazCM-cFvK8lhDgCPgLHxVeR10j5k7ve1_GD05Mjov-eNqN2or072lhf6txCtcwWV2OpB3v8oO0e1FzzjAkQ/s1600/IMG_5574-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ziv5VLU5LrCydswJDW_ASlvNFGTQSy8JDp_wcIIMjdPPWDKtPmBazCM-cFvK8lhDgCPgLHxVeR10j5k7ve1_GD05Mjov-eNqN2or072lhf6txCtcwWV2OpB3v8oO0e1FzzjAkQ/s400/IMG_5574-5.JPG"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1npzTsdLPnAPhxLJe_0_oa_sebvieSqaEDiH2DPI0kaZyVwzJlpm_MrQ6j90MyNIEDrD208AfHsoEfqUpu2yayiwy846tuWONYbpZSzJrFN_Ys64dxqYTAyKvXb16OssVCW3T_A/s1600/IMG_5574-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1npzTsdLPnAPhxLJe_0_oa_sebvieSqaEDiH2DPI0kaZyVwzJlpm_MrQ6j90MyNIEDrD208AfHsoEfqUpu2yayiwy846tuWONYbpZSzJrFN_Ys64dxqYTAyKvXb16OssVCW3T_A/s400/IMG_5574-6.JPG"></a></div>Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-15948627804107835002013-05-06T17:32:00.000+09:002017-01-07T07:00:16.822+09:00A Public Interview with Haruki Murakami in KyotoI saw Haruki Murakami in one of his rare public appearances in Kyoto, Japan. I was fortunate enough to get one of five hundred tickets.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOK9DUbr0tz2eYh-SCZuzSG1pTvM3ZETwOPhqXs7idUYi-eLZAaj9qwqs66_66GUUvyeQag1EfAQtOxRLGsTmE-PpjBV3bChF1G2nQ0Lbh6C1jJDbf8wrVQ9Or5_VrNl6OA1uyVA/s1600/20130511171440.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOK9DUbr0tz2eYh-SCZuzSG1pTvM3ZETwOPhqXs7idUYi-eLZAaj9qwqs66_66GUUvyeQag1EfAQtOxRLGsTmE-PpjBV3bChF1G2nQ0Lbh6C1jJDbf8wrVQ9Or5_VrNl6OA1uyVA/s1600/20130511171440.jpg" /></a><br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-op66YGzQSgg/Un8DepZ581I/AAAAAAAAClk/oNaADr1bMrU/s1600/%E3%83%81%E3%82%B1%E3%83%83%E3%83%88.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-op66YGzQSgg/Un8DepZ581I/AAAAAAAAClk/oNaADr1bMrU/s320/%E3%83%81%E3%82%B1%E3%83%83%E3%83%88.JPG" /></a><br />
<br clear="left"><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>My impression of Murakami</b><br />
<br />
The audience could see his carefree smile every minute. Murakami told many jokes and made us laugh constantly. On the other hand, he also looked sharp. He is famous for his diligently exercising every afternoon after spending the morning writing. I got the impression that it was not only his training, but his many severe critics that made him sharp.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>His comments on why he doesn't appear in public</b><br />
<br />
At first, he said, "Hello, I am Murakami. This may be the first meeting between almost all of you and me, so let me tell you the reason why I'm not in the public eye. This is because I lead an ordinary life. I enjoy hunting for books and vinyls in secondhand stores. If someone asks me, "Are you Murakami?", it makes me embarrassed. I would appreciate if you would treat me like an endangered animal. Be careful, if you approach me or say something to me, I might bite you."<br />
<br />
This first speech changed the atmosphere of the room. At first, people expressed a nervous like reverence for one of the world's most famous novelists. After this speech however, people became more relaxed and we could simply sit and listen to this funny guy talk. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Depth of his Works</b><br />
<br />
Murakami: A man is like a two-story house. The first floor is equipped with an entrance and a living room. On the second floor is every family member's room. They enjoy listening to music and reading books. On the first underground floor is the ruin of people's memories. The room filled with darkness is the second underground floor. How deep is it? Nobody knows. Going down to the first underground floor, people can write novels and music. However, I believe that such works cannot move people's hearts. F. Scott Fitzgerald said; "If you want to tell a story which is different from others, use words that are different from others." Thelonious Monk's music is so unique that we cannot believe he played his music with popular instrument such as the piano. The depth of this kind of art can move people's heart. These artists found a way to go down to the deep underground floor. First underground floor novels are easy to be criticized, because they are easy to understand. Second underground floor novels, however, can touch hearts. The difference between the two is like the difference between a spa and a house bath, or Mozart and Salieri. I would like to go down to the deep underground floor without going mad.<br />
<br />
Me: When he told us this, I recalled the episode, "Going down a well", in "Twisted Bird Chronicle"<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The transition of his way of writing</b><br />
<br />
Murakami: I wrote my first two long novels and an anthology of short narratives, <i>"Slow Boat to China"</i>, when I was a manager of my own jazz bar. There was not enough time to write and I didn't know how to write novels. Therefore, I made written collages of aphorisms and rags. Then, I read <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ry%C5%AB_Murakami">Ryu Murakami</a>*'s <i>"Coin Locker Babies"</i>, and wanted to write novels like that. I closed my own jazz bar so I could be a man who can write novels as I like. I was pleased about that. This pleasure was connected to the pleasure of writing. After making "collages of aphorisms", I would take up "storytelling" as a way of writing.<br />
<br />
*Japanese popular novelist who is of a similar age to Haruki Murakami and is his friend.<br />
<br />
Murakami: My first novel on storytelling was <i>"Wild Sheep Chase"</i>. The next work <i>"The World's End and the Hardboiled Wonderland"</i>, was a mid-long novel, first published in a novel magazine. It didn't have a power to catch readers' hearts, so I connected it with other narratives and rewrote it. It was a way of, "dividing myself". I never made any plan before writing, however I succeeded. I enjoyed writing these two novels with excitement ,"what happen on the next page?<br />
<br />
Until that, I was on my second step "OK, so if narratives are narratives, no need for additional values". My third step began from, <i>"Twisted Bird Chronicle"</i>. <i>"The World's End"</i>, consists of two narratives. On the third step, I wanted to divide narratives into more than two parts. However, I wrote, <i>"Twisted Bird Chronicle"</i> in the first person. It was difficult to write a divided story in the first person. Therefore, many factors were in the novel: memories, letters and dairy entries. They constructed a multi-layered world."<br />
<br />
I suppose that I could write my novels as I had wanted to write then from about 2000, with <i>"Kafka on the Shore"</i>. Until that, I had many things that I couldn't write, even though I had wanted to write then. Therefore, after 2000, I could then write about the things I wanted to write about. <br />
<br />
Me: I convinced with his saying. His works is evolving gradually. Before and after this interview, I think that <i>"The World's End and the Hardboiled Wonderland"</i> and <i>"Twisted Bird Chronicle"</i> is the most important milestone of him because the depth of these two novels was obviously deeper and newer than the former novels.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Network of peoples' souls</b><br />
<br />
Murakami: Some people asked me why I transited my novels from detachment to commitment when I wrote <i>"Twisted Bird Chronicle"</i>. The answer is, "I wanted to construct networks of peoples' souls". People can hardly maintain themselves without narratives. Children also need narratives. If you tell a narrative to them, they imitate these narratives. This is how they intake narratives. However, it may be a very simple narrative. Adults need more complex narratives. They have their own narratives. The main characters are themselves. Anyway, do these narratives have depth? If you want them to, you have to make the narratives relative. It is however, difficult to make your narratives relative by yourself. A novelists' work is to provide models to make your narratives relative. If you read my novels then you may feel, "I have the same experience as this narrative", or "I have the same idea as this novel". It means that your narrative and mine sympathize, concord and resonate together. Such happenings produce networks of peoples' souls and make narratives deeper, more relative. I think that it is the same with music, don't you? Excellent music moves our heart. Narratives have the same power, I think. Some readers of my novels ask me, "Why do you understand me?". That's a huge pleasure of mine because it means that readers and I can make our narratives relative.<br />
<br />
Me: I was surprised while reading an interview with Oliver Sacks*. He said, "Narratives are critical to human identifying" He is a well-known professor of neurology and psychiatry, therefore he analyzed the importance of narratives scientifically. This approach is different from Murakami's, however the conclusion is the same. It is intriguing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About his other novels</b><br />
<br />
Murakami: "Moving through a wall" in <i>"Twisted Bird Chronicle"</i> isn't a metaphor. I experienced this. All things in my novels are real for me. Some western critics said that Garcia Marquez's novels are magic realism. However, I believe that Marquez must have experienced everything in his novels.<br />
<br />
Murakami: <i>"1Q84"</i> is my first novel written in third person, therefore I could construct many "micro cosmos" in the novel. This is a format of "general novels", I think. When it comes to "general novels", I think of Dostoyevsky's <i>"Demons"</i>. You read the beginning part of the novel, but you cannot understand who the main character is.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The interviewer: Do you think that in the 20th century narratives' power wasn't appreciated by novelists and critics in the 19th century?<br />
<br />
Murakami: Yes, I think so. I have read <i>"The Brothers Karamazov"</i> four times and "War and Peace" three times. These experiences mean that I was soaked in 19th century narratives. However, in the 20th century, especially from the 1950s to 1970s, narrative literatures were discriminated against.<br />
<br />
The interviewer: In those days, people appreciated novels like "What is a human being?" (wry grin)<br />
Murakami: (wry grin) In the 1980s, in narrative literature, John Irving's <i>"The World According to Garp"</i>, suddenly appeared. The novel was unique in those days. I (as a narrative story writer) was also criticized frequently in the same age, however I could stand it thanks to my readers.<br />
<br />
Me: Actually, the top novels on my want-to-read-novel list are Marquez's <i>"One Hundred Years of Solitude"</i> and Dostoyevsky's <i>"Demons"</i>. I was surprised and now want to read these novels even more.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>About the other novels</b><br />
<br />
Murakami: I'm glad to hear that you can't stop laughing after you read my novels and I'm even more happy to hear that you can't stop crying. Crying is personal. On the other hand, laughing is more general . Laughing makes our hearts wider. The best point of my novels, I think, is their humor. I want to keep many my works humorous.<br />
<br />
Murakami: I never cry after reading my books. An exception however, was <i>"Underground"</i>. I had an interview with a twenty-something year old wife of a victim of the Tokyo Subway Sarin incident*. During the interview, the atmosphere seemed bright for these three hours, I didn't feel dark. Then, in the train on my way home, I couldn't stop crying for an hour. This feeling sometimes emerges while I write my novels.<br />
*In 1995, a cult group released poisoned gas in Tokyo's underground and 13 people died, while 6,300 people were damaged.<br />
<br />
Murakami: I always write my novels with music (I don't listened to the music seriously.) Music seems to encourage me. While working, I play only LPs not CDs, because of LPs are hi-fi.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>From the 1,500 questions that the organizer of this interview gathered from people before this interview via the internet</b><br />
<br />
Q: What beer do you think the best? <br />
<br />
Murakami: Of course it is the beer you drink when you are dying of thirst! Anyway, lately, my favorite is, lately, Maui Brewing of Hawaii's Big Swell. I favor bottled beer over canned beer, but this beer is never served in a bottle. On these beer cans, maker prints a detailed explanation for this policy: Canned beer is better than bottled beer. This beer is very good.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Murakami: I have read all my novels that were translated into English. Reading my novels is enjoyable because I forget almost all the content in them.<br />
<br />
What kind of novel can be translated easily? They are novels that have strong power in their narratives and make readers' mind progress further and further. On the other hand, I feel its difficult to translate novels that have are delicately described. For instance, <i>The Great Gatsby</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Murakami: It is my huge pleasure that my novels are translated into languages that are read among small numbers of people. For example, Finland and Iceland have small populations. What's more, young people usually understand the English language well in these countries. In spite of this, my novels were translated into these countries' mother tongues. <br />
<br />
I don't meet people spontaneously, but my novel's translators are an exception. I do meet them spontaneously. When I translate foreign novels, I ask about them their works in relation to the original authors. Generally, they answer my questions kindly. I appreciate their kind attitudes, so I do as the same for the translators of my novels.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Murakami: As for playing music, I would practice the piano when I was a little boy. Today, I like to seek the proper chords in the piano for the music I listen to. It is my pleasure to find the proper chords.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>At the last moment of this public interview, He said:</b><br />
<br />
Murakami: My last message is… I am really glad for the people who wait and purchase my new book. The value of them is greater than any critic and any number of sales of my books. Sometimes, some readers say, "Your new book is terribly dull, I'm disappointed with it, but I will buy your next one." I love these people. I never want you to love all my books. I don't mind that you dislike my books. <br />
<br />
I write my novels personally, desperately and non-negligently. When I write my novels, I think about my novels only, and never do other works. If you appreciate that Murakami does his work enthusiastically, I'm thankful to you. I have little confidence, but I'm serious about my work.<br />
<br />
<br />
Me: I think that this message shows his gratitude to his readers and gives encouraging words for all serious workers. Throughout this interview, I realized that Murakami is a serious professional through his serious and enthusiastic lecture.<br />
<br />
When I left the auditorium of Kyoto University, the place where his interview was held, I saw a beautiful twilight sky. At the beginning of this interview, Murakami said, "I hope you will relax and enjoy this spring afternoon in Kyoto." I remembered this phrase, and then realized that the best spring afternoon in Kyoto of my life, was over right now.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gQgQEHQE_F0/Un8DaBrK91I/AAAAAAAAClc/rA-IhIp03L4/s1600/IMG_5341.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gQgQEHQE_F0/Un8DaBrK91I/AAAAAAAAClc/rA-IhIp03L4/s320/IMG_5341.JPG" /></a><br clear="left"><br />
Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-64412202721626818362013-03-01T21:20:00.000+09:002016-06-12T11:22:43.772+09:00Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band at Osaka, Japan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLYZQ1fRzANCPOCSoGuRikE7Y6TK2PS-wRLJOp18YewGVRwH_0IzkF_DRdjyb8c5gRHO2i68KXDp3vOf8kG2IY-i07pDqAkW62_3z96zMCN_mKq-W-J8gnOV-eGSQIeFEo8MAfw/s1600/20130307214042.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLYZQ1fRzANCPOCSoGuRikE7Y6TK2PS-wRLJOp18YewGVRwH_0IzkF_DRdjyb8c5gRHO2i68KXDp3vOf8kG2IY-i07pDqAkW62_3z96zMCN_mKq-W-J8gnOV-eGSQIeFEo8MAfw/s320/20130307214042.jpg"></a><br clear="left"><br />
It was an amazing show. Ringo played many genres along with various great musicians - Steve Lukather (Toto), Gregg Rolie (Santana and Journey), Todd Rundgren, Richard Page (Mr. Mister), Mark Rivera (Billy Joel's band) and Gregg Bissonette(David Lee Roth's band).<br />
<br />
I was impressed not only the Beatles' songs sung by Ringo, but also played by the 1980s classics - Toto and Mr. Mister. When I was a teenager in the 80s, The Beatles were already legends. Toto and Mr. Mister released brand-new songs also. I feel there was a big difference between these two bands and the Beatles. However, in this concert, all these bands played great music.<br />
<br />
Ringo and other members seemed relaxed and cheerful through the night. It made me happy.<br />
<br />
After the concert, I enjoyed talking about my experience and the music played with my friends, who are also fellow music fanatics from far cities over 500km (310miles) from Osaka. It was an unforgettable night for me.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKCa-lFWWDU/UTso6D-vB8I/AAAAAAAACcs/hFiiyUQ2j_8/s1600/20130307214033.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKCa-lFWWDU/UTso6D-vB8I/AAAAAAAACcs/hFiiyUQ2j_8/s320/20130307214033.jpg"></a>Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-84682674287228191652012-12-30T14:23:00.000+09:002017-01-07T06:52:32.028+09:00Why is the suicide rate so high in Japan?Look at the list of countries according to their suicide rate. You can see that many high-suicide-rate countries are former communist countries except aome asian countries including Japan. Why is Japan's suicide rate is so exceptional?<br />
<br />
Suicides per 100,000 people per year<br />
<table border="1"><tbody>
<tr><td>rank</td><td>country</td><td>male</td><td>female</td><td>average</td><td>year</td></tr>
<tr><td>1</td><td>Lithuania</td><td>54.6</td><td>11.6</td><td>31.6</td><td>2011</td></tr>
<tr><td>2</td><td>South Korea</td><td>41.4</td><td>21.0</td><td>31.2</td><td>2010</td></tr>
<tr><td>3</td><td>Guyana</td><td>39.0</td><td>13.4</td><td>26.4</td><td>2006</td></tr>
<tr><td>4</td><td>Kazakhstan</td><td>43.0</td><td>9.4</td><td>25.6</td><td>2008</td></tr>
<tr><td>5</td><td>Belarus</td><td></td><td></td><td>25.3</td><td>2010</td></tr>
<tr><td>6</td><td>Hungary</td><td>37.4</td><td>8.5</td><td>21.7</td><td>2009</td></tr>
<tr><td>7</td><td>Japan</td><td>33.5</td><td>14.6</td><td>23.8</td><td>2011</td></tr>
<tr><td>8</td><td>Latvia</td><td>33.8</td><td>4.0</td><td>17.5</td><td>2009</td></tr>
<tr><td>9</td><td>China</td><td></td><td></td><td>22.23</td><td>2011</td></tr>
<tr><td>10</td><td>Sri Lanka</td><td></td><td></td><td>21.6</td><td>1996</td></tr>
<tr><td>11</td><td>Russia</td><td></td><td></td><td>21.4</td><td>2011</td></tr>
<tr><td>12</td><td>Ukraine</td><td>37.8</td><td>7.0</td><td>21.2</td><td>2009</td></tr>
<tr><td>13</td><td>Serbia and Montenegro</td><td>28.4</td><td>11.1</td><td>19.5</td><td>2006</td></tr>
<tr><td>14</td><td>Estonia</td><td>20.6</td><td>7.3</td><td>18.1</td><td>2008</td></tr>
<tr><td>15</td><td>Croatia</td><td>30.2</td><td>10.0</td><td>19.7</td><td>2002</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ref. <a href="http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide_rates/en/">"Suicide rates per 100,000 by country, year and sex". World Health Organization. 2011. Retrieved 2012-01-26.</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Special tendency</h4><br />
Looking for the differences between Japan and other countries, I found a tendency in Japan's suicide data. It is related to age. According to WHO 2008 report, the highest suicide rate age-group is over 75 years old in most countries, however, the highest suicide rate age-group in Lithuania, Iceland and Japan is people in their 50s. In addition, other statistics show that the top reason of committing suicide among Japanese men in their 50s is economic problems.<br />
<br />
A statistic of National Police Agency supports these facts. From 2009 to 2010, Japanese suicide rate decreased from 32,845 to 31,690 (-3.5%).<br />
The biggest decreasing age-group was men in their 50s, from 6,491 to 5,969 (-8.2%)<br />
The biggest motive for this was economic problems. All age groups, it decreased from 8,377 to 7,438 (-11.2%)<br />
Ref. <a href="http://www.npa.go.jp/safetylife/seianki/H22jisatsunogaiyou.pdf">Japan National Police Agency report in 2010 (in Japanese)</a> <br />
<br />
What happened in Japan in 2009? I believe in a change in the law is the answer.<br />
<br />
In June, 2010, the Money Lending Control Act came into effect. This law for money lenders of unsecured loan established lower interest than ever before. For example, it prohibited a harsh attitude to people who had not yet paid back their loans. This is one of the reasons of Japan's high suicide rate is people couldn't pay back their loans.<br />
<br />
Is there a law or a system to rescue such people in Japan? Yes, there is. However, some people still decided to kill themselves. I will now talk about another reason why suicide continues today.<br />
<br />
José M. Bertolote, from the Department of Mental Health, in WHO, gives a sharp analysis on Japan's suicide tendency: <i>"In Japan, suicide is likely to be part of culture. The immediate cause is due to overwork, joblessness, and bullies, and so forth. Suicide, however, is regarded there as an ethical standard to preserve one's honor and to take responsibility by suicide."</i><br />
Ref. <a href="https://www.academia.edu/4201094/Buddhism_and_Suicide_Right_Attitude_towards_Death">Kanae Kawamoto "Buddhism and Suicide: Right Attitude towards Death"</a><br />
<br />
<img align="left" width=500 src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/Tojinbo_Oike_200507.jpg/640px-Tojinbo_Oike_200507.jpg" alt=""><br clear="left">One of Japan's famous "suicide sites" Tojimbo Ooike in Fukui Prefecture, Japan (from Wikipwdia Commons, photo by っ)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>My experiences</h4><br />
My life experience in Japan supports my findings. <br />
<br />
Fifteen years ago, I had to move out of my parents' house and rent a flat near my office because my work was hard, I had to be in work from 9am to 11pm everyday during the week. I visited some real estate agents, and I found two good candidates. An agent said to me, "If you take this flat right now, I'll give you a secondhand laundry machine which was my other guest tennants, he doesn't need it now." I thought it was good deal, so I signed the contract to rent the flat.<br />
<br />
After that, I began my new life in the flat. It was certainly a good flat. It was relatively new, not noisy, was in a good neighborhood, and most importantly, it was near my office. However, the agent didn't give me the laundry machine he promised even after one month. I called his office, but he was always out.<br />
<br />
On a rainy day one week after I stopped callings agent's office, somebody knocked the door of my flat. I peeked through the peephole, the agent was standing there. He was soaked from the rain and made a polite bow from the waist. I understood why he bowed. It meant, "Sorry, I lied to you. I have been punished with the rain. Please forgive me." His action bore no fruit for me however, he was suffering, but I could only say, "I understand, but please leave." If I had made a contract with the agent concerning the laundry machine giving or I had recorded his promise, I would have pursued him. However I had not, only accepted his inadequate apology.<br />
<br />
<br />
After 10 years, I experienced a similar episode, except I was the one apologizing. At that time, I was a manager at my company's call center. One day, a telephone operator made a call to a customer who had claimed to have been called from the call center. The operator made a mistake. Many people may think the mistake was not severe, but the customer was angry and requested that the operator bring her manager to the customer's home and apologize. I called the customer, apologized and explained it would not happen again. He accepted my plan, but requested that I go to his house.<br />
<br />
I talked with my boss about this issue, my boss decided to accept the customers' request. My boss and I went to the customer's home by train. It took 2 hours.<br />
<br />
Ringing a doorbell of his house, he appeared with a smile. He said, "I appreciate your actions and your company." He guided us to a café near his home. We talked about this issue there. Again, I apologized and promised the same mistake would not happen again. Our conversation had the same content as when we talked on the telephone. However, he appreciated our actions. "The company took the trouble to visit him and he appreciated this.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>My opinion</h4><br />
You can find such absurd stories in Japan, where people take great pains to resolve problems. In B2C (business activities between company and consumers) you can often see this, some people taking great pains to apologize and value their relationships with consumers. In B2B (business activities between companies), business people work hard to resolve problems. This story is an example of how Japanese people go to extremes to apologize, and is reflected in Japan's high suicide rate.Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-4857640364466691692012-11-24T16:52:00.000+09:002017-01-07T06:57:31.118+09:00Some places in Kyoto Paul McCartney visited<br />
With two friends of mine, who are big fans of Paul McCartney, I visited Kyoto which was the capital of Japan from 794 to 1867. It is one of the most popular sightseeing places for both Japanese people and foreigners.<br />
<br />
The first place we visited was Kinkakuji Temple, established in the 14th century. It burned down in 1950 and was reconstructed. Paul visited this temple in November 2002. The master priest admitted that Paul, his wife and his band members to the temple after it had closed time. The temple rules dictated that only state guests (King, Queen, President, Prime Minister etc.) were to be treated like that, but Paul was an exception to the rule.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P8F2ALN7mdQ/USnH9oZqlUI/AAAAAAAACZ0/0CdE5DP35P0/s1600/IMG_4376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P8F2ALN7mdQ/USnH9oZqlUI/AAAAAAAACZ0/0CdE5DP35P0/s320/IMG_4376.JPG" width="320"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-61MQsNzgBZ0/USnH-zmXFwI/AAAAAAAACaI/PsHKA-Jzx9s/s1600/IMG_4383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-61MQsNzgBZ0/USnH-zmXFwI/AAAAAAAACaI/PsHKA-Jzx9s/s320/IMG_4383.JPG" width="320"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: start;">We had Japanese tea and sweets which were made with pure gold like Kinkakuji.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_LNOtOgHHew/USnH90cYI_I/AAAAAAAACZ4/cRe6LtW2R7Y/s1600/IMG_4385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_LNOtOgHHew/USnH90cYI_I/AAAAAAAACZ4/cRe6LtW2R7Y/s320/IMG_4385.JPG" width="320"></a></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8WpFTPhHjTA/USnH_FTZiKI/AAAAAAAACaE/s6H06_WkLow/s1600/IMG_4387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8WpFTPhHjTA/USnH_FTZiKI/AAAAAAAACaE/s6H06_WkLow/s320/IMG_4387.JPG" width="320"></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second place we visited was the Old Imperial Palace. It is a big park - all the buildings are closed. Why did Paul visit such a place? Maybe it is a good place for strolling.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BwBcmNhKWMw/USnJYb3OdcI/AAAAAAAACag/N2ZTsnEOyO0/s1600/IMG_4391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BwBcmNhKWMw/USnJYb3OdcI/AAAAAAAACag/N2ZTsnEOyO0/s320/IMG_4391.JPG" width="320"></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>The third place we saw on our tour was an old Japanese style inn <a href="http://www.kyoto-yoshikawa.co.jp/">Yoshikawa</a>. It is where<br />
Paul stayed. However, we didn't stay there because the rate is expensive, instead we had the cheapest tempra dinner set(100 dollars). It was the best tempra I have ever had.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NjZVWUj-RyU/USnJYZOYCZI/AAAAAAAACac/MtOs88FPUX8/s1600/IMG_4395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NjZVWUj-RyU/USnJYZOYCZI/AAAAAAAACac/MtOs88FPUX8/s320/IMG_4395.JPG" width="320"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NrJjSS4DGhw/USnJYZ224xI/AAAAAAAACaY/80EYOcyeHfY/s1600/IMG_4398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NrJjSS4DGhw/USnJYZ224xI/AAAAAAAACaY/80EYOcyeHfY/s320/IMG_4398.JPG" width="240"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kzZ-frS7xpM/USnJY8f-mMI/AAAAAAAACao/xm_8FCMdjEM/s1600/IMG_4401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kzZ-frS7xpM/USnJY8f-mMI/AAAAAAAACao/xm_8FCMdjEM/s320/IMG_4401.JPG" width="320"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cEwoaooex4w/USnJY5bTdxI/AAAAAAAACaw/Sqz07O2JEUU/s1600/IMG_4408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cEwoaooex4w/USnJY5bTdxI/AAAAAAAACaw/Sqz07O2JEUU/s320/IMG_4408.JPG" width="320"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>After dinner, I asked the serving lady "We are big fans of Paul McCartney, so could you show us the room Paul stayed in?" She said, "Of course, come this way" and smiled gently.<br />
<br />
This was his room! We saw it from ouyside the inn. The serving lady said, "If nobody was staying in this room, you could see inside, but unfortunately a guest is staying there now."<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lgu5Zw4NyYQ/USnJZ9q7MoI/AAAAAAAACbE/PCiVmjz8DGw/s1600/IMG_4417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lgu5Zw4NyYQ/USnJZ9q7MoI/AAAAAAAACbE/PCiVmjz8DGw/s320/IMG_4417.JPG" width="320"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>The inn had a beautiful garden. The book "Each One Believing" about Paul's 2002 tour contained a picture of Paul relaxing in this garden.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ex1f0i_fe4/USnJZQBwBqI/AAAAAAAACbA/URqLgrTxQfM/s1600/IMG_4412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GFCCO6NMX2A/USnJZyQrWsI/AAAAAAAACbQ/7KvW7y7AAjI/s1600/IMG_4413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GFCCO6NMX2A/USnJZyQrWsI/AAAAAAAACbQ/7KvW7y7AAjI/s320/IMG_4413.JPG" width="320"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ex1f0i_fe4/USnJZQBwBqI/AAAAAAAACbA/URqLgrTxQfM/s1600/IMG_4412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Ex1f0i_fe4/USnJZQBwBqI/AAAAAAAACbA/URqLgrTxQfM/s320/IMG_4412.JPG" width="320"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_0WmJcp7UfE/USnJaX0uv9I/AAAAAAAACbU/G_q-b4Fr2Ew/s1600/IMG_4418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_0WmJcp7UfE/USnJaX0uv9I/AAAAAAAACbU/G_q-b4Fr2Ew/s320/IMG_4418.JPG" width="240"></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>After we took many pictures, the serving lady showed us the photo book of the celebrity guests who were celebrities, Leonard DiCaprio,Cameron Diaz, Daniel Radcliff etc. We focused on the first page and the second page. A picture of Paul was on the first page. On the second page was Olivia Harrison, George Harrison's wife! The serving lady said, "Paul-san recommended this inn to her." We were surprised and glad that there is a good relationship between Paul and Olivia. (If you are a beatlemania, you may know the complex relationship between Paul and George.)<br />
<br />
As I wrote above, this inn Yoshikawa provides high-level hospitality and is a high-class hotel. In addition, this inn has another value - staff are not exclusive but open-minded. All Japanese people know some high-class Japanese inns are exclusive. For example, no first-time guest are admitted (you need to be introduced by a regular), and they look down on average people. However, Yoshikawa's staff treated us the same as other upper class guests. We were impressed by their services and thought that such an attitude attracted Paul and had him introduce this inn to other celebrities.Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942674.post-14703277798412127942012-04-15T10:45:00.000+09:002019-02-03T09:04:36.493+09:00What do Japanese people think of Korea and China? And unlike Korean and Chinese people, Taiwanese people tend to be fond of Japan,Why? What do Japanese people think of Korea and China? What do you think of these countries? It is FAQ for me. I want to make the answer delicately, so I write it down before I talk about it.<br />
<br />
# This article was written before the Takeshima / Dokdo island and Senkaku / Diaoyu islands dispute which occurred in summer, 2012. After this incident, feelings among Japanese, Korean and Chinese people become worse again.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Japanese perspective of Korea</h4><br />
Japanese people who say or write negative comments about Korea and Korean people are easy to find. When I was a child, I heard some adults swear about Korean people. Nowadays, I see many negative words about Korea and China on many electronic bulletin boards (except the North Korean government – I have never seen positive words about the country. About Korea and China, I also see many neutral words.) However, the contents of these negative messages are different between those days and these days.<br />
<br />
From the beginning of the Japanese modernization (circa 1870) to the 1980s, many Japanese people looked down on Korea as a country behind. Japan ruled Korea as a colony from 1910 to 1945. In order to justify the occupation, the Japanese government made propaganda that said "Korea is behind, so Japan has to control her." Actually, Korea was behind Japan in modernization, so many Japanese people recognized the propaganda as truth.<br />
<br />
In addition, many Korean people who lived in Japan (not only coming to Japan voluntarily but also perhaps being brought forcibly for hard mining labor) lived in poverty under discriminations. After the end of the rule by Japan, some Koreans in Japan ran non-conventional business, for example gambling, so many Japanese people thought of Koreans as dirty people.<br />
<br />
However, from the 1990s, the situation had changed. In 1987, the Korean government became democratic. The former government was a military administration which had been controlled by the US to guard and bring up Japan as an Asian base of anti-communism. So the Korean military government oppressed their citizens who spoke out against the Japanese occupation. Japan paid compensation to Korea but the Korean government used it for the social infrastructure, not citizens. After their democratization, Korean people began to publicly criticize Japan's ruling. They developed their economy.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, from the 1990s, Japan was and still stuck in a bad economic situation. Some Japanese patriots lost their pride for the nation which used to have a strong economy. The Korean economy was developing more, requested more compensation (informally), and set policemen on Takeshima / Dokdo, which is the territorial disputed island of Japan and Korea. Some of the Japanese people began to think that Koreans are greedy. Japanese nationalists began to recognize Korean people in Japan not as poor dirty people, but as people with special privileges (they began to think that Koreans in Japan have many more privileged rights than other foreigners in Japan) and started to criticize them. The name of their group is "Citizens against Special Privilege of Zainichi (Koreans in Japan)"<br />
<br />
In 2004, other big change had occurred. A Korean TV drama suddenly became a big hit in Japan. Before that, Korean culture in Japan was only for a few admirers. After that, Korean drama and pop music became popular genres in Japan. This tide is not temporary. The number of Korean language learners and visitors to Korea is increasing. NHK (Japan's public broadcasting station) published Korean language class textbooks, the number in 2001 was 80,000, while in 2005 it was 320,000. I don't know the reason why, but some people said Korean drama lovers in Japan found a conservative and tidy atmosphere (rather than an extraordinary story and direction) in the dramas.<br />
<br />
As above, now in Japan, there are both people who hate Korea (I think it is absurd notion) and people who love Korean culture.<br />
<br />
# This article was written before the Takeshima / Dokdo island dispute which occurred in August, 2012. The president of Korea first visited Takeshima / Dokdo. In addition, he said, if the emperor of Japan would like to visit Korea, he has to apologize for the people who fought for the independence of Korea and were killed under Japanese oppression of Korea. After this incident, feelings between Japanese people and Korean people become worse again.<br />
<br />
<img align="left" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Dokdo_Photo.jpg" alt=""><br clear="left">Takeshima / Dokdo from Wikipedia Commons (Rachouette, teacher in Seoul, SOUTH KOREA)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>From the perspective of Korean people to Japan</h4><br />
Korean people seem to hold onto their anger against Japan. The reasons why are the oppression by the old Japanese government and no-reflection on Japan's past.<br />
<br />
During the Japanese occupation era, the Japanese government forced the Korean people to admire the Emperor of Japan and to learn the Japanese language. The government also forced the people of Korea to change their names to Japanese. These things were a big humiliation for them because they had their own customs of worshipping their ancestors. Some or (many) Japanese people seemed to use violence against Korean people. This story of oppression was passed down from generation to generation of Koreans. (On the other hand, some Japanese people insist that the Japanese rule developed the Korean infrastructure and hygiene improved.).<br />
<br />
*Why did the old Japanese government force the worship of the Emperor and the adoption of the Japanese language? One Japanese historian said that the reason why is that only those two things were originally from Japan and not from western society. The logic of the government to rule Korea was that Japan had developed more than Korea. However, this "development" also meant westernization. So if Japan didn't have its original power, it could not have ruled Korea reasonably. There was the contradiction of Japan potentially ruling Korea in a western style as opposed to a traditional Japanese style. These two things – the Emperor and the language were the key supporting reasons for Japan's rule. I agree with this explanation.<br />
<br />
After WWII, an explaination of the Japanese occupation of Korea was written in Japanese government approved history textbooks, in a few lines. Koreans got angry about them, so the Independent Hall in South Korea in 1987 was established by Korean citizens' donations. It features Korean history, in particular, during the Japanese occupation. I visited it in 1994. The exhibition includes life-size mannequins depicting, for example the torture of a bloody half-naked Korean lady by Japanese policeman. An Jung-geun, who assassinated Hirofumi Ito, the first prime minister of Japan and the governor-general of Korea, was considered a citizen's hero. A picture book for kids admired An as a respected man. This hall is a popular place of Korean elementary school excursions.<br />
<br />
Koreans' anger hasn't calmed down even now. In the past the Korean law prohibited the sale, performance, and broadcasting of Japanese pop culture (songs, movies, manga and so on) – while bootleg copies of these things seem popular in Korea. The law was abolished in 1998 in several stages, but Even in 2012 Japanese TV dramas are still banned on non-satellite Korean TV stations. <br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>My opinion</h4><br />
I think of the country of Korea and the Korean people as follows:<br />
<br />
Ancient Korea strongly influenced Japan. Many parts of Japanese culture, including script, religious beliefs and many traditional industrial techniques are based on Chinese ways via Korea. I think of many aspects of Korean culture, such as their writing system, Korean movies, and foods as great. In addition, Japanese politicians and business people can learn a lot from modern Korean politics to strategically prioritize policies regarding intellectual properties and internationalization of business. Therefore, there are some things I respect about Korea and the Korean people.<br />
<br />
As for the way Japan ruled Korea, I think that most of it was not done in a proper way, because it lacked concern for the culture and people of Korea. On the other hand, I don't think that the Japanese occupation was completely a mistake. In those days, Japan expanded its own colonialism in order to survive among dominant western powers. I think that we cannot properly argue about the rights and wrongs of colonialism in the past from the perspective of today's values (but we can and have to learn a lot from it.)<br />
<br />
I understand that Korean people feel angry about the Japanese occupation. However, perpetuating hate and anger at a neighboring country doesn't have any value. The era of development based on such policy has passed, and now co-operation is more important.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>From the perspective of China people to Japan</h4><br />
The feeling between Japan and China has been changing. When I was a young teenager, in the 70s and the 80s, I heard several times, adults around me say "Korean people have severe feelings for us, but Chinese people do not. Even though both countries were under the control of Japan, Koreans are still in anger, Chinese are not. Chinese are more tolerant."<br />
<br />
One of the reasons why they said so was "proper name problem" happened. The problem is: English speakers pronounce "paris" for the city Paris, even though French speakers pronounce it "Pari". English speakers pronounce "bock" for the German composer Bach, even though German speakers pronounce it "ba-h". In the same way, Japanese speakers pronounce foreign place names and person's names in Japanese pronunciation. <br />
<br />
In the 80s, a Korean Japanese criticized it and requested Japanese mass-media to pronounce Korean place and person names in Korean way. He insisted that pronouncing Korean names in a Japanese way was against Korean human right, so NHK must provide monetary compensation. In 1988, the Japanese Supreme Court rejected his argument but admitted to abusing his human rights. After that, NHK and other mass-media changed to pronounce Korean names properly. <br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Chinese Japanese didn't insist on such an issue. The Chinese government also didn't speak out about the Japanese occupation responsibility till the 80s. However, after the 90s, the condition changed. The Chinese leader, Jiang Zemin(1989-2002), established his policy to promote anti-Japan education and propaganda. It was one of the ways to strengthen the orthodoxy of their rule after the Tiananmen Square incident. In my opinion, nowadays the feeling between Japanese people and Chinese people is worse than the one between Japanese and Korean people. The relationship between Japan and China depends not only on the Chinese policies mentioned above but also on Chinese economic growth and Japanese economic decline.<br />
<br />
# Again: This article was written before the Takeshima / Dokdo island dispute which occurred in August, 2012. After this incident, feelings between Japanese people and Korean people become worse again.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>The strange tendency of Taiwan</h4><br />
All of my friends who have been to Taiwan have said, "Taiwanese people are kind to Japanese people." Their favor towards Japan is well known among Japanese people. As for objective data, here is the statistics of the amount of donations for given the east Japan big earthquake in 2011 from the Red Cross all over the world (the name of country, amount, and population)<br />
Korea, $30m, 49m people<br />
Taiwan, $25m, 23m people<br />
FYI: China, $9m, 1.3b people (As you know, this country's economic base isn't suitable to compare with the other two countries)<br />
<br />
#I don't like to compare the amount of donations because all the donations are symbols of people's kindness. The aim of the above list is to merely show you the reality of Taiwanese favor in comparison to Japan's objectivity.<br />
<br />
Most Taiwanese are from the Chinese mainland. Both folks of majority are the same. As with Korea and China, Taiwan was under the control of the Japanese government and also experienced same oppression. For instance, at the beginning of the occupation, the Japanese Government executed 50,000 Taiwanese people after the occupation battles.<br />
<br />
However, unlike Chinese and Koreans, the Taiwanese tend to be fond of Japan. Why?<br />
I think that it in order to understand this strange tendency, it is important to know Okinawan history.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>The history of Okinawa</h4><br />
The Okinawa islands weren't a part of Japan untill 1879. After that, some Okinawan people struggled to adapt to Japanese society and customs, other Okinawan people wanted to be independent from Japanese rule. <br />
<br />
Since the end of the Pacific war, the US military began to control Okinawa. The government limited Okinawan people human rights. It was lower priority than the policy of the US military government. The government claimed a lot of land in Okinawa only providing small compensation. <br />
<br />
Therefore, Okinawan people made a move to rejoin Japan even though they had a history of struggling under the rule of Japan. For example, in the 60s, Okinawan elementary school pupils to wave a Japanese flag in their schools. Finally, in 1972, the US gave away Okinawa to Japan.<br />
<br />
After rejoining, the mind set of Okinawan people had changed. In my opinion, Okinawa is the most anti–central government area in Japan. They recall and experience the unfair treatment by the Japanese government. People don't change, but the situation have changed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>My opinion</h4><br />
We can learn from the history of Okinawa. People's feelings between countries depend not on their national character and their history but on the situation of their countries. Therefore, I think that it is nonsense to appreciate or deny a country depending on the countries citizens'feelings about my country. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>Related posts</h4><br />
-<a href="https://yositeru.blogspot.com/2007/06/how-do-japanese-think-about-pacific-war.html">How do Japanese think about the Pacific War?</a><br />
-<a href="https://yositeru.blogspot.com/2007/12/how-do-japanese-think-about-pearl.html">How do Japanese think about the Pearl Harbor attack?</a><br />
-<a href="https://yositeru.blogspot.com/2008/06/why-did-japan-attack-pearl-harbor.html">Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?</a><br />
-<a href="https://yositeru.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-great-tokyo-air-raid-more-victims.html">The Great Tokyo Air Raid - More Victims than the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb</a><br />
-<a href="https://yositeru.blogspot.com/2016/07/which-was-best-era-in-japan-interview.html">Which was the best era in Japan? An interview with my grandparents who were born in the early 20th century</a><br />
Yoshiteruhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16168986572037134697noreply@blogger.com156