No more Militarism

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If we turn the back on politics, nothing will change for the better. I really hope politicians won't revive Militarism.

Have you ever heard about a small island called Ookuno (大久野）or Okuno? which is located in Hiroshima（広島）, had produced poison gas for World War Ⅱ.

In 1929, 6000 people were taken to the island. They didn't know what they would do; just they came to get work for a living. It wasn't long before they noticed that they had been deceived.

Their colleagues died in 3 minutes after making a careless mistake. Even so, they couldn't obtain a permit to get out of this island and in addition, they had to keep this job a secret from their families.
(According to 2005 press release, 3535 people have been suffering the aftereffects.)

In 1944, the military authorities stopped producing poison gas to suppress evidence. In other words, they already foresaw defeat 1 year before World War Ⅱ. However, ordinary people were killed like vermin until 1945.

Contemporary history doesn't have to do with the National Center Test for University Admissions. That's why Japanese students don't learn in earnest. Many teachers are reluctant to teach real history. Probably every country has the same problem more or less.

Fortunately, some elderly people began to speak their mind to us, younger generations. Most important, their war doesn't finish yet.

After war, elderly people worked just for living. Most of them had no leisure to appreciate the arts. Ils me semblaient avoir à demi perdu qualité humaine.

Now in Japan, nearly 100 people commit suicides every day, over 30,000 per year. Real number must be much more. Death from overwork is famous for "Karoshi". Many people work overtime without pay under industrial imperialism.

On one hand, people living in Japan are victims; on the other, Japan participates (participated) in X war. I've no doubt that I am a criminal. I'm responsible for these things, so I won't turn the back on politics.

When our houses are burning, one of our families (To me family means all animate beings) goes to set other houses on the fire to obey the command. How can we stop this vicious circle?

I believe in this quote. "Vengeance belongs only to God."

Chief Seattle says, "The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected."

Le bon entrâineur What makes a good coach?

English 1, 2
Les bons entraîneurs peuvent faire apparaître un talent caché. Le judo est le sport national au japon, mais le nombre de licenciées est de 200 000 alors que en France, il est de 560 000. L'autre jour, la France a remporté la victoire de championnat du monde pour la première fois.

David Douillet dit que l'esprit de judo respecte les bienséances, les règles, les autres et ça apporte une bonne influence sur la société.
Un entraîneur Japonais dit que en France l'entraîneur ne dit pas souvent "Il ne faut pas". Il dit "Faites comme vous voulez'.
C'est sûr que l'entraînement trop sévère (forcé) empêche souvent les joueurs de s'épanouir.

Désormais le judo est un sport national en France.
Il doit y avoir une raison pour ça.

To learn foreign languages

I always think things in Japanese and I keep a diary in Japanese. That's natural. But is that so? If I hadn't had any literacy? I mean, if I hadn't had any skill to get myself across, that must have been awful.

Fortunately, my Japanese level is higher than English. So I don't have to lose confidence, but if I hadn't realized the value of native tongue and I'd stopped learning in my teens, I would have felt regret without doubt. I really appreciate my (past) diligence.

My English is poor, not to mention French. It's easy to go into a sulk and change my blog in Japanese, but I keep it up. That's for my future.

"Diligence is a good thing, but taking things easy is much more restful."
Mark Twain

Prostitute’s distorted image

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At one time, most women couldn't choose their future husbands freely. Only Japanese guys and their parents had a right to choose their brides.

When I watched old TV news of the fifties, one young woman never looked at her future husband during arranged meeting. It was bizarre.
When TV narration informed that Japanese woman’s behavior as a heart-warming scene, my mouth dropped open.

In spite of this social situation, Kenji Mizoguchi treated women equally in his movies. The languages that actresses spoke in the movies were natural. I felt that Kenji had genuine affection toward women and he always stood by women.

When Kenji was in his late teens, his sister had been worked for family as a Geisha.
Probably that’s one of reason why he didn’t look down on women including prostitutes.

Prostitution is like selling their souls by the piece.
Many women including children are now under this situation.
I’ve ever seen a lot of movies that prostitutes were treated as a common mistaken notion.

Coline Serreau “Chaos” (2001)
Charlize Theron’s “Monster” (2003) this movie is based on a true story.

These good movies are helpful to reconsider our beliefs. I couldn't be more pleased!

Excellent Translator Roger Pulvers

When I read “Night On The Milky Way Train” in English, I was so impressed with this translator. His English was like poem and it had comfortable rhythm.
I could imagine vividly the scene of ‘Scorpio’s fire’:the scorpion’s body turn bright red and burn into a beautiful flame, lighting up the darkness of the night sky.

When I read his postscript translated in Japanese, I was so moved that I got goose bumps, because he says "Kenji’s language is beautiful, an appealing, poetic and rythmic."
That’s what I exactly felt from his English!

He translated this story when he was 24 yrs old, then he rewrote several times.
２４yrs later, he finished rewriting!

Roger Pulvers was born in New York in1944. He loves Kenji’s works and translated them into English. That’s why we can read them in great English language.
I can't say enough to convey my sincere admiration for his passion and his translation.

Quand j’ai lu « Train de nuit dans la Voie lactée » en anglais, j’ai été impressionnée par ce traducteur. Son anglais était comme la poésie et il a un rythme confortable.
J'ai lu l'histoire courte du scorpion en anglais et je pouvais imaginer que ce scorpion s’aperçut que son propre corps était devenu, sans qu’il sache comment, un feu splendide d’un rouge éclatant qui brûlait et éclairait les ténèbres de la nuit .

Je n’ai jamais ressenti quelque chose comme ça en lisant une traduction d'histoire japonaise en anglais.
Avant de lire sa traduction, je commençais à désespérer de rencontrer une bonne traduction.

Quand j'ai lu sa postface en japonais, j’ai eu la chair de poule. Parce qu’il dit "La langue de Kenji est belle, savoureux, poétique et rhythmique.
C'est ce que j’ai exactement ressenti de son anglais !

Il a traduit cette histoire quand il avait 24 ans, puis il l’a écrite à nouveau plusieurs fois.
24ans plus tard, en 1992, il avait 48ans.
À ce moment-là, il a fini la réécriture.

Il est né à New York en 1944. Il aime les histoires de Kenji Miyazawa et les traduit en anglais.

Maintenant, on peut lire cette histoire dans un bel anglais.
Les mots ne peuvent pas exprimer à quel point je suis impressionnée.

A fairy tale for adults by Kenji MIYAZAWA

Excerpt from "Night On The Milky Way Train"
'It's Scorpio's fire. A scorpion's not a nice insect. I saw one in alcohol at the museum. He's got a huge stinger on his tail, and the teacher said if he stings you, you die!' 'I know, but he's still a nice insect. My father told me that a long long time ago scorpion lived in Valdola Vale and he survived by killing teeny bugs and eating them up. Then one day he was caught by a weasel and it looked like he was going to be eaten all up himself. He tried to get away with all his might and he was about to be pinned down by the weasel when he saw this well and he fell right down into it, and there was no way in the world he could get back up, so it looked like he was going to drown for sure. So then he began to pray... ≪Oh, I can't remember how many living creatures I have killed in my lifetime, but now I found myself trapped by the weasel and running for my own life. Everything is so risky in life. Why didn't I just give my body to the weasel and be done with it? If I had, at least he would have been able to live another day. Dear God, please look into my heart and in the next life don't throw away my life in vain like this, but use my body for the good and happiness of all.≫ 'That's what he said. And scorpion saw his body turn bright red and burn into a beautiful flame, lightning up the darkness of the night sky. And he's burning now too, that's what my father said. That fire...it must be him.'
--Original title"銀河鉄道の夜" Ginga-tetsudo no yoru
Written by Kenji MIYAZAWA 宮沢賢治　(1896-1933)
Translated by Roger Pulvers (1944-) edited by Denik

Movie "Night on the Galactic Railroad"

That reminds me of "Man's Search for meaning" written by Victor Emil Frankl.
When he was 38 years old, he was deported to a Nazi concentration camp and survived, but his wife and parents were murdered in concentration camps.

Excerpt from "Man's Search for meaning"
"We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances - to choose one's own way.

--- --- --- --- --- ---
Extrait de "Train de nuit dans la Voie lactée"
«Tu dis, le feu du Scorpion.Le scorpion n’est pas un insecte utile. Moi, j'en ai vu au Musée d'Histoire Naturelle, conservé dans de l'alcool. Sa queue est munie d'un crochet et dès qu'il pique, il tue, a dit le maître.» «Oui c'est vrai, Mais c’est tout de même un insecte bienfaisant, c’est mon père qui le disait. Autrefois, dans la campagne de Barudora, il y avait un scorpion qui tuait des petits insectes ou des petits animaux et les mangeait pour vivre. Et puis un jour il fut découvert par une belette qui voulut le dévorer. De toutes ses forces, le scorpion tenta de s’échapper mais il allait finir par se faire attraper quand brusquement il se trouva devant un puits dans lequel il tomba et dont il ne put absolument plus sortir. Il commençait à se noyer quand il se mit à prier ainsi : 《Hélas, moi qui ne sais jusqu’à présent de combien d’êtres j’ai ôté la vie, cette fois j’ai employé tout mon zèle à m’échapper quand la belette allait m’attraper. Et pourtant, voilà où j’en suis arrivé... Ah, il ne faut être sûr de rien! Pourquoi ne me suis-je pas laissé ravir sans résistance mon corps par la belette? Elle aurait vu sa vie allonger d’un jour. Je vous en prie, ô Dieu! Veuillez examiner mon coeur! Ne me faites pas mourir de façon aussi futile, je vous en supplie, dans une prochaine existence, servez-vous de mon corps pour le vrai bonheur de tous!》 Voilà ce qu’il dit. À la suite de quoi, le scorpion s’aperçut que son propre corps était devenu, sans qu’il sache comment, un feu splendide d’un rouge éclatant qui brûlait et éclairait les ténèbres de la nuit. Et mon père m’a appris qu’il ne cessait plus jamais de brûler. Sans aucun doute, ce feu là-bas, c’est lui! »
--Traduit par Hélène Morita

There is luck in leisure

"果報は寝て待て"（Kahouwa nete mate) in Japanese.
= "La fortune vient en dormant."
= (similar) "There is luck in leisure."
Leisure means the time when you are not working or studying, and can relax and do things you enjoy.

I also like Chinese quotes very much.
They refer to pleasure (the feeling of happiness).
”楽以忘憂。”　by 孔子(B.C.552-479)
孔子says," Pleasure drives away our worries."
”楽不必尋。去其苦之者而楽自存。” by 洪自誠（unknown 16th)
洪自誠 says," You don't have to seek happiness. If you stop worrying, you feel happiness without notice."
That reminds me of "The Blue Bird" ("L'oiseau bleu") written by Maurice Maeterlinck (1862-1949).

4 ways you can enjoy snorkeling safely

Pour profiter de la mer et du tuba.

Si vous aimez le tuba, il y a plusieurs façons de nager.
1. Que ferez-vous si par hasard l’eau de mer entrait dans votre masque?
Ne vous inquiétez pas. Vous touchez la tête de votre masque avec votre index. En même temps, vous exhalez fortement du nez.
2. Que ferez-vous si par hasard l’eau de mer entrait dans votre bouche par votre tube?
Pas de panique! Vous pouvez aspirer l’air frais si vous aspirez lentement, peu à peu. Ensuite, vous exhalez plus fortement.
3. Que ferez-vous si par hasard vous ne pouvez pas vous débarrasser de l’eau de mer de votre tube complètement?
Si votre tube a une valve, vous pouvez vous tirer d’affaire. D’abord, vous bouchez votre tube avec la main. Ensuite, vous exhalez fortement. Ce qui est important, c’est de vérifier si ce tube marche avant de plonger. Si vous pouvez aspirez malgré que vous avez bouché votre tube, ça ne fonctionne pas. Attention!
4. Que ferez-vous si par hasard vous voulez vous lever en mer?
D’abord, vous vous couchez sur le dos, puis en courbant le dos, vous vérifiez où trouver appui en mer.

À vrai dire, ces quatre cas arrivent fréquemment.
Ainsi, si vous ne savez pas contrôler votre tuba, n’oubliez pas de mettre votre gilet de sauvetage.
Si vous avez le temps pour prendre un cours de tuba, participez-y s.v.p.

Le tuba semble être simple, mais en fait le taux de mortalité est beaucoup plus haut que la plongée sous-marine.

C’est sûr que la connaissance et l’expérience diminuent l’éventualité de mort et doublent notre plaisir.

If you enjoy snorkeling, there are several ways of swimming.

1. What if water entered your mask? Don't worry. You push the head of your mask with your forefinger. At the same time, you breathe out through your nose.
2. What if water entered your mouth through your snorkel tube? Don't get into a panic. You can breathe fresh air if you inhale slowly,little by little. Then you breathe out.
3. What if you coudn't get rid of the water from your snorkel tube. If your snorkel tube has a valve, you can escape from the difficulty. First, you stop your tube with the hand. Then you breathe out. What is important, it is to check your valve before diving. If you can inhale although you stopped your snorkel tube, that doesn't function.
4. What if you wanted to stand up at the sea? First, lie down on your back, then while bending your back, you check the point where you can stand.

In fact, these four cases occur frequently, so if you don't know how to manage your snorkel tube or mask, please wear a snorkel vest for added flotation. If you have time to take snorkel instructions, let's take a course.

Snorkel seems to be simple, but the truth is that death rate is much higher than the scuba diving.
It's sure that knowledge and experience reduce the risk of accidents and double our pleasure.

An American young man and Kyoto Painters

Tiger
Jakuchu Ito
伊藤若冲 1716-1800
Edo period, 18th century
Hanging scroll
129.7×71.0 cm

Joe Price est né en 1929. Quand il avait 24 ans il a acheté un tableau japonais au lieu d'acheter une voiture de sport à New York.

Ses économies étaient pour une voiture neuve en souvenir de la fin des études universitaires. C'est la première fois qu'il achetait un tableau.

Après, sa vie a changé considérablement.

Joe Price, des architectes et Jakuchu. Ils ont été unis par l'adoration de la nature. Jakuchu a dit qu'il fallait attendre pendant un millénaire jusqu'a ce que quelqu'un comprenne de ses oeuvres. Après deux cents ans, Joh Price a réalisé le rêve de Jakuchu. C'est formidable.
Jakuchu et CG

The architect Frank Lloyd Wright once said to Mr.Price, "Do you spell God with a capital G? Well, I spell Nature with a capital N."

When Mr.Price was 24yrs old, he went to New York to buy a sports car as a college graduation gift. Instead, he bought an old Japanese painting. In this painting he found the beauties of nature. After that he collected 600 works. This year, he is 77 yrs old.

Now, Jakuchu, Rosetsu and Edo artists are revaluated through Mr.Price. How wonderful! I really appreciate this.
Jakuchu and CG ←I like this idea. Good thinking!
It's so important for us to revive great painters.

Link The Shin'enkan Foundation in Los Angeles
You can see tigers in large size :)

Rosetsu NAGASAWA -- Excellent painter from Kyoto

Tiger
Rosetsu Nagasawa
長沢芦雪 1754-1799
Edo period, 18th century
Hanging scroll 163.5×131.0cm

Rosetsu Nagasawa est né en 1754. Genéralement, le personnage du tableau regarde ailleurs.

Dans son oeuvre, le tigre semble nous regarder. Il prend une pause théâtrale. C'est très unique.
Il fait peur mais il est attirant.
Il reste gravé dans ma mémoire.

Rosetsu Nagasawa was born in 1754. Generally speaking, the character of the picture looks at somewhere else. In his pictures, this tiger seems to stare at us and strike an impressive pose. It is quite unique. He makes us fear but he attracts us. He is deeply engraved in my memory.

Link The Shin'enkan Foundation in Los Angeles
You can see tigers in large size :)

"The Prince of The Star" in Japan

En japonais, "le petit prince" est traduit par "Le prince d'étoile". Ce titre en japonais reflète le contenu du reman.

Arou NAITO (内藤 濯) est né en 1883. En 1953 quant il avait 70ans, il en a publié la traduction. C'est lui qui est le vrai père de "le prince d'étoile" du japon.

Jusqu'à 2005, il était interdit de faire une autre traduction que celle de M.NAITO. Si sa traduction du titre avait été mauvaise, ce livre n'aurait pas été aussi très demandé.

En plus de la bonne traduction, un secret de sa popularité est la peinture de Saint -Exupery. Il y a toutes sortes de produits dérivés de différentes couleurs. Ça permet d'apaiser les gens.

A bon roman, bonne traduction, bonne peinture et des produits dérivés de temps modernes sont en harmonie avec le coeur des personnes.

Et maintenant, Le petit prince est reste gravé dans la mémoire de beaucoup de personnes sans distinction d'âge ni de sexe. C'est formidable!

In Japan, "The Little Prince" is translated as "The Prince of The Star (literal translation)". This title reflects the contents of this novel.

Arou NAITO was born in 1883. In 1953 when he was 70years old, he published the translation of "The Little Prince".

Until recently, it was prohibited to translate this novel except Mr.NAITO. So, if his translation had been bad, this book also wouldn't have been very required. In addition to a good translation, the secret of success is the picture of Saint-Exupery.

Now in Japan, there are an abundant variety of goods. That makes it possible to attract people. Good novel, translation, picture and modern goods are in harmony with people, regardless of age or sex. How wonderful!

"Ugetsu" Kenji Mizoguchi's film

UGETSU MONOGATARI est "Les Contes de la lune vague après la pluie" en français.

Ce film a été réalisé par le réalisateur Kenji Mizoguchi en 1953 et a obtenu le Lion d'argent à la mostra de Venise la même année. C'est son film le plus célébré mondialement.

Il a représenté les joies et les peines des humaines et l'affection de l'homme et de la femme en calquant un partie du roman phénomène par Akinari UEDA de 1776.La beauté mystérieuse, ça c'est le plus impressionnant pour moi.

Ça me rappelle "Voyage de Chihiro" par Hayao MIYAZAKI et les oeuvres de Jean-Pierre Jeunet comme "Delicatessen" ou "La cité des enfants perdus", "Rêve" par Akira KUROSAWA. À propos de ce sujet, c'est different, mais je sens la beauté mystérieuse dans leurs films

UGETSU MONOGATARI is "Tales of the Pale and Silvery Moon After the Rain" in English. Some people say "UGETSU" This film won the Silver Lion Award at the Venice Film Festival in 1953.

It represented the human joys, sorrows and the affection by using a mystery written by Akinari UEDA in 1776.

I feel mysterious beauty from Mr.Mizoguchi's film. It leads to "Dreams" by Akira Kurosawa, "Spirited away" by Hayao Miyazaki.