To London, Being Guided by Allah
The English movie based on a fact that an Afghan boy at last got to London in 2002 was really appealing.
I didn’t see the start of the story but observed that the boy with an elderly companion moved from Pakistan to Teheran, the Kurdish area, Istanbul, Trieste, Paris, the Straits of Dover, and finally London.
The most heartbroken part is when the boy, his elderly companion, an Arab husband and wife with their baby, and others were put into a cargo container. It is because the mafia who employed them in Istanbul one day decided to discard them. So they were put into a container to be sent to a factory in Italy. They were expected to be found at the destination as illegal immigrants who happened to be suffocated in the container.
But, the Afghan boy and the Arab baby survived. The boy ran away from the factory to the street of Trieste, and eventually arrived at London.
The boy, perhaps 12 or 13 years old then, should be now getting near to his 18 years when British authority will expel him out of Britain.
The adventure was taken after U.S. assaults on Afghanistan but before their invasion on Iraq, which took my attention to the story.
If a boy could move that way from Afghanistan to London, anybody supported by an organized crime or an established terrorist network should be easily able to move from Afghanistan to London and eventually any part of the world without mentioning New York and Washington DC.
Then, what now actually protects New York and Washington DC?
During Japan’s 9/11 election in 2005, a Japanese couple were killed in Afghanistan on their way from Quetta to Kabul via Qandahar.
They were male and female school teachers, though not married, from a city of western Japan. The electorate including the city was a big focus in the 9/11 election. And, the tragedy happened in the middle of election battle between a leader of the anti prime minister group and a young man supported by the ruling party and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
The election resulted in overwhelming victory for the ruling party; however, the young man lost the election to the ex-police bureaucrat.
What this young man has lost is not only the election but also his assets and position in Livedoor Corp.
This January, Tokyo district public prosecutors launched investigation into Livedoor, thus hitting not only the Tokyo Stock Exchange but also the world money market. Livedoor had about seven billion dollar aggregate market price of its stock. But, after an arrest of the president, namely the young man Mr. Takafumi Horie, and his resignation from the corporate board, the value has fallen to 700 million dollar level.
This big, dire social incident has coincided with investigation of faulty designs of condominium apartments as well as unpopular Government’s import approval of American beef without necessary inspection on the exporting side concerning mad cow disease.
According to UNDP (United Nations Development Program), 200 million dollar aids have been provided for Afghanistan in this decade. Japan, in 2002, donated 20 million dollars for clearance of land mines in Afghanistan.
Yet, Livedoor’s lost total stock value of six billion dollars, if substantial, should have been poured into Afghanistan so as to prevent such a tragedy as the boy’s.
Then, more people will resist being dominated by an organized crime and an established terrorist network, which would eventually protect cities far and remote from Afghanistan
“WILL BE RAISED FROM DEATH TO LIFE”
[Please Select UNICODE-8 in PAGE/ENCODE SETTING of Your Internet Explorer]
Friday, February 03, 2006
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Be Kind
Be Kind
I checked how many hits a search engine will return to the input key “a kind person (s).”
In a Japanese search engine, with a corresponding Japanese expression, the number of hits was more than 900,000.
As it is a Japanese domain of the Internet, the “person” here seems to be almost referred to Japanese.
But, for confirmation, in the same procedure, with the specific input key “kind Japanese” in a Japanese expression, the number is 11,700.
In the same procedure, with the input key “kind Americans” in a Japanese expression, the number is 197.
As for English search engine applied to American domains, you can simply confirm results by following the similar procedure.
If a Japanese says “a kind person” in Japan using the Japanese language, it almost always means “a kind Japanese.” Otherwise, they would say “a kind foreigner” or something like that.
For comparison, in the same Japanese procedure, with the input key “a kind foreigner(s),” the number is 266 in Japan as of January 28, 2006.
So, I may assume there are a million kind Japanese and a few hundred kind foreigners in Japan, so far reported.
It is believed that there are about 120 million Japanese and two million foreigners (including more than 0.6 million residents from South and North Korea) in Japan.
So, roughly speaking, one out of 100 Japanese is kind, while one out of 1000 foreigners is kind, according to this analysis being incomplete and somewhat biased but based on the modern technology
It really supports our impression that outer world is ten times more dangerous than the domestic society.
Nonetheless, truth is often different from an Internet-based survey. It may be actually hard to find a cold guy in some areas in Japan, and you may find only accommodating foreigners in a certain group of people in Japan.
Jesus told to be kind to foreigners. And a Japanese proverb says, “Show your kindness at least once a day.”
And, with the specific input key “an unkind person (s)” in a Japanese expression, the hit number is 771.
Therefore, according to an extrapolation method, the ratio of kind Japanese to unkind Japanese is 1000 to 1.
“WE EAGELY WAIT FOR OUR SAVIORS”
I checked how many hits a search engine will return to the input key “a kind person (s).”
In a Japanese search engine, with a corresponding Japanese expression, the number of hits was more than 900,000.
As it is a Japanese domain of the Internet, the “person” here seems to be almost referred to Japanese.
But, for confirmation, in the same procedure, with the specific input key “kind Japanese” in a Japanese expression, the number is 11,700.
In the same procedure, with the input key “kind Americans” in a Japanese expression, the number is 197.
As for English search engine applied to American domains, you can simply confirm results by following the similar procedure.
If a Japanese says “a kind person” in Japan using the Japanese language, it almost always means “a kind Japanese.” Otherwise, they would say “a kind foreigner” or something like that.
For comparison, in the same Japanese procedure, with the input key “a kind foreigner(s),” the number is 266 in Japan as of January 28, 2006.
So, I may assume there are a million kind Japanese and a few hundred kind foreigners in Japan, so far reported.
It is believed that there are about 120 million Japanese and two million foreigners (including more than 0.6 million residents from South and North Korea) in Japan.
So, roughly speaking, one out of 100 Japanese is kind, while one out of 1000 foreigners is kind, according to this analysis being incomplete and somewhat biased but based on the modern technology
It really supports our impression that outer world is ten times more dangerous than the domestic society.
Nonetheless, truth is often different from an Internet-based survey. It may be actually hard to find a cold guy in some areas in Japan, and you may find only accommodating foreigners in a certain group of people in Japan.
Jesus told to be kind to foreigners. And a Japanese proverb says, “Show your kindness at least once a day.”
And, with the specific input key “an unkind person (s)” in a Japanese expression, the hit number is 771.
Therefore, according to an extrapolation method, the ratio of kind Japanese to unkind Japanese is 1000 to 1.
“WE EAGELY WAIT FOR OUR SAVIORS”
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Last Successor of Last Emperor in China
Last Successor of Last Emperor in China
I watched a very interesting TV documentary last night. Maybe, Lunar New Year is getting near for Chinese, though Japan seldom celebrates it nowadays.
As depicted in a movie titled “Last Emperor,” Ching (Qing) Dynasty ended 1912 as the last classic empire in China.
The last emperor of Qing died in 1967 in People’s Republic of China. He had no children.
But, he had one brother who married a daughter of a Japanese noble clan and had two daughters, one of whom is still alive in Japan with her children and grandchildren.
Put simply, the family line of Emperor of Qing has become part of Japanese population of today.
However, it often happens that people fled from war-torn regions in China and Korea to Japan since ancient ages. Some precious works of art and literature also fled ancient China and Korea to Japan where those works have been well cherished and preserved while originals were lost in those countries.
Qing was not established by Han people, majority of Chinese, but by Manchu who might be rather related to Mongolians. But, today, Mancuh seem to be completely absorbed by the majority of Chinese.
As the last Emperor of Qing had no children, his younger brother might have been expected to succeed him; nonetheless, the younger brother, too, had no boys. The dynasty was destined to finish.
The TV documentary showed the brother of Last Emperor in his last days in Beijing with his Japanese wife. He died in 1994.
He was good at calligraphy. His last work was also introduced. Apart from difference in style among Manchu, Chinese, and Japanese, its meaning is clear. The possible true Last Emperor praised two things, each in China and Japan, during his last days in this world.
First, the Great Wall of China, which was built to fend off invasion on China by Mongolians as well as Manchu but overcome by founders of Qing Dynasty.
And, Mt. Fuji in Japan where he once had been trained in a military academy of Empire of Japan.
If Americans had one great wall running from the East Coast to the West Coast, they should be more proud. And, if they could observe the world’s most elegant volcano from New York City or Washington D.C. just like from Tokyo, they should feel more honored.
However, it is also a fact that neither Japan nor China can enjoy the both all together.
“LIVING IN REVERENCE FOR GOD”
I watched a very interesting TV documentary last night. Maybe, Lunar New Year is getting near for Chinese, though Japan seldom celebrates it nowadays.
As depicted in a movie titled “Last Emperor,” Ching (Qing) Dynasty ended 1912 as the last classic empire in China.
The last emperor of Qing died in 1967 in People’s Republic of China. He had no children.
But, he had one brother who married a daughter of a Japanese noble clan and had two daughters, one of whom is still alive in Japan with her children and grandchildren.
Put simply, the family line of Emperor of Qing has become part of Japanese population of today.
However, it often happens that people fled from war-torn regions in China and Korea to Japan since ancient ages. Some precious works of art and literature also fled ancient China and Korea to Japan where those works have been well cherished and preserved while originals were lost in those countries.
Qing was not established by Han people, majority of Chinese, but by Manchu who might be rather related to Mongolians. But, today, Mancuh seem to be completely absorbed by the majority of Chinese.
As the last Emperor of Qing had no children, his younger brother might have been expected to succeed him; nonetheless, the younger brother, too, had no boys. The dynasty was destined to finish.
The TV documentary showed the brother of Last Emperor in his last days in Beijing with his Japanese wife. He died in 1994.
He was good at calligraphy. His last work was also introduced. Apart from difference in style among Manchu, Chinese, and Japanese, its meaning is clear. The possible true Last Emperor praised two things, each in China and Japan, during his last days in this world.
First, the Great Wall of China, which was built to fend off invasion on China by Mongolians as well as Manchu but overcome by founders of Qing Dynasty.
And, Mt. Fuji in Japan where he once had been trained in a military academy of Empire of Japan.
If Americans had one great wall running from the East Coast to the West Coast, they should be more proud. And, if they could observe the world’s most elegant volcano from New York City or Washington D.C. just like from Tokyo, they should feel more honored.
However, it is also a fact that neither Japan nor China can enjoy the both all together.
“LIVING IN REVERENCE FOR GOD”
Friday, January 20, 2006
Tokyo Prosecutors Hit the World Money Market
Tokyo Prosecutors Hit the World Money Market
Before they started the compulsory investigation into Livedoor Group, they said, they had thought that it might give some influence on Tokyo Stock Exchange Market. It actually hit the world money market.
Livedoor group is a kind of money-game companies under disguise of IT enterprise.
Tokyo district persecutors assailed offices of Livedoor Group in the night of January 16, including its computer center where their e-mail servers were located.
But why on January 16? Yes, there must be reasons. On the next day, an important witness was invited to Japanese Congress (Diet) on the issue of false aseismatic structure designed into condominium buildings and hotels. And there is a strong doubt on involvement of some famous members of ruling parties in hiding truth of the crime, which should give impact on Mr. Koizumi’s Cabinet.
To avoid inviting too much social attention to this Diet hearing, those near Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi might have made an allusion to persecutors on their wish that something big should happen on the day.
However, truth should be more interesting than fantasy.
Livedoor group is headed by a young business man who often publicly states that his dream is to make Livedoor number one in the world in terms of aggregate market value of listed stock.
President of Livedoor Mr. Takahumi Horie once said that his company would surpass Mr. Bill Gates’ Microsoft soon or later.
Although Livedoor’s total stock value was about more that 6 billion dollars before this crash which took 40 percent of the amount off his company so far, when you hear such a statement being delivered in a serious tone, you had better wonder what this young man knows and understands about Microsoft.
Tokyo district prosecutors also seem to wonder what this superstar in IT and money industry might know and understand about Japanese Securities Act.
“THE LORD CHANGED HIS MIND”
Before they started the compulsory investigation into Livedoor Group, they said, they had thought that it might give some influence on Tokyo Stock Exchange Market. It actually hit the world money market.
Livedoor group is a kind of money-game companies under disguise of IT enterprise.
Tokyo district persecutors assailed offices of Livedoor Group in the night of January 16, including its computer center where their e-mail servers were located.
But why on January 16? Yes, there must be reasons. On the next day, an important witness was invited to Japanese Congress (Diet) on the issue of false aseismatic structure designed into condominium buildings and hotels. And there is a strong doubt on involvement of some famous members of ruling parties in hiding truth of the crime, which should give impact on Mr. Koizumi’s Cabinet.
To avoid inviting too much social attention to this Diet hearing, those near Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi might have made an allusion to persecutors on their wish that something big should happen on the day.
However, truth should be more interesting than fantasy.
Livedoor group is headed by a young business man who often publicly states that his dream is to make Livedoor number one in the world in terms of aggregate market value of listed stock.
President of Livedoor Mr. Takahumi Horie once said that his company would surpass Mr. Bill Gates’ Microsoft soon or later.
Although Livedoor’s total stock value was about more that 6 billion dollars before this crash which took 40 percent of the amount off his company so far, when you hear such a statement being delivered in a serious tone, you had better wonder what this young man knows and understands about Microsoft.
Tokyo district prosecutors also seem to wonder what this superstar in IT and money industry might know and understand about Japanese Securities Act.
“THE LORD CHANGED HIS MIND”
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Japan Never Joins EU
Japan Never Joins EU
Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi planned to visit Israel, Palestine, and Turkey late last year.
However, due to recent, serious illness of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Mr. Koizumi has decided not to visit Israel and Palestine.
So, it looks a little strange that a Japanese prime minister, with various heavy duties domestically and globally, is now flying over half of the world to visit only one country Turkey where no serious issues look at stake between two countries.
God might be interfering with this visit by Japanese prime minister to Israel. But why?
Otherwise, God might be interfering with reception of Japanese prime minister by the nation of Israel. Then again why?
Does Mr. Koizumi have to visit Afghanistan, Kingdom of Bhutan, and Republic of Maldives, for United Nations Security Council issues?
Otherwise, should prime minister of Japan visit Iraq?
I cannot remember what specific interference God made when late Chairman Arafat passed away.
Anyway, one thing clear is that there is no interference by God with Mr. Koizumi’s visit to Turkey.
And, does the Allah wish Turkey to join EU?
Japan never joins EU.
“SO THAT BIRDS COME AND MAKE THEIR NESTS”
Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi planned to visit Israel, Palestine, and Turkey late last year.
However, due to recent, serious illness of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Mr. Koizumi has decided not to visit Israel and Palestine.
So, it looks a little strange that a Japanese prime minister, with various heavy duties domestically and globally, is now flying over half of the world to visit only one country Turkey where no serious issues look at stake between two countries.
God might be interfering with this visit by Japanese prime minister to Israel. But why?
Otherwise, God might be interfering with reception of Japanese prime minister by the nation of Israel. Then again why?
Does Mr. Koizumi have to visit Afghanistan, Kingdom of Bhutan, and Republic of Maldives, for United Nations Security Council issues?
Otherwise, should prime minister of Japan visit Iraq?
I cannot remember what specific interference God made when late Chairman Arafat passed away.
Anyway, one thing clear is that there is no interference by God with Mr. Koizumi’s visit to Turkey.
And, does the Allah wish Turkey to join EU?
Japan never joins EU.
“SO THAT BIRDS COME AND MAKE THEIR NESTS”
Monday, January 09, 2006
Two Candles from Japan to Michael Faraday in 1860
Two Candles from Japan to Michael Faraday in 1860
I was thinking about Four Basic Forces or Interactions: Gravity, Electromagnetism, The weak nuclear force, and The strong nuclear force. Of course, the so-called “Dark Force” working far in the universe might be the fifth.
Anyway I went to a public library nearby and get the loan of a translation version of a transcript of Michael Faraday’s lecture to confirm something.
Gravity is scientifically attributed to Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. The weak nuclear force was established by Enrico Fermi. The strong nuclear force was first reasonably explained by Hideki Yukawa, a Japanese physicist.
There are only these four forces in this universe so far scientifically identified. No forces any more. However, human beings usually live in the world governed by gravity and electromagnetism. Any chemical reaction is a result of electromagnetism at the level of atoms and molecules.
As for electromagnetism, James Clerk Maxwell is unanimously chosen as a founder of the modern electromagnetism. Nonetheless, as with the case of gravity, we can include Michael Faraday, a 19th century British scientist.
Then for four forces, we can count three British, one German, one Italian, and one Japanese as greatest contributors to each field. No Americans are included, but two of them finished their lives in the United States.
Now, focus is on Michael Faraday. He is still respected by many Japanese concerned with science. His theory is still taught in Japanese schools.
He died in 1867, a year before Japan started modernization through Meiji Restoration. However, even before the beginning of the Meiji era, the samurai regime or the Shogunate Government of Edo had opened the nation to the West, which was related to Michael Faraday.
In the Christmas Holiday of 1860, Michael Faraday taught children “the chemical history of a candle” as part of his free education service started in 1825. In this lecture, he mentioned: “I have here also a substance brought from Japan since we have forced an entrance into that out-of-the-way place—a sort of wax which a kind friend has sent me, and which forms a new material for the manufacture of candles.” (http://www.bartleby.com/30/7.html)
And, further, “A LADY who honors me by her presence at these lectures has conferred a still farther obligation by sending me these two candles, which are from japan, and, I presume, are made of that substance to which I referred in a former lecture.” (http://www.bartleby.com/30/12.html)
It is astonishing. And, as Michael Faraday was truly a great man, it is the pleasure to know that Japan contributed some to his great efforts to educate British children in late 19th century.
Jesus Christ once told to keep preparedness always just like young ladies who have enough candles or lamps while waiting for their bridegrooms. Then, you will not be shut out from a wedding hall when coming back after having left for spares.
When people light candles for peace or any ceremony, does any one recall that famous, great, and blessed British scientist in the 19th century and his lectures to children of the then world super power?
(How he explained value of nitrogen in air is truly excellent !)
“THIS IS THE HOUR TO RECEIVE THE HONOR FROM THE LORD”
I was thinking about Four Basic Forces or Interactions: Gravity, Electromagnetism, The weak nuclear force, and The strong nuclear force. Of course, the so-called “Dark Force” working far in the universe might be the fifth.
Anyway I went to a public library nearby and get the loan of a translation version of a transcript of Michael Faraday’s lecture to confirm something.
Gravity is scientifically attributed to Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein. The weak nuclear force was established by Enrico Fermi. The strong nuclear force was first reasonably explained by Hideki Yukawa, a Japanese physicist.
There are only these four forces in this universe so far scientifically identified. No forces any more. However, human beings usually live in the world governed by gravity and electromagnetism. Any chemical reaction is a result of electromagnetism at the level of atoms and molecules.
As for electromagnetism, James Clerk Maxwell is unanimously chosen as a founder of the modern electromagnetism. Nonetheless, as with the case of gravity, we can include Michael Faraday, a 19th century British scientist.
Then for four forces, we can count three British, one German, one Italian, and one Japanese as greatest contributors to each field. No Americans are included, but two of them finished their lives in the United States.
Now, focus is on Michael Faraday. He is still respected by many Japanese concerned with science. His theory is still taught in Japanese schools.
He died in 1867, a year before Japan started modernization through Meiji Restoration. However, even before the beginning of the Meiji era, the samurai regime or the Shogunate Government of Edo had opened the nation to the West, which was related to Michael Faraday.
In the Christmas Holiday of 1860, Michael Faraday taught children “the chemical history of a candle” as part of his free education service started in 1825. In this lecture, he mentioned: “I have here also a substance brought from Japan since we have forced an entrance into that out-of-the-way place—a sort of wax which a kind friend has sent me, and which forms a new material for the manufacture of candles.” (http://www.bartleby.com/30/7.html)
And, further, “A LADY who honors me by her presence at these lectures has conferred a still farther obligation by sending me these two candles, which are from japan, and, I presume, are made of that substance to which I referred in a former lecture.” (http://www.bartleby.com/30/12.html)
It is astonishing. And, as Michael Faraday was truly a great man, it is the pleasure to know that Japan contributed some to his great efforts to educate British children in late 19th century.
Jesus Christ once told to keep preparedness always just like young ladies who have enough candles or lamps while waiting for their bridegrooms. Then, you will not be shut out from a wedding hall when coming back after having left for spares.
When people light candles for peace or any ceremony, does any one recall that famous, great, and blessed British scientist in the 19th century and his lectures to children of the then world super power?
(How he explained value of nitrogen in air is truly excellent !)
“THIS IS THE HOUR TO RECEIVE THE HONOR FROM THE LORD”
Friday, January 06, 2006
Miracle under the Ground; Wonder in the Sky
Miracle under the Ground; Wonder in the Sky
Believe or not, God told me: “I will show miracle under the ground and wonder in the sky.”
And the year end had passed and a new year opened.
In West Virginia, 13 miners were trapped about 80 meters under the ground. Finally and luckily, one man was saved alive. (Yes, one to twelve among 13.)
I found it to be a miracle. How devastating it should have been, without no one being rescued alive.
In Japan, heavy snow has been continuing. In a snow zone usually covered by one-meter thick of snow, they have now a four-meter snow layer.
Japan is located at the east southeast end of Siberia. In winter, cold air is directly blown from frozen Siberia to the Japanese archipelago over the Sea of Japan. Thus much snow in northern half of Japan allowed it to host the Winter Olympic Games twice, at Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998.
But this unusual heavy snow is causing some casualties in Japan now. This climate is caused by strong high pressure air high on the Indian Ocean to central Asia, which guides cold air on Syberia continually flowing to Japan.
It must be an effect of global warming. But it is also wonder in the era of greenhouse effect, Japan must suffer unusual heavy snow.
The Sate of West Virginia runs a Japanese site on the Internet. The state supported by Senator John D. 'Jay' Rockefeller IV, with many powerful friends in Japan since he studied Japanese at the International Christian University in Tokyo in early 1960’s, has succeeded in inviting some Japanese companies and is still driving the policy.
The tragedy in a mine in West Virginia must touch the heart of some Japanese concerned with the state.
I, though a stranger I am there, wish more miracles, too.
“JESUS SENDS OUT THE SEVENTY-TWO”
Believe or not, God told me: “I will show miracle under the ground and wonder in the sky.”
And the year end had passed and a new year opened.
In West Virginia, 13 miners were trapped about 80 meters under the ground. Finally and luckily, one man was saved alive. (Yes, one to twelve among 13.)
I found it to be a miracle. How devastating it should have been, without no one being rescued alive.
In Japan, heavy snow has been continuing. In a snow zone usually covered by one-meter thick of snow, they have now a four-meter snow layer.
Japan is located at the east southeast end of Siberia. In winter, cold air is directly blown from frozen Siberia to the Japanese archipelago over the Sea of Japan. Thus much snow in northern half of Japan allowed it to host the Winter Olympic Games twice, at Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998.
But this unusual heavy snow is causing some casualties in Japan now. This climate is caused by strong high pressure air high on the Indian Ocean to central Asia, which guides cold air on Syberia continually flowing to Japan.
It must be an effect of global warming. But it is also wonder in the era of greenhouse effect, Japan must suffer unusual heavy snow.
The Sate of West Virginia runs a Japanese site on the Internet. The state supported by Senator John D. 'Jay' Rockefeller IV, with many powerful friends in Japan since he studied Japanese at the International Christian University in Tokyo in early 1960’s, has succeeded in inviting some Japanese companies and is still driving the policy.
The tragedy in a mine in West Virginia must touch the heart of some Japanese concerned with the state.
I, though a stranger I am there, wish more miracles, too.
“JESUS SENDS OUT THE SEVENTY-TWO”
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Do You Like Phoenix? Do you Like Metropolis? Do you Like the Music?
Do You Like Phoenix? Do you Like Metropolis? Do you Like the Music?
A new year has come like a phoenix reborn.
Last December, University of Chiba, Japan, discovered that they kept original celluloid pictures of the Disney’s movie “Sleeping Beauty.” The movie was released in Japan 45 years ago. The 250 celluloid pictures with various sizes were at that time transferred to a researcher of the university by the movie company.
With combination of “Phoenix” and “Disney,” many Japanese would come to think of Osamu Tezuka, a Japanese cartoonist and animator as prominent as Charles Monroe Schulz in the U.S..
Osamu Tezuka, as a young man, had learnt various things from Disney’s pictures before, during, and after WWII. Now Japanese animation is highly appreciated over the world. Most of current animation artists in Japan, including Hayao Miyazaki, were highly influenced or trained by Osamu Tezuka. Dr. Osamu Tezuka is still a kind of king in this field.
Till his death in 1989, Osamu Tezuka created almost uncountable works, one of which is “Phoenix” (called “Hi-no-Tori” in Japanese). This full-length-novel-like cartoon is regarded as one of his lifework, though Osamu Tezuka created many other full-length comic strips (called “manga”) on the Buddh, the Bible, etc.
In the summer of 2001, an animation movie titled “Metropolis” was released in Japan. At its climax, the World-Trade-Center-like huge tower building was blown off and collapsed due to an intentional atomic power explosion.
The animation “Metropolis” was released in the U.S. in early 2002.
The movie was based on Osamu Tezuka’s original manga of the same title drawn decades ago which itself had borrowed the title from the Fritz Lang film released in 1927.
Strictly speaking, the movie cannot be regarded as Osamu Tezuka’s work, but is a work of a director, a producer, etc. who each respects Osamu Tezuka.
The heroine of the movie “Metropolis” is a robot, created to imitate a girl. The robot called “Tima” was, by accident, taught human words by a Japanese boy named “Ken-ichi.” However, “Tima” finally tried to destroy the human world using her super capability based on hatred to mankind who abused robots.
The boy “Ken-ichi” tried to stop her trying to rouse love in her mind. But, the high-rise site of the battle between love and hatred was blown off by nucleus explosion triggered by a troubled son of a powerful man who had planned to construct and abuse “Tima” to put the world under his foot. And then, the World-Trade-Center-like huge building collapsed on the screen of a movie theater in the summer of 2001 in Japan.
Nobody then thought that the September 11 attacks would soon happen in New York, another metropolis in question. But, God gave such a predictor.
However, it was not a mega-hit animation in both Japan and the U.S.. Especially, the use of music in the animation was criticized by many. In addition, American audience was dissatisfied with the Japanese scenario and faces on the movie, though they enjoyed its advanced production technology.
Nonetheless, the work is telling that a robot that can hate human beings must be also able to love human beings, though the reverse seems true, too.
The “Metropolis” is not a full-length-novel-like work like the “Phoenix,” but at its climax, the boy had to desperately generate love in a robot’s artificial mind; and finally, even for a moment just before falling down from high to the ground, the robot seemed to generate love inside, though it seemed too late. What was left was “Tima’s” voice on a tape in debris: “I am who?”
Anyway, the value of the work depends on that moment.
Accordingly, some Japanese audience don’t like a still picture displayed at ending in the movie where Ken-ichi and rebuilt Tima looked like together running a robot shop in a corner of the reconstructed metropolis.
Astonishingly, in the U.S. version of this animation movie, they took away this last controversial scene. The robot “Tima” should be lost forever. The miracle of love cannot be proven forever. But, it was after September 11, 2001 attacks that they so judged.
If American audience cannot fully appreciate the “Metropolis,” I don’t think they can understand “Phoenix” and many other valuable works of art created by Japanese. It tells their fatal disadvantage.
Now, coming back to late Osamu Tezuka, his reputation is still high. If there is a Nobel Prize for cartoonists and animators, all the Japanese would recommend him.
But, once in his life, he was faced with a fatal crisis. His production company, famous for TV animation “Astro Boy” (Tetsuwan Atom) in 1960’s, went bankrupt. In the middle of 1970’s, the society changed. His old-time upper-middle-class oriented works seemed out of date. No one seemed to buy his works.
But, his savior appeared. Osamu Tezuka was helped financially and socially by a businessman in Osaka, a metropolis near his home town.
The businessman himself has been highly involved in international humanitarian work and the United Nations. Even an award titled his name was given to Mrs. Thatcher of the U.K. and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of the U.S. in late 1990’s, respectively.
So, friend, man cannot be reborn like the bird of wonder in his career without help from others or the God, just like the case of the robot.
(But, if you are loved by a robot, what is that to you? Go and find your "Sleeping Beauty!")
“I, MORTAL THOUGH I AM, WILL REST ASSURED IN HOPE”
A new year has come like a phoenix reborn.
Last December, University of Chiba, Japan, discovered that they kept original celluloid pictures of the Disney’s movie “Sleeping Beauty.” The movie was released in Japan 45 years ago. The 250 celluloid pictures with various sizes were at that time transferred to a researcher of the university by the movie company.
With combination of “Phoenix” and “Disney,” many Japanese would come to think of Osamu Tezuka, a Japanese cartoonist and animator as prominent as Charles Monroe Schulz in the U.S..
Osamu Tezuka, as a young man, had learnt various things from Disney’s pictures before, during, and after WWII. Now Japanese animation is highly appreciated over the world. Most of current animation artists in Japan, including Hayao Miyazaki, were highly influenced or trained by Osamu Tezuka. Dr. Osamu Tezuka is still a kind of king in this field.
Till his death in 1989, Osamu Tezuka created almost uncountable works, one of which is “Phoenix” (called “Hi-no-Tori” in Japanese). This full-length-novel-like cartoon is regarded as one of his lifework, though Osamu Tezuka created many other full-length comic strips (called “manga”) on the Buddh, the Bible, etc.
In the summer of 2001, an animation movie titled “Metropolis” was released in Japan. At its climax, the World-Trade-Center-like huge tower building was blown off and collapsed due to an intentional atomic power explosion.
The animation “Metropolis” was released in the U.S. in early 2002.
The movie was based on Osamu Tezuka’s original manga of the same title drawn decades ago which itself had borrowed the title from the Fritz Lang film released in 1927.
Strictly speaking, the movie cannot be regarded as Osamu Tezuka’s work, but is a work of a director, a producer, etc. who each respects Osamu Tezuka.
The heroine of the movie “Metropolis” is a robot, created to imitate a girl. The robot called “Tima” was, by accident, taught human words by a Japanese boy named “Ken-ichi.” However, “Tima” finally tried to destroy the human world using her super capability based on hatred to mankind who abused robots.
The boy “Ken-ichi” tried to stop her trying to rouse love in her mind. But, the high-rise site of the battle between love and hatred was blown off by nucleus explosion triggered by a troubled son of a powerful man who had planned to construct and abuse “Tima” to put the world under his foot. And then, the World-Trade-Center-like huge building collapsed on the screen of a movie theater in the summer of 2001 in Japan.
Nobody then thought that the September 11 attacks would soon happen in New York, another metropolis in question. But, God gave such a predictor.
However, it was not a mega-hit animation in both Japan and the U.S.. Especially, the use of music in the animation was criticized by many. In addition, American audience was dissatisfied with the Japanese scenario and faces on the movie, though they enjoyed its advanced production technology.
Nonetheless, the work is telling that a robot that can hate human beings must be also able to love human beings, though the reverse seems true, too.
The “Metropolis” is not a full-length-novel-like work like the “Phoenix,” but at its climax, the boy had to desperately generate love in a robot’s artificial mind; and finally, even for a moment just before falling down from high to the ground, the robot seemed to generate love inside, though it seemed too late. What was left was “Tima’s” voice on a tape in debris: “I am who?”
Anyway, the value of the work depends on that moment.
Accordingly, some Japanese audience don’t like a still picture displayed at ending in the movie where Ken-ichi and rebuilt Tima looked like together running a robot shop in a corner of the reconstructed metropolis.
Astonishingly, in the U.S. version of this animation movie, they took away this last controversial scene. The robot “Tima” should be lost forever. The miracle of love cannot be proven forever. But, it was after September 11, 2001 attacks that they so judged.
If American audience cannot fully appreciate the “Metropolis,” I don’t think they can understand “Phoenix” and many other valuable works of art created by Japanese. It tells their fatal disadvantage.
Now, coming back to late Osamu Tezuka, his reputation is still high. If there is a Nobel Prize for cartoonists and animators, all the Japanese would recommend him.
But, once in his life, he was faced with a fatal crisis. His production company, famous for TV animation “Astro Boy” (Tetsuwan Atom) in 1960’s, went bankrupt. In the middle of 1970’s, the society changed. His old-time upper-middle-class oriented works seemed out of date. No one seemed to buy his works.
But, his savior appeared. Osamu Tezuka was helped financially and socially by a businessman in Osaka, a metropolis near his home town.
The businessman himself has been highly involved in international humanitarian work and the United Nations. Even an award titled his name was given to Mrs. Thatcher of the U.K. and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of the U.S. in late 1990’s, respectively.
So, friend, man cannot be reborn like the bird of wonder in his career without help from others or the God, just like the case of the robot.
(But, if you are loved by a robot, what is that to you? Go and find your "Sleeping Beauty!")
“I, MORTAL THOUGH I AM, WILL REST ASSURED IN HOPE”
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Happy Ending & Destiny
Happy Ending & Destiny
Chinese are said to be pessimistic at their core due to long history of upheaval and conflicts. Therefore, Indians, Iranians, Iraqis, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans might be all pessimistic apart from their outward gestures. Anyway, countries north of the Alps are younger.
But, Japanese are optimistic, though not tropical way, as nowadays half of Japan is covered by snow generated high on the Sea of Japan from cold air blown from Siberia. “When having finished well, everything is well” is a proverb Japanese like to hear.
In a Swedish film for children, a traveling entertainer met a boy having escaped from an orphans’ home.
After an adventure, the middle-aged street performer, or busker, brought the boy to a rich farm family, hoping that the family would adopt him. But the boy chose to travel with the busker.
So, the busker decided to trace a path to a home of a woman he had once lived together with. And, reconciliation and reunion were made well, so that they got together again and the boy was adopted by the couple. Truly happy ending! Indeed, it is said that children are a link between husband and wife.
It may, however, look too simple. Germans would make it more reasonable. British could make it more dramatic. Americans love to make it more dynamic and funnier. And, Japanese love to see more caring and sensitive emotion.
As for me, when I encounter straightforwardness and strength beyond expectation, I cannot help but admire them, which frankly speaking seldom happened.
In 2005, we have not observed here and there enough straightforwardness and strength, a kind that is potentially promising.
However, I believe that we came through the path to this crossover point, with training, enjoyment, and appreciation, while being led by Destiny.
“Nothing You Do for the Lord’s Service is Ever Useless”
Chinese are said to be pessimistic at their core due to long history of upheaval and conflicts. Therefore, Indians, Iranians, Iraqis, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans might be all pessimistic apart from their outward gestures. Anyway, countries north of the Alps are younger.
But, Japanese are optimistic, though not tropical way, as nowadays half of Japan is covered by snow generated high on the Sea of Japan from cold air blown from Siberia. “When having finished well, everything is well” is a proverb Japanese like to hear.
In a Swedish film for children, a traveling entertainer met a boy having escaped from an orphans’ home.
After an adventure, the middle-aged street performer, or busker, brought the boy to a rich farm family, hoping that the family would adopt him. But the boy chose to travel with the busker.
So, the busker decided to trace a path to a home of a woman he had once lived together with. And, reconciliation and reunion were made well, so that they got together again and the boy was adopted by the couple. Truly happy ending! Indeed, it is said that children are a link between husband and wife.
It may, however, look too simple. Germans would make it more reasonable. British could make it more dramatic. Americans love to make it more dynamic and funnier. And, Japanese love to see more caring and sensitive emotion.
As for me, when I encounter straightforwardness and strength beyond expectation, I cannot help but admire them, which frankly speaking seldom happened.
In 2005, we have not observed here and there enough straightforwardness and strength, a kind that is potentially promising.
However, I believe that we came through the path to this crossover point, with training, enjoyment, and appreciation, while being led by Destiny.
“Nothing You Do for the Lord’s Service is Ever Useless”
Friday, December 30, 2005
A Teaching on Bonds at a Mountain Side
A Teaching on Bonds at a Mountain Side
Following is a personal memo only for those humbly and professionally concerned:
The amount of outstanding US government bond is 7.33 trillion dollars (879 trillion yen) as of the end of FY 2004 (which is also expected to reach 11.114 trillion dollars in FY 2010).
The amount of outstanding Japanese government bond planned for FY 2006 is 1.38 trillion dollars (165 trillion yen).
Japan has US government bonds worth of 0.7 trillion dollars as of February 2005.
Q: How can we solve a catastrophe many expect to happen in future?
A: Once thousands people gathered at a mountain side to listen to Jesus Christ. At lunch time, Jesus’ disciples asked him how to do with the people. Money they had was not enough to buy the crowd enough food. But Jesus ordered the disciples to have the people sit down and give them whatever fish or bread the disciples had.
As you know, a miracle happened. The crowd of people all ate enough and got satisfied.
The answer is that the people had come there with their own food. But, they hid their own food lest others stole it. However, as Jesus’ disciples started to give their own fish and bread, everyone began to take out their lunch box from a coat pocket, a bag, or a cart.
It is a miracle in that people with much food gave some of it to others who happened to have little or none. Otherwise, not all should be satisfied.
So, by applying Jesus’ teaching to government bonds of Japan and the U.S., we could happily solve the deficit problems once and for all.
I like to call this “a teaching on bonds at a mountain side,” if the Lord wishes.
Anyhow, poor people need money when the end of the year is really near.
“VICTORY IS COMPLETE”
Following is a personal memo only for those humbly and professionally concerned:
The amount of outstanding US government bond is 7.33 trillion dollars (879 trillion yen) as of the end of FY 2004 (which is also expected to reach 11.114 trillion dollars in FY 2010).
The amount of outstanding Japanese government bond planned for FY 2006 is 1.38 trillion dollars (165 trillion yen).
Japan has US government bonds worth of 0.7 trillion dollars as of February 2005.
Q: How can we solve a catastrophe many expect to happen in future?
A: Once thousands people gathered at a mountain side to listen to Jesus Christ. At lunch time, Jesus’ disciples asked him how to do with the people. Money they had was not enough to buy the crowd enough food. But Jesus ordered the disciples to have the people sit down and give them whatever fish or bread the disciples had.
As you know, a miracle happened. The crowd of people all ate enough and got satisfied.
The answer is that the people had come there with their own food. But, they hid their own food lest others stole it. However, as Jesus’ disciples started to give their own fish and bread, everyone began to take out their lunch box from a coat pocket, a bag, or a cart.
It is a miracle in that people with much food gave some of it to others who happened to have little or none. Otherwise, not all should be satisfied.
So, by applying Jesus’ teaching to government bonds of Japan and the U.S., we could happily solve the deficit problems once and for all.
I like to call this “a teaching on bonds at a mountain side,” if the Lord wishes.
Anyhow, poor people need money when the end of the year is really near.
“VICTORY IS COMPLETE”
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Dr. Hawking and “i”
Dr. Hawking and “i”
Year 2005 was the Year of Physics. It is mainly related to Albert Einstein.
Anyhow, as the New Year’s Day is coming, we might refer to theories of the birth of the universe.
The most famous scientist in this field is Stephen William Hawking of the U.K.
According to his theory, our universe was born following the uncertainty principle. The principle tells there is a special condition on the product of energy and time. Even if the product should take a specific value, larger energy in a shorter period of time is allowed:
For a very small particle,
E x T = (6.6261 x 10^-34) / (2 x pi),
where E and T are a change of energy and time, respectively.
Following this principle, our universe was born in a very short period of time, getting over an energy barrier that had suppressed the birth of a universe.
The moment of the birth was too unusual to handle it reasonably and scientifically in its mathematical expression. So, Dr. Hawking introduced an idea of “imaginary time” into the mathematical expression, thus making smooth the flow of time back to the birth of the universe and beyond and, at the same time, that quantum leap possible.
(with "i" = (-1)^(1/2), i second, 2i seconds, and so on, instead of 1 second, 2 seconds,..; however, this method is common in quantum physics.)
As the meaning of quantum theory as well as Einstein’s theory is still controversial, his solution based on both the theories looks still so.
I believe mankind is yet to understand the truth of the birth of our universe.
But, this theory gives mankind a great courage. Even for a very short period of time, we are allowed to exercise great ability, though it might not create another universe.
As for “imaginary time,” apart from its use as mathematical agency, if God is real, everything should be real to the limit we are allowed to understand about our universe, including its birth and its state before the birth.
Beyond the limit, we are no longer human beings in any way.
“STOP YOUR DOUBTING AND BELIEVE”
Year 2005 was the Year of Physics. It is mainly related to Albert Einstein.
Anyhow, as the New Year’s Day is coming, we might refer to theories of the birth of the universe.
The most famous scientist in this field is Stephen William Hawking of the U.K.
According to his theory, our universe was born following the uncertainty principle. The principle tells there is a special condition on the product of energy and time. Even if the product should take a specific value, larger energy in a shorter period of time is allowed:
For a very small particle,
E x T = (6.6261 x 10^-34) / (2 x pi),
where E and T are a change of energy and time, respectively.
Following this principle, our universe was born in a very short period of time, getting over an energy barrier that had suppressed the birth of a universe.
The moment of the birth was too unusual to handle it reasonably and scientifically in its mathematical expression. So, Dr. Hawking introduced an idea of “imaginary time” into the mathematical expression, thus making smooth the flow of time back to the birth of the universe and beyond and, at the same time, that quantum leap possible.
(with "i" = (-1)^(1/2), i second, 2i seconds, and so on, instead of 1 second, 2 seconds,..; however, this method is common in quantum physics.)
As the meaning of quantum theory as well as Einstein’s theory is still controversial, his solution based on both the theories looks still so.
I believe mankind is yet to understand the truth of the birth of our universe.
But, this theory gives mankind a great courage. Even for a very short period of time, we are allowed to exercise great ability, though it might not create another universe.
As for “imaginary time,” apart from its use as mathematical agency, if God is real, everything should be real to the limit we are allowed to understand about our universe, including its birth and its state before the birth.
Beyond the limit, we are no longer human beings in any way.
“STOP YOUR DOUBTING AND BELIEVE”
Monday, December 26, 2005
Next Year is 2666 for Emperor
Next Year is 2666 for Emperor
In 91 B.C., the first official history book of China, the Shiji (called Shi-ki in Japanese), was established. The author is Sima Qian (called Shiba Sen in Japanese). It was the age of Earlier Han Dynasty.
And, remarkably, Chinese people have been traditionally called “Han people” up to this day in a little formal manner in Japan. The Chinese letter “Han” is pronounced as “Kan” by Japanese. And “Chinese character” is called “Kan-ji” in Japanese, likewise.
Japanese written language consists of Kan-ji and Kanas. Kanas were created by Japanese about 1000 years ago based on simplified Kan-ji to simply express sounds of spoken language. Kan-ji is ideogram, but Kanas are akin to alphabetic characters.
Therefore, if you do not know a meaning of Kan-ji a sound of which is expressed in English, you cannot fully recognize the meaning of the corresponding Chinese expression. In this sense, non-Chinese are meaning-blind to Chinese names. But, the only exception is Japanese (and some Koreans), since Japanese can understand meaning of most of Chinese Kan-ji characters which are nowadays a little different from the Japanese Kan-ji system.
In the seventh century, the Yamato regime (ancient Central Government of Japan) started to compile an official history which was completed in the eighth century. The history book was called Nihon-Shoki. The book was written in the Chinese language of that age. A similar example is found in that the Bible was first written in Greek in the early days of Christianity. Anyway then Chinese dynasty knew that Japan was not an uncivilized country without an official history book.
In China, when a dynasty was vanished, the succeeding dynasty established an official history about the precedent dynasty. Therefore the whole Chinese history consists of a number of independent official history books, each representing a single dynasty.
But, Japan has the only one official history book, Nihon-shoki, since the dynasty of Japan has never changed, which had been called the Yamato regime until Emperor moved to Tokyo from Kyoto in late 19th century.
When Emperor moved to Tokyo, the Shogun Government system ended. The Shogun is the head of warriors or samurais, but the title, Shogun, was officially endowed the samurai leader with by Emperor. Nonetheless, under the Shogun Government, Emperor had no power for collecting taxes and controlling military forces. In most cases, a Shogun decided allowance for an emperor. But, no Shoguns in Japanese history dared to abolish an emperor or take himself the position of Emperor.
It is because Emperor is holly existence, playing an indispensable role of Japanese traditional religion, Shinto.
Therefore, the first and last official history book of the Yamato Regime, namely classical Empire of Japan, includes myths.
According to Nihon-shoki, the first emperor in Japan was inaugurated 660 B.C. which became the starting point of years of Emperor.
When a world-leading fighter plane was officially adopted in 2600 in the year of Emperor, it was named Zero, since lower digits of the year were zeroes. It was indeed 1940 A.D.
So, the next year 2006 AD is 2666 in the year of Emperor of Japan.
(However there is another year system officially and widely used in Japan linked with the present emperor. According to it, the next year is "Heisei 18.")
Though Japan is the only country in the world now that has a person officially called Emperor in English, it is extremely rare that the year of Emperor is used in Japan except in Shinto religious practices.
When the end of the year gets near, you might like to refer to history; if so, I have served this way for you.
“THE MOON WILL BE AS BRIGHT AS THE SUN”
In 91 B.C., the first official history book of China, the Shiji (called Shi-ki in Japanese), was established. The author is Sima Qian (called Shiba Sen in Japanese). It was the age of Earlier Han Dynasty.
And, remarkably, Chinese people have been traditionally called “Han people” up to this day in a little formal manner in Japan. The Chinese letter “Han” is pronounced as “Kan” by Japanese. And “Chinese character” is called “Kan-ji” in Japanese, likewise.
Japanese written language consists of Kan-ji and Kanas. Kanas were created by Japanese about 1000 years ago based on simplified Kan-ji to simply express sounds of spoken language. Kan-ji is ideogram, but Kanas are akin to alphabetic characters.
Therefore, if you do not know a meaning of Kan-ji a sound of which is expressed in English, you cannot fully recognize the meaning of the corresponding Chinese expression. In this sense, non-Chinese are meaning-blind to Chinese names. But, the only exception is Japanese (and some Koreans), since Japanese can understand meaning of most of Chinese Kan-ji characters which are nowadays a little different from the Japanese Kan-ji system.
In the seventh century, the Yamato regime (ancient Central Government of Japan) started to compile an official history which was completed in the eighth century. The history book was called Nihon-Shoki. The book was written in the Chinese language of that age. A similar example is found in that the Bible was first written in Greek in the early days of Christianity. Anyway then Chinese dynasty knew that Japan was not an uncivilized country without an official history book.
In China, when a dynasty was vanished, the succeeding dynasty established an official history about the precedent dynasty. Therefore the whole Chinese history consists of a number of independent official history books, each representing a single dynasty.
But, Japan has the only one official history book, Nihon-shoki, since the dynasty of Japan has never changed, which had been called the Yamato regime until Emperor moved to Tokyo from Kyoto in late 19th century.
When Emperor moved to Tokyo, the Shogun Government system ended. The Shogun is the head of warriors or samurais, but the title, Shogun, was officially endowed the samurai leader with by Emperor. Nonetheless, under the Shogun Government, Emperor had no power for collecting taxes and controlling military forces. In most cases, a Shogun decided allowance for an emperor. But, no Shoguns in Japanese history dared to abolish an emperor or take himself the position of Emperor.
It is because Emperor is holly existence, playing an indispensable role of Japanese traditional religion, Shinto.
Therefore, the first and last official history book of the Yamato Regime, namely classical Empire of Japan, includes myths.
According to Nihon-shoki, the first emperor in Japan was inaugurated 660 B.C. which became the starting point of years of Emperor.
When a world-leading fighter plane was officially adopted in 2600 in the year of Emperor, it was named Zero, since lower digits of the year were zeroes. It was indeed 1940 A.D.
So, the next year 2006 AD is 2666 in the year of Emperor of Japan.
(However there is another year system officially and widely used in Japan linked with the present emperor. According to it, the next year is "Heisei 18.")
Though Japan is the only country in the world now that has a person officially called Emperor in English, it is extremely rare that the year of Emperor is used in Japan except in Shinto religious practices.
When the end of the year gets near, you might like to refer to history; if so, I have served this way for you.
“THE MOON WILL BE AS BRIGHT AS THE SUN”
Thursday, December 22, 2005
A Christmas Story about a Letter from Canada
A Christmas Story about a Letter from Canada
It is a letter to editorial this morning on the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper that I think to be very appropriate for this season.
A Japanese female college student learning in Canada wrote a letter to her friend in Japan. But, before sticking a stamp on it, she lost the letter somewhere, probably, in a campus.
She said, perhaps by international phone, to the friend that the letter should be most likely lying under a bench or somewhere with dust on. But she also added, maybe without or with expectation, that somebody might pick it up, stick a stamp on it, and drop it into a mailbox.
It actually so happened. The letter was marvelously picked up, carefully checked about its destination address, stuck an appropriate stamp on, dropped timely into a mailbox nearby or distant, and swiftly delivered to her friend in Japan.
And, most importantly, her friend who received the letter which had once been lost but discovered and dropped into a mailbox by an unknown person ventured to write a letter to editorial of the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper in Japan with spirit of thankfulness.
Of course, every reader knows that the very kind, unknown person in Canada should have little chance to read the words of gratitude on this Japanese newspaper.
This sort of kindness seems to be nowadays getting hard to find in urban areas in Japan. In the U.S., people might still be haunted by the anthrax incident.
Nonetheless, this story is very appropriate for the Christmas season. Something that was once lost has been found, making people very remote happier and thankful.
“DO NOT CONSIDER ANYTHING UNCLEAN THAT GOD HAS DECLARED CLEAN”
It is a letter to editorial this morning on the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper that I think to be very appropriate for this season.
A Japanese female college student learning in Canada wrote a letter to her friend in Japan. But, before sticking a stamp on it, she lost the letter somewhere, probably, in a campus.
She said, perhaps by international phone, to the friend that the letter should be most likely lying under a bench or somewhere with dust on. But she also added, maybe without or with expectation, that somebody might pick it up, stick a stamp on it, and drop it into a mailbox.
It actually so happened. The letter was marvelously picked up, carefully checked about its destination address, stuck an appropriate stamp on, dropped timely into a mailbox nearby or distant, and swiftly delivered to her friend in Japan.
And, most importantly, her friend who received the letter which had once been lost but discovered and dropped into a mailbox by an unknown person ventured to write a letter to editorial of the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper in Japan with spirit of thankfulness.
Of course, every reader knows that the very kind, unknown person in Canada should have little chance to read the words of gratitude on this Japanese newspaper.
This sort of kindness seems to be nowadays getting hard to find in urban areas in Japan. In the U.S., people might still be haunted by the anthrax incident.
Nonetheless, this story is very appropriate for the Christmas season. Something that was once lost has been found, making people very remote happier and thankful.
“DO NOT CONSIDER ANYTHING UNCLEAN THAT GOD HAS DECLARED CLEAN”
Monday, December 19, 2005
At Foreign Correspondents' Club in Tokyo after the 9/11 Hectic Election
At Foreign Correspondents' Club in Tokyo after the 9/11 Hectic Election
The most important incident this year in Japan was the September 11 election, maybe as with the election this month in Iraq for Iraqis.
In October, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan invited three ladies who were all newly elected for Japanese parliament called Diet. Each of them spoke English in the press conference as was highly expected.
Even criminals and terrorists speak English in England and America, but even the wisest doesn’t speak English in Japan. This has been truth in Japan, a country located far from Europe, America, and their colonies.
But, nowadays and especially in the trend of overwhelming internationalization as well as for security reasons after September 11 terror, Japanese like to and are virtually forced to speak English as much as possible if appropriate to deal with the world and the U.S.
The three new Diet members spoke English fairly well: one of them with her academic and diplomatic background, other based on her strong career in a key ministry of the Japanese Government, and the rest supported by her higher education in America.
Japanese media was also fascinatingly listening to them. According to a media report, Ms. Inoguchi spoke well as an aggressive professor but contents were a kind of fantasy and mere idealism, Ms. Katayama spoke well as a seasoned bureaucrat and contents were very substantial, and Ms. Sato was remarkably fluent with colloquial speech but contents were not impressive.
Yes, Kuniko was an ambitious international-relations professor with a flavor of high society, Satsuki was a well educated and trained bureaucrat, and Yukari was a highly ambitious career woman in the private sector, each with rich international experiences no ordinary Japanese voters might enjoy.
However, apparently, they are Japanese, born, raised, fostered, and given personal foundation in the Japanese society.
Successful Asians or Asians going to be wealthy speak English more fluently than Japanese. But, in most cases, those successful Asians are born rich in a former colony, which allows them to learn in environment where English is norm and standard.
With population of 120 million people most of whom had few occasions to speak with Europeans or Americans in their lifetime, it was a luxury for Japanese people to speak English well while all necessary Western documents were translated and available in Japan during its modernization and procedures to become the World’s most successful country as a racially homogeneous nation with its own independent language.
So, those three Japanese female Diet members spoke English reflecting this context, though nowadays many young Japanese are traveling to the world more casually speaking English. However, it seems still rare for Japanese to have a strong presence globally by manipulating substantial English.
Many Japanese ladies are today working all over the world. But if those working outside Japan are superior to those working in Japan, the fate of Japan might be dim. (Tragedies of Africa and South Asia might be desparately rooted in this context.)
But, Japan seems to be still able to keep its most valuable girls within its territory like America does, no matter what English they speak in Tokyo or New York.
(In addition, one female Diet member now serving as Minister of Environment can speak Arabic. Through 9/11 election, she have really had go on to political stardom; but it is another story.)
“GOD’S WEAKNESS IS STRONGER THAN MAN’S STRENGTH”
The most important incident this year in Japan was the September 11 election, maybe as with the election this month in Iraq for Iraqis.
In October, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan invited three ladies who were all newly elected for Japanese parliament called Diet. Each of them spoke English in the press conference as was highly expected.
Even criminals and terrorists speak English in England and America, but even the wisest doesn’t speak English in Japan. This has been truth in Japan, a country located far from Europe, America, and their colonies.
But, nowadays and especially in the trend of overwhelming internationalization as well as for security reasons after September 11 terror, Japanese like to and are virtually forced to speak English as much as possible if appropriate to deal with the world and the U.S.
The three new Diet members spoke English fairly well: one of them with her academic and diplomatic background, other based on her strong career in a key ministry of the Japanese Government, and the rest supported by her higher education in America.
Japanese media was also fascinatingly listening to them. According to a media report, Ms. Inoguchi spoke well as an aggressive professor but contents were a kind of fantasy and mere idealism, Ms. Katayama spoke well as a seasoned bureaucrat and contents were very substantial, and Ms. Sato was remarkably fluent with colloquial speech but contents were not impressive.
Yes, Kuniko was an ambitious international-relations professor with a flavor of high society, Satsuki was a well educated and trained bureaucrat, and Yukari was a highly ambitious career woman in the private sector, each with rich international experiences no ordinary Japanese voters might enjoy.
However, apparently, they are Japanese, born, raised, fostered, and given personal foundation in the Japanese society.
Successful Asians or Asians going to be wealthy speak English more fluently than Japanese. But, in most cases, those successful Asians are born rich in a former colony, which allows them to learn in environment where English is norm and standard.
With population of 120 million people most of whom had few occasions to speak with Europeans or Americans in their lifetime, it was a luxury for Japanese people to speak English well while all necessary Western documents were translated and available in Japan during its modernization and procedures to become the World’s most successful country as a racially homogeneous nation with its own independent language.
So, those three Japanese female Diet members spoke English reflecting this context, though nowadays many young Japanese are traveling to the world more casually speaking English. However, it seems still rare for Japanese to have a strong presence globally by manipulating substantial English.
Many Japanese ladies are today working all over the world. But if those working outside Japan are superior to those working in Japan, the fate of Japan might be dim. (Tragedies of Africa and South Asia might be desparately rooted in this context.)
But, Japan seems to be still able to keep its most valuable girls within its territory like America does, no matter what English they speak in Tokyo or New York.
(In addition, one female Diet member now serving as Minister of Environment can speak Arabic. Through 9/11 election, she have really had go on to political stardom; but it is another story.)
“GOD’S WEAKNESS IS STRONGER THAN MAN’S STRENGTH”
Friday, December 16, 2005
The World’s Oldest Company in Japan Since the Sixth Century
The World’s Oldest Company in Japan Since the Sixth Century
If you don’t know the name, Prince Shotoku, you cannot be a Japanese.
Prince Shotoku was born in AD 574 in a horse box like Jesus Christ. According to official history, later he became a regent for Empress, or female Emperor, Suiko.
One of his great achievements was establishment of a temple named Shi-Ten-Ouji in Osaka.
To build up the temple, Prince Shotoku invited three carpenters from a country in the Korean Peninsula. One of them later became a founder of a building company called Kongou-Gumi specializing in construction of temples, shrines, and traditional buildings.
However, according to a recent news report, this Japan’s and World’s oldest company is going to be merged by other company, due to financial problems. So, a company called Kongou-Gumi is going to disappear in the proceeding of history. But Prince Shoutoku’s reputation will never change.
Prince Shoutoku once wrote an official letter to an Emperor in China, stating that his letter was meant to be delivered to the son of heaven in China as a greeting from the son of heaven in Japan. This expression provoked the Emperor in China, since he thought Japan was his subordinate.
However, since then, Japan firmly intended to be and keep independent of hegemony of China.
There are various reasons why Prince Shoutoku is so popular among Japanese people; and under his glory, even a company can enjoy 1,400 year operation.
Jesus Christ completely neglected hegemony of Roman Empire. However, I believe he also worked to assure independence of Israelites for more than 2000 years, even intagibly.
“BECAUSE WHOEVER IS NOT AGAINST YOU IS FOR YOU”
If you don’t know the name, Prince Shotoku, you cannot be a Japanese.
Prince Shotoku was born in AD 574 in a horse box like Jesus Christ. According to official history, later he became a regent for Empress, or female Emperor, Suiko.
One of his great achievements was establishment of a temple named Shi-Ten-Ouji in Osaka.
To build up the temple, Prince Shotoku invited three carpenters from a country in the Korean Peninsula. One of them later became a founder of a building company called Kongou-Gumi specializing in construction of temples, shrines, and traditional buildings.
However, according to a recent news report, this Japan’s and World’s oldest company is going to be merged by other company, due to financial problems. So, a company called Kongou-Gumi is going to disappear in the proceeding of history. But Prince Shoutoku’s reputation will never change.
Prince Shoutoku once wrote an official letter to an Emperor in China, stating that his letter was meant to be delivered to the son of heaven in China as a greeting from the son of heaven in Japan. This expression provoked the Emperor in China, since he thought Japan was his subordinate.
However, since then, Japan firmly intended to be and keep independent of hegemony of China.
There are various reasons why Prince Shoutoku is so popular among Japanese people; and under his glory, even a company can enjoy 1,400 year operation.
Jesus Christ completely neglected hegemony of Roman Empire. However, I believe he also worked to assure independence of Israelites for more than 2000 years, even intagibly.
“BECAUSE WHOEVER IS NOT AGAINST YOU IS FOR YOU”
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Zero Fighters High on Pearl Harbor in December 1941
Zero Fighters High on Pearl Harbor in December 1941
In December, before relaxing into the Christmas Season, if we may say so over diversity of religious practices, the Pearl Harbor Day looms over and over again even in the 21st century.
This year, the History Channel featured the historical incident. It was far better than the movie “Pearl Harbor” released in 2001 before the terrorist attacks of September 11 on New York and Washington DC.
The History Channel correctly depicted the Zero fighter plane the Imperial Japan’s Navy had mobilized in 1941 for the air attack, though the TV program’s main feature seems to be small-size attack submarines launched from mother submarines and expected to fire torpedoes against U.S. warships in the Pearl Harbor synchronously with the air raid.
Fairly before the Pearl Harbor attack, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Administration had been helping Chinese, mainly the Chinese Communist Party, fight against Imperial Japan’s army in mainland China. One renowned American general engaged in the operation in China reported that Japan had a fighter plane superior to any U.S. fighter planes; but this warning was laughed at, because no generals in Washington DC before the Pearl Harbor attack could believe that Japan had a capacity enough to design and build up such an excellent fighter plane.
Until the end of the World War II, Imperial Japan produced more than 10,000 Zero fighters, but it was only for a year or so that this fighter with outstanding maneuverability could overwhelm U.S. air fighters. American industrial power was then, in a sense, a hundred times larger than Imperial Japan’s.
Conversely, with one hundredth of the whole U.S. industrial power, Imperial Japan had yet a chance to completely wipe out U.S. military forces from the Pacific Ocean in 1941, if she could have successfully operated its excellent war machine, the world’s number one battle ships and Zero fighters.
When then U.S. Navy discovered the tactics to cope with and overwhelm merits of the Zero fighter in 1942, the fate of the Empire of Great Japan was almost decided. In August 1945, there were even no shadows of Zero fighters in the sky high on Hiroshima.
There is another profound fact that the History Channel did not mention. The engine of the Zero fighter was, of course, made in Japan. But, several years before the war erupted, some American engineers were hired by a Japanese plane maker. Those American engineers helped Japanese engineers design a new model of engines which was eventually built into the Zero fighter. Moreover, it is also said that the external shape of this symbolic fighter plane had been borrowed from a certain American plane at the time. American originality and Japanese adaptation thus worked well.
I don’t know how many people in the world, including Chinese communist leaders, got pleased before Xmas in 1941 with the report from the Pearl Harbor heralding the war between Imperial Japan and America.
As history tells, since then, many colonies and semi-colonies in Asia got independent while America has been following the path of wars, from Korea to Vietnam, Afghanistan, and to Iraq, all of which might be regarded as aftermath of the Pacific War meaning the Pacific stage of WWII in Japan.
After the World War II, the U.S. tried to prevent the Japanese air industry from rising from ashes. However, it seems that Japan carefully avoided the collision course once it had been pushed into, but found a new arena of competition, cars and electronics.
As the disparity between Japanese industry and U.S. industry is not one to one hundred now, it is more important that both the countries keep peace ever and forever.
“I HAVE NOT COME TO CALL RESPECTABLE PEOPLE, BUT OUTCASTS”
In December, before relaxing into the Christmas Season, if we may say so over diversity of religious practices, the Pearl Harbor Day looms over and over again even in the 21st century.
This year, the History Channel featured the historical incident. It was far better than the movie “Pearl Harbor” released in 2001 before the terrorist attacks of September 11 on New York and Washington DC.
The History Channel correctly depicted the Zero fighter plane the Imperial Japan’s Navy had mobilized in 1941 for the air attack, though the TV program’s main feature seems to be small-size attack submarines launched from mother submarines and expected to fire torpedoes against U.S. warships in the Pearl Harbor synchronously with the air raid.
Fairly before the Pearl Harbor attack, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Administration had been helping Chinese, mainly the Chinese Communist Party, fight against Imperial Japan’s army in mainland China. One renowned American general engaged in the operation in China reported that Japan had a fighter plane superior to any U.S. fighter planes; but this warning was laughed at, because no generals in Washington DC before the Pearl Harbor attack could believe that Japan had a capacity enough to design and build up such an excellent fighter plane.
Until the end of the World War II, Imperial Japan produced more than 10,000 Zero fighters, but it was only for a year or so that this fighter with outstanding maneuverability could overwhelm U.S. air fighters. American industrial power was then, in a sense, a hundred times larger than Imperial Japan’s.
Conversely, with one hundredth of the whole U.S. industrial power, Imperial Japan had yet a chance to completely wipe out U.S. military forces from the Pacific Ocean in 1941, if she could have successfully operated its excellent war machine, the world’s number one battle ships and Zero fighters.
When then U.S. Navy discovered the tactics to cope with and overwhelm merits of the Zero fighter in 1942, the fate of the Empire of Great Japan was almost decided. In August 1945, there were even no shadows of Zero fighters in the sky high on Hiroshima.
There is another profound fact that the History Channel did not mention. The engine of the Zero fighter was, of course, made in Japan. But, several years before the war erupted, some American engineers were hired by a Japanese plane maker. Those American engineers helped Japanese engineers design a new model of engines which was eventually built into the Zero fighter. Moreover, it is also said that the external shape of this symbolic fighter plane had been borrowed from a certain American plane at the time. American originality and Japanese adaptation thus worked well.
I don’t know how many people in the world, including Chinese communist leaders, got pleased before Xmas in 1941 with the report from the Pearl Harbor heralding the war between Imperial Japan and America.
As history tells, since then, many colonies and semi-colonies in Asia got independent while America has been following the path of wars, from Korea to Vietnam, Afghanistan, and to Iraq, all of which might be regarded as aftermath of the Pacific War meaning the Pacific stage of WWII in Japan.
After the World War II, the U.S. tried to prevent the Japanese air industry from rising from ashes. However, it seems that Japan carefully avoided the collision course once it had been pushed into, but found a new arena of competition, cars and electronics.
As the disparity between Japanese industry and U.S. industry is not one to one hundred now, it is more important that both the countries keep peace ever and forever.
“I HAVE NOT COME TO CALL RESPECTABLE PEOPLE, BUT OUTCASTS”
Saturday, December 10, 2005
610,000 Shares Each for 1 Yen at TSE
610,000 Shares Each for 1 Yen at TSE (or One for 610,000)
It actually happened that a staff member of Mizuho Securities Co. tried to sell 610,000 shares of a recruitment company for one yen.
It had been intended to be an order to sell one share of the recruitment company for 610,000 yen (roughly 5,000 dollars).
The wrong order was sent electronically from a PC in office of the securities company to the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). But no safeguard or any error prevention schemes worked well.
What is worse, it was found that the staff of the security company who sent the wrong order ignored a warning on the PC screen, since such a warning was very common in daily transactions.
His or her colleagues found the mistake one minute and a half later, but it was too late. The TSE system received it without desired check, and the wrong order was open and accessible by all the traders including many day traders.
People concerned with the financial industry believe the loss incurred by Mizuho Securities could well exceed 30 billion yen (roughly 250 million dollars), because there have not been in fact such a large number of stocks of the recruitment company in the market. The number of the recruitment company’s outstanding shares was and is still merely 14,500.
That was a simple mistake to input two figures into wrong fields: Stock Volume and Unit Price.
This is very akin to applying a method so called selling forward. But, as the above incident tells, it could be a weapon to disrupt economy of a country. If you could successfully place an order of selling 1,000 trillion shares of a very popular company for one dollar, it could trigger a chain of mega confusion.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange, with its recent aggregate market value of 500 trillion yen or more than four trillion dollars, is one of the three most influential money markets in the world, occupying an intermediate position between the New York Stock Exchange (with 13 trillion dollars) and London's City (with three trillion dollars).
But people concerned with TSE seem no to be alerted enough by incidents in September 2001 and July 2005. It is the very thing that has been truly proven.
All I can say for you is “Don’t trust a system until you thoroughly review its codes and operation practices at site by yourself, or don’t trust it at all.”
As for me, I hate to trust figures so called an amount of money.
“DO IT ALL FOR GOD’S GLORY”
It actually happened that a staff member of Mizuho Securities Co. tried to sell 610,000 shares of a recruitment company for one yen.
It had been intended to be an order to sell one share of the recruitment company for 610,000 yen (roughly 5,000 dollars).
The wrong order was sent electronically from a PC in office of the securities company to the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). But no safeguard or any error prevention schemes worked well.
What is worse, it was found that the staff of the security company who sent the wrong order ignored a warning on the PC screen, since such a warning was very common in daily transactions.
His or her colleagues found the mistake one minute and a half later, but it was too late. The TSE system received it without desired check, and the wrong order was open and accessible by all the traders including many day traders.
People concerned with the financial industry believe the loss incurred by Mizuho Securities could well exceed 30 billion yen (roughly 250 million dollars), because there have not been in fact such a large number of stocks of the recruitment company in the market. The number of the recruitment company’s outstanding shares was and is still merely 14,500.
That was a simple mistake to input two figures into wrong fields: Stock Volume and Unit Price.
This is very akin to applying a method so called selling forward. But, as the above incident tells, it could be a weapon to disrupt economy of a country. If you could successfully place an order of selling 1,000 trillion shares of a very popular company for one dollar, it could trigger a chain of mega confusion.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange, with its recent aggregate market value of 500 trillion yen or more than four trillion dollars, is one of the three most influential money markets in the world, occupying an intermediate position between the New York Stock Exchange (with 13 trillion dollars) and London's City (with three trillion dollars).
But people concerned with TSE seem no to be alerted enough by incidents in September 2001 and July 2005. It is the very thing that has been truly proven.
All I can say for you is “Don’t trust a system until you thoroughly review its codes and operation practices at site by yourself, or don’t trust it at all.”
As for me, I hate to trust figures so called an amount of money.
“DO IT ALL FOR GOD’S GLORY”
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Best Gift Intangible, Absolutely
Best Gift Intangible, Absolutely
Ambition might be one of best gifts, especially in the so-called Christmas season.
In 1877, William Smith Clark said, “Boys, be ambitious like this old man!” on his leave from an agricultural school (currently Hokkaido University) in Japan.
He had been invited by then Japanese (Meiji) government, while he was the president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College. He spent only a year in Japan training youth in the northern island Hokkaido, but he has been long respected, literally over centuries beyond the war, by the Japanese people mainly due to his gift, “Boys be ambitious!”
The next chairman of the Japan Business Federation will be Fujio Mitarai, President & CEO, Canon Inc.
According to Financial Times/ PricewaterhouseCoopers World's Most Respected Companies survey (based on interviews with more than 1,000 respondents who are mainly CEOs across 25 countries), the ranking of World’s Most Respected Business Leaders 2004 was as follows:
1: Bill Gates (Microsoft)
2: Jack Welch (formerly of General Electric)
3: Carlos Ghosn (Nissan)
4: Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway)
5: Michael Dell (Dell)
6: Hiroshi Okuda (Toyota)
7: Jeffrey Immeit (General Electric)
8: Carly Fiorina (Hewlett-Packard)
9: Steve Jobs (Apple)
10: Fujio Mitarai (Canon)
Among these top 10s, three figures are from Japan-based companies. And Mr. Okuda is the incumbent chairman of the Japan Business Federation.
So, there might be no wonder that Mr. Mitarai is going to succeed Mr. Okuda to preside over the one of the most powerful organizations, called Keidan-Ren, in Japan.
However, it is unknown as Mr. Miatari was appreciated so high in 2004 globally as well as in America, he is going to be a leader in Japan in 2006.
After all, we had better give children an intangible gift, such as ambition.
If they end up as a business leader who is usually soon forgotten or an educator who has a chance to be commemorated over centuries, it is better than ending up as a wirepuller behind a scam or atrocity.
“HE GIVES GENEROUSLY TO THE NEEDY”
Ambition might be one of best gifts, especially in the so-called Christmas season.
In 1877, William Smith Clark said, “Boys, be ambitious like this old man!” on his leave from an agricultural school (currently Hokkaido University) in Japan.
He had been invited by then Japanese (Meiji) government, while he was the president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College. He spent only a year in Japan training youth in the northern island Hokkaido, but he has been long respected, literally over centuries beyond the war, by the Japanese people mainly due to his gift, “Boys be ambitious!”
The next chairman of the Japan Business Federation will be Fujio Mitarai, President & CEO, Canon Inc.
According to Financial Times/ PricewaterhouseCoopers World's Most Respected Companies survey (based on interviews with more than 1,000 respondents who are mainly CEOs across 25 countries), the ranking of World’s Most Respected Business Leaders 2004 was as follows:
1: Bill Gates (Microsoft)
2: Jack Welch (formerly of General Electric)
3: Carlos Ghosn (Nissan)
4: Warren Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway)
5: Michael Dell (Dell)
6: Hiroshi Okuda (Toyota)
7: Jeffrey Immeit (General Electric)
8: Carly Fiorina (Hewlett-Packard)
9: Steve Jobs (Apple)
10: Fujio Mitarai (Canon)
Among these top 10s, three figures are from Japan-based companies. And Mr. Okuda is the incumbent chairman of the Japan Business Federation.
So, there might be no wonder that Mr. Mitarai is going to succeed Mr. Okuda to preside over the one of the most powerful organizations, called Keidan-Ren, in Japan.
However, it is unknown as Mr. Miatari was appreciated so high in 2004 globally as well as in America, he is going to be a leader in Japan in 2006.
After all, we had better give children an intangible gift, such as ambition.
If they end up as a business leader who is usually soon forgotten or an educator who has a chance to be commemorated over centuries, it is better than ending up as a wirepuller behind a scam or atrocity.
“HE GIVES GENEROUSLY TO THE NEEDY”
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Tariq Aziz and Saddam Hussein to be Alive
Tariq Aziz and Saddam Hussein to be Alive
It was an incident in 1980’s. An innocent Japanese businessman was arrested in Iraq and put into a hopeless prison.
His family and his employer in Japan tried hard to rescue him.
The police of Saddam Hussein’s government accused the businessman of using bribery in order to make a favorable impression on a certain Iraqi official by sending a gift to his daughter hospitalized for a difficult illness.
However, the gift was from pure sympathy and for friendship, which had been beforehand confirmed legally safe by his local colleague who was in question.
Eventually, the family had successfully managed to appeal to then Prime Minister of Japan, Yasuhiro Nakasone, who was regarded as a friend of Ronald Reagan’s, then U.S. President.
And, to cut a long story short, then Japanese foreign minister Shintarou Abe, during his visit to Iraq, asked then Iraqi foreign minister Tariq Aziz to release the innocent businessman. It was just a simple conversation in a car from an airport to Baghdad.
Accordingly, the businessman was released and came back to office in Tokyo, in one piece. He and his wife expressed their thanks to the prime minister in person. And then, the story has been long forgotten, while Mr. Nakasone alone is still active.
I don’t know if this event was carried out all under the gaze of Allah.
However, it is an undeniable fact that both Tariq Aziz and Saddam Hussein are alive though being put under arrest. And I don’t think it is possible unless Allah takes something into His account.
Of course, I am not in a position to inquire of Saddam Hussein as to whether he had been informed of the Japanese businessman to be liberated by Tariq Aziz, on one day in 1980’s.
Anyway Christmas is near. Any emancipation could be a good gift to human beings blindly struggling in this terrible world.
“WE DID NOT GIVE IN TO THEM FOR A MINUTE”
It was an incident in 1980’s. An innocent Japanese businessman was arrested in Iraq and put into a hopeless prison.
His family and his employer in Japan tried hard to rescue him.
The police of Saddam Hussein’s government accused the businessman of using bribery in order to make a favorable impression on a certain Iraqi official by sending a gift to his daughter hospitalized for a difficult illness.
However, the gift was from pure sympathy and for friendship, which had been beforehand confirmed legally safe by his local colleague who was in question.
Eventually, the family had successfully managed to appeal to then Prime Minister of Japan, Yasuhiro Nakasone, who was regarded as a friend of Ronald Reagan’s, then U.S. President.
And, to cut a long story short, then Japanese foreign minister Shintarou Abe, during his visit to Iraq, asked then Iraqi foreign minister Tariq Aziz to release the innocent businessman. It was just a simple conversation in a car from an airport to Baghdad.
Accordingly, the businessman was released and came back to office in Tokyo, in one piece. He and his wife expressed their thanks to the prime minister in person. And then, the story has been long forgotten, while Mr. Nakasone alone is still active.
I don’t know if this event was carried out all under the gaze of Allah.
However, it is an undeniable fact that both Tariq Aziz and Saddam Hussein are alive though being put under arrest. And I don’t think it is possible unless Allah takes something into His account.
Of course, I am not in a position to inquire of Saddam Hussein as to whether he had been informed of the Japanese businessman to be liberated by Tariq Aziz, on one day in 1980’s.
Anyway Christmas is near. Any emancipation could be a good gift to human beings blindly struggling in this terrible world.
“WE DID NOT GIVE IN TO THEM FOR A MINUTE”
Sunday, December 04, 2005
A Story on a Xmas Gift
A Story on a Xmas Gift
Once I heard a story about a poor boy on a street.
He was shouting “Give me a dollar! I will give you back two dollars!”
A poor boy on a street in America was endlessly shouting “Give me one. I will give back to you two.”
Of course, most of citizens would neglect him.
Otherwise, they might hate to see such a poor trick on a street of America.
But, so long as not in conflict with law, we may give him three dollars, saying “One for your reclamation. Two for what you will return to me. So, take three.”
I don’t know if Jesus Christ would be glad with this charity.
Anyhow, Christmas is near.
“WHO KNOWS THE MIND OF THE LORD”
Once I heard a story about a poor boy on a street.
He was shouting “Give me a dollar! I will give you back two dollars!”
A poor boy on a street in America was endlessly shouting “Give me one. I will give back to you two.”
Of course, most of citizens would neglect him.
Otherwise, they might hate to see such a poor trick on a street of America.
But, so long as not in conflict with law, we may give him three dollars, saying “One for your reclamation. Two for what you will return to me. So, take three.”
I don’t know if Jesus Christ would be glad with this charity.
Anyhow, Christmas is near.
“WHO KNOWS THE MIND OF THE LORD”