Japanese Surgeon's Daily Life

Two Things I Started

　　I found a flyer in the newspaper, which advertised a seasonal discount of a health club near my house. It looked like a plan to get new customers. I have it in mind to enjoy skiing in Whistler next March after four years and my wife is gaining excessive weight. We decided to join the club instantly and applied last night. I'll do at least an every-other-day workout in the club. After my dog, Mocha, passed away, I felt somewhat depressed and apparently I am short of fundamental exercise, because I stopped walking. Every path around my house reminds me of Mocha and people along the walking circuit spoke to me about him. It bothered me and I stopped taking a walk. So, it might be a favor from Mocha to find this flyer in the paper, though I might read too much into it.
　　Another thing is the learning of Mandarin Chinese. Viewing the news on the internet, ordinary Chinese people are gaining more and more the right to speak out against the present brutal totalitarian regime, which should collapse in the not so distant future. I want to watch the historical turning point more directly. I missed visiting Hong Kong in 1997 and Berlin in 1989 and it's a bother to look up in the dictionary every time I come across Chinese names of people and places in documents written in English. I will dare to start learning Chinese in September.

(Vocabulary)
workout   トレーニング, 運動
have it in mind to  ～するつもりだ
somewhat  いくらか, 若干
somewhat of a sth  ちょっとした＜…＞
The news was somewhat of a surprise to me. そのニュースにはちょっと驚いた．
circuit  一周, 一回り, 巡回
read too much  考えすぎ
speak; to publicly speak in protest about sth, especially when protesting could be dangerous: [+about/against] Five students who had spoken out against the regime were arrested.
dare (to) do sth  ＜…＞する度胸がある, 思い切って＜…＞する

(Vocabulary from comments)
plasticity  (専門) 可塑性
drive  [U] 意欲, 気迫, やる気
do sth at the drop of a hat  すぐに＜…＞する
feat  偉業, 離れ業(わざ)

Whistler Again?

　　Some of you know that I'm crazy about skiing overseas and that I especially love Whistler which is a much-frequented ski resort in Canada. One of my friends texted me saying "Let's go to Canada next season!" This e-mail really pleased me and I promptly transferred it to my family members, but no one wanted to join me.
　　My eldest daughter would be busy doing research work in her postgraduate school. The second might be in New Zealand at that time. Actually she will visit Auckland from Sept. 5th to 15th to see how things are going on in universities in New Zealand. She is good at German, but isn't so good at English. The youngest is also a Whistler-lover, but she will have to attend an athletic meeting held in winter as a representative of her medical school. As you can imagine, she's good at skiing for a girl who was brought up in a warm region of Japan. My wife doesn't like snow. She grew up in a snowy region, but she hates it when it's cold. She insists that I should visit Canada in the summer, but,,,
　　Anyway, I desperately want to spend a serene yet exciting time for a week in North America's biggest ski resort. I'm looking for friends who can share those wonderful days.

Purpose of the Greater East Asian War

　東京裁判における東條英機の宣言供述書では、「大東亜戦争は、自存自衛の戦いだった」と主張していたが、それだけなら、一つの自己主張ということで終わりですが、東京裁判をやらせた当のマッカーサー元帥が、帰国後の昭和26年(1951年)5月3日、米国議会上院の軍事外交合同委員会において、東條首相の主張を認め、次のように述べていることです。　
 
Their purpose, therefore, in going to war was largely dictated by security
 
この英文を、すべての日本人が覚えておかなければなりません。日本人はいまこそ、本当の「昭和史」を知るべきなのです。
 
即ち、マッカーサー元帥は、『したがって、日本が戦争を始めた目的は、主として安全保障上の必要に迫られてのことだった』と証言していることです。

その記事を英文・和文で下記に、掲載します。 
http://historicalfacts.blog128.fc2.com/blog-entry-3.html
●Testimony of Douglas MacArthur-Strategy Against Japan In World War II
Strategy against Japan in world war II
MILITARY SITUATION IN THE FAR EAST p55,
the Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees of the United States Senate – 82nd Congress, Thursday May 3, 1951

Senator　HICKENLOOPER. Question No.5:Isn't your proposal for sea and air blockade of Red China the same strategy by which Americans achieved victory over the Japanese in the Pacific?

General MACARTHUR. Yes,sir.In the Pasific we bypassed them.We closed in.You must understand that Japan had an enormous population of nearly 80 million people,crowded into 4 islands.It was about half a farm population.The other half was engaged in industry.

Potentially the labor pool in Japan,both in quantity and quality,is as good as anything that I have ever known. Some place down the line they have discovered what you might call the dignity of labor, that men are happier when they are working and constructing than when they are idling.

This enormous capacity for work meant that they had to have something to work on.They built the factories, they had the labor,but they didn't have the basic materials.

There is practically nothing indigenous to Japan except the silkworm.

They lack cotton,they lack wool,they lack petoroleum products,they lack tin, they lack rubber,they lack a great many other things, all which was in the Asiatic basin.

They feared that if those supplies were cut off, there would be 10 to 12 million people unoccupied in Japan. Their purpose, therefore, in going to war was largely dictated by security.

.........................................
Japanese Translation（和訳）

第二次世界大戦における対日戦略(和訳)
　ヒッケンルーパー上院議員　では五番目の質問です。中共（原文はRed China）に対し海と空とから閉鎖してしまへといふ貴官の提案は、アメリカが太平洋において日本に対する勝利を収めた際のそれと同じ戦略ではありませんか。

マッカーサー　その通りです。太平洋において我々は彼らを迂回しました。我々は封じ込めたのです。日本は八千万に近い膨大な人口を抱へ、それが四つの島の中にひしめいているのだということを理解していただかなくてはなりません。その半分が農業人口で、あとの半分が工業生産に従事していました。

　潜在的に、日本の擁する労働力は量的にも質的にも、私がこれまでに接したいづれにも劣らぬ優秀なものです。歴史上のどの地点においてか、日本の労働者は、人間は怠けている時よりも、働き、生産してゐる時の方がより幸福なのだということ、つまり労働の尊厳と呼んでもよいようなものを発見していたのです。

　これほど巨大な労働能力を持つてゐるといふことは、彼らには何か働くための材料が必要だということを意味します。彼らは工場を建設し、労働力を有していました。しかし彼らは手を加へるべき原料を得ることができませんでした。

　日本は絹産業以外には、固有の産物はほとんど何も無いのです。彼らは綿が無い、羊毛が無い、石油の産出が無い、錫（すず）が無い、ゴムが無い。その他実に多くの原料が欠如している。そしてそれら一切のものがアジアの海域には存在していたのです。

　もしこれらの原料の供給を断ち切られたら、一千万から一千二百万の失業者が発生するであろうことを彼らは恐れていました。したがつて彼らが戦争に飛び込んで行った動機は、大部分が安全保障の必要に迫られてのことだったのです。

※昭和26年5月3日、米国議会上院の軍事外交合同委員会で行われた質疑応答の一部です。
 

Atomic Bomb's Day

　　This day came again. Lots of Japanese are still brainwashed that the bombing was legal and inevitable, though it was obviously a violation of international law and just a slaughter of defenceless women and children. Who wanted to wage the war were F.D.Roosevelt and Sir W. Churchill. As formerly confidential documents became open year by year, the historical facts are also known across the country. I hope that Japan would be a normal sovereign nation.
　　I'll show you an amazing story on the Japanese Constitution. This is drafted by several military personnel for only a few weeks during the time Japan was occupied. Is it valid from the viewpoint of the legislative process?

(Vocabulary)
sovereign nation   主権国家

Business Trip

　　My wife set out for her business trip to Kobe City, which is located to the west of Osaka. I'd be happy to spend a single life for some time, but I don't like household chores. To tell the truth, I don't know exactly how to use the laundry machine. I'm thinking just to push the automatic button. During her last business trip, I used the dishwasher myself. I put several lacquer wares into it and those high-priced tablewares were damaged severely due to the abrasive compound contained in the cleanser. I didn't know that Japanese lacquer wares should be handled manually and elaborately.
　　Anyway, I'll enjoy everything free from the ball and chain.

(Vocabulary)
abrasive compound / ground / powder  研磨剤
cleanser  洗剤

Entry Refused

　　Three Diet members were refused entry to South Korea along with a specialist on the territorial issue. They flew to Seoul, but had to return to Japan on the same day. Their purpose was to visit Ulleung-do Island which is located at the east of the Korean Peninsula in the Sea of Japan. It is also known as the nearest site to Takeshima Island which South Korea insists it has sovereignty over. As I wrote in this blog repeatedly, they have no persuasive evidence on their sovereignty. They have only distorted things that they call evidence. The Korean Government promotes Ulleung-do as the starting point for the sightseeing of Takeshima Island. The Japanese group just wanted to see how things were in Ulleung-do.
　　One thing, there is Tokdo Museum in Ulleung-do. (Tokdo is the Korean name of Takeshima Island.) Almost all of the items in the museum were already shot and shown to us Japanese and their distortion is apparent in Japan. There would be lots more things that the Korean Government didn't want to be seen. The monument in front of the museum reads "Tsushima Island is ours." It's incredible, but it might be natural for Korean people.
　　On the other hand, South Korean Diet members came to Shimane Prefecture in Japan to which Takeshima Island belongs. They burned Japan's national flag and made a fuss there though the Japanese group just intended to see around the island peacefully.
　　By the way, what's the legal basis to reject the entry of the Japanese Diet members? It seems like the adoption of a law against terrorists. They were taken as terrorists. Unbelievable! The relationship between Japan and Korea is just like between adults and kids. Japan has the issue left over for a long time, but we never increase their arrogance.
　　Koreans used to be slaves of the China for several centuries. Japan beat China and forced it to acknowledge the independence of Korea in 1895. Korea could become independent because of Japan. However, Korea was hopelessly undeveloped and Japan annexed Korea to protect the Korean people under unavoidable circumstances. It originated from the desire of most Korean people and lots of countries at that time. The above is historical fact, but the Koreans don't show any gratitude to Japan. That's why I feel the Koreans to be childish.

(Vocabulary)
Ulleung-do  鬱陵島 うつりょうとう
persuasive〈主張・証拠などが〉 説得力のある, 納得できる
make a fuss  騒ぎたてる, 不平を言う
increase 増長させる
legal basis  法的根拠
under unavoidable circumstances  仕方なく

Ishiyamadera Temple

　　This is the last entry with respect to the trip. After leaving Mt. Sanganesan, we took my daughter to her apartment and headed for Osaka. We were driving on the highway when my wife found the name of a famous temple on the map. We were just near the temple and got off the highway. It was late for visiting and the gate was closed as you can see in the picture, but we took a short walk around. The temple was "Ishiyamadera Temple", which is noted as the place where "Murasaki Sikibu" wrote that famous novel, "Genji Monogatari" in the 10th century. We wanted to see some historical records that the temple preserves, but couldn't.
　　There was the Setagawa river flowing out from Japan's biggest lake of Biwako in front of the temple. The service of the Setagawa sightseeing cruise had also ended for that day. This area is not so far from Kyoto which used to be the capital city of Japan from the 9th to 12th century.
　　After an hour's wandering, we started for Osaka. We could drive the car to Matsuyama City overnight, but it would be hard work and decided to use the ferry service in the opposite way to that which we had started for Toyama a few days before.

 

Mt. Sanganesan Monument Park

　　I've been in a quandary wondering how to describe the topic. I'll tell you about the spot which I  visited this day. When you have time, you would be well-advised to look into the topic by yourself, because this piece of writing might be insufficient for making you understand.
　　The story dates back to 1948. Seven heroes of Japan were executed as an act of revenge, what you call the Tokyo Tribunal of War Criminals, on Dec. 23rd, the birthday of the present Priest King, "Ten-noh". From what I think, it shows the arrogance and atrocities committed by D. MacArthur when he chose this day for the execution. The present Priest King was the prince at that time, but the day was also celebrated across the country.
　　By the way, do you know what happened to their ashes? Most people wouldn't know how the ashes were treated. Lo and behold, the ashes were scheduled to to be thrown away in the Pacific Ocean on the next day of the execution just like the U.S. buried Bin Laden at sea. I thought that the U.S. hadn't changed at all even after 60 years, as I heard that the U.S. threw his body away.
　　Going back to the story of their ashes, some people sneaked into the crematorium after midnight of the execution day and took a part of their ashes out before the U.S. scatterred it on the ocean. The ashes are said to have been piled up in an offhand manner mixed with all the victims. They had kept it secretly for some time and the ashes were placed in the sanctuary of Mt. Sanganesan with some bumps and detours.
　　A half century has passed since then and this place must be a target of pilgrimage of ordinary Japanese people, you would think. To my sorrow, however, this place has been unnoticed for a long time. After the Greater East Asian War, lots of Japanese were brainwashed by the U.S., China and Russian communists, so Japanese patriots were afraid that the mourning facility could be ruined by them. Even now, the main media don't deal with this facility, but people came to know it via the internet. The members of the present Cabinet don't respect the war dead. Can you believe it? The Japanese way of thinking was on the brink of disappearance, but now people started to know the whole truth by watching the behaviour of China, Korea and Russia. It would be not long before the Japanese would wake up.
　　My wife, daughter and I prayed for the spirits to protect Japan. There were other many cenotaphs on Mt. Sanganesan and I found the memorial of the tank unit which repelled the Russian troops on Shumushu island. I wrote about the fight on this island before and I hope you'll read it, though it's a little long and is divided into 4 entries.

(Vocabulary)
in a quandary   途方に暮れて
sb would be well-advised to do sth  ＜人＞は＜…＞するほうが賢明である
You would be well-advised to accept his offer. 彼の申し出は受けたほうがいいですよ．
look into sth
1 ＜…＞を調査［捜査］する
The police are looking into the matter.  その件は警察が捜査中だ．[同意] investigate
2 ＜…＞を詳しく調べる, 検討する
That sounds like a good idea. I'll look into it.  いい考えですね．よく検討してみます．[同意] explore
the Tokyo Tribunal of War Criminals  東京裁判
atrocity 通例複数形で，[U] (複 atrocities)  (戦時中などの) 残虐行為
lo and behold  驚くなかれ〔会話で相手の注意を引くために使われる〕
crematorium  火葬場
in an offhand manner  無造作に
with some bumps and detours  紆余曲折を経て
sanctuary  [C](米) (教会などの) 礼拝室／[C] (教会などの) 至聖所, 内陣, 最も神聖な場所
cenotaph  戦没者の慰霊碑
tank corps / tank unit  戦車隊

 
 
 
 
The engine of the bomber, B-29, found in Mikawa Bay after the war was placed here, praying for the crews' peace in heaven. They were also the victims of the war. I say again, I hate F.D.R., W. Churchill and J. Stalin, who were eager to wage the war and were real war criminals, I believe.