Japanese Surgeon's Daily Life

Portuguese Old Streetcar

　　I am often asked for a regular medical checkup in various workplaces from medical checkup outfits. Under the strict regulation of the government, workers are supposed to get their medical checkup once a year. Today, I was asked to join the medical checkup team and visited a CocaCola bottling factory. The regular physician seemed to have been called out due to a family emergency, and there was no substitute.
　　During the lunch break, I took a short walk in the grounds of the factory. The weather was clear without clouds and it was a very comfortable walk. I came across an exhibit of an old streetcar at the corner of the grounds. The street car was vividly painted with the logo of the CocaCola, but its inside was dilapidated showing years of neglect.
　　According to the description of the exhibit, this streetcar was produced in 1928 in Portugal and used to run on the street in Lisbon. The Tosa Railroad Company in the neighboring Kochi prefecture bought it in 1990 to run a variety of streetcars from the world as the memorial event of the company's 80th year. The logo of the CocaCola is apparently the same as its original in Lisbon. At the end of its useful life in Kochi, the streetcar was placed in the grounds of the CocaCola Company. I've been to Malacca where there were lots of ruins connected to Portugal, but I've never been to Portugal. I felt like visiting Lisbon seeing the streetcar.

Formal Visit to the U.K. by Japanese Ten-noh

　　The Japanese Government announced that their majesties the emperor and empress were supposed to make a formal visit to the U.K. in June. The visit was once planned three years ago on the invitation of Queen Elizabeth, but was suspended pending the COVID-19 pandemic. The queen passed away during the suspension and the Imperial couple would apparently visit her tomb in tribute to her. The couple graduated from Oxford University and they are supposed to drop in at Oxford city on the last day of the visit. However, it's not decided yet when they'll visit the U.K. in June. Early or middle or late June? To tell the truth, my wife and I are planning to visit the U.K. in June, too. Should we visit at the same time as the Imperial couple, or not? We are examining the pros and cons of the visit in the same period with them. We are focusing on the southwest area of the U.K. this time, centering on Bath, Cardiff the capital of Wales and Stonehenge along with a few places in the city of London.
　　Bath is literally the town of bath. Ancient Romans reached the U.K. and built public bath facilities in Bath. I'm not sure, but the word "bath" may be derived from this city. My hometown has the Dogo Onsen Spa which is known as the oldest hot spa in Japan and the Roman-style bath would be the oldest bath in the U.K. Given this situation, the next trip to the U.K. may be a lot of fun.

(Vocabulary)
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress 天皇皇后両陛下
on the invitation of ～の招きで
Given this situation このようなことから

My Father's Ashes Placed Eternally

　　I'm going to write about a Buddhist practice today, though it's hard for me to express Buddhist terms in English. More than a year has passed since my father passed away. His ashes have been placed in the family altar since. Ashes, in general, are placed in the tomb within a few weeks after the cremation. My parents built the family tomb around 20 years ago on a hillside from which you can command a panoramic view of the hometown. They must have wanted their ashes to be placed in this tomb, but the tomb is rustic and looks desolate and I placed his ashes in my house. He had been hospitalized for his last three years and strictly limited to receive visitations by his friends and even family members due to the abhorrent COVID-19 pandemic. He would have been lonely and I felt sorry for him and placed his ashes in my busy house.
　　Now, the equinoctial week is coming just around the corner. This week carries significance in Buddhism. Lots of families pay a visit to their ancestral grave during this week and put up a "Sotouba" wooden tablet, which came from stupa in Sanskrit, and give more than a passing thought to ancestors.
　　On Sunday last week, I visited my father's original house, a historic old temple, with his ashes and walked around the grounds in which my father would have spent his childhood, and offered a prayer to the ancestors' graves on a hill behind the temple. Once his ashes were placed in his tomb, he couldn't be moved.
　　Then, today, I had a Buddhist priest, who is a nephew of my father, down and a Buddhist memorial service of putting the ashes into the tomb. The door of the tomb was closed and my father's life was also closed today.

(Vocabulary)
ashes (pl.)遺骨
place sb's ashes in a tomb 納骨する
family altar, Buddhist household shrine 祭壇
cremation 火葬
halfway down the hill 丘の中ほどで
halfway up a hill; on a hillside 丘の中腹に
hillside 丘の斜面[中腹]
command a panoramic view of ～を一望できる
rustic 飾り気のない　素朴な
desolate 〈場所などが〉人気 (ひとけ) のない ; 荒れ果てた; 活気のない
〈人が〉孤独な , 寂しい, わびしい, 心細い; 惨めな; 〈事が〉陰鬱な, 寂しい
equinoctial week 彼岸
stupa 卒塔婆 wooden grave tablet
give more than a passing thought to ～に思いを馳せる［致す］
a passing thought 一時的な考え
have ~ down（客を）招く

Kappabashi Dougu Street and Alsace Restaurant Gentil

　　I went to Tokyo to attend an exhibition of camping cars on a large scale. Lots of gorgeous and large motor homes didn't interest me and I wanted to check only several small cars equipped with various electrical components like a cooler run by DC 12V, a fridge, and a microwave. If I looked around all the cars, it would take more than 6 hours, but I didn't have so much time. Therefore, the exhibition was open at 9 a.m. but I dropped in at Kappabashi Dougu Street on the way to the exhibition. My wife and I strolled around the street. This street is well-known worldwide. Various buyers from overseas gather at this street to find handmade artisan items. We were going to get a Deba knife specified for cutting fish and stopped by a knife shop where some tourists were asking something to shop staff. One of them seemed to be a chef from the U.S.. He was saying that he made it a rule to buy his knives at this shop. He was an avid user of the shop's products. Dull knives have a high risk of injury, so we bought one.
　　I recalled how dull the set of cooking knives in my condominium in Hawaii was. Every time I visited my condominium, we asked the hotel manager to give proper maintenance to the knives. Nothing changed, however. On the condominium users' bulletin board on the net, it's described that the visitors should bring cooking knives from your home and we have done so every time. Seeing the showcase of cooking knives, an idea came into my mind. The knives which we thought were dull might be common in the U.S., therefore some professional chefs are fond of using ones made by Japanese craftsmen. My idea would be correct. The url of the street is at the end of this entry.
　　Then we headed for an Alsace Restaurant called Gentil, which we had happened to see on T.V. We ordered some traditional dishes which would take time for cooking yesterday in advance. To tell the truth, I had visited Alsace with my second daughter in March in 2010. The trip memos are on this blog. I remember having eaten escargot in Riquewihr in Alsace and I wanted to eat them again. The restaurant was really crowded and that was the token of its popularity. The Gentil's staff members were kind and gentle. The delicious dishes are rather obvious things to say. On the next trip to Tokyo, we'll swing by this restaurant.

https://www.kappabashi.or.jp/en/

https://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2010/04/lunch.html

 

Bishop Museum

　　Bishop Museum is the largest museum in Hawaii, which aims to research and record the history and culture of the Hawaii islands. Since I had visited Hawaii for the first time, I have been eager to visit the museum. However, as the museum wasn't so accessible for visitors who didn't have a car, being away from the heart of the Waikiki area, I wound up visiting the museum for the first time today. The founder seemed to be a descendant of the royal family of Hawaii.
　　I was surprised to see its vast premise. According to the attendant, the Kamehameha Schools used to be there, which now stands on top of a hill. The museum has been extended to the vacant places to develop into the magnificent museum.
　　Incidentally, if you don't have even the slightest natural connection by blood to the Hawaiian royal family, you aren't admitted to the school. Through the generations after the Hawaiian annexation by the U.S., the school has a diverse array of students from diverse backgrounds across racial lines. It apparently is administered by the Royal Hawaiian Center on Kalakaua street in Waikiki and the tuition is free! The Hawaiian Royal Family would have been still keeping their pride and authority.
　　The collections cover a broad range of topics on Hawaii, islands of the Pacific Ocean and Polynesia. They are very valuable.
　　I'll show you some pictures below. The 1st one was shot from on the trolley on the way to the museum. It is the statue of Father Damien in front of the city hall, who devoted himself to caring for leprosy patients in Molokai. He eventually died from leprosy. He has been honored as a holy person in Hawaii, though he was born in Belgium. I'm thinking of visiting the island some day. The terrain of the island is very unique and you'll easily realize why the island was chosen as an isolation place for the leprosy patients.
　　The next picture shows inside the museum. I was interested in the fine arts and crafts of the Polynesian islands, but I didn't have time to spare for those. I went straight to the Hawaiian history's booth. The 3rd picture is the description of the anti-annexation movement by Hawaiian natives. The newspapers around the annexation day were laid out. The evil deeds by people who were moved from the European continent to the American continent, then expanded to the west, were recorded clearly and unequivocally. The next picture is King Kalakaua, whose name remains as the name of the busiest street of Waikiki. Three great figures who shaped up the tradition of Hawaii were elaborated on. One of them was Duke Kahanamoku. The beach in front of my condominium was dubbed after his name and is called Kahanamoku beach. His statue would be the most popular one in Hawaii. It stands at Waikiki beach with his arm open as if welcoming visitors.

(Vocabulary)
across racial lines 人種の境界線［違い］を越えて
leprosy ライ病、ハンセン氏病
fine arts and crafts 美術工芸品

 

　ビショップミュージアムは、ハワイ史の研究と文化の保存を目的とするハワイ最大の博物館です。初めてホノルルへ来たときから訪問したかったのですが、ワイキキから見ると離れているので簡単に立ち寄ることが出来ず、今日の訪問となりました。創立者はハワイ王家に繋がる人です。

　敷地が広いので驚きました。案内人によると、かつてはここにカメハメハ・スクールがあったそうで、その学校は今は丘の上に移転しています。空いた土地に博物館を増築し壮大なスケールの博物館へと発展しています。

　因みにカメハメハ・スクールはハワイネイティブの血が混ざっている人でなければ入学できないそうですが、アメリカに併合されてから数世代を経て今や、白人から有色人種まで多様な学生が通っているそうです。カラカウア通りにあるロイヤルハワイアンセンターが管理しているそうで、授業料は無料とのこと。ハワイ王家は今でもハワイアンとしてのプライドを持ち続け、影響力を維持しているのでしょう。

　収蔵品は、ハワイと太平洋諸島ポリネシア全域の文化に関する美術工芸品、文献、写真などで、２５００万点を超える世界的にも価値の高い貴重なコレクションとなっています。

　以下にＵＰする写真は、１枚目はトロリーバスから撮影したダミアン神父の銅像です。ハワイ州庁舎にあります。１９世紀のモロカイ島にあったハンセン病患者隔離地区で患者の救済に尽くし、自らもハンセン病で命を落とした尊い人として、ベルギー出身ではありますがハワイを代表する聖者とみなされ、尊敬されています。跡地をいつか訪問したいと思っていますが、なかなかたどり着きにくい場所にあります。

　次はビショップ博物館の内部の様子です。ポリネシアの美術工芸品に興味はあったのですが、時間の制約があり、ハワイの歴史を物語るブースへ直行。３枚目の写真がハワイ併合時の島民の反対運動についてのブースの看板です。当時の新聞もありました。ヨーロッパからアメリカ大陸へ移住し、どんどん西へ進み、自国の領土としてきたアメリカの横暴がここにも記録されていました。ワイキキビーチの通りの名前として名を残しているカラカウア王が次の写真。今に繋がる伝統を作り上げた３名の偉人の生涯が記されていて、その中の一人は宿泊しているコンドミニアムの前のビーチの名前となって残っているデューク・カハナモクだった。彼の銅像は両腕を拡げ観光客を招くかのようにワイキキビーチに建っている。

Liliuokalani Protestant Church

　　We passed the Liliuokalani Protestant Church in Haleiwa. The picture shot from the car reads that it was founded in 1832. Liliuokalani was the 8th (last) queen of the Hawaiian Dynasty and she apparently often visited this church. I've learned about the tumultuous end of the dynasty through several books. The Hawaiian Dynasty asked for help from Japan, but Japan was all tied up on Russia which took aim at Japan at that time. The Dynasty eventually became entrapped into the territory of the U.S. I wondered what wishes she had prayed in the church.
　　We left the town of Haleiwa and visited the Dole plantation whose name was after the culprit of the illegal annexation of Hawaii islands. Was the annexation good or bad for native Hawaiians? I'd like to consider about it in the Bishop Museum which I would visit on 14th. The museum seemed to have lots of collections in a various array of the fields like the folklore, history, culture, politics, and so on.

(Vocabulary)
folklore 民間伝承（伝説･伝統･民族衣装など）; 言い伝え, 民俗学.

　ハレイワでリリウオカラニ教会を通り過ぎた。そのときに撮った写真に写る看板には１８３２年創立とある。リリウオカラニはハワイ王国第8代（最後）の国王。女王はこの教会へ礼拝によく訪れたという。ハワイ王朝の最期はいろいろな本で勉強した。ハワイ王朝は近代国家を作り上げる途上でアメリカの策略に引っかかってしまった。日本に助けを求めたが、当時日本は南下するロシアの脅威に立ち向かうことで精一杯でハワイ救済までは手が回らなかった。リリウオカラニはどんな気持ちで晩年を過ごしただろうか。

　ハレイワをあとにして、ハワイ乗っ取りの首謀者とも言えるドールの名を冠した農園を訪れた。ハワイはアメリカの一部になって良かったのか、悪かったのか。ビショップ博物館で、じっくりと考えて見たい。明後日には、ハワイの歴史を記したビショップ博物館を訪問する予定にしている。全て見るには何日もかかるほど沢山の展示物があるらしいので今から楽しみだ。

Spiritual Site Pohaku Lana'i

　　Our guide told us about a spiritual site, which Mr. Ohtani, a famous baseball player, had visited. Subsequently, he earned the award, "Rookie of the Year". We hoped that we would have the same good luck as him. Its name is Pohaku Lana'i. Pohaku is "Rock" and Lana'i is "balcony" in Hawaiian. Totally, it means balcony-like rock. The rock has been a spiritual site for prayer for victory.
　　We heard that this place was also a sea turtles hot zone, and going to the shore, we found three sea turtles just in front of us. Hawaiians have believed since the ancient past that turtles will bring happiness to them. We were very lucky to see turtles 10 meters before us.

(Vocabulary)
I hope I will 「have the same good luck as he [share his good luck].
私も彼の幸運にあやかりたい
prayer for victory　戦勝祈願

パワースポット

ガイドが近くにパワースポットがあるという。大谷翔平さんはここに立ち寄ってから成績が上がったという。ならば我々もそれにあやかるべきということで立ち寄った。パワースポットの名前はポハク・ラナイといい、ハワイ語でポハクは「岩」、ラナイは「バルコニー」ということで、バルコニーみたいな岩というわけ。古代より戦勝祈願のパワースポットだったそうです。大谷さんにはぴったりですね。

また、ここはウミガメが良くやってくる場所だというので２０メートルほど先の海岸に出てみると、、、ウミガメが３匹。なんとラッキーな。写真では見にくいのですが、ハワイへ幸運を運ぶというウミガメに出会うことが出来ました。

Haleiwa

　　Our minivan entered into the town of Haleiwa, which is located at the north of Oahu island and is the center of the North Shore. Some restaurants, souvenir shops, and a famous shaved ice shop were lined up along the road. I took a plate lunch from a food truck and the Hawaiian garlic shrimps were really delicious.
　　After lunch, my wife and I strolled along the main street of Haleiwa, which was a small village where you can walk from one end to the other end in 30 minutes or so. When I visited the North Shore for the first time, I took a rest at an old warehouse-like shop on the outskirts of the town. I'd like to buy matching aloha shirts for me and my granddaughter this time, but the famous aloha shop didn't have one for female infants, so I bought a gorgeous aloha shirt for me only. My wife enjoyed a colorful shaved ice from its original shop in Hawaii that a Japanese had opened more than 50 years ago. He was the one who made shaved ice take root in Hawaii.

(Vocabulary)
matching outfits（二人以上の人たちの）

ハレイワの街へ入った。オアフ島の北側、ノースショアの中心地でレストランや土産物店、有名なかき氷屋などがある。我々はここで昼食をとった。我々の昼食は小型の廃バスを利用した店のプレートランチだった。名物のガーリックシュリンプはとてもうまかった。

その後、街を散策。といっても小さな町なので３０分もあれば端から端まで歩けてしまう。前回は町外れの古い倉庫を利用した１００年前のたたずまいの店でのんびりしたが、今回はここにある専門店でアロハシャツを買いたかった。出来れば孫娘とお揃いのもの。しかし、子供用は男の子用が数店あるだけで女の子用はなかった。しかたなく、自分用のだけを買ったが最高に良いものを買うことが出来た。カミさんは念願のかき氷。かき氷は日本人が開業しこの地の名物となったらしい。

Moanalua Gardens Supported by the Hitachi Group (日立の樹)

　　We stopped by the Moanalua gardens to see what is called the Hitachi Tree which is all too famous among Japanese. The tree is known as the Hitachi Tree for Japanese, but is commonly called the monkey pod. This monkey pod has been featured in the commercial film of the Hitachi Group and its catchy tune is imbued in my mind. I was wondering where and what it was for a long time. When I visited Honolulu for the first time and saw it up close, I was happy. For my friends, it was the first time to visit the gardens and they looked very happy as I once did.
　　The Moanalua gardens used to be owned by the Hawaiian Royal Family. On my first visit, I missed a cottage which had been built in the time of King Kamehameha 5th in the late 19th century and I walked around the cottage this time apart from my friends. The cottage was well preserved. As we asked the driver to take us to too many places, we had only 20 minutes here. I'd like to have stayed a little longer.

(Vocabulary)
garden 〚通例～s〛公園, 遊園地; 屋外の軽飲食店
botanical [zoological] gardens 植物[動物]園
a beer garden ビアガーデン

日本人にはあまりにも有名な『日立の樹』を見るためにモアナルアガーデンに立ち寄った。日本人には『日立の樹』で通る木だが、英語ではモンキーポッドと呼ばれる。この木は古くから　ー少なくとも僕の子供時代からー　日立がテレビコマーシャルで使っており、そのテンポの良いコマーシャルソングは頭に深く刻み込まれている。一体どこにあるのだろうと思っていたが、数年前に初めてオアフ島を訪れたときに、『ここにあったのか』と知って嬉しかった。同行の友人たちにとっては初めて実物を見るわけでもちろん楽しそうだった。

僕はといえば、初めて来たときに見落とした１９世紀に立てられたカメハメハ五世のコテージを見学した。戦禍に遭わず、ラッキーだったなと思った。受付でもらったパンフレットをスキャンして下に貼り付けておく。ドライバーに立ち寄りたい場所をいくつも注文したためにここでの滞在は２０分ほど。もう少しゆっくりしても良かったが仕方なし。

Ehime Maru Memorial

　　The Oahu island tour started. We had a place which we should drop in at. Do you remember the collision of the fisheries training vessel Ehime Maru and the U.S. nuclear submarine USS Greeneville in 2001? We actually live in Ehime prefecture in Japan. The high school students who were to enter into the fisheries industry and their instructors left Uwajima City located at the southern part of Ehime prefecture. Out of them, 5 crews and instructors, and 4 students, a total of 9 capable and promising people didn't come back to Japan. We had put the Ehime Maru Memorial on the top of the queue to visit. The Memorial is located at a park near the coast and we were able to see the direction of its sinking point from the memorial. All of us put our hands together and paid a tribune for a short time toward off the coast.

　オアフ島半周ツアーが始まった。まず立ち寄りたい場所があった。我々の住んでいる愛媛県の水産実習船が２００１年２月にハワイ沖でアメリカの原潜と衝突して沈没し、９名が亡くなった。その慰霊碑が沈没地点を望む公園に設置されていて、まずその慰霊碑に立ち寄った。亡くなった教員・乗組員５名＋高校生４名と聞いている。慰霊碑から見渡した先の海域に向かって皆で手を合わせ冥福を祈った。

KCC (Kapi Olani Community College) Farmers' Market

　　There are some farmers' markets on Oahu island and we visited one of them, the most popular one among tourists. It was located in the parking lot of KCC (Kapi Olani Community College) and had been held once a week, on Saturday morning. I'd like to take pictures of unfamiliar fruits and plants there, but I gave up as I ate an oily hamburger and my hands got greasy. The pictures below were given to me by my friend. I was really interested in fruits and raw food, but I refrained from eating them. If I have stomach troubles from them, I should have to give up joining the Honolulu marathon. Being on the safe side, I ate heated food only.
　　We were going to climb up the Diamond Head next, but we had time by the appointed time and went back to Waikiki beach. I'll write about the appointed time of the Diamond Head in the next entry. Anyway, just simply walking around the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel was a lot of fun. People around the hotel pool were full of smiles and cheerfulness. At the entrance hall of the hotel, we saw a statue of three sea turtles and a sand statue of Santa Claus.
　　Sea turtles are called "Honu" in Hawaiian. They are considered to be very holy and are believed to bring good fortune. The airliner, A380, of ANA which connects between Narita and Honolulu is nicknamed "Honu" and three types of Honu are printed on its fuselage. A sand statue of Santa Claus was also displayed. He wore a short-sleeved jacket with a surfboard. That was really what you would have expected in Hawaii in this season.

(Vocabulary)
fuselage （飛行機の）胴体, 機体

　オアフ島で最も有名で観光客を集めている産直市へやって来ました。油っぽいものを食べて手がベタベタであまり写真を撮れず友人が撮影した写真をもらってＵＰしています。気になる食べ物、飲み物がいろいろありましたが、慣れないものを食べて万一腹を壊したら、明日のホノルルマラソンに参加できなくなるので、大事を取って加熱したものだけを食べました。かなり広いのですが、写真が少なくてすみません。

　ダイヤモンドヘッド入山の予約時刻まで間があったのでいったんワイキキビーチへ戻り、シェラトンホテル周辺を散歩。ワイキキビーチはどこを見ても皆笑顔にあふれていて気持ちが良い。シェラトンホテルのエントランスにはウミガメとサンタクロースのオブジェがありました。

　ウミガメは、ハワイ語で「ホヌ」といいます。ハワイではとても神聖な生き物とされ、幸運を運んでくる「海の守り神」として親しまれています。そう言えば、ＡＮＡが成田ーホノルル間を飛ばしているＡ３８０のニックネームはホヌで機体にはウミガメの絵が描かれていますね。そばにはサーフィンを楽しむ砂のサンタクロースがいました。夏の薄着のサンタクロースはどうも違和感がありますね。（笑）

　さて、午後はいよいよダイヤモンドヘッドに登ります。

 

Kalakaua Merrie Mile Run

　　Some marathon-related events were held on the eve of the Honolulu marathon. The topic of "Kalakaua Merrie Mile Run" was one of them. When we left the condominium just after 5 o'clock, masses of people in running outfits were walking toward the Honolulu Zoo, in front of which the run would start.
　　Take a look at the first picture. Two men with an orange T-shirt were outstanding with their flashy garnishes. The garnishes on their heads and waists were surely from the outfits for Polynesian dances. I was eager to get them and asked them where they bought those garnishes. They were from the Netherlands and they were brought from their country. Tough! I'd like to run the marathon with them on. The distance of the Merrie Mile Run was only one mile and you can join it lightheartedly. Separated into several groups, lot of people started. Some famous Japanese comedian were among them.
　　We were wandering on the almost empty Waikiki beach. It was really comfortable walking. There were around 20 people on the jetty. Their purpose seemed to view the rising sun on Diamond Head. We also saw it and it was indescribably beautiful. After cheering the last group, we headed for KCC Farmers' market, which was well-known by tourists. We were going to have something local as brunch. I'll upload some pictures in the next entry.

(Vocabulary)
jetty 突堤, 防波堤; 桟橋(pier), 波止場.

　

　ホノルルマラソンの前の日、マラソンに関連した様々なイベントが行われるが、その一つ、メリーマイルランがある。コンドミニアムを出発したのは５時過ぎだったが、既にカラカウア通りには出発地点へ向かう人の波が出来ていた。

　最初の写真に写っているオレンジ色のシャツの男性二人が人目を引いていた。頭の飾りと腰に巻いているものは間違いなくポリネシアダンスの衣装をモチーフにしている。欲しくなってどこで買ったのか尋ねたところ、オランダから持って来たとのこと。残念。付けてマラソンを走りたかったのだが。メリーマイルランの走る距離は１マイルなので気楽に参加できる。何組にも分けて大勢の参加者がスタートした。日本の有名なタレントもいて盛り上がっていた。

　スタートまで少しの間、人のまばらなワイキキビーチを散策した。突堤の先に２０人くらいの人がいた。ダイヤモンドヘッドから昇ってくる朝日を見るためらしい。とても美しい日の出だった。メリーマイルランのスタート風景を見終わってから観光客にも有名な産直市を見に行った。

Jet Lag

　　Jet lag is widely accepted as a nuisance, but it wasn't on this trip. We saw a need to keep being suffered from jet lag for 2 days. The start time of the Honolulu Marathon was 5 a.m., so we had to get up before 3 a.m. on the day of the marathon. Luckily for us, the jet lag helped us get up at such an early hour. All of us went to bed around 9 p.m. last night and got up at about 3 a.m. It was because of the jet jag, and four of us, who would join the marathon, had to keep this condition. I would usually continue to stay in bed to recover from jet lag even if I couldn't sleep, but not on this trip.
　　After breakfast, we left for Waikiki beach to watch a fun run.

　時差ぼけは厄介な物というのが通説だが、今回は違う。我々は時差ぼけを２日間は維持する必要があった。ホノルルマラソンは５時スタートなので、３時頃には起床して準備が必要なのだ。なので、９時頃にはマラソン組は就寝し、９日土曜日も３時に起床した。何の苦労もなく自然に目が覚めた。今日も目一杯遊ぶ！腹ごしらえをして午前５時過ぎ、出発。

Fireworks and Dinner

　　The fireworks display started on time. This display had been offered by the Hilton once a week on Friday night. A porter told us that our room is one of the best places to view fireworks, so we were waiting for it. His words were correct and we enjoyed it so much. We could watch every rocket from the set-off to its disappearance. The fireworks display is very popular and is an seasonal occurrence in Japan. However, it's rare to watch its ignition. We had a valuable experience. Every time a rocket was shot, a cheer arose on the ground. It would be hot and muggy in the crowd, but we were able to enjoy fireworks in a comfortable air-conditioned room and we were really happy. You can see the situation from the following pictures. Enjoy them.
　　We had a simple meal tonight with pizza and salad. The uncommonly big beef - at least in Japan - was prepared for tomorrow's dinner in advance. We were lucky to be with a good chef. Looking out after a while, the fireworks' viewing boats disappeared and a quiet ocean was there.
　　Viewing this peaceful scenery, I couldn't believe the incident which had occurred on Niihau island in Hawaii today 82 years ago. It was a simple property crime originally, but eventually developed into a serious murder case. Anyway, I'd like to honor a young man who had fought for Japan. He was from the same prefecture as ours.

(Vocabulary)
rocket [C] 打ち上げ花火
Someone set off a rocket. だれかが花火を打ち上げた．
property crime 窃盗事件

 

　ヒルトンの花火が始まった。ポーターがこの部屋は花火を見るには最高の場所だと言っていたが、まったくその通りだった。花火が打ち上がる瞬間から、消えるまで目で追うことが出来た。こんな経験はあまり出来ないだろう。打ち上がるたびに下の方から歓声が聞こけてくる。おそらく下は蒸し暑いだろうが、我々は涼しいところで花火を楽しめた。
　夕食はテイクアウトのピザなどで簡単に済ませた。日本で見ることのあまりないサイズの牛肉は明日に備えて下準備。食後、外を見ると沖合にいた花火鑑賞のための船はいなくなり、静寂な海が拡がっていた。
　この平和な景色を見ていると８２年前の今日、ここで起こったことが信じられなくなってくる。真珠湾攻撃に続いて起こったニイハウ島事件。住民による単純な窃盗事件だったのだが大きな問題になった。それに立ち向かったわが郷土出身のひとりの若者を讃えたい。

Waikiki

　　We went out shopping for food. The 1st floor of the condominium was the trolley terminal and it was very handy. We got on a trolley to the Royal Hawaiian Center and walked along Kalakaua street. I'll show you some snaps taken on the way.
　　I saw a big Christmas tree in the center. It didn't sit well with me in such hot temperatures. People around wore light clothes like a T-shirt, shorts, beach sandals, and so on. No one wore a long coat or snow boots. Anyway, such curious sensations were also a fun part of the trips. We walked through the International Market Place and reached Waikiki Market, which had opened early this year. This market, I thought, would be very convenient for visitors who stayed around Waikiki beach. With prices soaring, daily visits to restaurants cost a lot and take-out supper is also a high price. The room equipped with a kitchen was a blessing.
　　The last picture shows a famous hand gesture called "SHAKA". FYI, "SHAKA" isn't Hawaiian. Anyway, it has a sad story and I'd like to let my friends know the story, but in vain. There stands a statue of a man who had been the origin of the "SHAKA" gesture at the entrance of the Polynesian Culture Center in Kahuku, northeast of Oahu island. Kahuku was his original place. The description of the monument is a little different from the common explanation on the net, but the description on his monument was much more acceptable for me. I was going to take my friends there, but time was short.

(Vocabulary)
wear light clothes [clothing] 薄着する
hand gesture/signal ハンドサイン

　全員で買い物に出た。コンドミニアムの１階がトロリーのターミナルとなっているので実に便利。ロイヤルハワイアンセンターまでトロリーを利用し、後はカラカウア通りをブラブラと散歩。道中のスナップを呈示します。
　こんなに暑い中でのクリスマスツリーにはやはり違和感あり。カラカウア通りからインターナショナルマーケットプレイスを抜けてワイキキマーケット到着。今年初頭にオープンした話題のマーケットなので来てみた。ワイキキビーチ近くのコンドミニアム滞在者には便利な店だろうなと思う。物価が高いのでそうそうレストランは利用できないし、テイクアウトも高いから部屋にキッチンがあるのは助かる。
　最後の写真はシャカSHAKA（実はハワイ語ではありません）、ハワイでの挨拶のハンドサイン。実は悲しい歴史があるのだが、同行の仲間達に伝えることを忘れた。カフクにあるポリネシアンカルチャーセンターの入口にこのサインを生んだ人物の銅像と悲しい歴史が書かれていてそれを見てもらいたかったが時間が足らずに寄れなかった。ネット上の説明と少し異なっていてここに書かれている説明の方が僕には受け入れやすかったので。

Farewell Bonfire

　　My father passed away in January this year. In Buddhist teaching, his spirit is said to come back to his original place and stay there for several days during a certain term called "Obon". On the first day of the "Obon", the bereaved are supposed to light a fire called "Mukae-bi", a welcome bonfire, for the bonfire to work as the beacon for the returning spirit from the next world. I lit the Mukae-bi several days before and I lit "Okuri-bi", the farewell bonfire today.
　　I'm full of a sense of loss and recalled lots of memories with him, seeing the Buddhist materials burn. After a while, I put it out, hoping that his spirit would come back next year.

Segaki-e; 大施餓鬼会

　　I've been writing this blog for 18 years, and every entry became a substitute of my diary now. I'm going to record a Buddhist service, which is called Segaki-e, for my departed father today.
　　The family temple brings together people who lost their beloved ones over the past year and holds a Buddhist mass, Segaki-e, which is a service for the benefit of suffering spirits. My wife and I attended the mass to pray for my father's happiness in the next world.

(Vocabulary)
菩提寺　family temple

Hiroshima

　　I took my car to the repair shop in Hiroshima city on Aug. 4th. Hiroshima city isn't far away from my hometown, but I knew only the principal sightseeing sites. I was going to wander in the city and carried my electricity-assisted bicycle with me. During the repair, I rode my bicycle around the downtown.
　　Lots of people were preparing the ceremony being held two days later in Peace Memorial Park. I was able to drop in at the Atomic Bomb Museum, but didn't. When I visited the museum for the first time long ago, I was so upset and shocked that I wasn't able to stifle tears. I just didn't want to ride my bicycle with tears. The Government didn't show those pictures and various ruins to all the national leaders at the G7 in May. I partly understand the Government either for the good or for the bad, however I'd like them to take a close look at every exhibit.
　　I heard that Aug. 6th of 78 years ago was considerably hot. Civilians whose skin was burned off dove into the river for water and coolness, and got drowned.
　　August is the month when every Japanese laments the victims of the last war.

(Vocabulary)
either for the good or for the bad 事の是非はさておき

First Bon Festival

　　Japan has the custom of making a sacred fire at the Bon Festival in order to welcome departed souls back. During the Bon festival the spirits of ancestors are believed to come back. This fire will be a beacon for the spirits. Originally this fire should be lit on a clay vessel, but I put special spiritual wood on the barbecue grill. My father loved camping and outdoor activities and he would be happy.
　　Coming two weeks from now on, my ancestors will live with us in the same house.

Black Sea

　　I woke up when my lunch was delivered and immediately I made sure where I was. Surprisingly, my plane was flying over the Black Sea. On the screen, "Odesa", "Sevastopol" and other familiar cities in recent news items were shown. There was nothing to keep me busy and I was wandering on the map, zooming it in and out. I found Sinop on the ground and recalled the well-known naval battle in 19th century. By the way, the incident during which the Russian missile cruiser Moscow was sunk by Ukraine in the Black Sea was still fresh in my mind. I uttered "Were the pilots insane?" I recalled the Malaysian passenger plane which had been shot down over the disputed area in Ukraine, which happened to be on the same day in 2014.
　　Looking down over lunch, two distinctive summits of Greater and Little Ararat came in my sight. They were solemnly beautiful. I promptly took my binoculars out and searched Mt. Ararat for the ruin of Noah's ark(grin). I had mistakenly put these binoculars into my suitcase on the way to the U.K., but I carried them into the cabin on the way back to Japan in an attempt to observe the land of Scotland and Iceland. However, I wasn't able to view them, as the plane took the eastbound route, but luckily the clear sky gave me a wonderful splendor of the Eastern district of Turkey.
　　Before long, the street of Yerevan came into my sight. The weather was perfect and Mt. Ararat would be clearly seen from the Armenian Capital city. Recalling the history of Armenia, I felt a feeling of sympathy for the people of Armenia. Mt. Ararat, which is now located in the territory of Turkey, originally belonged to Armenia. Japan is lucky to be an island country.
　　My plane veered to the right then to the left in the meantime. I assumed that the move was to avoid North Korea. The last meal was offered around the time when the plane passed out into the East China Sea. The 13 hours' flight was really a challenging task.
　　This is the last entry on my trip to the U.K. this year. My next trip plan to the U.K. is up in the air at present, but I'd like to visit the U.K. next year too. The most possible destination and time of the year is the western area of London in June. Bath, Bristol, and Wales if I can. I have to learn the area's history and culture from now.

(Vocabulary)
missile cruiser ミサイル巡洋艦
be still fresh in our minds　記憶に新しい
massif 〘地〙中央山塊, 大山塊; 連峰.
binoculars 双眼鏡
Noah's ark ノアの箱舟
Yerevan エレバン（アルメニアの首都）
in the meantime そうこうしているうちに

食事が来たため目が覚め、反射的に現在の飛行位置を確認した。なんと黒海の上を飛んでいる。オデッサ、セバストポリなどニュースで聞き慣れた街が表示されている。しばらく地図を拡大したり縮小したりして周辺を地図状で散策。シノープを見つけた。有名な海戦のあった場所だな～　などとのんびりは出来ず、ただただ早く通り過ぎてくれと祈った。ここはロシアの誇るミサイル巡洋艦モスクワが撃沈された場所ではないか。パイロットは正気なのか？２０１４年の奇しくも同じ日、７月１７日にウクライナ東部の戦場の上空で撃墜されたマレーシア航空機を思い出した。

写真に示した食事を食べながらふと地上を見ると特徴的な山塊が！大小アララト山だ。ノアの箱舟の残骸が見えはしないか（笑）と双眼鏡を取り出した。往路ではうっかり預け荷物の中へ入れてしまったが、復路ではスコットランドやアイスランドを眺めるために手元に置いていた。

しばらくすると、アルメニア、エレバンの街が見えてきた。エレバンの街からアララト山は間違いなく今日も見えているだろう。アルメニアの人々の近代史を思い、同情した。日本人にとって、歴史的、文化的に切り離せない富士山を中国に奪われてしまったような状況だろう。日本は島国で良かった。多分北を避けるためだろう。飛行機は大きく右回旋し、中国大陸を抜ける頃、最後の食事が出た。１３時間のフライトはさすがに長く感じた。