Japanese Surgeon's Daily Life

Are the Thai Floods a Natural Disaster?

　　The massive floods in Thailand are repeatedly reported in Japan every day. A number of Japanese firms are operated and lots of Japanese people reside in the country. The unprecedented floods in Thailand are never the fire on the other side of the river for Japan. I only hope that the Thai people will be back to their ordinary life as fast as possible.
　　By the way, the cause of the flood is said to be due to the massive rain in the northern part of Thailand. It might be right, and I think so, but is it the only single reason for the disaster? I have no good evidence, but I'm going to relate my personal opinion.
　　Originally, Thailand has been an agricultural nation. The northern vast area of Bangkok, typified by Ayutthaya Province, has been rice fields since ancient times. Rainwater in the northern provinces of Thailand is stored in those rice fields for some time and is slowly discharged to the sea. It's been a long-lasting natural cycle in Thailand. However, huge rice fields were filled with soil and turned to industrial complexes. The natural drainage system was destroyed in this way. The urban area, which used to be formerly called the Venice of the East, has been changed to modern cities at the cost of the drainage of rainwater. Can we not say that these changes which man gave to the land of the Thai people is also responsible for the floods?

(Vocabulary)
agricultural nation   農業立国
be typified by  ～に代表される
typify (フォーマル) …の典型となる, を代表する
the upsurge in violent crime, typified by the killing of this young boy  この少年の殺害に代表される暴力的犯罪の急増
industrial complex 工業団地
Venice of the East  東洋のヴェニス
at the cost of  ～を犠牲にして

September 2nd

　　Russia arrogantly carried out a military drill near the border with Japan the other day. A Russian fleet of 24 military vessels passed through the Strait of Soya, just north of Hokkaido, in a rude manner. They were surely looking down on Japan. Moreover, a Russian bomber flew the circuit over Japanese territory. It was not a reconnaissance aircraft, but a bomber! They presumably would like to know how the Japanese government would react, but it was so provocative that we even ignored this silly defiance.
　　Russia insists that they won the war against Japan, but Japan actually didn't fight them and Russia didn't sign the San Francisco Peace Treaty. Just like committing a theft in the scene of a fire, Russia started the invasion into Japan after the defeat of Japan. Japan signed the document of capitulation on Sept. 2nd in 1945 on board the U.S. battleship Missouri. The month of September always reminds me of the arrogance and self-righteousness of the allied forces.
　　Anyway, the magma in the ordinary Japanese people's mind is getting more and more vigorous now. Russia, China and Korea would be well-advised to be modest toward Japan. The present ruling party, the DPJ, began revealing it's true character and the massive demonstrations against leftists like the Government, NHK and some specific media began to break out frequently. The revival of Japan is not so far away.

(Vocabulary)
fly the circuit　一周する
defiance  反抗, 挑戦
in defiance   挑戦的に
in defiance of sth  ＜…＞を物ともせずに, 無視して
capitulation [名] [C,U](フォーマル) 受諾, 降伏
reveal one's true character 化けの皮がはがれる

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

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

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. 

Rip-off Bullet Train

　　Have you ever seen the Chinese High Speed Trains? They are just copies of Japanese Shinkansen Bullet Trains and German ICEs. If you had seen the bullet trains in Japan or the ICEs in Germany, you would surely agree with me. I wondered why China didn't modify them even in a small way, but maybe they couldn't due to the overwhelming high level of achievement. They must have thought that just a little bit of addition could impair the functions of trains.
　　There's an epigraph that remains unnoticed by all under the stairs of the 18th platform reading "NEW TOKAIDO LINE, Product of the wisdom and effort of the Japanese people". I feel that the monument is imbued with strong yet modest Japanese pride. Japan produced the most secure, most punctual and fastest train in the world only in 19 years after the war in the midst of devastated conditions.
　　Did you notice "the Japanese people" in the epigraph? I'd like to place an emphasis on this. The main cast of this great achievement was not the Japan Railways(JR), not the big figures, not the engineers, but the Japanese people. Those who wrote this epigraph must have carved those words with pride as Japanese people, not as staff members of the JR.
　　Ordinary Japanese people always think of others. Do you know that more than 3000 personnel work every midnight to maintain the security of the railway. Nothing happens. It is the best and natural. Those who engage in such maintenance work would never be applauded, but they never cut corners on their routine work. No one was injured for 45 years since the start of the service. This fact proves their sincerity.
　　The other day, a big accident occurred in China. Additionally, I've heard that other many small accidents had often happend in China. The Chinese authorities hide the fact from their people that they had received assistance from Japan and Europian countries and moreover insist that they should have developed by themselves. However, there's one thing that they didn't notice. That is, they can never steal the spirit of Japanese people, who treat others with respect.

(Vocabulary)
rip-off 　ぱくり
way [C] (状況などにおける) （…という）点, 面
In what ways is Japanese society changing? 日本社会はどのような点で変化していますか．
in a/one way  ある点［意味］で（は）
In a way you're right, I suppose. ある点では君が正しいと思うよ．
I was glad he left in one way. ある意味で彼がいなくなってうれしかった．
epigraph  (彫像などの) 碑銘, (巻頭・章頭の) 題辞
applaud [他] …を称賛する
applaud sb for sth  ＜人＞の＜…＞を称賛する
She should be applauded for her honesty. 彼女はその誠実さを称賛されるべきだ．
cut corners  手抜きをする [＋cut corners on]

 
 
German InterCity Express　（ICE)

Nuclear Crisis in Fukushima Daiichi Plant

　　I'll refer to the nuclear crisis in this entry that occurred on March 11th in Fukushima Prefecture.
　　I heard lots of people express their opinions. Some insist that Japan should abandon the nuclear plants forever, but I don't think so. Unfortunately, Japan's present leadership is unbelievably childish and lack the necessary ability to cope with this unprecedented disaster. Additionally, when the enormous earthquake broke out in Japan's big city of Kobe in 1995, the leadership was a left-wing government just the same as this time. They cheapen the spiritual backbone of Japan and never show any respect to people who were killed on behalf of Japan. I've taken them as human flops. I realize that the disaster of March might be a warning from God to Japan and also an ordeal to human beings which was given to Japan as the representative of the world. At the risk of sounding immodest, only Japan can overcome such heavily damaged conditions.
　　The top level of technology, a high level of culture and security, is the key to understanding present-day Japan. The U.S., France and Japan are the leading nations with respect to nuclear technology. Among these nations, Japan is still continuing research into a fast reactor, which produces energy endlessly, though it also produces plutonium as the waste. If Japan developed a secure fast reactor, this world would have become more peaceful. Lots of international disputes are derived from the scramble for energy.
　　I have something that I'd like people outside of Japan to know. That is, you can see the influence of China and Korea behind those who insist on the abolition of nuclear technology. If we had absolutely secure and environmentally thoughtful energy, I would have agreed with the abolition, but we don't have hopeful resources for energy yet in Japan. Anti-nuclear people, including the Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, never accuse China and Korea of operating nuclear plants, though once the accident broke out, the radioactive substances would have flown to Japan like yellow sand. I mean, their opinions are totally inconsistent. They also call for the government to follow the good example of Germany, but they manage to hide the contradiction between the German administration's stated policy and its actions. When Germany needs extra energy, they can obtain the electricity from neighboring nations such as France, which produces their electricity from nuclear plants. Moreover, most plants are located near the border with Germany to take in water from the Rhine river. If the accident occurred in this area, Germany couldn't evade the influence.
　　One thing, from another point point of view. Neighboring countries like China, North Korea and Russia have nuclear weapons. On the other hand, Japan doesn't. If the U.S. leaves Japan in the future, what will become of their deterrent effect? Japan never throws away plutonium and nuclear technology from the aspect of self-defence. If the Japanese got allergic to nuclear power itself,  nuclear power-driven vessels like aircraft carriers and submarines could have never dropped in to Japan. It is the ultimate purpose of China.
　　The present Japanese administration hasn't noticed yet how fierce and rogue China and Russia are. China has disputes with many countries. As you know, they want to have control of the South China Sea now, which is an extremely important energy supply route for Japan.
　　Thinking as above, I feel that this disaster might be a big ordeal which God has imposed on us. Lastly I'd like to add, I never give up and other Japanese people would say the same. We are tough enough to overcome this difficulty.

(Vocabulary)
flop  [C](インフォーマル) (演劇・映画などの) 失敗作
human flop 出来損ないの人間
ordeal 厳しい試練, つらい体験
at the risk of sounding immodest  うぬぼれているように聞こえるかもしれませんが
conditions 《複数扱い》 (周囲の) 状況, 事情, 情勢
difficult economic conditions  厳しい経済情勢
The people have [are at] a high level of culture. 民度が高い
present-day  [形] 《[名]の前でのみ》現代の, 今日(こんにち)の
our present-day society 現代社会
present-day Russia 今日のロシア
research into
[!] research into (×of) the causes of breast cancer  乳がんの原因についての研究
「…（について）の研究」はintoまたはonを用いて，research into...またはresearch on...とする．
scramble 《常に単数形で》 (欲しい物・必要な物などをめぐる) 奪い合い, 争奪戦
the usual scramble for the bathroom in the morning  毎朝繰り返されるトイレの奪い合い
thoughtful
1 思いやりのある, 親切な
2 考え込んだ, 思いにふけった
3 思慮深い, 慎重な
inconsistent 〈ふたつの供述・結果などが〉 相反する, 食い違う, 矛盾する
contradiction  [C] 矛盾, 食い違い
the contradiction between the administration's stated policy and its actions 政府が公言した政策とその実際の行動との食い違い

Nadeshiko Japan

　　"Nadeshiko Japan" is the nickname of Japan's national team of women's soccer. The Japanese word, "Nadeshiko," is the word for paying tribute to the beauty and spiritual strength of Japanese women. That Nadeshiko won the gold medal at the World Cup. It was an epoch-making victory. They beat the certified champions of the U.S.A.
　　The kick-off was at 3:45 in the morning in Japan. Though it was early morning, lots of enthusiastic supporters cheered them all the way from Japan. Almost all the supporters gave up the game twice, but Nadeshiko managed to catch up twice. The second equalizer was just a few minutes before the end of the game. It was really dramatic. The game deserved to be watched, putting up with the drowsiness.
　　What I was most surprised with was their hearty smiles just before the penalty shootout. I wondered how strong their spiritual backbones were able to relax and keep cool on such a serious occasion. I admire their achievement from the bottom of my heart.
　　I have something I'd like you to know. Most of Nadeshiko's members aren't professional players. They work in the daytime as a cashier, a clerk or various part-time workers. They simply have loved soccer and finally clinched the championship of the World Cup. Their victory encouraged people who live in the devastated area from the tsunami. I felt the existence of God.

(Vocabulary)
equalize　[他]（数・量・価値など）を均一にする, 同等にする／[自](英) (サッカーで) 同点に追いつく
drowsiness.  眠気
penalty shootout  《サッカー》 ＰＫ戦
certified 誰もが認める
equalizer 平等にするもの / (英) 同点ゴール
a great equalizer  平等化に大いに役立つもの
Sports are a great equalizer in schools. 学校ではスポーツが生徒の平等化に大いに役立っている．

(Vocabulary from comments)
hearten 《[他]通例受け身形で》〈人〉に希望を与える
be heartened to see/find/know  …を見て［…とわかって，…と知って］希望がわく
sicken
1 [他] 〈人〉 に憤りを抱かせる, 嫌悪感を与える
it sickens sb (that)   …ということは＜人＞を腹立たせる
It sickens me that someone could lie like that. あんなうそをつける人間がいたなんて腹が立つよ．
2 [他] …に吐きけを催させる, をむかむかさせる
be sickening for sth   どこか具合が悪い
sicken of sth [句動詞]  ＜…＞がいやになる, にうんざりする
excel (人が）抜きんでる, 秀でる
excel at/in sth
She really excels at sport.　彼女は本当にスポーツに秀でている．
despise  …を軽べつする, 見下す, 嫌悪する
prance  ぴょんぴょん跳ねながら歩く
basket  (バスケットボールの) 1ゴール, 得点
about  (目的・意義などについて) …のためで, …を意味して, …ということで
To me, art is about expressing emotions.  私にとって芸術とは感情の表現だ.
be all about (doing) sth 〈仕事・活動などの〉目指すところは＜…＞（すること）にある
My job is all about helping people.  私の仕事の目的は人助けにある.
This is what education is all about. これこそ教育の目標とするところだ.
template 手本, 見本, モデル
aggrandizement [U](けなして・フォーマル) (権力・重要性などの) 拡大, (地位などを) 高めること
self-aggrandizement [名] [U](けなして) 自己の誇張
cheapen …の品位を落とす, 安っぽくする
cheapen yourself (by doing sth)  （＜…＞することで）自分の品位を落とす
implied  暗に示された, 含意された, 暗黙の
fortitude  不屈の精神

180 South

　　I watched a movie featuring environmental issues. "180 South" is the title of the movie. The founders of Patagonia and the North Face got together and set out for a long journey to the south in 1968. During the journey, they got inspired and later succeeded in their business. The movie depicted a young man who traced their journey recently and the awesome and beautiful scenery of the Patagonia district of Argentina was spectacular. In the movie, the director made the young man start to mention environmental protection. I felt something uneasy at that time. The movie took on an aspect of leftism.
　　The leftists always call for irrefutable slogans such as "for children", "for environment protection", "No more war" and "No more Hiroshima". These slogans are actually right, I think. However, are their acts acceptable? Their self-righteous opinions were repeatedly portrayed in the movie. I became sick in the latter half of the movie.
　　What they are calling for is right, but what they are doing is not always right. It is my conclusion about the leftists. Something was strange in the movie. Coming back home, I checked some website concerning the Patagonia Brand and found a surprising fact; Patagonia is one of the sponsors of the notorious Sea Shepherd. It looks like they don't know that humans cannot help killing other kinds of creatures to live. There's a verb "itadaku" in Japanese, which means "receive something with gratitude and in a pious manner". We use this verb in the processing of meat not simply saying "kill" or "receive the lives of other creatures". Japanese has the backbone of the Shinto religion. There's nothing to be accused of by the cruel people of the Sea Shepherd.
　　Coming back on track, the scenery in this movie was nice, but the ideology behind the movie was not acceptable for me. I shall never buy the product of Patagonia and North Face from now.

I wrote about Shinto before here:
http://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2005/12/shinto-religion.html

(Vocabulary)
irrefutable  反駁(はんばく)できない, 論破できない
self-righteous 独善的な
portray 〈本・映画などが〉…を描く, 表現する [同意] depict
portray sb/sth as sth ＜…＞を＜…＞として描く［であると表現する］
The president likes to portray himself as a friend of the poor. その大統領は自分自身を貧者の友であると表現したがる．
in a pious manner 敬けんな態度で

(Vocabulary from kind comments)
hamstring  (人)を制約する, …を妨げる
flat out (米) (強調して) 本当に, まったく
baleen くじらのひげ
ramification 《[C]通例複数形で》(フォーマル)  (決定・行動などの) 影響, 結果
legal/political/social ramifications  法律［政治，社会］への影響
life form 生物, 生命体
propagate [他](フォーマル) 〈考え・信念など〉 を広める, 普及させる
a) [他](専門) 〈植物・種子など〉 を育てる, 繁殖させる
b) [自] 育つ, 繁殖する
sustenance (フォーマル) (生命維持に必要な) 食物, 栄養（物）[同意] nourishment
go astray
〈物が〉 紛失する, なくなる
〈計画などが〉 うまくいかない
 正道を踏みはずす, 悪の道に染まる
lead sb astray
＜人＞を邪道に導く
＜人＞を惑わす, だます
prey on sb/sth
prey on sth ＜…＞を捕食する
prey on sb ＜弱者など＞をえじきにする
prey on sb's mind 〈事件・状況・考えなどが〉 ＜人＞の心をさいなむ
get off one's soapbox 演説をやめる、自説［自分の意見］を引っ込める
【反】get (up) on one's soapbox
hit/strike home 〈発言・状況などが〉 胸に突き刺さる, 身にしみる

Diplomacy of Japan and Arrogance of Anglo-Saxons

　　I've really been worrying about the diplomacy of Japan recently. I wonder if the DPJ, the present ruling party of Japan, can make diplomatic efforts to resolve various issues between foreign countries. Russian high officials have repeatedly visited the northern territory of Japan to intensify their illegal occupation. South Korea is still occupying Takeshima island, which has been a traditional Japanese territory. China also still shows an interest in Senkaku Islands. Moreover the Japanese Government doesn't take any actual measures to expel them from Japanese territory.
　　By the way, how about the U.S.? Though lots of Japanese feel friendly toward the U.S. looking at their aid for the affected people in eastern Japan, is the U.S. really called a friend of Japan?
　　The US toy store, Toys'R'Us, came to my hometown years ago. My daughters were little at that time. That's why they were happy. However, some toy stores had to close their shops for that. In the last 10 years, most insurance companies in Japan were merged into U.S. companies. Japan Post Service was broken into three private companies and now the money of Japan is flowing out toward the U.S. These moves were from orders from the U.S. and this fact came to be known across Japan now.
　　I'd like to add one thing; I'm not accusing the U.S. The U.S. Government is just pursuing the interests of Americans. It's natural. The Japanese Government is so stupid that the U.S. can do anything they want.
　　Now, I have a few questions looking at the U.S. from another angle. How does the U.S. manage to change the rules of international society for its own convenience? What's the reason for it to force Muslims to adopt democracy? Is democracy the best system? Isn't it too arrogant? Anglo-Saxons aren't a majority in the world.
　　I presume that the U.S. believes that its own culture and policy is the best in the world, but if the American people believe that, but they are helpless idiots. They should calm down and think carefully about the world's cultural heritage. How much do they have? The ruins of the native Americans, the Statue of Liberty, which was gifted from France, the imitation of the Palladian style building. In other words, they have nothing original which they can be proud of.
　　I hope Japanese politicians would be proud of our own culture. To my regret, most of them are still brainwashed by the post-war policy of the U.S. and the Communist International. I wish Japan would be such a nation that could fight the evils of the world openly and squarely with the promise of a good conscience.

 

(Vocabulary)
openly and squarely / with the promise of a good conscience  正々堂々と

Do not build homes below this point!

　　I think there are numerous stone monuments in Japan, but nothing is more well-known than this monument in the picture now. It reads that homes built on higher ground would make you happy; don't forget the huge disaster by the tsunami and don't build homes below this point!
　　Lots of households could have reportedly avoided damage by the tsunami following this ancient tradition. I admired the idea of the ancestors that built the monument at the highest reach of the tsunami.
　　It would be our task to inform posterity of the calamity.

(Vocabulary)
stone marker/monument 石碑
tradition （口伝による）言い伝え

Friend or Enemy?

A month has passed since the unprecedented huge earthquake and tsunami devastated the eastern part of Japan. I wrote about the resilience of Japan in the past entry; I'm writing about the current picture of Japan in my eyes this time.
The affected people are showing undaunted exertion. Each and every person does what he/she can/should do. The tsunami deprived them of their loved ones, houses, possessions and bread and butter. Fishermen lost their boats, farms for sea products and seafood processing factories. Various kinds of rubble on the bottom of the coast curb the use of the ports. 78% of the rice fields along the coast were damaged by seawater. What's more, in some areas, seawater is still on the fields, because of the ground sinking. Little kids lost their books and stationery. Most of their kindergardens and schools were also damaged. In such helpless conditions, the assistance of the U.S. was really, really, helpful and I'm grateful. I will never forget their friendship and Tomodachi Operation. I'll hand it down in posterity.
Next, I'd like to talk about the nuclear crisis in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Station. I read several reports written in English, German and Korean. I was very disappointed with them. It's not the nuclear power generation but the unbelievably terrible tsunami that is responsible for this accident. Lots of European people apparently insist on abandoning the nuclear plant, not improving the security of the plant. The nuclear explosion occurred in Chernobyl, but the nuclear fission reaction was shut off a second after the earthquake in Fukushima. I'm not sure, but this looks like a way higher technique. Additionally, no one died in this crisis.
There's an amazing fact that wasn't broadcast overseas. Just when the earthquake broke out, 27 Shinkansen bullet trains were in service in the affected area. Several of them were at their top speed, over 300km/h. Guess what became of those trains. None of them derailed. No passengers were injured. Can you believe it? The earthquake state, California's Governor, Mr. Schwarzenegger, would have to choose Japanese technology for California's super-express train project.
Now, I'll write about the aid from overseas. Lots of countries operated warm-hearted relief efforts for Japan. I'd like to pick four countries, such as Israel, Taiwan, China and South Korea in this entry.
Several Japanese media, like NHK, Asahi Newspaper and Mainichi Newspaper are known for their biased coverage. They didn't want to cover the aid by Israel and Taiwan on one hand, and willingly report the aid by China and Korea. Why?
In the Greater East Asian War, Japan had a military pact with Germany which persecuted the Jews, but Japan rescued lots of Jews and helped them to move to the U.S. against the policy of Nazi Germany. It is a historical fact. The central figure of this plan was Mr. Hideki Tojo, who was accused and hanged as one of the war criminals in the Tokyo Tribunal of War Criminals. This fact is very inconvenient for some liberal groups. Though the Israel team stayed in the affected area and continued its efforts even after the nuclear crisis, the above-mentioned media didn't report them. However, lots of Japanese could know of their devotion via the internet.
In Taiwan, ordinary people raised relief funds and the total of the fund got over that of the U.S. This fund was raised by not the company, or some welfare groups, but private ordinary people! I was moved. However, this fact wasn't reported in Japan and Prime Minister Kan didn't show any gratitude to Taiwan, so voluntary people raised money for advertisement in the Taiwanese newspaper. Their target was 2,400,000 yen, but the donation reached 20,000,000 yen. I'd like Taiwanese to know our feelings of gratitude.
The second largest GDP country, China, sent only 13 people for rescue, but apparently they only took lots of pictures and didn't work so hard. They were thought to be kind of spies or they would sell pictures to the Chinese media privately.
When Japanese authorities announced a Japanese textbook of history, the South Korean people stopped raising money against it. They were the people which I had expected. No matter what textbook Japan adopts, it is an internal affair. I realized their narrow-mindedness.
In such difficult times, Japan was being threatening by some countries. Russia frequently dispatched scout planes and fighter jets along the border and Japan had to scramble fighter jets while the Japan Self Defence Force was performing rescue tasks. China is also threatening the coast guards around the Senkaku Islands. South Korea is building a new military facility on Takeshima Island which is Japanese territory.
The Japanese genetically hate disputes. The Japanese tend to prefer an apology and concessions rather than a dispute, but there are limits. The above-mentioned stupid three countries seem to be trying our patience. They should know that they are playing a tragic adventure.
Even though the media are foolish, people can get the exact information from the net. I think Japan will change by getting rid of the influence of the GHQ and McArthur.

(Vocabulary)
picture 《常に単数形で》 状況, 情勢
the big/bigger/wider picture   全体像, 大局
It's important not to lose sight of the big picture. 全体像を見失わないことが大切である．
Give me the picture of Japan in your eyes. あなたが見た日本の様子を教えてください。
undaunted  (困難などに対して) くじけない, ひるまない
exertion   a lot of physical or mental effort
bread and butter 生活の糧
be damaged by seawater 塩害を受ける
ground sinking 地盤沈下
nuclear fission reaction  核分裂反応
biased coverage 偏向報道
internal affair / matter of internal politics  内政問題
narrow-minded 心の狭い, 偏狭な, 狭量な
narrow-mindedness  偏狭, 狭量
scout plane 偵察機
give way 譲歩する
concession 譲歩

Sprit of Japan

I'm writing about the spirit of Japan in reply to Mr/Ms YL's comment in my entry of "Resilience".
Japan was attacked by propaganda from China and Korea after the Greater East Asian War. Some people held out against them, but the Japanese Government did not take protective measures against them. They were desperately useless. Consequently lots of Japanese were brainwashed and came to think that Japan used to be an evil nation. I believe that all the Japanese will stand up against those critics when it is required.
Modesty or to be humble is a virtue for the Japanese. The DNA of the Japanese always tries to avoid conflict with others. The result of this virtue is the Russian unlawful occupation of the Kuril Islands and the southern half of Karafuto (Sakhalin in Russian). South Korea's unlawful occupation of Takeshima is the same. China is taking advantage of the Japanese virtue.
If you want to know Japan and the Japanese, read "Bushido: The Soul of Japan" written by Inazo Nitobe. It is written in English. I wrote some entries about Inazo Nitobe before. Additionally, I want you to access the website of the Society for the Dissemination of Historical Fact. Lastly I'll show you the links to the society and my entries concerning Inazo Nitobe.

http://www.sdh-fact.com/

http://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2008/07/a-new-acquainta.html
http://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2008/03/nitobe-memorial.html
http://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2008/01/ski-schedule.html
http://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2007/08/taking-a-walk-i.html

(Vocabulary)
hold out against 対抗する
take advantage of people's misfortunes 人の不幸につけ込む

(From comments)
proletariat ［無産］階級, プロレタリアート [同意] working-class
See the 3rd comment of this entry! Very useful and highly suggestive!
manifest (感情・態度など)を表明する
be manifested in/through sth ＜…＞に［を通じて］はっきりと表れる
manifest itself（問題・症状などが) 現れる, 目に見えてくる
on a silver tray　　See the 3rd comment of this entry!
stature 評価
of stature  評価されている
the masses 《複数扱い》 一般大衆, 庶民
denominator 分母
lowest common denominator
(けなして) (万人にとっての) 共通項 (専門) 最小公分母
[同意] least common denominator(米)
lightweight (けなして) 取るに足らぬ人, 小者,軽薄な人,根性なし
class 一流の
demagogue 扇動政治家
demagogy (demagoguery とも) [名] [U]（民衆）扇動
demagogic  [形]扇動的な
statecraft 政治的活動, 政治的手腕
a school of thought  (ある集団の共有する) 考え方, 見解
There are two main schools of thought on the subject. その問題については2つの主流となる見解がある．
discredit
[他] …の信用［威信］を傷つける
《[他]通例受け身形で》 〈理論・報告など〉 の信憑(しんぴょう)性を失わせる
a discredited theory 信憑性を失った理論
venture an opinion 思い切って［あえて］意見を言う
in medical/scientific/advertising parlance 医学［科学，広告業界］用語で
in common/popular/ordinary parlance 平易な言葉で言えば
Joe Six-pack, the Great Unwashed    See the 3rd comment.

 

German Media and Administration

　　Germany has been one of my favorite countries since I began learning German in my medical school and now I often enjoy netsurfing on Germany. The other day, I was really surprised to read some reports on Japan's atomic plant's accident published by various German news media. This unhappy accident was made a political issue by the German opposition party. I have written about the SPD before.
　　The atomic power station's collapse is broadcast hysterically in Germany, where those facilities have been reportedly decreased by the government in the not so distant future. Germany seems to have increased the import of natural gas from Russia. The natural gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea is under construction and is not being interfered with by other countries on the way to Germany. In other words, they are shifting the source of power from atomic power to natural gas. They say, "The replacement is for safety." Don't they think of improving the safety of atomic power plants? Japan will do it, I believe.
　　Russia will sell the natural gas to Germany because it's more profitable than they use it domestically. On the other hand, Russia gets power from atomic power plants. It means that the German efforts to abolish the atomic power plants are nonsense from the global viewpoint.
　　What's more, the French atomic plants are lined up near the border with Germany. If an accident occurred in these plants, Germany would be surely affected because of the west wind.
　　The German reaction might be due to the fear of an accident in Chernobyl though the structure of the reactor, the running system and the measures taken against the accident are totally different from those of Japan. In Japan, the price of one's life is unbelievably high in comparison with that of Russia. The Environment Agency set the ambient criteria strictly and with enough margin of safety. If several data exceed the allowable limit set by the Agency a little, you don't have to panic. I'd like the German media to keep their head and check the real data carefully.
　　Eventually, they are just making political capital out of the unhappy accident in Japan. The Prime Minister, Merkel, might be sorry for the current of thought as she is originally a physical scientist from East Germany and knows more about atomic plants.
　　A friend in need is a friend indeed. Germany wasn't a real friend of Japan. The German rescue team went back home at once without heading for the devastated areas while 18 teams from all over the world are working there. Lots of the Japanese are grateful for those countries from the bottom of their heart. The present administration must be so, though their policy originally was anti-U.S. How about Germany? This year is the 150th anniversary of entering diplomatic relations between Germany and Japan. I was so disappointed.

(Vocabulary)
Chernobyl  チェルノブイリ
exceed the allowable limits set by the Environment Agency 環境基準を超える
ambient criteria / standard  環境基準
margin of safety〔【略】MOS〕 / safety margin  安全域
keep your head   (困難な状況などで) 冷静さを保つ
make capital out of sth ＜…＞を利用する, に乗じる
a current of thought 支配的な思想［考え方］, 思潮
enter diplomatic relations  国交を結ぶ

ドイツでの日本の報道について

ドイツは大好きな国の一つで、時折ドイツ国内のネットサーフィンを楽しむ。日本の地震の報道については本当に驚いた。日本の自然災害が政争の具にされているのだ。

ドイツの原発事情；

日本の事故がヒステリックに報道されている。
ドイツでは原発を減らすという。そしてロシアからのガスを買う。他国に影響されぬようバルト海ルートが造られているという。ロシアは自国で消費するよりも高く売れるのでガスを売り、自国では原子力発電を行う。地球レベルで見ればなんの環境対策にもなっていない。
フランスの原発はドイツとの国境近くに建設されている。何かあれば、ドイツに影響があるだろう。
チェルノブイリの後遺症か？　日本と比べたらその構造も、管理体制も、対応も全く異なるのに。日本の厳しすぎる環境基準、ロシアと比べて命の価値の違う日本。
結局は、ドイツで原発を減らすというのはＳＰＤ（ドイツの民主党）の政争の具である。物理学者のメルケルさん、さぞや頭の痛いことだろう。

結局ドイツは友人ではなかった；

ドイツからの救援隊は何もすることなく帰国した。１８地域からの救援隊は今なお活動しているにもかかわらず。アメリカには借りができたなと国民の誰もが感じている。アメリカ嫌いの現政権もなにも言葉はあるまい。果たしてドイツに対してはどうか？今年は国交開始１５０周年という節目である。ドイツには失望した。

Resilience

　　The recovery work and the relief activities for affected people began in earnest. More than 200,000 affected people stay at several thousand shelters which are scattered within a 300 km radius at present. The access roads to the shelters were broken and there had been no communication between most shelters and the rescue bureau for a few days. The authorities didn't know where and how many people were isolated and stranded. The people must have been starving and very cold. Some of them were wet to the skin. It was snowing.
　　Numerous choppers from Japan's Self-Defence Force (JSDF) and the U.S. military forces were searching for affected people in the rubble or houses isolated in the sea water. I would remember them with humble gratitude. A friend in need is a friend indeed. This is true.
　　By the way, I don't evaluate the government. Their response was so poor that they couldn't supply enough necessities to the affected people who were evacuated with the barest necessities. They had no food, overcoats, heaters, electricity and kerosine, to name a few. On the other hand, ordinary people were great. They looked out for each other even in the shelters. The construction companies speeded up reconstruction efforts on the roads. The Joban highway (Link 1, Link 2), which is the most important road for the victims was completely destroyed, but it was recovered to the level that trailers could run one by one for only 6 days. Sendai port is also important to transportation by cargo ships. This port was already recovered partially though a number of cars, rubble and something like that are sunk in the port and they hamper the entry of the ships into port. Sendai airport was also restored partially. As the runway was a half of what it used to be, it's only available for the U.S. military and JSDF aircraft, but it's enough now. Oil factories are completely retrieved. Those works were done by ordinary people. Everyone knows and does what they should do.
　　For the last of this entry, I have to refer to the present heros, who are working at the collapsed atomic power plant with their life on the line. All of them know the possible exposure to radiation. What drives them? One of their wives reportedly said to her husband "I hope you will be a Messiah for Japan." This fireman is great and his wife is much more than great. I couldn't hold back my tears.
　　It is expected to take many years to complete the overall reconstruction work. However, we will surely overcome these difficulties.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/24/japan-disaster-reconstruction-road-recovery

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1369307/Japan-tsunami-earthquake-Road-repaired-SIX-days-destroyed.html

(Vocabulary)
resilience  立ち直る力, 回復力
recovery efforts / work // rehabilitation work  復旧作業
in earnest 本格的に
relief activities for affected people  被災民救援活動
humble (ほめて) 謙虚な, つつましい
a humble apology (フォーマル) 心からの謝罪
with only the barest necessities  着の身着のままで
bare 《[名]の前でのみ》 かろうじての, ほんのわずかの
the bare essentials (the bare necessities とも) 最低限必要なもの
to name a few 数例を挙げると
look out for sb/sth  ＜…＞に注意する,  ＜…＞を保護する, の世話をする
speed up reconstruction efforts of ～の復旧作業を急ぐ
refinery / oil factory  製油所
retrieve [他](状況)を修復する, 立て直す, (元のよい状態)に復旧する
Messiah 《常に単数形で》 (比喩的に) 救世主
hold back one's tears  涙をこらえる

Atomic Plant Collapse

　　There are several atomic power stations in the disaster-stricken area, where Japanese people had launched the first-ever atomic power station in its history in 1965. Those power stations were designed elaborately against severe earthquakes and successfully survived the harsh rocking from the earthquake this time.
　　However, an unbelievable and unforeseen huge tsunami destroyed the emergency power generating system of the plant. They ended up getting short of power in eastern Japan. Tokyo has also been crippled by the accident as I wrote in the entry called "Rotating Blackout".
　　Some people cry out for the abolition of the atomic power stations now, but I don't think so. Cars sometimes cause traffic accidents and passenger planes sometimes crash. Do you think that you should stop using cars and planes? These machines got more and more secure through miserable accidents. I hope atomic power stations will be safer and more reliable.

(Vocabulary)
unforeseen  (状況などが)思いもよらない, 予期しなかった
unforeseen circumstances/events  予期せぬ事態［出来事］
emergency power generating system　非常発電装置
cripple …に打撃を与える, をだめにする, 麻痺(まひ)させる
Asia's economy has been crippled by inflation. アジアの経済はインフレで打撃を受けている．

Come Back Home and No One There

　　I came back home after 4 days' continuous work. There was no one but Mocha, my dog. My wife will be late due to a party after the commencement of her college. I wondered if there was something to eat? Alright! Several kinds of frozen food were stored in the fridge. I plugged in the electric kettle for my tea and turned on the rice cooker. I found ash or cement like dust (maybe dead skin) on the floor and turned the roomba on. Then, I turned the laundry machine on as I was told by my wife. I set the DVD recorder for the local news. After that, I went out for a walk with Mocha. I realized that my life is really based on the stable supply of power.
　　As I wrote the other day, the scheduled partial blackout is going on in eastern Japan. Daily life would be so inconvenient.

Change of Mind

　　I feel gloomy about the devastated people who have to stay in a shelter during such cold nights, but I'm writing about something happier for now. If not, I would be depressed. It will need such a long time measured in terms of 10-year units to recover from this catastrophe. I think of long-lasting aids for them to rise up, such as utilizing the products of eastern Japan, travelling there and timely donations for various events.
　　It's 2300 on the 14th. I'm in the safe office. Just now, lots of personnel are reportedly said to be on the go to repair the plant. They must be working in the exposure to the high-level toxic radiation. Some of them might lose their lives. I'm full of gratitude for their devoted work.
　　Anyway, I'll write about my new bike in the next entry.

(Vocabulary)
gloomy  憂鬱な, 重苦しい
devoted 愛情深い, 献身的な

Rotating Blackout

The authorities decided to take measures of a rotating blackout against the shortage of power due to the atomic power plant accidents. It's reasonable and I agree with the plan, but how many people will be affected by this plan? I've never heard of a rotating blackout before. The electric company explained that they divided their vast power-supplying area into 5 smaller area groups and would stop supplying power to those divided area by rotation. It will shrink the economic activity of Japan, but it can't be helped.
My eldest daughter lives in the heart of Tokyo. She says that ordinary people's lives have been considerably affected by the shortage of power. The transportation of necessities seems to be restricted and they are getting short of those day by day.
The power plant survived the ever-hardest quake as it was designed, but the authorities didn't figure out the more than 5 meter tsunami. One of my classmates in high school is what you call a top specialist in the field of atomic power and works at the neighboring atomic power research center in Tokai. He was really sorry, saying that his life would be nonsense if the research of the atomic power stopped due to this accident. The anti-tsunami system is far cheaper and easier than the anti-quake system. The researchers were successful in the difficult protection from the quake, but were careless about the tsunami, even though the measures against tsunamis were simple and far easier than those against rocking.
The Japanese people are seeing how it will develop with breathless interest.

(Vocabulary)
by rotation  交代で
can't be helped  仕方ない
with breathless interest  固唾を飲んで
on a rotating basis  輪番制で
rolling blackout  計画停電