Japanese Surgeon's Daily Life

School Trip

     A will leave for Hokkaido for the school trip next week. I hope she will have a good memory of it with her friends, but I have a concern. As you know, the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit will be held in Hokkaido at the same time. The Japanese Government will have elaborate plans against terrorist plots, but I'm afraid A could be involved in the terror. A group of parents were insisting that the trip be put-off for security reasons and to avoid the packed airport and jammed traffic. Their opinion is acceptable, at least for me. However, that wasn't the case in the eyes of A. She said they should visit there just now, because it is a rare chance to see what the summit meeting is like.
     Her way of thinking is just like me. Opportunities are not always in our reach. Her life will be active and aggressive in a good way.

Tsingtao beer

     I was astonished to see the picture of Tsingtao in the Herald Tribune this morning. I didn't have permission from the Herard Tribune, but I'm putting up the picture from the paper below.
     My image of Tsingtao was like this; beautiful scenery and a suitable place for a holiday resort. In the early 20th century, Germany was holding this district by lease and gave the Chinese the know-how to run the brewery. Tsingtao beer originated with German brewery technology and has now become the most popular brand beer in China. The Germans at that time must have thought that Tsingtao's water was very clear and suitable for making beer. The quality of the water is the soul of alcoholic beverages.
     What do you say after looking at this picture? Here is the competition site for the water sports in the Beijing Olympic Games in a month. I am eager to know why the committee chose China.

青島ビール

　今日付のヘラルドトリビューン紙を見て驚いた。同紙の許可は頂いていないがここに転載する。まあ、ご覧あれ。　青島についての僕の印象は、美しい、澄んだ空、きれいな水、リゾート地、といったところだろうか。２０世紀初頭に青島がドイツの租借地であった時にドイツ人はシナ人にビールの醸造法を伝えた。そして今、青島ビールは最も飲まれるブランドとなった。当時のドイツ人は青島の水が上質でビールの醸造に適していると考えたのであろう。質の良い水は酒の命である。　ところがどうだ、この景色は！この場所でボート競技が行われるのである。オリンピック委員会がこの国を選んだ理由を是非とも知りたいものだ。

Lazarev

     Lazarev is a small town located on the Mamiya Strait between Sakhalin and the Asian mainland. Sakhalin is absolutely Japan's territory historically and also from the viewpoint of international law, but it has been occupied by Russia since the end of the Great East Asian War (the Pacific War). I'll skirt around this issue this time.
     I'm planning to ride my scooter around the Japan Sea in the future and I will visit Sakhalin by my scooter via Wakkanai in Hokkaido maybe in two years' time as the first step to the round-Japan-Sea tour.
     Now, I'd like to get to know someone who lives in Lazarev and can speak English. If I can, I will cross the Mamiya Strait to meet the person in two years' time. Is there anyone who can help me visit Sakhalin and Lazarev?

(Vocabulary)
skirt (skirt around とも) [動] [他]
1 〈場所など〉をぐるっと囲む, の縁沿いに通る
2 〈重要な問題など〉への言及を避ける
in 10 days'/five years'/a few minutes' etc. time  10日［5年，数分］後に
I have an appointment with the doctor in two days' time. 2日後に医者の予約を入れてある．

　ラザレフはサハリンとユーラシア大陸を隔てる間宮海峡に面した小さな町である。サハリンは歴史的にも国際法上も日本の領土であるが、大東亜戦争(太平洋戦争)以後、ロシアに占拠されている。が、この問題について今は触れずにおこう。

　ところで、いつか日本海をスクーターで一周しようと思っている。その環日本海一周ツーリングの第一段階として、北海道の稚内からサハリンへ行ってみようと思っている。

　そのため今、ラザレフに住み、英語を話せる人と知り合いになりたいと思っている。もし、知り合いができればその人に会うために間宮海峡を渡ってみたい。サハリンとラザレフ訪問の手助けをしてくれる人はいないだろうか？

(KW: LAZAREV  Lazaref  ラザレフ　間宮海峡　サハリン　ツーリング　バイク　スクーター　motorcycle)

Cry Freedom

     I'm writing my impression of the movie "Cry Freedom" that I caught tonight. This movie dealt with the apartheid policy that had been implemented in South Africa. In this cruel policy for black people, a journalist who was on the side of the government and a young black man who was on the side of the blacks got to know each other and promoted good feelings.
     After the young black man's suspicious death, his friend determined to escape from the country and appeal to public opinion. He was in strict custody, so his escape was very difficult and was the same as putting his life on the line. His escape was not smooth, but finally successful.
     I'd like to give him a big hand and got angry against the whites. The European powers have ruled the countries of colored races and have been responsible for unspeakable calamities to the people since the 15th century.
     The first war in which colored people defeated white people was the Japanese-Russo War that started in 1904. This victory seemed to inspire colored people all over the world. This is true. Do you know the first nation that appealed for the elimination of racial discrimination at an international conference? It was JAPAN at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, just after the First World War. The superpowers at that time rejected it though. It's hardly possible that nations with  plantations and slaves would have agreed with Japan's proposition.

(Vocabulary)
catch
(時間に間に合って)(映画・番組など）を見られる,（人）と連絡がつく, 話せる
I only caught the last 20 minutes of the movie.　その映画は最後の20分しか見られなかった．
[他](話)（コンサート・展覧会・映画など）を見に行く
catch a movie(米)　 映画を見に行く
implement〈計画・政策・法律など〉 を実行する, 実施する, 履行する
promote good feelings between  ～間の友情を深める
suspicious death  不審死
on the line  (仕事・名声などが) 危険にさらされて
put yourself on the line (for sb)  （＜人＞のために）身を危険にさらす
Let's give him a hand  拍手を送ろう
colored person // colored races  有色人種
unspeakable 言葉にならないほどひどい, 言語道断の
unspeakable crimes 筆舌に尽くしがたい残忍な犯行
calamity [C,U] 災難, 惨事 [同意] disaster
It's hardly possible that  ＜that以下＞のはずがない。
(KW: 遠い夜明け　アパルトヘイト　南アフリカ)

The Truth of Nanjing

     I watched a film about what is called the Nanjing Massacre today, though I could only catch the first one hour of it due to an emergency case. This film was the first installment of a trilogy.
     What is known as the Nanjing Massacre has been investigated comprehensively and thoroughly for these past 20 years. Consequently it was concluded that the Nanjing Massacre was made up by the Chinese Communist Party and there are numerous supporting pieces of evidence. Open letters have been sent to Chinese ambassadors, Wen Jiabao (温家宝) and Hu Jintao (胡錦涛) again and again, but they didn't give any answer. I'll show you one of the letters in the following URL: http://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2007/04/open-letter-to-.html What do you think after reading this open letter?
     Japan used to be an evil country and was corrected by the U.S. This is what I was taught by the Government. War criminals were punished and the Japanese people were freed by the U.S. Is that correct? Why has Japan apologized to China and Korea so many times? Many Japanese who can get information on the internet started wondering what the real history was like. I've learned about the Tokyo Trial for myself. I'd like to write about the Tokyo Trial and how we were brainwashed by D. McArthur from then on.

  Do you know who was the first person to kill more than 100,000 citizens in one night since recorded history?

(Vocabulary)
catch [他] (時間に間に合って) (映画・番組など)を見られる, (人)と連絡がつく, 話せる
I only caught the last 20 minutes of the movie. その映画は最後の20分しか見られなかった。
installment (雑誌・テレビなどの連載物の) 1回分, 一話, 一部 =episode
trilogy  (劇・本・映画などの) 三部作

(KW: 南京事件 南京大虐殺)

This Week's TIME Magazine

     The picture shows the cover of this week's TIME magazine. It tells us how miserable Burma's situation is.
     The Japanese media call Burma Myanmar, in spite of the fact that refugees from Burma call themselves Burmese not Myanmese. The Japanese media are disgraceful.
     Time magazine has consistently used Burma not Myanmar since the coup d'etat in 1989. The writer in the magazine puts it like this, "Burma, also known as Myanmar." Such an attitude that acts according to their principles is honorable. It might be one of the reasons why I read this magazine.

(Vocabulary)
act according to one's principles    筋を通す

(和訳)
写真は今週号のタイム誌である。ビルマの現状が如何に無残なものであるか物語っている。日本のメディアはビルマをミャンマーと呼ぶ。亡命ビルマ人が自らをミャンマー人ではなくビルマ人と呼ぶにもかかわらず、である。日本のメディアは本当に恥ずかしい。タイム誌は１９８９年のクーデター以来一貫してビルマと書いている。この記事のライターもミャンマーととしても知られるビルマという言い方をしている。筋を通すこのような態度は素晴らしい。僕がタイム誌を講読する理由の一つである。

I Hate China #3

     The insurgency in Tibet and the surrounding areas is being reported in various media every day. The Chinese government has come under fire. I wonder if the media think of China as a normal or sane country. My opinion about China is as follows:
     Since ancient times China has created a world of its own rather than being a part of the globe. China has a different sense of values, logic and other regulations. They worship money, I mean mommonism. Their logic is that one who is deceived is wrong and cheating is not bad. Cheating is celebrated among them. Anything goes under their regulations. Therefore it's no use discussing something with them from the way of thinking in other countries. Above all I advise you to consider Chinese as aliens coming from another planet.

Poisonous dumplings were made in Japan!
The insurgency in Tibet was planned by Dalai Lama XIV! 

     From this attitude I see through their 4000 years of thinking, like no consideration, arrogance, buck-passing,,,etc.
     There is a reason that I'm writing this entry. I sometimes get e-mails from China or Chinese living out of China, asking me to spread the facts about China among Japanese people. I suppose they read the category "Current Affairs" of my blog. I'll show you some of them. If you feel scared to see bleeding, never click these or you won't get a good sleep tonight.

http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2004/12/200412130343.shtml
(venue for public executions)
http://photo.minghui.org/photo/images/persecution_evidence/E_wuju_300_1.htm
(victims of torture and rape by Chinese authorities)
http://www.tchrd.org/press/2008/pr20080318c.html
(Tibetan victims of torture and crackdown by Chinese authorities)

 

(Vocabulary)
insurgency (政府に対する) 反乱, 暴動
under fire 砲火を浴びて、攻撃の的になって、攻撃［批判・非難］を受けて、やり玉に上げられて
since ancient times  古来
create a world of one's own  独自の世界を作る
concept of values / one's sense of value  価値観
worship [他] (神など)を拝む, 崇拝する
mammonism / worship of money 拝金主義
anything goes どんなことでもまかり通る、何でもあり、制限なし、自由気まま
above all 　何よりも（まず）、とりわけ
dumpling ギョーザ
consideration [U] 思いやり, 配慮, 気遣い
[＋consideration for]
He shows no consideration for others. 彼は他人への思いやりがない．
pass the buck    責任転嫁する
venue (会議・競技などの) 会場, 開催地
venue for public executions   公開処刑場

私は中共が嫌いです　その３

　チベットやその周辺国における反政府暴動が連日報道され、中共政府は非難の的になっている。メディアは支那を正常でまともな国だと考えているのだろうか。僕の意見を書きます。　古来より、支那はみずからの世界を形成し、異なった価値観、論理、規則を持っている。その最たるものは拝金主義である。騙される方が悪いのであって、騙すことは悪くないというのが彼らの論理である。騙すことは彼らの間では賞賛され、何でもＯＫの世界である。それ故、シナ人と他の普通の国々の考え方で議論しても意味がない。まず忠告する。シナ人を地球外からやってきたエイリアンとして扱うことだ。　毒入り餃子は日本で作られた！　チベットの反政府暴動はダライラマ法王によって計画された！　すべて支那人の身勝手な主張である。 　他者に対しての思いやり、気遣いなど全くなく、傲慢で、責任転嫁、、、これが彼らの４０００年におよぶ態度である。　こう書くのには理由がある。たびたび、支那からあるいは国外にする支那人からメールが届く。日本人に事実を広めて欲しいと言う願いである。多分このブログの時事問題のカテゴリを見たのだろう。いくつかを紹介する。もし、出血が怖いような人は決してくリンクしないこと。 http://www.peacehall.com/news/gb/china/2004/12/200412130343.shtml (公開処刑場) http://photo.minghui.org/photo/images/persecution_evidence/E_wuju_300_1.htm (中共政府による拷問やレイプの被害者) http://www.tchrd.org/press/2008/pr20080318c.html(中共政府の取り締まり、拷問のチベット人被害者)

(KW: 毒入り餃子 チベット弾圧 チベット人被害者 犠牲者)

Koujien, Japanese Most Popular Dictionary

     I have been using Ichitaro, a word processing software, like the wordstar in English-speaking lands. In the DOS era, Ichitaro had a large market share, but as Windows became dominant, the share was considerably taken over by Microsoft Word. However, the ability to handle Japanese sentences is better in Ichitaro than in Microsoft Word, and moreover my fingers are much more used to Ichitaro than Microsoft Word. That's why I have used Ichitaro for 20 years.
     Ichitaro has been upgraded every year lately and I upgraded it this year for the first time in 4 years. The picture shows the package of the newest version of Ichitaro.
     Ichitaro has dozens of supporting softwares and Koujien's DVD version is one of them. This dictionary is the most popular dictionary of Japanese words and has a considerably dominant market share, but to my regret it is edited by people who have been heavily influenced by Chinese communism. I've never allowed my daughters to use this dictionary, especially in looking for current affairs so as not to be brainwashed.
     Nowadays this issue is coming to the surface. I hope many Japanese people have noticed this fact.
     If you are Japanese, try to look up "日中共同宣言, the mutual declaration between Japan and China" in Koujien. You will be surprised to know how Taiwan is described in it.

(Vocabulary)
English-speaking lands    英語圏の国々
upgrade the software    ソフトウェアをバージョンアップする
the mutual declaration between Japan and China　日中共同宣言

　この２０年一太郎を使っている。指が慣れていることもあるが、日本語を扱う能力は捨てがたい。その一太郎を４年ぶりにバージョンアップした。そのパッケージを写真に示しています。
　一太郎をサポートするソフトは数十にも及ぶが、広辞苑もそのひとつ。これは日本で最も人気にある日本語辞書である。しかし、残念なことにこの辞書は中共に強く影響を受けた連中が作成しており、娘達にはこれを使わないように言っている。徳に時事問題に関しては洗脳されないようにと。
　最近になって、この問題が表面化したが、多くの日本人がこの事実に気づくことを望む。もし読者が日本人なら「日中共同宣言」を引いてみるとよい。そこで台湾がどのように表現されているか、知ると驚くことだろう。

(KW: 広辞苑 反日左翼)

U.S. Presidential Election

     Female or Black? Such an issue is only superficial. His or her view of the world is correct or not? Anti-Japanese or pro-Japanese? Flatterer or having an affinity for China? These are the problems.
     During the next four years, the power of the U.S. will decrease drastically, I suppose. Some huge streams that affect world history will happen, like the tragedy of the era of former President Carter, 1976-1980. President Carter was born in the atmosphere of being weary of war and acknowledgement of the decline of th U.S.
     He declared at first he would pull the U.S. Army back from South Korea and made Asian countries feel doubtful about U.S. policy. He didn't intervene in African countries when the government was overthrown in Mozambique. At last his policy resulted in the Russian invasion of Afghanistan.
     You might wonder why I remember him like this. That's because I'd met him in Kanagawa prefecture where Commodore Perry arrived in 1853. I was a university student at that time. I wanted to meet him and I attended the meeting. I remember as if it was yesterday that I couldn't understand his English due to his strong dialect.

(Vocabulary)
understanding of the world / view of the world    世界観
get weary of war  厭戦的になる
overthrow  (政府・制度など) を打倒する, 転覆させる = oust

　女性か黒人か？そんな問題は表面的なものに過ぎない。彼らの世界観が正しいのかどうか、親日的か反日的か、媚中派かどうか、これらが問題なのである。
　次の4年間、アメリカの力は劇的に減少するだろう。世界史に影響を及ぼす大きな流れが生ずるかもしれない。例えば1976年から1980年のカーター時代の悲劇のように。カーターは今のような厭戦的な空気の中で誕生し、アメリカの衰退を容認した。
　彼はまず、韓国からの撤退を宣言し、それはアジア諸国に不安感を生じさせた。モザンビーク政府が転覆したとき彼はアフリカ諸国に介入せず、ついにはソ連のアフガニスタン侵攻を許してしまった。
　なぜ、そんなことを覚えているかと思われるだろうが、実は彼に神奈川県であったことがあるのだ。この地は1853年にペリー提督が訪れた場所だ。当時まだ大学生だった僕は彼に会いたいと思って集会に参加した。彼の強い訛りのため英語が全く聞き取れなかったことを昨日のことのように覚えている。

Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration

     I'd like to mention my private opinion about the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration that was announced when the Prime Minister at the time, Jun'ichiro Koizumi, visited North Korea on Sep. 17th in 2002.
     In my humble opinion the basic philosophy of this Declaration is to make peace in the Korean Peninsula with Japan playing an active role. However I think this basic philosophy itself is completely wrong.
     No matter what condition North Korea is in, in peace or on a war footing, it doesn't matter to Japan. There's no more significant meaning than that peace is better than war for Japan.
     Why does Japan have to take part in many issues related to North Korea? It's not because we have to bring about peace in the Korean Peninsula, but because we have the abduction issue with North Korea.
     Kim Jong-il abused not only the human rights of some individuals but also the sovereignty of Japan. The North Korean National Agency took more than 100 people out of Japan who were living peacefully in the nation. If Japan can't restore them to their original home, Japan can't be accepted as a nation. I think that the Japanese administration must have a stronger attitude against other countries otherwise Japan will lose the point of its existence.

(Vocabulary)
Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration 日朝平壌宣言
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
in my humble opinion (話)  卑見［私見］によれば
on a war footing   臨戦体制で
take part in　～に参加［出場］する
bring about peace   平和をもたらす
Kim Jong-il  金正日（北朝鮮の呆れた独裁者、テロリスト）
abuse (物・体など)を酷使する, 損なう
sovereignty (一国を統治する) 主権, 統治権
be keen to play an active role 積極的にかかわることに強い意欲を示す
victims of human rights violations  人権侵害の被害者
restore to original state    原状回復する
have no place in　～に存在する意味がない （社会・分野などで）受け入れられない

小泉首相が訪朝して発表した日朝平壌宣言について私見を述べたい。宣言の基本は日本が積極的に関与して朝鮮半島に平和をもたらすというものだが、この基本そのものが根本的に間違っていると思う。朝鮮半島が平和であろうが、戦時体制であろうが日本には関係ない。日本にとって戦争よりは平和の方が良いという程度である。なぜ日本が北朝鮮問題に関わらねばならないのか？それは朝鮮半島に平和をもたらすためではなく、北朝鮮との間に拉致問題があるからである。金正日は個人の人権侵害だけでなく、日本の主権も侵した。北朝鮮は１００人以上の日本人を拉致した。もし日本が原状回復できなければ日本は国として認められないであろう。日本は強い態度を示すべきであり、そうでなければその存在の意味を失うであろう。

Korean Letters 4

Continued from here.

    I learned Korean history by myself. I focused on before the 19th century this time because I know roughly about after the 19th century.
     The pictures show the books that I read for these past 3 weeks. Both books in the first picture are written by a Korea-hating person and a Japan-hating person. I compared them with each other.
     The book on the right was written by a Japanese historian. His opinions, based on reliable evidence, seemed to be perfect. On the other hand the book on the left was funny and ridiculous. For example, the author describes the issue of Liancourt Rocks (Takeshima in Japanese) this way: Japan can easily file a lawsuit to the International Court of Justice because Japan has nothing to lose when it loses the case, but Korea is tightly controlling the Rocks effectively now and if it loses the case it has to give it up...so, Korea won't go to the Court. See also here.
     What do you think about this excuse? It's literally nonsense. It's because the Korean administration officials know that they have no chance against Japan that Korea won't sit at the table of the International Court. The author continues ....  The Korean language is superior to Japanese because homonyms are fewer in Korean than in Japanese. I couldn't believe my eyes to read this. I think he is unqualified to write books. In Japan and China the written language is an ideogram. Korean is a phonogram. His opinion is completely wrong. Originally it's of no use to struggle for mastery between different languages.
     I really think that Korean is systematic and beautiful. I'm learning it like maths and listening to it like music. I like it though I'm sorry to hear that Korean is denying the usage of Chinese characters.
     Anyway, the book on the left was written emotionally and the evidence is vague. Reading this book was just like wasting time.
     See the second picture. These books are written by a history researcher after intensive research. I examined some evidence that the author took up in his book and I got to believe these books. I'd like to pay a tribute to Korean readers to give me a chance to learn about Korean history. I got shocked to know it. If I were the Korean president, I would be sure to hide the historical facts and never show it to Korean children. Korean history is such a history.
     When the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea was signed in 1965, Seoul didn't say anything about the issue of comfort women. Why did the issue show up now? It has been my biggest question. I know the book that triggered this issue, but the author of this book revealed later that he wrote it on speculation and no evidence. However the Koreans are continuing to blame Japan for this issue. Why? In fact there's a general idea on prostitution (sex for money) in Japan but no notion about obliged comfort women (kind of sex slavery).
     "Comfort women" was from the Korean culture. If you are Korean, please study your own history and culture. Examine every kind of record and figures sincerely. There remain many documents in China, your country and also Japan. Many travel writers left the documents for you. I don't want to offend you and write about this issue any more but I hope you'll stop shifting a lot of the responsibility on Japan. (和訳)

(Vocabulary)
homonym     同音異義語
phonogram  表音文字
ideogram     表意文字
pay a tribute to　（人）に賛辞を呈する、（人）に敬意を表する、（死を）哀悼する
the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea　日韓基本条約   한일기본조약
hift responsibility to　（人）に責任を転嫁する［なすりつける］

韓国からの手紙４

ここからの続き　http://ridiculouskcruelc.seesaa.net/article/141154175.html　朝鮮史の勉強をした。１９世紀以後は大体わかっているので今回はそれ以前に焦点を当てた。写真はこの３週間の間に読んだ本を示している。最初の写真の２冊の本は韓国嫌いの人と日本嫌いの人とによって書かれたものである。これらを比べてみた。　右側の本は日本人歴史家によって書かれている。彼の意見は信頼できる根拠があり、完全なように見える。一方、左側の本はおかしくてばかげている。例えば、竹島についてはこう書かれている。日本は何も失うものがないから簡単に国際司法裁判所に訴えることができるが、韓国は現在竹島を実効支配しており、もし裁判で負ければそれを諦めねばならないから、、、だから韓国は訴訟に応じないのだと言う。参考: http://ridiculouskcruelc.seesaa.net/article/141154384.html　この言い訳はどうだ？全くナンセンスと言わざるを得ない。韓国が司法の場につかないのは、日本に対して勝ち目がないことを政府が知っているからだ。著者は続ける、、、朝鮮語は日本語よりも優れている。なぜなら同音異義語が日本語に比べて少ないからだと。これには驚いた。この著者は本を書く資格はないと思った。日本や中共の書き言葉は表意文字である。それに対して朝鮮語は表音文字だ。彼の言葉は完全に間違っている。もともと、言語の優位性を論じるなど、何の意味もないことだ。朝鮮語はシステマティックで美しいと思う。数学のように学び、音楽を聴くように聞いている。ただ、朝鮮人が漢字を使わないようにしてしまったことを聞いてとても残念に思うが、朝鮮語は好きだ。とにかく、左の本は感情的に書かれており、根拠が希薄だ。この本を読むことは時間の浪費に過ぎない。 　２番目の写真を見て欲しい。これらの本は歴史家により十分な研究の後に書かれている。著者が取り上げている根拠のうちいくつかを自分でも調べてみて、これらの本が信頼できるものとわかった。朝鮮史を勉強する機会を与えてくれた韓国の読者に感謝したい。朝鮮史を知って驚いた。もし、僕が韓国大統領であったら間違いなく事実を隠し、子供達には教えないだろう。朝鮮史はそのような歴史である。 　日韓基本条約が１９６５年に結ばれたとき、韓国は慰安婦問題について何も語らなかった。なぜ今になってこの問題が出てきたのか？引き金となった本を知ったが、後にこの著者は単なる想像で書いたもの、何の根拠もないことを明かしている。しかし、朝鮮人はこの問題で日本を責め続ける。いったいなぜ？日本には当時から売春婦という概念はあったが、強制的な慰安婦（性の奴隷）という概念はなかったのだ。 　慰安婦という概念は朝鮮文化から来ている。もしあなたが朝鮮人なら自国の歴史や文化を勉強してみることだ。支那や貴国、日本にも多くの文書が残っている。多くの旅行作家の記録もある。あなた方を攻撃するつもりはなく、この問題でこれ以上書くつもりもないが、日本に多くの責任を転嫁するようなことはやめて欲しい。

(KW: 黄　文雄　嫌韓流　혐일류）

Korean Letters 3

Continued from http://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2007/11/korean-letter-1.html

     To my surpirse, all of them are supporting my opinion written in the entry: http://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2007/10/korean-textbook.html

     Most e-mails acknowledge that my opinion is correct, but .... they change the topic and accuse Japan of doing various things. Some rebuttals were ridiculous and seemed to be kind of nursery rhymes, however a few criticisms raised some valid points that I couldn't answer promptly.
     Given this situation, I decided to study their history again. I studied world history in my high school days, but it was at the Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895) that Korea showed up on the stage of  world history. The relationship between Japan and Korea was taught in my Japanese history class, but it was just relations between both countries, not a part of the world and very regional issues. My knowledge about Korean history before the 19th century was very fractional and poor. I didn't know about their way of life. It took about 3 weeks to roughly learn about it and you might imagine how hard it was learning after my daily work. However, never! I didn't feel any pain, even one iota. It's fun to acquire knowledge.
     I replied to all the e-mails in English. I coudn't help writing strong opinions sometimes, but I am happy to exchange opinions with people from other countries. I really realized that mass medias are not always correct and we are easily brainwashed.

(Vocabulary)
nursery rhyme  童謡、わらべ歌
valid  (疑問・議論などが) もっともな, 妥当な
a valid point  もっともな点
given
【接続】 ～と仮定すると、～を考えると、～を前提として、～を所与として、～をかんがみて
【前】 〈文〉～と仮定すると、～を考える［考慮する］と、～を前提として、～を所与として
given this situation  このようなことから
not ~ one iota　少しも～ない、みじんも～ない

韓国からのメール３

ここからの続き　http://ridiculouskcruelc.seesaa.net/article/141154176.html 驚いたことに全てのメールがここで書いた僕の意見を支持してくれています。　http://ridiculouskcruelc.seesaa.net/article/141154189.html多くのメールが僕の意見は正しいと認めた上で、話題を変え、いろいろなことをしたと日本を非難しています。愚かな、寝言のような反論のある中で、すぐには答えられない的を射た批判もありました。このようなことから、朝鮮史を再び勉強してみることにしました。高校時代に世界史の勉強をしましたが、朝鮮が世界史の表舞台に登場するのは１８９５年の下関条約においてでした。日韓関係は高校時代、日本史の授業で教えられ、それは世界史の一部ではなく、限局された一地方の問題でした。僕の１９世紀以前の朝鮮史についての知識は貧弱でした。約３週間をかけてざっと勉強しましたが、何ら苦痛ではなく、知識を得ることは喜びでした。 全てのメールに英語で答え、時々は強い意見を書かざるを得ませんでしたが、外国の人々と意見を交換できるのはとても素晴らしいことです。日本のマスコミが常に正しいとは限らないこと、我々は簡単に洗脳されてしまうと言うことを実感できました。

Korean Letters 2

Continued from http://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2007/11/korean-letters-.html

     I hit upon an intersting idea reading these e-mails. I wonder why they don't want to add comments openly. If they do so, everyone could read their opinions. I found their deep psyche in some e-mails. It looked like they didn't want to agree with me in every situation. Their pride doesn't seem to let them acknowledge Japanese opinions. Pride goes before, and shame follows after.
     However, I admire their attitude in another sense. Their nationalism and patriotism are awesome. Japanese self-appointed liberal intellectuals blame Japan for doing something bad despite not having any secure evidence and many people support them. I can't understand their way of thinking.
     Korean people who express their affinity for Japan tend to be condemned. Such kind of patriotism is not good, but it's also a serious problem that many Japanese don't even have such patriotism.
     Nationalism and patriotism are totally described by one word, "aikokushin," in Japanese. Left wing groups insist that the word "aikokushin" shouldn't be taught to children. They raise their voices that "aikokushin" leads Japan to war.
     I think this is wrong. Actually, "nationalism" might be harmful for most Japanese, but "patriotism" is essential and necessary to all peoples. The Japanese educational system, planned by Douglas McArthur, teaches young people that "aikokushin" is a bad thing. We Japanese are brainwashed here too. (和訳)

(Vocabulary)
deep psyche  深層心理
pride does not let  プライドが許さない
Pride goes before, and shame follows after. プライドが先を行き、恥が後に従う。／虚栄心が強すぎると失敗して恥をかく。
in another sense 別の意味では
awesome  重大な; 息をのむような, 圧倒されるような; (インフォーマル・話) すごくいい, 最高の
an awesome responsibility  重大な責任
self-appointed  独り決めの, 自ら任じた, 自薦の
liberal intellectual  進歩的文化人

韓国からのメール２

(続き) これらのメールを読んで奇妙な事実に気がついた。なぜ彼らはコメントを書かないのだろうと思っていたが、コメントとすると誰もが読むことができる。彼らは深層心理において僕に同意したくないようだ。日本人の意見を認めることは彼らのプライドが許さないようだ。虚栄心が強すぎて恥をかくのだが。しかしながら、別の意味で、彼らの態度を素晴らしいとも思う。彼らの愛国心は素晴らしい。日本の自称進歩的文化人は何の根拠もなく、日本が悪いことをしたと言っては日本を非難する。また多くが彼らを擁護する。彼らの考えが全く理解できない。日本に親しみを感じると表明する韓国人は非難されやすい。そんな愛国心はよくないが、一方でそんな愛国心さえも持たない多くの日本人がいることは、これもまた大きな問題である。"nationalism"と"patriotism"は合わせて愛国心と訳される。左翼は愛国心を子供達に教えるべきではないと説く。愛国心は戦争に繋がると声を上げる。しかし、これは間違っていると思う。実際問題、"nationalism"は多くの日本人にとって良くないかもしれないが、"patriotism"はすべての国民にとって必要不可欠なものである。ダグラス・マッカーサーによって計画された日本の教育システムは日本の子供達に「愛国心」は悪いものと教える。我々日本人はここでも洗脳されているのである。

Today's Night Meal

     I've got a lot of work these days and I have to stay in my hospital tonight. I called in a convenience store on the way to my office this morning and got some night meals. There were a lot of instant foods and I chose some that I've never had.
     The 1st picture shows an instant noodle. The reason why I chose it is that a famous governor and also a former comedian is illustrated on it. He was just a comedian only ten years ago. He seemed to get into Waseda University, one of the two most famous private universities in Japan and learn political science.
     I remember that I was so surprised to hear his first speech when he declared his candidacy in the election for Governor of Miyazaki prefecture. His speech was not that of a comedian. I was foolish enough to have looked down on him because he didn't look clever and committed a crime. However, his first speech was reasonable and understandable. My wife told me that he had learnt politics at Waseda University. I got it. He changed his way of life.
     The 2nd picture shows him with a signboard saying "Welcome to Miyazaki". This was taken by my friend at Miyazaki Airport. He must be a big salesman for Miyazaki Prefecture because most Japanese know him. He is one of the people whom I'd like to talk with.

(Vocabulary)
candidacy  立候補

(KW: 東国原英夫　宮崎県知事　そのまんま東)

Mr. Nagai Came Back To Ehime

     Mr. Kenji Nagai, a Japanese photo journalist who was killed by the crackdown of the Burmese junta returned to Japan dead. I'm sorry I didn't know what he was doing before his death. I guess many Japanese didn't know him.
     After he was shot, his reports and what he was doing for needy kids in Asia, the Mideast and eastern Europe were introduced by various medias. I was really sorry I didn't know him. He was from Imabari city which is located next to my city and I'm proud of being born in the same prefecture.
     I wonder what way of thinking the junta has. Why don't they think of others' sorrow? Burma is one of the pro-Japanese countries. It's time for us Japanese to help them.
     By the way, Japan invaded Southeast Asian countries during World War Two. Nevertheless, many Southeast Asian countries are pro-Japanese and seem to feel a strong affinitiy towards Japan. I'm very happy to hear that. The activities of Mr. Nagai might contribute to their life. On the other hand, how about China? China is behind the Burmese junta, which they call Myanmar.
     I'd like all of you to realize the specific nature of China. This country is getting more and more dangerous, not only to humans but to the planet.

http://www.projectumbrellaburma.com/default.htm

(Vocabulary)
needy  非常に貧しい, 困窮した
needy families   貧困家庭

Korean Textbook for Japanese People

I wrote about South Korean policy in the following entry:
http://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2006/12/international-s.html

     This entry was grammatically corrected by a native lady who agreed with my opinion. After I wrote that I had wanted to read the real Korean textbook because I thought it must be due to the education that Korean people had in their student days that they insisted on many things unreasonably. Eventually I found the book in the city library. This Korean textbook of history for junior high school students is translated into Japanese. The pictures show the front cover and some pages in it.
     More than 10 Korean people have often accessed this blog and I wanted to prepare one written in Korean for them, but I couldn't. Whatever, you Japanese would easily understand that it is not the individual Korean but the Korean government that is responsible for the deep division between both countries.
     I focused on 2 points in the textbook. One is about An Jung-geun (安重根 안중근) and the other is about Liancourt Rocks (竹島 다케시마(일본어)  독도  獨島)
     At first take a look at the second picture. You can magnify and read the textbook. What do you think about it? Some people whom we think of as terrorists from any angle are honored as kind of national heros. When such a biased education occurs during the low teens, the students would be brainwashed. I wonder why the Japanese government doesn't accuse them? On the other hand, the Korean government does the same with our textbook. I think they don't have room to criticize us. Japan shouldn't hold back against South Korea. I didn't know, but it looks like there was another terrorist act against an American. (written on the same page.)
     Next, I hope you'll access the following website if you can read Japanese or use the automatic translation system: (Korean people, I think, can easily read it, because Japanese grammar is extremely similar to Korean.
http://www.geocities.jp/tanaka_kunitaka/takeshima/
     The Korean government interprets their own historical documents in a distorted way many times, besides sometimes changing the content of their historical heritage, I mean, they are twisting things around. I'd like to describe only one thing here that I was the most afraid of.
     Take a look at the last picture. That is a page in the textbook. The content is like this: You can see Liancourt Rocks clearly from Ullungdo Island (鬱陵島 울릉도 うつりょうとう) with the naked eye if the weather is fine and that was written in an old document more than 100 years ago. (To tell the truth, these sentences indicate another island of the same name, but the government is twisting that fact.)
     By the way, is it possible? Liancourt Rocks (竹島 독도) is a rock rather than an island as you can see by the pictures of Liancourt Rocks on the above website. Its altitude is only 157 meters. Liancourt Rocks is 92 km away from Ullungdo Island(鬱陵島 울릉도). Can you clearly detect a rock 157 meters high in the ocean from a distance of 92 km with the naked eye. What do the students who live on Ullungdo Island think? They must have known that their government is officially lieing. Korean textbooks for teens acknowledges lying!
     I've found much more interesting things in this textbook, but I don't have enough time to show all of those. Anyway, I can declare with confidence that the Korean government has a serious responsibility about the Korean way of thinking against Japan.

To Korean people !

Please see the same page in the textbook written in Korean. You would understand my opinion. I mean no offense to you. I feel an affinity with you and your country, so I'm learning the Korean language.

(Vocabulary)
hold back 〔事実・本心などを〕隠す［秘密にする・しまっておく］、本当のことを言わない、
take in a distorted way / twist things around　曲解する
no offense  悪気はない

日本語版韓国歴史教科書

韓国の政策について下記の記事でも書いております。http://ridiculouskcruelc.seesaa.net/article/141154384.html　韓国人がここに書いたような非理論的な主張をするのは学生時代に受けた教育によるものに違いないと思ったのでこの記事を書いた後で本物の韓国教科書を読んでみました。たまたま市立図書館で教科書を見つけたのですが、中学生向けの韓国の歴史教科書で日本語に翻訳されています。写真は教科書の表紙と一部のページを示しています。　１０人以上の韓国の方がこのブログにしばしばアクセスされており、彼等のために韓国語でも記事を書きたいと思いましたが、うまく書けませんでした。いずれにせよ、日本と韓国の間の深い溝を作った責任は韓国人個人にあるのではなく、韓国政府にあるのだということがわかると思います。　争点を２つに絞ってみました。ひとつは安重根というテロリストについて、もう一つは竹島についての書き方です。　まず第一に２枚目の写真を見て下さい。拡大すると文字を読むことが出来ます。これをみてどう思われますか？どう見てもテロリストなのに国家的英雄とされています。このようなバイアスの掛かった教育を１０代の前半で受けてしまうと学生は洗脳されてしまうでしょう。これらの事実を非難しない日本政府はいったいどうなっているのでしょう。一方で韓国政府は教科書問題で日本政府を批判します。彼等には我々を批判する資格はないと思いますがどうですか？日本は韓国に対して我慢するべきではないと思います。　次に韓国の方へ、もし日本語が読めるか、自動翻訳システムを使うことが出来るなら次のサイトにアクセスしてみてください。http://www.geocities.jp/tanaka_kunitaka/takeshima/　韓国政府は自分たちの都合の良いように歴史を解釈し、歴史書を改ざん、つまり歪曲しています。僕が今一番心配していることをこれから書きたいと思います。　最後の写真を見てください。教科書の一ページです。内容はこんな感じです：竹島は天気が良ければ鬱陵島から肉眼で見え、このことは１００年以上前に書かれた資料の中にも書かれている。(実を言えば、この文献は同じ名前の別の島を表しているのですが、韓国政府はそれをわかっていて曲解しているのです。）上に紹介したサイトの写真で見る限り、竹島は島と言うよりは岩礁です。高さはたったの１５７メートルです。これが９２キロも離れた鬱陵島から肉眼ではっきりと見えるのでしょうか。双眼鏡でも使えば別ですが。鬱陵島に住む中学生には歴史教科書がウソをついているということがはっきりとわかっているはずです。　この本の中にはまだまだ多くのおかしな点がありますが、全てを紹介するには時間が足りません。とにかく、韓国政府は韓国人の対日感情について重大な責任があると自信を持って断言できます。 韓国の皆さんへ！韓国語版の同じページを読んでみてください。僕の意見を理解して頂けるでしょう。僕はあなた方を攻撃するつもりはありません。むしろ韓国人と韓国に対して親近感を覚えています。だから韓国語も読めるようになりました。

 

 

 

 

 

(KW: 韓国　歴史教科書　反日)

From Herald Tribune

     I found two articles in the International Herald Tribune this morning. I was deeply disappointed to read one and was buoyed up by the next day's article.
     Pope Benedict held hands with the devil. He confirmed that the bishop, who had been installed as Bishop of Beijing by China's state-controlled Catholic Church, was the official bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. What a terrible pact made between the Vatican and China?
     On the other hand the German Prime Minister, Angela Merkel, invited the Dalai Lama as the nation's guest. In addition she strongly accused Wen Jiabao (温家宝) of a Chinese hacking attack on Germany and the U.S. when she visited China a few months ago. Her attitude is consistent and great and Japanese politicians should model themselves after her.

This is both troubling and sobering news.
I'm totally in favor of her policy.
His visit is embraced favorably by mainstream German media.

(Vocabulary)
buoy up = to make someone feel happier or more confident:
hold hands with the devil (何かをやり遂げるために)悪魔とも手を結ぶ
hacking  ハッカー行為, ハッキング
model yourself after sb(米) ((英)model yourself on sb とも)  ＜人＞を見習う
embrace  （人)を抱き締める　(フォーマル)（考え・意見など）を受け入れる, 採用する
mainstream  主流（派）の, 主要な
sobering  まじめにさせる, 考えさせられる
sober up 酔いが覚める
sober sb ↔ up ＜人＞の酔いを覚ます

Flight Between Matsuyama and Sapporo

     I read a shocking news item in the newspaper this morning. ANA regular flights between Matsuyama and Sapporo will be discontinued next March. As I wrote in August, my youngest daughter is eager to enter Hokkaido University in Sapporo City and I allowed her to do so. It's because Sapporo is not so far from here by airplane.
     When there's no direct flight, however, I have to change planes at least once in Tokyo or Osaka. I'm afraid It will take 3 more hours to reach Sapporo.

(Vocabulary)
item　事項、項目； （新聞などの）記事

Baekdu Mountain Airport (Changbai Shan Airport 長白山空港)

     A sad story came along. China seems to be building a new airport again at the border of North Korea, near 長白山 (Changbai Shan). The Chinese authorities say that the airport is for sight-seeing and would be connected to Beijing, Tsingtao, Dalian and Changchun at least until next summer. However from any angle the aim of the hasty construction would be for the diversion of the airport to military use in case of military tension. I'm afraid one of the most beautiful places in China could be polluted. 長白山 (Changbai Shan) is called 白頭山 (Paektu-San or Baekdu Mountain) in North Korea. See also here.
     This area has a complex history. There are some important and beautiful Korean remains. China says those monuments are their own, as usual, but they are apparently Korean (Goguryeo 高句麗). Chinese authorities, I think, lie just like exhaling their own breath. Tong Hua City (通化市) is located in this area. I'd like you to know an incident that happened here on Feb. 3rd in 1946. We Japanese have to remember this incident for more than 3000 victims who were killed by the Chinese Communists. (see here in Japanese!)
     Let me explain this incident. The Pacific War is supposed to be over on Aug. 15th in 1945. In fact, unbelievably, all the fights were over by the voice of the Emperor in most battle fields. Japanese soldiers threw their guns away on this day. However it was not the case in Hokkaido and China. I write about the case in China here.
     In China the roundup of Japanese was still happening a half year from the end of the war. Genocide of more than 3000 Japanese was committed in Tong Hua City (通化市) on Feb. 3rd 1946 by Chinese communists. I hope this incident will be in the public eye. Chinese authorities insist that they fought Japan in the Pacific War, but it is not true. It was the Kuomintang Party that fought Japan. Chinese communists were just hiding in the mountain and they started to fight around the end of the war. Besides, it was the Chinese communists that organized massacres against Japanese after the war. Many Japanese who were waiting to go back to Japan were cruelly killed. I want all of you to investigate this incident. Let's have knowledge based on the true evidence.

(Vocabulary)
come along　やって来る、現れる； 〔宿題などが〕進む； 現実になる
My homework is coming along nicely [smoothly]. : 宿題は、はかどっています。
A chance like this doesn't come along too often. : こういうのは、そうそうないチャンスだ。
hasty (行動・判断などが)性急な, 軽率な
diversion　排水路、迂回路； 脇へ反らせること、転換、移転、転用; 気晴らし、娯楽、気分転換; 《軍事》けん制（作戦）、陽動（作戦）; 目的地外着陸
Tom never saw you as anything but a diversion. : トムにとってあなたはただの遊び相手なのよ。
any way you slice it〈米話〉 // from any angle　どう考えても
military tension  軍事的緊張
exhale 発散する、蒸発する、消散する、息を吐く、息を吐き出す; 吐き出す、発散させる
roundup 一斉逮捕［検挙］、手入れ
roundup of vagrants　ホームレス狩り
Kuomintang Party　中国国民党

A House Visit

     I go out for some house visits on Friday every two weeks. The patient that I visited today is an 80 year old gentleman. He is being cared for by his wife. It is not easy to believe this story, but he survived two kinds of serious malignant diseases in his 50s. After that, he has been suffering from rare diseases one after another. His wife says that it must be due to the atomic bomb in Hiroshima.
     He was a teenager when the bomb was dropped. Hiroshima is three hours away from our town by ship. He seems to have gone to Hiroshima with his teachers and schoolmates to rescue people the day after the bomb. His role was to recover numerous bodies out of the river and find things to show their ID. If he could find the name of the body, he carried them to some places for the people looking for their relatives, friends and acquaintances. If he couldn't, however, he carried them to the Body Dump Station. The bodies were thrown into the fire. He and his group were working in Hiroshima for a few days. They wanted to work more, but they didn't have enough food to continue their volunteer work.
     People at that time didn't have any knowledge about the radiation. They didn't mind being exposed to residual radiation. Many people got invisibly injured like this. This fact is not widely known to the public.
     Researchers and developers of the atomic bomb seemed to predict that no trees and grasses could grow in Hiroshima for the next 50 years. This prediction was fortunately wrong, but was it necessary to drop such a cruel bomb on Hiroshima? If the U.S.  only wanted to stop the war, they should have dropped the bomb in the Tokyo Bay area. The Japanese authorities, including the Emperor, would directly have seen the mushroom cloud. One more thing, I'd like to ask Mr. Truman the reason why the U.S. chose Hisoshima and Nagasaki as victims of the atomic bomb; a wide city around which they could draw concentric circles in the horizontal area and a city that is closed by mountains on one side and open in the direction of the sea. Both geographic locations must have been attractive for the researchers of radiation.

(Vocabulary)
residual radiation　残留放射線
concentric circle　同心円