Japanese Surgeon's Daily Life

Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF)

     A friend of my junior and high school days lives here in Mutsu city. He has advanced to the rank of Colonel of the JSDF and lives in the official JSDF quarters away from his family. He has enough room to give us a night's stay. We spent a night at his residence. Though I know some of my high school alumni want to see his photos, I didn't have his permission to introduce his specialities and facial portrait here. I stored many pictures of us on another space so let me know your e-mail address and I'll send you an url and password.
     Getting back on the track, after taking a bath at Yatate Spa, we enjoyed his home cooking and talking far into the night. I really want to introduce his story here, but that has kinds of secrets. I have to keep it in my heart. Oh, I've almost forgotten to write about Yatate Spa. It was searing-hot water, but relaxing. I felt envious of the locals who can bathe here whenever they want. The recirculation and purification system isn't needed here. We simply bathe in the hot water, the gift of the earth, just after coming out of the earth. What a gorgeous way of bathing!
     He is kind enough to work out of his marine headquarters so that we can observe the inside of a trim destroyer in active service. My bike friend and I prepared some questions in advance.... This morning, when we were about to go out, we found ourselves clad in rags and with riding boots on. We don't have suits because we are just tourists with minimum packs. We had no choice about clothes, but we could rent sneakers from my friend.
     We got into the Marine Base with his car. We received a salute from a Sergeant-at-arms at the gate. I knew how high a rank he is judging from the kind of greeting. I got a few instructions from my friend as to how to get on the destroyer after getting out of the car. Though I thought I knew how to express the honor of going aboard a destroyer, my mind became a complete blank when getting on board. It's because the crew were waiting for us in a line with their white uniforms on. It was a real formal reception. In spite of our shabby clothes! I really tensed up! I almost fainted.
     Though it's 20 years since the destroyer was built, I felt it was well maintained. I couldn't find any accumulation of barnacles on the hull around the water line. Really good maintenance had been done. The destroyer was built by bringing together the outstanding technologies of the U.S. and Japan, and being kept punctiliously in the best condition all the time. The capabilities of the ship must be high.
     They allowed us to take many snapshots. The number of the crew is about 100. They don't have private rooms except for the captain. They have a small bed only for private use. It was like a chicken shelf in a poultry farm. There must be food, water, sewage system, showers, kitchen, laundry, medical room for 100 crew members and enough ammunition and fuel. I wondered where that is kept. I guessed their daily work is so hard in such conditions. I took off my hat to their guts. I felt they were dependable. I'd like to send hearty cheers to the JSDF.

(Vocabulary)
JSDF　自衛隊
colonel  １佐　大佐
quarters  《複数扱い》 (軍人・使用人などの) 部屋, 宿舎
searing-hot  焼けつくような　(痛みなどが)焼けるような
trim  船の出航可能状態〔バラスト・帆などの準備ができて〕
active service  現役、現役勤務、現役服務、常時勤務、戦地勤務
clad in rags  《be ～》ぼろを着ている
sergeant-at-arms  守衛官、警備局長
barnacles on the hull  船体に付いたフジツボ
hull  《海事》船こく、船殻、ハル、船体
punctiliously  きちょうめんに、細かいことにこだわって
poultry farm  養鶏場
dependable  信頼できる、頼りになる、頼もしい、信頼に足る、安心できる

Photo Album

See our shoes! We rented those.

On the deck of the destroyer.

(KW: むつ市 むつ矢立温泉 海上自衛隊 護衛艦 ゆうべつ)

I Hate China #2

     Qingzang railway, which connects Beijing and Lhasa (Tibetan Capital), was completed. A routine run will start next year. Japanese mass media focus on the tourism only, but their way of thinking is very superficial. I'm sorry that they are following the well-planned propaganda by the Chinese Communist government. What is the purpose on earth that Beijing pressed ahead with this difficult construction of the railroad. This railroad runs at an altitude of 5000 meters. Can you believe it? I'm going to mention my opinion.
     First of all, their purpose is a forced assimilation of Tibet. It's more than half a century since China invaded Tibet and killed hundreds of thousand of Tibetans on a massive scale. The honest and sincere religious leaders became rare by the destruction of Buddhist temples and the repression of priests. Potala Palace is crowded with Chinese tourists and there are many Chinese security officers in the Palace. You can see swanky souvenir shops, shopping malls, restaurants, and many taxis in the street of Lhasa. You might think Tibet is getting rich, but the owners of those companies are Chinese, not Tibetan. Speaking of Tibetan people, they draw a ricksha, play folk instruments in sightseeing points, or beg for something in front of Potala Palace. In fact, Tibet got colonized by China. Young generations of Tibet became unable to realize the significance of the existence of their spiritual leader, The Dalai Lama. Using Tibetan is strictly prohibited in all public tests; every test after 3rd grade in primary schools, the test for the driving licence, the exam for the National Public Service, the entrance exam of universities,,. In those tests Pekingese is used. Consequently young Tibetans became unable to speak the Tibetan language. The Tibetan language and culture might dissappear from this world except for written characters on the Buddhist canon, just the same as Xinjiang Uighur, that consists of Turkish. Does China have the right to accuse the former Empire of Japan of having forced Koreans to use Japanese? They didn't prohibit Korean people from using their own language.
     The second intention of this railway is to raise the capacity of transport of soldiers and weapons. This railway might escalate the level of military readiness between India and China. The Chinese Army can dispatch 120,000 soldiers to Tibet within a month. India repeats missile-launching tests. The range of those missiles covers Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. Most Indians view China as a threat. As for the atomic power plant that gets U.S. assistance, the Indian government has deep ideas to improve their own atomic bombs in future.
     I investigated this railway further. The security seems to be uncertain in case of melting of frozen ground due to global warming. Is the daily maintenace of track possible at an altitude of 5000 meters? This railway has 960 km of section over 4000 meters high. The railway cars have a pressurization system using technology introduced from the aircraft maker Bombardier Inc. and have an oxygen inhalation system and a UV protection system too. I love railway traveling, but I hesitate to use this railway.

(Vocabulary)
Qingzang railway  青蔵鉄道
press ahead with　～を押し進める、～を敢行する
repression (武力・政治力による）弾圧、抑圧
swanky (場所･衣服などが)　おしゃれな、けばけばしい、ゴージャスな
Lhasa　ラサ　（中共チベット自治区の首都）
Xinjiang Uighur　新疆（しんきょう）ウイグル自治区
pressurization　予圧　加圧

私は中共が嫌いです　その２

　北京からチベットの首都ラサに繋がる青蔵鉄道が開通した。来年から運行が始まるらしい。日本の愚かなメディアは観光の面ばかりに焦点を当てるが余りにも浅はかな考えだ。中共政府の練られたプロパガンダに乗せられていることが残念だ。この困難な鉄道工事を中共が推し進めてきたのには訳があるのだ。この鉄道は標高5000メートルの高度を走っている。信じられますか？如何に意見を述べたいと思う。 　まずは、この鉄道の目的はチベットの強制的な同化政策だと言うこと。中共がチベットを侵略し、数十万人ものチベット人を虐殺して半世紀以上が経過した。この間に敬虔な宗教指導者は寺院の破壊や僧侶の弾圧のためほとんどいなくなってしまった。ポタラ宮殿は中国人観光客であふれ、悪名高い中共の公安が見張っている。おしゃれな店やショッピングモール、通りを走る沢山のタクシーを見て、チベットが繁栄していると映るかもしれないが、これらのオーナー達は全てシナ人である。チベット人はといえば、人力車を引いたり、民族楽器を演奏したり、ポタラ宮殿の前で物乞いをしたり。事実上、チベットは中共の植民地と化している。チベットの若者は彼らの精神的な指導者、ダライ・ラマの存在意義さえもわからなくなってきているのだ。また、全ての公的な試験においてチベット語を用いることは厳しく制限されている。小学校３年生以降の全ての試験で。運転免許試験、公務員採用試験、大学入学試験等々。これらの試験では北京語が使用される。従ってチベットの若者たちはチベット語を話せなくなってしまうのだ。チベット語やチベット文化は仏教の経典に書かれた文字以外、この世から消えてしまうかもしれない。ちょうどトルコ人の新疆ウイグル自治区のように。大日本帝国は朝鮮人に日本語を強要したが、彼らが母国語を使うことを禁止してはいなかった。中共に日本を非難する権利があるのだろうか？ 　この鉄道のもう一つの目的、それは武器や兵士の運搬である。インドとの戦争に備えるためのものである。人民解放軍１２万人を１ヶ月以内にチベットへ送ることができるのである。インドはミサイル発射実験を繰り返し、その射程距離は北京、上海、広州に及ぶ。多くのインド人は中共を脅威と見なしている。アメリカの協力を得ている原子力発電に関してはどうかというと、インド政府は将来の原爆開発の意図があるのだろう。 　この鉄道について更に調べてみた。安全性にかなり問題があるようだ。温暖化による凍土の融解に対して対策が講じられていない。標高５０００メートルにおいて毎日の点検が可能なのだろうか。この鉄道は４０００メートル以上の区間が９６０キロメートルもある。車両はボンバルディア社で設計され予圧されている。また、酸素吸入設備や紫外線対策も施されている。鉄道旅行は大好きだが、この鉄道だけは遠慮させてもらう。

HIROSHIMA

     Today is Aug. 6th, the day that the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb over Hiroshima city 61 years ago. We Japanese never forget this day. It was an extremely hot day. The U.S. hasn't apologized yet about this matter and moreover defends their atomic bombing of Japan. The U.S. claims that they just wanted to end the war. However, I don't believe it. If the war had continued a little longer, Russia, the most powerful communist country, would have intervened in the occupation of Japan. I think the U.S. wanted to fend off undue pressure from Russia. Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima city, passed over two militarily important cities before bombing. One is Kure city where the biggest naval arsenal was located. The battleship Yamato was built there. The other is Matsuyama city, my home town, where the most powerful fighter squadron was located. At the terminal stage of the war, excellent fighter pilots were gathered and the strongest fighter group was in Matsuyama city. Actually, in the dogfight off Matsuyama city, the U.S. air force suffered serious damage at the end of the war. There were many secret, camouflaged airplane sheds in Matsuyama. If the U.S. wanted to end the war as early as possible for real, they should have attacked Kure or Matsuyama. Never Hiroshima.
     It's no doubt that the atomic bombing on Hiroshima was an experiment on human bodies. A week before bombing, a B-24 bomber crashed near Hiroshima city. Several crews were rescued and were held in custody by military police in Hiroshima city. They were killed by acute radiation damage due to the atomic bomb a few weeks later. I think they never thought they would be killed by their own bombs.
     If the U.S. was a sincere country and wanted the end of the war and wanted to use the atomic bomb, they should have dropped the atomic bomb in the center of Tokyo Bay so that the Emperor and officers could see the mushroom cloud directly.

(Vocabulary)
fend sb/sth off   ＜襲撃者・攻撃など＞から自分の身を守る
undue  過度な, 必要以上の
squadron  飛行中隊, 小艦隊
shed  物置, （物置）小屋  (電車の) 車庫, 倉庫, 作業場
for real  (見せかけではなく) 本気で, 本当に

　今日は８月６日、６１年前アメリカが広島市に原子爆弾を投下した日だ。我々日本人はこの日を決して忘れてはならない。それは暑さの厳しい日だった。アメリカはこの件で未だに謝罪していないどころか原爆投下は戦争を早く終わらせるために仕方なかったのだと自己弁護している。が、私は信じない。もし仮に戦争が少し長引いたらロシアが介入してきただろう。アメリカは日本占領についてロシアの圧力を排除したかったに過ぎないと思うのだ。広島に原爆を落とした爆撃機、エノラ・ゲイは爆撃前に二つの軍事的に重要な都市を通り過ぎている。一つは呉市。海軍最大の武器庫のある街である。戦艦大和はここで建造された。もう一ヶ所は松山市、私の故郷である。ここには投じ最強の戦闘機部隊が配置されていた。敗戦間際に日本中から優秀な戦闘機乗りがここに集められていた。実際に松山市沖での空中戦で米空軍は甚大な被害を被っていた。戦闘機は厳重にカモフラージュされ隠されていたが、彼らが本当に戦争を早く終わらせたかったのなら松山に原爆を落とせば戦闘機などすべて破壊できたであろう。従って原爆を落とすべきは広島ではなく、呉、松山だったはずだ。
　原爆投下が人体実験であったことは明白である。原爆投下の一週間前、B24爆撃機が広島市の近くに墜落し、数名の乗組員が救助され、広島市で拘束されていた。彼らは原爆による急性放射線障害で数週間後に亡くなっている。自分の国の原爆で殺されるとは夢にも思わなかったろう。
　もし仮に、アメリカが誠実な国であったなら、そして戦争の終結を祈り、原爆を使いたかったなら、彼らは原爆を東京湾の真ん中に落とすべきであった。そうすれば天皇陛下、政治家達はキノコ雲を直接見ることができたであろう。

Ocean Investigation Again

     Korea conducted oceanographic activities around Liancourt Rocks (Japanese name: Takeshima Island). Takeshima is an integral part of Japan from the historical viewpoint and from a bibliographical consideration. If Korea has the confidence that Takeshima is their traditional territory, they don't have to seize the island and should file the case at the International Court of Justice. It's because they know that Takeshima is traditional Japanese territory that they don't go to court.

(Vocabulary)
oceanographic　海洋学の
integral part　切っても切れない部分、切離せない部分、なくてはならない部分
integral part of Japan　日本固有の領土
bibliographical consideration　文献的考察

海洋調査再び

韓国は竹島周辺でまた海洋調査を行った。竹島は日本固有の領土である。もし韓国が自国の領土であると自信があるのなら、武力で支配するのではなく、国際司法裁判所に提訴するべきだ。それができないのは日本の領土だと知っているからだろう。

North Korean Stupidity

     What, in the name of heaven, is the aim of North Korea? They launched 7 missiles. One of them is considered as a ballistic missile that could reach the U.S. The other 6 missiles can easily reach Japan if they change the direction of launch a little to the south. Who is responsible for North Korea? Who made the country such a rogue country? I believe China and Russia are responsible for stopping North Korean silly acts. I heard more than 90% of North Korean people are on the verge of starvation. It's not missiles but food that the rogue nation needs.

北の愚かさ

　いったい北の目的は何なのだろうか？７発のミサイルを発射したのである。うち、１発は大陸間弾道弾と考えられ、米国に届く。残りの６発は少し南に方向を変えさえすれば日本に届く。北をこのようにした責任はどこにあるのだろうか？このばかげた行動を止める責任は支那とロシアにあると僕は思う。北の国民の９０％は飢えていると聞く。北に必要なのはミサイルではなく、食料だ。

I Hate China #1

     I have a concern about hegemonic China. China started to insist recently that Okinotorishima Island is not an island but a mere rock and Japan can't insist on an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around it. Okinotorishima Island is acknowledged as an island internationally. No matter how much noise Beijing makes, it is an island if the surface of land is above the sea at high tide according to international definition.
     Mischief Reef, that has belonged to the Philippine's EEZ for a long time, has been dominated by China since 1995. This Reef goes under sea level at high tide. China built military facilities on the reef, pouring concrete over the reef in 1995. The funny thing is that China calls this reinforced reef a kind of an island and calls these facilities a shelter for the fisheries. Besides, China insists on their EEZ around this artificially elevated area which was captured from the Philippines.
     China is so naughty and difficult to deal with. They complain about Okinotorishima, the surface of which is above the sea even at high tide. On the other hand they occupy Mischief Reef, which goes under the sea at high tide. Can you accept these facts? What do you think about their opinion? It sounds paradoxical. As an aside, the Paracel Islands were occupied by China in 1974.

     The victim of the hegemonism of China is not exclusive to Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam. The Prime Minister of Nepal, Koirala, spouted off at a news conference, "No one had climbed Mt.Everest from the Chinese side. Nevertheless, why does China request that mountain. How would they explain that?" I expect China to act with civilized words and acts.

(English Version)   http://www.geocities.jp/baud_2005/tx310.swf

(Chinese Version) http://www.geocities.jp/baud_2005/tx310c1.swf

(Vocabulary)
exclusive   締め出す、中に入れない、排外的な、排他的な、唯一の、一つだけの

New Checking System of Parking Violations

     On the first day of this June, there was a big change in society. The new system of inspection of parking violations started. Though the policemen issued parking violation tickets up to now, people will get zapped with a parking ticket by observers in the region who were authorized by the police department from now on. This switch means that human resources for blowing a whistle increases. My hospital is located in the heart of the city and has always had heavy traffic jams. After this regulation was adopted, one of the major streets of my city was cleared up.

(Vocabulary)
get zapped  （～に）してやられる
get zapped with a parking ticket  駐車違反切符をもらう羽目になる
blow a whistle   笛を吹く、警告を発する、取り締まる

Korean Media

     I can't help but be skeptical about the Korean media. The families of the victims of the abduction by Kim Jong-il visited Korea today. They are very famous in Japan for trying to get their families back from North Korea. The Japanese climate of opinion is cheering them on now. I expected all Korean medias would handle this problem sensationally and it could trigger the Korean people's movement against Cruel Tyrant of the North. However, the Korean TV medias didn't take the time to broadcast about this issue. I didn't know why? Although North Korea kidnapped many South Korean people in a couple of decades, why can those media be indifferent about it?  I heard the South Korean government seems to have the power to shuffle the personnel of TV companies.  Unbelievable! Is South Korea a socialist country? The current government of South Korea seems to want to have a good relationship with the Evil North that has a national project to produce stimulant drugs, fake bills and fake tobacco. I think the authorities don't want to upset the North even if their people were kidnapped.
     I hope the Grand National Party wins the next election. I have a good feeling about the leader of the party and her mother, though I hate her father.

(Vocabulary)
the climate of opinion  世論
Grand National Party　ハンナラ党

Dispute Over Textbooks

     North and South Korea and China have been accusing Japan of several problems.  I have opinions about each of these problems.  I'd like to mention my opinion here from time to time.
     I've read the Japanese history textbook of which the Korean government requests a revision because they don't like its description.  I couldn't understand where it is bad, or incorrect.
If you can read Japanese, see the article below.

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%99%E3%83%88%E3%83%8A%E3%83%A0%E6%88%A6%E4%BA%89#.E9.9F.93.E5.9B.BD.E8.BB.8D.E3.81.AE.E5.8F.82.E6.88.A6

I'm sorry I couldn't find the same article written in Korean.  I know two Koreans privately.  I'd asked them about the Vietnam War.  They didn't know that the Korean government dispatched their troops to Vietnam and committed many crimes, besides not apologizing about it.  It's no wonder because they haven't been taught history correctly.  I'd like to shout at Korean people, " examine yourselves before criticizing Japan."

教科書論争

南北朝鮮と中国はいくつかの理由で日本を非難する。それぞれに対して意見があるので時々書いていくことにする。韓国政府が修正を要求している日本の教科書を読んでみたが、どこがまずいのか、間違っているのかわからなかった。日本語で書かれてはいるが下記のサイトを参照下さい。朝鮮語で書かれているサイトがあれば良かったのですが。
個人的に二人の韓国人を知っている。ベトナム戦争について尋ねてみた。韓国が軍隊を派遣したことも、多くの犯罪行為を犯したことも、またそれについて謝罪していないことも知らなかった。正しい歴史教育が成されていない証左である。韓国人に対して叫びたい。日本を批判する前に自分自身をチェックしろと。

Abduction Issue

     Japanese news media says the families of Japanese abduction victims are going to meet U.S. President Bush shortly to put pressure on North Korea. This abduction was conducted by one nation, North Korea. The alleged mastermind is Kim Johg-il, the head of North Korea. I'm afraid that the solution of this simple problem won't come until the rogue nation collapses. This is an infringement of Japanese sovereignty by North Korea. I get frustrated because the Japanese government don't take a consistently firm line on the evil, North Korea.

(Vocabulary)
mastermind   (犯罪計画などの) 首謀者, 黒幕
infringement  (契約・協定などの) 違反, (権利などの) 侵害
sovereignty   (一国を統治する) 主権, 統治権
take a hard/tough line  厳しい姿勢をとる

日本のメディアによると拉致被害者の家族がまもなくブッシュ大統領に会って北朝鮮への圧力を強めてくれるよう依頼するとのこと。もちろん拉致の黒幕は金正日だ。この単純な問題の解決はならず者国家、北朝鮮の崩壊を待たなければならないような気がする。これは日本の主権侵害であることが間違いない。日本の政治家の北朝鮮に対する弱腰に腹が立つ。

The Philippines

    The state of affairs in the Philippines has been unstable these days though I don't know the origin of this chaos. The Philippines was the first foreign country that I visited in my life. I entered the country in 1986, just after the People's Power movement, which bore fruit in the ouster of Marcos in February 1986.
     I was a resident in a big hospital group at that time. My boss was a friend of President Corazon Aquino, and he wanted to build a general hospital in the Philippines. I visited the Philippines with 500 co-workers to demonstrate our human resources. One of our purposes was to attend the mass for Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, the husband of President Aquino.
     By courtesy of President Aquino, we could stay at the Puerto Azul Beach Resort which used to be Marcos's private facility. I could also see the Malacanang Palace. I was surprised to know the daily life of the absolute ruler. At the same time I got into cabbagetown in Manila. I was surprised again to see the people's poor life there. I learned so many things from this trip.
     I hope the present insurgency will soon be settled.

Cartoon Outrage

     I'm watching CNN now. It is reporting the story about the cartoon of Mohammed repeatedly. A phrase came up in my mind watching the news. So many men, so many opinions. However, they have no right to harm anybody for any reason. To express my opinion to the world is one of the reasons for me starting to write a weblog in English. Though I have many opinions about many things in the world, I don't have enough ability to express them in English properly now. I need to learn more and more.

風刺漫画論争

今、ＣＮＮを観ている。ムハンマドを冒涜した風刺漫画について話している。いろいろな人がいていろいろな意見があるのであり、どんな理由があるにせよ、人を傷つけることは良くない。

　世界に向けて自分の意見を書くことはこのブログを書き始めた動機の一つ。いろいろなことについて書いていきたいが、まだそこまでの英語力はない。もっともっと勉強しなくてはいけない。

Confucism

     I attended a special lecture at Matsuyama Univ.
     The topic was a Korean Confucist, Kanhan, who had brought Confucism to Japan in 1597. He was captured by the Japanese sea forces and confined for ten months to Ozu city, which is near my hometown. After that he was transfered to Kyoto which was the capital area in those days. He met the most sophisticated people there.  He enlarged the number of his friends and lots of people got to show him deep respect. He taught them the fundamentals of Confucism and wrote some textbooks.  Those books were the sourcebook which was passed down the generations. After the death of the absolute ruler, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, he got his freedom and could go back to Korea.
     Confucism was a backbone of the nation in the Edo era and in modern Japan.
     In 1868, the last Edo Shogun returned political power to the Emperor, and the Emperor began to rule once again. Then feudal policies such as the land-owning and class systems were abolished and a new constitution was established.
     This was a bloodless revolution without any bleeding.  There is no revolution in the world that can rival it. I suppose this bloodless revolution could be achieved because of the confucian ethic that every Japanese kept in their heart.
     The post world war 2 reconstruction in Japan was successful. I believe this was because of the confucian values which every Japanese had. The U.S.President Bush said, Iraq and Japan are similar, and so Iraq can make a recovery like Japan. He doesn't know the spiritual difference between Iraq and Japan. I was mad at him after hearing him tell such a silly thing. He is nothing more. Our Japanese had been getting kind of an education of the confucian ethic for about four centuries.
     Confucism is a backbone of Japan again. I'm ashamed I didn't know how Confucism was born in Japan at all. Besides, such a great historical event had something to do with my prefecture "Ehime".
     There are lots of pending issues between Korea and Japan. However, I hope both countries get close to each other from the bottom of my heart. We are alike. I really felt so today. 

儒教

松山大学の特別講演を聴いた。演題は韓国人儒教学者「姜沆」。１５９７年に日本へ儒教を伝えたとされる人物である。秀吉の朝鮮出兵の際に囚われの身となり日本へ連れてこられ、大洲市に幽閉された。その後、京都へ移送され日本の文化人と交流を深め、多くの日本人から尊敬のまなざしで見られるようになる。彼は日本人に儒教を教え、書物も書き残している。これはその後、何代にもわたって伝わっている。秀吉の死後、自由を得て本国に帰国した。

儒教は江戸時代そして現在の日本でも国家の屋台骨となっている。１８６８年、最後の将軍が皇室へ政権を返した。明治維新と呼ばれるこの改革は全くの無血革命であった。世界に類を見ないもので、日本人の心に儒教の教えが生きていたためだったと考えられる。

日本の戦後復興はうまくいった。これもまた日本の持っていた儒教的な価値観によるものだろうと思っている。米国ブッシュ大統領が、日本とイラクは似ている、だからイラクも日本のように解放、改革できるといった。アホである。何世紀もにわたり、安定した平和な暮らしの中で、儒教の教えに浸かっていた我々日本人をイラク国民と一緒にしてもらっては困る。

重ねて言うが儒教は日本の精神である。この儒教がどのようにして日本で始まったのか、知らずにいたことが恥ずかしい。ましてやこの歴史的な事件が我が郷土に関係していたとは。

The Emperor's Birthday

     Today is the birthday of the reigning Emperor, Akihito.
     It is said that the first emperor of Japan was Jinmu, who lived about 2,600 years ago. But it is uncertain whether any of the emperors from Jinmu to the 14th emperor, Chuai, actually existed, so they are treated as legendary figures.
     In 1868, the last Edo Shogun returned political power to the emperor, and the emperor began to rule once again. Then feudal policies such as the land-owning and class systems were abolished and a new constitution was established.
     In Japan there is a controversy over the allowance for the accession of Empresses. The descendants in the male line only stepped into the emperor's shoes in the past. Consequently Y-chromosome was passed down from 2600 years ago. I don't know where it's going to lead.

今日は今上天皇の誕生日です。

　日本の最初の天皇は２６００年前の神武天皇と言われています。しかし、神武天皇から１４代の仲哀天皇までは実在の人物だったのかどうか不明で、伝説として扱われています。

　１８６８年、江戸幕府最後の将軍が大政奉還をし、天皇が再び統治し始めました。それから、封建的な土地制度や身分制度が廃止され、憲法が制定されました。

　今、女性天皇の皇位継承問題が起こっています。過去には男系天皇のみが皇位を継承してきました。その結果、Ｙ遺伝子は２６００年前からずっと嗣がれていることになります。この問題がどのような決着を迎えるのか僕にはわかりません。