Japanese Surgeon's Daily Life

Tesla Model 3

　　My highly anticipated Tesla Model 3 was delivered. Recalling last year, I test-drove a Tesla Model X in May in Hawaii and I became totally fond of it, but it was very expensive and I couldn't afford it. A year had passed since then, and I visited Tesla's showroom in Oahu again this June. There I saw another type of Tesla car, the Model 3, and I asked the same salesperson as I had met last year to test-drive it. I found the car was great and it captured my interest. The price was high, but wasn't so expensive as that of Model X. Model 3 had just started selling in Japan on May 31st. The salesperson told me that if I bought one, it would be delivered until the end of August. I didn't take a long time until I ordered one.
　　However, the car hadn't been delivered despite having waited a long time. It seemed that the production wasn't able to catch up with the demand as its popularity was soaring. Eventually, it was delivered on Nov. 29th. It was immediately taken to a car coating shop, which is specialized to make cars look beautiful. My car came to my home after its glass coating and attaching heat shielding insulation films to all the windows. The charging device which was installed in August has finally came into use.

https://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2018/04/what-i-thought-after-witnessing-a-traffic-accident.html
https://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2019/08/charging-system-installation-.html

(Vocabulary)
insulation 　絶縁体［材］, 断熱材, 防音材

待望のテスラモデル３が納車された。去年の５月ハワイでモデルＸを試乗し、とても気に入ったが手の届く価格では無かった。今年の６月再び、カラカウア通りのテスラのショールームを訪問すると、かなり価格が抑えられたモデル３が発売されていて、日本でも受付が始まり、８月末頃には納車されるとのこと。試乗してみて気に入り即注文。しかし、、、、待てど暮らせど届かない。

結局１１月２９日に納車された。すぐにコーティング工場に入庫。断熱フィルムを貼ったりコーティングをしたりして１２月５日我が家へ届いた。８月末にインストールした充電設備がやっと使えるようになった。

Seasonal Phenomenon

　　My office is located at the mouth of the Hijikawa River, which flows out of the Ozu Basin. Numerous clusters of mist which were formed on the basin flow on the surface of the river toward the mouth in the cold winter morning of the clear weather. This phenomenon is a kind of signal which tells us that winter is coming just around the corner. I'll upload two pictures, one of which was taken through the windshield and the other of which was shot on the opposite side of the office.
　　I'm going to go skiing this season. I haven't enjoyed skiing for 5 years after my mentor's death. He took me to Whistler in Canada for skiing, and moreover, he instructed not only me but my daughter's English and other various things required to build a good relationship with overseas people. I've been sorry that skiing always reminded me of my mentor, but I decided to restart skiing. He wouldn't be happy if I completely stopped skiing. I chose the 4-wheel drive type in the selection of my next car. The car will be delivered soon. I'll upload the pictures here.

Deep Disappointment ローマ教皇に失望

　　Who did I got disappointed in? It's Pope Francisco who visited Japan this week. He delivered some addresses at several places in Japan. During those addresses he appealed for the eradication of nuclear weapons and world peace, though there were no nuclear weapons in Japan. I wholeheartedly agree to what he had appealed, but I hoped that he should have given his same speeches in China. It is highly unlikely that the Pope didn't know about the wrongdoings by the Chinese government in Tibet, Uighur, or southern Mongolia. With all due respect, I'm afraid I looked at him as a mere hypocrite.

At Yamaguchi City, Rurikouji Temple

　　We left Shimonoseki City and stopped by Yamaguchi City on the way to our hometown and I happened to find the Nakahara Chuya Museum there. Nakahara Chuya is one of my favorite poets and I often read his works in my teenager days. I wanted to see things related to him in the museum, but I didn't have enough time. I just got a Japanese sake bearing his name for my later pleasure. I thought I'd take his books out of my stacks tonight.
　　Then, we dropped in at Rurikouji Temple, which I actually viewed for the first time. It was built 570 years ago and was glorious. I recalled the scene of its construction by a spate of artisans. The cultural estate with a long history is wonderful for the fact that it has been preserved for generations.

　山口市に寄った。高校時代から好きだった詩人、中原中也の記念館があり、入ってみたかったが時間なし。彼の名前を冠した日本酒を買って帰った。高校時代に読んでいた本を久しぶりに取り出して、一杯やりながら読んでみようと思う。
　そして瑠璃光寺へ。名前だけは聞いていたが立ち寄ったのは初めて。５７０年前の塔である。しばし、室町時代を思い起こした。高速道路を利用し、あちこちで休憩しながら帰宅。充実した３日間だった。

The Next Day

　　Nov. 3rd is the birthday of Meiji Ten'noh and is designated as a national holiday. It fell on Sunday this year. When a national holiday falls on Sunday, it's to be compensated by the next Monday. Due to this rule of compensatory day-offs, some sets of Saturday, Sunday and Monday sometimes become three consecutive day-offs. By this rule, Nov. 4th became a holiday this year. I'm going to challenge this marathon next time when three day-offs are formed by this rule. The next day was also a holiday and I stayed in Shimonoseki last night.
　　I make it a rule to take a walk in the early morning when I visit places new or unfamiliar to me. I dropped in at a neighborhood shrine "Ootoshi Jinja", which looked to have a long history from the era of mythology and I folded my hands in front of the main building. Walking ahead, I found a monument on which "Pusan" was written in Chinese characters. Lots of Korean people would live in the city, though I didn't understand why this monument stood here.

１１月３日が明治天皇の誕生日で祝日だったが、４日月曜日はその振替で休みとなっている。このように休日を振り替えるという制度があるため１１月３日周辺は３連休となることが有り、数年先に３連休となるときに下関海峡マラソンを完走したい。というわけで、昨夜も下関に泊まり宴会！今日は観光をしながら帰ることにした。

旅行先での日課、朝の散歩に出かけた。ホテル近くの神社に立ち寄った。大歳神社という。由緒のある神社のようだった。今日一日の加護を祈った。そして更に歩いていると釜山門というモニュメントが。朝鮮系の人たちが多く住んでいるのだろう。どういう願いが込められているのかな？

Shimonoseki Kaikyo Marathon

　　I ran the Shimonoseki Kaikyo Marathon for the first time in five years. I stopped running on the way last time due to my lower leg's muscle cramp. It was probably from dehydration. I failed to take water constantly during the race. This time I was able to prepare successfully for the marathon and was going to finish it, but I finally ended up stopping at the 32.8km point, the same place as the last time. Honestly I had some physical strength left then, but it was not enough to climb up the last hill within a span of the designated time. I knew that the failed-runner-collection bus from this point took a short-cut to the goal and I would be able to reach the goal and take pictures of my friends finishing, so I stopped at this point. It was regrettable, but I'm going to challenge this marathon in a few years, though I'd be older.

今日は下関海峡マラソンを走りました。２０１４年に走ってから５年ぶりの参加です。前回は多分脱水によると思われる下腿けいれんにより、途中で棄権。今回は完走を目標に体調は万全で臨むも、、、なんと同じ場所３２．８ｋｍでストップ　時間は少々残っていましたが、最後の坂を登り切る体力が無いように思われ、またここで止まると回収バスが近道をしてゴールへ行ってくれるのでマラソン仲間とゴール後の行動を共にすることが出来るため、ここで完走を諦めた、、、残念　次は数年後になるが、次こそ完走を、、、年齢が上がるけど、、、

Moji Port

　　I went across the Kan'mon channel to Moji Port, which is on the other side of Shimonoseki and also has a long history as a connecting port between Honshu and Kyushu. However, after the completion of Kan'monkyo bridge, which connects Honshu and Kyushu, Moji became a city just to pass by. Several historic buildings in the city implied the old prosperity. I dropped in at an ongoing restaurant at which Albert Einstein had dinner.
　　I happened to see a cutting-edge patrol ship of Japan's Coast Guard mooring at Shimonoseki on the way back to Shimonoseki from Moji Port. I heard that this type of patrol ship was designed to suppress Chinese overbearing and unreasonable behaviour in the East China Sea.
　　China is out of my thoughts and out of global common sense. This country would continue to cause a variety of turmoil globally. I get depressed to think of this country. Anyway, getting back to my hotel, I prepared for tomorrow's marathon.

(Nov. 2nd)

九州の最北端に位置している港で古い歴史がある。以前は下関と連絡船で結ばれ活気を呈していたが、今や、橋と海底トンネルで結ばれ連絡船は廃止されている。そのモニュメントがあった。港一帯は古い歴史を感じさせる建物が多く、アインシュタインが立ち寄り食事をしたというレストランも残っていた。門司と下関を結ぶ観光船から最新型の巡視艇を見た。シナの横暴に対応するため建造されたものの一隻。世界の常識からは考えられない国である。これからもいろいろなもめ事を起こすのだろうなあとこの国のことを考えると暗澹たる思いがする。 ホテルに戻り、明日の準備を整えて２１時は就寝　明日に備える。

Shimonoseki

　　I visited Shimonoseki City, located at the westernmost part of Honshu, the biggest island of Japan, to run the Shimonoseki Kaikyo Marathon on Nov. 3rd. This city has been prosperous since long ago by taking advantage of its location. The peace treaty between Japan and the Qing dynasty was tied in Shimonoseki after the Sino-Japanese War (1894-95). During the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05) Shimonoseki was the most important supply base. My late grandfather was waiting for deployment to the Chinese Continent as a cavalry soldier in Shimonoseki when the war ended. Anyway I'll eat local specialties and go sightseeing around today.
　　My friend and I were eating "Kawara-soba" in the first picture. Soba noodles on the heated kawara roof tile were delicious, though I didn't know why people started grilling soba on the kawara roof tiles. Then we headed for Ganryujima island which was famous as the duel site for two historic master swordsmen. The statue of the duel stood on a small hill. This tiny island is on the Kan'mon channel, which is so narrow and has a rapid ocean current. Ship handling would be so difficult there. The last picture shows the Kan'mon'kyo bridge straddling the Kan'mon channel.

(Vocabulary)
cavalry (現代の陸軍の) 機甲部隊; 騎兵隊, 騎馬隊
swordsman 剣士、剣客

３日に開催される下関海峡マラソンに参加するため下関へ向かった。この町は古くから栄えた港町。本州の最西端に位置しており、九州は目の前に見える。今日は地元の名物を食べ、この辺りの観光をする。
１枚目の写真で食べているのは瓦そば。瓦の上にそばを置いて焼いている。なぜこのようなスタイルが生まれたのかは知らないが、美味しい。そして日本を代表する剣豪の血統で有名な場所、巌流島へ。この小さな島は関門海峡にある。とても狭い海峡で、流れの速さ、操船の難しさで有名な場所。５枚目が本州と九州を繋ぐ橋、関門大橋である。

Imamiya Jinja Shrine

　　Hearing about "Tama no Koshi" as I wrote in the last entry, we visited that shrine, Imamiya Jinja Shrine. It was surrounded by forest even in a big city, Kyoto. The path from Souken-in Temple to the shrine was comfortable, covered by the mystic atmosphere.
　　Along the former approach to the shrine there lined up a few candy stores who only sold "Aburi-mochi" rice cakes. These rice cakes have a long history and the stores have been run by several generations. I was moved by the appearance of the stores which had been used since hundreds of years ago with some restorations. FYI, there are so many businesses in Japan handed down from generation to generation. An oldest construction company started their business in 578 i.e. 6th century! It's estimated that the number of more than 100 year-old companies in Japan surpasses 100,000. Visiting this shrine, I understood that I just only scratched the surface of Japan's history though I meant to have learned it thoroughly.
　　My friend saw me off at Kyoto Station. I got on a Shinkansen Bullet Train for the first time in ten years or so. The car was upgraded since my last ride. I wondered how far the train would develop. Kyoto is always new and old at the same time. I hope I'll visit again and again.

http://www.imamiyajinja.org/eng/imamiya_ENG/TOP.html

玉の輿の話を聞いてその神社へやって来た。この神社のことは全く知らなかった。大都市京都にありながら森に囲まれていて歴史を感じさせる。総見院からここまでの散歩も荘厳な雰囲気に包まれて心地よかった。旧参道には名物「あぶり餅」を売る店が並んでいて一服した。美味しかった。もう何代もに渡って営まれている古い店のたたずまいに感動。日本には代々継がれる企業・店舗が多い。六世紀から続く建築会社も・・・・・・ある。１００年以上続く企業は１０万社以上あると推定されている。自分なりに歴史を勉強してきたつもりだったが、この神社を見て、上っ面を少しかじった程度でしかないことを思い知った。京都駅まで送ってもらって新幹線を利用した。久しぶりの新幹線で、乗るたびにアップグレードしている。古くて新しい街、京都、また何度も訪れたい。

Cinderella Story

　　You surely know the Cinderella Story. Also in Japan that surely existed in reality.
　　A poor girl who was born in a vegetable shop in Kyoto in the early 17th century married into the Tokugawa clan. She finally became the real mother of the 4th Shogun of Edo Shogunate (1603-1867). She went into the castle on a beautiful palanquin, which is called "Tama no Koshi" in Japanese and this phrase is now often used to describe a girl who got a good fortune in marriage.
　　She is said to have often visited a shrine to pray for happiness for her family. The shrine is now selling several kinds of charms and one of them is "Tama no Koshi" charm for girls who wish for affluent and happy lives. My friend has two daughters and I have three. We visited the shrine to get the charms. (grin)

(Vocabulary)
palanquin 　輿

 

 

Souken-in Temple

　　I put up at my friend's house last night. Chatting with him and his family, time went by really fast to us. We knew each other at a crammer for a junior high school. We both passed the exam and spent six years in the same school. Then he proceeded to Kyoto University. We parted at that time, but have kept in touch since then. Our friendship would become more than 50 years.
　　I was taken to Souken-in Temple, which is open to the public for a limited term yearly. Do you know Hideyoshi or Nobunaga? They are prominent figures in Japan's history. This temple was built by Hideyoshi for Nobunaga, whose tomb was set in the grounds of this temple. A variety of things concerning Nobunaga were exhibited in the main building, but taking pictures was prohibited. Knowing that this temple was open to the public on this day, my friend apparently took me to this temple. I'm interested in the history and culture of Japan, and his selection was great.
　　I found an unusual tomb near Nobunaga's and took some pictures. It looked like a famous musician's, whom I didn't know. The tomb was equipped with a music machine and illuminations. I searched him on the internet later and knew that he was a pioneer of Japan's jazz scene.

(Vocabulary)
crammer a special school that prepares people quickly for examinations

昨夜は友人宅に泊めてもらい、楽しい夜だった。お互いの状況を話しながら時間の経つのを忘れた。地元の有名中学を受験するための予備校で知り合い、ともに合格し、彼は京都大学へ進学したので大学からは別だったが、連絡を絶やさず、もう５０年以上の付き合いになる。

今日はまず、総見院を見学することとした。信長の菩提寺が特別に公開されているという。撮影禁止のものが多くて紹介できないが、よくぞ保存してきたものだと驚く。茶室も見学して寺をあとにしたが、奇抜な墓を発見したので載せておく。信長の墓から３０メートルくらいの距離にあった。有名なジャズバンドの構成員らしい。機械は壊れていたが、ボタンを押すと音楽が流れるようにつくってあったのだろうと思われた。

One of the busiest tourist destinations

　　After the last part of the parade had passed by us, I walked toward Chion-in Temple and Kiyomizu-dera Temple, listening to my friend's explanation. I wondered about the huge number of tourists. Judging from their conversation or appearance, 80% of them were overseas visitors. Also there, Chinese people's naughty behaviour was eye-catching. They litter. Lots of souvenir shops used to offer something for test tasting or to try using on the shops' front, but food for test-tasting had disappeared. They seemed to grab and take them in bags to enjoy later. Needless to say, test-tasting should not be "grab", but "pick up with fingers". I recalled my next cruise trip to Taiwan and a headache started, being afraid about confinement among lots of Chinese people.

Jidaisai, Traditional Costume Festival

　　The purpose of this trip was to view "Jidaisai", the traditional Costume Festival. I had planned this trip half a year ago. I'd also like to see my longtime friend at that time. This festival has been held on Oct. 22nd every year, but the day of this year was assigned to the 126th Ten'noh's enthronement ceremony and this festival was to be held on Saturday this weekend. If the weather was not ideal for the festival, the festival was supposed to be postponed to the next day, Sunday, so I understood that I would view the parade of lots of performers wrapped up with traditional clothes even if Saturday was rainy.
　　The parade of Jidaisai started at Kyoto Imperial Palace and continued more than two hours. We set two folding chairs on the roadside and got on standby. The 50th Ten'noh, Kanmu (781- 806 on the throne) started to live in Kyoto in 794 and Kyoto became the principal place in Japan at that time. 1200 years have already passed since then, and the banner which 8th century's ladies had was the slogan to get together to preserve ancient traditions and to develop at the same time toward the 1300th years.
　　Tastelessly, the top runner of the parade was a police car, but the next were mounted policemen specially outfitted with 8th century noble people's costume who were usually positioned in the Kyoto Imperial Palace. I didn't understand the role of the following man in the first picture, but I got it after a while. Several staff members were collecting the feces of horses and cows. Thank you for cleaning!
　　Starting with the Meiji Period (1868 to 1911), the periods were getting old. Ordinary people, adults and kids, nobles, samurai-warriors, famous historical figures, and so on. I enjoyed it very much.

http://www.heianjingu.or.jp/festival/jidaisai.html

京都へ来た理由は時代祭を見るため。半年前から予定していた。長く会っていなかった友人にも会いたかったし。毎年１０月２２日に開催されてきたが、今年は新天皇の即位の礼のため、２６日土曜日に変更された。万一雨の場合翌日に延期なので、雨でも翌日に見ることができる。時代祭は御所を出発し２時間以上のパレード。京都に天皇が住むようになったのは７９４年。その後、１２００年が過ぎ、パレードの先頭には遷都１３００年に向けて頑張っていこうという横断幕。パレードの先頭は、パトカーだった。風情の無いことだと思っていたら次に来たのは、御所を護る警察騎馬隊。後ろを歩く人の役割が不明だったが、ずっと後に続くパレードを見ていてわかった。馬の糞を回収する警察官の人だった。ご苦労様。明治時代の衣装に始まり、だんだんと古くなる。庶民、貴族、その時代の衣装に身を包んだ人たち、歴史上の有名人などの列が２時間も続いた。楽しめた。

In the Grounds

　　While wandering in the grounds of Nanzen-ji Temple, I came across a well-remembered scene. You see the bridge-like building in the following pictures, which was a part of Biwako Sosui that I wrote about in the previous entries. This place has often been utilized in various TV dramas as murder scenes, like this situation; someone finds a body while jogging in the early morning. I uttered "Those films were taken here!" Climbing up the nearby slope, more than 100 year-old waterway worked even today. I felt that all the people concerned in this big project were great to leave a benefit to posterity. Then we entered the main building of Nanzen-ji Temple. Its national treasure-class properties and garden were really wonderful and I was thankful for the efforts of preservation by those who have gone before us.

(Vocabulary)
posterity 子孫, 後世の人々

Nanzen-ji Zen Temple

　　After I saw and admired the achievement of a century ago, I took a walk and found myself in front of "Sanmon Gate" in the premise of Nanzen-ji Zen Temple. I didn't know about "Sanmon Gate", one of the iconic buildings in this temple and my friend explained its history. The most notorious thief in Japan's history, Ishikawa Goemon, utters a cry twice on this gate, "What beautiful scenery", in the also famous Kabuki program. I heard that and climbed up to the lookout floor. The scenery from there was really beautiful!

http://www.nanzen.net/english/

１００年あまり前の偉大な業績を見た後、南禅寺へ。この寺の名前だけは知っていたが、散歩をするうちに気がついたら三門の前に立っていた。名前を知るだけで詳しいことは知らなかったが、友人が説明してくれた。歌舞伎の中で日本の歴史に残る大泥棒がこの三門の上で発する台詞は、歌舞伎を知らない日本人の間でも知られている。『絶景かな、絶景かな』　我々もこの上に上ってみたが、確かに良い景色だった。

Biwako Sosui

　　We climbed up the dead track and reached the end of a small canal, which connects Biwako Lake and Kyoto. The dead track seemed to have been utilized to lift boats to the surface of the canal. This canal was built as the solution of water shortage in Kyoto, and it was apparently also used as the route of transportation of commodities. The former logistics or distribution route is now open to visitors. You can travel on the canal in a boat. When I reached the canal end, a small sightseeing boat was about to start. I wanted to get on the boat someday. The last picture shows a small scale hydroelectric power station. This facility is also run by the water from Biwako Lake.

A Dead Track

　　As soon as my ferry arrived at the Osaka port early in the morning, I headed for Otsu City where my lifelong friend lived. Otsu City is 20km away from Kyoto and is located by Biwako Lake, which is the largest lake in Japan. I left my baggage in his home and went out to Kyoto with him.
　　We changed trains at Yamashina and got off at Keage station. This area was new to me and a dead track in front of the station caught my eye. My friend told me that this area was one of the popular tourist destinations in Kyoto (http://en.biwako-sosui.jp/). He guided me around.

Orange Ferry

　　Japan consists of four main islands which are connected by various transportation. One of them is the ferry boat. A ferry company newly installed two ferry boats between Shikoku, my home, and Osaka last year. I've been eager to get on and I made it eventually. My purpose was fantastic and I'm going to write about it in the next entry. When I arrived at the port, it was dark, so I wasn't able to take pictures of the overall appearance of the ferry. I'll show you inside below. As soon as I entered my room, I opened my bag, grabbed stuff for the bath, and made a beeline to the public bath. It was clean, large, and relaxing. Needless to say, beer after the bath was superfine!

Orange Ferry
https://www.orange-ferry.co.jp/pdf/en_shikoku.pdf

Halloween

　　I hear that the Halloween festival is derived from the Celtic culture, so it ought to be unconnected to Japanese, but I often hear about the festival in Japan these days. Some people go on a spree to cause trouble to others, which I regard with contempt.
　　In general, Japanese people are tolerant toward religion. There's no conflict between religion domestically. Toward the end of the year, Japanese celebrate Christmas, then listen to Joya no Kane, bells ringing out the old year, and visit shrines in the new year. They perform the acts of Christians, Buddhists, and Shintoists one after another for only a week.
　　I had often read articles accusing Japanese of their having no principles in my younger days, and I felt sorry every time, but now, I'm proud of the tolerance seeing the ferocious clashes between different religions in the world. The concept of the foundation of Japan is to lead peaceful lives under the same roof regardless of the skin colors, nationalities, or religion since 2000 years ago.
　　The picture shows me in the regular meeting of my Lions Club. The mc of the meeting had me wear a horn which seemed to be the Celtic traditional costume. As I'm shy and embarrassed to masquerade as something, I was lucky to wear such a small ornament.

World's Only Emperor's Enthronement in the World's Oldest Country

　　The 126th Ten'noh, who has been frequently translated into "Emperor", proclaimed his enthronement globally today. Lots of people were invited to the ceremony. Precisely saying, 1999 people were in attendance including overseas dignitaries from 191 countries and organizations. Counting only kings, there were nine kings from Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Spain, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Tonga. Keenly being interested worldwide, CNN broadcast the ceremony live and several international news agencies reported promptly. There would be no other domestic occasions that collect such dignitaries and celebrities, and attracts interest from all over the world.
　　It would be due to the positioning of Ten'noh which is listed as the emperor class, i.e. higher than that of kings in addition to the efforts of the Japanese Royal Household to build friendly relationships with lots of counties in the world. It was the enthronement of the single emperor of the world that we watched today.
　　However, FYI, "Emperor" means having absolute power, just like the emperors of the Roman Empire and Chinese Dynasties, whose nature is completely and totally different from that of Ten'noh. I'm thankful that Ten'noh is highly and globally evaluated, but we Japanese should spread the essential qualities of Ten'noh, saying "Ten'noh" is "Ten'noh", not "Emperor". I raised national flags at the entrance and the living room in my house.

　１０月２２日、即位礼正殿の儀が開かれ、参列者は1999人、海外からも１９１カ国・機関の元首・首脳級が参加した。国王だけでも、オランダ・ウィレム・アレクサンダー国王夫妻、ベルギー・フィリップ国王夫妻、スウェーデン・カール１６世グスタフ国王、スペイン・フェリペ６世国王夫妻、ブータン・ワンチュク国王夫妻、ブルネイ・ボルキア国王、カンボジア・ノロドム・シハモニ国王、マレーシア・アブドラ第１６代国王夫妻、トンガ・ツポウ６世国王夫妻が参列。
　国際的な関心も高く、アメリカのＣＮＮは儀式の模様を中継し、海外の通信社も次々と速報を発した。およそ、一国内の儀式でこれほど多くの元首・首脳級が集まり、国際的にも関心を集めるものはないのではないか。
　これも戦後日本が世界各国と友好関係を築いてきた事に加えて、日本の天皇が国際社会で唯一のエンペラー(皇帝)級、すなわちキング(国王)よりも格式が高いと位置づけられている事も一因だろう。我々が目の当たりにしたのは、世界一古い国の、世界で唯一のエンペラーの即位式なのであろう。
　もっとも、エンペラーとはローマ帝国や中華帝国の皇帝という「権力者」であり、その本質は天皇とはまるで違う。国際社会が高く評価してくれるのは良いが、天皇の本質の理解をもっと広める必要がある。そのためにも、まずは国民の間での理解を深めることが必要だろう。