Japanese Surgeon's Daily Life

Continued from the previous entry:

　　I recalled the times of timber shortage after World War II. The indiscriminate carpet bombing of the U.S. deprived commoners of their houses, which ended up being a shortage of timber for the construction of houses. People who had a trying time at that time thankfully planted lots of Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress for their descendants.
　　However, since a few decades ago, cheap timber from Canada or the U.S.A. has been overshadowing the Japanese forestry industry and consequently the considerably vast forest in Japan is left maintenance-free. As a matter of fact, the pollen from those trees is now a social issue. Too much cedar and cypress forest became a root of modern illness.
　　Lots of people in Japan wear a mask to prevent pollen from invading from February to May. When an accident occurred in Fukushima Daiichi Atomic Power Plant in March 2011, I laughed at German journalists, who were reporting that most Japanese wore a mask to avoid nuclear effects. Some people might do as they said, but most people did it due to pollen allergy. The reporting was totally inaccurate, but this sort of thing often happens. I learnt the risk of swallowing stories without questioning.

(Vocabulary)
forestry 林学, 営林, 林業
As a matter of fact 実を言うと
swallow ; to accept without questioning 鵜呑みにする

Yellow Sand

　　A yellow sand advisory was issued today. I got gloomy to hear that. I saw the disastrous scene of streets in Beijing and a highway of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In Beijing, the sky was cloudy with yellowish particles. I'm afraid that lots of people would have respiratory problems. On the Mongolian highway, some people were removing sand on the road using a shovel. The visibility on the highway seemed to be only 20 meters. I don't mind where they want to go, but I'd like them to stop troubling other countries. I understand that they don't have the tradition to plant trees for the coming generations. It's a really pitiful thing.

(Vocabulary)
advisory （主に米）〚[名]の後で〛（危険に関する）勧告, 警告, （気象の）注意報; 状況報告.
Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (China) 内モンゴル自治区
visibility 視界

Slipped Disk

　　I got my waist injured when I sneezed. I really became conscious of my age. Luckily the symptom is getting better on medication. It's my first experience and I now know the agony of patients. In that sense, this was a good lesson. During the pandemic, I was too lazy to do some exercise. I thought it was crazy to jog with a mask on, but it might be my excuse to escape from exercise. I realized that physical strength is a must to enjoy a happy life.

 

What I Think About Middle East

　　I don't like the name of "Middle East" and "Far East" alike. This naming would be evidently from the U.K.'s standpoint, which had the mighty power in the 19th century. Anyway, Japan depends on the Middle East for its great part of crude oil imports, but the majority of Japanese wouldn't know about the Middle East so much. I assume that it's due to the inferiority of the media.
　　Some specialists disseminate information on the platform of YouTube, but their information seems to be censored. I read a book about the Middle East today, which was very enlightening. This book blew the mist in my brain away.

Broken iPad

　　My iPad broke as the following picture shows. I assumed that its battery had swollen. I was afraid that it might explode. Luckily I had insurance against its damage and another reproduced iPad would be delivered in a few days.
　　I wanted to dismantle the iPad just from my curiosity, but it was required to send my iPad to the company in return. My iPad might be regenerated and used as a substitute for other users.

Robotic Server

　　Ozu city is located in the south of my hometown, whose population is only 40,000. I was working in the city until 6 years ago and I was invited to join a party there.
　　The party was held in a small izakaya, Japanese style bar, in downtown. Sitting at the table, a waitress handed us a slip with a QR code printed on it. Scanning the QR code, the menu appeared on the screen and we had only to tap on the pictures of dishes to order. The bill was automatically calculated and we were able to check it anytime. I understood that this method would save the modification and printing costs of the menu.
　　And one more thing, some of our orders were served by a robot. If I were in Tokyo or big cities, this could be, but I was in a small rural city. I wondered if it was due to the lack of workers.

New Fiscal Year

　　A new fiscal year started. It starts from April and ends in March in Japan. In this season, the cherry blossoms front moves up across Japan from south to north. All the country is enveloped by brilliant scenes. Above all, as the pandemic eases this year, people look happy and loads of young men start their career. About 9000 people seem to be newly licensed to work as physicians. I nostalgically remember the time when I got into the medical field.
　　While I have been working in the medical field for about 40 years, I saw a huge number of patients. Some of them didn't accept the reality of aging. They clung to past glory and buried their head in the sand. I think it's like competing with the setting sun. I'd like to sink with the sun and enjoy the sunset.
　　Just to be sure, I'm not going to die soon. (grin)

(Vocabulary)
cling しがみつく, 握り［抱き］締める
cling to sb/sth ＜…＞にしがみつく

 

Filtering Man

　　The negative aspect of the internet has been noted since the crackdown by the Philippines police into the Japanese fraudster group who had lurked in a volk's house in the Philippines. According to the report, the masterminds collected their accomplices on the net and sweet-talked them into their group.
　　The municipal authorities like the city office, the local police, and the education board are grappling with harmful websites. They enlighten parents to introduce filtering software into their children's smartphones to rein in phone crimes. On the other hand, short comical skits are performed to very young kids not to follow unfamiliar people in their everyday lives. A hero, whose name is "filtering man", appears in these skits - wait for it - He is my son-in-law. He was originally a public service worker, and was featured in today's newspaper. I'll upload the article.

Michikajima Island

　　The name of this island comes from the sense that one can see the island very close. It doesn't have any pier. Despite its closeness from the nearest manned island, few people had visited the island before 1988. These two islands became linked by a bridge which constituted a part of Shimanami Highway which connected Honshu and Shikoku, hopping small islands in 1988. The nearby but distant island of Michikajima has no pier to reach by a big boat and we needed a small boat to land there before 1988.
　　When the highway straddling Seto Inland Sea was planned, a bridge pier was designed on the island. The highway is naturally made for automobiles, but the path for small motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians is also added to the side of the bridge. Additionally, a narrow ramp to the island for those was constructed. At the same time, a campsite was created on the island. I've passed on this highway many times, but I've never visited the island, which has been accessible for only pedestrians and small bikes.
　　I landed on the island by my bicycle today. Going down the ramp, there was a wide campground equipped with clean toilets, shower facilities and a kitchen with several "kamado" traditional Japanese kitchen stoves. Almost all of the flat space on the island was changed into the campground. The highway runs over a few dozen meters, and the noise of cars will be irritating for campers, but the traffic at night isn't so heavy. The campers would be able to spend some very relaxing hours. And another thing, it is the trove of fresh seafood before them. I'd like to stay there for a whole night with my fishing gear.

Postscript:
The place which pokes out to the sea and moors the boats and the column which supports the bridge are described with one same word, pier. This was new and surprising to me.

(Vocabulary)
manned island 有人島
pier 支柱

Battery-Assisted Folding Bicycle

　　I bought a folding bicycle equipped with a battery assistance system. I used to own a battery-assisted one and I understood how helpful the assistance was. That bicycle was taken by my daughter when she got married and went out from my house. The bicycle was designed for ordinary housewives and was very handy.
　　I chose a folding type of bicycle this time, because of its portability. I can load it in my car and take it wherever I want. To secure its portability, the size of tires are forfeited. Therefore, it's not good for a long ride, but it's very useful to ride in a crowded or busy street in the urban district.
　　I visited Shimanto City on business today and carried my new bicycle with me. The following pictures were shot on a small hill where a comfortable park was located and there were some monuments of historic persons of this city's birth. With conventional bicycles, I wouldn't feel like climbing up the hill, but with this battery-assisted one, I didn't feel any reluctance. This bicycle would be useful for my well-being physically and mentally.

　

Global Turmoil

　　Just in my opinion, the order of society has been gradually becoming insane globally after the 2020 election of the U.S. president. In the times of Pr. Trump, the world was securer than today. Evil countries like North Korea, the Chinese Communist Party, Russia, and so on were narrowly controlled under the law.
　　It's also my private idea that the U.S. government ruled by the Democratic Party often caused global issues. Carter tolerated Russia invading Afghanistan. Reagan recovered peace, but Clinton gave rise to various issues in eastern Europe centered on the Yugoslav Wars, whose aftermath is still continuing. Obama brought chaos to Mideast countries, and Biden started the Ukraine War. Putin is absolutely responsible for this invasion, but the masterminds of the Ukraine War are the U.S..
　　FYI, it's the U.S. President FDR of the Democratic Party that wanted the war against Japan.
　　The result of the U.S. presidential race has worldwide effects. I'd like the electorate to ponder who is the best for the U.S. and the world, though I know that the last election was done unfairly.
　　I'm afraid that the dictatorship by the Democratic Party will be looming in the U.S.. Hearing the arrest of former president Trump through Tucker Carlson on FOX news or his tweets, I take a gloomy view of the present regime of the U.S..

(Vocabulary)
the Yugoslav Wars ユーゴ紛争
dictatorship [C,U] 独裁政治［政権］
a military dictatorship 軍事独裁政権

Short Trip to Oxford

　　As the pandemic eases, the Japanese Government finally lifted its strict restriction on the re-entry requirements. I decided to visit the U.K. with my wife in the coming July. Our purpose is to attend my daughter's graduation ceremony from Oxford University Graduate School. Her thesis for her master's degree was accepted last year. Additionally, she got a medical license also in the U.K. during her graduate school and she is now working as a trainee in a hospital in the suburbs of London, though she had already finished the trainee course of Japan.
　　I learned an interesting custom about the graduation ceremony in the U.K.. In general, graduation ceremonies are held once a year and its season is March in Japan, when cherry blossoms, one of the cultural fixture of Japan, will celebrate all graduates. To my surprise, the ceremony is apparently held three times in a year in the U.K., and the graduates can choose the season of their ceremony from three options; July, November, and March. Much to my surprise, they can choose the year too. The graduates can postpone it as long as they want, even years.
　　My wife and I have been eager to attend the ceremony and see our daughter's beaming and proud face. It goes without saying, but Oxford University is one of the highest class universities in the world. We had just been confined to Japan due to the pandemic for three years. We asked her to choose the best season for the graduation and the sightseeing, and we got to visit Oxford city in July. The scenery in November and March doesn't seem so good. The latitude of the U.K. is above that of Hokkaido. I understood the harshness of its climate.
　　There are several places in the college which only authorized personnel can step in. The famous movie, Harry Potter was shot in such places. With our daughter attending, we can see inside. This sightseeing is very attractive.
　　The last visit to the U.K. was in 2018's autumn. I remember how hard it was to listen to the words from local people in the hotel in Oxford and a parking lot in Stratford-upon-Avon. I even wondered if their words were English or another language. The English which I could easily and comfortably understand was only the narration from the speaker of the Great Western Railway, which I took from Oxford to London. However, everything will be ok with our daughter this time. (Link)
　　Four years have passed since. Our daughter was to stay in Oxford for one year as a visiting scholar at first, but she was offered another year's stay with a scholarship as a scholar. Meanwhile, she was advised to go into the Graduate School, which leads to now. Additionally, she passed the National Examination for Medical Practitioners during the stay. She hopes to work in the U.K. at least for now.
　　During our stay, we'd like to walk around her life range and her workplace. It's the first time for my wife to visit Oxford and I'm thinking of revisiting standard sightseeing spots like the Cotswolds and the birthplace of Shakespeare, and London.
　　I chose ANA last time, but I found a ticket for a better price and am using British Airways this time. I'm now wondering if I should get a new suit of British taste made as a mark of respect for British culture for attendance at the ceremony. I can't wait to get on board the international flights.

(Vocabulary)
thesis (学位取得のための) 論文
a doctoral thesis 博士論文
beam にっこりほほえむ, (喜びなどで) 顔を輝かす
beam at sb/sth ＜…＞に向かってにっこりほほえむ
Which leads to now.　今に至る
life range 生活圏

https://kumo.typepad.jp/weblog/2018/10/parking-violation.html

 

Chinese and Japanese

　　It seems to be difficult to tell Chinese from Japanese for people from western countries, but most Japanese can tell with a high probability. Both Chinese and Japanese are the yellow races, live in the cultural sphere in which Chinese characters are used, take rice as a staple food, and partly have the spirit of Confucianism. However, excluding the above, both peoples have nothing in common.
　　"The two countries are separated by only a narrow strip of water." This phrase is a dry boilerplate to insist that China and Japan are kind of relatives or good friends. The way of thinking or behaving of both peoples are far distant like finally reaching, after turning around the globe to the opposite direction, about 40,000 km.
　　The above is my personal sensation acquired from the various recent news items from China.

(Vocabulary)
cultural sphere 文化圏
Confucianism 儒教
have nothing in common 共通点がない
a narrow strip of water ／a narrow strait 一衣帯水

 

Gaoxiong and Its Name's Origin

　　I've been to Taiwan twice, but the area which I walked around was limited to the northern district. I will visit several cities in the south some day.
　　I'll write about the big city of Gaoxiong in southern Taiwan first. This city is now one of the principal cities in Taiwan, but it was only a tiny fishery village when Japan received it from the Qing dynasty of China in 1895. Its name was something which had the meaning of "beat the dog" at that time. The Japanese government viewed the name as an unpalatable fixture of its culture and changed its name into Gaoxiong, which was cited from the historic place of Kyoto and they took it into consideration that its pronunciation in their local language didn't change that much on the flip side. The port of this city used to be a crucial naval base of the Japanese Imperial Navy and now it has the same function as the Taiwanese Navy's base.
　　Japan ruled not only Taiwan, but also Korea and the islands of Micronesia for about 30 to 50 years, but Japan's governance was far different from that of general colonies. Japan spent a significant amount of money on those countries as well as Japan built various infrastructures, provided education to local people and improved hygiene. Given the name of Gaoxiong City, you'll know Japan's policy. Let me give you some examples: Lake Victoria, Port Elizabeth, Rhodesia, the Philippines,,. These were named by the ruler or like that, ignoring the local people.
　　When Japan was founded in 660 B.C., the 1st Ten-noh declared his policy, among which he wished for the well-being of all people on the globe. An idea flashed across my mind. Problems of refugees might be a kind of punitive justice to the former suzerains. Refugees are heading to the countries where their relatives live or they can communicate with their languages.

(Vocabulary)
Qing tʃɪŋ dynasty 清朝（１６４４－１９１２）
punitive justice 因果応報
suzerain 宗主国

YouTube

　　I don't rely on mainstream media at all. When I receive snippets of information from them, I make it a rule to ponder what's behind the news. The anonymous writers of these news items can conceal the crucial points and secretly weave nuances into their articles. In this sense, I prefer YouTube videos whose authors are open. I know the fact that YouTube censor uploaded videos and restrict free speech to some extent, but specialists in a variety of fields give lectures. I subscribe to some YouTube channels whose authors are trustworthy.
　　One of those authors published a book lately. I have been subscribing to his channel these past two years since around the U.S. 2020 presidential election. I evaluate that his arguments are based on hard evidence and are reliable. I doubted if there had been disturbingly huge injustice in the election. His book tells us about the confusion or chaos in the U.S.
　　I get information mainly through the internet. I can directly access the news source. Strangely, Japanese media don't report about the social problems concerning President Biden. They reported about the Silicon Valley Bank these past two or three days, but didn't refer to the scandal of the Biden family, Jan. 6th incident, the influx of unlawful immigrants, the aftermath of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, and so on.
　　Their actions are really incomprehensible! I think most media would be under the control of something. I'd like to get information correctly, not biased, and make decisions properly.

Age Tells

　　As the pandemic eased, I went downtown with my friends. The occasional get-together is delightful, but an accident occurred in my house. When I tried to take my shoes off rubbing both heels together while standing at the door, I failed to swiftly take them off. Leaning forward on the floor with my feet set on the entrance, I can take my shoes off quickly if sober, but I was drunk at that time. My upper body proceeded forward as usual, but my lower part didn't. I pitched forward. I was in a hurry to make a beeline for the toilet. If I had only sat down on the floor to untie the laces. I heavily hit my right hand. How long will it take to recover? I have difficulties even in washing my face, zipping up my pants and writing. Taking my age into consideration, it will take at least one month. So sad.

(Vocabulary)
pitch forward つんのめる
untie 〈結んだ物など〉 をほどく
Peter untied his shoelaces. ピーターは靴ひもをほどいた．

 

A Cloven Foot

　　This word is used as a derogatory term for Japanese in Korea. The mainstream media and sophisticated people in South Korea don't use this word any more, but this derogatory term is often used in the North. Anyway, this term seems to be derived from the Japanese culture of using "Geta" or "Setta", a Japanese style of clog, which has a cord to fix the foot. This cord runs between the big toe and the second toe. This means, the toe is divided into two parts; a big toe and others. Yes, it's the cloven foot.
　　One thing, the use of "Geta" seems to be good for the health. When you put the "Geta" on, you will come to walk in a proper posture heedlessly applying your weight on both big toes. You'd not suffer from ingrown toe nails by this. Your feet will get dry and this leads to protection from athlete's foot. Most chefs of Japanese traditional cuisine put "Geta" on willingly.
　　Take a look at the following picture. It shows my new walking shoes. It looks like rubber-soled socks which are used by construction workers and farmers. I had to prepare special socks for the shoes, but the shoes are really good.

(Vocabulary)
cleave
1 [他](文) (工具で) 〈材木・岩石など〉 を裂く, 割る
2 [他](フォーマル) 〈社会など〉 を分裂させる, 引き裂く
3 [他](文) 〈水・空気など〉 を切って進む
4 [自] 裂ける, 割れる
[動] (cleaved または clove /klouv/ または cleft /kleft/cleaved または cloven /klóuven/ または cleft)
derogatory term 差別用語
derogatory 〈言葉・人などが〉 侮辱的な, けなすような, 軽蔑(けいべつ)的な
clog /klɑg || klɔg/ [名] 《[C]通例複数形で》 クロッグ (足の甲の部分が革で覆われた木製サンダル)
rubber‐soled socks 地下足袋
apply 体重をかける
in proper posture 正しい姿勢で

Crack of Tires

　　It's getting warmer day by day. The temperature tends to temporarily go down once or twice in March in a normal year, but I expect that I would be able to change the winter tires of my car into summer ones before the end of March.
　　When I changed the summer tires into winter ones last December, the mechanic found a few cracks on the surface of two tires. The cracks looked shallow, but my mechanic advised me to replace two tires in spring at that time. I accepted his advice and decided to buy two in the coming spring.

Buddhist Service

　　During 49 days just after their death, the souls of the departed are said to be in limbo between this world and the next world. They need a guide to the next world and the smoke from incense sticks is thought to play this role, so the bereaved continue to burn incense until the souls reach their destination.
　　The soul of my father reached the next world today and my family performed a Buddhist ceremony to consecrate the Buddhist memorial tablet of my father. This tablet will be placed on the altar of my house and we will pray for him before this tablet in everyday life.

(Vocabulary)
a Buddhist memorial tablet 位牌
a Buddhist ceremony to consecrate a newly-constructed image　開眼供養
consecrate （特別な儀式で）〈建物･土地･物など〉を神聖にする, 清める, 神にささげる, 聖別する

Balloon Fuss And Nord Stream 2 Damage

　　With all the talk of the balloons in the U.S. these days, I'm afraid that we have to pay attention to things behind the scenes, when all media pick the same topic. They behave that way at times to divert attention from something. So, I was wondering if there was something which they wanted to conceal.
　　I learned today about a report by a reliable journalist by the name of Seymour Hersh. He concluded that the culprit of the attack against Nord Stream 2 was the U.S.. If this is the case, the attack is absolutely hostile. Does the U.S. want people in the EU to be frozen to death? Congress might impeach Biden, taking it into consideration that they had impeached Mr.Trump without any solid evidence.

(Vocabulary)
fuss (ささいなことに対する) 大騒ぎ, 空騒ぎ
With all the talk of ～が盛んに語られていますが、、、
at times 往々にして