風立ちぬ The Wind Rise

I saw a film of Hayao Miyazaki. 風立ちぬ "The Wind Rise" last week. This is last film that he produce. All character in his film are single-minded. Japanese that the characters speak in it is so polite and beautiful. There are people who criticize this film. However, I like it simply as a story of  an architect of airplane. He loves airplane and his dream is flying in the air. This period that he lived is during hostilities.

Also I enjoy a love story. I sniffled. Young couple are so pure and single-minded.

The song in ending is ひこうき雲 (hikoukigumo) "contrail" The singer is 松任谷由実 Yumi Matsutoya. and  superstar in J-pop for a long time. We call her Yuming ユーミン She makes a lot of albums and hit songs in Japan. She sings in Stagio Ghibli's film,  魔女の宅急便 "やさしさに包まれたなら" Yasashisani Tsutsumaretanara    Her lyric is especially great and emotional. I love a lot of her songs. If you learn Japanese, her lyrics is so beautiful and might be useful for learning Japanese. 

I hope you can see this film in your country near future in the theater.

The Wind Rise Trailer

 

 

JIN

I think everyone have wanted to go back to the past once. It might be regret for our choice or attitude at that time. And we sometimes imagine that the fact might change if the accident or event didn't happen. 

I watch a TV drama every Sunday now. The title is "JIN". The story is originally manga. I didn't know it before I watch the drama. But the drama was so popular two years ago in Japan. The series this year is second. A brain surgery goes back to the last days of the Tokugawa Shogunate (Bakumatsu 幕末). JIN is his name. The story is fiction, however, some historical persons appear in the drama. Ryoma Sakamoto, who is popular among us, is one of them. 

It is interesting and the scenes of operation in this drama seems to be real. The actor of protagonist, Takao Osawa is popular among Japanese women and the actress of heroine, Haruka Ayase is cute and remarkable.

I read news that this drama will be on air in 80 other countries. You might be able to enjoy it in your country. Also I think that it is better to watch after knowing the history of Bakumatsu.

JIN official site and gloval index 

Chūshingura 忠臣蔵

There is a historical story that is produced as TV special drama in almost every December. The story is Chushingura 忠臣蔵 . Chusingura or Akō rōshi 赤穂浪士 is well-known and almost Japanese know this event. It is one of stories of Kabuki Though I have seen these dramas several times, I didn't know personally why people like this story and they think of moving story. Because it is just vengeance and sad story. 

A historical event that is based on happened in Edo period 江戸時代. Edo period is so peaceful after the Warring State Period. So this event might be sensational for people in these days. And loyalty to master was regarded as  virtue for samurais. They could die for their master no matter what happened. 

New Japanese film, "Saigo no chusingura" released 最後の忠臣蔵 this month in Japan. This is a story after the event. It will release in US next year. And I heard a news that this story is going to be filmed in Hollywood, starring Keanu Reeves.
It might be interesting when you see it after knowing about Chushingura story and it is so famous in Japan.   

Bookstore and Japanese History

I like to go to bookstore. My favorite bookstores are Maruzen 丸善 in Marunouchi, Kinokuniya shoten (bookstore) 紀伊国屋書店 in Shinjuku or Junkudo ジュンク堂 in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro. They are very big chain bookstore in Japan. We can find all genre of books including foreign books.
   
I recently found a book at Maruzen. The title is "Nihon ryoku" 日本力. It was a book that was edited a talk for Japan by Seigou Matsuoka 松岡正剛 who is researcher of Japan or Japanese culture and Everett Kennedy Brown who is a photographer. I knew them after reading it. It was very interesting. 

I read some Seigou Matsuoka's books and I feel that we need to know and learn about especially Japanese history again. I learned about Japanese history when I was high school students. However, I might not understand importance of it. After graduating school I experience many things in our society. By leaning Japanese history again, I can understand some present events and problems in our life or I realize the reasons or real meanings for them. 

There are a lot of his books in Japanese, however, I'm sorry that I can't introduce his translated books, English or other languages. His opinions for Japan are interesting  for me. He read a lot of books and it is certainly he is an intellect.

We have a lot of social problems now. Japanese economy is unstable. Learning and knowing our history or ancestral wisdom again might be a key to solving them.                

Casutella カステラ of Nagasaki

I love a Japanese cake, Castella カステラ. It is simple taste, however, soft and so delicious. I ate a piece of castella recently. I felt happy.

This cake was introduce to Nagasaki from Portugal in 16 century. It is classic sponge cake and very popular in Japan.

Nagasaki is historical and important place for Japanese. It is the oldest trade port. Japan dealt with Portugal, Holland or China. A lot of other countries products, language or culture were introduced into Nagasaki and Japan. There are some Japanese words that are derived from Portugal or Holland. And many Christians live in Nagasaki because of historical background.

Tomorrow is a memorial day of atomic bomb in Nagasaki. We must not forget tragedy for World War Ⅱ. I will pray for world peace tomorrow.

Nagasaki City / Peace & Atomic Bomb

No More Atomic Bombs

Today is atomic bomb 65th aniversary of Hiroshima.
I want you to know a lot of innocent civilians were killed sixty-five years ago.

I hope all atomic bombs and weapons are abolished someday.

Hiroshima Peace Site

Ryomaden -大河ドラマ-

A lot of TV drama are made in a year. Taiga Drama 大河ドラマ is one of popular programs in Japan. It is broadcasted by NHK, national public broadcasting organization. This series has been on air for one year. One story is 45 minutes in every Sunday night at 8:00 PM. Almost Japanese stay home and can watch it. A historical hero or heroine in the drama becomes popular. Also an actor or actress who plays hero or heroine becomes remarkable person in the year.
I enjoy it every year.

The title of taiga drama in this year is "Ryomaden" 龍馬伝” A historical hero is Ryoma Sakamoto 坂本龍馬 and he is one of favorite historical persons for Japanese people. He was a samurai of the Tosa clan (土佐藩) in the last days of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Bakumatsu (幕末） period, and assassinated when he was 33 years old. He wanted to change Japan and made every effort to change Japan all his life.
The actor who plays Ryoma is Masaharu Fukuyama　福山雅治. He is a singer and very popular among Japanese women.
Sakamoto Ryoma and Masaharu Fukuyama will be hero this year in Japan.

His new song Hatukoi (First Love) はつ恋 is good song.

はつ恋 by Masaharu Fukuyama

Black Rain

Today, August 6 is memorial day of atomic bomb. Two Atomic bombs were dropped 64 years ago at Hiroshima and Nagasaki at August 9.

Almost Japanese students have visited Hiroshima in school excursion. I went to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in junior high school. I have heard a story for tragedy of victims (Hibakusha　被爆者) and seen horrible pictures. Everyone will think that all atomic bombs must be abandoned after visiting this museum.

Black rain (黒い雨) fell after dropping atomic bomb. It was rain of death. When I read a Japanese novel "Black Rain" , I knew the fact and it was shocking for me.
We should know that some survivors or descendants are tortured by the hangover even now .

I hope all countries have no atomic bombs.

Three nonnuclear principles of not making, possessing or bringing in nuclear weapons

非核三原則 (Hikaku sangensoku)

Hiroshima Peace Site

Ai 愛

"Ai" in Japanese means "love". We often name "Ai" for girls name in Japan.
Ai Fukuhara is a table tennis player and very popular in Japan. Table tennis isn't popular in Japan, however, almost of Japanese will know Ai Fukuhara, as "Ai chan" of table tennis.
Why we know her ? When she was a little girl, we have seen her plays. She was so cute. (She is certainly cute now.) I remember she was hitting a ball and practiced with her mother crying. She begun table tennis at about three years old. And she won many games. Everyone said she was genius for table tennis. Now she is nineteen years old and participate this Olympic.
Her popularity is not only in Japan. She is an idle in China. Because she played in Chinese Pro League. She speaks Chinese very well. When Japanese athletes normally play in China, the games are perfectly away for Japan. I have heard the booing for Japanese players or athletes several times. However, Ai chan is special. I read the news that she has a lot of Chinese fans.
Each nationalities has prejudice or hate for particular nation. History is generally the reason of needle, especially China and Japan has long history until now. But one person can change the bad feelings to friendship.
"Ai " 愛 becomes a go-between for China and Japan.

Nagasaki Peace Declaration

2008 is Olympic year. Opening ceremony was so gorgeous and many countries participate in Olympic.
I heard the news about a fighting today. Some conflicts occur somewhere.
I want to introduce a declaration.

I hope you read it and think about peace.

The Nagasaki Peace Declaration

Special Day - Hiroshima and Nagasaki

August 6 is a special memorial day for Japanese history. Atomic bomb was fallen at Hiroshima. We, Japanese shouldn’t forget the fact that happened 63 years ago. And we have to say “No more war” forever.
Almost Japanese people don’t know the tragedy actually. Only a few atomic bomb victims or who know it live now. And they tell the story for their experiences to young people. Thousands citizens in Hiroshima were killed in a twinkle by atomic bomb. Their life disappeared suddenly. It is estimates that the number of victims were about one hundred forty thousands at Hiroshima.
Atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

In August we remember last war for us, the Pacific War or atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki (August 9). We often see documentaries and dramas for atomic bomb or the war in TV around today. We see the destroyed city, mushroom cloud, or Kamikaze commando in these programs. I perceive that we shouldn’t repeat same faults and tragedy.
We never have a hate against the soldiers because the hostile soldiers were victims of the war at that time. I want to say that letting everyone the victim's stories for atomic bomb is our mission to extirpate atomic bombs and war.
Japanese can live peacefully at least now. It is so lucky. I always appreciate my situation in Japan. I hope everyone can live peacefully like Japan. And I hope that you don’t forget each past tragedy of your own countries.
Today is special day to think about our future.

Hiroshima Peace Site
Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Ryoma Sakamoto

Who is popular and great historian whom a lot of Japanese admire and respect ?
I think that Ryoma Sakamoto is very popular. At the end of the Edo period, Bakumatsu, he made every effort to change our future and become international and modern country. He is one of the heroes for Japanese people. The history in this period is very interesting.
The people in Bakumatsu might think of the future of Japan most seriously. Japan was very slow and peaceful in Edo period. However, we shut out world outside of Japan and we hadn’t known other modern world.
Ryoma Sakamoto was one of Samurai of Tosa domain and very progressive. And he contributed to make a decision of opening trade with other countries.
After American ambassadors came to establish relations, we had to choose. Which way was better for us, conventional and slow life or modern life? As a result, we were forced to change our life and future.
G8 Toyako summit was over yesterday in Hokkaido, a land of north Japan. Now Japan becomes an economic power and is a member of world leaders through the history of Bakumatsu. Is present Japanese situation ideal future for the samurais including Ryoma Sakamoto or politicians from Bakumatsu to Meiji period ? I don’t know.
However, I hope that our culture and technology help world people and everyone can live safely and enjoy our present life.

Emigration to Brazil

Japanese emigrated to some countries in North and South America in the past. Especially a lot of Japanese emigrated to Brazil and Their descendants live in Brazil as Japanese- Brazilian, Nisei , or Sansei now. This year is 100 years anniversary for emigration to Brazil. Japanese Prince, Hironomiya visits Brazil to attend the ceremonies of the anniversary. The ancestors have pioneered wild field and fought against discrimination. They were diligent and worked hard at farm. The actual life in Brazil was severe for them. Hawaii is one of places that a lot of Japanese emigrated.
Now Japanese- Brazilian people emigrate to Japan and live at some suburbs. Almost of them work at factories with lower wage. They have some Brazilian communities there.
The number of Brazilian is the third among foreign residents in Japan. (No.1 and No.2 are Korean and Chinese.) And some Japanese - Brazilians want to be naturalized in Japan.
A lot of Brazilian football players play in Japanese League, J League. Zico who is most famous Brazilian for Japanese, was manager of Japan National Team in 2006 World cup.
Japanese like Brazilian music and I love it personally.
Brazil is the furthest country from Japanese but very close to Japanese society.