Cry of The Family

A dead body finally found in Baghdad.
Shosei Koda(24) who had been in hostage by the terrorist group "Al-Qaeda" in Iraq was killed and found with his head slashed.
When Al-Qaeda demanded the Japanese government to withdrow Japan's Self-Defense Forces from Iraq, Prime Minister KOIZUMI flatly rejected it saying he could not give in to terrorism. 40 hours after the deadline of thier demand, the hostage was found dead. It sounded as if Japanese govenment didn't know what to do.

The Shosei's elder brother read a statement he and his parents had prepared.
"We want to apologize to those who have supported us as they have been concerned over the affair. We hope that Iraq will recover peace as soon as possible."

I'm sorry to hear his comment and also feel that he couldn't say anything but this way. Even though the family was so irritated about the govenment's lazy reaction, he couldn't blame it.

When three hostages were threatened in Iraq this spring, their families crazily blamed the government, then both hostages and their families were severely critisized by people because of that. People said they were "irresponsible," and "they asked for it."
Actually, this was so controversial incidents, but after this affair, the family of the victims had to stop blaming the government.

Personally, I think the hostage's behavior was irresponsible because he already knew how dangerous Baghdad is now. However, if I were his family, I could never run my lament out of my heart forever....

I just pray for the souls of the victim.

NIigata Earthquake

October 23th, 5:59pm
A fairly big eathwuake jolted Niigata, Japan. Niigata is located in the northern part of Japan and well known by a large harvest of rices and good sake. The earthquake measured 6.1 on the Richter scale which is almost the same as its of the earthquake in KOBE (1991,) and a lot of people lost their houses at a moment. I couldn't believe my eyes to see the tragic scenes which just happened in front of me.

Thirty-one people have died and 2,559 people have been confirmed injured in the quakes, according to the National Police Agency. A total of 395 houses have been destroyed, 435 others half damaged and 3,045 houses sustained minor damage. Moreover, roads were damaged at 1,989 locations. More than 86,000 people are taking shelter at public facilities such as schools and gymnasiums. The prefectural government began to build 400 temporary houses for those who lost their houses.
Niigata is also known by heavy snow and cold weather in winter, and I'm worrying how people keep their health condition.

Everytime I watch the news about natural disaster, I'm vexed at the slow response of the government. Prime Minister Koizumi was attending Tokyo Movie Festival at that time, and 45 munites after he heard this news, he finally moved to the office. He is like Bush as he knew the WTC attack.

On the other hand, many volunteer members from all over Japan rushed into Niigata to help the earthquake victims. The people who used be the earthquake victims at Kobe earthquake are also in the volunteers.

Many aftershocks are still jolting every day, and people are getting tired of it...

Good News

I've got a good news today.
Two weeks ago, I attended the meeting in order to publish my book, "My Daylas in Berkeley (my dairy)," and had an interview with a publish company, and today, I've got a mail which they suggested that we "collaborate" on publishing the book . It means the publish company will pay for all about the sales promotion or advertisement for this book and organize all process of publishing, and I will pay for printing cost.

I cannot help laughing when I read their mail. They said, "you always kept going as if you had no fear and tried to gain something new...", "We enjoy reading your diary because it's written in no uncertain terms..."

I appreciate that they read enormous amount of my writing (about 900 pages) for only two weeks. Anyway, I have to cut down my writing to one fifth length (!) It might be really tough actually....

Killer Typhoon

Extremely big typhohon attacked thoughout Japan. This typhoon left at least 67 people dead, 21 missing and 351 injured as it cleared Japan on Thursday morning, and the government said the damage was the worst from a typhoon in 25 years.
It is the 10th typhoon to make landfall in Japan this year. The previous record was six in both 1990 and 1993.

My home town, TOKUSHIMA in SHIKOKU Island, is often called "Typhoon Ginza" because of many typhoon's arriving every year. Ginza is one of the most famous areas of TOKYO where thousands of shops and people congest the street all day long.

My field is flooded by the heavy rain and our vegetables are ruined....

The Root of Education

I suddenly decide to go to TOKYO to attend the 20th aniversary event of my former kendo dojo (group.) When I lived in TOKYO, I used go there (kendo dojo) to practice kendo near my house every Saturday.
There are a lot of dojoes which are rooting in the community in Japan, and those dojoes have been contributed to good education both mentally and physically for the people especially small children.
This dojo is also very valuable among the people in the community, and around 100 people have been practicing together for twenty years regardless of age and work.

I was so touched to see that the young leaders who are teaching the children are seriously scold and discipline them. Parentes are very considerate and help each other to carry on this event.
Recently, it's reported that edudation system in Japan is desperately getting worse, and there is a big distance between teachers and parents. However, I couldn't feel anything about this "dark side" of education in this event at all.
Children are cherrful, polite, and they have a nice and big voice and greet very well for everybody.
I believe when they glow up, they also become good leaders and succeed important spilits. I think, "this is the root of the education in Japan."

"I love this dojo because not only members but also their families have such a wonderful relationship," I said to my teacher. He said, "well, I think so. You can come back here in any time and practice together again."

Today is an unforgettable day for me because I recognize that my next theme is "education."

Education helps this world!

The Meaning of "Interference"

While the competition between Bush and Kerry are heating up, some Japanese politicians commit a slip of the tongue.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi commented an unusual expression of support for President George W. Bush in the presidential election, and after it caused a political stir in Japan.

"I don't want to interfere in a foreign country's election," Koizumi said on Thursday. "But I am familiar with President Bush and want him to carry on." Asked by reporters about candidate John Kerry's lead in opinion polls for the presidential election in the U.S., Koizumi said that the results of elections often differed from those of opinion polls.

Of course, this remark drew fire from the opposition. The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) criticized the premier's remark on Friday.
DPJ Secretary General Tatsuo Kawabata said, ''It raises doubts when a prime minister, as the representative of a country, makes comments that can be taken as supporting a specific campaign (in another country). Beyond that, one should not comment on candidates' political positions.''
''It is an issue that leads to interfering in domestic affairs...a comment that cheers on a specific candidate in the election of another country is wrong from the standpoint of democracy and also in view of diplomatic and international relations.'' (DPJ: Yoshio Hachiro)

Hosoda, the government's top spokesman said trying to play down the prime minister's explicit support of Bush, "He didn't necessarily try to back Bush in the presidential election . I think it was just a cheer for Mr. Bush with whom Koizumi has formed an amicable relationship."

Later on Friday, Koizumi said that his words were not intended to give support to Bush in the presidential election.

What is worse, Tsutomu Takebe, Koizumi's right-hand man in the Liberal Democratic Party, out on a limb after the LDP secretary general the same day expressed his hope in uncommonly blunt terms that Bush would win the upcoming presidential election.
Takebe, who assumed the LDP's No. 2 position as one of the few LDP members to voice support for Koizumi's postal privatization drive, told a radio program there would be trouble if Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry beats the Republican incumbent.

''It would mean trouble if it is not President Bush. Mr. Kerry is trying to address the North Korean problem bilaterally. That is totally out of the question,'' Takebe said in a Nippon Broadcasting System radio program, referring to the Nov. 2 presidential election.

Takebe, known to be gaffe-prone, praised Bush's policy of seeking to resolve the standoff over North Korea's nuclear ambitions through multilateral dialogue and criticized Kerry for reportedly aiming to resolve the issue through bilateral talks.
''We are in an era of multilateralism. It applies also to the issue of Iraq. We should all cooperate to resolve problems while paying the costs,'' Takebe said, though it was not clear if he was referring to criticism of the Bush administration's unilateralism on Iraq and other security issues.

The Bush administration has been addressing North Korea's nuclear development programs at six-nation talks, which also involve China, Japan, North and South Korea, and Russia. A series of meetings so far has produced no substantive results.

''It's not good to interfere in another country's election. Japan-U.S. relations are important and Japan will firmly develop the alliance no matter who is president,'' Koizumi told reporters the day after saying he wants Bush to retain the presidency.

Hosoda said he believes Japan-U.S. relations will remain strong whatever the election's outcome and that Koizumi would ''naturally'' be able to forge close relations if Kerry wins.

Asked to comment on Takebe's remark in a later news conference, however, Hosoda was more cynical, saying, ''On whether to prefer Mr. Bush or Mr. Kerry, I believe Japan's politicians or administration should observe it in a cool-headed manner as it is an internal issue in another country.''

What a heck are they talking about?
I don't think it's the matter of so-called "interference."
If so, Japan shoud have been much more politically influential to the U.S. since before

FRUITFUL HOLIDAYS

I went to OSAKA to attend the lecture to publish the books.
I decide to publish my book, "My Days in Berkeley" in which I had been writing about my experiences and inpressive incidents during my three years staying in th U.S.
It will take about two weeks for them to read and decide to adopt my writing.

After the meeting, I moved to KYOTO to see the jazz live of SHUNZO OHNO who is one of the most "invincible" trumpeters who lives in New York.
He struggled his way upward from two big tragrdy, car accident and throat cancer.

I met him by chance three years ago in Japan. One of my friends introduced him to me. At that time, he was touring Japan, and after finishing his tour he visited TOKUSHIMA "AWA DANCE FESTIVAL" to search for real old good Japanese sounds.

I went to see his performance at the small jazz live bar in Kyoto with my good friends who also met him at my home town.
This is my first time to see his performance "in public," and it's so touching and unforgetable performance for not only me but also everybody.
After his live, we enjoyed talking and drinking.

I want to show his performance for all my friends.
Please remember his name and look for the chance to see him someday!

http://www.shunzoohno.org.uk/Shunzo/biography.htm

REAL SAMURAI ICHIRO!!

Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, 30, set a new Major League record for the most hits in a single season when he earned his 258th hit in a game against the Texas Rangers here on Friday.

Ichiro then had another hit in his second at-bat in the third inning, and broke the Major League record set by George Sisler 84 years ago.
What a coincidence that Ichiro was born in the same year when Sisler set the record.

At this historical moment, relatives of Sisler congratulated Ichiro on his feat.Sisler's daughter was also invited to witness this moment and celebrated him.
After meeting Ichiro, she said, "Ichiro is similar to my father, He used to be a quiet, cool and modest person."

In 2001, Ichiro joined the Mariners and earned his first Major League hit in a game against the Oakland Athletics on April 2.
I went to the U.S. in the same year. I was influenced by his brave decision at that time.



This is the interview after he set the record.

Question: How did you feel when you achieved the record?

Answer: I think it was the best moment of my baseball career. Usually I have language problems when speaking with my teammates. I was moved when they jumped off the bench (to celebrate).


Q: What was the major driving force that helped you achieve the record?

A: It is my love of baseball. I had to try hard and motivate myself while my team's performance was down during this season. As a professional, my goal is not only to win games. If I had been a player just trying to win, I would not have achieved this.

Q: What message can you give schoolboy baseball players?

A: From my experience here (in the U.S.), I don't think having a large body is much of an advantage. I was able to achieve the record despite being one of the smallest players in the Major League. For children in both Japan and America, it is important to try and utilize what you have. If you think that way, the probability of success increases.

Q: Have you felt any pressure?

A: When you want to achieve something or you believe you can do it, you necessarily feel pressure. I don't particularly feel tough when I am the center of attention.

Q: Do you think someone will break your record?

A: I want to do it again.

Q: What is your next goal?

A: My next goal is to make a hit.

MY BLUE DAYS

Over two months have already passed since I came back.
First one month passed so fast meeting and talking with my good friends, but after that I was getting bored. Every day is the same.
Get up, do laundry, have a lunch, do dishes, help to prepare for a dinner....
I'm always with my parents. I can't concentrate on my work...

I tried to make some changes in my boring days and applied for a volunteer work (international exchange association,) but still something is missing.
I thought I could enjoy my "country life" anyhow, but in fact, I'm suffering from it now.
I've never felt such a feeling before.

October, 1 < Jam Session in Tokushima >

One of my pianist friends visited my town to perform.
I met him last month at the jazz live. A lot of young musicians including uviversity students also came to join the session.
It was wonderful because there was no wall between professional and amateur.
He also said, "this is my big pleasure to enjoy warm atmosphere of country-side. I love this."

After his short performance, he encouraged me to sing a song, and we enjoyed the session until 1:30 a.m.
All kind of musicians, saxhonist, trumpeter, guitarist and drummer played.
This is actually the first time for me to go out at night alone in my city since I came back.