I read Vintage Murakami, selected works of Haruki Murakami. Of course, Murakami's works are originally written in Japanese. But his recent works seemed to me a bit long-winded, so I have not read them except some short stories these days.
　Last week I happened to read this English translation and I found it more interesting than I had expected. Murakami's works translated into English aren't strange at all to me. Not awkward, as if they were originally written in English. Murakami has loved American literature since he was young and he has translated a lot of American novels and stories into Japanese by himself. So his imagination and style probably have plenty in common with those of American writers.
　I think I'll read Kafka on the Shore in English soon.

Anti-Japan movement has picked up steam in China and Korea. At the same time, books against China and Korea have become best-sellers in Japan.
　As one of Japanese, I think post-war Japan should at least have made an effort to improve the status of Chinese and especially Koreans living in Japan. It might not fix the problems but just might provide a clue to solution. It's never too late to try.

Most Japanese make light of Chinese. This way of thinking was made in the latter half of the 19th century by the leaders at that period. One of the important leaders is FUKUZAWA Yukichi (now an icon on a 10,000 Yen bill). He wrote many books and articles and was famous for establishing Keio university, a first-rate university in Japan. He insisted Japan turn her back on the other Asian undeveloped countries and try to become one of the European developed countries.
　Japan invaded China in the 20th century and the invasion ended in 1945. But Japan have not made an apology. One of the reasons was the cold war. To many Japanese people China seemed a "red" uncivilized country.
　Now technically Japan and China have normalized diplomatic relations but emotionally have never settled their differences. On the contrary, many Japanese regard Chinese as poor people with no manners. To those who they despise, can Japanese apologize from the heart? If they apologize, Japan can be a mentally independent country for the first time in the post WWII.

Last week a few of spywares ran into my machine. So, the processing speed became slow and many popup advertisements appeared automatically. Virus, spams, spywares, there is no end to attacks through Internet.
　Most of spams and spywares come from USA. Why do they send them across the border? 'Ladies' of USA are waiting for me tonight?!!! Good grief.

Long time no see. I didn't feel like updating this corner for over a half year, because of my hard days and no reactions to this page. Now I'm writing here again to tell my thoughts to whoever'll happen to drop in at this page.

　I don't need Chinese igonorant mobsters' protests against Japan to realize that the United Nations shouldn't give Japan a permanent seat on Security Council. Japan has little to offer for world peace. In fact, there are not so many people who delve into the meaning of peace, and nationalism and mammonism become more powerful over the past several years. So Japan and the USA have a lot in common. But, compared with the USA, Japanese grass roots are very weak. Now in Japan, our children and their teachers are forced to sing Kimi-ga-yo (Song for an emperor) and to put up a 'bloody' Hi-no-maru flag in school ceremonies.

　On the other hand, Chinese authorities let their young mobsters act violently to divert their discontent with their own government.

　People of Japan and China are still childish after almost sixty post-war years. Their governments receive their ignorance favorably.

I went to see "Steamboy," an animation movie directed by OTOMO Katsuhiro. OTOMO is one of the famous Japanese Manga writers. The movie is concerned about the conflict between the good will and the bad will of science. A grandfather and a father (of Ray, a 'steamboy'), both a kind of mad scientist, represent the conflict. The grandfather looks on science as technique for people, but his son looks on it as a realizaton of possibility and POWER. So, the father, Eddy, started war against England in the age of the first International Exhibition in the 19th century.
　Kaoru, my 13-aged daughter enjoyed it. I think it might be better than TV news and some political movies.

Keidanren, the Federation of Economic Organizations, talked about the revision of Japanese Constitution and three principles controlling arms exports. It is said that their chief aim is to remove the embargo on the export of arms and put life into Japanese war industry. Now an economic recovery is one of the biggest issues in Japan. So, for the economic purpose, Japanese constitution may be revised without strong opposition.
　U.S. high officials also commented that the revision of Japanese Constitution was inevitable. Their aim is war and money. It is regrettable there is so little argument about the Constitution in Japan. It is almost no use making a fool of U.S. President.

　Takeaki KASHIMURA, a LDP member of the House of Councilors, described the three Japanese ex-hostages in Iraq as "antigovernment, anti-Japan elements." "Anti-Japan elements (han-nichi-teki bunshi)" is almost synonymous with "a traitor to Japan (kokuzoku, hi-kokumin)." The words, kokuzoku and hi-kokumin, were used all over Japan in the age of WWII.
　Komimasa TANAKA, one of the important writers in Japan, wrote in one essay in his later years, "Japan has been occupied by Japanese." It is still true.

　Three Japanese, freelance journalist and NGO activists, have been held hostage in Iraq. They are threatened to be killed if Japanese Government does not withdraw the Self-Defense Forces troops ('jieitai') from Iraq within three days.
　Fukuda, Chief Cabinet Secretary, told that they won't withdraw the SDF troops only to rescue them.
　I think we must withdraw the SDF troops. Because the troops went there to carry out humanitarian activities, not to enter the AMERICAN WAR nor desert Japanese people there.

　I'm not for terrorists, but I'm not against Palestinian suicide bombers. Because Isael & USA alliance is too strong and selfish. I only hope there'll be no reasons for bringing about suicide bombings in the world. When PEACE comes all over the world, Bush Jr., Blair, Sharon and Koizumi will become only poor actors behind the times.
　These days I've been reading the 1945 diary by YAMADA Futaro (a late famous novelist). Those days Tokyo was air-raided by USA almost every day. Especially on March 10, about 300 B29s killed more than a hundred thousand Japanese civilians, in only a day. It's not too late to try to end wars.

　I've heard that Japanese police arrested three anti-war activists and searched six houses for suspected trespassing. The activists only posted their fliers against dispatching Japan Self-Defense Forces to Iraq, at self-defense offcials' houses in Tachikawa, Tokyo. The police seized their computers and probably made a list of citizens who were supposed to be against Koizumi's 'war-like' government.
　Most Japanese major 'elitist' papers didn't report it. In Japan, an invisible reign of terror has begun at last.

　I've read Writers on America in Japanese Translation. This book was originally published by U.S. Department of State and can be read for free on the Internet (→). It contains fifteen essays by American writers, poets and historian. Most of them are not WASP. It shows the diversity of U.S. people. I'm especially interested in the essays of Julia Alvarez (an immigrant from Dominican Republic), Sven Birkerts (a son of Latvian parents) and Naomi Shihab Nye (a daughter of Palestinian father). They, of course, write about their conflicts brought about by living in the U.S., but also write about the possibilities of freedom in the U.S. It's wonderful a book like this was published by the 'WARLIKE' government.

　I don't feel like seeing Japanese TV programs these days, except newscasts, weather forecasts and movies. It's not only because I've been so busy, but because I feel too many of them don't have brilliance now. In other words, too many programs themselves have become advertisements for TV personalities and writers.
　It's just the same with literature, magazines, newspaper articles and politicians' statements. I'm afraid there's so many meaningless and irresponsible expressions in Japan.